Christ Receives Penitent Humans – Bishop Dr Michael A. Fẹ́mi-Adébánjọ
*GOOD NEWS* for this midweek, *27th August 2025* as my son Michael III turns a year older.
*Matthew 10:28*, where Jesus warns, *_“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell”._*
*About the reality of Heaven,* Revelation 21:1-4 describes the new Jerusalem as a place of eternal glory with no more suffering, and *Revelation 22:14* states that those who obey God’s commands will have the right to the tree of life and enter the Holy City.
*Additional Passages about Hell:*
In *_2 Thessalonians 1:9_* the Apostle Paul describes eternal punishment for those who reject the gospel, leading to their separation from the Lord’s presence.
*_Revelation 20:14-15_*
depicts a *“lake of fire”* as the second death and final destination for those not found in the Book of Life.
*Passages for Heaven:*
*Revelation 21:1-4*
describes *_a new heaven and new earth, a new Jerusalem where God dwells with His people, wiping away every tear._*
Matthew 25:46
contrasts the eternal life given to the righteous with the eternal punishment given to the wicked.
*John 14:1-3*
speaks of Jesus preparing a place in His Father’s house for believers and returning to take them there so they may be with Him forever.
I read a viral Illustration:
“This one shocked me today: A religious Muslim man in Egypt killed his wife because she was reading the Bible and then buried her with their infant baby and their 8 year old daughter. The girls were buried alive! then He reported to the police that an uncle killed the kids…
“15 days later, another family member died. When they went to bury him, they found the 2 little girls under the sand – ALIVE!
“During the Court hearing, the older girl was asked how she had survived and she says *_“A man wearing shiny clothes, with bleeding wounds in his hands, came every day to feed us. He woke up my mom so she could nurse my sister,”_* the viral message reported. It continued:
“She was interviewed on Egyptian National TV, by devout Muslim woman – the News anchor. She said on public TV, *_“This was none other than JESUS CHRIST, because nobody else does things like this! Muslims believe Isa (JESUS) would do this, but the wounds mean He really was crucified, and it’s clear also that He is alive! But, it’s also clear that the child could not make up a story like this, and there is no way these children could have survived without a true miracle.”_*
“The country’s judiciary was outraged over the incident, and the man – being found guilty by a competent Court of the land – will be executed!
“Religious Muslim leaders are going to have a hard time to figure out what to do with this, and the popularity of the Passion movie doesn’t help in wishing away Jesus’ redemptive sacrifice!
“With Egypt at the centre of the media and education in the Middle East, you can be sure this story will spread. Christ is still positively turning the world around: Your Soul is Precious!
The message seems to conclude, “Please let this NEWS be shared. The Lord will bless whoever puts his/her trust in Him…” *_Hmmm._*
*_Let us sing from this Methodist Hymn 322:_*
Congregational Hymn Video for MHB 322 –
https://share.google/AOHBtvPqCu14QsIaa
1
Sinners Jesus will receive:
Sound this word of grace to all
Who the heav’nly pathway leave,
All who linger, all who fall.
*Chorus:*
Sing it o’er (Sing it o’er again)
and o’er again:(Sing it o’er again:)
Christ receiveth (Christ receiveth sinful men)
sinful men. (Christ receiveth sinful men)
Make the message (Make the message clear and plain)
clear and plain: (Make the message clear and plain)
Christ receiveth sinful men.
2
Come, and He will give you rest;
Trust Him, for His word is plain;
He will take the sinfulest;
Christ receiveth sinful men.
[Chorus]
3
Now my heart condemns me not,
Pure before the law I stand;
He who cleansed me from all spot
Satisfied its last demand.
[Chorus]
4
Christ receiveth sinful men,
Even me with all my sin;
Purged from ev’ry spot and stain,
Heav’n with Him I enter in.
[Chorus]
*Credits to the HYMN.*
*_Author:_* Erdmann Neumeister (1718)
*_Translator:_* Emma F. Bevan (1858)
*_Composer:_* James McGranahan (1883)
The tune was published in 1883.
*Christian Perspective*
*_Literal Locations:_* Many Christians believe heaven and hell are literal, eternal places.
*Heaven:* A realm of joy, eternal life, and presence with God.
*Hell:* A place of eternal fire, torment, and separation from God, for those who reject God’s love.
*Jesus’ Teachings:* Jesus spoke frequently of both heaven and hell, emphasising HELL to warn people away from it.
*Islamic Perspective*
*_Created Entities:_*
Muslims believe paradise (Jannah) and hell (Jahannam) are real, created entities that exist at present but will become fully apparent in the Hereafter.
*_Purpose:_*
Heaven is for the faithful, while hell is for the unrighteous and unbelievers.
*Hindu Perspective*
*_Varying Views:_*
Heaven and hell in Hinduism can be seen as different realms, bound by time and space, where souls experience the results of their actions.
*Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Perspectives*
*_Spiritual Experience:_*
Some Eastern Orthodox and Catholic beliefs view heaven and hell as spiritual ways of experiencing God’s presence, not necessarily physical places.
*_Joy or Torment:_*
Heaven is the joyful experience of God’s closeness, while hell is the torment of sensing His absence.
Whichever view you have, I implore you to *TRUST GOD: _This is not a matter of Religion: Heaven and Hell is real. Christ receives penitent humans._*
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