Monday, July 28, 2008
Biblical Unity
Biblical unity is a unity that is founded on an essential common understanding of Christian theology. Those who say that we should somehow "unite" despite important disagreements in theology are urging not biblical unity, but humanistic unity, and thus have made themselves the enemies of Christ and the church. True unity must be based on a common and biblical theology.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
To all Christians and particularly to all Calvinist and Arminist:
Those Christians who claimed that “once saved always saved”, how can they be sure enough that they are truly saved always? And those Christians who stated themselves that “Those who truly saved can lose their salvation”, what exactly was going to do to keep the salvation so it cannot be lost?
The precise and legitimate answers (for both of them) can be found on the following:
They should be Merciful
• Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matt 5:7 NIV
• Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36 NIV
• I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. Rom 9:15-16 NIV
• Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! James 2:13 NIV
They should Humble Themselves
• Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Matt 5:5 NIV
• For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matt 23:12 NIV
• God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6 NIV
• Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 1 Cor 13:4 NIV
The question that Calvinist/Arminist (and to the individual who claimed they are Christian) should ask to themselves is, “Am I being merciful”? Merciful to others particularly to those of whom sometimes (or oftentimes) am I getting angry with? No one can’t deny, it will not passed that within one week or a month that you are easily get angry and lose temper to someone. Maybe you think you have no hatred or not disgusted or not hot tempered with someone but surely as it was, if not those people inside in your church (Pastors, Elder, Workers and co members) definitely are the people living inside your own home (Husband and Wife, Father and son and daughter, including the members of the extended families). Those are the people you encountered with a friction.
One truth lies here, that any Christians who harbour hatred, bitterness, anger and wrath in their mind and in their heart towards their neighbour especially with their brethren, there is one thing they should mind about. And that is he/she is not being merciful and yet can be accounted as not being truly saved. The Bible said, Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him (1 John 3:15). Also the Bible said that those who are angry is the same as committing a murder (Mat 5:22). Therefore, those Christians who are angry with others are not truly saved because no murderer has eternal life in him. Take note, a murderer has no eternal life and therefore not saved. The Bible tells the difference, “ This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. 1 John 3:10. Therefore, anyone who claimed they are really Christians but has hatred toward others he/she is not doing what is right and is not a child of God-not saved!
One more question to all Christians, (also to Calvinist and Arminist) are you a kind of Christian who are down to earth- Humble? Have you become proud on the things you have? Are pride creeps in your heart that you are not aware of it? Better to check yourself and take this admonition, anyone who claimed to be the son of God that are not humble but becoming proud were putting themselves in danger of falling. If there’s any kind of pride build up in them they might end just like as what happened to Lucifer. Do you know why Lucifer who is formerly known as the “beautiful bright morning star” were condemned and rejected from heaven? It is the Pride!
Have you ever comes into your minds that Lucifer who led many angels to worship and glorify God has a position that is eternal? Lucifer is supposed to be eternally secured in heaven, it means he is eternally saved! . But because of his ambition and the more desirous of becoming like as of God, his pride led him to his downfall and in due time will be cast down into the lake of fire. With him to be cast down into the lake of fire are those people who claimed they are Christians, who said they are called by God, being led by God and can do miracles but found and prove to be having proud (pride) of themselves. ’’ Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Matt 7:22-23. Being proud actually breeds many kinds of evildoing. In the same way evildoing breeds pride even more.
Therefore, those Christian who claimed they are “once saved always saved”, and “Those who truly saved can lose their salvation” must be careful and look themselves onto the mirror of the Ten Commandments. Because breaking even one of the law will conceived pride and if not aware it will give birth to a more pride (sin) and when it is full grown gives birth to (sting of death) death. (Jam 1:15). And the Bible said, “ God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6. Pride is very dangerous!
Therefore, so for a Christian to be “always saved” and that “salvation cannot be loss”, one must be humble always and must be merciful always at all times. Read The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector Luk 18:9-14; The Parable of the Prodigal Son Luk 15:11-32
The precise and legitimate answers (for both of them) can be found on the following:
They should be Merciful
• Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matt 5:7 NIV
• Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36 NIV
• I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. Rom 9:15-16 NIV
• Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! James 2:13 NIV
They should Humble Themselves
• Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Matt 5:5 NIV
• For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matt 23:12 NIV
• God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6 NIV
• Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 1 Cor 13:4 NIV
The question that Calvinist/Arminist (and to the individual who claimed they are Christian) should ask to themselves is, “Am I being merciful”? Merciful to others particularly to those of whom sometimes (or oftentimes) am I getting angry with? No one can’t deny, it will not passed that within one week or a month that you are easily get angry and lose temper to someone. Maybe you think you have no hatred or not disgusted or not hot tempered with someone but surely as it was, if not those people inside in your church (Pastors, Elder, Workers and co members) definitely are the people living inside your own home (Husband and Wife, Father and son and daughter, including the members of the extended families). Those are the people you encountered with a friction.
One truth lies here, that any Christians who harbour hatred, bitterness, anger and wrath in their mind and in their heart towards their neighbour especially with their brethren, there is one thing they should mind about. And that is he/she is not being merciful and yet can be accounted as not being truly saved. The Bible said, Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him (1 John 3:15). Also the Bible said that those who are angry is the same as committing a murder (Mat 5:22). Therefore, those Christians who are angry with others are not truly saved because no murderer has eternal life in him. Take note, a murderer has no eternal life and therefore not saved. The Bible tells the difference, “ This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. 1 John 3:10. Therefore, anyone who claimed they are really Christians but has hatred toward others he/she is not doing what is right and is not a child of God-not saved!
One more question to all Christians, (also to Calvinist and Arminist) are you a kind of Christian who are down to earth- Humble? Have you become proud on the things you have? Are pride creeps in your heart that you are not aware of it? Better to check yourself and take this admonition, anyone who claimed to be the son of God that are not humble but becoming proud were putting themselves in danger of falling. If there’s any kind of pride build up in them they might end just like as what happened to Lucifer. Do you know why Lucifer who is formerly known as the “beautiful bright morning star” were condemned and rejected from heaven? It is the Pride!
Have you ever comes into your minds that Lucifer who led many angels to worship and glorify God has a position that is eternal? Lucifer is supposed to be eternally secured in heaven, it means he is eternally saved! . But because of his ambition and the more desirous of becoming like as of God, his pride led him to his downfall and in due time will be cast down into the lake of fire. With him to be cast down into the lake of fire are those people who claimed they are Christians, who said they are called by God, being led by God and can do miracles but found and prove to be having proud (pride) of themselves. ’’ Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Matt 7:22-23. Being proud actually breeds many kinds of evildoing. In the same way evildoing breeds pride even more.
Therefore, those Christian who claimed they are “once saved always saved”, and “Those who truly saved can lose their salvation” must be careful and look themselves onto the mirror of the Ten Commandments. Because breaking even one of the law will conceived pride and if not aware it will give birth to a more pride (sin) and when it is full grown gives birth to (sting of death) death. (Jam 1:15). And the Bible said, “ God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6. Pride is very dangerous!
Therefore, so for a Christian to be “always saved” and that “salvation cannot be loss”, one must be humble always and must be merciful always at all times. Read The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector Luk 18:9-14; The Parable of the Prodigal Son Luk 15:11-32
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Developing Discipline
DEVELOPING DISCIPLINE
By Dr. John C. Maxwell
H.P. Liddon said, "What we do on some great occasions will probably depend upon what we already are, and what we are will be the result of previous years of self-discipline." I believe that with all of my heart.
Discipline is doing what you really do not want to do, so you can do what you really want to do. What makes it hard is that in our own human nature, we do not want to do certain things, and so therefore, what happens is we have a tendency to be undisciplined in the areas that we do not care to do.
Three areas to develop discipline:
1. Disciplined Thinking.
George Bernard Shaw said, "Few people think more than two or three times a year. I have made an international reputation for myself by thinking once or twice a week."
I am in the process of writing a new book. The whole book is based on the idea that people who understand how to get to the top and stay there are people who think their way to the top.
One of the major differences in this discipline of thinking is that people that think their way to the top have the ability to do what I call "sustained thinking." They have the ability to think on an issue for a long period of time, until that issue becomes clear on the decision that should be made.
People who do not think their way to the top have the unwillingness of discipline to master sustained thinking. They will think about something for a while, and then they will get off it and go on to something else.
They have never learned how to discipline their thoughts by
writing them down. I always keep a pad with me of things that I am thinking. I write thoughts down so that I can stay concentrated and disciplined in that area.
2. Disciplined Emotions.
We have choices when it comes to our emotions:
1. We can master them, or
2. They can master us.
I was playing golf the other day at East Lake Country Club, a great golf course here in Atlanta. It is known for being the links where Bobby Jones played. As you may or may not know, he is a legendary golfer who won a major tournament at twenty-one. By age twenty-eight, he had already won the grand slam and retired.
Jones had an uncle who said that by the time he was fourteen, Bobby was probably already the best golfer in the world. He certainly was popular. However, Jones was also known for his temper because he would throw his clubs when he got irritated. Jones's uncle sat down with him and said, "Bobby, your problem is you've mastered the game of golf, but you haven't mastered your emotions; and until you master your emotions, you'll never be a champion in golf."
3. Disciplined Actions.
I call the two actions of initiating and closing the "bookends of success" because I really think they are.
I know some that can initiate but they can never close; I know some people that can close but they can never get it cranked up. You have to kick start them every time. When you can do both, initiate and close, you have the bookends to success.
Allow me to leave you with this closing thought about developing discipline: you cannot give what you do not have, and self- improvement precedes team improvement.
The only way that I can keep leading is to keep growing. The day I stop growing, somebody else takes the leadership baton. That is the way it always is.
By Dr. John C. Maxwell
H.P. Liddon said, "What we do on some great occasions will probably depend upon what we already are, and what we are will be the result of previous years of self-discipline." I believe that with all of my heart.
Discipline is doing what you really do not want to do, so you can do what you really want to do. What makes it hard is that in our own human nature, we do not want to do certain things, and so therefore, what happens is we have a tendency to be undisciplined in the areas that we do not care to do.
Three areas to develop discipline:
1. Disciplined Thinking.
George Bernard Shaw said, "Few people think more than two or three times a year. I have made an international reputation for myself by thinking once or twice a week."
I am in the process of writing a new book. The whole book is based on the idea that people who understand how to get to the top and stay there are people who think their way to the top.
One of the major differences in this discipline of thinking is that people that think their way to the top have the ability to do what I call "sustained thinking." They have the ability to think on an issue for a long period of time, until that issue becomes clear on the decision that should be made.
People who do not think their way to the top have the unwillingness of discipline to master sustained thinking. They will think about something for a while, and then they will get off it and go on to something else.
They have never learned how to discipline their thoughts by
writing them down. I always keep a pad with me of things that I am thinking. I write thoughts down so that I can stay concentrated and disciplined in that area.
2. Disciplined Emotions.
We have choices when it comes to our emotions:
1. We can master them, or
2. They can master us.
I was playing golf the other day at East Lake Country Club, a great golf course here in Atlanta. It is known for being the links where Bobby Jones played. As you may or may not know, he is a legendary golfer who won a major tournament at twenty-one. By age twenty-eight, he had already won the grand slam and retired.
Jones had an uncle who said that by the time he was fourteen, Bobby was probably already the best golfer in the world. He certainly was popular. However, Jones was also known for his temper because he would throw his clubs when he got irritated. Jones's uncle sat down with him and said, "Bobby, your problem is you've mastered the game of golf, but you haven't mastered your emotions; and until you master your emotions, you'll never be a champion in golf."
3. Disciplined Actions.
I call the two actions of initiating and closing the "bookends of success" because I really think they are.
I know some that can initiate but they can never close; I know some people that can close but they can never get it cranked up. You have to kick start them every time. When you can do both, initiate and close, you have the bookends to success.
Allow me to leave you with this closing thought about developing discipline: you cannot give what you do not have, and self- improvement precedes team improvement.
The only way that I can keep leading is to keep growing. The day I stop growing, somebody else takes the leadership baton. That is the way it always is.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Does the New Covenant Abolish the Commandments?
Does the New Covenant Abolish the Commandments?
by United Church of God
The Bible tells us that Christ came as the Mediator of a new covenant (Heb 8:6). The popular belief that the New Covenant abolishes God’s law reflects a misunderstanding of both covenants. God tells us that He altered the original covenant and made a better covenant which was established on better promises” (verse 6). But it was not established on diferrent laws. The laws stayed the same.
There was however, a weakness, or fault, in the original covenant. That fault was with the people, not with the law. “Because finding fault with them, He says: Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah” (verse 8). It was because the people “did not continue in My covenant, and I disregard them, says the Lord” (verse 9).
In the Old Covenant God wrote the law on tablets of stone. It was external, not part of the thinking and motives of the people. It was in their literature but not in their hearts. In the New Covenant God writes the law in the minds and hearts of His people (Heb 8:10; Jer 31:33-34).
To enable people to internalize His law---to love it and obey it eagerly and willingly---God makes this promise: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgements and do them” (Eze 36:26-27). God’s spirit enables His people to obey His laws.
People lacking the Holy Spirit are incapable of wholeheartedly obedience. Why? “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God”. (Rom 8:7-8).
This is why the Old Covenant and the New Covenant differ. Paul explains that “what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh” God has accomplished by sending Jesus, who overcame the pulls of the flesh and “condemned sin [lawlessness] in the flesh, hat the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according the Spirit” (Rom 8:3-4; see also 1 Jon 3:4).
The International Critical Commentary, in reference to Rom 8:4, says: God’s purpose in condemning sin was that His law’s requirement might be fulfilled in us, that is, that His law might be established in the sense of at last being truly and sincerely obeyed--- the fulfillment of the promises of Jer 31:33 and Eze 36:26”.
In a footnote to Jer 31:33-34 the commentary explains that this passage “is often misunderstood as a new promise of a new law to take the place of the old or else as a promise of a religion without law at all. But the new thing promised in verse 33 is, in fact, neither a new law nor freedom from law, but a sincere inward desire and determination on the part of God’s people to obey the law already given to them…”
The following passages in the New Testament confirm, either explicitly or by example, that Jesus Christ and the Apostles viewed the Ten Commandments as a necessary part of Christian living.
1st Commandment: Mat 4:10; 22:37-38
2nd Commandment: 1 Jon 5:21; 1 Cor 6:9; 10:7, 14; Eph 5:5
3rd Commandment: Mat 5:33-34; 7:21-23; Luk 11:2; 1 Tim 6:1
4th Commandment: Luk 4:16; Acts 13:14, 42, 44; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4; Heb 4:4,9
5th Commandment: Mat 15:3-6; 19:17-19; Eph 6:2-3
6th Commandment: Mat 5:21-22; 19:17-18; Rom 13:9, Gal 5:19-21; Jam 2:10-12
7th Commandment: Mat 5:27-28; 19:17-18; Rom 13:9; Gal 5:19-21; 1 Cor 6:9,
10:8; Eph 5:5; Gal 5:19-21; Jam 3:10-12
8th Commandment: Mat 19:17-18; Rom 13:9; Eph 4:28
9th Commandment: Mat 19:17-18; Rom 13:9; Col 3:9; Eph 4:25
10th Commandment: Luk 12:15; Rom 7:7, 13:9; Eph 5:3,5
by United Church of God
The Bible tells us that Christ came as the Mediator of a new covenant (Heb 8:6). The popular belief that the New Covenant abolishes God’s law reflects a misunderstanding of both covenants. God tells us that He altered the original covenant and made a better covenant which was established on better promises” (verse 6). But it was not established on diferrent laws. The laws stayed the same.
There was however, a weakness, or fault, in the original covenant. That fault was with the people, not with the law. “Because finding fault with them, He says: Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah” (verse 8). It was because the people “did not continue in My covenant, and I disregard them, says the Lord” (verse 9).
In the Old Covenant God wrote the law on tablets of stone. It was external, not part of the thinking and motives of the people. It was in their literature but not in their hearts. In the New Covenant God writes the law in the minds and hearts of His people (Heb 8:10; Jer 31:33-34).
To enable people to internalize His law---to love it and obey it eagerly and willingly---God makes this promise: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgements and do them” (Eze 36:26-27). God’s spirit enables His people to obey His laws.
People lacking the Holy Spirit are incapable of wholeheartedly obedience. Why? “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God”. (Rom 8:7-8).
This is why the Old Covenant and the New Covenant differ. Paul explains that “what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh” God has accomplished by sending Jesus, who overcame the pulls of the flesh and “condemned sin [lawlessness] in the flesh, hat the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according the Spirit” (Rom 8:3-4; see also 1 Jon 3:4).
The International Critical Commentary, in reference to Rom 8:4, says: God’s purpose in condemning sin was that His law’s requirement might be fulfilled in us, that is, that His law might be established in the sense of at last being truly and sincerely obeyed--- the fulfillment of the promises of Jer 31:33 and Eze 36:26”.
In a footnote to Jer 31:33-34 the commentary explains that this passage “is often misunderstood as a new promise of a new law to take the place of the old or else as a promise of a religion without law at all. But the new thing promised in verse 33 is, in fact, neither a new law nor freedom from law, but a sincere inward desire and determination on the part of God’s people to obey the law already given to them…”
The following passages in the New Testament confirm, either explicitly or by example, that Jesus Christ and the Apostles viewed the Ten Commandments as a necessary part of Christian living.
1st Commandment: Mat 4:10; 22:37-38
2nd Commandment: 1 Jon 5:21; 1 Cor 6:9; 10:7, 14; Eph 5:5
3rd Commandment: Mat 5:33-34; 7:21-23; Luk 11:2; 1 Tim 6:1
4th Commandment: Luk 4:16; Acts 13:14, 42, 44; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4; Heb 4:4,9
5th Commandment: Mat 15:3-6; 19:17-19; Eph 6:2-3
6th Commandment: Mat 5:21-22; 19:17-18; Rom 13:9, Gal 5:19-21; Jam 2:10-12
7th Commandment: Mat 5:27-28; 19:17-18; Rom 13:9; Gal 5:19-21; 1 Cor 6:9,
10:8; Eph 5:5; Gal 5:19-21; Jam 3:10-12
8th Commandment: Mat 19:17-18; Rom 13:9; Eph 4:28
9th Commandment: Mat 19:17-18; Rom 13:9; Col 3:9; Eph 4:25
10th Commandment: Luk 12:15; Rom 7:7, 13:9; Eph 5:3,5
Thursday, July 10, 2008
The Ten Commandments in the New Testament
The Ten Commandments in the New Testament
by United Church of God
The longest chapter in the bible is an extended praise of God’s Word and law, “Great peace have they who love your law and nothing can make them stumble,” it tell us, “I wait for your salvation, O Lord, and I follow your commands, I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly” (Psa 119:165-167, NIV)
If only the whole world would view God’s law in that light! But to our shame, the Ten Commandments have been rejected as the standard of human behavior by our society. Even many who profess to follow Christ today treat them as irrelevant because they have been taught that God’s law was abolished at Christ’s death.
Yet God’s Word tells us that His law is “perfect” and His ordinances “are sure and altogether righteous” (Psa 19:7,9). Accordingly, the enthusiastic author above again affirmed, “I will always obey your law, for ever and ever” (Psa 119:44)
Many people have heard that Jesus abolished the Old Testament laws. Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolished the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolished them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Mat 5:17-19)
Again, Jesus spoke clearly and to the point, God’s law has not been abolished, and according to Christ’s own words, anyone who teaches so is directly contradicting Him and is in serious spiritual trouble.
Many assume they do not need to keep God’s law because Christ “fulfilled” it. But these people fundamentally misunderstand Christ’s clear words. The word translated fulfill in this passage means “to make full, to fill to the full” (Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, “Fill”), and that is exactly what Jesus did. He perfectly kept the Ten Commandments and completely filled their meaning. He showed their spiritual intent, explaining that unjustified anger equates with murder (verse 21-22), and lust is mental and emotional adultery (verse 27-28). Jesus expanded the intent of the Ten Commandments.
Jesus expects much more from us than lip service. He demands that we do as the Father has commanded, Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Mat 7:21).
Jesus plainly taught obedience to God’s law.
by United Church of God
The longest chapter in the bible is an extended praise of God’s Word and law, “Great peace have they who love your law and nothing can make them stumble,” it tell us, “I wait for your salvation, O Lord, and I follow your commands, I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly” (Psa 119:165-167, NIV)
If only the whole world would view God’s law in that light! But to our shame, the Ten Commandments have been rejected as the standard of human behavior by our society. Even many who profess to follow Christ today treat them as irrelevant because they have been taught that God’s law was abolished at Christ’s death.
Yet God’s Word tells us that His law is “perfect” and His ordinances “are sure and altogether righteous” (Psa 19:7,9). Accordingly, the enthusiastic author above again affirmed, “I will always obey your law, for ever and ever” (Psa 119:44)
Many people have heard that Jesus abolished the Old Testament laws. Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolished the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolished them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Mat 5:17-19)
Again, Jesus spoke clearly and to the point, God’s law has not been abolished, and according to Christ’s own words, anyone who teaches so is directly contradicting Him and is in serious spiritual trouble.
Many assume they do not need to keep God’s law because Christ “fulfilled” it. But these people fundamentally misunderstand Christ’s clear words. The word translated fulfill in this passage means “to make full, to fill to the full” (Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, “Fill”), and that is exactly what Jesus did. He perfectly kept the Ten Commandments and completely filled their meaning. He showed their spiritual intent, explaining that unjustified anger equates with murder (verse 21-22), and lust is mental and emotional adultery (verse 27-28). Jesus expanded the intent of the Ten Commandments.
Jesus expects much more from us than lip service. He demands that we do as the Father has commanded, Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Mat 7:21).
Jesus plainly taught obedience to God’s law.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Personal Discipline
Personal Discipline
A.W. Tozer
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. --1 Corinthians 9:24-25
Another trap into which the preacher is in danger of falling is that he may do what comes naturally and just take it easy. I know how ticklish this matter is and, while my writing this will not win me friends, I hope it may influence people in the right direction. It is easy for the minister to be turned into a privileged idler, a social parasite with an open palm and an expectant look. He has no boss within sight; he is not often required to keep regular hours, so he can work out a comfortable pattern of life that permits him to loaf, putter, play, doze and run about at his pleasure. And many do just that.
To avoid this danger the minister should voluntarily impose upon himself a life of labor as arduous as that of a farmer, a serious student or a scientist. No man has any right to a way of life less rugged than that of the workers who support him. No preacher has any right to die of old age if hard work will kill him. God Tells the Man Who Cares, 94-95.
"Lord, I entered the ministry not because I considered it an easy or prestigious job. I'm here because I was called, compelled, and committed. Help me to work hard and faithfully today, driven by that original sense of passion. Amen."
A.W. Tozer
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. --1 Corinthians 9:24-25
Another trap into which the preacher is in danger of falling is that he may do what comes naturally and just take it easy. I know how ticklish this matter is and, while my writing this will not win me friends, I hope it may influence people in the right direction. It is easy for the minister to be turned into a privileged idler, a social parasite with an open palm and an expectant look. He has no boss within sight; he is not often required to keep regular hours, so he can work out a comfortable pattern of life that permits him to loaf, putter, play, doze and run about at his pleasure. And many do just that.
To avoid this danger the minister should voluntarily impose upon himself a life of labor as arduous as that of a farmer, a serious student or a scientist. No man has any right to a way of life less rugged than that of the workers who support him. No preacher has any right to die of old age if hard work will kill him. God Tells the Man Who Cares, 94-95.
"Lord, I entered the ministry not because I considered it an easy or prestigious job. I'm here because I was called, compelled, and committed. Help me to work hard and faithfully today, driven by that original sense of passion. Amen."
Friday, July 4, 2008
All Noble Things are Difficult
All Noble Things are Difficult
Oswald Chambers
Enter ye in at the strait gate . . because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way. . . (Matthew 7:13-14)
If we are going to live as disciples of Jesus, we have to remember that all noble things are difficult. The Christian life is gloriously difficult, but the difficulty of it does not make us faint and cave in, it rouses us up to overcome. Do we so appreciate the marvellous salvation of Jesus Christ that we are our utmost for His highest?
God saves men by His sovereign grace through the Atonement of Jesus; He works in us to will and to do of His good pleasure; but we have to work out that salvation in practical living. If once we start on the basis of His Redemption to do what He commands, we find that we can do it. If we fail, it is because we have not practised. The crisis will reveal whether we have been practising or not. If we obey the Spirit of God and practise in our physical life what God has put in us by His Spirit, then when the crisis comes, we shall find that our own nature as well as the grace of God will stand by us.
Thank God He does give us difficult things to do! His salvation is a glad thing, but it is also a heroic, holy thing. It tests us for all we are worth. Jesus is bringing many "sons" unto glory, and God will not shield us from the requirements of a son. God's grace turns out men and women with a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ, not milk sops. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to live the noble life of a disciple of Jesus in actual things. It is always necessary to make an effort to be noble.
Oswald Chambers
Enter ye in at the strait gate . . because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way. . . (Matthew 7:13-14)
If we are going to live as disciples of Jesus, we have to remember that all noble things are difficult. The Christian life is gloriously difficult, but the difficulty of it does not make us faint and cave in, it rouses us up to overcome. Do we so appreciate the marvellous salvation of Jesus Christ that we are our utmost for His highest?
God saves men by His sovereign grace through the Atonement of Jesus; He works in us to will and to do of His good pleasure; but we have to work out that salvation in practical living. If once we start on the basis of His Redemption to do what He commands, we find that we can do it. If we fail, it is because we have not practised. The crisis will reveal whether we have been practising or not. If we obey the Spirit of God and practise in our physical life what God has put in us by His Spirit, then when the crisis comes, we shall find that our own nature as well as the grace of God will stand by us.
Thank God He does give us difficult things to do! His salvation is a glad thing, but it is also a heroic, holy thing. It tests us for all we are worth. Jesus is bringing many "sons" unto glory, and God will not shield us from the requirements of a son. God's grace turns out men and women with a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ, not milk sops. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to live the noble life of a disciple of Jesus in actual things. It is always necessary to make an effort to be noble.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
End-Time Message to all Married and Unmarried
End-Time Message to all Married and Unmarried:
Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck!Luk. 23:29
Woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! Matt.24:19
• The Difference Between the Unmarried and Married
An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs- how he can please the Lord.But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world- how he can please his wife- and his interest are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world- how she can please her husband. 1 Cor.7:32-34
• The Different Situation of Others
I tell you that anyone who divorce his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commit adultery. The disciples said to Him,”If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry, Jesus replied,”not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it had been given. For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounce marriage because of the Kingdom of Heaven. The one who can accept this (he/she that is able) should accept it. Matt.19:9-12
• There’s no Difference as in the days of Noah, and in the days of Jesus.
Just as it was in the days of Noah so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking , marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. Luk.17:26-27
Time is Short!
What I mean brothers is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn as if they did not; those who are happy as if they were not; those who buy something as if they were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. 1 Cor. 7:29-31
Nowadays, many married spend the major part of their lives on the affairs of this world. Such as craving for much money, wealth and desires more possessions of the things of the world rather than on the things of God. They actually reserved a very small portion of their lives concerning on the Lord’s affairs.
While those many unmarried people today they dreaming of a marriage. They prefer to get married rather than to be get excited for the Lord’s return. If we ask them, if supposed Christ will return next year, they will rather eager to be married first and to have children, and begging not for Jesus coming again. It seems that heaven is not a happier place for them to imagine.
It’s ironic, many married wish they have not been married and many unmarried wish they are married. The fact is, that marriage is a very serious matter and is not a big joke. So, for those who are unmarried better to think not only twice but a hundred times before you decide to get married or not. And for the husbands and wives, do make every effort not to separate for whatever reason or caused. Keep in mind that the adulterer, the fornicator and the sexually immoral will not go unpunished. The wrath of God awaits to anyone who do such detestable things.(Heb 13:4)
Now therefore, if you claimed you are a true Christian whether married or unmarried. This is the right time that you must get involve on the Lord’s affairs, and set yourself to be more and more godly and holy in this wicked and adulterous generation.
God gives us a time and a clear “signs of the times”, so that we can dress up and make our self ready for the soon coming affairs- The Great Banquet and The Marriage of the Lamb.
Everything will be ready in a moment and everyone is invited. Blessed are those who will come.
Read:
The Parable of the Great Banquet Luk 14:16-23
The Parable of the Ten Virgins Mat 25:1-13
Readiness for Christ Return Luk 12:35-48
The Lord’s Affairs of Aquila and Priscilla 1 Cor. 16:19; Rom 16:3-4;Acts 18:26
Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck!Luk. 23:29
Woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! Matt.24:19
• The Difference Between the Unmarried and Married
An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs- how he can please the Lord.But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world- how he can please his wife- and his interest are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world- how she can please her husband. 1 Cor.7:32-34
• The Different Situation of Others
I tell you that anyone who divorce his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commit adultery. The disciples said to Him,”If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry, Jesus replied,”not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it had been given. For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounce marriage because of the Kingdom of Heaven. The one who can accept this (he/she that is able) should accept it. Matt.19:9-12
• There’s no Difference as in the days of Noah, and in the days of Jesus.
Just as it was in the days of Noah so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking , marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. Luk.17:26-27
Time is Short!
What I mean brothers is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn as if they did not; those who are happy as if they were not; those who buy something as if they were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. 1 Cor. 7:29-31
Nowadays, many married spend the major part of their lives on the affairs of this world. Such as craving for much money, wealth and desires more possessions of the things of the world rather than on the things of God. They actually reserved a very small portion of their lives concerning on the Lord’s affairs.
While those many unmarried people today they dreaming of a marriage. They prefer to get married rather than to be get excited for the Lord’s return. If we ask them, if supposed Christ will return next year, they will rather eager to be married first and to have children, and begging not for Jesus coming again. It seems that heaven is not a happier place for them to imagine.
It’s ironic, many married wish they have not been married and many unmarried wish they are married. The fact is, that marriage is a very serious matter and is not a big joke. So, for those who are unmarried better to think not only twice but a hundred times before you decide to get married or not. And for the husbands and wives, do make every effort not to separate for whatever reason or caused. Keep in mind that the adulterer, the fornicator and the sexually immoral will not go unpunished. The wrath of God awaits to anyone who do such detestable things.(Heb 13:4)
Now therefore, if you claimed you are a true Christian whether married or unmarried. This is the right time that you must get involve on the Lord’s affairs, and set yourself to be more and more godly and holy in this wicked and adulterous generation.
God gives us a time and a clear “signs of the times”, so that we can dress up and make our self ready for the soon coming affairs- The Great Banquet and The Marriage of the Lamb.
Everything will be ready in a moment and everyone is invited. Blessed are those who will come.
Read:
The Parable of the Great Banquet Luk 14:16-23
The Parable of the Ten Virgins Mat 25:1-13
Readiness for Christ Return Luk 12:35-48
The Lord’s Affairs of Aquila and Priscilla 1 Cor. 16:19; Rom 16:3-4;Acts 18:26
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