Thursday, December 23, 2010
Wishing You A Very Merry Christmas!
The true meaning of Christmas. Mt 1:21 “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Jesus is the sweetest name I know. The “Je” means Jehovah which is the self-existent one, while “sus” means salvation of God. Therefore, the name Jesus means the self-existent one who is the salvation of God. It is no wonder Acts 4:12 tell us “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” This Christmas enjoy the reason, Jesus Christ who came to save you from your sin. All one needs to do is confess your need to be redeemed, and believe upon the name of Jesus while receiving Him into your heart (Rom 10:9-10). God bless and Merry Christmas!
Monday, October 18, 2010
LIVING IN THE GREATEST KINGDOM OF ALL TIMES
The Lord Jesus makes a life changing statement in John 3:3, “… Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” It is true that anyone who enters the kingdom of God must be “born from above” (a literal rendering from the Greek “gennao anothen”). This brings to mind several questions: What does it mean to be born again (born from above)? Why would I want to be born again (born from above)? and the third question, What is the Kingdom of God?
Let’s begin by answering these questions in reverse order: What is the kingdom of God? How is the kingdom of God defined? Well, it always best to let Jesus define His own words, after all He is all-knowing, all understanding, and all wise being the perfect God without error. Jesus tells what the kingdom of God is when He taught the disciples to pray in what we know as the Lord's Prayer. “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:10). Simply stated, the kingdom of God is a group of people are who are born again, who live God’s will on earth and in heaven. Living God’s will means complete submission to God. One can only live in submission to God's will by obeying His Holy Word, the Bible. The Bible is our guide to living God's will. The evidence of living in God’s kingdom is simply believing and living the Bible as God gave it to us through holy men who wrote the perfect Word of God (2 Pet. 1:16-8).
Why would I want to enter God's Kingdom? It is because of the privilege of “sonship.” It is because only those who become God’s children receive God’s great inheritance, which is too vast to expound, yet it does include the privilege of life with God, the power of the Holy Spirit to understand and correctly interpret the Word of God, thereby one can please God, (obediently living his will joyfully) as well as access to His “throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16.). Unless one is truly born from above (recreated), they do not have God’s nature and will not want His will to be done in their lives. Without being recreated (born from above), they cannot have access to God. Without being born from above they have no eternal joy, only a temporary joy, which is short lived. Those who cannot see the Kingdom of God have no hope. They have no assurance that their hope will not drop them in the end.
This brings us to the first question. What does it mean to be born again? The words born again literally mean born from above. One must have an earthly birth to live upon this earth. One must be born from above to live in God’s Kingdom and know God. Being born from above is to receive a new nature. 2 Cor. 5:17, states, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Mankind was created in God's image and we had God's nature, but it died in sin “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23), that is not just physically, but also spiritually. The verse goes on to say “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” This comes by trusting fully in Jesus Christ who is revealed in the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation, that He is God, and He died upon the cross, and rose again from the dead, and His blood made the payment for my sin. Upon this admittance of sin and embracing of Christ, God recreates His spirit (gives us His nature) within us, which is what is known as being born from above, being born again. And it is this new nature which will give you the desire to know God fully through the Holy Scriptures, and will give you the love of living His will according to the whole Word of God. Do you have the desire to seek God in his perfect written pages of the Bible? Do you desire to know God’s will, and live His will according to the Bible at any cost? Then you will know you are born from above and you will see (enter) His kingdom. God's Kingdom is a grand place to be living, and it only gets better and better. May God enrich life in His kingdom.
Let’s begin by answering these questions in reverse order: What is the kingdom of God? How is the kingdom of God defined? Well, it always best to let Jesus define His own words, after all He is all-knowing, all understanding, and all wise being the perfect God without error. Jesus tells what the kingdom of God is when He taught the disciples to pray in what we know as the Lord's Prayer. “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:10). Simply stated, the kingdom of God is a group of people are who are born again, who live God’s will on earth and in heaven. Living God’s will means complete submission to God. One can only live in submission to God's will by obeying His Holy Word, the Bible. The Bible is our guide to living God's will. The evidence of living in God’s kingdom is simply believing and living the Bible as God gave it to us through holy men who wrote the perfect Word of God (2 Pet. 1:16-8).
Why would I want to enter God's Kingdom? It is because of the privilege of “sonship.” It is because only those who become God’s children receive God’s great inheritance, which is too vast to expound, yet it does include the privilege of life with God, the power of the Holy Spirit to understand and correctly interpret the Word of God, thereby one can please God, (obediently living his will joyfully) as well as access to His “throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16.). Unless one is truly born from above (recreated), they do not have God’s nature and will not want His will to be done in their lives. Without being recreated (born from above), they cannot have access to God. Without being born from above they have no eternal joy, only a temporary joy, which is short lived. Those who cannot see the Kingdom of God have no hope. They have no assurance that their hope will not drop them in the end.
This brings us to the first question. What does it mean to be born again? The words born again literally mean born from above. One must have an earthly birth to live upon this earth. One must be born from above to live in God’s Kingdom and know God. Being born from above is to receive a new nature. 2 Cor. 5:17, states, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Mankind was created in God's image and we had God's nature, but it died in sin “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23), that is not just physically, but also spiritually. The verse goes on to say “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” This comes by trusting fully in Jesus Christ who is revealed in the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation, that He is God, and He died upon the cross, and rose again from the dead, and His blood made the payment for my sin. Upon this admittance of sin and embracing of Christ, God recreates His spirit (gives us His nature) within us, which is what is known as being born from above, being born again. And it is this new nature which will give you the desire to know God fully through the Holy Scriptures, and will give you the love of living His will according to the whole Word of God. Do you have the desire to seek God in his perfect written pages of the Bible? Do you desire to know God’s will, and live His will according to the Bible at any cost? Then you will know you are born from above and you will see (enter) His kingdom. God's Kingdom is a grand place to be living, and it only gets better and better. May God enrich life in His kingdom.
Monday, October 11, 2010
The Truth of Crucifixion (Part-4)
We come to the final use of the English word crucified in Gal 6;14, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” This is being crucified to security. It is the physical victory over sin and the world. This is the liberty of life. This freedom is from the fears of harm, fear of trials and the fear of pain. Let me illustrate this truth with a true story which took place in Russia. About one hundred Christians gathered in secret for worship of Jesus Christ for fear of being jailed or killed. The worship began when all of a sudden the door flew open and four Russian soldiers with machine guns entered the crowed room. Yelling “this is an illegal gathering.” One soldier step forward and yelled “all you who are Christians will die today, but all of you who are not may live if you leave now.” Nobody moved, and the solder repeated the instructions. This time the room nearly emptied except for a handful of believers in Christ who stood ready to die. The soldiers closed the door and lowered their weapons. The Russian leader smiled and said "My true brother, You have truly died today, Let us worship and serve the Lord Jesus together."
The love and cause of Christ compels you forward without concern for what the world might do to you, because your life is in God hands. Regardless of wealth or poverty, joy or sorrows, pain or delight, hardship or ease it makes no difference what take place as long as Jesus Christ is pleased and glorified with your life. This does not mean you have no feelings, but it does mean that Christ is in control, for you are dead to things of this world. Being dead allows God to work his grace in you and through you, and fluidness of Christ flows through to the enrichment of life that can be found nowhere else. Few believers reach this level of deep relationship with Jesus.
The love and cause of Christ compels you forward without concern for what the world might do to you, because your life is in God hands. Regardless of wealth or poverty, joy or sorrows, pain or delight, hardship or ease it makes no difference what take place as long as Jesus Christ is pleased and glorified with your life. This does not mean you have no feelings, but it does mean that Christ is in control, for you are dead to things of this world. Being dead allows God to work his grace in you and through you, and fluidness of Christ flows through to the enrichment of life that can be found nowhere else. Few believers reach this level of deep relationship with Jesus.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
The Truth of Crucifixion (Part-3)
The Second reference of being crucified is found in Galatians 5:24, "And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." It is a reference to being crucified to one’s old nature or one could simply say crucified to self .
The word crucified (strauoo) in Galatians 5:24 differs from the word “crucified” (sustauroo) in Gal. 2:20 in both tense and meaning. Crucified (Satrauoo) in Gal. 5:24 is a continuous present tense, while Gal. 2:20 is a onetime happening in the past tense. Gal. 5:24 is in reference to one’s attitude, while in Gal. 2:20 sets forth a oneness or union with Christ in His death and resurrection. Gal. 5:24 is the living practice of Gal. 2:20. By faith I died (Gal. 2:20) and by faith I continue to take action to be dead to self. In other words the new spirit must continually fight and put down the old nature. Gal. 5:24 is a moral death, while Gal. 2:20 is a legal death. Gal. 5:24 explains what we are to do after we are fully justified before God, by accepting Jesus Christ’s death and payment for our sin.
One is justified by crucifixion to sin in Gal. 2:20 and one lives this justification out in their life through crucified living Gal. 5:24. Which results in “the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Gal. 2:22-23). It is a beauty of life that cannot be surpassed this side of heaven. By faith we come to Christ, and by faith we continue in Christ. Yet we are left with one difficulty. How or what do we do in order to live out this faith? The next posting will reveal the third use of the English Word “crucified” which reveals the how and the enabling to continue to live by faith bring forth the fruit of the Spirit in the fullness of life.
The word crucified (strauoo) in Galatians 5:24 differs from the word “crucified” (sustauroo) in Gal. 2:20 in both tense and meaning. Crucified (Satrauoo) in Gal. 5:24 is a continuous present tense, while Gal. 2:20 is a onetime happening in the past tense. Gal. 5:24 is in reference to one’s attitude, while in Gal. 2:20 sets forth a oneness or union with Christ in His death and resurrection. Gal. 5:24 is the living practice of Gal. 2:20. By faith I died (Gal. 2:20) and by faith I continue to take action to be dead to self. In other words the new spirit must continually fight and put down the old nature. Gal. 5:24 is a moral death, while Gal. 2:20 is a legal death. Gal. 5:24 explains what we are to do after we are fully justified before God, by accepting Jesus Christ’s death and payment for our sin.
One is justified by crucifixion to sin in Gal. 2:20 and one lives this justification out in their life through crucified living Gal. 5:24. Which results in “the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Gal. 2:22-23). It is a beauty of life that cannot be surpassed this side of heaven. By faith we come to Christ, and by faith we continue in Christ. Yet we are left with one difficulty. How or what do we do in order to live out this faith? The next posting will reveal the third use of the English Word “crucified” which reveals the how and the enabling to continue to live by faith bring forth the fruit of the Spirit in the fullness of life.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
The Truth of Crucifixion (Part-2)
The first of the three uses of the Word “Crucified” is found in Galatians 2:20. I refer to this use as being crucified to sin. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." This is what is call the new-birth. The Law demands punishment for sin, and the punishment for sin is death (Rom. 6:23). Jesus died upon the cross and paid the price for all sin, past, present, and future. Yet, one must accept Jesus’ payment for sin, or one must make the payment him/her self. Jesus Christ is offering each person a gift to become legally dead to the law (Gal. 1:19). Jesus Christ is offering to pay for your sin personally. All you have to do is receive His payment from the cross. Admit you are a sinner and accept by faith Christ’s payment. Then God’s wrath is not only removed from sentencing one’s soul to eternal damnation, but one also receives the blessings of life in Christ Jesus. Which is why Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." The life one lives is free from the bondage of sin. It is a life lived through Christ Jesus. Without this legal justification one does not have the position to claim God’s promises nor enjoy God, and results in the next two truths concerning crucifixion in Galatians not making sense. Be sure you have new life in Christ, because, you have died and been resurrected with Christ through faith in Him.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
The Truth of Crucifixion (Part-1)
When one is accused, our natural reaction is to justify our actions. We often find excuses and reason for all that we do or don’t do regardless of whether we are really right or not. Yet, there is a calming sense when one is truly justified. There is no fear of being exposed or caught by an accuser. There no fear of false accusations sticking.
The real question is “Am I clearly justified before the Almighty God?” For God knows all, and cannot be deceived or fooled. Thereby, it would be great to be 100% assured of being justified before Him when death comes. I can ignore the fact that I stand before Him and waste life. I can worry about it and waste life, or I can be assured and fulfill life. There is no great sense of liberty knowing I’m justified before God. The Almighty God can give you that assurance. God reveals the truth of justification in several places throughout the Bible, yet we will turn our attention to the book of Galatians. Here we find that each person must be justified before God, and how they may be justified before God, and live life in liberty fulfilling one’s personal divinely created purpose.
The book of Galatians uses the English word “Crucified” four times. One referring to Christ, and three referring to you and I being crucified if we are to fully know and enjoy the liberty of being justified. I will be covering these three English words in the next three posting.
The real question is “Am I clearly justified before the Almighty God?” For God knows all, and cannot be deceived or fooled. Thereby, it would be great to be 100% assured of being justified before Him when death comes. I can ignore the fact that I stand before Him and waste life. I can worry about it and waste life, or I can be assured and fulfill life. There is no great sense of liberty knowing I’m justified before God. The Almighty God can give you that assurance. God reveals the truth of justification in several places throughout the Bible, yet we will turn our attention to the book of Galatians. Here we find that each person must be justified before God, and how they may be justified before God, and live life in liberty fulfilling one’s personal divinely created purpose.
The book of Galatians uses the English word “Crucified” four times. One referring to Christ, and three referring to you and I being crucified if we are to fully know and enjoy the liberty of being justified. I will be covering these three English words in the next three posting.
Friday, August 20, 2010
EVERYONE IS A CHRISTIAN?
Didn’t you know "everyone is a Christian" these days, at least as long as it is convenient for them. The thought goes something like this, "I have some religious beliefs and I live in America, therefore, my religion is Christianity." I laugh at their foolishness and weep for their soul. There was time I thought I was Christian, but then I learned what the God actually says in His Holy book and found out I was only fooling myself. (For my testimony please see my first post.) So, what is Christianity? Well, let’s let God tells us, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom 10:9-10). I find a lot of false confession with the mouth about a lot of things that are not Biblical nor of Christ. Why is that? They have not believed, received Jesus Christ into their heart. John 1:12 reaffirms this truth, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” Half saved is still incomplete. How can one be partly redeemed (saved)? Either one is redeemed from their sin, saved, or not. It is not a very difficult concept.
Yet, one thing is true, the heart is changed and one’s desires are changed as well. Changed to what? Changed to wanting to know Christ and to be like Him. This is why one claims to be a Christian. The word Christian means “Christ-like.” Why would you claim something that you don’t want to be like? Many people will claim to be a Christian for the benefits they think they will receive. A true Christian will claim it, regardless of the benefits at the moment. And of course one who claims to be a Christian will also be one who spends time in the Scripture, because they have a desire to be like-Christ, as well as know Him in a greater personal way. Do you honestly know what being a true Christian is like? Do you desire to know Christ greater? Do you desire to spend time in the Scriptures?
The truth is God knows who the true Christians are. And one day they will hear these words, “… Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Mt 25:21). All the others will hear “… I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth…” (Luke 13:27-28). What will you hear?
Yet, one thing is true, the heart is changed and one’s desires are changed as well. Changed to what? Changed to wanting to know Christ and to be like Him. This is why one claims to be a Christian. The word Christian means “Christ-like.” Why would you claim something that you don’t want to be like? Many people will claim to be a Christian for the benefits they think they will receive. A true Christian will claim it, regardless of the benefits at the moment. And of course one who claims to be a Christian will also be one who spends time in the Scripture, because they have a desire to be like-Christ, as well as know Him in a greater personal way. Do you honestly know what being a true Christian is like? Do you desire to know Christ greater? Do you desire to spend time in the Scriptures?
The truth is God knows who the true Christians are. And one day they will hear these words, “… Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Mt 25:21). All the others will hear “… I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth…” (Luke 13:27-28). What will you hear?
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