Romans 8: Abundant Life Is Found Only in Christ

Introduction

"Abundant life, but in Christ." At the second edification service on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at the Centre Évangélique Sion, Elder Joseph spoke on this theme and drew an immediate conclusion: life is not abundant unless it is in Christ.

He begins by thanking Apostle Nan Pembélé for his trust and prays that the words would not be his own, but God's: "Holy Spirit, I don't know how to speak. Just use my mouth." Several times during the message he stops to say, "This was not my message," and adds that God wants to awaken someone's conscience.

The thread remains clear: a child of God is not just anybody, was redeemed at a great price, is called to separate from whatever is destroying them, and has received a life that comes from a Christ who died and rose again. The preacher sums it up: "This message is not meant to frighten you, it is meant to prepare you."

Outline of the Message

1. God's Children Have Weapons, but They Are Distracted

The preacher first asks the congregation to acclaim God, and explains why: acclamation is a powerful weapon in the spiritual realm. Things happen in the temple: "You must be connected. If you are not connected, it gets complicated."
He compares this with people who seek power in the occult: terrible sacrifices are imposed on them every night at midnight, and they obey because of the power they are after. "People of God, let us wake up."
"We hold the most powerful weapons in our hands to succeed, but we do not use them." God's children are too distracted, and the people of this world prove shrewder than they are.
He shares his own secret: for 25 years he was a jeweler in Congo. Every day, when he entered his shop, he knelt on the ground and placed his business in the Lord's hands. One day, looting broke out: all the shops around his were looted, except his. He points out that he was faithful in tithing.

2. You Are Not Just Anybody

"You are not just anybody." The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4). And that "one" is Jesus, through whom everything was created: dominion, authority, power, rule (Colossians 1:16).
Jesus is "our model above all." In the flesh, he ruled over every situation and no one could block him, because he knew who he was.
"But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God's children, to those who believe in his name" (John 1:12). "As many as," the preacher insists: "Are you among the 'as many as'?"
He distinguishes authority from power: authority is a mandate, but "authority without power has nothing." Behind a child of God, it is God who holds them up. This authority is given to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
"The times are evil." For him, the recent looting and demonstrations are the enemy's plan, and nothing spiritual should be neglected. He addresses the young people: beware of distraction. If the enemy sees a breach in a life, he rushes in. "Let us walk in holiness, let us walk in sanctification."
"Even I, who am speaking to you, must control my life every second."

3. The Church Is a Training Center, and We Are All Servants

"Here, at church, is a training center. The Christian life is outside": at school, at home, at work, in your family.
He recounts what he said in a meeting with Pastor Fiston: the singers are servants, just like the moderators, interpreters, preachers, camera operators and the tech team. "We are all servants."
Singing while your life is not in order with the Lord is asking for trouble with God. Whoever keeps grieving the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30) and refuses to do what he asks ends up having him as an adversary (Isaiah 63:10).
The Holy Spirit speaks: "Leave that boy, leave that girl," because your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).

4. Redeemed by the Blood, Freed From the Law of Sin and Death

Jesus Christ redeemed us by his blood. He paid a price, he sacrificed his life to redeem us from the law, from sin and from death (Romans 8:1-2).
"Redeem" means that we belonged to God, but were stolen. The price was not paid with gold or silver, but with the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19).
"You and I are going to die." But the one who has Christ, even when death comes, enters eternity.
In Christ, we have life, movement and being (Acts 17:28). Because of Adam's disobedience, all humanity wore "the garment of sin" and found itself in the devil's hands. So God himself took flesh in Jesus (John 1:14).
Mary obeyed the voice of God even though it was impossible. "What you find impossible, in Jesus, is possible." And often, he adds, "it is your ignorance that blocks you."
He testifies: for a very long time he was "hyper-religious," living under the law with "do nots" everywhere, still taking part in traditional customs. He did not know that he had within him someone more powerful, who had already delivered him from the law of sin and death.

5. Like Israel in Egypt, the Blood Had to Flow

The people of Israel spent 430 years in Pharaoh's hands, in suffering, tears and groaning. One day, God heard their cry (Exodus 2:23-24). "God heard your cry this morning."
God sent Moses with a mandate. But for the children of Israel to be delivered, blood had to flow, the blood of the lamb. For us, Egypt is the world.
The same mission entrusted to Moses was entrusted to Christ Jesus, with these words from the Father: "You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Under the old covenant, sacrifices covered sin from year to year. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). By his blood he wiped out the record that stood against us (Colossians 2:14).

6. Jesus Does Not Separate Two Friends: Separate Yourself From What Is Destroying You

"I will give you a secret: Jesus does not separate two friends." If hatred, lies or anger are your friend, the choice is yours. Jesus came to deal with everything at once: past sin, present sin, and even the sin of the child who is not yet born.
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock" (Revelation 3:20). Our God is respectful, "he is polite": he knocks and waits for us to open, whereas the devil walks in without ceremony.
As with Cain, God says: "sin crouches at the door" (Genesis 4:7). Cain hated his brother, and whoever hates his brother is a murderer (1 John 3:15). The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:23).
"Separate yourself from that friend, from that partner. This is an important message. I insist." The friends whose advice you follow waste your time and your life: on the day of suffering, you will be alone. But with Christ, he will come to your rescue.
"Obeying the word of God makes you powerful." Obedience opens your heaven and brings back what was far from you. Disobedience makes you an enemy of God: "How can I be a preacher, how can I be a singer, if I live in disobedience?"
Elder Joseph works at the hospital and goes every day into the wards and even the morgues. He tells how his wife was written off by the doctors, who gave her only a few weeks. Part of her hands and legs were amputated, but she did not give up her faith, and she lives. At the hospital he was able to encourage a young girl who had lost both hands by showing her photos of his wife.
The day his supervisor was in tears because he had been told his son was going to die, he took him in his arms: "Your child will not die. The God who raised my wife will also step in for your son." The child is in good health today. "God wants to use your mouth and what he has placed in you."

7. Jesus Died and Rose Again: Grace That Remains

"Abundant life is found only in Christ Jesus." Your friend, your spouse, your father: if he does not have Jesus, he does not have this life.
"I am not talking about the Jesus who was on the cross, but about the Jesus who died and rose again." Through his death he gave us salvation, deliverance, healing and blessing. But "a dead man does not give life. The one who gives life is the one who is alive."
We were plugged into the old man, into a tree that bears only death. Jesus came to uproot that tree from its root. There is no fruit without seed: God had Jesus, his only Son, as the seed, in order to have sons and daughters.
On the mountain of the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-5), Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus. Moses represents the law, Elijah the prophets. Then both disappear, and the Father's voice says: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him." Jesus remains, representing grace.
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death" (Romans 8:2).

8. Born Again, From the Heart and From the Mouth

To live the abundant life, you must go through the new birth (John 3:1-6). Every child is born through a woman, that is the first birth. But to enter the kingdom of God, you must be born of the Spirit: "that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
"The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart" (Romans 10:8). "The heart and the mouth cannot be separated. They are linked." When you are filled with the word of God, it ends up being proclaimed.
"If you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). "Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed" (Romans 10:11).
The message ends with a call to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, with this clarification: "Salvation is personal. It is not your mother's faith."

Key Takeaways

Abundant life is found only in Christ Jesus: without him, life is not abundant.
A child of God is not just anybody. The one who is in them is greater, but distraction makes them forget the weapons they hold in their hands.
We were redeemed, not with gold or silver, but by the precious blood of Christ, the Lamb of God.
Obeying the word of God makes you powerful. Jesus does not separate two friends: it is up to you to separate yourself from whatever is destroying your life.
Only a risen Christ gives life, and we enter into it through the new birth, by believing with the heart and confessing with the mouth.

Personal Application

What is distracting you today to the point that you forget who you are in Christ?
Is your Christian life the same at school, at work and at home as it is at Sunday worship?
What friendship, relationship or habit is the Holy Spirit asking you to leave behind?
In what area of your life do you need to obey the word of God this week?
Have you personally believed in your heart and confessed with your mouth that Jesus is risen and that he is your Lord?

Verses Cited

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is abundant life found, according to Elder Joseph?

For Elder Joseph, abundant life is found only in Christ Jesus. Without Christ, there is no abundant life. In him, we have life, movement and being, and we are freed from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).

Why does the preacher insist on Jesus who died and rose again?

Because "a dead man does not give life." Through his death, Jesus won for us salvation, deliverance, healing and blessing. But it is because he rose again that he can give eternal life: the one who gives life is the one who is alive.

How do you enter this abundant life?

Through the new birth (John 3:1-6): that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. According to Romans 10:9-11, you must believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and confess it with your mouth. The preacher reminds us that salvation is personal: it is not your mother's faith that saves you.