CHOOSE HOLINESS THIS YEAR.
Psalms 93:5 (NIV );
[5] “Your statutes, Lord, stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days. “
The House of God is not just about the structure/building where we congregate for fellowship in worship to God.It’s more than just our places of worship. Remember, our bodies are also the house of God.
John 2:20-21 (NIV );
[20] “They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?”
[21] But the temple he had spoken of was his body. “
1 Corinthians 3:16 (NIV );
[16] “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? “
You can also refer to 1 Corinthians 6:19-20,to get a better understanding.
If then our bodies are a Temple of God,that is, the house of God, what have you decided to do with your body this year? The Bible says in Psalm 93:5, that Holiness is what befits the House of God.Not for a single day but for endless days.
Brethren, choose and pursue holiness this time.Rid yourself of all filthiness.Keep your body and heart free from defilement. Be holy,not indulging yourself in any form of evil that makes one unclean,as you used to in the past years. Let this year mark a new beginning, a different version of you.
Start writing a new story.Your physical appearance and your inner person should do the talking. Your character and conduct transformed,reflecting change.As you strive to live in holiness,people will see a changed person in you and,thus,will say that indeed you are a true Christian. When they ask,say to them, “I HAVE CHOSEN HOLINESS FOR IT IS WHAT BEFITS GOD’S HOUSE”.
Tell them that this is year is all about holiness. It’s not time to compete with others in matters of little importance as to who wears the most fashionable outfits,but a time to adorn God’s house with holiness.That this year is for preaching HOLINESS everywhere,for without it no one shall see God(Hebrews 12:14).
2 Corinthians 7:1 (NIV );
[1] “Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. “
May the Lord help us to lead holy lives while we live.
Shalom.
Share the good news to others also.
If you wish to receive Jesus Christ into your life as your Saviour and Lord,and need help,talk to us via our contacts below.
Also,if you would like to receive daily Bible teachings via Whatsapp, join our channel by following this link >>> https://whatsapp.com/0029VaBVhuA3WHTbKoz8jx10.
To reach us,contact us on:
+255789001312/+255693036618.
God bless you.
Were Adam and Eve Saved?
The Bible does not explicitly say, “Adam and Eve were saved,” but when we study Scripture carefully, we find strong evidence that they were included in God’s plan of salvation through faith — just like the rest of the faithful people of the Old Testament.
1. Salvation Was Always by Faith — Even Before Christ’s Physical Coming
The New Testament teaches that salvation has always been by faith, even for those who lived before Jesus was revealed.
Hebrews 11:1-2
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.”
People like Abel, Noah, Abraham, and Moses are praised for their faith, even though they lived before Christ. They believed in the promises and symbols God gave, which pointed toward the coming Messiah.
2. The Gospel Was Preached Even in the Garden of Eden
After Adam and Eve sinned, God gave the very first prophecy about the coming Savior:
Genesis 3:15
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
This “seed of the woman” refers to Jesus Christ, who would defeat Satan through His death and resurrection (cf. Galatians 4:4, 1 John 3:8).
This shows that immediately after the fall, God provided hope, not only judgment.
3. Adam and Eve Showed Signs of Repentance
When Adam and Eve realized their sin, they did not boast in it; instead, they felt shame and fear and hid from God’s presence (Genesis 3:7-10). This shows a conscience awakened by guilt — a necessary step toward repentance.
In response, God Himself made garments of skin to cover them:
Genesis 3:21
“Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”
The shedding of an animal’s blood to provide covering is a clear symbol of atonement — pointing toward the sacrificial death of Christ.
Hebrews 9:22
“Without shedding of blood there is no remission [of sins].”
Thus, by accepting the covering God provided, Adam and Eve demonstrated faith in God’s way of salvation, not in their own efforts (contrast their earlier attempt with fig leaves — Genesis 3:7).
4. Sacrificial Worship Was Passed Down to Their Children
In Genesis 4, Cain and Abel brought offerings to God. Abel’s offering of an animal sacrifice was accepted by God, while Cain’s offering from the ground was rejected (Genesis 4:3-5).
Abel’s offering was an act of faith:
Hebrews 11:4
“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts…”
It is reasonable to conclude that Adam and Eve taught their sons about the need for sacrifice — again showing that they themselves believed in God’s plan.
5. Christ is Referred to as “Son of Adam”
In Luke’s genealogy, Jesus is traced all the way back to Adam:
Luke 3:38
“…son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.”
This is significant because Jesus could not be associated with a lineage that was under a permanent curse. Adam is called “son of God,” not “son of Satan.” Through Adam came the human race that Christ Himself would redeem.
Additionally, the Apostle Paul calls Jesus the “last Adam” who brings life:
1 Corinthians 15:22
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
1 Corinthians 15:45
“And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.”
6. God’s Nature Is to Restore
Finally, understanding God’s character throughout the Bible helps us conclude that His plan was always to redeem, not abandon, His creation.
2 Peter 3:9
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise… but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
From Genesis to Revelation, we see a God who judges sin but provides a way of mercy and redemption. Adam and Eve, the first of humanity, received this mercy through God’s direct intervention.
Conclusion
Although the Bible does not specifically use the word “saved” concerning Adam and Eve, the evidence shows:
- They acknowledged their sin (Genesis 3:7-10),
- They received God’s covering through blood sacrifice (Genesis 3:21),
- They taught their children about worship through sacrifice (Genesis 4:3-4),
- Christ’s genealogy traces back to Adam (Luke 3:38).
Thus, Adam and Eve were not eternally lost but believed God’s promise of a Savior, and through that faith, they were included in His plan of salvation.
Glory to God for His redeeming love from the very beginning!
what is chrislam?
Chrislam is a blend of the words “Christian” and “Islamic,” created by taking “Chris” from “Christian” and “slam” from “Islamic.”
This movement first appeared in Nigeria during the 1970s, a time when religious tensions between Christians and Muslims were high. Nigeria, being the most populous country in Africa, is divided almost equally between these two faiths.
The founders of Chrislam sought to bridge the divide between Christianity and Islam, believing that by uniting the two largest religions in the world, they could promote peace and counter the spread of paganism. They argued that since both faiths mention figures like Abraham and Jesus, and share some moral teachings, there was no need for conflict.
Today, Chrislam has gained popularity in some areas, with many viewing it as a solution to religious division. However, despite some similarities, Christianity and Islam are fundamentally different at their very core.
Is this union acceptable before God?
No. Christianity and Islam cannot be blended. Their foundational beliefs about God, salvation, and eternal life are radically different.
1. Christianity is centered on Christ as the ONLY Savior.
- John 14:6 — Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Christianity teaches that salvation is a free gift of God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Eternal life is only possible through believing in His death and resurrection.
- Ephesians 2:8-9 — “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
In contrast, Islam denies the death, resurrection, and divinity of Jesus. It teaches that salvation is earned through personal deeds and adherence to Islamic law (Sharia), not by faith in Christ.
- Titus 3:5 — “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.”
2. Islam denies the true identity of Jesus.
Islam acknowledges Jesus (Isa) only as a prophet, not as the Son of God or Savior.
- 1 John 2:22-23 — “Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.”
Islam explicitly rejects the deity of Christ, which is central to Christian faith:
- John 1:1, 14 — “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
Therefore, while Islam and Christianity may appear to share some prophets and ethical teachings, they are based on fundamentally incompatible revelations about God, salvation, and human destiny.
Should Christians Believe in Chrislam?
No. Christians are called to preserve the purity of the Gospel, not to compromise it by blending it with other faiths.
- Galatians 1:8-9 — “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!”
To mix Christianity with any other belief system is to depart from the truth of the Gospel.
- 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 — “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?”
We are saved only through faith in Jesus Christ, not by a combination of religious ideas or by human efforts.
- Acts 4:12 — “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Conclusion
As followers of Jesus Christ, we must hold fast to the true Gospel and avoid any attempts to mix it with other religions.
Chrislam, though it may appear to promote peace, ultimately compromises the essential truths of the Christian faith.
True unity is found only in Christ — not through human-made religious fusion.
Shalom.
Please share this message with others.
Who Are the Palestinians, and What Role Do They Play in the Bible?
The name Palestine comes from the Greek word Philistia, which means “land of the Philistines.” The Philistines were an ancient group of people who lived in the coastal region of Canaan, and this land is the same one we know today as Palestine. The term has evolved over the centuries, but its biblical roots remain significant.
However, a common misconception is that the Philistines were Arabs. This is not accurate. Arabs are descendants of Ishmael, the son of Abraham, while the Philistines existed even before Abraham and came from the lineage of Ham, one of Noah’s sons. The distinction is important for understanding the biblical history.
In Genesis 10:14, we read, “And the Philistines came from the Casluhim, the descendants of Ham.” This shows that the Philistines were not Arabs but were distinct people with their own cultural and religious identity. They were known for their pagan practices and worshipped gods such as Ashtoreth, Baal-zebub, and Dagon (Judges 16:23; 2 Kings 1:2; 1 Samuel 31:10).
The Philistine Settlements in Canaan
The Philistines settled in the land of Canaan, particularly along the southern coast, stretching from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. During the time of the prophet Samuel, they established five major cities: Gaza, Ashdod, Gath, Ashkelon, and Ekron (1 Samuel 6:17; Joshua 13:3). These cities became central to their culture and military power.
When God called Abraham to leave Ur and journey to Canaan, He promised to give that land to Abraham’s descendants (Genesis 12:1-3). However, when Abraham arrived in the land, the Philistines were already there, having established their fortified cities (Genesis 21:32-34).
Later, when God called Moses and led the Israelites out of Egypt, He instructed them to take possession of the Promised Land. They were commanded to drive out the Canaanites and all other nations in the land, including the Philistines (Exodus 23:23-24). God said to them in
Deuteronomy 7:1-2,
“When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations… you must destroy them totally.”
However, Israel’s failure to completely drive out the Philistines would lead to ongoing conflicts.
The “Thorn” in Israel’s Side
The failure of Israel to fully obey God’s command to remove the Philistines resulted in them becoming a constant source of trouble. God warned the Israelites that the nations they failed to destroy would become “thorns” in their sides. In Judges 2:1-3, the Angel of the Lord says:
judges 2:1-3
“I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land I swore to give your ancestors… But you have not obeyed me. Why have you done this? Therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you. They will become traps for you, and their gods will become a snare to you.”
This prophecy came to pass as the Philistines became one of Israel’s greatest enemies, and the Israelites struggled to gain victory over them. The Philistines were technologically advanced in warfare, especially in ironworking, which gave them an edge in battle. The Israelites even had to seek help from the Philistines to sharpen their tools and weapons (1 Samuel 13:19-23). For much of Israel’s early history, the Philistines were a dominant and troublesome enemy.
The Role of God’s Deliverers
In response to Israel’s disobedience and oppression by the Philistines, God raised up leaders—called judges—to deliver His people. The most famous of these was Samson, a man endowed with supernatural strength who fought the Philistines (Judges 13-16). Other deliverers included Shamgar, Samuel, Saul, and David. In 1 Samuel 17, David famously defeated the Philistine giant Goliath, demonstrating that with God’s help, Israel could overcome even the most formidable foes.
The cycle of Israel’s sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance continued throughout the period of the judges and the early monarchy. This highlights the importance of obedience to God’s commands and the need for faithful leaders who rely on God for victory.
The Fall of the Philistines
Eventually, after many years of conflict, the Philistine nation came to an end.
In Jeremiah 47:47,
the prophet declares, “But after that, I will restore the fortunes of the Philistines, says the Lord.”
This points to the fall of the Philistine city-states, as they were conquered by Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar and ultimately disappeared from history as a distinct people.
The prophetic words in Ezekiel 25:15-17 and Zephaniah 2:4-7 also foretell the judgment on the Philistines, and their eventual destruction. The historical record confirms that after Israel’s exile, the Philistines were gradually absorbed into other cultures and no longer existed as a separate entity.
The Re-emergence of Palestine
In modern times, the region once known as Philistia became associated with the name Palestine. After the establishment of Israel in 1948, the land known as Palestine—located in the southern part of Israel—became home to a diverse population, most of whom are Arabs and Muslims. Few, if any, modern Palestinians trace their lineage directly to the ancient Philistines.
This is significant because, despite the differences between the ancient Philistines and today’s Palestinians, the conflicts surrounding this land continue to evoke the biblical struggle between Israel and its neighbors. The tensions we see today have roots in ancient biblical prophecies.
A Spiritual Perspective
The Bible teaches that the end of the world will be marked by a great conflict involving Israel. God declare in
Zechariah 12:3,
“On that day, I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all peoples; all who try to lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it.”
This prophecy points to the future when all nations will align against Israel, and Jerusalem will become the focal point of international conflict.
Jesus speaks of His second coming, saying that after a period of tribulation, in
Matthew 24:29-31
“the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”
This reveals the spiritual significance of the conflict surrounding Israel. Ultimately, Jesus Christ will return to defend His people and establish His kingdom.
The End of the Age
The Bible teaches that the current age is coming to an end, and the return of Christ is imminent. In Romans 11:25-27, Paul explains that the fullness of the Gentiles will come in, and then all Israel will be saved. This indicates that the nations of the world, including the Arabs, will play a role in God’s plan to bring about the ultimate salvation of Israel.
Romans 11:26
And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The Deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.”
We are living in the last days, and the time for the rapture of the church is drawing near. As the world shifts toward a final confrontation over Israel, it’s important for each person to evaluate their spiritual life. Have you received the gospel? Are you ready for Christ’s return?
How Are You Living Today?
Now is the time to reflect on your relationship with God.
2 Corinthians 6:2
“I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” If you have not yet given your life to Jesus, today is the day to make that decision.
If you want Jesus to save you and make you a new creation, you can pray this prayer of repentance:
“Lord Jesus, I admit I am a sinner and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and that You rose again. I invite You into my heart and make You the Lord of my life. Help me to follow You and live for You. Amen.”
God bless you.
Shalom.
