Friday, April 29, 2011

IDENTITY/CHARACTER FORMATION

Sabbath Sermon By Hezron Zacharia Onditi

Main Text: Proverbs 22:6

There are two questions which each one of us should be able to answer at the end of this sermon:
1. Do I know and am I proud of my personal Identity?
2. How did I develop into who I am?

What is identity?
The concept of identity is frequently used in different social context and disciplines. It may be used to describe individuals’ and groups: race, ethnicity, religion, language, culture, origin, social roles etc. Therefore, in its broader meaning identity refers to people’s concept of who they are and how they relate with others.


To be specific, Personal identity which is the focus of today’s sermon refers to a set of attributes, beliefs, thoughts, and principles of actions that a person thinks distinguishes him/her from others. In other words it is a personal moral code or compass, a set of principles that a person uses as normative framework or philosophy/ideology (used in making judgment btw good/bad) which guides his/her actions/operations (Fearon and Erickson, 1999 & 1950’s). They are relatively unique and stable character about an individual (who am I/who really am I). Do you really know who you are/I am? As CHRISTIANS We need to be conscious of our identities whether they are good or bad. For example, people react differently towards pleasing or unpleasing events or actions. Imagine you are abused or insulted as STUPID. Do you think we will have a similar response??? No. This is due to variations in our personal identities (cognition, feelings, and actions).

This shows that, there are two extremes of personal identity. The positive extreme which is equated with good character or behavior; faithfulness, humbleness, self control, meekness, love generous etc. These leads to pride, honor, self respect and individual’s dignity. Contrary, the negatives extreme of personal identity is equated with bad/deviant/sinful characters or behaviors (2 Timothy 3:2-4; lovers of themselves/money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient, unforgiving…) though unique, but not acceptable and makes us feel shame before others in the society. For example, having a negative self concept, low self esteem; aloof, laziness, liar, prostitute, gay, lesbian, thief just to mention a few.

THE FORMATION OR DEVELOPMENT OF IDENTITY
All human beings are children of God. I am, you are…
Thus, an adult is a grown up child of God.

Developmental psychologists: An adult life is made up of experiences acquired through life from childhood. Thus, an adult is a grown up child.

No one can get identity by oneself; it is never individual achievement but an outgrowth of mutual/shared/joint social recognition process which starts from cradle/birth to eternity.
If all could realize this, and would awake to the fact that we are our own identity and the identity of our children for eternal life or eternal ruin, what a change/revival would take place!
How differently would our probationary time be occupied, and with what noble character would our world be filled! Genesis 1: 31; God saw all that he had made (including you and me), and it was very good/Impeccable.

Contrary, the world is no longer safe since the dwellers are behaving against the laws of God. For instance, bizarre/deviant behaviors are currently dominating news. It is very rare to hear about good news. Common news are acts contrary to the ACTS/FRUITS OF SPIRIT which are love, peace, kindness, humility, patience, endurance; This is because we have not strongly identified ourselves with the Ten Commandments Exodus 20:3-17.

The common news are wars, killings, violation of human rights, corruption, riots, throwing of babies, leaders forcefully cling to power, unfaithfulness. Brethren, The world is confused to the extent of compromising with TRUTH, telling lies is currently known as diplomacy, committing adultery/prostitution has been baptized as commercial sex work, born again compromises with born a gay ideology.

All these are the outcome of character or identity formation. An interesting question one would like to answer is how does identity/character develop? I am who I am because of my character/Identity. As we have said earlier, this is a long life process which starts from birth.

How does Identity/character develops?
Developmental Psychologist (Erick Erickson, 1902-1994) argues that identity formation extends from birth to adulthood. Successful resolution of developmental issues (conflicts) during earlier stages in childhood, leads into stable positive identity in adulthood. On the other hand, failure to resolve development issues (conflicts) during childhood leads to deviant behaviors, identity confusion or relapse in adulthood.

For example, He argues that During infancy there is a crisis (opportunity) between becoming TRUSTING or a MISTRUSTING person. Children who will receive adequate maternal LOVE and CARE by being fed regularly, other basic needs consistently satisfied-make such children to trust themselves and own bodies as they grasp, hold, craw, stand and walk. This leads into adult who are trustful, time conscious, hopeful and faithful. Unhealthy experiences at this stage such as lack of love and care, irregularity in provision of basic needs or not meeting their needs will result into: Mistrust of others and one’s self, not believing others and having no time conscious/do not keep time and unfaithfulness.
In his second stage of development (btw 18months and 3.5 years). The crisis is btw Autonomy and Shame/doubt. Successful resolution leads into: individuals who are independent minded who have ability to make choices freely and self autonomous. Failure to resolve conflict due to harshness and unfair punishment leads to: individual who is, shameful, fearful, dependent, skeptical/doubtful and meek compliance.

Other conflicts are such as: Initiative Vs Guilty (Curiosity and exploration. Ask a lot of questions), Industry Vs Inferiority (feelings of success and recognition of their work, failure of recognition leads into inferiority) and …

The success way of coping with the challenges of adolescence and adulthood challenges relies on earlier experiences in childhood. This is because, earlier training help individuals in later stage in the formation of his or her personal life philosophy or ideology. Young peoples who are attracted to deviant behaviors such as: substance abuse, aggression, suicide or suicidal attempts, eating disorders, establishing and maintaining relationships, teenage pregnancy and dropping out of schools reflect unresolved earlier difficulties with mistrust, shame, meekness compliance, doubt, guilty, and inferiority feelings.

How can this be achieved in the context of our faith?
‘The great work of parents and teachers is character building-seeking to restore the image of Christ in those placed under their care Sister E.G White (1941), Counsels to parents, teachers, and students p.61’. Bold

Building on the solid rock, Jesus Christ (Mathew 7:24-27). When the rain came down, floods came, winds blew; yet it will not fall due to firm foundation. These are those (wise men) who hears the words and puts them into practice. But everyone who hears words and do not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, streams rose, and the wind blew and beat the house and it fell with a great crash.
The Lord recognizes different levels of education starting from pre-primary (daycare, kindergarten), primary, and secondary to University. However, ‘In His wisdom the Lord has decree that the family shall be the greatest of all educational agencies ibid p.107.’
Experience shows that, parents recognize pre-primary and other educational levels as the greatest agencies in their children’s development. Contrary to Gods plan, these agencies ultimately dictate on the future identity and characters of our children.

The ideal God’s plan as written in Proverbs 22:6 is that “Train up a child in a way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” This suggests that, it is in the home where education and the identity formation of the child begin. PARENTS are the first instructors.

LESSONS to learn: Psychologists says that, at birth a child’s brain is empty and needs to be enriched as she or he develops. It’s like a new computer which requires the installation of the programmes. The owner of the computer dictates on the program he/she wants and that is what he/she feeds the computer. The issue of OWNERSHIP and WANTS dominates.

In a similar mode, a child is expected to acquire skills and experiences that will guide him throughout life. It is important to note that, children may be trained for SIN or RIGHTEOUSNESS. They need to get a right, strong and firm foundation, good framework for daily operations which should consistently polished and perfected.

These ranges from physical training (proper food and psychomotor development), mental (critical thinking) and spiritual instructions (moral education); lessons of respect, obedience, reverence, self-control, self-confidence, decision making, independent mind, self esteem and all other moral values. Sustained training of these lessons is likely to lead into a GOD fearer character/Identity among grown up children which is me and you. Home school is the secret behind the model identities and characters in the bible for example Moses, Joseph, Daniel, Shadrack, Meshack and Aberdenego. Don’t we admire to be like them? Or our children be like them? Personally I and my children admire to be like them.

PARENTS SKILL. The work of educating children is very sensitive and demanding one. It is improper for parents to give proper training unless they are first given themselves to GOD, learning from the great teacher lessons of obedience, self control and humility.

Parenting styles; Authoritarian, Authoritative and laisser-faire.
Parents, let the instruction you give your children be simple, and be sure it is clearly understood. Use simple lessons drawn from the bible and their experience. Nature and the environment should be their main book at early age. Having active prayer timetable at home and they should be taught to respect and reverence the hour of prayer. Talk to them deligently when at home, when walking along the road, when you lie down and when you get up Deutronomy 6:7. Gentleness and persistent is needed in training children.

“Ibid p.111. The mother is the queen of the home, and the children are her subject. She is to rule her household wisely, in the dignity of her motherhood. Her influence in the home is to be paramount… if she is a Christian, under God’s control, she will command the respect of her children…” The future well being of the child requires kindly, loving, but firm decisions from early age.

In the process of training children, many parents go to the opposite extreme of ruling their children with a rod/cane. Though it is written that parents should not deprive/spare children from the rod, the use of cane/rod scares children and distort the relationship between the two parties. Personally, I have a bad experience with canes, thus I hate it to the extreme!!!
Although they are easily pleased and easily made unhappy, never should parents correct their children in anger and cause them pain by harshness or unreasonable exactions. Harshness drives souls into Satan’s net. However, whipping may be necessary when other resorts fail; it should be administered in love by making the child sees its sense. Christians should avoid practices of child abuse such; over whipping, burning their hands, depriving them from food, shelter etc.

To wise parents “…rules and regulations must be made and enforced, that the beauty of the home life may not be spoiled ibid.p.112” if it is their desire to have happier, and far happier life in the future, parents needs to dedicate ample time, energy and ability to the work of saving their children.

If a child is not instructed well at home level, satan will educate him/her through its agencies (ibid’p.107). Probably, the identity of a significant number of church members today and the current world practices, evils and abominations (unfaithfulness among church members, lack of brotherly love, jealousy, envy, lie, unstable marriages, hatred, world lifestyles, dilemmas among young people, wars, adultery, corruption, evil tempers, selfish desires etc), are the product of Satanic rearing agencies.

If it is true that you were neglected at childhood, then your parents have a case to answer in the judgment day because they did not play the special role of training you at early stage and left to be a ‘victims of circumstances’. If they did, then it is our case because we have not been willing to cherish the good spiritual teachings from our parents.

Brethren!!!!, The child who is spoiled has a heavy burden to carry throughout life. In trials, in disappointment, in temptation, in decisions making he or she will follow his or her undisciplined, misdirected will. This finally becomes the inheritance of his or her adulthood character/identity.

Conclusion
Brethren: all of the three major readings the Bible, Spirit of Prophesy and Developmental Psychologists all acknowledge the role of earlier education in the formation of individual’s identity. As Christian parents, we either contribute in developing CHRISTIAN or SATANIC identities in our children. Hence have a role in determining their future identities when they grow old. Though we may feel of having heavy burden to carry due to our poor backgrounds, the blood of JESUS Christ which was shed at the cross is enough to provide you with a new identity which will make you to be like a wise man who built his house in a solid rock which stood firm when floods and wind came it did not fall. WE ONLY NEED TO MAKE REVIVAL AND REFORMATION.

Dear Friends; I have two special appeals to make; ONE, it is likely that someone might have assessed his identity and recognized that his/her parents did not play their whole duty of TRAINING them as required by GOD; hence, would like GOD to forgive their parents and provide them with a NEW TRUE Christian Identity.

SECOND, as parents, it is likely that we have been trying to bring up our children using various approaches e.g., house girls, boys, relatives, grandparents and nursery schools; but, after this sermon you may feel that you have an extra duty to do as parents in bringing up your children in a way that they should go: and PRAY that they should not depart from it when they grow old.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Can we be in politics without being politicians?

Can we be in politics without being
politicians?
By Joseph Ngwegwe

A Sermon at the University of Dar es Salaam Seventh Day Adventist
Church on 16/04/2011
Central Text: Luke 3: 10 – 14

There have been debates among Seventh Day Adventists whether it is morally ok to be involved in politics.

We do not intend to give a clear cut answer in our sermon today but rather put some principles and examples one would like think about.

We have a young generation with us who have diverse aspirations and it is not good to leave them unguided. Some time we feel agitated and are tempted to jump over to save the boat. We are human; sometimes we tend to demand our rights coercively and sometimes we naturally do it to preserve our ego.

We are living at times when politics have become a matter of concern and spiritual guidance is of utmost importance.

The world in the 19th and 20th century witnessed streams of a combination of violence (coups d'état) as means to seize power.

In legal context we would define Coup d'état as the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government. Usually involving threatening of life or at worst loss of lives.

In the same period there were also streams of democratically elected governments as a popular way to ascend to power. Democratically elected governments emerged as Monarchism continued to become unpopular.

Today a new development is emerging in politics, People’s Power which of recent has also been motivated by the advance of the new technology in communications.

Two governments in Africa have been ousted already and many more openly and latently are being threatened.

In this confusion what is the position of a Seventh Day Adventist….? Should we participate in politics or should we not? Should we vote for? Can we aspire to be voted for?

Recently the government introduced a bill, actually a proposal to change/draft a new constitution. I had a privilege to access the document early. As a citizen my personal views were quite strong against it as I had a feeling that if passed the way it is it can turn our country into a wrong direction and at worst even potential to threatening the prevailing peace we have enjoyed so far.

I immediately highlighted 8 key controversial issues in the bill and circulated to few individuals I thought could make an impact. Immediately on the day I was summoned by an individual to attend an in house human rights organization meeting to deliberate on the issues I had raised and participate in the general discussions about the bill. Though I cannot attribute the current developments to this factor alone, but I truly believe I fulfilled my duty. The extreme question would always be was this morally ok for me to be involved?

Let us review few inspirational writings….

Voting
In 1859 Ellen White came to the conclusion that voting - and voting for or against a given candidate – was an imperative when it advanced such values as temperance. Ellen G. White, Temperance, p. 256.

“The political excitement . . . will probably run as high as it has for many years, and we would warn our brethren not to be drawn into it. We are not prepared to prove from the Bible that it would be wrong for a believer in the third [angel’s] message to go in a manner becoming his profession, and cast his vote. We do not recommend this, neither do we oppose. If a brother chooses to vote, we cannot condemn him, and we want the same liberty if we do not. James White, circa 1860, as quoted in Paul A. Gordon, “The right to vote—shall I exercise it?” Adventist Review, Sept. 18 and Sept. 25, 1980

The early believers were guided by the Holy Spirit to be neutral. It is not wrong to decide to vote and it isn’t wrong to decide not to vote.

“Every individual exerts an influence in society. In our favored land, every voter has some voice in determining what laws shall control the nation. Should not that influence and that vote be cast on the side of temperance and virtue? Gospel Workers, p. 387.

The quotation above indicates that there is an opportunity for a devout Christian to influence the way laws are constituted in the country and in a popular democracy this is the parliament and the government. It is quite a paradox to know who amongst the candidates shall stand for virtues and solid principles we stand for. That is where the facts and conscious of an individual shall prevail and as per inspiration we might not be able to judge against such conscious.

Aspiring to be voted for
Speaking to faculty and students of Battle Creek College in 1883, Mama Ellen G. White said:
“Are you ambitious for education that you may have a name and position in the world? Have you thoughts that you dare not express, that you may one day . . . sit in deliberative and legislative councils, and help to enact laws for the nation? There is nothing wrong in these aspirations. E.G. White, Education, p. 262.

Let us look at another quotation below:

“Many a lad of today, growing up as did Daniel in his Judean home, studying God’s word and His works, and learning the lessons of faithful service, will yet stand in legislative assemblies, in halls of justice, or in royal courts, as a witness for the King of kings. E.G. White, Education, p. 262.

How many amongst us do aspire to occupy high positions of influence in the near future?

As young people you need to aim high, you need to set your goals such that they are challenging to arrive at. It will be a blessing one day to have a devout Seventh Day Adventist and the head of UN, a president, a minister, a Judge, an attorney general, an MP. Why not?

Let us examine few scriptures and examples of people who participated in political governance

When people came to John the Baptist, they came with their concerns as to whether their life professions were aligned to their spiritual callings.

To paraphrase their questions we can put it this way, “is it possible to live holy life and maintain spiritual standards in your current occupation/career?”

Do we need to abandon some businesses we are currently involved in to be holy people? Can you really be a president and yet a devout Christian?

Can you be a member of parliament and yet keep the Sabbath? ….. Can you be one of the best international footballer yet a devout Seventh Day Adventist?

There so many things the world does which some of them we may have genuine moral questions, in the context of our sermon today we don’t intend to take a stock of them.

Luke 3:10-14 (NIV)
10“What should we do then?” the crowd asked.

11John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”

12Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

13“Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.

14Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

John the Baptist was basically saying it is possible to lead a just life in your justified career. This is the principle as Christians we should stand for. We don’t intend to call people to abandon their socio-economic life but Jesus wants them to lead holy life wherever they are.

John 17:15
My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

Jesus recognized that we are living in the world and that for some time we will be at least temporary citizens of this world. Life systems affect Christians as they are part of the society. We have a stake too in this world! If we do not act responsibly we will take a share of blame like any other irresponsible citizen.

We can still be good Christians yet abiding to the law and to those entrusted with a responsibility to govern and maintain harmony in the society.

At one time Jesus was confronted by His enemies trying to trap him by asking the politically-charged question on whether it was a justified course to pay taxes to the Roman Empire. Though Jesus’ answer disarmed their machinations, He at the same time set an important precedent on how Christians should relate to the earthly authorities above them.

Matthew 22:16-21
16They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodias. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a] to Caesar or
not?” 18But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” 21“Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

There are people even devout Christians who are not comfortable when it comes to paying taxes, if they have an opportunity they will do whatever it takes to evade it. Christians should be living examples in our societies by being the most compliant when it comes to paying taxes.

Tax avoidance is not an offence but evasion is an offence. But for Christians we should uphold the standards and avoid looking for legal loopholes to avoid taxes. Our standards against which we are measured are much higher than the earthly ones.

Jesus did not mean taxes only but impliedly He meant we are dutifully bound to fulfill our citizen duties. We should not be trapped by the sin of negligence, if we know what is right and yet we don’t do it, we shall be held accountable.

The underlying fact is that when we pay taxes we are directly supporting the political systems governing us. Should we therefore not hold them accountable?

Daniel 2:46-49 (Daniel)
46Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. 47The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.” 48Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. 49Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.

People today have cultivated a wrong thinking about who is really a politician and who is not.

To my understanding it does not matter which door you use to enter politics: when you are in you are just a politician.

You may be elected or appointed to perform certain functions within the government, either way you will be affected by politics and political decisions made.

In Daniel time governments were not elected but rather they were kingdoms and empires.

To me Daniel and his colleagues when they accepted King Nebuchadnezzar’s appointment they effectively became part of the political monolithic system of Babylon.

But how they served clearly distinguishes them from our contemporary politicians.

When you are in politics be ready to be victimized
Daniel 6: 1-6 (Daniel)

1It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom,
2with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss.
3Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
4At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.
5Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”

Daniel 6:6-24

There is a price to pay when you choose to be in politics and you must be ready to pay. Sometimes it can cost your life. Your life privacy can be laid bare and at most of time assassinated negatively. If it is for the right and justified course why not?

Genesis 41:38-46 (Joseph) – Can we find a righteous man in politics?
38So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”
39Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”

Joseph in Charge of Egypt
41So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” 42Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43He had him ride in a chariot as his second in-command,[b] and people shouted before him, “Make way[c]!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt. 44Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.” 45Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On,[d] to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt. 46Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt.

Through Joseph the attention of the king and great men of Egypt was directed to the true God.

If we happen to be in positions of political influence can we make the attentions of a president and other great men in the government be directed to a true God?

If you can’t genuinely and positively respond to this question and you want to go to heaven, politics is a no go zone for you.

Seventh-day Adventists have the ability to help shape society through their votes and political participation. It’s up to each of us to follow our consciences—and to pray for more than human wisdom in making our electoral choices and participation in politics.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

ALAMA YA NYOKA KATIKA BIBLIA&HISTORIA

Sikuuliza wala kuangalia kama Babu wa Loliondo anakataa sarafu. Mada ya noti ya Shilingi 500 niliileta kama tafakuri tu ndio maana niliweka alama ya kiulizo. Bado natafuta jibu.

Haukuwa mpango wangu kuifanya mada iwe ya kidini. Ila inanibidi nitoe angalizo la Kibiblia. Ili kupata muktadha kamili ni vyema kuchambua alama za Kibiblia kwa kuzingatia vitabu vyote vya Biblia vinavyotaja alama husika na si fungu moja tu au mafungu machache. Kwa maana nyingine, alama ya nyoka inapaswa kuchambuliwa jinsi inavyotumika kuanzia Kitabu cha Mwanzo hadi Ufunuo na asili yake katika muktadha wa Historia na Dini za Misri ya Kale ambako ndiko asili ya 'U-freemason' (kumbuka kisa cha Yusufu, mume wa Binti wa Potifera, Kuhani wa Oni, huko Misri ya Kale, na kikombe cha uaguzi - Mwanzo 44:5; Fimbo ya Haruni iliyogeuka nyoka aliyewameza nyoka wa wachawi na waganga wa Misri ya Kale - Kutoka 7: 8-12; na huu mfano tuliotolewa wa Nyoka wa Shaba Jangwani - Hesabu 21:6-9). Na kabla ya kutumia fungu la Yohana 3:14 linalozungumzia kuinuliwa kwa Yesu kama Musa alivyomuinua nyoka jangwani na kulitumia kujenga hoja kuwa nyoka ni alama ya utabibu Kibiblia, ni muhimu kuchambua maana halisi ya kiroho ya alama hiyo kwa kuzingatia matokeo ya mpango mzima wa imani ya Kibiblia yaliyobainishwa na mafungu haya:

"Bwana Mungu akamwambia nyoka, Kwa sababu umeyafanya hayo, umelaaniwa wewe kuliko wanyama wote...nami nitaweka uadui kati yako na huyo mwanamke, na kati ya uzao wako na uzao wake; huo utakuponda kichwa, na wewe utamponda kisigino"(Mwanzo 3:14-15)

"Joka akamkasirikia mwanamke, akaenda zake afanye vita juu ya wazao wake waliosalia, wazishikao amri za Mungu, na kuwa na ushuhuda wa Yesu..."(Ufunuo 12:17)

"Yule joka akatupwa, yule mkubwa, nyoka wa zamani, aitwaye Ibilisi na Shetani, audanganyaye ulimwengu wote..."(Ufunuo 12:9)

"Akamshika yule joka, yule nyoka wa zamani, ambaye ni Ibilisi na Shetani, akamfunga miaka elfu...asipate kuwadanganya mataifa tena...na yule Ibilisi, mwenye kuwadanganya, akatupwa katika ziwa la moto na kiberiti..."(Ufunuo 20:2,10)

"[Atendaye] dhambi ni wa Ibilisi; kwa kuwa Ibilisi hutenda dhambi toka mwanzo. Kwa kusudi hili Mwana wa Mungu alidhihirishwa ili azivunje kazi za Ibilisi"(1 Yohana 3:8)

"Yeye [Kristo Yesu] asiyejua dhambi alimfanya kuwa dhambi kwa ajili yetu, ili sisi tupate kuwa haki ya Mungu katika Yeye"(2 Wakorintho 5:21)

"Kristo alitukomboa katika laana ya torati, kwa kuwa alifanywa laana kwa ajili yetu; maana imeandikwa, Amelaaniwa kila mtu aangikwaye juu ya mti; ili kwamba baraka ya Ibrahimu iwafikilie Mataifa katika Yesu Kristo, tupate kupokea ahadi ya Roho kwa njia ya imani"(Wagalatia 3:13)

"Na kama kama vile Musa alivyomuinua yule nyoka jangwani, vivyo hivyo Mwana wa Adamu hana budi kuinuliwa; ili kila mtu aaminiye awe na uzima wa milele katika yeye. Kwa maana jinsi hii Mungu aliupenda ulimwengu, hata akamtoa Mwanawe pekee, ili kila mtu amwaminiye asipotee, bali awe na uzima wa milele. Maana Mungu hakumtuma Mwana ulimwenguni ili auhukumu ulimwengu, bali ulimwengu uokolewe katika Yeye"(Yohana 3:14-17) Mchoraji: Lars Justinen