In Colossians 1:27-28, we read of the hope of glory, which is Christ in you so that everyone who understands the gospel and abide in Christ Jesus will be made perfect. But what actually does these verses mean? Is it simply believing in the saving grace of Jesus Christ and nothing else and then get to heaven when we die? If that was so, the Apostle Paul would not have to mention 'stewardship' and 'mystery' in the preceding verses of 25 and 26. It is more than just meets the eyes.
Jesus Christ is the only firstborn Son of God. While on earth in the flesh but before His resurrection from the dead, He was the begotten Son of God (John 1:14). The word 'begotten' means not yet born. After His resurrection, he became the Son of God - the firstborn among many brethren - meaning that He will not be the last for many will follow after the last trumpet sounded at His Second Coming (1 Cor 15:52). But who are these who will be born again at the first resurrection as spiritual immortal sons of God? These resurrected saints are the overcomers (Rev 3:21) who are the 'called, the chosen and the faithful (overcomers)' (Rev 17:14). But what do they overcome? While in this mortal life, they will be tested (1 Peter 4:17) and have to overcome the temptations of Satan and his demons, the pomp and glamour of a materialistic society and the selfish and sinful nature of self. This is the hope of glory for the saints.
Those who are called and predestined to become the sons of God will have to overcome deceptions from the great deceiver. Many Christians are ignorant of the false doctrines that have infiltrated the church throughout the centuries. Most of them have their roots in the Babylonian system which the Bible has warned, 'Come out of her (the Babylonian system), my people (the true church), lest you share in her sins (idolatry) and lest you receive of her plagues (cataclysmic events during the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord)' - Rev 18:4. Sadly, most people pay no heed to God's word even if they know about it. Many will be sorry when the time of reckoning comes. Understand this - only those who are found worthy will escape all these things (the Great Tribulation) - Luke 21:36.
The hope of glory is not just about resurrection as immortal spirit beings but also to become members of God's divine family. God is a Family and He is the Head of the divine family as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named (Eph 3:14-15). Many Christians mistakenly think that they are already 'born again' when they say the sinner's prayer. But this is not so. Christ told Nicodemus specifically, 'unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God' (John 3:3); 'that which is born of the flesh is flesh (natural physical birth) and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (supernatural spiritual birth at RESURRECTION) - John 3:6. This is affirmed by the Apostle Paul in 1 Cor 15:50, 'that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God'.
Those who claim that the kingdom of God is the church of the here and now are being deceived because Christ states that 'many will come from the east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven (God) - Matthew 8:11. Since the patriarchs are nowhere to be found in any church of the church age, they are in effect claiming that Jesus Christ lied and that is blasphemous!
The kingdom of God is a world ruling government that shall never be destroyed, not ruled by people (humans) and will stand forever (Daniel 2:44). Those who are called to be sons of God will be trained in the government of God to train and teach (royal priesthood) and ruled over humans with Christ when He returns. They will inherit the nations during the millennium.These saints were and are the begotten sons (not yet born as immortal spirit beings) and heirs of the promise that will inherit all things in the kingdom of God (Matthew 24:47). Those who are called in the church age are members of the true church of God who will become the Bride of Christ to form the Family of God (Rev 19:7-9). Those who do not possess the spiritual character qualities of Christ and with righteous deeds will not qualify (Matthew 22:11-14).
Make no mistake about this - the ultimate quest for any human being is to be born into the divine family of God - it is also the gospel that Jesus Christ came to preach, the gospel of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:15). That is why he told His disciples to 'seek first the kingdom of God (your goal is to see and enter the kingdom as sons of God's divine royal family) and His righteousness (God's spiritual laws and commandments) and all these things (all your needs and longings) shall be added to you' - Matthew 6:33. There is no higher calling for man's destiny in all of eternity!
The family structure is the bedrock on which God's divine family will derive its members. It is the very foundation on which every civilization is built upon. Those who break this spiritual law will find themselves on the wrong side of the eternal divide. The Apostle Paul warned that those who are immoral (including homosexuals and adulterers) and idolaters (including those who worship paganism) will not inherit the kingdom of God - Eph 5:5; 1 Cor 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21.The family unit is the channel for God's plan and vision to reproduce His divine family for His eternal purpose. This is what is meant in 1 Cor 2:9 when the Apostle Paul quoted Isaiah 64:4, 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him'. Indeed, this is the blessed hope of glory for all who understand and obey, for it is the ultimate quest of being!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
THE GREAT DECEPTION
Ever since the first century Apostles died, the church of Jesus Christ has been under constant attack with many false doctrine and half truth about what the true Gospel is all about. Not only that, even the true identity of the person of Christ has been masked to project Him as someone He is not!
For those who have been following my blog posts will know, the true Gospel is about the kingdom of God and Christ the Savior is the means to inherit the kingdom of God - the end destiny for mankind. Jesus Christ was sent by God the Father not only to save mankind from condemnation of death - the death penalty due to sin - but also to proclaim the true Gospel of the kingdom which God the Father sent Him to proclaim. The kingdom of God has yet to come and that is why Christ told all His true disciples to pray to God the Father, 'Thy kingdom come' - Matthew6:10. Many were deceived thinking that the kingdom of God is the church of this age. If that is true, then why would Christ told His disciples that it is not for them to know the time and season why asked when the kingdom of God would be restored - barely fifty days hence to Pentecost when the church would be founded just before His ascension to heaven! (Acts 1:6-8). It simply just doesn't make sense.
Besides, Christ said in Matthew 8:11 that 'many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven (God)'. If the kingdom of heaven (God) is the church of the here and now as many proclaim, then where on earth are the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? In the closing words of the parable of the sower, the Lord Jesus Christ also told His disciples recorded in Matthew 13:43 that 'the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father'. If the kingdom of God is the church of the here and now, who among the saints have shine forth so brightly? Have they done so, the world would not have face so much trouble and conflicts! No, my friends, the kingdom of God is NOT yet here but will be installed when Christ returns to earth to reign with His saints (Daniel 7:13,14,18,21,22,27; Rev 11:15) for a thousand years to restore all that had been lost to the great deceiver!
Over one billion folks the world over who proclaim to be followers of Christ worship on a Sunday. But the Bible states categorically that the Sabbath is on the seventh day of the week which falls on Saturday. The power that be of the Roman Empire then had changed the time of worship to that of Sunday which is the first day of the week. The fourth commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy (Exodus 20:8) has been most ignored as the world's system maintain Sunday to be the public holiday. But Sunday was originally kept by pagan worshippers of the sun god! This is one of many idolatrious practices that have infiltrated the church.
Then there are Christmas and Easter holidays which have nothing to do with Christ as the Savior was not born on December 25th and was not resurrected on Sunday, but on a Saturday! The easter egg is a symbol of fertility used in the worship of an ancient fertility goddess Ishtar, aka Ashtoreth as was known in Israel during biblical times. It was idolatry condemned as an abomination to the Lord! The original word 'Pascha' is the Greek equivalent for Passover and not Easter. The word Easter in Acts 12:4 in the KJV has been mistranslated. Millions if not billions of people celebrate Christmas and Easter annually without a proper understanding of the significance. The irony is that such festivals are not even mentioned in Scriptures let alone commanded to observe, but churches ignore the celebration of holy days like the Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles which were observed by Christ and the early Apostles.
As disciples of Christ, we are commanded to worship God as instructed in Scriptures (Deut 12: 32) and not in any manner we like for man's ways are not His ways (Isaiah 55:8). No wonder that man-made religious systems have so blinded man that they cannot see Christ's true Gospel of the kingdom of God which He was sent by God the Father to proclaim as the Good News - the hope for all mankind, especially the poor and oppressed - when all wrongs and injustices will be put right. That will be the time when this upside down world will be put rightside up - the time of restitution of all things during the millennial reign of Christ - perhaps even the earth will be tilted straight up with extreme climate and freak weather patterns resigned to history.
Some may say that celebrating Christmas and Easter are a remembrance of Christ and honoring Him. But there is no command in Scriptures to celebrate Christmas and Christ was not born in December - probably in September or October. Together with Santa Claus, these celebrations compromise with paganistic worship practices.Though they are meant to be fun and good for the merchants and the economy, they have nothing to do with Christ and God's plan for mankind. By adopting the method of pagan idolatry and tagging them as part of Christian worship is a direct violation of the First Commandment - 'You shall have no other gods before me' (Exodus 20:3). If they have to be celebrated, they should not be roped in as part of church worship.
Throughout the centuries, man has stolen Christ true identity and given Him a complete makeover - without His approval. He was often portrayed as the long-haired guy with a halo on His head. But in the Hellenistic Greek culture of His days, man had short cropped hair as seen on statues, busts and carvings of that period. Though Christ was a Nazarite, He was not under a Nazarite vow which would forbid drinking wine or touching a dead body - both of which he partook while on earth. His short hair enabled Him to escape from the religious leaders with ease by merging with the crowd of men who have short crops!
To be sure of one's salvation as a born again immortal spirit being (sons of God) in God's divine family, one has to understand these truths, believe and obey them. Only by understanding the truth and practising them will set them free. All those who are not called and predestined to be sons of God will have to wait for the second resurrection to take place towards the end of the millennial age, judge by Christ and be taught the truth by the resurrected saints who form the royal priesthood. When truly repented and forgiven by the blood of Christ, they will be born again as immortal spirit beings (children of God) in the kingdom of God.
For those who have been following my blog posts will know, the true Gospel is about the kingdom of God and Christ the Savior is the means to inherit the kingdom of God - the end destiny for mankind. Jesus Christ was sent by God the Father not only to save mankind from condemnation of death - the death penalty due to sin - but also to proclaim the true Gospel of the kingdom which God the Father sent Him to proclaim. The kingdom of God has yet to come and that is why Christ told all His true disciples to pray to God the Father, 'Thy kingdom come' - Matthew6:10. Many were deceived thinking that the kingdom of God is the church of this age. If that is true, then why would Christ told His disciples that it is not for them to know the time and season why asked when the kingdom of God would be restored - barely fifty days hence to Pentecost when the church would be founded just before His ascension to heaven! (Acts 1:6-8). It simply just doesn't make sense.
Besides, Christ said in Matthew 8:11 that 'many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven (God)'. If the kingdom of heaven (God) is the church of the here and now as many proclaim, then where on earth are the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? In the closing words of the parable of the sower, the Lord Jesus Christ also told His disciples recorded in Matthew 13:43 that 'the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father'. If the kingdom of God is the church of the here and now, who among the saints have shine forth so brightly? Have they done so, the world would not have face so much trouble and conflicts! No, my friends, the kingdom of God is NOT yet here but will be installed when Christ returns to earth to reign with His saints (Daniel 7:13,14,18,21,22,27; Rev 11:15) for a thousand years to restore all that had been lost to the great deceiver!
Over one billion folks the world over who proclaim to be followers of Christ worship on a Sunday. But the Bible states categorically that the Sabbath is on the seventh day of the week which falls on Saturday. The power that be of the Roman Empire then had changed the time of worship to that of Sunday which is the first day of the week. The fourth commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy (Exodus 20:8) has been most ignored as the world's system maintain Sunday to be the public holiday. But Sunday was originally kept by pagan worshippers of the sun god! This is one of many idolatrious practices that have infiltrated the church.
Then there are Christmas and Easter holidays which have nothing to do with Christ as the Savior was not born on December 25th and was not resurrected on Sunday, but on a Saturday! The easter egg is a symbol of fertility used in the worship of an ancient fertility goddess Ishtar, aka Ashtoreth as was known in Israel during biblical times. It was idolatry condemned as an abomination to the Lord! The original word 'Pascha' is the Greek equivalent for Passover and not Easter. The word Easter in Acts 12:4 in the KJV has been mistranslated. Millions if not billions of people celebrate Christmas and Easter annually without a proper understanding of the significance. The irony is that such festivals are not even mentioned in Scriptures let alone commanded to observe, but churches ignore the celebration of holy days like the Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles which were observed by Christ and the early Apostles.
As disciples of Christ, we are commanded to worship God as instructed in Scriptures (Deut 12: 32) and not in any manner we like for man's ways are not His ways (Isaiah 55:8). No wonder that man-made religious systems have so blinded man that they cannot see Christ's true Gospel of the kingdom of God which He was sent by God the Father to proclaim as the Good News - the hope for all mankind, especially the poor and oppressed - when all wrongs and injustices will be put right. That will be the time when this upside down world will be put rightside up - the time of restitution of all things during the millennial reign of Christ - perhaps even the earth will be tilted straight up with extreme climate and freak weather patterns resigned to history.
Some may say that celebrating Christmas and Easter are a remembrance of Christ and honoring Him. But there is no command in Scriptures to celebrate Christmas and Christ was not born in December - probably in September or October. Together with Santa Claus, these celebrations compromise with paganistic worship practices.Though they are meant to be fun and good for the merchants and the economy, they have nothing to do with Christ and God's plan for mankind. By adopting the method of pagan idolatry and tagging them as part of Christian worship is a direct violation of the First Commandment - 'You shall have no other gods before me' (Exodus 20:3). If they have to be celebrated, they should not be roped in as part of church worship.
Throughout the centuries, man has stolen Christ true identity and given Him a complete makeover - without His approval. He was often portrayed as the long-haired guy with a halo on His head. But in the Hellenistic Greek culture of His days, man had short cropped hair as seen on statues, busts and carvings of that period. Though Christ was a Nazarite, He was not under a Nazarite vow which would forbid drinking wine or touching a dead body - both of which he partook while on earth. His short hair enabled Him to escape from the religious leaders with ease by merging with the crowd of men who have short crops!
To be sure of one's salvation as a born again immortal spirit being (sons of God) in God's divine family, one has to understand these truths, believe and obey them. Only by understanding the truth and practising them will set them free. All those who are not called and predestined to be sons of God will have to wait for the second resurrection to take place towards the end of the millennial age, judge by Christ and be taught the truth by the resurrected saints who form the royal priesthood. When truly repented and forgiven by the blood of Christ, they will be born again as immortal spirit beings (children of God) in the kingdom of God.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
THE NEW COVENANT
The central message of Christ's Gospel of the kingdom of God is about changing the hearts and minds of human beings - the epitome of God's creation. This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them. (Hebrews 10:16). The purpose of life and death for all mankind is dependent upon whether man will allow God, through His Holy Spirit, to do just that. For those who submit to the will of God, they will inherit eternal life of immortality. But for those who would not, their life will be only physical and temporal. All human beings will be given the opportunity for God to work through them, either in this age or in the age to come.
Christ's first advent was to found the church to begin the process of transforming the hearts and minds of a small group of those God has called, a renewal process through partaking of the body and blood of Christ known as the New Covenant (1 Cor 11:25-26). There will be forgiveness and great blessings for all recipients of this New Covenant. But only after His Return will all people experience the full impact of this promise.
The New Covenant that Christ came to deliver did not in any way abolish the Old Covenant (also known as the Sinai Covenant).The Law of God still stand except they are no longer engraved on stones but on the tablets of the hearts and minds of the recipients of the promised New Covenant. Since God is impartial (Romans 2:11) and no respecter of persons, He has extended this promise to all peoples regardless of race and nationalities for those who would willingly obey Him.
The Old Sinai Covenant established the historical ancient kingdom of Israel. The New Covenant will establish the kingdom of God that will encompass people of all races and nationalities to rule the whole earth upon Christ's return. That is the meaning of Christ's commandment to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19) . Notice that He did not command the church to make all nations of disciples - not in this church age!
In the Old Testament, God chose righteous individuals of character to be the bearer of His covenants. He first chose Noah who already was serving God from his heart when the peoples around him were evil to the core. After Noah, God chose Abraham and made personal covenants with him (Genesis 15:8; 17: 1-11), for Abraham was a man of faith and obedience. And then God made a covenant with David that through him, the Savior of the world will come. That is why the opening verse of Matthew 1:1 reads, The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham'. It is through Abraham and David that God's plan of salvation for mankind will be fulfilled!
It is worthy to note that God makes an everlasting covenant with Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 17:7).This everlasting covenant concerns Abraham's natural and spiritual descendants. His natural descendants would be numerous as the dust of the earth (Gen 13:16) and spiritual descendants (Galatians 3:29) as numerous as the stars of the heavens (Gen 15:5). While the natural descendants will hold on to the land of Palestine, the spiritual descendants will inherit the kingdom of God. Most of Abraham's spiritual descendants are Gentiles (those of the church age), even though they came to the knowledge of salvation much later than the Israelites, they shall be the first to inherit the kingdom of God - for many who are first will be last, and the last first (Matt 19:30). The fact is that without a divinely transformed heart and mind, no one can be born again as an immortal son of God to inherit the kingdom of God!
God's promise to David is an everlasting Dynasty (2 Samuel 7: 12-16; 1 Chron 17:12). This is fulfilled in Jesus Christ who will be the everlasting King in the coming kingdom of God to be established on earth upon His return. The Sinai Covenant that God gave to Israel had its limitation. Without the gift of God's Spirit indwelling the people, it would be impossible to fully obey all of God's commandments. That is why the high priest of the Old Testament has to enter the Holy of Holies every year to perform the rituals of cleansing and forgiveness of sins.Only with an indwelling Spirit of God inside the minds of repented true believers can God's Law be fully obeyed. But this promise has yet to be fully consummated as the Spirit of God is given only to those who are the called and chosen in this church age. However, when Christ returns, the Spirit will be made available to all mankind for the word of God says that the Spirit of God will be poured out on ALL flesh (Joel 2:28) so that all people (living and resurrected) will learn of God's Law and His ways (Isaiah 2:2-4) and the whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:9).
The New Covenant does not do away with God's Law. What has changed is that the intent and purpose of the Law shall be observed and obeyed from the heart and mind with the help of God's Holy Spirit. The ceremonial duties of the high priest is no longer required as Jesus Christ became our High Priest that is perfect in all ways as He is also the Mediator of the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:6). The problem is not in the Law of God per se, the problem of the Sinai or Old Covenant was that the people lack the willing heart to obey because the Spirit of God was not given them. Only the patriarchs and matriarchs, the prophets and a select few were given the Spirit of God to help them. In a sense, a veil of blindness was over the natural descendants of Abraham even up till this day when they read the Old Testament . However, when they turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, the veil is lifted (2 Cor 3:11-18). Under the New Covenant, the shed blood of Jesus Christ permanently blots out the sins of all those who repented and turn to Him. If they abide till the end, the death penalty of sin (Romans 6:23) for them will be annulled forever!
The Law of God given to the peoples in the Old Testament era was a blessing to them only if they obey. The two chapters in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 clearly spell out the blessings and curses for obedience and disobedience respectively. Right behavior and right living bring peace, health, safety and prosperrity and the reverse will incur the judgments and curses of God. If the ancient nation of Israel had taken heed, they would have been a model for the surrounding nations to follow and abide in God's Law. We who live in the church age are so fortunate and ought to be grateful to God for Christ has become our High Priest to assist us in our journey of discipleship for those who would abide and obey His commandments. Christ sums it up succinctly,' You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind; and You shall love your neighbour as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.' (Matthew 22:37-40). The world is currently in great turmoil shows the extent of defiance of God's Law. Great blessings and grace will follow all those who live it out in their lives.
Christ's first advent was to found the church to begin the process of transforming the hearts and minds of a small group of those God has called, a renewal process through partaking of the body and blood of Christ known as the New Covenant (1 Cor 11:25-26). There will be forgiveness and great blessings for all recipients of this New Covenant. But only after His Return will all people experience the full impact of this promise.
The New Covenant that Christ came to deliver did not in any way abolish the Old Covenant (also known as the Sinai Covenant).The Law of God still stand except they are no longer engraved on stones but on the tablets of the hearts and minds of the recipients of the promised New Covenant. Since God is impartial (Romans 2:11) and no respecter of persons, He has extended this promise to all peoples regardless of race and nationalities for those who would willingly obey Him.
The Old Sinai Covenant established the historical ancient kingdom of Israel. The New Covenant will establish the kingdom of God that will encompass people of all races and nationalities to rule the whole earth upon Christ's return. That is the meaning of Christ's commandment to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19) . Notice that He did not command the church to make all nations of disciples - not in this church age!
In the Old Testament, God chose righteous individuals of character to be the bearer of His covenants. He first chose Noah who already was serving God from his heart when the peoples around him were evil to the core. After Noah, God chose Abraham and made personal covenants with him (Genesis 15:8; 17: 1-11), for Abraham was a man of faith and obedience. And then God made a covenant with David that through him, the Savior of the world will come. That is why the opening verse of Matthew 1:1 reads, The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham'. It is through Abraham and David that God's plan of salvation for mankind will be fulfilled!
It is worthy to note that God makes an everlasting covenant with Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 17:7).This everlasting covenant concerns Abraham's natural and spiritual descendants. His natural descendants would be numerous as the dust of the earth (Gen 13:16) and spiritual descendants (Galatians 3:29) as numerous as the stars of the heavens (Gen 15:5). While the natural descendants will hold on to the land of Palestine, the spiritual descendants will inherit the kingdom of God. Most of Abraham's spiritual descendants are Gentiles (those of the church age), even though they came to the knowledge of salvation much later than the Israelites, they shall be the first to inherit the kingdom of God - for many who are first will be last, and the last first (Matt 19:30). The fact is that without a divinely transformed heart and mind, no one can be born again as an immortal son of God to inherit the kingdom of God!
God's promise to David is an everlasting Dynasty (2 Samuel 7: 12-16; 1 Chron 17:12). This is fulfilled in Jesus Christ who will be the everlasting King in the coming kingdom of God to be established on earth upon His return. The Sinai Covenant that God gave to Israel had its limitation. Without the gift of God's Spirit indwelling the people, it would be impossible to fully obey all of God's commandments. That is why the high priest of the Old Testament has to enter the Holy of Holies every year to perform the rituals of cleansing and forgiveness of sins.Only with an indwelling Spirit of God inside the minds of repented true believers can God's Law be fully obeyed. But this promise has yet to be fully consummated as the Spirit of God is given only to those who are the called and chosen in this church age. However, when Christ returns, the Spirit will be made available to all mankind for the word of God says that the Spirit of God will be poured out on ALL flesh (Joel 2:28) so that all people (living and resurrected) will learn of God's Law and His ways (Isaiah 2:2-4) and the whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:9).
The New Covenant does not do away with God's Law. What has changed is that the intent and purpose of the Law shall be observed and obeyed from the heart and mind with the help of God's Holy Spirit. The ceremonial duties of the high priest is no longer required as Jesus Christ became our High Priest that is perfect in all ways as He is also the Mediator of the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:6). The problem is not in the Law of God per se, the problem of the Sinai or Old Covenant was that the people lack the willing heart to obey because the Spirit of God was not given them. Only the patriarchs and matriarchs, the prophets and a select few were given the Spirit of God to help them. In a sense, a veil of blindness was over the natural descendants of Abraham even up till this day when they read the Old Testament . However, when they turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, the veil is lifted (2 Cor 3:11-18). Under the New Covenant, the shed blood of Jesus Christ permanently blots out the sins of all those who repented and turn to Him. If they abide till the end, the death penalty of sin (Romans 6:23) for them will be annulled forever!
The Law of God given to the peoples in the Old Testament era was a blessing to them only if they obey. The two chapters in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 clearly spell out the blessings and curses for obedience and disobedience respectively. Right behavior and right living bring peace, health, safety and prosperrity and the reverse will incur the judgments and curses of God. If the ancient nation of Israel had taken heed, they would have been a model for the surrounding nations to follow and abide in God's Law. We who live in the church age are so fortunate and ought to be grateful to God for Christ has become our High Priest to assist us in our journey of discipleship for those who would abide and obey His commandments. Christ sums it up succinctly,' You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind; and You shall love your neighbour as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.' (Matthew 22:37-40). The world is currently in great turmoil shows the extent of defiance of God's Law. Great blessings and grace will follow all those who live it out in their lives.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
THE FULL GOSPEL
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.
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.
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).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)