Is your body completely saved from the danger of the fire of hell? How to tell if the members of your body were altogether saved? See what the bible said about the members of the body:
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. (Mat 5:27-29)
And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. (Mat 5:30)
This is a very serious teaching of Jesus not on the unsaved but more so on the saved persons. Just only one small member of the body causes to sin will put the whole body along with the whole being in the danger of the fire of hell. No wonder, many who prophesied, cast out devil and do many wonderful works in the name of Jesus will not enter heaven (Mat 7:21-23). Why? It because of the iniquities they did, such as the wickedness done by their hand and eyes, which is the lust of the flesh and lust of the eyes.
And much iniquity why many will not enter heaven is because of the tongue. James said that the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity an unruly evil, full of deadly poison and no one can tame: that it defiles the whole body and it is set on fire of hell. (Jas Chap. 3)
Therefore, a saved person must always be on the watch to the members of his body which is the hand, eye and particularly the tongue. Lying and boasting (exaggeration) must be put away from the tongue- a very dangerous member of the body. Look at what happen to Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10)
The Paradox of the Biblical Salvation is all about the continuous saving of oneself (by surpassing the law which is the Ten Commandments) to save the members of the body (hand, eyes, tongue) completely from the danger of the fire of hell.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
“Work Out Your Salvation” (from the power of sin)
A well prominent man of God had preached a very important matter on the subject of salvation a saved person must need to understand:
“We are not to work out our salvation from the guilt of sin—that has been done by Christ. We have now to work out our salvation from the power of sin. God has, in effect, worked that in us—He has broken the yoke of sin in our hearts. It lives, and struggles, and contends—but it is dethroned and our life is to be the continual overthrow and dethronement of sin in our members. A man may be saved from the guilt of sin, and yet at present he may not be altogether saved from the power of pride. For instance, a saved man may be defiled by being purse-proud, or proud of his position, or of his talents”. (from the sermon entitled, “Working Out What is Worked In” by C.H. Spurgeon )
As what Charles Spurgeon said, “A man may be saved from the guilt of sin, and yet at present he may not be altogether saved from the power of pride. For instance, a saved man may be defiled by being purse-proud, or proud of his position, or of his talents”.
When a saved person became purse-proud he is not altogether saved because God oppose the proud: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6 NIV. And in the book of Proverbs, “The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished”. Prov 16:5NIV
A saved person must continue to work out the salvation by surpassing the Law “Now” which is the Ten Commandments. They are the Ten Commandments teach by the Lord Jesus and the Apostles in the New Testament.
“Work Out Your Salvation” from the power of sin (which is also called the “sting of death”) can be done through the following:
Bible reading
Prayer
Fellowship
Witnessing
Surpassing the law “Now” (the Ten Commandments)
The part of sermon (stated above) of Charles Spurgeon contribute and complement to what I have already written regarding on the subject of Salvation entitled “The Paradox of the Biblical Salvation”.
“We are not to work out our salvation from the guilt of sin—that has been done by Christ. We have now to work out our salvation from the power of sin. God has, in effect, worked that in us—He has broken the yoke of sin in our hearts. It lives, and struggles, and contends—but it is dethroned and our life is to be the continual overthrow and dethronement of sin in our members. A man may be saved from the guilt of sin, and yet at present he may not be altogether saved from the power of pride. For instance, a saved man may be defiled by being purse-proud, or proud of his position, or of his talents”. (from the sermon entitled, “Working Out What is Worked In” by C.H. Spurgeon )
As what Charles Spurgeon said, “A man may be saved from the guilt of sin, and yet at present he may not be altogether saved from the power of pride. For instance, a saved man may be defiled by being purse-proud, or proud of his position, or of his talents”.
When a saved person became purse-proud he is not altogether saved because God oppose the proud: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6 NIV. And in the book of Proverbs, “The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished”. Prov 16:5NIV
A saved person must continue to work out the salvation by surpassing the Law “Now” which is the Ten Commandments. They are the Ten Commandments teach by the Lord Jesus and the Apostles in the New Testament.
“Work Out Your Salvation” from the power of sin (which is also called the “sting of death”) can be done through the following:
Bible reading
Prayer
Fellowship
Witnessing
Surpassing the law “Now” (the Ten Commandments)
The part of sermon (stated above) of Charles Spurgeon contribute and complement to what I have already written regarding on the subject of Salvation entitled “The Paradox of the Biblical Salvation”.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Murder in Prayer
Have you ever pray or wish to someone you hate to be “struck by lightning” or to be “slip with his feet”? Did you told “You fool” every time you get angry with others?
Murder while praying is happening everywhere including in the Church.
This is a very somber reminder to all Christian who pray to God. They must make sure that when praying particularly during in the church worship service, there should be no anger or thought of hatred toward others. No hatred whatsoever to your husband/wife or in any members of your household and including the relatives.
I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. 1 Tim 2:8 NIV
Jesus teaching about anger in Mat 5:21-26 can be clearly understood, “Anger is the same as Murder”. The Lord mentioned the 6th commandment in that scriptures, “You shall not murder” in which the full meaning is, “You shall not anger”.
If and when a Christian pray either in their house or in the church or everywhere with having anger, thought of hatred and resentment or bitter against someone, it is a direct transgression of the 6th commandment. Already he committed murder and more so, he might be in the danger of the fire of hell (v 22).
Therefore, when we pray let us make sure that our heart and mind are free from any sin and without anger, wrath, bitterness or hatred. But if we get angry the Bible tells us what to do:
Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. "Settle matters quickly with your adversary . Mat 5: 23-25 NIV
In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, Eph 4:26-27 NIV
Jesus teaching on the commandment “Thou shall not murder” is now “Thou shall not angry”. The “Now” commandment is what we should keep so to keep us from anger-murder.
Murder while praying is happening everywhere including in the Church.
This is a very somber reminder to all Christian who pray to God. They must make sure that when praying particularly during in the church worship service, there should be no anger or thought of hatred toward others. No hatred whatsoever to your husband/wife or in any members of your household and including the relatives.
I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. 1 Tim 2:8 NIV
Jesus teaching about anger in Mat 5:21-26 can be clearly understood, “Anger is the same as Murder”. The Lord mentioned the 6th commandment in that scriptures, “You shall not murder” in which the full meaning is, “You shall not anger”.
If and when a Christian pray either in their house or in the church or everywhere with having anger, thought of hatred and resentment or bitter against someone, it is a direct transgression of the 6th commandment. Already he committed murder and more so, he might be in the danger of the fire of hell (v 22).
Therefore, when we pray let us make sure that our heart and mind are free from any sin and without anger, wrath, bitterness or hatred. But if we get angry the Bible tells us what to do:
Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. "Settle matters quickly with your adversary . Mat 5: 23-25 NIV
In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, Eph 4:26-27 NIV
Jesus teaching on the commandment “Thou shall not murder” is now “Thou shall not angry”. The “Now” commandment is what we should keep so to keep us from anger-murder.
Monday, April 5, 2010
“Work Out” the Relationship
“Work out your salvation” is all about the working out by all saved person to build a loving and harmonious relationship with each other. And it is only can be fulfilled by surpassing the Law which is the Ten Commandments.
Building a right relationship among the believers is the very much concerns of Apostle Paul on his writing in Phil 2:12, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed — not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence — continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling”.
It is very logical why Paul urging the Philippians believers to “continue to work out your salvation”:
• We are a person born with a sinful nature, which is called “childhood-well used-selfishness-sinful nature-ingrained-habit”.
It means, I love to be first, I want to be above from others, I don’t want others to boss me around. Selfishness is an ingrained habit that need to be work out. It can only be done by learning the biblical principles of giving. The bible tells, “It is more blessed to give than to received”(Acts 20:35).
• We are not a person who easily to get along well with others.
In other words we are so easy to get angry with others even in some small matters. If they critic me, or say unkind words towards me or they making a fun of me and laugh at me I burst with anger on them. We need to work out this problem and it can be resolve by learning the biblical principles of forgiving.
• We are a person inclined to be disobedient and work not so well when a leader is not present.
“When the cat is away the mouse goes astray”, and that is true, we are like the mouse. Likewise, when a manager or the boss is not around the employees don’t do their job. Just the same in the Church, when the pastor is absent the workers and the members become insolent or wary to each other. More so if the pastor will be gone for a long time, envy and strife shall build up among them.
We must understand that Christianity is a social religion. Meaning, each of us believers must have a genuine fellowship or right relationship to all kinds of people specially to our brethren. Whether they are poor or rich, educated or not and whatever color of the skin all believers should be in harmony on following or obeying the command that say, ”Love your neighbor as yourself”.
If the believers for in some reason shall be against to other believers, what would be their difference from the unbelievers- the unsaved? When a believer will be against the other believer there would be a strife to each other. And when there are strife there are hatred and when there are hatred there are murder committed. Why there is a murder being committed? In the Bible, Jesus teaching about anger is very clear that “hatred which is also anger is the same as murder” (Mat 5:21-26). In that case, it is very plain to tell, all of them are not different from the person who murder someone. They are all murderer! (This case actually happened in the Corinthian Church 1 Cor 1:10-13)
Murder is a direct transgression of the 6th commandment, “You shall not murder” in which Jesus fully explained it as “You shall not be angry”. Apostle Peter also has more teaching on that case he said, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (1Jn 3:15)
Note: “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer” and “ no murderer hath eternal life”. Note also the word “brother”, why on that verse mentioned brother? As what usually happen in the family, when the parents particularly when the father is not present there would be envy and strife among the children.
All believers are children of God and each children have their own traits, temperament, and upbringing. As what it said, we are a “childhood-well used- selfishness-sinful nature-ingrained habits”, in which we are to make every effort to “work out” to transform ourselves from that condition. After we become completely transformed then we are no longer the same with the person who murder- who is unbeliever- who is unsaved.
The Law which is the Ten Commandments portrays and teach only one thing- relationship. Right relationship to God and to all man is what we are about to “work out”. If we have no right relationship to God and to all man, we are just like the unbelievers and the unsaved. That is why we need to “continue to work out our salvation” by surpassing the Law.
• As an individual believer we are to work out to remove completely our sinful nature-ingrained habit of being selfish, easily to get angry-hateful and bitter.
• As a Church we are to work out with all of our effort not to become like the Corinthian Church full of envy and strife and with all kinds of immorality.
Building a right relationship among the believers is the very much concerns of Apostle Paul on his writing in Phil 2:12, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed — not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence — continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling”.
It is very logical why Paul urging the Philippians believers to “continue to work out your salvation”:
• We are a person born with a sinful nature, which is called “childhood-well used-selfishness-sinful nature-ingrained-habit”.
It means, I love to be first, I want to be above from others, I don’t want others to boss me around. Selfishness is an ingrained habit that need to be work out. It can only be done by learning the biblical principles of giving. The bible tells, “It is more blessed to give than to received”(Acts 20:35).
• We are not a person who easily to get along well with others.
In other words we are so easy to get angry with others even in some small matters. If they critic me, or say unkind words towards me or they making a fun of me and laugh at me I burst with anger on them. We need to work out this problem and it can be resolve by learning the biblical principles of forgiving.
• We are a person inclined to be disobedient and work not so well when a leader is not present.
“When the cat is away the mouse goes astray”, and that is true, we are like the mouse. Likewise, when a manager or the boss is not around the employees don’t do their job. Just the same in the Church, when the pastor is absent the workers and the members become insolent or wary to each other. More so if the pastor will be gone for a long time, envy and strife shall build up among them.
We must understand that Christianity is a social religion. Meaning, each of us believers must have a genuine fellowship or right relationship to all kinds of people specially to our brethren. Whether they are poor or rich, educated or not and whatever color of the skin all believers should be in harmony on following or obeying the command that say, ”Love your neighbor as yourself”.
If the believers for in some reason shall be against to other believers, what would be their difference from the unbelievers- the unsaved? When a believer will be against the other believer there would be a strife to each other. And when there are strife there are hatred and when there are hatred there are murder committed. Why there is a murder being committed? In the Bible, Jesus teaching about anger is very clear that “hatred which is also anger is the same as murder” (Mat 5:21-26). In that case, it is very plain to tell, all of them are not different from the person who murder someone. They are all murderer! (This case actually happened in the Corinthian Church 1 Cor 1:10-13)
Murder is a direct transgression of the 6th commandment, “You shall not murder” in which Jesus fully explained it as “You shall not be angry”. Apostle Peter also has more teaching on that case he said, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (1Jn 3:15)
Note: “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer” and “ no murderer hath eternal life”. Note also the word “brother”, why on that verse mentioned brother? As what usually happen in the family, when the parents particularly when the father is not present there would be envy and strife among the children.
All believers are children of God and each children have their own traits, temperament, and upbringing. As what it said, we are a “childhood-well used- selfishness-sinful nature-ingrained habits”, in which we are to make every effort to “work out” to transform ourselves from that condition. After we become completely transformed then we are no longer the same with the person who murder- who is unbeliever- who is unsaved.
The Law which is the Ten Commandments portrays and teach only one thing- relationship. Right relationship to God and to all man is what we are about to “work out”. If we have no right relationship to God and to all man, we are just like the unbelievers and the unsaved. That is why we need to “continue to work out our salvation” by surpassing the Law.
• As an individual believer we are to work out to remove completely our sinful nature-ingrained habit of being selfish, easily to get angry-hateful and bitter.
• As a Church we are to work out with all of our effort not to become like the Corinthian Church full of envy and strife and with all kinds of immorality.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Love God With All Of Your Mind
Anyone who says they love God must learn to love Him with all of his mind. It means our whole mind must be focus on God alone. In whatever we think, do and say God will glorify. That’s how the state of our mind should be, (all things starts in the mind) because oftentimes our “mind’s eye” see different things including the detestable things in the sight of God. When the mind’s eyes see things not pleasing to God that mind is called “carnal mind”. Therefore in loving God with all of our mind, the mind must be a whole mind not half-mind which is carnal mind.
How to love God with all of our mind?
To love the Law “Now” is to love God with all of our mind. Like David in his Psalm we must love the Law, “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long”. Ps 119:97NIV
In the New Testament there is another way to love the Law as what the Apostle Paul wrote in Phil 4:8, (NIV) "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Think about "these things."
When we meditate the Law or “Think about these things” it becomes a by words in us. When it become a word, it becomes our actions. Then that actions will becomes habits. And when the habits formed it builds a character.
Altogether, the positive results shall be the change of mind which will be develop into the likeness of the “mind of Christ”.
How to love God with all of our mind?
To love the Law “Now” is to love God with all of our mind. Like David in his Psalm we must love the Law, “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long”. Ps 119:97NIV
In the New Testament there is another way to love the Law as what the Apostle Paul wrote in Phil 4:8, (NIV) "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Think about "these things."
When we meditate the Law or “Think about these things” it becomes a by words in us. When it become a word, it becomes our actions. Then that actions will becomes habits. And when the habits formed it builds a character.
Altogether, the positive results shall be the change of mind which will be develop into the likeness of the “mind of Christ”.
Monday, March 1, 2010
You must fall in love with the law
This is a reminder that if anyone (who claimed Christians) will not fall in love with the law (the Law “Now”) the chance of falling into deliberate sin will take place and will continue in your mind. Simply to say that if one will not fall in love with the law he will fall into sin again and again to the sin which is called, “Sin I hate to do, but I do”.
It is real in many believers, there is a sin they hate to do but oftentimes they do. They keep falling to the sin (lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and pride of life) they inwardly known is sinful and evil. That is the big problem in many Christians today. Big problem because they are putting their self in the danger of the fire of hell (Mark 9:43-49). And that problem will not be resolve unless you will not fall in love with the Law.
Understand that the Law is perfect to change the soul- the mind. (Psa 19:7)
You must fall in love with the “Law Now” and surpass them. Also meditate them all day long so you can utter to God the words,
Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long. Ps 119:97 NIV
It is real in many believers, there is a sin they hate to do but oftentimes they do. They keep falling to the sin (lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and pride of life) they inwardly known is sinful and evil. That is the big problem in many Christians today. Big problem because they are putting their self in the danger of the fire of hell (Mark 9:43-49). And that problem will not be resolve unless you will not fall in love with the Law.
Understand that the Law is perfect to change the soul- the mind. (Psa 19:7)
You must fall in love with the “Law Now” and surpass them. Also meditate them all day long so you can utter to God the words,
Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long. Ps 119:97 NIV
Monday, February 22, 2010
Faith is not the Standard of Christian Living
Faith is not the Standard of Christian living nor it is the standard of God.
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 Cor 13:1-3 NIV
Note: if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
Unequivocally and without a doubt, LOVE is the standard of Christian living and the standard of God. LOVE was clearly expound by apostle Paul as he stated it as follows:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Cor 13:4-7 NIV
From that well given meaning of the word LOVE, there is a very important matter we must understand. Because as far as the LOVE and LAW which is the Ten Commandments is concern, they both have a direct relation to each other.
Love is patient – directly related to the 6th commandment
Love is kind – directly related also to the 6th commandment
It does not envy – directly related to the 10th commandment
It does not boast – directly related to the 9th commandment
It is not proud – directly related also to the 9th commandment
It is not rude – directly related to the 5th commandment
It is not self-seeking (selfish TLB) – directly related to the 7th and 8th commandment
It is not easily angered – directly related to the 6th commandment
It keeps no record of wrongs – directly related also t the 6th commandments
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth – directly related to 1st,2nd and 3rd commandments
Summing Up All:
LOVE which is directly related to the Law which is the Ten Commandments is the standard of Christian living which is also the standard of God given to all men. God requires every Christian to surpass the Law.
If ye love me, keep my (ten) commandments. (Joh 14:15)
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 Cor 13:1-3 NIV
Note: if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
Unequivocally and without a doubt, LOVE is the standard of Christian living and the standard of God. LOVE was clearly expound by apostle Paul as he stated it as follows:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Cor 13:4-7 NIV
From that well given meaning of the word LOVE, there is a very important matter we must understand. Because as far as the LOVE and LAW which is the Ten Commandments is concern, they both have a direct relation to each other.
Love is patient – directly related to the 6th commandment
Love is kind – directly related also to the 6th commandment
It does not envy – directly related to the 10th commandment
It does not boast – directly related to the 9th commandment
It is not proud – directly related also to the 9th commandment
It is not rude – directly related to the 5th commandment
It is not self-seeking (selfish TLB) – directly related to the 7th and 8th commandment
It is not easily angered – directly related to the 6th commandment
It keeps no record of wrongs – directly related also t the 6th commandments
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth – directly related to 1st,2nd and 3rd commandments
Summing Up All:
LOVE which is directly related to the Law which is the Ten Commandments is the standard of Christian living which is also the standard of God given to all men. God requires every Christian to surpass the Law.
If ye love me, keep my (ten) commandments. (Joh 14:15)
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