Text:         Galatians 1:15-16

By:            Godbuilt Igbava (Deacon)

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Galatians 1:15-16

But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles (Heathen), my immediate response was not to consult any human being (flesh and blood). 

DEFINITION

Separated: move or come apart, stop living together, distinct and different.

         About 2000 years ago in Antioch, the believers of Christ were noticed as separate people, and they called them Christians  Acts 11:26.

          Tell the person close to you, I am separated. Tell him or her, come out. Tell him or her, I am separated from the broken world and I am on the way to my homeland, the heavenly home Heb. 11:13 – 16, John 17:14-15.

          Are you convinced with your proclamation? If yes, thank God for the grace and faith we show in Christ Jesus. If no, the grace is very much available now for us to return back to God. 

SIGNS OF HEAVEN ONWARD

1. Repentance
2. Baptism

No one can be separated without repentance and baptism to meet Jesus – 1 Corinthians 1:20-21 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?  For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe  (cf. Luke 13:3) 

REPENTANCE

Those in the broken world are dismayed and afraid to yield to these two commands of Jesus Christ to separate and to be with Him in the kingdom of righteousness (the church) and to enjoy eternal life in the home above, the heavenly kingdom.

All creatures have sinned and separate and going their own way separate from God’s own way of righteousness. For this reason, God sent Jesus into the world to bring all men back from their lost way to Himself through the preaching of the gospel of repentance and the forgiveness of sins. Acts 3:19 – Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. Proverbs 14:9, 16 – Fools mock at sin, but among the upright there is favor. A wise man fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident. 

BAPTISM

To begin a separated life from the broken world, we must be immersed in the water grave of baptism in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and to continue to walk in newness of life with Christ in obedience to His commandment (Acts 2:38,41) that is pleasing to God.

Christians are not separated to please any man, From that very day, we obey the will of God, everything we do must please God and we are never to live our lives in the pattern of the world with its lust. Our Lord Jesus taught that He always do the things that please the Father 1 Peter 4:2, John 8:29. 

THE RICH BENEFITS OF A SEPARATED LIFE

1. Comfort: God will not leave His own. A separated life is going along with God. God has promised anyone who come to Him never to be comfortless. He is our Comforter. An example, the case of Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, who was raised back from death to life 2 Cor. 1:3-4.
2. We overcome: All who separated from the worldly lust for Christ and continue in endurance to the end has overcome the calamity that will befall the world in their disobedience to God and enemies of the saints 1 John 4:4, Eph. 2:1-5, 12:9
3. Good Cheer: There is goodness in the Lord, living separate from the evil of the world. We belong to the community whose people are called God’s children, believers, sons and daughters of God. Jesus said be of good cheer in knowing the Lord, that is accepting Him as Lord and Saviour John 16:33,  2 Cor. 6:17.
4. Peace: Our God who called us to be separate from them (the world) is a God of peace and He gives peace to us His children that the world cannot understand nor can the world give such peace. 5:1, John 16:33, Heb. 12:14, Phil. 4:7
5. Joy: There is joy serving the living God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. What a joy we have in Christ, the joy of salvation, joy and fellowship and communion in Christ and together with ourselves as brethren. When one rejoices we rejoice with him, if one suffers or is faced with a burden, we share the burden together 2 Cor. 1:3, Rom. 12:9-16, 1 Cor. 12:20-23
6. We have hope: Hope is the stream that keeps our faith going with God the Father and Jesus His Son. This is true. All those before us who separated from the fleshly lust and desire of the world saw afar the good things that have been freely given to them and continue in hope. This hope does not bring shame to them and will not also make us ashamed now. Abraham, our father demonstrated this character. 5:5, Heb. 11:1-2. Believe, trust, faith and hope are interwoven ingredients that keeps the Christian living for Christ
7. Truth: God’s word is truth. We are separated through the truth to have knowledge of God. This truth set us free from sin and human errors. As Christians, the lust world seek and need light and truth from us to do and go the right way – 1 Tim. 2:4, 2 Tim. 2:15, 5:14-16. 

LIVE GOD WAY

         Brethren the list is endless, however having noticed God’s own goodness toward us, the question for us this day is are you separated, am I separated, have you obeyed the call of come out as we professed, are we truly obedient to His commandments?

Let us search our conscience and make a return to God whenever we find ourselves looking back.

Remember Lot’s wife looked back and turned to a pillar of salt. Jesus said, if you love me keep my commandments. Why call me Lord Lord and do not do things which I say.

What about you friend, who is without Christ now. You are here and you have not obeyed the gospel to live a separate life by receiving water baptism through the conviction of the word of God and that you confess Christ as the Son of the living God with your mouth.

Will you surrender to Him now? Please now is the day and time for you to do that now. Please don’t leave here home with the promise saying tomorrow I will.  Tomorrow may not come. God is ready for you now.

May God bless His words in our hearts in Jesus Name, amen.

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