What a man cannot do without (Part 1)

Call To Prayer

Title: What a man cannot do without (Part 1)

By: Simon Nuhu Maina

Date: 02.05.2025

² Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.³ What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? (Ecclesiastes 1:2-3).

Naturally, people think that certain biological ties give meaning or a sense of existence to their lives. These biological ties could be parents, kindreds, children, spouses, caregivers, foster parents, etc, and they think to some extent that they cannot do without them. Also, looking at the necessities of life that support our physical existence in the body, like oxygen, sunlight, trees, mountains, and rivers. We often depend on those things and believe that we cannot do without them, which humanly speaking, is true! However, looking at them in view of eternity and things of eternal value, we can do without them. In the Scriptures, God makes us understand that there are things we cannot do without. These things have nothing to do with biology, science, or nature. These things are; the shedding of the blood for remission of sin, Faith, Holiness, and Jesus Christ.

1. Without the shedding of the blood, there is no remission/forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22)

Blood is a mystery that even in our contemporary breakthrough in science and technology, no one can invent it. After the fall of man (Genesis 3:1-19), the animals did not sin, but God Himself slew the animal and prepared a coat for them and we know that there is no way one can peel the skin without slaughtering an animal. This has to do with the atonement of the blood of animals for the forgiveness of sin. Also, Abel offered a sacrifice of the firstlings of his flock, that was a sheep! God accepted his offering because there was blood involved, and that of Cain was rejected because it was fruit. More so, Noah after the flood took some of the clean animals and sacrificed to God (Genesis 8:18-22). Abraham also sacrificed (Genesis 15:9-11, 22:1-19). Job, one of the men who existed in the oldest times offered sacrifices for his sons (Job 1:1-5).

These all existed before the time of the law but understood the need to shed the blood of animals for the forgiveness of their sins. In the time of the law, it became clearer when God commanded the Israelites to offer various sacrifices for their sins through the priests and High priest (Leviticus 17:11, 26:1-46). In the New Testament, Jesus became the perfect lamb of God for the sacrifice of Sin (John 1:29-31). His blood is blameless, righteous, and purer than that of animals (Hebrews 9:13). This blood speaks of forgiveness and mercy for all who believe in Him (Hebrews 12:24).

2. Without Faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6)

The Bible is clear that Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). God is only pleased by Faith! not by intelligence, not by good deeds, not by works of charity, and not by religion or religious activity. It is written even in the Old Testament, that the Just/righteous shall live by their Faith (Habakkuk 2:4). Faith is not only believing in God as we always emphasize. Faith has two sides: one side is belief and the other side is obedience. These two must always be in reality. If we believe that Christ died for us so that we will eventually inherit the Kingdom of God, then we must be fully ready to obey all the scriptures! More especially, all the teachings of Christ. Also, obedience means we remain in Him and keep following the whole truth, by that, we can manifest the righteousness of God. But if we only believe, and are not obedient, our Faith in God will only be theoretical and empty, and we will not be different from the devils. The Demons also believe that Jesus is Lord (Mark 5:1-10, James 2:17-19). We will continue with the rest next time…

Prayer points:

Let’s thank God for this word. Let’s ask God to help increase our spiritual understanding.