By Cornelius Babasanya-Craig Christians accept the Lenten season as if it is part of GODs plan for their salvation. The truth is that Lent is completely fallacious, and should be treated as such. Now, it is no more than a calendar event; only a few observe what it demands. The forty days of Lent represent the forty days which Jesus spent in the wilderness at the outset of His Ministry. He did not just stumble unto the fast. The Bible tells us: Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting for forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, If you are the Son of GOD, tell these stones to become bread. Matthew 4:1-3. The fast was His preparation to face temptation by Satan. This world in which we live is in the domain of Satan. Evildoer The main point we are making here is that man cannot save himself. Salvation is entirely at GODs mercy. He designed it. Also, it is at His prerogative that we are saved. It is not in dispute that it is a good thing to fast, or to be contrite for your sins. The point is that it contributes nothing towards your salvation. You may reinforce your prayers with fasts. That your prayers are answered contributes nothing towards the salvation of your soul. You may even pray and raise the dead. It is still the same thing. Simply, you have asked, and you have received. After all, respecting the Judgment Day, Jesus says: Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers. Matthew 7:21-23. You are not an evildoer when the Spirit directs your spirit to do the will of GOD. You are then a son of GOD, Romans 8:14 and you have the righteousness of GOD. On the other hand, your self-righteousness is like a filthy rag before Him. Isaiah 64:6. The Bible says: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith---and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of GOD---not of works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9. If salvation were of works, especially as demanded by Lent, then you would be entitled to expect salvation if you have fulfilled your part. You may even want to demand it as of right. Salvation is for the soul Jesus Christ says that His words are spirit. Paul, on his part, says that the law is spirit; therefore flesh and blood cannot obey it. This explains why activities in flesh and blood contribute nothing towards salvation. It is unfortunate that the intrinsic concept of salvation has eluded the majority of Christians. Salvation is a spiritual matter. It is the soul or spirit that needs it and can achieve it. You are saved when your spirit becomes suitable for a life with GOD. In the Garden of Eden, man died in the spiritual and continued existence in the physical nature of flesh and blood. It is the resurrection of Jesus Christ in the Spiritual that guarantees mans return to spiritual life with GOD where eternal life is possible. This is why Jesus Christ was able to be categorical: I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6. Of course, GOD is Spirit. The only way for man to come to the Father is to unite with Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection. This is achieved through baptism when properly done. Otherwise, it is meaningless and achieves nothing. Maybe you can now see what happens when you are born of water as Jesus demands. What Lent is all about The purpose of Lent is to enlist empathy for the sufferings Jesus Christ went through during His last days on earth, ending in His Crucifixion. What for? This is analogous to the case of a patient who had to undergo surgery to get well. He now sets aside some days during graduation as an annual event, observing sleepless nights in empathy with the surgeon who, as a student, had to swot for many nights. The irony is that, while doing all that, he has not been faithful to his medication. His health is still constantly threatened. Really, the Lenten season has given the purpose of Easter a somersault. Christmas marks the birth of Jesus Christ. Angels, even, rejoiced at it. Easter marks the triumphant completion of the Mission of Jesus Christ. By all means, this should be approached not with fasting, and soberness, but resounding jubilation. Our salvation becomes a certainty. The end of a thing is more important than its beginning. Ecclesiastes 7:8. Christians make it appear as if the LORD GOD did not approve the sufferings. Isaiah prophesied: Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by GOD, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:4-5. There you are. The LORD GOD condemned Lent about 700 B.C. The feeling of sorrow during Lent is misdirected. Rather, we should jubilate that the LORD GOD has worked out our salvation, and be thankful. Jesus says: As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Fathers command and remain in his love. John 15: 9-10. Jesus Christ shed his blood to establish the New Covenant. A good deal of Christians have no idea what the promises of GOD in this Covenant are. They are not committed in any way to ensure these promises are fulfilled for them. Unfortunately, salvation is impossible outside this Covenant. Indeed, Jesus Christ wants to save you, wants to love you. The ball is in your court. All you have to do is to make it possible for Him to love and save and save you. Cornelius is a Nigerian. He went to Britain for his university education. He obtained B.Sc. Hons. Physics, and M.Sc. Solid State Physics. He returned to Nigeria afterwards, and taught in universities and polytechnics before he retired. Currently, he is in US to publish and promote his book: The True Mission of Christ. The content is by direct Divine revelation, and therefore, cannot be faulted. More about the book can be found at http://www.babasanyacraig.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cornelius_Babasanya-Craig http://EzineArticles.com/?Lent-was-not-Ordained-by-GOD&id=184577 withdraw from lorazepam
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