The Gospel of grace has been preached for some two thousand years, but the Gospel of the kingdom of God has been relatively sidelined for the same period of time. The Gospel of grace is about the salvation of mankind that Jesus Christ came to die for the sins of this world, so that man can be reconciled back to God. The Gospel of the kingdom of God is about the coming Government of God that God will restore through Christ to bring about world peace and righteousness (Revelation 11:15). They are two sides of the same coin yet diffferent in context and purpose. The Gospel of grace is the means by which born again sons of God will be able to inherit the kingdom of God as members of God divine Family. The kingdom of God is the ultimate destiny of man for which purpose they were born into this world.
But strange as it may seem, the majority of Christians simply have no clue what it is all about. Some think that the kingdom of God is the church, others think it is the faith in Jesus Christ. Still others opined that it is everything about Christianity. But the Scripture is clear that the two are not the same. Acts 8:12 states, 'But when they believe Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God AND the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptised'. Similarly, another passage in Acts 28:32, the Apostle Paul 'preaching the kingdom of God AND teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him'. From these two passages, it is clear that the Gospel of grace and the Gospel of the kingdom of God are two separate matters.
It would seem that one has to believe both sides of the Gospel for one to be born again as sons of God and members of the God divine Family. Jesus Christ while He was on earth, He kept talking about the kingdom of God again and again, even in most of His parables to His chosen disciples. In Luke 4:43, Christ states categorically, 'I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent'. The preaching of the Gospel of the kingdom of God is one of Christ primary purpose for coming down to earth. His role as a Prophet is to bring the good news of the Gospel to the world as given Him by God the Father. But tragically, very few in Christiandom truly understand. That is the end game for mankind. His death and resurrection is the way to the kingdom of God, for those who would accept salvation on God's terms - a 'give' way of life through discipline and obedience.
When Christ emerged as an overcomer (and hence qualify as King in the coming Kingdom) through the testing in the wilderness by Satan, the first thing He did was to preach the Gospel of the kingdom of God (Matthew 4:17). Since He qualified as the Firstborn Son of God (Adam failed the test), He will rule the coming kingdom of God together with 'His brethren' ('second born' sons of God) who will be resurrected and born again as spirit beings to help Christ rules as the King of kings and Lord of lords in the coming millennial age. Such important teachings in the Bible is seldom preached in churches, if at all. Most of the time, one hears only social gospel rehashed over and over again! But there is no record in the Bible that either God the Father or Christ approved the preaching of such gospel.
It is clear that most would not want to hear the Gospel of the kingdom that Christ came to preach, let alone propagate it. During the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine, he did not want the Gospel of the kingdom to be preached for fear of rebellion and coup d'etat. That was why Christ warned His audience, 'Not everyone who says to Me Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven (God), but he who does the will of my Father in heaven'. (Matthew 7:21). Notice that the will of God the Father is for mankind to hear the gospel of Christ and Christ preached the gospel of the kingdom of God - the message of good news that was commissioned by the heavenly Father. All witnesses are commanded by God to hear Him (Christ)! The kingdom of God will usher in the supernatural intervention of God in the affairs of man (Rev 11:15), when the whole world will be ruled by Christ and His disciples as immortal and powerful spirit beings.
The Apostle Paul warned in Galatians 1:6-9 that those who preached another gospel (such as social gospel) will be accursed - stated in verse 8 and repeated in verse 9 - showing the seriousness of such disobedience, perhaps a double curse! Make no mistake, it is the Gospel OF Christ and not a Gospel about Christ. Christ is the means to the consummation of the Gospel! No one has the right to alter the Gospel commissioned by God the Father, preaching the means and not the end of the Gospel message. It has to be the full Gospel or it is no Gospel at all!
That was why wherever and whenever Christ or His disciples preached the Gospel of the kingdom of God, miraclous healings, signs and wonders follow to authenticate that that is the Gospel that God wants preached. In these lasts days, the Gospel of the kingdom of God will again come into focus. As Christ said at the Mount of Olives, 'And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come' (Matthew 24:14). The preaching of the Gospel was at hand when Christ started it (Mark 1:14-15) and still is at hand now as long as Christ has yet to return to usher in His kingdom. Herbert W. Armstrong was the man that spent most of his life on preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God in obedience to God's commandments.
Since then and till now, the kingdom of God is open to all who will strive to enter and inherit it (one must enter in order to inherit the kingdom of God) - Matthew 11:12. And the only way to enter and inherit it as members of God's royal Family is to born again (John 3:3,5) as spirit beings come the First Resurrection when Christ returns. The only way to qualify is to be an overcomer (Rev 3:21) through discipline and obedience with the help of the Spirit of God (Philippians 2: 12-13).That is why people who are called and will to be chosen will keep on pressing into the finishing line as if in a competitive race. Will you have the faith of Christ to take the word of God at its face value or would you rather obey the words of man trumpeting some wrong cause? Christ is standing at the 'door of your heart' to give the final call (Rev 3:20) and the choice is your to make.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
THE PROCESS OF SALVATION
For a long time, I was led to believe that a person 'once saved is always saved'. But I later discovered that the Bible does not teach such a thing. My study of the Scriptures shows that salvation is often misunderstood in the Christian fraternity. Many are of the assumption that once a person has Jesus in his heart, he is heaven bound. But before we can discuss salvation, one has to be first converted as a true believer. When does one become truly converted? Is it simply just saying the sinner's prayer? It is more than just meets the eyes.
A true Christian is one who has the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within him/her, for Romans 8:9 clearly states, 'But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His'. This happens at conversion when the convert repents, undergoes water baptism and prayed over through the laying on of hands for the impartation of the gift of the Spirit of God. However, things do not just stop there. The believer has to undergo a life of striving and growing in the knowledge of God and overcoming of the pull of the flesh, Satan and the lure of society in order to qualify eventually as a son of God. It takes time and hard work to become an overcomer.
Christ commands us to 'strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many , I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able'. (Luke 13:24). In other passages He warns His faithful, 'And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. (Matthew 10:22; 24:13). However, God has given us the Spirit of power for a purpose. We can tap into God's Spirit of power to fight the battles of temptation, persecution and demonic influence. We can emulate the Apostle Paul's example as stated in Colossians 1:29, 'To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily'. Paul was exercising the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome all adversities in his life!
There are actually three phases to the process of salvation -past, present and future. At conversion, the believer's past sins are forgiven - justified by the blood of Christ. The convert is no longer alienated from God but reconciled to Him. The believer is 'saved' from the penalty of death (Romans 6:23) but complete salvation has yet to take place. After that the process continues throughout his life - being sanctified by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is ongoing as the convert is 'being saved ' (present continuous tense - 2 Cor 2:15) which begins at conversion and ends at death or being taken up to be with Christ at His return, whichever comes first. The santification process is usually long and laborious and often involves many trials and tribulations in the life of the believer. For 'we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God' (Acts 14:22b). The life of those called and chosen to become sons of God must undergo testing, learning, discipling and overcoming and with a spirit of humility enters it (Luke 18:17).
The third and last phase is when the believer is resurrected to immortality as a spirit being at Christ Second Coming - glorified to be with Christ. Our redemption from this mortal body has yet to happen (Luke 21:28). All the patriarchs and matriarchs of the faith are still 'sleeping in the graves' awaiting salvation (Hebrews 11:13). None has received the promised salvation yet. All true believers are forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ at His crucifixion. However, they SHALL BE SAVED (future tense) by His life (Romans 5:10), which occurred at His resurrection. Likewise, all His faithful saints will be resurrected (yet to happen in the future) to immortality to be members of God's divine Royal Family at His Second Coming (1 Cor 15:50-54, 1 John 3:2). Only the called and chosen sons of God will have their rewards (1 Cor 15:58; Rev 22:12). Sadly, few understood this truth, and those who do have not the faith to believe the words of God and go on to embrace and teach man's false doctrine of 'going to heaven when you die'. Such feel good and social gospel are popular because these are what people with itching ears would like to hear. Christ clearly teaches that no one has ascended to heaven, except the Son of Man (John 3:13). The Apostle Peter in Acts 2:34 tells us that King David did not ascend into the heavens. If David being a man after God's own heart did not go to heaven, what more the shenanigans!
Basically, the Christian life is one of striving and learning. Striving to overcome the wrong value systems and deceptions of this world (with Satan on the throne) and learning to understand the truth as revealed in the Bible and how to tap the power of God's Spirit to be an overcomer. We must submit to God and resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7). A true believer is one who will 'come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need' (Hebrews 4:16). Those who are lazy and too proud to ask God for help but always depend on others to lift them up in prayers do not have the maturity and character qualities to become sons of God. Since they depend on man (and will be disappointed) they are of all men most to be pitied for their destiny could be hanging by the skin of their teeth!
A true Christian is one who has the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within him/her, for Romans 8:9 clearly states, 'But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His'. This happens at conversion when the convert repents, undergoes water baptism and prayed over through the laying on of hands for the impartation of the gift of the Spirit of God. However, things do not just stop there. The believer has to undergo a life of striving and growing in the knowledge of God and overcoming of the pull of the flesh, Satan and the lure of society in order to qualify eventually as a son of God. It takes time and hard work to become an overcomer.
Christ commands us to 'strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many , I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able'. (Luke 13:24). In other passages He warns His faithful, 'And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. (Matthew 10:22; 24:13). However, God has given us the Spirit of power for a purpose. We can tap into God's Spirit of power to fight the battles of temptation, persecution and demonic influence. We can emulate the Apostle Paul's example as stated in Colossians 1:29, 'To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily'. Paul was exercising the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome all adversities in his life!
There are actually three phases to the process of salvation -past, present and future. At conversion, the believer's past sins are forgiven - justified by the blood of Christ. The convert is no longer alienated from God but reconciled to Him. The believer is 'saved' from the penalty of death (Romans 6:23) but complete salvation has yet to take place. After that the process continues throughout his life - being sanctified by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is ongoing as the convert is 'being saved ' (present continuous tense - 2 Cor 2:15) which begins at conversion and ends at death or being taken up to be with Christ at His return, whichever comes first. The santification process is usually long and laborious and often involves many trials and tribulations in the life of the believer. For 'we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God' (Acts 14:22b). The life of those called and chosen to become sons of God must undergo testing, learning, discipling and overcoming and with a spirit of humility enters it (Luke 18:17).
The third and last phase is when the believer is resurrected to immortality as a spirit being at Christ Second Coming - glorified to be with Christ. Our redemption from this mortal body has yet to happen (Luke 21:28). All the patriarchs and matriarchs of the faith are still 'sleeping in the graves' awaiting salvation (Hebrews 11:13). None has received the promised salvation yet. All true believers are forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ at His crucifixion. However, they SHALL BE SAVED (future tense) by His life (Romans 5:10), which occurred at His resurrection. Likewise, all His faithful saints will be resurrected (yet to happen in the future) to immortality to be members of God's divine Royal Family at His Second Coming (1 Cor 15:50-54, 1 John 3:2). Only the called and chosen sons of God will have their rewards (1 Cor 15:58; Rev 22:12). Sadly, few understood this truth, and those who do have not the faith to believe the words of God and go on to embrace and teach man's false doctrine of 'going to heaven when you die'. Such feel good and social gospel are popular because these are what people with itching ears would like to hear. Christ clearly teaches that no one has ascended to heaven, except the Son of Man (John 3:13). The Apostle Peter in Acts 2:34 tells us that King David did not ascend into the heavens. If David being a man after God's own heart did not go to heaven, what more the shenanigans!
Basically, the Christian life is one of striving and learning. Striving to overcome the wrong value systems and deceptions of this world (with Satan on the throne) and learning to understand the truth as revealed in the Bible and how to tap the power of God's Spirit to be an overcomer. We must submit to God and resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7). A true believer is one who will 'come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need' (Hebrews 4:16). Those who are lazy and too proud to ask God for help but always depend on others to lift them up in prayers do not have the maturity and character qualities to become sons of God. Since they depend on man (and will be disappointed) they are of all men most to be pitied for their destiny could be hanging by the skin of their teeth!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
WHO IS GOD?
Most people have a vague idea of who God is, even those who claimed to be Christian. Studies have shown that when university dons were interviewed on who God is, most could not provide a definitive answer. The person of God and His Word - His truth - has long been suppressed by the intellectuals of this world (Romans 1:18). Instead, they have substituted evolution as the answer for their being and removed God from the equation.
Modern science and education have placed emphasis on what is material and things that can be seen and observed. The spiritual dimension is almost totally ignored. However, most of the world's problems and evils are spirtual in nature where human eyes do not see and human ears do not hear.
Traditional Christianity believe in the doctrine of the Trinity, but this is not found in the Bible. The Scripture is clear that there are only two God Beings in the universe. God the Father and the Word - the latter became God's begotten Son Jesus Christ when He incarnates as a man to save mankind from their sins. John 1:1-14 tell us what happened even before the angels and the universe were created. God the Father and the Word - the Head and Spokesman of the Divine Family respectively - were the only Supreme Spirit God Beings of the whole universe.
God the Father is the Supreme Creator. His profession is creation of something 'out of nothing' for which no other beings can perform. He is the great Planner and Designer and the Word (before He became Jesus Christ) was the One who spoke them into existence through the power of the Holy Spirit! The analogy of the Holy Spirit is like a tiny robot created by a skillful surgeon using nano technology to perform surgery in the body of his patients. Is the tiny 'intelligent' robot the surgeon? The answer is no. But is the 'intelligent' robot controlled by the surgeon, capable of performing the medical purpose for which it has been deployed? The answer is absolutely as it is the power tool at the hands of the skillful surgeon!
The Godhead of two Supreme Spiritual Beings is an open concept for God to grow His Family. The Trinity doctrine teaches a 'closed' family concept conceived from pagan practices which originates from the worship of Nimrod, his wife Semiramis and son Adonai! If the Holy Spirit is a member of the Godhead than Christ must have ignored Him in His prayer to the Father in John17 and also in the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. Besides, once a believer becomes a Christian, the Holy Spirit dwells within him. If the Holy Spirit is a unique God Being, He would have to be splitted into countless multiple parts. Some theologians and preachers may be schizophrenic, but God is not! Clearly, Satan's objective of using the false Trinity doctrine is to limit God and deny man from knowing God's Master Plan in reproducing Himself through the Divine Family.
The Trinity doctrine was the creation of the Roman Emperor Constantine. In A.D.325, the Council at Nicene approved the doctrine and Constantine passes it into Law. Since he was the political ruler then, he has full power to squash any dissent coming from the true church of God. Those who failed to accept the concept and other false doctrines were fiercely persecuted and martyred!
Ephesians 3:9 tells us unequivocably that God the Father created all things (the universe) through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Word and He spoke and it was done (Psalms 33:9). God the Heavenly Father tells Jesus what to do (John 8:28-29), Jesus speaks and the Holy Spirit is the power that responds to Christ's every command. Jeremaih 27:5 teaches that the Spirit of God is the power behind all His creation on earth, including man and all beasts of the earth. Similarly, God gives the power of His Holy Spirit to whom He sees fit and who obey Him (Jeremiah 27:5b; Acts 5:32).
Throughout Scriptures, God is revealed as a person who has hands, legs, eyes, ears and hair on His head. Man looks like God for we are all created in His image (Gen 1:26). Christ told Philip, 'He who has seen me has seen the Father' - John 14:9 - is a reference to the fact that we look like God the Father in shape and form. The main difference that man differs from his Creator is that God the Father and Jesus Christ have perfect holy character, righeousness and love that man can never attain in his mortal lifetime. They live by the perfect and righteous law that governs the whole universe in perfect harmony!
There is one passage in 1 John 5:7-8 that was added by the editors of the Latin Vulgate translation, probably in the fourth century AD that was not in the original bible manuscripts. It reads, 'For there are three that bear witnesses in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth; the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.' The Apostle John in his inspired writing always speaks of the Father and the Son and never as the Father and the Word except in the uninspired passage quoted herein in 1 John 5:7-8.
The Holy Spirit is like water that can be poured out, so said the Apostle Peter who quoted prophet Joel in Acts 2: 18. Can you pour out a person from one to another, like the Charismatics who claim in their Holy Ghost meetings? If the Holy Spirit is a person as what traditional Christianity claims, then it is highly disrespectful to associate Him as water, oil, wind and dove! If the Holy Spirit is a God Being like the Father and the Son, then David would not have pleaded with God to not take away the Holy Spirit from him, when he could have ask the Spirit not to leave him! (Psalms 51: 11). Rather, it is the Spirit of God that emanates from the God Beings that makes them omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient.
Many people think that the Godhead consists of a one Person God is a misnomer. The truth of the matter is that the Godhead consists of Two Supreme Personage but in total agreement with one vision, purpose and mission in all that they are and do. That is the true meaning of One God. God's Law is the Law of Righteousness and Love that keeps the universe in perfect harmony until Lucifer and his demons rebelled against the government of God and cause havoc throughout the whole universe. Man is destined to be born again as immortal spirit members into God's divine Family to restore all that has been lost! (Rom 8:19-23).
Modern science and education have placed emphasis on what is material and things that can be seen and observed. The spiritual dimension is almost totally ignored. However, most of the world's problems and evils are spirtual in nature where human eyes do not see and human ears do not hear.
Traditional Christianity believe in the doctrine of the Trinity, but this is not found in the Bible. The Scripture is clear that there are only two God Beings in the universe. God the Father and the Word - the latter became God's begotten Son Jesus Christ when He incarnates as a man to save mankind from their sins. John 1:1-14 tell us what happened even before the angels and the universe were created. God the Father and the Word - the Head and Spokesman of the Divine Family respectively - were the only Supreme Spirit God Beings of the whole universe.
God the Father is the Supreme Creator. His profession is creation of something 'out of nothing' for which no other beings can perform. He is the great Planner and Designer and the Word (before He became Jesus Christ) was the One who spoke them into existence through the power of the Holy Spirit! The analogy of the Holy Spirit is like a tiny robot created by a skillful surgeon using nano technology to perform surgery in the body of his patients. Is the tiny 'intelligent' robot the surgeon? The answer is no. But is the 'intelligent' robot controlled by the surgeon, capable of performing the medical purpose for which it has been deployed? The answer is absolutely as it is the power tool at the hands of the skillful surgeon!
The Godhead of two Supreme Spiritual Beings is an open concept for God to grow His Family. The Trinity doctrine teaches a 'closed' family concept conceived from pagan practices which originates from the worship of Nimrod, his wife Semiramis and son Adonai! If the Holy Spirit is a member of the Godhead than Christ must have ignored Him in His prayer to the Father in John17 and also in the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. Besides, once a believer becomes a Christian, the Holy Spirit dwells within him. If the Holy Spirit is a unique God Being, He would have to be splitted into countless multiple parts. Some theologians and preachers may be schizophrenic, but God is not! Clearly, Satan's objective of using the false Trinity doctrine is to limit God and deny man from knowing God's Master Plan in reproducing Himself through the Divine Family.
The Trinity doctrine was the creation of the Roman Emperor Constantine. In A.D.325, the Council at Nicene approved the doctrine and Constantine passes it into Law. Since he was the political ruler then, he has full power to squash any dissent coming from the true church of God. Those who failed to accept the concept and other false doctrines were fiercely persecuted and martyred!
Ephesians 3:9 tells us unequivocably that God the Father created all things (the universe) through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Word and He spoke and it was done (Psalms 33:9). God the Heavenly Father tells Jesus what to do (John 8:28-29), Jesus speaks and the Holy Spirit is the power that responds to Christ's every command. Jeremaih 27:5 teaches that the Spirit of God is the power behind all His creation on earth, including man and all beasts of the earth. Similarly, God gives the power of His Holy Spirit to whom He sees fit and who obey Him (Jeremiah 27:5b; Acts 5:32).
Throughout Scriptures, God is revealed as a person who has hands, legs, eyes, ears and hair on His head. Man looks like God for we are all created in His image (Gen 1:26). Christ told Philip, 'He who has seen me has seen the Father' - John 14:9 - is a reference to the fact that we look like God the Father in shape and form. The main difference that man differs from his Creator is that God the Father and Jesus Christ have perfect holy character, righeousness and love that man can never attain in his mortal lifetime. They live by the perfect and righteous law that governs the whole universe in perfect harmony!
There is one passage in 1 John 5:7-8 that was added by the editors of the Latin Vulgate translation, probably in the fourth century AD that was not in the original bible manuscripts. It reads, 'For there are three that bear witnesses in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth; the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.' The Apostle John in his inspired writing always speaks of the Father and the Son and never as the Father and the Word except in the uninspired passage quoted herein in 1 John 5:7-8.
The Holy Spirit is like water that can be poured out, so said the Apostle Peter who quoted prophet Joel in Acts 2: 18. Can you pour out a person from one to another, like the Charismatics who claim in their Holy Ghost meetings? If the Holy Spirit is a person as what traditional Christianity claims, then it is highly disrespectful to associate Him as water, oil, wind and dove! If the Holy Spirit is a God Being like the Father and the Son, then David would not have pleaded with God to not take away the Holy Spirit from him, when he could have ask the Spirit not to leave him! (Psalms 51: 11). Rather, it is the Spirit of God that emanates from the God Beings that makes them omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient.
Many people think that the Godhead consists of a one Person God is a misnomer. The truth of the matter is that the Godhead consists of Two Supreme Personage but in total agreement with one vision, purpose and mission in all that they are and do. That is the true meaning of One God. God's Law is the Law of Righteousness and Love that keeps the universe in perfect harmony until Lucifer and his demons rebelled against the government of God and cause havoc throughout the whole universe. Man is destined to be born again as immortal spirit members into God's divine Family to restore all that has been lost! (Rom 8:19-23).
Sunday, May 2, 2010
THE CHURCH OF GOD
It is worthy to note that the one church Christ has founded is named the Church of God. The name - Church of God - is mentioned 12 times in the New Testament, which denotes God's church and sanctity.
From about A.D.50 to around the 1950s, the Gospel of the kingdom of God which Christ was sent by God the Father to proclaim to mankind was not widely preached! But this was prophesied to be so by the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, 'But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this world has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God,should shine on them.'
In New Testament Greek, the church (ekklesia) is the called-out ones of a congregation of people. They are callled by God (John 6:44) to separate themselves from the practices and the 'get' way of life of this world whose god and ruler is Satan (2 Cor 4:4). The church is called to depart from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. The kingdom of light is the kingdom of God that will be established on earth once Satan is bound (Rev 20:3).
The church of God is not the means by which God is trying to save the whole world. There is no record anywhere in Scriptures of Jesus trying to give the 'altar call for salvation'. In fact, He spoke in parables that the masses will not understand what He was trying to teach His disciples. When asked by His disciples why He spoke in parables, He replied, 'Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (God), but to them it has not given.' (Matthew 13:10-11). But to those who are outside (those not being called), all things come in parables (Mark 4:11b).
What then is the purpose of the Church that Jesus founded? Apart from having eternal life through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Church is to learn the way of God's government with the 'give way of life' and develop the character of Christ in order to become the king priest in the life to come. This gift of eternal life will happen in the future at the time of first resurrection for those who are called in this church age, for we shall be saved (future tense) by His life - Romans 5:10. Those who are called to be kings and priests will rule and teach probably over one hundred billion resurrected mortals at the second resurrection during the millennial age with God's whole truth. They have first to be tested to become qualified in this life and age (1 Peter 4:17) just like Jesus did in the wilderness with Satan at His first advent (Matthew 4: 1-11).
The Master Plan of God involves God reproducing Himself in man to be born again as immortal spirit beings into His divine Family! The Church is the firstfruits whereby God is accomplishing this as He predestined those He has called (John 6:44) to become begotten (means not yet born) of the Father - the Head of the God Family. Human family and reproduction is a typology of this truth. Christ in John 10:30 says, 'I and My Father are one' - signifying that there are only TWO supreme personages in the whole universe - and the Jews are about to stone Jesus for blasphemy. Jesus was cool and collected in His reply, quoting Psalms 82:6, 'You are gods'. The Feast of Tabernacles depicts the coming millennial reign of Christ together with the born again spirit beings of the divine Family of God.
Traditional Christianity assumes that the Church exists as a 'soul saving station'. If that is the case, then how were people before the time of the founding of the Church saved? Scriptures is clear in Genesis 3:24 that after Adam and Eve sinned, the tree of life and God's Holy Spirit were cut off from mankind. Except for the select few who were predestined by God to be His sons - who were sealed with the Spirit of God until the time of redemption (Eph 1:13-14), the rest of mankind cannot know God unless God reveals His truth to them (1 Cor 2:13-14). Even for the true Church of God in this present age, it forms only a tiny proportion in relation to the world's population. Are they implying that God is the loser and Satan is the winner. The whole world has been deceived by the great deceiver (Rev 12:9) about the real purpose and time order of God's Master Plan!
No doubt some may say that in the Old Testament era, Israel was the 'Church'. That is acceptable. But note that its primary role was not to proselytise to the pagan world around. In fact, on many a count the Isrelites cannot even save themselves, let alone the Gentiles! But the masses in Christiandom do not realise that the Gospel cannot be proclaim to the world until Christ had overcome Satan at the wilderness and His glorification (John 7:39), only then could the Spirit of God descend upon the Church to empower Christ's disciples. The first Adam and his descendants have failed to reclaim the government of God lost to Satan. Christ has to come as the second Adam and succeeded as an Overcomer to replace Satan and founded the Church for those called out of Satan's world!
Notice that the prophet Isaiah prophesied that the GOVERNMENT will be upon the shoulder of Christ (Isaiah 9:6-7) who will return to reign and inherit as KING over all the nations of the earth (Psalm 82:8). One of His purposes at the first advent is to announce the Gospel of the kingdom of God to the cities (Luke 4:43). But to those who are not being called, Christ made no attempt to reach out to them. Is God then a respecter of persons? By no means as all those who are called by God are called not just for salvation but for a specific purpose and task (1 Cor 12:18). There are no pew seaters for those called into the kingdom of God! They are being trained for reaching the whole of humanity when God called the masses after Satan is taken into incarceration.
Those called in this church age have a harder task as they have to overcome Satan, the pull of society with its corrupt system and the fallen nature of man. However, their rewards are also much greater for those who overcome shall share the throne with Christ as the 'Bride of Christ' with all the inheritances and rewards that come from the Father in heaven. The Church of God then, is the instrument by which the Heavenly Father goes about calling those who are willing to be trained and disciplined in God's government and righteous way by rejecting Satan's way of government. They will in due time be resurrected unto salvation as immortal God beings to assist Christ in bringing salvation to the whole of humanity during the millennial age!
When God's divine Family (church of the firstborn - Hebrews 12:23) are gathered together with all of humanity (the general assembly - Hebrews 12:23), they will all bow their knees to worship Christ and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11). The supergovernment of God is strictly a God Family business as those without the fruits of the Spirit and righteous deeds will not qualify (see parable in Matthew 22:1-14). And for those who understands what has been written here are probably called by God to become members of His divine Family but you have to make a choice whether to be so chosen - 'for many are called but few are chosen' (Matthew 22:14; 20:16b).
From about A.D.50 to around the 1950s, the Gospel of the kingdom of God which Christ was sent by God the Father to proclaim to mankind was not widely preached! But this was prophesied to be so by the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, 'But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this world has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God,should shine on them.'
In New Testament Greek, the church (ekklesia) is the called-out ones of a congregation of people. They are callled by God (John 6:44) to separate themselves from the practices and the 'get' way of life of this world whose god and ruler is Satan (2 Cor 4:4). The church is called to depart from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. The kingdom of light is the kingdom of God that will be established on earth once Satan is bound (Rev 20:3).
The church of God is not the means by which God is trying to save the whole world. There is no record anywhere in Scriptures of Jesus trying to give the 'altar call for salvation'. In fact, He spoke in parables that the masses will not understand what He was trying to teach His disciples. When asked by His disciples why He spoke in parables, He replied, 'Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (God), but to them it has not given.' (Matthew 13:10-11). But to those who are outside (those not being called), all things come in parables (Mark 4:11b).
What then is the purpose of the Church that Jesus founded? Apart from having eternal life through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Church is to learn the way of God's government with the 'give way of life' and develop the character of Christ in order to become the king priest in the life to come. This gift of eternal life will happen in the future at the time of first resurrection for those who are called in this church age, for we shall be saved (future tense) by His life - Romans 5:10. Those who are called to be kings and priests will rule and teach probably over one hundred billion resurrected mortals at the second resurrection during the millennial age with God's whole truth. They have first to be tested to become qualified in this life and age (1 Peter 4:17) just like Jesus did in the wilderness with Satan at His first advent (Matthew 4: 1-11).
The Master Plan of God involves God reproducing Himself in man to be born again as immortal spirit beings into His divine Family! The Church is the firstfruits whereby God is accomplishing this as He predestined those He has called (John 6:44) to become begotten (means not yet born) of the Father - the Head of the God Family. Human family and reproduction is a typology of this truth. Christ in John 10:30 says, 'I and My Father are one' - signifying that there are only TWO supreme personages in the whole universe - and the Jews are about to stone Jesus for blasphemy. Jesus was cool and collected in His reply, quoting Psalms 82:6, 'You are gods'. The Feast of Tabernacles depicts the coming millennial reign of Christ together with the born again spirit beings of the divine Family of God.
Traditional Christianity assumes that the Church exists as a 'soul saving station'. If that is the case, then how were people before the time of the founding of the Church saved? Scriptures is clear in Genesis 3:24 that after Adam and Eve sinned, the tree of life and God's Holy Spirit were cut off from mankind. Except for the select few who were predestined by God to be His sons - who were sealed with the Spirit of God until the time of redemption (Eph 1:13-14), the rest of mankind cannot know God unless God reveals His truth to them (1 Cor 2:13-14). Even for the true Church of God in this present age, it forms only a tiny proportion in relation to the world's population. Are they implying that God is the loser and Satan is the winner. The whole world has been deceived by the great deceiver (Rev 12:9) about the real purpose and time order of God's Master Plan!
No doubt some may say that in the Old Testament era, Israel was the 'Church'. That is acceptable. But note that its primary role was not to proselytise to the pagan world around. In fact, on many a count the Isrelites cannot even save themselves, let alone the Gentiles! But the masses in Christiandom do not realise that the Gospel cannot be proclaim to the world until Christ had overcome Satan at the wilderness and His glorification (John 7:39), only then could the Spirit of God descend upon the Church to empower Christ's disciples. The first Adam and his descendants have failed to reclaim the government of God lost to Satan. Christ has to come as the second Adam and succeeded as an Overcomer to replace Satan and founded the Church for those called out of Satan's world!
Notice that the prophet Isaiah prophesied that the GOVERNMENT will be upon the shoulder of Christ (Isaiah 9:6-7) who will return to reign and inherit as KING over all the nations of the earth (Psalm 82:8). One of His purposes at the first advent is to announce the Gospel of the kingdom of God to the cities (Luke 4:43). But to those who are not being called, Christ made no attempt to reach out to them. Is God then a respecter of persons? By no means as all those who are called by God are called not just for salvation but for a specific purpose and task (1 Cor 12:18). There are no pew seaters for those called into the kingdom of God! They are being trained for reaching the whole of humanity when God called the masses after Satan is taken into incarceration.
Those called in this church age have a harder task as they have to overcome Satan, the pull of society with its corrupt system and the fallen nature of man. However, their rewards are also much greater for those who overcome shall share the throne with Christ as the 'Bride of Christ' with all the inheritances and rewards that come from the Father in heaven. The Church of God then, is the instrument by which the Heavenly Father goes about calling those who are willing to be trained and disciplined in God's government and righteous way by rejecting Satan's way of government. They will in due time be resurrected unto salvation as immortal God beings to assist Christ in bringing salvation to the whole of humanity during the millennial age!
When God's divine Family (church of the firstborn - Hebrews 12:23) are gathered together with all of humanity (the general assembly - Hebrews 12:23), they will all bow their knees to worship Christ and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11). The supergovernment of God is strictly a God Family business as those without the fruits of the Spirit and righteous deeds will not qualify (see parable in Matthew 22:1-14). And for those who understands what has been written here are probably called by God to become members of His divine Family but you have to make a choice whether to be so chosen - 'for many are called but few are chosen' (Matthew 22:14; 20:16b).
Monday, April 5, 2010
RENEWAL OF THE MIND
Contrary to popular belief in Christiandom, simply saying the sinner's prayer to seek forgiveness of one's sins may not be sufficient to get one saved. The sinner's prayer may indicate that the sinner is remorseful of one's sins, but that does not mean repentance. Repentance means to turn away from one's sinful past, cutting off root ties that hold a person in bondages. While remorseful is fill with sorrow and regret for what one had done, by itself it has no power to change for the better. Repentance is Godly sorrow and it involves mindset change. Scriptures tell us that repentance is toward God the Father and faith is toward our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). The significance of this verse will be explained as we proceed along. It is worthy to note that true repentance is required for true conversion in order to receive God's Holy Spirit for empowerment as the change agent.
The problem with an unconverted mind is that the person is either full of himself/herself or with some idol still stuck in the subconscious mind. Pride and prejudice either rules the unconverted mind or some form of idolatry do. God has to humble the person before he/she can be of any use in the work of God. To be truly converted is to be repented - a lifelong process - and be filled with the things of God and not the things of this world. Only repented persons are truly converted, and true conversion is an essential requirement to inherit the kingdom of God to become members of His Divine Family.
A sure way to fill our mind with the things of God is to have the thoughts of God - to think like God from God's perspective. Such is the renewal of the mind that the Apostle Paul talks about in Ephesians 4:23. A kind of mind siege by the power of God's Spirit. When we set our mind on the things above, and not on the things on the earth (Col 3: 2), we are allowing the Spirit of God to fill our mind. In order for the Spirit of God to fill our mind, we have to first empty what is contrary to His will and purposes for our lives. This is a sure way to prevent sin from getting a hold on us.
The goodness of God leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). The goodness is the divine exchange that God was prepared to die on our behalf to pay the penalty of sin and fulfill the law of God. That is why repentance has to be toward God and not toward man. It has to be godly sorrow and not human remorsefulness. The first step is to recognise any idol or idols and smash them out of our way. Next is to repent of all our sinfulness before God the Father. The third step is to fill our mind with the things of God with the renewal of our mind by the Spirit of God.
God the Father orchestrated the whole plan of salvation for mankind with Jesus Christ taking the cross of calvary in fulfillment of the plan. When we see the goodness of God's plan and the shed blood of Christ we begin to understand why we need to repent toward God and have faith in Christ that only His death and blood is sufficient to pay for our sins. But before one can have his/her mind renewed by the Spirit of God, there has to be true repentance. God is so good that the Father and Son are prepared to sacrifice greatly for mankind. When Jesus Christ became our sin offering, our Heavenly Father also suffered horrifically as the relationship between them was broken for the sake of our salvation that we may have eternal life forever in the kingdom of God!
All of us have some idols in our lives at some point in time. The idols may not necessarily be some man-made gods or someone important. It could very well be the acceptance of your views and opinions by members of your close social networking group! Whatever form it takes, the Lord is not pleased if it takes precedence over the Almighty God. God has to work something in us to yank out the idols in our life for true repentance to take effect. I for one can testify the trials and tribulations that I went through and am still going through toward Christian maturity. Only when we empty of self can the Spirit of God fills our mind to take its rightful place at conversion. When the Holy Spirit of God fills our mind, renewal of the mind takes place. That is what makes the convert a Christian.
A true Christian will have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16; Phil 2:5) as our Lord Jesus Christ was led by the Spirit of God while He walks the earth. To have the mind of Christ is to think the thoughts of God and see events and circumstances from God's perspective. Once a Christian fully understands and practice that, he/she is on the way to become an overcomer. An overcomer of the deceptions of Satan, the lure of wealth and power of society and the temptations of the flesh and pride of life. Such a person will eventually be born again as immortal spirit being to become a son of God to inherit all that the Heavenly Father has planned for His divine Family.
You can become part of His marvellous plan if you trust and obey His word from Scriptures. That will be the beginning of the abundant eternal life - more than just the chemical existence of this temporal life!
The problem with an unconverted mind is that the person is either full of himself/herself or with some idol still stuck in the subconscious mind. Pride and prejudice either rules the unconverted mind or some form of idolatry do. God has to humble the person before he/she can be of any use in the work of God. To be truly converted is to be repented - a lifelong process - and be filled with the things of God and not the things of this world. Only repented persons are truly converted, and true conversion is an essential requirement to inherit the kingdom of God to become members of His Divine Family.
A sure way to fill our mind with the things of God is to have the thoughts of God - to think like God from God's perspective. Such is the renewal of the mind that the Apostle Paul talks about in Ephesians 4:23. A kind of mind siege by the power of God's Spirit. When we set our mind on the things above, and not on the things on the earth (Col 3: 2), we are allowing the Spirit of God to fill our mind. In order for the Spirit of God to fill our mind, we have to first empty what is contrary to His will and purposes for our lives. This is a sure way to prevent sin from getting a hold on us.
The goodness of God leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). The goodness is the divine exchange that God was prepared to die on our behalf to pay the penalty of sin and fulfill the law of God. That is why repentance has to be toward God and not toward man. It has to be godly sorrow and not human remorsefulness. The first step is to recognise any idol or idols and smash them out of our way. Next is to repent of all our sinfulness before God the Father. The third step is to fill our mind with the things of God with the renewal of our mind by the Spirit of God.
God the Father orchestrated the whole plan of salvation for mankind with Jesus Christ taking the cross of calvary in fulfillment of the plan. When we see the goodness of God's plan and the shed blood of Christ we begin to understand why we need to repent toward God and have faith in Christ that only His death and blood is sufficient to pay for our sins. But before one can have his/her mind renewed by the Spirit of God, there has to be true repentance. God is so good that the Father and Son are prepared to sacrifice greatly for mankind. When Jesus Christ became our sin offering, our Heavenly Father also suffered horrifically as the relationship between them was broken for the sake of our salvation that we may have eternal life forever in the kingdom of God!
All of us have some idols in our lives at some point in time. The idols may not necessarily be some man-made gods or someone important. It could very well be the acceptance of your views and opinions by members of your close social networking group! Whatever form it takes, the Lord is not pleased if it takes precedence over the Almighty God. God has to work something in us to yank out the idols in our life for true repentance to take effect. I for one can testify the trials and tribulations that I went through and am still going through toward Christian maturity. Only when we empty of self can the Spirit of God fills our mind to take its rightful place at conversion. When the Holy Spirit of God fills our mind, renewal of the mind takes place. That is what makes the convert a Christian.
A true Christian will have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16; Phil 2:5) as our Lord Jesus Christ was led by the Spirit of God while He walks the earth. To have the mind of Christ is to think the thoughts of God and see events and circumstances from God's perspective. Once a Christian fully understands and practice that, he/she is on the way to become an overcomer. An overcomer of the deceptions of Satan, the lure of wealth and power of society and the temptations of the flesh and pride of life. Such a person will eventually be born again as immortal spirit being to become a son of God to inherit all that the Heavenly Father has planned for His divine Family.
You can become part of His marvellous plan if you trust and obey His word from Scriptures. That will be the beginning of the abundant eternal life - more than just the chemical existence of this temporal life!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
WHY DISASTERS STRIKE
In the past several years, it is becoming too common to hear of disasters taking place all over the world with increasing frequency. What used to be shocking news is now seemingly common - people just take it as part and parcel of life. The recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile bear testimony to the fact that we are indeed nearing the time of Christ's Second Coming as He said so in Matthew 24:7. Many theologians and preachers are adamant that a loving God will never has a hand in all these disasters. Yet in the same breath, they proclaim that all who have never heard and believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior in this time and age are doomed for eternal condemnation in hell!
The fact of the matter is that we need to understand the world as God sees it. This world does not belong to God as our forebear Adam and Eve had long ago cut off man's relationship with his Creator. In so doing, all of mankind had fallen under a curse of sin and death. When Jesus came to redeem man from the Fall, only a small handful who are called out from this world are under His protection.The rest of humanity will have to wait until after His return for their chance of salvation. All these are in God's plan of salvation for mankind hidden in the festivals of the seven holy days found in Leviticus 23.
Has Adam and Eve chosen to obey God in partaking of the tree of life, the Spirit of God will have abide in all of mankind giving God's presence, provision and protection to all who obey Him. But since that was not the case, mankind as a whole is under the sway of the great deceiver to commit sin and more sin as generations passed. The result is untold sufferings and misery throughout the history of mankind. Sadly, just as our forebears had rejected God, so have our generation. Hence, famines, pestilences, natural disasters and wars had and will continue to come till the close of this age when Christ returns to set up God's kingdom on earth. Then and only then will there be peace, righteousness and prospertiy throughout all the earth.
God had to allow man to learn his lessons. The reader may wonder how is that possible since countless innocents would have been dead, often through no fault of their own making! The answer is simply that all the dead will be resurrected to life sometime toward the close of the millennial age and be taught the truth, and nothing but the whole truth about what had actually happened and how they can embrace God's way of life. 2 Peter 3:9 reads, 'The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.'
Every human being who has yet to be saved will be given the opportunity to hear of the gospel and God's plan of salvation. Except for a small group who will reject God and be annihilated at the lake of fire, most will repent and accept God's offer of salvation and be born again in the kingdom of God as eternal spirit being. It is within the kingdom of God that eternal life begins.
In this age only a small group of people are called to repentance and have God's protection through His indwelling Spirit. In the Old Testament, there are records of countless helpless people killed, including many women and children before they had the opportunity to repent of their sins. God is a God of love as well as a God of judgment. He blessed those who obey and punished those who disobey Him. There are examples after examples of warnings in the Bible about God's judgments. The case of the Great Flood in Noah's days, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Abraham's days and the ten plagues in Egypt during the time of Moses are lessons for our learning (1 Cor 10:6).
The vast majority of the victims of natural disasters have not been given the opportunity of repentance and hence are yet to be judged. God's perspective of death is only a temporary sleep (John 11:11). All those who died in all the disasters in the history of time will be resurrected and be offered true life where disaster and death will be no more! The facts of injustice and disaster in Luke 13:1-5 testify of the truth that bad things do sometimes happened to good and innocent people. The Lord made it clear that those Galileans who were killed by Pilate were no worse sinners that deserved such fate. Similarly, the eighteen men who were killed when the tower in Siloam fell on them were no greater sinners than others who did not die tragically. But unless we repent, we shall likewise perish! The disasters are a warning for the nations to repent, or worse disasters during the Great Tribulation will eventually take place (Jeremiah 16:4).
Just like the many catastrophes happening in the years leading to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, there will be many disasters leading to the coming Great Tribulation. All these are the beginning of sorrows -Matthew 24:8. God says in Jeremiah 33:11, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.Turn, turn from your evil ways! This life is only temporal and will soon pass. The real abundant life will come to bring hope to countless billions that will fill earth to the brink. That will be when God will bring about a new heaven and a new earth to house His expanded Divine Family!
The fact of the matter is that we need to understand the world as God sees it. This world does not belong to God as our forebear Adam and Eve had long ago cut off man's relationship with his Creator. In so doing, all of mankind had fallen under a curse of sin and death. When Jesus came to redeem man from the Fall, only a small handful who are called out from this world are under His protection.The rest of humanity will have to wait until after His return for their chance of salvation. All these are in God's plan of salvation for mankind hidden in the festivals of the seven holy days found in Leviticus 23.
Has Adam and Eve chosen to obey God in partaking of the tree of life, the Spirit of God will have abide in all of mankind giving God's presence, provision and protection to all who obey Him. But since that was not the case, mankind as a whole is under the sway of the great deceiver to commit sin and more sin as generations passed. The result is untold sufferings and misery throughout the history of mankind. Sadly, just as our forebears had rejected God, so have our generation. Hence, famines, pestilences, natural disasters and wars had and will continue to come till the close of this age when Christ returns to set up God's kingdom on earth. Then and only then will there be peace, righteousness and prospertiy throughout all the earth.
God had to allow man to learn his lessons. The reader may wonder how is that possible since countless innocents would have been dead, often through no fault of their own making! The answer is simply that all the dead will be resurrected to life sometime toward the close of the millennial age and be taught the truth, and nothing but the whole truth about what had actually happened and how they can embrace God's way of life. 2 Peter 3:9 reads, 'The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.'
Every human being who has yet to be saved will be given the opportunity to hear of the gospel and God's plan of salvation. Except for a small group who will reject God and be annihilated at the lake of fire, most will repent and accept God's offer of salvation and be born again in the kingdom of God as eternal spirit being. It is within the kingdom of God that eternal life begins.
In this age only a small group of people are called to repentance and have God's protection through His indwelling Spirit. In the Old Testament, there are records of countless helpless people killed, including many women and children before they had the opportunity to repent of their sins. God is a God of love as well as a God of judgment. He blessed those who obey and punished those who disobey Him. There are examples after examples of warnings in the Bible about God's judgments. The case of the Great Flood in Noah's days, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Abraham's days and the ten plagues in Egypt during the time of Moses are lessons for our learning (1 Cor 10:6).
The vast majority of the victims of natural disasters have not been given the opportunity of repentance and hence are yet to be judged. God's perspective of death is only a temporary sleep (John 11:11). All those who died in all the disasters in the history of time will be resurrected and be offered true life where disaster and death will be no more! The facts of injustice and disaster in Luke 13:1-5 testify of the truth that bad things do sometimes happened to good and innocent people. The Lord made it clear that those Galileans who were killed by Pilate were no worse sinners that deserved such fate. Similarly, the eighteen men who were killed when the tower in Siloam fell on them were no greater sinners than others who did not die tragically. But unless we repent, we shall likewise perish! The disasters are a warning for the nations to repent, or worse disasters during the Great Tribulation will eventually take place (Jeremiah 16:4).
Just like the many catastrophes happening in the years leading to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, there will be many disasters leading to the coming Great Tribulation. All these are the beginning of sorrows -Matthew 24:8. God says in Jeremiah 33:11, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.Turn, turn from your evil ways! This life is only temporal and will soon pass. The real abundant life will come to bring hope to countless billions that will fill earth to the brink. That will be when God will bring about a new heaven and a new earth to house His expanded Divine Family!
Friday, February 26, 2010
THE FEAR OF THE LORD
Very often, we hear of the phrase - The Fear of the Lord - being trumpeted at the pulpit to goad church members into actions of some sort. This is taken from Proverb 9:10 which states, 'The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is inderstanding.' In this post, I will attempt to explain the meaning with its attendant implication and application of the Fear of the Lord.
There is a widespread belief that once a person is saved by grace, the blood of Jesus Christ will free the believer from all sins and he/she is free to live life the way he/she wants. While it is true that salvation is free and nobody can earns it by any amount of good works, the convert is accountable for all his/her actions after salvation. Unless the sins of commission and omissions are repented of before God the Father (Acts 20:21) and confessed through prayer, the believer stands to lose the rewards accorded to him/her.
Those who understand the Fear of the Lord are wise because they will live righteous lives to please God who is the ultimate Judge of all His creation, including all humanity. They know that their reward is the inheritance of the kingdom of God when Christ returns to rule and reign as the King of kings and Lord of lords on earth (Rev 3: 11,21; 22:12). The Apostle Paul uses the phrase ' The Terror of the Lord' to describe the judgment seat of Christ for good works and bad ones (2 Cor 5:10-11). Colossions 3: 24-25 vividly describes the rewards of inheritance and the punishments commensurate with those who have done wrong. It is worthy to note that these admonitions are delivered to those who are believers.
The Lord Jesus Christ warns in Matthew 22:11-13 that those who have no good works to show forth his/her faith will be excluded in the kingdom of God - means that they will not be part of the divine royal Family. The term 'wedding garment' symbolises good works of the saints. While those who claim to be God's ministers but instead serve their own interests (known as 'hypocrites' - Matthew 24:51) will be severely punished. They will be cut into two - probably separation of the spirit and soul making one incomplete - a situation far worse than death!
Let us make this clear - salvation is by grace, but rewards are according to works. But works do not just confine to doing good deeds, it has to begin with right character qualities. For without the right spiritual character qualities and attitudes, all works are merely works of the flesh which God will not recognise! To be sure of our calling and election, eventually being ushered into the everlasting kingdom of God (2 Peter 1:10-11) with the divine nature, we need to follow the teachings of 2 Peter 1:5-9. The result of an obedient and faithful life is one of honor, position and glory of eternal life to come in the kingdom of God.
In 2 Peter 1:5, we are urged to give due diligence with efforts, striving and yearning after the things of God. This involves putting off the old selfish nature and putting on the new spirit man with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God in us. After repentance towards God the Father, we must have faith in Christ as His words say He would do for us as the High Priest before our Heavenly Father. Virtue is the determination to live for the Lord and not for the pomp and glamour of this world. To have godly virtue one must have the right knowledge, for Christ cautions us in John 7:17, 'If onyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.' Unfortunately, not many Christians would put in the time and effort to search the truth but being swayed into following man's ways and teachings that are contrary to the Word of God. They are worshipping God in vain (Mark 7:7).
With knowledge comes responsibilities, and that is why self-control or self-government is required of us to obey and put right what is wrong. Little wonder the Apostle Paul speaks of disciplining his body in order to win the prize (reward) of his inheritance in the kingdom of God as if running a race to win (1 Cor 9:24-27). He is not talking about salvation which is by the grace of God that he cannot earned. Then there is perseverance or endurance. A true follower of Christ has to endure hardship, trials and tribulations to enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22b).
How then can one become godlike? By gazing and studying into His word on a consistent basis to know and understand His will for our lives. To these are added brotherly kindness and love. If we have the love of God in our life, we will be kind and gracious to others, not just those in the household of faith but even those we dislike! The key to be able to practise this is to adopt the 'give way of life' instead of the world's system of the 'get way of life'. When we understand and put into practice what the Scripture teaches, we will be frutiful in the work of the Lord (verse 8).
Those who practise the works of the flesh like adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry,sorcery, heresies, drunkenness, murders, envy etc will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21). Unless they repented and confessed their sins, they stand to miss the kingdom of God during the millennial reign of Christ when He returns. The major stumbling block to our inheritance is when our flesh and the Spirit of God are in conflicts striving to gain control of our lives. The Apostle Paul describes such conflict in Romans 7:15-25. We have to learn to become overcomer by starving the flesh and nurture the spirit within us so that the Holy Spirit can work God's will in and through us.
We have to earn our right to inherit the kingdom of God just like Joshua and Caleb earned theirs by entering the promised land. Jude 11 is a timely warning to those who waver (being double minded) in the service of God, 'Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.' Cain brought a bloodless sacrifice for worship hoping that it will satisfy the demands of God. However, this reminds us that only through the blood of Jesus Christ can man's sin be forgiven and cleansed. Balaam's error was trying to compromise the laws and commandments of God with worldly gains and status. Those who hold on to the doctrine of Balaam (Rev 2:14) are teaching and or practising things contrary to the Word of God. Such people have not understood the severity of the Fear of the Lord. They have every reason to fear for their destiny!
There is a widespread belief that once a person is saved by grace, the blood of Jesus Christ will free the believer from all sins and he/she is free to live life the way he/she wants. While it is true that salvation is free and nobody can earns it by any amount of good works, the convert is accountable for all his/her actions after salvation. Unless the sins of commission and omissions are repented of before God the Father (Acts 20:21) and confessed through prayer, the believer stands to lose the rewards accorded to him/her.
Those who understand the Fear of the Lord are wise because they will live righteous lives to please God who is the ultimate Judge of all His creation, including all humanity. They know that their reward is the inheritance of the kingdom of God when Christ returns to rule and reign as the King of kings and Lord of lords on earth (Rev 3: 11,21; 22:12). The Apostle Paul uses the phrase ' The Terror of the Lord' to describe the judgment seat of Christ for good works and bad ones (2 Cor 5:10-11). Colossions 3: 24-25 vividly describes the rewards of inheritance and the punishments commensurate with those who have done wrong. It is worthy to note that these admonitions are delivered to those who are believers.
The Lord Jesus Christ warns in Matthew 22:11-13 that those who have no good works to show forth his/her faith will be excluded in the kingdom of God - means that they will not be part of the divine royal Family. The term 'wedding garment' symbolises good works of the saints. While those who claim to be God's ministers but instead serve their own interests (known as 'hypocrites' - Matthew 24:51) will be severely punished. They will be cut into two - probably separation of the spirit and soul making one incomplete - a situation far worse than death!
Let us make this clear - salvation is by grace, but rewards are according to works. But works do not just confine to doing good deeds, it has to begin with right character qualities. For without the right spiritual character qualities and attitudes, all works are merely works of the flesh which God will not recognise! To be sure of our calling and election, eventually being ushered into the everlasting kingdom of God (2 Peter 1:10-11) with the divine nature, we need to follow the teachings of 2 Peter 1:5-9. The result of an obedient and faithful life is one of honor, position and glory of eternal life to come in the kingdom of God.
In 2 Peter 1:5, we are urged to give due diligence with efforts, striving and yearning after the things of God. This involves putting off the old selfish nature and putting on the new spirit man with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God in us. After repentance towards God the Father, we must have faith in Christ as His words say He would do for us as the High Priest before our Heavenly Father. Virtue is the determination to live for the Lord and not for the pomp and glamour of this world. To have godly virtue one must have the right knowledge, for Christ cautions us in John 7:17, 'If onyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.' Unfortunately, not many Christians would put in the time and effort to search the truth but being swayed into following man's ways and teachings that are contrary to the Word of God. They are worshipping God in vain (Mark 7:7).
With knowledge comes responsibilities, and that is why self-control or self-government is required of us to obey and put right what is wrong. Little wonder the Apostle Paul speaks of disciplining his body in order to win the prize (reward) of his inheritance in the kingdom of God as if running a race to win (1 Cor 9:24-27). He is not talking about salvation which is by the grace of God that he cannot earned. Then there is perseverance or endurance. A true follower of Christ has to endure hardship, trials and tribulations to enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22b).
How then can one become godlike? By gazing and studying into His word on a consistent basis to know and understand His will for our lives. To these are added brotherly kindness and love. If we have the love of God in our life, we will be kind and gracious to others, not just those in the household of faith but even those we dislike! The key to be able to practise this is to adopt the 'give way of life' instead of the world's system of the 'get way of life'. When we understand and put into practice what the Scripture teaches, we will be frutiful in the work of the Lord (verse 8).
Those who practise the works of the flesh like adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry,sorcery, heresies, drunkenness, murders, envy etc will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21). Unless they repented and confessed their sins, they stand to miss the kingdom of God during the millennial reign of Christ when He returns. The major stumbling block to our inheritance is when our flesh and the Spirit of God are in conflicts striving to gain control of our lives. The Apostle Paul describes such conflict in Romans 7:15-25. We have to learn to become overcomer by starving the flesh and nurture the spirit within us so that the Holy Spirit can work God's will in and through us.
We have to earn our right to inherit the kingdom of God just like Joshua and Caleb earned theirs by entering the promised land. Jude 11 is a timely warning to those who waver (being double minded) in the service of God, 'Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.' Cain brought a bloodless sacrifice for worship hoping that it will satisfy the demands of God. However, this reminds us that only through the blood of Jesus Christ can man's sin be forgiven and cleansed. Balaam's error was trying to compromise the laws and commandments of God with worldly gains and status. Those who hold on to the doctrine of Balaam (Rev 2:14) are teaching and or practising things contrary to the Word of God. Such people have not understood the severity of the Fear of the Lord. They have every reason to fear for their destiny!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)