The ECWA President, Rev. Dr Ayuba Job Bagat, has implored Christians to exhibit the reality of their salvation by indulging in acts of practical love, such as sharing their “spiritual, physical, material and financial blessings with the underprivileged and those in need.”
Dr Bagat gave the charge in his Christmas and New Message during the 2024 ECWA Headquarters Christmas Carol held at the ECWA Headquarters Conference Hall in Jos, Plateau State.
In his message titled “The Anthropo-Centric Love of God,” he said the Christmas season is a time when all humans, especially those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, are reminded of God’s love for the entire world. He added that this love was the only reason for God’s reincarnation in and through His Son, Jesus Christ.
For this great love, the cleric reminded Christians that Jesus had to leave His Heavenly glory, to come down to earth to redeem a “dying humanity.”
He explained that before Christ’s birth, the effect of sin on the human race right from the fall of Adam had resulted in all manners of atrocities from one man against another, rendering all humans impotent and unable to discharge their God-given moral responsibility to one another.
He added that instead, mankind had steadily degenerated into various acts of sin and unrighteousness such as hatred, jealousy, rivalry and murder.
According to him, the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4 was a typical illustration of the effect of sin upon the human race emphasizing that the consequences of sin continued to multiply in the world, finding expression in fear, jealousy, envy oppression, quarrelling and many other ills in society.
Dr. Bagat posited that these consequences of sin are what deprived man of his original nature thereby, rendering him “powerless and helpless even in his dying situation.
He said, “Jesus is the God’s solution to the problem of sin, powerlessness and helplessness. He is the embodiment of God’s love who speaks hope into the hopeless situation of mankind.
“Therefore, I call on all who have not yet personally believed and accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour to do so immediately before it is too late. Jesus is willing to go into your heart and dwell in you, empowering you to live in victory over sinful flesh, the world and the devil.
“Salvation through Christ Jesus has remained the most valuable and yet free gift of God to mankind.
“As we celebrate the yuletide, I implore you to ensure that you have accepted Jesus Christ into your heart as Saviour and Lord. And for those who have done that already, let the reality show by your acts of practical love, sharing your spiritual, physical, material and financial blessings with the underprivileged and those in need.”
The carol featured the reading of various lessons from the Bible, song ministrations and renditions from the various ECWA outfits as the staff adorned in their various uniforms took turns to present their special songs.
This year’s carol had in attendance the wife of the Gombe State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Deboral Manassah Jatau, the ECWA executive, head of departments, and units including ECWA sons and daughters who came out in their numbers to witness the event.