AN ADDRESS BY THE ARCH-MINISTER, BROTHER ROLAND E. OGENE ON THE OCCASION OF THE CELEBRATION OF CHRIST’S BIRTH ANNIVERSARY, AS FREEDOM DAY IN OCTOBER, 2019, BY GOD’S KINGDOM MISSION.
It was night in October, about 2000 years ago, in the city of David called Bethlehem, when our Savior, the Messiah, Jesus Christ was born, ‘wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger’. That such a great personality of an unequal status among the creatures of God would have such humble earthly beginning is unthinkable and unimaginable.
To the shepherds who were out at the time in the field watching over their flock by night, an Angel appeared and declared unto them: “Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” The Angel had hardly finished with the shepherds, when a multitude of Angels joined him in unison, praising God: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace goodwill towards men.” – Luke 2:6-14.
The birth of Jesus Christ in October B.C. 2(not December, 25) is good and glad tidings to the people of all nations, irrespective of their tribe, color, creed or nationality. It is for the salvation of mankind. “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”, declared Jesus Christ himself. And St. Peter stated, “Neither is there Salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” – John 3:16; Acts 4:12.
The Subject of my address for this year’s ‘FREEDOM DAY’ celebrations is: “THE GOOD TIDINGS OF SALVATION”.
Long before the advent of Jesus Christ to the world, Isaiah the prophet prophesied about the good tidings of salvation which Jesus Christ and his Apostles primarily will propagate. He stated thus: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation…” – Isaiah 52:7.
The phrase ‘Good Tidings’ has the same meaning as ‘Gospel’ which means ‘good news’.‘Salvation’ in the true sense of scriptures is the inheritance of everlasting life and all the accompanying goodies and blessings of God, promised His faithful worshippers of all ages and mostly in His Kingdom when fully established on the earth.The Good Tidings of Salvation are therefore the Good News about the Kingdom of God, which Jesus Christ brought to the world. It is also referred to scripturally as “The Glad Tidings of the Kingdom of God”, (Luke 8:1) “The Word of Truth, The Gospel of Salvation”, (Eph. 1:13) “The Gospel of the Kingdom of God”, (Matt. 4:23; 9:35; 24:14; Mark 1:14; Luke 4:43). It is also known as “The Gospel of Peace”, (Rom. 10:15; Eph. 6:15) “The Gospel of the Grace of God”, (Acts 20:24) and “The Everlasting Gospel” (Rev. 14:6) – all of which shows and describes the vital significance and goodness of the gospel.
Jesus Christ commenced his Ministry on earth preaching the good tidings about the Kingdom of God and warning men to repent of their sins because the Kingdom was near. And saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel”. (Matt. 4:17;Mark 1:15) The message was exceptional because never in the history of the human race had such heart-cheering message of hope, redemption and salvation concerning the perfect and everlasting Kingdom or government of God been told. GOOD TIDINGS INDEED! Moving from city to city, town to town, village to village, Jesus Christ went about spreading the good news about the universal, righteous and perfect Kingdom of God. – Mark 4:23; 9:35; Luke 8:1.
The commitment of Jesus Christ to the preaching of the good tidings of salvation was per excellent. He declared and demonstrated it as the focal point of his mission to the world in his first advent. On a certain occasion, after preaching in Capernaum, a city of Galilee, he went to a desert place, the surging crowd tried to restrain him but he said: “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.” – Luke 4:43. See also! Luke 18:36, 37.
Earlier at Nazareth where he was brought up, he had openly declared his mission and commission to preach the good news of salvation to the poor for their comfort and to kindle their hope in the promised Kingdom of God. In the synagogue he caused the book of Isaiah to be given him and he read out a portion which was prophesied concerning him thus: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord”. He closed the book and told the Jews: “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears”.- Luke 4:16-21.
The prophecy of Isaiah which Christ read as fulfilling on him typifies the benefits and blessings derivable from the gospel. For those whose hearts are broken or battered by human challenges, it provides remedy of healing and gives an assurance of deliverance from Satan’s bondage of sin and death. (2 Tim. 2:25, 26; Heb. 2: 14, 15) The eyes of the people over which Satan has cast a veil, making them to be blind and ignorant of the purpose of God, are opened through the gospel to gain divine knowledge and understanding.
St. Paul stated: “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, which is the image of God should shine unto them.” – 2 Cor. 4:3, 4.
The good tidings of salvation have the capacity to make the oppressed to gain the freedom of Christ, which is freedom indeed. Freedom from idol and ancestralworship, freedom from superstitions, freedom from the fear of death, freedom from the fear of bad dreams, freedom fromthe fear of witches and wizards, freedom from the fear of demonic powers, curses, spells and so on. Jesus Christ told his disciples thus: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed: and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free…If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” – John 8:31, 32, 36.
THE APOSTLES AND THE GOOD TIDINGS
Jesus Christ in his first advent on earth commissioned and sent forth his disciples from place to place to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God, but warned them: “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt. 10:5-7) This directive was not intended to confine the gospel to the Jewish nation alone, but an expression of the will of God that it should begin from among them before the spread to other nations. “Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem”. – Luke 24:46, 47.
But before leaving for heaven he told them: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” He further told them that after they would have been “endued with power from on high” which is the anointing of the Holy Spirit they would receive, they should convey the good tidings,not only to Jerusalem, but to all Judea, Samaria and the “uttermost part of the earth”. – Matt. 28:19, 20; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8.
The Apostles in agreement with the mandate and the Great Commission given to them by Jesus Christ, proceeded with zest and vigor to disseminate or spread the good tidings of salvation. For this they came under severe persecution and opposition particularly by the Jews. They were physically flogged, stoned, indicted, imprisoned and some were even killed, but yet they stood fast resolutely, adamant and undaunted.
On a certain occasion, after they were thoroughly beaten and humiliated, they were commanded not to preach in the name of Jesus. But instead of being sad, angry, and sorrowful over their pain and anguish, they departed from their tormentors rejoicing for the privilege of being counted worthy to suffer shame for the sake of Jesus Christ and the gospel. – Acts 5:40-42.
Then at Antioch of Pisidia, Paul and Barnabas received opposition from the Jews out of sheer envy as they saw multitudes responding to the gospel. But they “waxed bold” and told the Jews bluntly: “It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you: and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth”. – Acts 13:45-47.
The lesson to be drawn from this episode of St. Paul and Barnabas is that to oppose or reject the good tidings or gospel is to reject or deprive oneself of salvation or eternal life in God’s Kingdom promised by God for His children. St. Paul further stated thus: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto Salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” – Romans 1:16, 17.
A particular opposition the early Apostles faced in the dispensation of the gospel was the activities of false prophets, just as the true servants of Christ are also confronted with this challenge in our time. False prophets are dangerous because they pervert the gospel and pull the wool over people’s eyes, who take things for granted. They lie and deceive the people in the name of Christ, claiming to be genuine and authentic. This was the case of the confrontation between St. Paul and a certain Jewish sorcerer, a false prophet whose name was Barjesus.
At Parphos, the ruler, a prudent man, invited Barnabas and Paul desiring to hear from them the word of God or the good tidings of salvation. But the false prophet whose Greek name was Elymas withstood them seeking to turn him awayfrom the Christian faith. This provided an opportunity for Godto show hissupremacy. St. Paul filled with the Holy Spirit, set his eyes on him and said: “O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all unrighteousness, will thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season.” Immediately the false prophet became blind and went about looking for someone to lead him away by the hand. Then the ruler who witnessed all that happened believed and was astonished at the doctrines of the Lord. – Acts 3:6-12.
THE ERA OF THE LAST DAY
Jesus Christ in his earthly days before he left for heaven gave a prophetic command to his true servants whom he will choose at this end time to propagate the Good Tidings of Salvation. He stated thus: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:14) This is the cardinal assignment of the true servants of Christ in this era of the end of the world. From the statement of Jesus Christ, two fundamental objectives of the good tidings can be deduced. Firstly, the gospel is preached to win souls to Christ so that they may be saved. Secondly, it is to serve as a witness against the people, especially unbelievers, so that at the time of the great tribulation, when God would wreak vengeance upon them, they will have no excuse.
Jesus Christ forewarned that in these last days false prophets will increase rapidly in number in the world. “And many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many…For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matthew 24:11, 24) The aim of the devil in raising false prophets is to corrupt and lead people away from the truth, which is the good tidings of Salvation, confuse the minds of simpletons, deceive and mislead the unwary to follow the path of destruction. King Solomon cautioned: “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death.” – Prov. 16:25 see also Isaiah 9:16; Matt. 15:14.
The performance of wonders and the casting out of demons at this end time by false prophets is just a mask for the wicked, or criminal plan and mission of the devil they represent to sway or move the majority of the human race to destruction. However their fate is already pre-determined, they and their followers cannot stand the judgement of God. At the time of decision, Jesus Christ, the Judge of the living and the dead unequivocally stated what will happen to them, when he said: “Many will say tome on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity”. – Matt. 7:22.
The judgement of God will not favour these workers of iniquity, because it is a righteous judgement based on truth. Jesus Christ further revealed to John the Apostle, what their end would be. As it is written: “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worship his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone”. (Rev. 19:21) The lake of fire is symbolic of everlasting destruction. – 2 Thess. 1:7-9 and 2 Thess. 2:7-12.
GOD’S KINGDOM
The Kingdom of God which was the central focus of Christ’s teachings in his days on earth, he commanded his true servants should also be the central role of the gospel in these last days of the end of the world. He declared:”And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come”. (Matt. 24:14) He promised to choose the remnant of the Apostles class in this end time from all parts of the world, who through the propagation of the good tidings or heart-cheering news about the Kingdom, would set up God’s Kingdom Organization. -Matt. 24:31.
The Kingdom of God symbolically called Mountain is the perfect and everlasting government over which Jesus Christ is appointed head and King with Headquarters in Mount Zion (Psalm 48:2) in heaven. To reign with Jesus Christ in heaven are his Body Members of the Apostles class numbering 144,000 chosen and anointed Christians. – Psalm 2:6; Isa. 9:6; 32:1; John 18:36,37; Luke 22:28-30; Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 7:2-8; 14:1-5.
On earth the Kingdom is established like a grain of mustard seed, which a farmer sowed in a field,which is the least of all seeds but grew to become the greatest among herbs, a mighty tree with branches and the birds of the air took shelter on it. (Matt. 13:31, 32) The mustard seed in this parable of Jesus Christ refers to the remnant of the Apostles, the Saints, whom God through Jesus Christ would use individually and collectively to set up the Kingdom in this last day.
By a gradual process, the Kingdom will grow to cover the entire world. Concerning the Kingdom on earth, Daniel prophesied: “And in the days of these Kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people (the wicked rulers of this evil world), but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms (of men), and it shall stand forever”. (Dan. 2:44) When the kingdom would have been fully established on the earth, after evil of every kind had been exterminated or removed, there would be everlasting peace, joy, comfort and life more abundant.
The reconstruction, beautification, harmony and serenity of the earth after the millennial reign of Jesus Christ are beyond human dream, comprehension and imagination. St. Paul stated: “…Eyes have not seen, nor ears heard, neither have entered into the hearts of man, the things God hath prepared for those who love him”. (1 Cor. 2:9) “It is a Kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” – (Rom. 4:17) The Bible says God shall wipe away all tears from the people’s eyes, and “there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain” And no one shall say “I am sick” but perfect health, peace, happiness and “eternal salvation” shall be the reward of the righteous that shall dwell in it”. (Isa. 33:24; 45:17; 65:17-25; Rev. 21:1-5) This is the “hope of the gospel” or “GOOD TIDINGS OF SALVATION”. – Col. 1:23.
It is this heart-cheering and hope-transmitting good news of an exceptional nature of the bliss God has promised mankind that makes the message about the Kingdom of God to be the GOOD TIDDINGS OF SALVATION or the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. This New Earth where righteousness will dwell eternally, according to St. Peter, is the only hope of Christians. (2 Pet. 3:13) Any preaching or teaching that does not touch or focus on or is lacking the knowledge of the kingdom of God as coming down from heaven and being established on the earth as a place of refuge and remedy for all human agonies, sufferings and woes is not the Good Tidings of Salvation or the Gospel of Christ.
CONCLUSION
Belief and obedience to the good tidings of Salvation is what will qualify anyone as worthy candidate of God’s Kingdom. Those who accept and believed the good tidings preached by Jesus Christ and the early Apostles in their days were blessed. In the days of St. Paul, when the ‘Gentiles’ heard the good tidings, they were glad and glorified God, “and as many of them as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of God was published throughout the region”. (Acts 13: 48, 49) In these last days also, those who believe in the truth and obey by practicing it, will also gain eternal life in the Kingdom of God when fully established. “…For so”, declared St. Peter, “an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”. – 2 Pet. 1:5-11.
Those who reject, scorn, ignore and oppose the gospel will be damned and go to everlasting destruction. St. Paul stated that, “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlsasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day” . –2Thess. 1:7-10. See also 2 Thess. 2: 10-12.
Finally, I admonish you in the words of St. Peter to wit: “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversations; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of sojourning here in fear”. (1 Pet. 1: 13-17) It is expected of everyone therefore to prove himself or herself as an obedient child of God by accepting the good tidings of Salvation.