Author: kodero

[Part One]

“Created in the image of God” is arguably the most sophisticated concept anyone can encounter in the Bible.

What does it mean ‘to be created in the image of’ The Almighty God; Bread of Life; Divine; I Am; The Alpha and Omega; Rose of Sharon; Truth; Word; Very God; Yahweh; Master; Highest Priest; Eternal; Elohim; Creator; Chief Cornerstone; ad finitum?

First, it could mean man’s intrinsic nature and character reflect Godliness. Hence, the idea of a “fallen man” makes a clear distiction between the original, God’s-creation; and the corrupt, evil and fallen man, Satan’s imitation.

Clearly, fallen man does not represent the image of God the Father Son and Holy Spirit. Alluding to this, in answering a bewildered Nicodemus Jesus responds; thus, “Verily, verily I say unto thee, unless a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3 KJV

It is obvious from the above that the Fall included man loosing power of sight, which can only be restored through a radical renewal and tranformative process involving Justufication, Sanctification, and Redemption (JSR) for him to be able to see his perfect image again.

Relatedly, is the notion of taking your cross and following Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. With the righteous declaration that “I Am the way and the truth and the life,” (John 14:6) read together with “No one comes to the Father except through me,” the path to man’s restoration in the image of God is predetermined.

The implication is, worldly notions such as ‘seeking the truth’ or the ‘purpose of life’ are hollow lies of our “adversary the devil, [who like] as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8 KJV). Therefore, “be sober, be vigilant” (ibid.).

Secondly, it can mean that man is supposed to have chemistry with God. Hence the Levitical command, “… ye shall be holy; for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44).

Acknowledgement: First published by the author in the Truth and Be Set Free Indeed Series.

To be continued ….. [Part Two]

The world offers finance, status and fame as pathways to independence and “freedom”. By grace, God offers eternal life and true freedom through faith in Jesus Christ alone expressed through His Body – the Church. These are the stuck choices we all face, the inner tension as it were. The cardinal rule of God’s Righteous Law says: “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24 KJV

Acknowledgements: This piece was first published in the “Know the Truth and Be Set Free Series.”

Shalom Shabbat!

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 NIV

Over the course of the last several Sundays, the above verse found in Apostle Paul’s epistle to the church in Galatia has been referenced from the pulpit during Sunday sermons at my local church – Northside Community Church in Harare.

Coincidentally, it is the scripture verse that the Lord put in my heart during my water baptism. We were required to cite a scripture as soon as we came out of the water. And I remember reciting verse two of the twentieth chapter of Galatians.

Today, the Holy Spirit again quickened the same verse in my conscience as I laid inside the chamber of an MRI scanner. While it is no doubt one of my favorite verses, I now have better intuition of what it means.

As a believer, disciple and born-again follower and Ambassador of Christ and the Kingdom of God, I have no identity of my own. In other words, I was buried with him by baptism into death and now walk in newness of life having been raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father.

Some would say that is only positionally true. No, it is the truth. It is reality. And what is even more remarkable is that even the Registrar of Death and Birth in the country where I was born (Kenya) has not clue that the Kenneth Odero who was born into sin in Murang’a died, was buried and rose again. The evidence? There is no official record of death against my name, except in Heaven.

It is not only that I died, but as is written in Colossians my life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is my life, appears, then I also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:3-4 NIV paraphrased)

“Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.” (Romans 6:8 NIV). Therefore, I can never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6:14 NIV)

Brethren, let us examine yourselves to see whether we are in the faith; test yourselves. Is Christ Jesus is in you?

The WORD challenges us (Romans 6:13) not to offer any part of ourselves to sin as an instrument of wickedness but rather offer ourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of ourselves to Him as an instrument of righteousness. Amen

“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest ● Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 KJV

This was “The Call” to fallen humanity made by the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, Immanuel, Redeemer, and Friend, to you and me.

True spiritual freedom begins when you and I individually respond positively to Jesus’ Call.

It is often said that the greatest aspiration for humans is “freedom” (liberty).

The Irishman George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), for instance, is remembered for his famous quote, “liberty is the breath of life to nations.” Similarly, the Indian lawyer Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, fondly remembered as Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), stated, “freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.”

The kind of Freedom God calls us to is entirely different from the type referred to in the above quotes. It involves “coming” to Jesus, “laying down” your heavy load, and “taking up” His burden.

I pray that the Holy Spirit will bring the Word to your remembrance, and that you will (by grace, through faith, in Jesus alone) henceforth live to experience True Freedom.

Here’s a decree written on the table of your heart: “If The Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36 KJV

The WORD of God is singular and without contradiction. This is why seemingly contradictory statements such as “let the weak say, I am strong” (Joel 3:10b KJV), “Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted” (James 1:9 KJV), and “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28 KJV) are found in Scripture.

The explanation for these apparent “contradictions” is not as previously suggested by many, that ‘the word of God is difficult to fully grasp,’ ‘we are mere humans,’ or ‘if God wanted us to understand everything, He would have simplified it or made it plain,’ among others.

The Truth is: “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: they have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: they have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.” (Psalm 115:1-8 KJV)

Imagine what flipping falsehood for the Truth would mean in the context of I AM the Way, The Truth and The Life (John 14:6a KJV)? “…every knee [sh]would bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue [sh]would confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10-11 KJV

Just as the Messiah grew as a shoot from the stamp of Jesse, in the same manner a remnant, a holy seed (the terebinth and the oak) – the faithful – those whose are atoned for by the Blood of the Lamb, will see Jesus Christ at His return.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches (Revelation 2:7a; 2:11a; 2:29; 3:6; 3:13; & 3:22 KJV)

Based on Song of Songs by Jedidiah, (“Beloved of Yahweh”)

[1] Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee.

[2] My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.

[3] I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies.

[4] Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.

[5] Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me: thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead.

[6] Thy teeth are as a flock of sheep which go up from the washing, whereof every one beareth twins, and there is not one barren among them.

[7] As a piece of a pomegranate are thy temples within thy locks.

[8] There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.

[9] My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.

[10] Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?

[11] I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded.

[12] Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Amminadib.

[13] Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies.

Acknowledgement: Song of Songs 6 KJV

The LORD of hosts, The Righteous Judge has revealed through the beloved prophet Malachi, “I AM the LORD, I change not” (Malachi 3:6a KJV).

This quality of non-variability is also revealed by Apostle Paul in his letter to the Hebrews: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8, KJV).

Christian faith is rooted in this revelation.

Throughout history, philosophers have unsuccessfully tried to explain change (or the absence thereof). Today, “change” dominates debate in business, industry, science and politics. Yet, there is less, not more, clarity on what it means. Ridiculous as it seems, even scientists and politicians haggle whether the climate is changing or not!

By contrast, in Scriptures it is written “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).

Hallelujah! “…The Word of our God shall stand for ever” (Isaiah 40:8b KJV).

AMEN

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Anyone who is born again, believer in the Son of God and follower of Jesus Christ, is one with Christ. That means Romans Chapter six verse ten applies to them. ““For by the death He died, He died to sin [ending His relation to it] once for all; and the life that He lives, He is living to God [in unbroken fellowship with Him].” (Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬ ‭AMPC‬‬)

What is the Resurrected Life
For sure, it is eternal (1 Corinthians 15:17). It is a life of faith (Job 19:26) and promise (John 11:25; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). It is Spirit-filled and led (1 Peter3:8; 1 Corinthians 6:15; Romans 8:11). It is a life of love (1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 John 4:12, 16 & 5:2) and service (Matthew 27:53; John 5:29; Galatians 4:8). It is victorious (Revelation 20:6). It is selfless (Romans 6:4). It is prayerful (1 Thessalonians 5:17). It is Christ-centered and quintessence of Christianity (Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 6:14; 15:47-49; Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2).

Dear brethren, let us walk in the newness of our resurrected life, for “… if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ ‭KJV)

Believers, that is born-again Christian who have called from darkness into His marvellous Light belong to the Kingdom of God and not the kingdoms of this world. In other words, we are citizens of the former, not the latter. There is no dual citizenship; you either belong to one domain, or the other.

The kingdom of God is not a geographic space. It is not an abstract space either. Rather, it is experiential field. “And when He was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke‬ ‭17‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

It is also written in the Scriptures; “…for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭17‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

Finally, the kingdom of God is everlasting: “Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.” (Psalm‬ ‭145‬:‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

Consider Paul the Apostle, who “dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” (Acts‬ ‭28‬:‭30‬-‭31‬ ‭KJV‬‬) For as the Lord Himself declared, “…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬b ‭KJV‬‬)

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord for the Kingdom of God has come. And our King is Jesus – “The Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” (Revelation 22:13 KJV)