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This article is written to let you know who Christians are really are. There are blacks who claim to be whites. There are so many children of the devil who claim to be Christians.

Many misconceive and misunderstand who Christians are. I have known white people who consider themselves Christians simply because they are born white. There are members of a certain church and they consider themselves only true Christians in town. There are people who consider themselves Christians because they attend church, have been baptized, received communion, donated to church, etc. There are also people who consider themselves Christians because their parents are Christians. The world do not know who Christians are. Most Europeans and Americans have wrong idea who and what Christians are. The rest of the world misconstrue and misunderstand Christians because of the evil deeds done by imperial Europeans and Americans. 

The Church at Antioch

Act 11:19-26, “So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the Word to no one except to Jews alone. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord. And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

Note: The Scriptures cited above gave the historical account how believers were first called Christians in Antioch. All persons mentioned in the Bible are real historical persons. All places mentioned in the Bible are real geographical places. All events mentioned in the Bible are real occurred historical events. All early followers of Jesus Christ were persecuted that occurred in connection with Stephen who was the Christian protomartyr. The life story of Stephen is recorded in Act Chapter 6-7. At that time Jerusalem was the Headquarters of Christianity, while Antioch was the center of Gentile Christians. Considerable numbers of Gentiles in Antioch were brought to the Lord and became Christians.

Persecution in Greek is thlipsis which means tribulation; affliction; trouble; anguish; trouble; burden of heart; oppression; pressure; distress; straits; anxiety; – which occurs 45 times in the New Testament. It is important to know that early Christians faced deadly persecution. As predicted by Jesus Christ Himself, Mat 24:9, “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.” Early Christians did not live lives of ease, they lived lives of affliction and persecution. The following Holy Scriptures give a brief description of their condition and existence:

Heb 11:33-38, “who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.” The following words such as mouths of lions, power of fire, edge of the sword, tortured, mockings, scourgings, chains, imprisonment, stoned, sawn in two, death with the sword, went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated, men of whom the world was not worthy, wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground… create a powerful picture of the sufferings of persecuted Christians.

Persecution was the major force that scattered Christians to many parts of their world. Scatter in Greek is diaspeirō which means to disperse; to separate widely; to go in various directions; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. Generally speaking persecution is not a good thing, but God works all things for good, and consequently preaching of the Lord Jesus and the Gospel were performed by the dispersed Christians in many places. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. The hand of the Lord controls events and timing which the world does not know about. God rules by His absolute sovereignty and nothing can withstand the will of God. Those who believe and turn to the Lord are called Christians, no matter of what race, class, color, gender or background. All Christians are one.

The good news of the revival of the Church at the Antioch reached the ears of the Church at Jerusalem. The Church at Jerusalem sent Barnabas off to Antioch. Barnabas in Greek is Barnabas which means son of rest; a native of Cyprus, a companion and colleague of Apostle Paul; – which occurs 28 times in the New Testament. Act 4:36, “Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement).” When Saul became Paul preaching Jesus Christ, the disciples were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. It was Barnabas who brought Paul to the apostles and spoke on his behalf. Act 9:26-27, “When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.” Barnabas was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. The job of preachers is to bring people to the Lord, and Christians are those who with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord. If a person calls himself a believer without a resolute heart to remain true to the Lord, he is not a Christian. To remain true to the Lord is not a one-time thing, it is a continuous thing to be faithful to the end, until the Lord returns. The living God, true and holy, demands true believers. The faithful and true Lord demands faithful followers. Christians are saints who are faithful in Christ Jesus, faithful until death.

Act 26:28, “Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.”

Note: You are not a Christian by birth as many Europeans and Americans (white race) strangely consider themselves. No one is a Christian by birth, however, you can become a Christian by being born again. No one is a Christian by birth, race, color, class, right, privilege, or background. To be a Christian first you must become a Christian. If you are a sheep, you are always a sheep, you cannot become a goat. If you are a goat, you are always a goat, you cannot become a sheep. Jesus says, Jhn 10:26,“But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep.” If you do not believe in Jesus because you are not His sheep. If you are a Jesus sheep, you would believe in Him. Jesus says, Jhn 10:27, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” If you are Jesus sheep, you would hear His voice and follow Him. You do not hear the voice of Jesus and do not follow Him because you are not His sheep. How can you become Jesus’ sheep? You do not need to pay. All you need to do is to repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, hear His voice (listen to His Word), and follow Him.

In the last 500 years or more European nations and peoples and later America and Americans have distorted and disgraced Christianity by falsely claimed to be Christian nations; they deceived, defrauded, and destroyed many nations and peoples of the world; they still lie, kill, and rob many nations and peoples with countless atrocities, brutalities, iniquities, and evil deeds under the false pretense of their so-called democracy, human right, rule of law, justice, equality, freedom, independence, etc. They still dictate and dominate the world with their absolute military supremacy, monopolistic and corrupt currency, financial, banking, commercial, political, legal, technological, diplomatic, transportation, and trade systems to serve only their own interests at the expense of justice and peace and stability. Since the end of World War II, the United States and its allies have killed millions and millions of innocent peoples around the world in their many unjust and unholy wars of aggression and violation of the sovereignty of other nations and brutal and unlawful military interventions and also created millions and millions of refugees and peoples of abject poverty and misery in many parts of the world to this day. Even today the West (America and Europe) want to maintain the status quo of their domination and dictatorship of the world, they without cause or reason target Russia and China with their so-called phony Russia threat, and China threat to justify their hundreds of military bases around the world to encircle and provoke Russia and China in all aspects of maneuvers and operations to weaken Russia and curb the peaceful rise of China. It would not be a surprise if the West (America, Europe, Canada, Australia, and American running dogs) lead to the eruption of a nuclear war that will destroy the whole world. America and Europe are now practicing the most corrupt and secular version of Christianity where they advocate sexual immorality and homosexuality and legalize same-sex marriage, abolition of capital punishment instituted by God, promoting One World Religion to be led by the Man of Lawlessness, the Son of Destruction, (2Th 2:3); and practice a distorted democracy where one percent of population controls and rules over 99 percent of population, and where 1 percent of population owns more wealth and power in the world. 

Share the Sufferings of Christ

1Pe 4:12-16, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.”

Note: Persecution can be called a fiery ordeal. To become a Christian does not cost you money or merit, but you may suffer as a Christian at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you for your testing. This may happen to you to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ. Crooks and criminals may suffer for their crimes and sins. A murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler suffers because of their evil deeds and they deserve what they get. To suffer for doing wrong is a shame. However, to suffer as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in the name of being a Christian.

Mar 8:38, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

Note: A Christian is one who is NOT ashamed of Jesus and His Words. No true Christian would be ashamed of Jesus and His Words. Anyone who is ashamed of Jesus and His Words is not a Christian.

I.  CHRISTIANS HAVE MANY NAMES AND TITLES. The names and titles of Christians reflect their nature, character, attribute, identity, mission, status and value. The names and titles of Christians show who they really are; they are rich in theological implication and application. By their names you will know them.

(1). The disciples.

Act 11:26, “and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

Act 18:23, “And having spent some time there, he left and passed successively through the Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.”

(2). Christians.

Act 11:26, “and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

Act 26:28, “ Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.”

Note: In the days of King Agrippa, the name of Christian was already well-known.

1Pe 4:16, “but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.”

Note: Some may not know that it is possible that anyone suffers as a Christian. It is impossible for a Christian to be ashamed of being a Christian or being ashamed of Jesus Christ.

(3). The called and chosen and faithful.

Rev 17:14, “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”

Note: This Scripture gives threefold meaning of being Christians. Christians are the called and chosen and faithful. Christians are called and chosen by God and faithful and obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Pe 1:1, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen.”

(4). Saints and faithful brethren in Christ.

Col 1:2, “To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.”

Note: Many do not know what is the meaning of a saint. Saint in Greek is hagios which means holy one; pure, morally blameless person; – which occurs 248 times in the New Testament. According to the Roman Catholic Church, a saint is a dead person officially canonized by the pope. That is not true. The common belief is that a holy man is a saint. A saint according to the Bible is a believer (dead or alive) who is sanctified by faith in Christ and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Every Christian who is born again and sanctified by the blood of Jesus is a saint here on earth alive. A Christian is a saint recognized by Christ, not the pope.

1Pe 5:12, “Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!”

(5). The Lord’s saints.

Act 9:13, “But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem.”

1Th 3:13, “so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.”

(6). Who are faithful in Christ Jesus.

Eph 1:1, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus.”

Eph 5:3, “But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.”

(7). Strangers and exiles on the earth.

Heb 11:13, “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.”

Note: To the world, Christians are strangers and exiles on the earth.

(8). Brethren beloved by God.

1Th 1:4, “knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you.”

Note: Of course this includes sisters; however, in Heaven there will be no difference in gender. Christians will be like angels. So we are all sons of God.

(9). Who believed turned to the Lord.

Act 11:21, “And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.”

(10). Sons of Light.

Jhn 12:36, “While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them.”

(11). Believers in the Lord.

Act 5:14, “And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number.”

1Ti 4:12, “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.”

(12). The ones who have faith in Jesus.

Rom 3:26, “for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

(13). Those who are of faith.

Gal 3:9, “So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.”

Gal 3:7, “Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.”

Note: There are only two groups of people in the world, believers and unbelievers. Christians are believers in Jesus Christ. Unbelievers are not Christians. There are Taiwanese politicians who claim to be Christians and yet they publicly burn incense and worship idols. They are fake Christians, because Christians do not worship idols. You wonder whether there is a true servant of Christ there, because no Taiwanese preachers rebuke those fake brothers and false Christians.

(14). The congregation of those who believed.

Act 4:32, “And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.”

(15). Those who are of the faith of Abraham.

Rom 4:16, “For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.”

(16). Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

Gal 3:29, “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.”

(17). Children of the free woman.

Gal 4:31, “So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.”

(18). The children of the promise.

Rom 9:8, “ That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.”

(19). A Chosen Race.

1Pe 2:9, “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Note: The chosen race is not white race, yellow race or black race. The chosen race does not belong to any human race. The chosen race is a special race of Christians. The chosen race includes Jewish and Gentile believers of all generations.

(20). A royal priesthood.

1Pe 2:9, “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Note: Christians were already out of darkness into God’s marvelous light. The fact a person is still in darkness proves he is not a Christian.

(21). A Holy Nation.

1Pe 2:9, “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Note: Christians are a Holy Nation, unlike any other nation on earth.

(22). A People For God’s Own Possession.

1Pe 2:9, “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Note: 1 Peter 2:9 is rich in describing the nature and character of Christians. Christians are so special because they are a people for God’s own possession. God’s own possession is precious to God.

(23). Believers in the Lord.

Act 5:14, “And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number.”

(24). Believers in God.

1Pe 1:21, “who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

Note: The faith and hope of believers are in God. For that reason, Christians cannot fail because God never fails.

(25). Children of God.

Jhn 1:12, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.”

Rom 8:16, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.”

Rom 8:21, “that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”

(26). Blameless and innocent children of God.

Phl 2:15, “so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.”

(27). Abraham’s children.

Jhn 8:39, “They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham.”

(28). Little children.

Jhn 13:33, “Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.”

1Jo 2:12, “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake.”

Note: Little children are not because of size, little is a term of endearment.

(29). His children.

Act 17:28, “for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.”

(30). Heirs of God.

Rom 8:17, “and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”

(31). Fellow heirs with Christ.

Rom 8:17, “and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”

(32). Children of the promise.

Rom 9:8, “That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.”

Gal 4:28, “And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.”

(33). Beloved children.

Eph 5:1, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.”

Note: If you are imitators of God, you are God’s beloved children.

1Co 4:14, “I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.”

(34). Children of the free woman.

Gal 4:31, “So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.”

(35). Children of Light.

Eph 5:8, “for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.”

Note: There are only two kinds of people: Children of Light, and children of darkness. Christians walk as children of Light.

(36). Obedient children.

1Pe 1:14, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance.”

Note: Disobedience is ignorance. Christians are obedient children of God.

(37). The People of God.

1Pe 2:10, “ for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.”

Heb 4:9, “So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.”

Heb 11:25, “choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.”

Note: Christians are the people of God. Moses chose rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasure of sin. The pleasure of sin is always passing. Money, power, and sex are passing along with all other things in the world.

(38). Aliens and strangers.

1Pe 2:11, “ Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.”

Note: Christians are aliens and strangers in this world. The funny thing is the fact that some who claim Christians act and speak like rulers of the world.

(39). The elect.

Mat 24:22,“Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.”

Mat 24:24, “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.

Mar 13:20, “Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days.”

Mar 13:22, “for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect.”

Mar 13:20, “Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days.”

Note: Christians are the elect.

(40). His elect.

Mat 24:31,“And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”

Mar 13:27, “And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.”

Luk 18:7, “now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?”

Note: God will bring about justice for His elect; Christians are His elect.

(41). God’s elect.

Rom 8:33, “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies.”

Note: Christians are God’s elect who have been justified.

(42). The flock.

Mat 26:31, “Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED.”

Act 20:28, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the Church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

Act 20:29, “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.”

1Pe 5:3, “nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.”

Note: Flock in Greek is poimnion which means figuratively (like sheep) a group of Christ’s disciples; a group of believers; the Church of God; – which 5 times in the New Testament.

(43). Little flock.

Luk 12:32, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the Kingdom.”

Note: Little flock does not mean little in number, it is a term of endearment. Christians are dear to God like a little flock; God has chosen Christians gladly to give Christians the Kingdom.

(44). Other sheep.

Jhn 10:16, “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one Shepherd.”

Note: Other sheep mean sheep other than Jewish sheep; they are Gentile believers. Jewish and Gentile Christians will become on flock with Jesus Christ as the Great and Chief Shepherd.

(45). One flock with one Shepherd.

Jhn 10:16, “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one Shepherd.”

(46). The flock of God.

1Pe 5:2, “shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness.”

(47). A people prepared for the Lord.

Luk 1:17, “It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

(48). His people.

Luk 1:68, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people.”

Luk 1:77, “To give to His people the knowledge of salvation
By the forgiveness of their sins.”

Note: Christians are His people who have been redeemed, who have the knowledge of salvation, and the forgiveness of their sins.

Heb 10:30, “For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.”

Rev 21:3, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them.”

Note: In the Kingdom of Heaven, Christians are His people, and God Himself will be among them for eternity.

(49). From among the Gentiles a people for His name.

Act 15:14, “Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name.”

(50). His people whom He foreknew.

Rom 11:2, “God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?”

(51). Those who are of the household of the faith.

Gal 6:10, “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the Faith.”

Note: The household of God is the household of the Faith. Christianity is the Faith. Those who are of the household of the Faith are Christians.

(52). The saints.

Act 26:10, “And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them.”

Rom 8:27, “ and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

1Co 6:2, “Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts?”

Rom 12:13, “contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.”

Rev 13:7, “It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.”

Note: The saints are those who are sanctified by the blood and by the Holy Spirit in Christ, dead or alive. A saint is not a dead person canonized by the pope of the Roman Catholic Church.

(53). Good and faithful slaves.

Mat 25:21,“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”

Mat 25:23, “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”

Note: If you are good, you must be faithful. It is impossible to be good and unfaithful. It is also impossible to be faithful and not good. It is better to be a good and faithful slave of Jesus Christ than to be a corrupt and wicked leader of a nation.

(54). Faithful men.

2Ti 2:2, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

(55). The righteous.

Psa 34:15, “The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous
And His ears are open to their cry.”

Psa 34:17, “The righteous cry, and the LORD hears
And delivers them out of all their troubles.”

Psa 34:19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all.”

Note: Do not get the wrong idea that the righteous are free from afflictions and troubles. But the Lord delivers the righteous out of them all.

Psa 37:39, “But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
He is their strength in time of trouble.”

Psa 97:11, “Light is sown like seed for the righteous
And gladness for the upright in heart.”

Mat 13:43, “Then THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE FORTH AS THE SUN in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.”

Note: In this world, secular leaders, actors and actresses, the rich and powerful, shine as stars and celebrities. In the Kingdom of God, the righteous will shine forth as the Sun.

Mat 13:49, “So it will be at the end of the world; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous.”

Mat 25:46, “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Note: There are only two destinies: The unrighteous will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

Rom 1:17, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”

Jas 5:16, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

Note: God listens to the prayer of a righteous man. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Christians are called the righteous because they have been justified by God and received the righteousness of God on account of the redemption of Jesus Christ.

(56). The ones who are righteous and holy.

Rev 22:11, “Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.”

(57). The spirits of the righteous.

Heb 12:23, “to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect.”

(58). Obedient children.

1Pe 1:14, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance.”

Note: Disobedience is ignorance. Christians are obedient children who do not be conformed to the former lusts.

(59). The assembly of the holy ones.

Psa 89:5, “The Heavens will praise Your wonders, O LORD;
Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.”

Note: Christians are the assembly of the holy ones.

(60). His godly ones.

Psa 30:4, “Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones,
And give thanks to His holy name.”

(61). Righteous ones.

Psa 97:12, “Be glad in the LORD, you righteous ones,
And give thanks to His holy name.”

(62). The assembly of the righteous.

Psa 1:5, “Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.”

Note: Christians are the assembly of the righteous.

(63). The company of the upright.

Psa 111:1, “Praise the LORD!
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart,
In the company of the upright and in the assembly.”

Note: Christians are the company of the upright. Warmongers, imperialists, militarists, supremacists, monopolists, capitalists, and terrorists do not belong to the company of the upright.

(64). The general assembly and church of the firstborn.

Heb 12:23, “to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in Heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect.”

(65). The congregation of the godly ones.

Psa 149:1, “Praise the LORD!
Sing to the LORD a new song,
And His praise in the congregation of the godly ones.”

(66). The congregation of those who believed.

Act 4:32, “And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.”

(67). The congregation.

Heb 2:12, “saying,
“I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN,
IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.”

(68). The upright.

Num 23:10, “Who can count the dust of Jacob,
Or number the fourth part of Israel?
Let me die the death of the upright,
And let my end be like his!”

2Ch 19:11, “Behold, Amariah the chief priest will be over you in all that pertains to the LORD, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all that pertains to the king. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. Act resolutely, and the LORD be with the upright.”

Psa 11:7, “For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness;
The upright will behold His face.”

Psa 112:4, “Light arises in the darkness for the upright;
He is gracious and compassionate and righteous.”

Psa 140:13, “Surely the righteous will give thanks to Your name;
The upright will dwell in Your presence.”

Pro 14:9, “Fools mock at sin,
But among the upright there is good will.”

Pro 15:8, “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
But the prayer of the upright is His delight.”

Pro 16:17, “The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;
He who watches his way preserves his life.”

Note: Christians are the upright of the Lord.

(69). The generation of the upright.

Psa 112:2, “His descendants will be mighty on earth;
The generation of the upright will be blessed.”

(70). The upright in heart.

Psa 7:10, “My shield is with God,
Who saves the upright in heart.”

Psa 36:10, “O continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You,
And Your righteousness to the upright in heart.

Psa 64:10, “The righteous man will be glad in the LORD and will take refuge in Him; and all the upright in heart will glory.”

(71). The righteous men.

Psa 64:10, “The righteous man will be glad in the LORD and will take refuge in Him; and all the upright in heart will glory.”

Jas 5:16, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

Psa 64:10, “The righteous man will be glad in the LORD and will take refuge in Him;and all the upright in heart will glory.”

(72). You who are upright in heart.

Psa 32:11, “Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.”

(73). My chosen ones.

Isa 45:4,  “For the sake of Jacob My servant,
And Israel My chosen one,
I have also called you by your name;
I have given you a title of honor
Though you have not known Me.”

Note: Derived from the Scripture cited, the Jews were called the chosen people. By the same token, Christians are the Chosen People of God by grace.

(74). His flock.

Jer 31:10, “Hear the Word of the LORD, O nations,
And declare in the coastlands afar off,
And say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him
And keep him as a shepherd keeps His flock.”

(75). A holy people to Himself.

Deu 28:9, “The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, as He swore to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways.”

(76). The work of Your hand.

Isa 64:8, “But now, O LORD, You are our Father,
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all of us are the work of Your hand.”

(77). Your people.

Isa 64:9, “Do not be angry beyond measure, O LORD,
Nor remember iniquity forever;
Behold, look now, all of us are Your people.”

(78). His workmanship.

Eph 2:10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

(79). The temple of God.

1Co 3:17, “If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.”

1Co 6:19, “ Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?”

1Co 3:16, “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

Note: Christians are the temple of God.

(80). Living stones.

1Pe 2:5, “you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

(81). A spiritual house.

1Pe 2:5, “you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

(82). A holy priesthood.

1Pe 2:5, “you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

(83). Seven golden lampstands.

Rev 1:12, “ Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands.”

(84). Seven stars.

Rev 1:16, “ In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.”

(85). A kingdom and priests to our God.

Rev 5:10, “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”

Rev 1:6, “ and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

(86). Priests of God and of Christ.

Rev 20:6, “Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.”

(87). Servants of a new covenant.

2Co 3:6, “who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

Note: The old covenant was of law, the new covenant is of grace. Christians are servants of the New Covenant.

(88). A fragrance of Christ to God.

2Co 2:15, “For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”

(89). A kind of first fruits among His creatures.

Jas 1:18, “In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.”

(90). First fruits to God and to the Lamb.

Rev 14:4, “These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb.”

(91). Instruments of righteousness to God.

Rom 6:13, “and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”

Note: Tragic is the fact Western nations are instruments of unrighteousness in the world.

(92). Living and holy sacrifices.

Rom 12:1, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”

(93). Chosen of God, holy and beloved.

Col 3:12, “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

(94). Those chosen of God.

Tit 1:1, “Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness.”

2Ti 2:10, “For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.”

(95). Who are chosen.

1Pe 1:1, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen.”

(96). MY PEOPLE.

Rom 9:25, “As He says also in Hosea,
“I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, ‘MY PEOPLE,’
AND HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, ‘BELOVED.’

(97). SONS OF THE LIVING GOD.

Rom 9:26, “AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, ‘YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,’
THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF THE LIVING GOD.”

Note: To be sons of the living God is better than to be presidents or kings of nations.

(98). Everyone who believes in Christ.

Jhn 12:46, “I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.”

Note: The Gospel is all inclusive because everyone who believes in Jesus Christ is a Christian. Everyone can believe and will not be rejected. If you do not believe, you will perish of your own doing.

(99). The righteousness of God in Him.

2Co 5:21, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Note: We do not have righteousness in us. The Righteous died for the unrighteous, He who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that every believer might become the righteousness of God in Christ.

(100). Eyewitnesses and servants of the Word.

Luk 1:2, “just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the Word.”

(101). Partakers of the glory that is to be revealed.

1Pe 5:1, “Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed.”

(102). The congregation of the disciples.

Act 6:2, “So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the Word of God in order to serve tables.”

Note: Christians are the congregation of the disciples.

(103). The disciples of the Lord.

Act 9:1, “Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest.”

Note: Christians are the disciples of the Lord, not of Paul, not of Peter, not of Augustine, not of anyone else.

(104). Beloved of God.

Rom 1:7, “to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Note: Saints are beloved of God. Christians are saints.

(105). The sect of the Nazarenes.

Act 24:5, “For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.”

(106). The household of God.

1Pe 4:17, “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the Gospel of God?”

Eph 2:19, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household.”

1Ti 3:15, “but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.”

Note: To be a member of the household of God is better than to be a member of the royal household of any empire or kingdom on earth.

(107). Fellow citizens with the saints.

Eph 2:19, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household.”

(108). The Church of the living God.

1Ti 3:15, “but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.”

(109). The pillar and support of the truth.

1Ti 3:15, “but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.”

Note: The Church of the living God is the pillar and support of the truth. A false church is not the pillar and support of the truth.

(110). The first fruits of the Spirit.

Rom 8:23, “ And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.”

(111). Sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Gal 3:26, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

(112). Heirs of God.

Rom 8:17, “and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”

(113). Fellow heirs with Christ.

Rom 8:17, “and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”

Note: An heir is one who is entitled to inherit property from an ancestor or predecessor, and the ancestor or predecessor must be dead. On the contrary, Christians are heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. Our heavenly Father will never die for He is the Self-Existent and Eternal God. Christians will be glorified with Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven forever and ever with the Holy Father. Christians will never be orphans.

(114). Abraham’s descendants.

Gal 3:29, “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.”

(115). Heirs according to promise.

Gal 3:29, “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.”

(116). Pure virgins.

2Co 11:2, “For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.” 

Note: In America and Europe, virginity is cheap. Strangely many girls want to get rid of their virginity as of it is something undesirable and unamiable. A Christian is a pure virgin betrothed to Christ. So Christians are pure virgins betrothed to Christ, holy and precious.

(117). His bride.

Rev 19:7,“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”

(118). Many brethren.

Rom 8:29, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Act 9:30, “But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.”

Note: Do not confuse because Christians are the brethren, as if female Christians are overlooked. The truth is there will be no gender difference in the Kingdom of God, we will all be like angels. There will be no male and female. All are one in Christ. For that reason, Christians are called sons of God.

(119). Those who are sanctified.

Heb 2:11, “For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.”

Note: Christians are sanctified by faith in Christ, by the blood of Jesus Christ, and by the Holy Spirit.

(120). My friends.

Jhn 15:14-15, “You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

Note: Christ elevates His disciples and followers by calling them His friends although we are not worthy. We are just slaves of Christ.

(121). The brotherhood.

1Pe 2:17, “Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.”

Note: As explained above, Christians are the brotherhood, why not the sisterhood.

(122). The household of the Faith.

Gal 6:10, “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the Faith.”

(123). The congregation of those who believed.

Act 4:32, “And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.”

(124). Believers.

2Co 6:15, “Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?”

Note: A Christian is a believer. Christians are believers.

(125). Sons and daughters to the Lord.

2Co 6:18, “And I will be a father to you,
And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”
Says the Lord Almighty.”

(126). Those who believe.

1Ti 4:12, “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.”

(127). Both men and women belonging to the Way.

Act 9:2, “and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.”

(128). Slaves of Christ.

Eph 6:6, “not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.”

Note: Slaves of Christ are doing the will of God from the heart. True Christians are slaves of Christ.

(129). The members of Christ.

1Co 6:15, “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be!”

(130). Christ’s body.

1Co 12:27, “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.”

Eph 1:23, “which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

Col 1:18, “He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.”

Col 1:24, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.”

Rom 12:5, “so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”

Note: Christians are one body in Christ.

(131). The members of the Body.

1Co 12:12, “For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the Body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.”

(132). Sons of light and sons of the day.

1Th 5:5, “for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness.”

(133). Children of Light.

Eph 5:8, “for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.”

(134). The light of the world.

Mat 5:14,“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

(135). Sons of Light.

Jhn 12:36, “While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them.”

(136). First fruits to God and to the Lamb.

Rev 14:4, “These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb.”

(137). The salt of the earth.

Mat 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.”

(138). Ambassadors for Christ.

2Co 5:20, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

Note: Apostles are qualified to be called ambassadors for Christ, we Christians are just lowly disciples of Jesus Christ.

(139). Doers of the Word.

Jas 1:22, “But prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”

Note: Christians are not only believers or hearers but doers of the Word.

(140). Heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Tit 3:7, “so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

(141). The Church of God.

Act 20:28, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the Church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

1Co 1:2, “To the Church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.”

Note: Christians are the Church of God. The Church of God is so precious because it was purchased with the blood of Jesus.

(142). Those who believe and know the truth. 

1Ti 4:3, “men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.”

Note: Christians are those who believe and know the truth. Secularists and unbelieving theologians cannot be Christians because they do not believe and do not know the truth.

(143). All who call on the name of the Lord.

Act 9:14, “and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

Rom 10:12, “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him.”

Rom 10:13, “for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”

Note: Christians are all who call on the name of the Lord.

Rom 8:37-39, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Note: To be more than conqueror in Greek is hypernikaō which means to gain a surpassing victory; to gain a decisive victory; to vanquish the enemy; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. Christians are more than conquerors.

Mat 12:20, “A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF,
AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT OUT,
UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY.”

Note: One thing is sure: Jesus Christ will finally lead justice to victory. All warmongers, imperialists, militarists, supremacists, aggressors, oppressors, capitalists, monopolists, and terrorists; your days are numbered. Your doomsday is approaching and near at hand. 

1Co 15:57, “but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1Jo 5:4, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

Note: Whatever is born of God overcomes the world. Christians are born of God and overcome the world. Our faith is the victory that has overcome the world. It is God who gives Christians the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Pro 21:31, “The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But victory belongs to the LORD.”

Note: Warmongers and aggressors have the nuclear horse prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the Lord. Those liars, killers, and robbers will be judged and sent to Hell for eternal punishment.

Christians will make the final shouts of victory over the devil, the world, and all enemies. For Christians are more than conquerors!

Note: Some white scholars use the word Christians to include all who are born in a Christian country or of Christian parents. This is a big fallacy. In the first place, there is not a Christian country anywhere in the world. Europe and America are the most secular and un-scriptural nations on earth. Europe and America later have distorted and disgraced Christianity by lying, killing, and robbing many nations and peoples in the world for the last 500 years or more.

In summary, we can correctly say a Christian is:

1. . A believer and follower of Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior.
2. . A disciple of Jesus Christ who serves and suffers for Him.
3. . A born-again believer who has the Spirit of Christ within.
4. . A person who believes in the infallible Word of God (the Holy Bible), witnesses and waits eagerly for the second coming of Christ.

Victory belongs to the Lord. The final victory belongs to Christians.

II.  HOW CHRISTIANS SHOULD CONDUCT THEIR LIVES.

Act 17:29, “Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man.”

Note: Thinking is first and foremost of a person, including Christians. Those who think wrong cannot perceive and act right. A person’s conception, perception, and action makes the man and determines his destiny. As an example, idolaters think there are many gods and they are made of gold or silver or stone or wood or jade in an image formed by the art and thought of man. In modern age, although mostly primitive and superstitious peoples worship idols, however, most Europeans and Americans worship money, power, and sex.

1Th 2:10, “You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers.”

Note: Devoutly in Greek is hosiōs which means holily; devotedly; dedicatedly; faithfully; piously; truly; godly; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. Uprightly in Greek is dikaiōs which means justly; properly; righteously; agreeably to right; agreeable to the law of rectitude; equitably; as is right; morally right; honorably; – which occurs 5 times in the New Testament. Blamelessly in Greek is amemptōs which means faultlessly; so that there is no cause for censure; unblamably; without fault; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. The three key words to describe behavior or conduct of Christians: behave devoutly, uprightly, and blamelessly. This is how Christians should live. If all Christians behave devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly in this wicked world, the Lord will be pleased.

1Ti 4:10, “For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.”

Note: Not only we should labor and strive for the Gospel, we must fix our hope on the Living God, who is the Savior of all men. A person who labors and strives cannot be lazy and useless. Truth is offensive, many in this world are useless persons.

Eph 4:14, “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming.”

Note: We mature Christians are no longer to be children. Strong Christians will not be tossed here and there by waves of dogmas and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming. In my study I discover secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers are most skillful to blow wind and wave of doctrine, by trickery and craftiness in deceitful scheming to toss those who are babes in Christ. Therefore, Christians be strong, be adults in Christ.

Eph 6:1, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”

Col 3:20, “Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.”

Note: Christians are to obey their parents in all things, except when they force you to marry unbelievers. Chinese parents may force you to worship ancestors or idols or eat blood. You should obey the Lord.

Col 3:21, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.”

Note: Exasperate in Greek is erethizō which means to provoke; to stir up; to excite or incite; to stimulate to anger; to irritate or annoy; to enrage; to aggravate; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. I have met a lot of bad and disobedient children. I have also equally met a lot of bad parents who cause their children to lose heart. Here, the Lord commands parents not to exasperate their children; the Lord equally tells children to obey their parents. 

1Ti 6:2, “Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but must serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and preach these principles.”

Note: The question arises whether the Lord endorses slavery or not. There is not a slightest suggestion that the Lord endorses and approves slavery. The Lord takes the world as it is. The world is full of corrupt traditions, customs, institutions, culture, practices, governments. The Lord came into the world to save sinners, not to save or change the world. The Lord Jesus did not advocate His disciples to start a revolution to overthrow the evil Roman Empire does not mean the Lord endorses and approves the Roman Empire. Slavery is one of corrupt and evil practices of the Roman Empire and historically of many empires and kingdoms. Jesus makes it clear these principles: 

Mat 10:24,“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.” Jhn 13:16,“Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.” Jhn 15:20, “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”

(1). A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. Christians are slaves of the Lord, we must acknowledge His Lordship. It is not a surprise if a Christian is being persecuted for Jesus’ sake.

Mat 18:27, “And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.”

(2). The lord of master should feel compassion on his slaves.

Mat 18:33, “Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?”

(3). Slaves should have mercy on their fellow slaves.

Mat 20:27, “and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.” Mar 10:44, “and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.”

(4). Whoever wishes or wants to be first or leader, he shall be a slave to the people. If this principle is practiced in the world under any form of government system, be it authoritative or democratic, there could not be any abusive and corrupt leaders or officials. It is worse when democracy is held high as a slogan, where 1 percent of the population rules over the 99 percent and owns most the power and wealth. The principle of Jesus is far better and of more value than any system of men.

Mat 24:45, “Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time?”

(5). Whoever does what his master put him in charge and does his duties and responsibilities at the proper time is the faithful and sensible slave.

Mat 24:46, “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.”

(6). Blessed is that slave who does what he is supposed to do.

Mat 25:21,“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”

(7). Good and faithful slaves have done well in being faithful with a few things; they will be put in charge of many things and enter into the joy of their master. The opposite of good and faithful slaves are the wicked and lazy slaves. 

Mat 25:30,“Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

(8). The end of the worthless slave, including the wicked and unbelievers, is to be thrown into the outer darkness, in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Luk 7:8,“For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!‘ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!‘ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!‘ and he does it.”

(9). When you are placed under authority, you go when you are told to go. You come when you are told to come. You do this when you are told to do it. This system even practices in America where there is so called equality and no legal slave. However, you are never free when you need a job to work for a living. When your boss or supervisor tells you to go, you go; when he tells you to come, you come; when he tells you do this, you do it. In fact, among American employees there are ‘house slaves’ — those who are enslaved by mortgage. These employees are so afraid of losing their jobs and thereby losing their homes, so they fearfully subject themselves to their supervisors to do anything. Are these American ‘house slaves’ better than the slaves at Jesus time?

Luk 12:47, “And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes.”

(10). The slave who knew his master’s will but did not act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes. Many national leaders and high ranking officials do not act according to the will of the people, and yet these people dominate and dictate the world without penalty or punishment. Once they are in the office, many stay in all their lives.

Luk 17:9-10, “He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’”

(11). Christians are also the slaves of Jesus Christ the Lord. When we do all things which are commanded us, we can only say, We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.

Jhn 8:34, “Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.”

(12). Jesus calls attention to another kind of slavery which is the worst of all. Everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. Many leaders and officials are slaves of sin, slaves to money, power, and sex.

1Co 7:21-22, “Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that. For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord’s freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ’s slave.”

(13). Apostle Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit to tell Christian slaves at his time not to worry. If you are able to become free, rather do that. If not, no matter what, a Christian is the Lord’s freedman or Christ’s slave.

1Co 9:19-23, “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the Gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.”

(14). Amazing Paul who did all things for the sake of the Gospel, made himself a slave to all, so that he may win more. Paul had become all things to all men, so that he might by all means save some. This is a great example of how to serve and suffer for the Lord Jesus.

1Co 9:27, “but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”

(15). Most admirable Paul, he disciplines his body and makes it his slave. This is the secret of success: Anyone who wants to accomplish something great must discipline himself, makes his body his slave. Those who fail in this world are those enslaved by their bodily desires, lust, greed, laziness, gluttony, indulgence, pleasure, vanity, etc.

Eph 6:5-9, “Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in Heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.”

(16). It is terrible to bear the label of ‘slaves’, like a badge of dishonor. Actually, millions of people in America and many millions more around the world (such as lands of economic refugees) because they are so desperate to make a living, their conditions are no better than slaves. I am a freeman and never owe anyone anything. But I want the whole world to know, I am proud to be a slave of Christ. Whether slave or free, our Master and my Master the Lord Jesus is in Heaven.

Col 3:10-11, “and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—a renewal in which there is no distinction between Gentile and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.” Phm 1:16, “no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.”

(17). Christians put on the new self according to the image of Christ. In which there is no distinction between Gentile and Jew, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. If you are a master (as far as I can know in 2020 most civilized world no longer has slaves, and there are a few nations under evil religion still have slaves), you should treat your Christian slave as a beloved brother. 

Gal 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

(18). The beauty of the Kingdom of God, and the days are coming, when Jesus Christ will be King of kings and Lord of lords, there will be neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free man, neither male nor female; for we are one in Christ Jesus, with perfect justice and happiness. Although there will be neither slave nor free man in Heaven; Heaven is not the kingdom of democracy or equality, there are ranks and authorities. For example, apostles are higher than ordinary disciples. Jesus Christ is the Lord of all.

1Ti 3:4, “He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity.”

Note: Christian must manage his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity. Have you seen children who are not under control with any dignity? They are the shame of their parents.

1Ti 3:12, “Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.”

Note: Servants of the Lord must be husbands of only one wife (divorced and remarried not qualified), and good managers of their children and their own households.

1Ti 5:4, “but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.”

Note: Christian children or grandchildren must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make return to their parents.

1Ti 5:10, “having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.”

Note: Christian mothers must have a reputation for good works; bring up children, show hospitality to strangers (not necessary dangerous unbelievers), assist those in distress, and devote herself to every good work. As far as I know, the Jewish custom of washing saints’ feet is not practiced anywhere by Christians in the Gentile world.

1Pe 3:6, “just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.”

Note: Christians must do what is right, without being frightened by any fear.

1Jo 2:28, “Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.”

Note: Christians must abide in Christ, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.

1Jo 3:1, “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”

Note: The world does not know Christians, because it did not know Him.

1Jo 3:2, “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”

Note: When Jesus appears, Christians will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.

1Jo 3:7, “Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.”

Note: Make sure no one deceives you or you deceive yourself. The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. American and European leaders deceive themselves by claiming to be Christians, yet they practice unrighteousness, they lie, lie, and lie; kill, kill, and kill; rob, rob, and rob many nations and peoples in the world.

1Jo 3:10, “By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.”

Note: The Word of God defines who are the children of God and who are the children of the devil. God is the Judge. God says, anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. European powers in the last 500 years or more, and America in the more recent years, have killed millions and millions of innocent peoples around the world –they practice unrighteousness and injustice and evil in wars of aggression and conquest and bloody military interventions. How can they claim to be children of God? They have distorted and disgraced Christianity for a long, long time.

1Jo 3:18, “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”

Note: Christ teaches to love your enemies. None other religion can match. Evil religion even teaches revenge and hatred. They behead Christians without cause. Love must be in deed and truth.

1Jo 4:4, “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

Note: It is wise to know who is greater and who is the greatest. He who is in Christians is greater than he who is in the world. No one is greater than God the Almighty. 

1Jo 5:2, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments.”

Note: Love is not a slogan. If we love God, we observe His commandments. Love God you must love also the children of God.

1Jo 5:21, “Little children, guard yourselves from idols.”

Note: Christians must guard ourselves from idols. Many things or persons can become idols, such as money, power, sex, stars, fashions, mansions, possessions, luxury cars, fashions, etc. not just the idols made by hand, or made of stone, metal, or wood.

2Jo 1:4, “I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father.”

Note: Christians are to walk in truth. Those who lie, kill, and rob do not walk in truth. Western mass media that manufacture fake news, fake reports, fake views, and regularly spread lies and falsehoods, etc. do not walk in truth.

Rev 12:17, “So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”

Note: Christians keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. The Words of Jesus are final and ultimate.

1Pe 2:17, “Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.”

Note: Christians are to honor all people (no matter what color, race or status), love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

Tit 1:9, “holding fast the faithful Word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.”

Note: Christians must hold fast to the faithful Word, which is in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ and His Apostles, so that we will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. The writings and works of secularists, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers are not sound doctrine and they contradict the Word of God, we therefore must refute them. Refute in Greek is elegchō which means to reprove; to rebuke; to convict; to confute; to shame; to expose; to find fault with; to correct; to reprehend severely; to chide; to admonish; to bring to light; to prove wrong; to repudiate; – which occurs 18 times in the New Testament. All wrong doctrines and false teachings must be repudiated and proved wrong by the Word of God.

1Pe 4:19, “Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to the faithful Creator in doing what is right.”

Note: Christians who suffer according to the will of God must entrust their souls to the faithful Creator in doing what is right. It is not a new thing that Christians may suffer in doing what is right. The travesty is the fact many do what is wrong and prosper and enjoy power and wealth.

There is no such a thing called the Buddhist meaning of Christianity. There is no such a thing called the Christian meaning of Buddhism. Christians only recognize the Holy Bible, the Word of God, and do not recognize any other religion or faith.

III. THE MISSIONS OF CHRISTIANS

There are two major missions of Christians. The first is the general and collective mission, that is, to preach Jesus Christ and the Gospel of salvation to the whole world. Mat 28:18-20, “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” The Great Commission of Jesus Christ who has all authority in Heaven and on earth is to command disciples and all Christians to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that Jesus Christ has commanded. Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world is more important than any other Christian work however worthy. 

Act 10:38-43, “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

Note: The two cardinal doctrines of Christianity is Crucifixion and Resurrection. Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross for our sins, the Just for the unjust. On the third day Jesus Christ rose from the dead by the power of God for justification of all who believe in Him. All Christians bear witness that everyone who believes in Christ receives forgiveness of sins. He who believes in Christ has the eternal life.

2Ti 4:1-2, “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.”

Act 1:6-8, “So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the Kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

Note: The Pentecostal church and others misunderstand the receiving of the power of the Holy Spirit. The receiving of the power of the Holy Spirit is neither for speaking in tongues nor even for healing the sick. The receiving of the power of the Holy Spirit is to be witnesses of Jesus Christ, even to the remotest part of the earth. The power of the Holy Spirit is given to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not everyone can be a preacher, but every Christian can be a witness of Jesus Christ.

The second mission is special and individual, what God wants a specific Christian to do in his/her life.

The general and collective mission covers all Christians of all generations in obedience to the command of Jesus Christ. The mission of the Church is not social work, charity work, or political work to change the world but to preach the Gospel and win souls for Jesus Christ.

The special and individual mission of a Christian varies from one to another. There are many Bible examples how believers fulfill their live mission in doing the will of God.

   1. Noah

Heb 11:7, “By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”

Note: Noah in Greek is Nōe which means rest; the second father of the human race; – which occurs 8 times in the New Testament. Warn in Greek is chrēmatizō which means to be warned of God; to be admonished of God; to be warned from God; to be divinely instructed; to be divinely commanded; – which occurs 9 times in the New Testament. When God spoke to Noah about things not yet seen, by faith Noah received the command of God to prepare an ark for the salvation of his household.

The following is a list of facts about Noah:

(A). Lamech is the father of Noah (Gen 5:28-30), “Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and became the father of a son. Now he called his name Noah, saying, “This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the LORD has cursed.” Then Lamech lived five hundred and ninety-five years after he became the father of Noah, and he had other sons and daughters.”

(B). Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth (Gen 5:32), “Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.”

(C). Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord (Gen 6:8-9), “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.  These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.” The reasons Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord are clear: Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God. Enoch was the first man mentioned in the Scripture who walked with God, Noah was the second man mentioned in the Bible that he walked with God.

(D). Noah was the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth (Gen 6:10),

“Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.”

(E). The days of Noah (Gen 6:5-7), “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.” To say that God was sorry and He was grieved in His heart is completely anthropomorphic expression. God is not man that He feels sorry or grieves in His heart. God knows everything. God knows the end from the beginning. God knows and controls whatever comes to pass. Nothing surprises or upsets God.

(F). Gen 6:11-12, “Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence. God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.”

Note: Corrupt in Hebrew is shachath which means to be destroyed; to be marred; to be spoiled; to be battered; to go to ruin; to be rotted; to be decayed; – which occurs 164 times in the Old Testament. Violence in Hebrew is chamac which means cruelty; wrong; injustice; damage; oppression; unrighteousness; – which occurs 60 times. The whole world today is also corrupt in the sight of God and filled with violence, especially in the United States of America. How insane and abnormal is any government that makes guns available to crooks and criminals and terrorists so that people are shot dead everyday!

(G). God told Noah to build an ark (Gen 6:13-22), “Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth. Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and shall cover it inside and out with pitch. This is how you shall make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. You shall make a window for the ark, and finish it to a cubit from the top; and set the door of the ark in the side of it; you shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. Behold, I, even I am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall perish. But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. Of the birds after their kind, and of the animals after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. As for you, take for yourself some of all food which is edible, and gather it to yourself; and it shall be for food for you and for them.” Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.”

Note: Noah was not only a righteous man, Noah was a great achiever who did all that God had commanded him.

(H). Noah was 600 years old when the flood of water came upon the earth (Gen 7:6), “ Now Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of water came upon the earth.”

Note: The Bible does not say when Noah began the task of building the Ark, it says clearly when Noah was 600 years old the Flood came.

(I). The Deluge lasted 150 days.

Gen 7:1-24, “Then the LORD said to Noah, “Enter the ark, you and all your household, for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time. You shall take with you of every clean animal by sevens, a male and his female; and of the animals that are not clean two, a male and his female; also of the birds of the sky, by sevens, male and female, to keep offspring alive on the face of all the earth. “For after seven more days, I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights; and I will blot out from the face of the land every living thing that I have made.” Noah did according to all that the LORD had commanded him. Now Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of water came upon the earth. Then Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him entered the ark because of the water of the flood. Of clean animals and animals that are not clean and birds and everything that creeps on the ground, there went into the ark to Noah by twos, male and female, as God had commanded Noah. It came about after the seven days, that the water of the flood came upon the earth.  In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day all the fountains of the great deep burst open, and the floodgates of the sky were opened.  The rain fell upon the earth for forty days and forty nights. On the very same day Noah and Shem and Ham and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark, they and every beast after its kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, all sorts of birds.  So they went into the ark to Noah, by twos of all flesh in which was the breath of life. Those that entered, male and female of all flesh, entered as God had commanded him; and the LORD closed it behind him. Then the flood came upon the earth for forty days, and the water increased and lifted up the ark, so that it rose above the earth. The water prevailed and increased greatly upon the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. The water prevailed more and more upon the earth, so that all the high mountains everywhere under the heavens were covered. The water prevailed fifteen cubits higher, and the mountains were covered. All flesh that moved on the earth perished, birds and cattle and beasts and every swarming thing that swarms upon the earth, and all mankind;  of all that was on the dry land, all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, died. Thus He blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky, and they were blotted out from the earth; and only Noah was left, together with those that were with him in the ark. The water prevailed upon the earth one hundred and fifty days.”

(J). Eight persons entered the Ark.

Gen 7:13, “On the very same day Noah and Shem and Ham and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark.”

Note: The persons entered the Ark: Noah, Noah’s wife (name unknown); Noah’s three sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth; and the three wives of Noah’s sons (names unknown).

Ark in Hebrew is  tebah  which means a chest, coffer; the ship which Noah made like a chest or coffer; – it occurs 28 times in the Old Testament. 

Something is most interesting and amazing about the Chinese character for “ship”. Chinese characters are square. The etymology of the Chinese word ” ship ”   船 ,  舟  (big boat) ,  八  (eight)   口  (mouth). One mouth means one person. So the Chinese character  船  means in a big boat, there were 8 mouths or 8 persons. Thus ship is written with “boat” on the left, “eight mouths” on the right. In the big ship there were  8 persons, one mouth stands for one person. For the Chinese in counting population, you count how many mouths. It is historically significant because Noah, his wife, their three sons and three daughters-in-law made up a family of 8 persons who entered the Ark and were saved from the Flood or the Deluge. And so the Chinese character  “ ship ”  is written that there are 8 mouths in the Ark.

1 Pe 3:20,  “Who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.” 
Note: Ark in Greek is  kibōtos   which means  a wooden chest or box, Noah’s vessel built in the form of an ark; – it occurs 6 times in the New Testament.    

2 Pe 2:5 , “And did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly.” 

Note: Was the Flood only a story or a myth? Jesus Christ confirmed it as a historical event. Jesus Christ confirms both the creation and the Ark as true historical facts. What Jesus says, all Christians believe and obey.

Luk 17:27, “They were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.”  

Note: I would rather believe my Lord and my God, Jesus Christ, than all the scientists and philosophers and theologians of all generations put together. Jesus Christ died for sinners and rose from the dead and lives forever; all scientists and philosophers and theologians not only will die, they do not even know the day and time of their death.

(K). God remembered Noah.

Gen 8:1-22, “But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark; and God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided. Also the fountains of the deep and the floodgates of the sky were closed, and the rain from the sky was restrained; and the water receded steadily from the earth, and at the end of one hundred and fifty days the water decreased. In the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat. The water decreased steadily until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains became visible. Then it came about at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made; and he sent out a raven, and it flew here and there until the water was dried up from the earth. Then he sent out a dove from him, to see if the water was abated from the face of the land; but the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot, so she returned to him into the ark, for the water was on the surface of all the earth. Then he put out his hand and took her, and brought her into the ark to himself. So he waited yet another seven days; and again he sent out the dove from the ark. The dove came to him toward evening, and behold, in her beak was a freshly picked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the water was abated from the earth. Then he waited yet another seven days, and sent out the dove; but she did not return to him again. Now it came about in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, on the first of the month, the water was dried up from the earth. Then Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and behold, the surface of the ground was dried up. In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry. Then God spoke to Noah, saying,  “Go out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you, birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, that they may breed abundantly on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.”  So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him. Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by their families from the ark.”

Apparently, the Deluge was geographically universal, only 8 persons were saved. The Ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat. Mount Ararat is in Turkey. All Biblical places are real geographical places. All Biblical characters are real historical persons.

(L). Noah built an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings.

Gen 8:20-22, “Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done. While the earth remains,
Seedtime and harvest,
And cold and heat,
And summer and winter,
And day and night
Shall not cease.”

(M). God blessed Noah and his sons.

Gen 9:1-19, “And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.“ The fear of you and the terror of you will be on every beast of the earth and on every bird of the sky; with everything that creeps on the ground, and all the fish of the sea, into your hand they are given.  “Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant. Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.“  Surely I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man’s brother I will require the life of man. Whoever sheds man’s blood,
By man his blood shall be shed,
For in the image of God
He made man. As for you, be fruitful and multiply;
Populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it.” Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying, “Now behold, I Myself do establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you;  and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you; of all that comes out of the ark, even every beast of the earth. I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth.” God said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations; I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. It shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud, and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.” Now the sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem and Ham and Japheth; and Ham was the father of Canaan.  These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated.”

(N). Noah lived to be 950 years old and died.

Gen 9:28-29, “Noah lived three hundred and fifty years after the flood. So all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years, and he died.”

(O). The second coming of Jesus will be just like the days of Noah.

Mat 24:37-42,“For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.”

Note: Christians must be on the alert, for we do not know which day the Lord is coming again.

(P). Fire will destroy the present Heavens and earth.

2Pe 2:5, “and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly.”

2Pe 3:6-7, “through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His Word the present Heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”

Note: As water destroyed the ancient world, so fire will destroy the present world. The day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men is near. The days of warmongers, imperialists, militarists, monopolists, capitalists, supremacists, and terrorists are numbered.

I reject totally the practice of some academics or pseudo scholars who quote the Midrash or any outside sources or influences to so-called fill in gaps in Biblical texts. The Biblical account is not derived from the Babylonian or any primitive civilizations. The correct attitude toward the Word of God is absolute and complete and independent. It is clearly blasphemous to think that God has to borrow from human sources or resources. We stress what the Bibles stresses. We discuss what is written in the Bible. We do not indulge in any subject which the Word of God is silent. We do not speculate. Some people like to pretend the breadth of their knowledge by quoting legends, myths, mythologies, fables, secular unverifiable histories, traditions, customs, etc. as if they were facts. I practice using the Word of God to explain the Word of God. Let the Word of God explain the Scripture.

I also reject the history of the world covering 6,000 years. I reject any hypothesis or theory which is not validated by the Word of God. I do not care what self-appointed scholars think or say. There are so many types proposed by some self-claimed theologians, but they are like cattle heads connected to horse mouths. I believe nothing is impossible with God. The authority of Jesus Christ is absolute, final, perfect, supreme, and ultimate. Col 2:8, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” I have discovered that it is a waste of time and effort to study the works of philosophy of empty deception, traditions of men and the elementary principles of the world.

It has been said, the brevity of the Biblical history satisfies not human curiosity. However, the Bible is not a book to satisfy human curiosity, depravity, and vanity. The central message of the Bible is Jesus Christ, not anything or anybody else. The purpose of revelation is Rom 16:25, “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past.” The mystery of Christ is the mystery of God. Eph 1:17, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.” The purpose of revelation is that you may have the knowledge of Christ. Col 1:9, “For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” The knowledge of God and His will and the knowledge of Christ are spiritual wisdom and understanding, not scientific theory or philosophical speculation.

Christians want to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Science and philosophy do not and cannot offer you real knowledge, spiritual wisdom and understanding.

     2.  Abraham

Heb 11:8, “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.”

Note: The faith of Abraham was great, in obedience to God he went out not knowing where he was going. There are people who do not know where they are going because they are lost in the world. Abraham followed God and did not question God. 

Here is a list of facts about Abraham:

(A). Originally called ABRAM.

Gen 11:26, “Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran.”

(B). God appeared to Abram when he was 99 years old.

Gen 17:1-4, “Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him,
“I am God Almighty;
Walk before Me, and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you,
And I will multiply you exceedingly.” Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying,  “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you,
And you will be the father of a multitude of nations.”

Note: It is no small thing that Abraham is called the friend of God. Jas 2:23, “and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God.”

(C). Terah was the father of Abram.

Gen 11:26, “Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran.”

(D). Sarai was Abram’s wife.

Gen 11:29, “ Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and Iscah.”

(E). Abram Left Ur and Moved to Haran.

Gen 11:31, “Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans in order to enter the land of Canaan; and they went as far as Haran, and settled there.”

Act 7:2-3, “And he said, “Hear me, brethren and fathers! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said to him, ‘LEAVE YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR RELATIVES, AND COME INTO THE LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU.”

Act 7:4, “Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. From there, after his father died, God had him move to this country in which you are now living.”

(F). The Lord told Abram to go to the land which God will show him.

Gen 12:1, “Now the LORD said to Abram,
“Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you.”

Jos 24:3, “Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River, and led him through all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants and gave him Isaac.”

Heb 11:8, “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.”

(G). Abram departed from Haran to the land of Canaan.

Gen 12:4-5, “So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan.”

(H). God gave the land of Canaan to Abraham’s descendants.

Gen 12:7-8, “The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him. Then he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD.”

Note: The land of Canaan was given by God to the descendants of Abraham, not Palestinians, not Arabs or any other races, and cannot be determined by the United Nations. Abraham never lived in a house, but his descendants have the right to build houses in the Promised Land.

(I). Due to famine, Abram went down to sojourn in Egypt.

Gen 12:10, “Now there was a famine in the land; so Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land.”

(J). Lot separated from Abram.

Gen 13:8-9, “So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left.”

Note: The possessions of Abram and Lot were so great that they were not able to remain together. Abram appeared most noble, he acceded the right to Lot to choose to go to the right or to the left. Hebron was where Abram had sojourned.

(K). Abram defeated Chedorlaomer and saved his relative Lot.

Gen 14:14-17, “When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the people.  Then after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).”

(L). Melchizedek blessed Abram and Abram gave him a tenth of all.

Gen 14:18-20, “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High.  He blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
Possessor of Heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High,
Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”
He gave him a tenth of all.”

Heb 7:1-2, “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.”

(M). God made covenant with Abram.

Gen 15:1, “After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying,
“Do not fear, Abram,
I am a shield to you;
Your reward shall be very great.”

Gen 17:1-4, “Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him,
“I am God Almighty;
Walk before Me, and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly.” Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you will be the father of a multitude of nations.”

Rom 4:13, “For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.”

(N). Hagar bore Abram a son called Ishmael.

Gen 16:3-5, “After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight. And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done me be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms, but when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her sight. May the LORD judge between you and me.”

Note: Hagar represents a slave that despised her mistress. When a little man is elevated, he becomes abusive and oppressive.

Gen 16:15-16, “So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to him.”

(O). God changed the name of Abram into Abraham.

Gen 17:5, “No longer shall your name be called Abram,
But your name shall be Abraham;
For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.”

Neh 9:7, “You are the LORD God,
Who chose Abram
And brought him out from Ur of the Chaldees,
And gave him the name Abraham.”

1Ch 1:27, “Abram, that is Abraham.”

(P). Circumcision is the sign of the covenant between God and Abraham.

Gen 17:10-11, “This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you.”

Gen 17:24, “Now Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.”

(Q). The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre.

Gen 18:1-5, “Now the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. When he lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth, and said, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by. Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree; and I will bring a piece of bread, that you may refresh yourselves; after that you may go on, since you have visited your servant.” And they said, “So do, as you have said.”

Note: I believe “three men” were the Triune God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit appeared in human forms.

(R). Abraham pleaded for Sodom.

Gen 18:32-33, “Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the ten.” As soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham the LORD departed, and Abraham returned to his place.”

Note: God eventually destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. There could not be found 10 righteous men in Sodom. Probably, there could not be found 10 righteous men in Washington, D.C. or London or Paris today.

(S). Abraham sojourned in Gerar.

Gen 20:1, “Now Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the Negev, and settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he sojourned in Gerar.”

Gen 20:2–3, “ Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is married.”

Note: God prevented Abimelech king of Gerar from violating Sarah.

(T). Sarah bore a son to Abraham called Isaac.

Gen 21:1-3, “Then the LORD took note of Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had promised. So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac.”

Gal 4:22-23, “For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.”

Note: The Lord did for Sarah as He had promised. The Lord always performs what He promised.

(U). God tested Abraham.

Gen 22:1-14, “Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”  He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.”  So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance. Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.” Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” And he said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”  Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.  Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”  He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.”

Heb 11:17, “ By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son.”

Note: This is an interesting account of Abraham’s complete obedience of faith in willing to sacrifice even his only son. There have been much fusses and noises in reaction to this passage of the Scripture. Who am I to question what the Lord God Almighty is doing? God does whatever He pleases. Whatever God does is right. There are some damned souls who think that God has to please them.

(V). Sarah dies and Abraham bought a field to bury Sarah.

Gen 23:1-16, “Now Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan; and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. Then Abraham rose from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, “I am a stranger and a sojourner among you; give me a burial site among you that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” The sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, “Hear us, my lord, you are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our graves; none of us will refuse you his grave for burying your dead.” So Abraham rose and bowed to the people of the land, the sons of Heth. And he spoke with them, saying, “If it is your wish for me to bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and approach Ephron the son of Zohar for me, that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he owns, which is at the end of his field; for the full price let him give it to me in your presence for a burial site.” Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth; and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the sons of Heth; even of all who went in at the gate of his city, saying, “No, my lord, hear me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the sons of my people I give it to you; bury your dead.” And Abraham bowed before the people of the land. He spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying, “If you will only please listen to me; I will give the price of the field, accept it from me that I may bury my dead there.” Then Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, “My lord, listen to me; a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between me and you? So bury your dead.” Abraham listened to Ephron; and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver which he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, commercial standard.”

Note: This incident is another one to reflect the magnificent character of Abraham. He did not want to get something for free, he paid the full price for a piece of land. America is doomed to bankruptcy because so many in America want something for nothing. All interest groups want a piece of America. Only the military-industrial-security complex alone like a giant black hole will swallow up America. They all want free entitlements. They want welfare without work. In business today you cannot find another Abraham. There are evildoers today who rejoiced without shame in being able to defraud billions of dollars as a badge of honor. The Chinese TV reports all kinds of frauds everyday.

(W). Abraham died of old age and buried with Sarah his wife.

Gen 25:7-10, “These are all the years of Abraham’s life that he lived, one hundred and seventy-five years. Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people.  Then his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, facing Mamre,  the field which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth; there Abraham was buried with Sarah his wife.”

Isa 41:8, “But you, Israel, My servant,
Jacob whom I have chosen,
Descendant of Abraham My friend.”

Jas 2:23, “and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God.”

Note: Historically there is no one like Abraham who by faith pleased God so much that he earned the title the friend of God.

(X). Abraham is the father of all who believe in God.

Heb 11:8-12, “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE.”

Rom 4:16, “For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.”

Note: Abraham is the father of all of us who have faith in God. Abraham has the most magnificent, noble, and remarkable character as the patriarch of the Jewish race, the chosen people. In my opinion, Abraham is the greatest man ever lived in the history of mankind. Martin Luther is the greatest man in history outside of the Holy Bible. I also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham, to desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. I am looking for the Holy City, the New Jerusalem; waiting for the second coming of Jesus Christ in great power and glory.

     3.  Joseph

Heb 11:22, “By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.”

Note: Joseph in Greek is Iōsēph which means let him add; the patriarch, the eleventh son of Jacob; which occurs 35 times in the New Testament. Do not confuse the Joseph of the Old Testament, favorite son of Jacob and the Joseph of the New Testament who is the husband of Mary. The story of Joseph is among the most favorite Bible stories of all Sunday School children, and most beneficial for young minds.

The following is a list of facts about Joseph:

(A). Rachel bore Jacob no children.

Gen 30:1-2, “Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she became jealous of her sister; and she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die.” Then Jacob’s anger burned against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”

Note: In any culture, East or West, it is of prime importance that a woman bears children. Barrenness is considered a shame even to this day.  To be jealous in Hebrew is qana’ which means to envy; to be jealous of; to be envious of; to excite to jealous anger; – which occurs 42 times in the Old Testament. Job 5:2, “For anger slays the foolish man, and jealousy kills the simple.” Jealousy kills. Do you know jealousy has geopolitical significance? America and European nations are jealous of the spectacular successes of China, for that reason they want to have war with China to eliminate a competitor. America and Europe want to maintain the status quo of world domination and dictatorship. Jacob was right being angry because he is not in the place of God. No one is in the place of God. Warmongers, imperialists, militarists, supremacists, capitalists, monopolists, and terrorists want to be in the place of God to rule the world. For better or worse, today science has enabled test tube fertilization so that the barren couple may have children.

(B). God remembered Rachel and she bore a son named Joseph.

Gen 30:22-25, “Then God remembered Rachel, and God gave heed to her and opened her womb. So she conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” She named him Joseph, saying, “May the LORD give me another son.” Now it came about when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my own country.”

Note: Remember in Hebrew is zakar which means to think; to be mindful of; to call to mind; to keep in remembrance; to recollect; to bring to mind; to bear in mind; to bring to remembrance; – which occurs 240 times in the Old Testament. It is wonderful to be remembered by God. May God remember me. Reproach in Hebrew is zakar which means shame; rebuke; scorn; disgrace; contempt; a thing or person considered despised; – which occurs 73 times in the Old Testament. In any culture, barrenness is more or less still a shame.

(C). Jacob loved Joseph more and his brothers hated him.

Gen 37:1-4, “ Now Jacob lived in the land where his father had sojourned, in the land of Canaan. These are the records of the generations of Jacob. Joseph, when seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers while he was still a youth, along with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a varicolored tunic. His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms.”

Note: General speaking, parental favoritism may cause undesirable sibling conflict. Different character, personality, temperament, value, behavior, interest, disorder, tone of voice, etc. may also contribute to the conflict. Is it right for Jacob to love Joseph more than all his sons? As a rule, parental favoritism is not good. If you look to the end of the story or history, Joseph was the savior of the whole family. Doesn’t Joseph deserve more love? Who am I to criticize Jacob. Do you know  Exo 3:6, “He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.” God said to Moses, God is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 

How to handle sibling fighting? Just stop it. Tons of psychological counseling is not worth as much as Biblical teaching. Darwin’s notion of survival of the fittest is detrimental to Christian family of love.

Pro 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

A simple suggestion on how to train up children:

(1). Set good parental example.

Example: Quarreling parents produce quarreling children. Shouting and yelling parents produce shouting and yelling children.

(2). Establish principles of conduct.

Examples: No cheating, no lying, no shouting, no physical fighting, no cursing, no dirty name calling, no malice, no stealing, no physical abuse, no verbal abuse, etc. Love each other. Pray for each other. Help each other.

(3). Enforce harmony by punishment.

Punishment is necessary to correct and discipline children and maintain order.

(D). Joseph had a dream.

Gen 37:5-8, “Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. He said to them, “Please listen to this dream which I have had; for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf.” Then his brothers said to him, “Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.”

(E). Joseph had still another dream.

Gen 37:9-11, “Now he had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, “Lo, I have had still another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” He related it to his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?” His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.”

Pro 6:34, “For jealousy enrages a man,
And he will not spare in the day of vengeance.”

Note: Jealousy is a dangerous passion which enrages a man and is rotten to the bones. Maybe it is a good idea not to tell your dream to anyone.

(F). The dreamer was sold to Egypt.

Gen 37:12-36, “Then his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock in Shechem. Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “I will go.”  Then he said to him, “Go now and see about the welfare of your brothers and the welfare of the flock, and bring word back to me.” So he sent him from the valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. A man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field; and the man asked him, “What are you looking for?” He said, “I am looking for my brothers; please tell me where they are pasturing the flock.” Then the man said, “They have moved from here; for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan. When they saw him from a distance and before he came close to them, they plotted against him to put him to death. They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer!“  Now then, come and let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; and we will say, ‘A wild beast devoured him.’ Then let us see what will become of his dreams!”  But Reuben heard this and rescued him out of their hands and said, “Let us not take his life.” Reuben further said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but do not lay hands on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hands, to restore him to his father.  So it came about, when Joseph reached his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the varicolored tunic that was on him; and they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty, without any water in it. Then they sat down to eat a meal. And as they raised their eyes and looked, behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing aromatic gum and balm and myrrh, on their way to bring them down to Egypt. Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him up and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. Thus they brought Joseph into Egypt. Now Reuben returned to the pit, and behold, Joseph was not in the pit; so he tore his garments. He returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is not there; as for me, where am I to go?” So they took Joseph’s tunic, and slaughtered a male goat and dipped the tunic in the blood; and they sent the varicolored tunic and brought it to their father and said, “We found this; please examine it to see whether it is your son’s tunic or not.” Then he examined it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him; Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!” So Jacob tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. Then all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. And he said, “Surely I will go down to Sheol in mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him. Meanwhile, the Midianites sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s officer, the captain of the bodyguard.”

Note: How cruel were Jacob’s 10 sons to deceive their father with fake news that Joseph was killed by the beasts so that Jacob mourned and wept for Joseph many days. How cruel is Western media that daily and continuously make fake news, fake reports, and spread lies and false views to damage and destroy other nations not bowing to America and Europe. The sin of withholding true information is grievous. False report or fake news can do great damage and harm to the people. How Jacob suffered because of false report made by his ten sons. Western media daily make false reports, fake news, false representations, false views in the world and spread lies and falsehoods without shame to support the evil empire, warmongers, militarists, imperialists, supremacists, capitalists, monopolists, crooks and criminals, and terrorists.

(G). Joseph was sold to Potiphar and became a successful man.

Gen 39:1-5, “Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the bodyguard, bought him from the Ishmaelites, who had taken him down there. The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. Now his master saw that the LORD was with him and how the LORD caused all that he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal servant; and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he owned he put in his charge. It came about that from the time he made him overseer in his house and over all that he owned, the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house on account of Joseph; thus the LORD’S blessing was upon all that he owned, in the house and in the field.”

Note: Destiny is an interesting and profound subject to research and study. Do you think it was an accident that Joseph was sold to Potiphar an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh? Apparently it was appointed by God. The secret of success is alluded in this passage. The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. This is the secret. Joseph became a successful man because the Lord was with him. Do not think a person is successful must be due to the fact that the Lord is with him. The most successful people in the world today are executives of Washington, Wall Street, Hollywood, military-industrial-security complex and Western media, who own most of the power and wealth in the world, yet they are children of the devil who lie, kill, and rob. The richest man in the world is a monopolist and a predator.

(H). Joseph was handsome and his master’s wife seduced him.

Gen 39:6-23, “So he left everything he owned in Joseph’s charge; and with him there he did not concern himself with anything except the food which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. It came about after these events that his master’s wife looked with desire at Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house, and he has put all that he owns in my charge. There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?” As she spoke to Joseph day after day, he did not listen to her to lie beside her or be with her. Now it happened one day that he went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the household was there inside. She caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me!” And he left his garment in her hand and fled, and went outside. When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled outside, she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought in a Hebrew to us to make sport of us; he came in to me to lie with me, and I screamed. “When he heard that I raised my voice and screamed, he left his garment beside me and fled and went outside.”  So she left his garment beside her until his master came home. Then she spoke to him with these words, “The Hebrew slave, whom you brought to us, came in to me to make sport of me; and as I raised my voice and screamed, he left his garment beside me and fled outside.”  Now when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, “This is what your slave did to me,” his anger burned.  So Joseph’s master took him and put him into the jail, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined; and he was there in the jail.  But the LORD was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer. The chief jailer committed to Joseph’s charge all the prisoners who were in the jail; so that whatever was done there, he was responsible for it. The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph’s charge because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made to prosper.”

Note: Being handsome for a man and beautiful for a woman may have advantages and dangers. Adulterous women lust after handsome young men. Wicked men want to rape beautiful women. When a criminal failed to achieve her goal, she is likely to resort to false accusations and other crooked means. Do you know that the righteous might suffer and be falsely accused? More and more the world witnesses the sufferings of the righteous in this evil and corrupt world. The righteous may suffer for doing right. 

(I). Joseph interpreted the dreams of cupbearer and baker.

Gen 40:1-23, “Then it came about after these things, the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt. Pharaoh was furious with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker. So he put them in confinement in the house of the captain of the bodyguard, in the jail, the same place where Joseph was imprisoned. The captain of the bodyguard put Joseph in charge of them, and he took care of them; and they were in confinement for some time. Then the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt, who were confined in jail, both had a dream the same night, each man with his own dream and each dream with its own interpretation. When Joseph came to them in the morning and observed them, behold, they were dejected. He asked Pharaoh’s officials who were with him in confinement in his master’s house, “Why are your faces so sad today?” Then they said to him, “We have had a dream and there is no one to interpret it.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell it to me, please.” So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “In my dream, behold, there was a vine in front of me; and on the vine were three branches. And as it was budding, its blossoms came out, and its clusters produced ripe grapes. Now Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; so I took the grapes and squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.” Then Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days; within three more days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office; and you will put Pharaoh’s cup into his hand according to your former custom when you were his cupbearer. Only keep me in mind when it goes well with you, and please do me a kindness by mentioning me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house. For I was in fact kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing that they should have put me into the dungeon.” When the chief baker saw that he had interpreted favorably, he said to Joseph, “I also saw in my dream, and behold, there were three baskets of white bread on my head; and in the top basket there were some of all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.” Then Joseph answered and said, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days; within three more days Pharaoh will lift up your head from you and will hang you on a tree, and the birds will eat your flesh off you.”  Thus it came about on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. He restored the chief cupbearer to his office, and he put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand; but he hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had interpreted to them.  Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.”

Note: This is a penetrating lesson about ingratitude of man. When Pharaoh restored the chief cupbearer to his office; the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him altogether. I have found 90 percent of people whom you have helped will not remember but forget you. The trial is harder and heavier when you face with outright ingratitude. When you help anyone, do not expect any good return or you will be disappointed.

(J). Delayed deliverance is hard to bear, but God controls event and timing.

Gen 41:1-13, “Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream, and behold, he was standing by the Nile. And lo, from the Nile there came up seven cows, sleek and fat; and they grazed in the marsh grass.  Then behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, ugly and gaunt, and they stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. The ugly and gaunt cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. Then Pharaoh awoke. He fell asleep and dreamed a second time; and behold, seven ears of grain came up on a single stalk, plump and good. Then behold, seven ears, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them. The thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. Then Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Now in the morning his spirit was troubled, so he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh. Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, “I would make mention today of my own offenses. “Pharaoh was furious with his servants, and he put me in confinement in the house of the captain of the bodyguard, both me and the chief baker. We had a dream on the same night, he and I; each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream. Now a Hebrew youth was with us there, a servant of the captain of the bodyguard, and we related them to him, and he interpreted our dreams for us. To each one he interpreted according to his own dream. And just as he interpreted for us, so it happened; he restored me in my office, but he hanged him.”

Pro 13:12, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.”

Note: You can imagine how heart sick was Joseph for waiting extra two full years for deliverance! I do not know whether Joseph knew when he was falsely imprisoned, that God controls events and timing. No one is wise enough or powerful enough to control any event or timing. If God is with you, don’t worry, your time will come sooner or later. Or rather at the proper time.

(K). Pharaoh called for Joseph, Joseph interpreted the dreams, and Pharaoh made him the second ruler in Egypt.

Gen 41:14-46, “Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they hurriedly brought him out of the dungeon; and when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came to Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, but no one can interpret it; and I have heard it said about you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” So Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, “In my dream, behold, I was standing on the bank of the Nile; and behold, seven cows, fat and sleek came up out of the Nile, and they grazed in the marsh grass. Lo, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt, such as I had never seen for ugliness in all the land of Egypt; and the lean and ugly cows ate up the first seven fat cows. Yet when they had devoured them, it could not be detected that they had devoured them, for they were just as ugly as before. Then I awoke. I saw also in my dream, and behold, seven ears, full and good, came up on a single stalk; and lo, seven ears, withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them; and the thin ears swallowed the seven good ears. Then I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.” Now Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s dreams are one and the same; God has told to Pharaoh what He is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one and the same. The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven thin ears scorched by the east wind will be seven years of famine. It is as I have spoken to Pharaoh: God has shown to Pharaoh what He is about to do. Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming in all the land of Egypt; and after them seven years of famine will come, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine will ravage the land. So the abundance will be unknown in the land because of that subsequent famine; for it will be very severe. Now as for the repeating of the dream to Pharaoh twice, it means that the matter is determined by God, and God will quickly bring it about. Now let Pharaoh look for a man discerning and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh take action to appoint overseers in charge of the land, and let him exact a fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven years of abundance. Then let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming, and store up the grain for food in the cities under Pharaoh’s authority, and let them guard it. Let the food become as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which will occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land will not perish during the famine.” Now the proposal seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his servants. Then Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is a divine spirit?” So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and according to your command all my people shall do homage; only in the throne I will be greater than you.” Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put the gold necklace around his neck. He had him ride in his second chariot; and they proclaimed before him, “Bow the knee!” And he set him over all the land of Egypt. Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Though I am Pharaoh, yet without your permission no one shall raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh named Joseph Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, as his wife. And Joseph went forth over the land of Egypt. Now Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt.”

Note: The life of Joseph is a testimony to the wonderful providence of God and the sovereignty of God. It was memorable and remarkable how God raised him from prison to palace. Joseph had the correct attitude and gave God all the honor. He said to Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” A good servant never exalts himself; a good servant of God gives God all the glory. Joseph did not marry a Jewish girl. Pharaoh gave Joseph a new name Zaphenath-paneah and new wife Asenath he could not refuse. Zaphenath-paneah in Egyptian is Tsophnath Pa`neach which means “treasury of the glorious rest”; salvation or savior of the age; revealer of a secret; – which occurs 1 time in the Old Testament. Asenath in Egyptian is ‘Acĕnath which means “belonging to the goddess Neith”; she who is of Neith; – which occurs 3 times in the Old Testament. The Bible gives no clue on the married life of Joseph. Probably Joseph had only one wife. It does not seem God objected to the marriage of Joseph and Asenath arranged by Pharaoh.

Act 7:9-10, “The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him, and rescued him from all his afflictions, and granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and all his household.”

Note: Become jealous in Greek is zēloō which means to burn with zeal; to boil with envy; to covet earnestly; to feel resentful toward; – which occurs 18 times in the New Testament. Envy or jealousy can produce evil deeds. American president and congressional leaders are doing everything without cause or reason to curb the peaceful rise of China, because they want to maintain the status quo to dictate and dominate the world, and also because they are jealous of the great successes achieved by China in many fronts. The secret of security and success in life is to have God be with you. God grants favor and wisdom. You will do well or succeed in this life if God grants you His favor and wisdom. Joseph became more than the governor of Egypt. In modern language, Joseph became the Prime Minister of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh.

(L). Joseph was wise to prepare for the inevitable and God blessed him to forget all his trouble and be comforted with two sons.

Gen 41:47-57, “During the seven years of plenty the land brought forth abundantly. So he gathered all the food of these seven years which occurred in the land of Egypt and placed the food in the cities; he placed in every city the food from its own surrounding fields. Thus Joseph stored up grain in great abundance like the sand of the sea, until he stopped measuring it, for it was beyond measure. Now before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him. Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” He named the second Ephraim, “For,” he said, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” When the seven years of plenty which had been in the land of Egypt came to an end, and the seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said, then there was famine in all the lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, you shall do.” When the famine was spread over all the face of the earth, then Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians; and the famine was severe in the land of Egypt.  The people of all the earth came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the earth.”

Note: Years of plenty will always come to an end. All good things come to an end. Famine comes after abundance. Joseph was a great nation manager and administrator, he knew how to store the surplus grain in time of plenty for the time of famine. A nation that squanders its resources is going to bankrupt and suffer poverty. A nation that borrows and spends beyond its means is going to ruin. It was wonderful that Joseph said that God has made him forget all his trouble. It is a shout of triumph. It is even better when God made Joseph fruitful in the land of his affliction. It is better than winning great wealth. The nation that has surplus bread or food is stronger than nuclear weapons.

(M). Jacob sent his 10 sons down to Egypt to buy grain.

Gen 42:1-38, “Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?” He said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down there and buy some for us from that place, so that we may live and not die.” Then ten brothers of Joseph went down to buy grain from Egypt. But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, “I am afraid that harm may befall him.”  So the sons of Israel came to buy grain among those who were coming, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also. Now Joseph was the ruler over the land; he was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. When Joseph saw his brothers he recognized them, but he disguised himself to them and spoke to them harshly. And he said to them, “Where have you come from?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” But Joseph had recognized his brothers, although they did not recognize him. Joseph remembered the dreams which he had about them, and said to them, “You are spies; you have come to look at the undefended parts of our land.” Then they said to him, “No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food. We are all sons of one man; we are honest men, your servants are not spies.” Yet he said to them, “No, but you have come to look at the undefended parts of our land!” But they said, “Your servants are twelve brothers in all, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no longer alive.” Joseph said to them, “It is as I said to you, you are spies; by this you will be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here! Send one of you that he may get your brother, while you remain confined, that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you. But if not, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies.” So he put them all together in prison for three days. Now Joseph said to them on the third day, “Do this and live, for I fear God: if you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined in your prison; but as for the rest of you, go, carry grain for the famine of your households, and bring your youngest brother to me, so your words may be verified, and you will not die.” And they did so. Then they said to one another, “Truly we are guilty concerning our brother, because we saw the distress of his soul when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen; therefore this distress has come upon us.” Reuben answered them, saying, “Did I not tell you, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen? Now comes the reckoning for his blood.” They did not know, however, that Joseph understood, for there was an interpreter between them. He turned away from them and wept. But when he returned to them and spoke to them, he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes. Then Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain and to restore every man’s money in his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. And thus it was done for them. So they loaded their donkeys with their grain and departed from there. As one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder at the lodging place, he saw his money; and behold, it was in the mouth of his sack. Then he said to his brothers, “My money has been returned, and behold, it is even in my sack.” And their hearts sank, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?” When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them, saying, “The man, the lord of the land, spoke harshly with us, and took us for spies of the country. But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies. We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no longer alive, and the youngest is with our father today in the land of Canaan.’ The man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I will know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me and take grain for the famine of your households, and go. But bring your youngest brother to me that I may know that you are not spies, but honest men. I will give your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.’ Now it came about as they were emptying their sacks, that behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were dismayed. Their father Jacob said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and you would take Benjamin; all these things are against me.” Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “You may put my two sons to death if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my care, and I will return him to you.” But Jacob said, “My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If harm should befall him on the journey you are taking, then you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.”

Note: Jacob saw means Jacob learned about or Jacob had heard. In a famine what is more important than grain? This is the most moving part of the story when the ten brothers encountered Joseph in buying grain from the ruler of the land not recognizing Joseph although Joseph recognized them. Especially when they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground and Joseph remembered the dreams which he had about them. The ten brothers were conscious of their sins that they were truly guilty. Reuben answered them, saying, “Did I not tell you, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen? Now comes the reckoning for his blood.” Reckoning means making inquisition. European nations have done so much evil in this world in the last 500 years, the reckoning will come. American presidents and congressional leaders have killed millions and millions of innocent people around the world since the end of World War II, the reckoning for their blood by God will come upon America soon. Japanese military killed 35 million Chinese in 14 years of war of aggression, yet Japanese leaders denied them all and refused to pay compensations. The reckoning for their blood by God will soon come upon Japan. There is a reckoning for every evil deed committed. The reckoning for the killings and murders and terror acts of Islamic terrorists by God will soon take place. 2Th 1:8, “dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus.” Retribution in Greek is ekdikēsis which means vengeance; revenge; punishment; – which occurs 10 times in the New Testament. God’s retribution or punishment upon warmongers, dictators, predators, deceivers, oppressors, aggressors, imperialists, militarists, capitalists, monopolists, and terrorists is sure and certain. Their days are numbered. Hell is opening up to swallow them.

Jacob said to his sons, “You will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.” This verse is often misunderstood. Through much of the Old Testament period, Sheol was believed to be the place where all the dead went. It was not Hell.

(N). Jacob sent his 11 sons down to Egypt the second time to buy food.

Gen 43:1-34, “Now the famine was severe in the land. So it came about when they had finished eating the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.” Judah spoke to him, however, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food.  “But if you do not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ Then Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly by telling the man whether you still had another brother?” But they said, “The man questioned particularly about us and our relatives, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ So we answered his questions. Could we possibly know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the lad with me and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, we as well as you and our little ones. I myself will be surety for him; you may hold me responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame before you forever. For if we had not delayed, surely by now we could have returned twice.” Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and carry down to the man as a present, a little balm and a little honey, aromatic gum and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. Take double the money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was a mistake. Take your brother also, and arise, return to the man; and may God Almighty grant you compassion in the sight of the man, so that he will release to you your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” So the men took this present, and they took double the money in their hand, and Benjamin; then they arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to his house steward, “Bring the men into the house, and slay an animal and make ready; for the men are to dine with me at noon.” So the man did as Joseph said, and brought the men to Joseph’s house. Now the men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph’s house; and they said, “It is because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time that we are being brought in, that he may seek occasion against us and fall upon us, and take us for slaves with our donkeys.” So they came near to Joseph’s house steward, and spoke to him at the entrance of the house, and said, “Oh, my lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food, and it came about when we came to the lodging place, that we opened our sacks, and behold, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full. So we have brought it back in our hand. We have also brought down other money in our hand to buy food; we do not know who put our money in our sacks.” He said, “Be at ease, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. Then the man brought the men into Joseph’s house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys fodder. So they prepared the present for Joseph’s coming at noon; for they had heard that they were to eat a meal there. When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present which was in their hand and bowed to the ground before him. Then he asked them about their welfare, and said, “Is your old father well, of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” They said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” They bowed down in homage. As he lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, he said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?” And he said, “May God be gracious to you, my son.” Joseph hurried out for he was deeply stirred over his brother, and he sought a place to weep; and he entered his chamber and wept there. Then he washed his face and came out; and he controlled himself and said, “Serve the meal.” So they served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is loathsome to the Egyptians. Now they were seated before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth, and the men looked at one another in astonishment. He took portions to them from his own table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they feasted and drank freely with him.”

Note: This is the most emotionally charged meeting when Joseph saw his younger brother Benjamin after that many years, he was so deeply stirred over his brother that he sought a place to weep; and Joseph entered his chamber and wept there. The story of Joseph is a classic masterpiece. But it is a real history, not fiction, unlike other masterpieces. God has done in a mysterious way as exemplified in the life of Joseph, His wonders to perform.

(O). Joseph gave his 10 brothers a reality test of good and evil, true and false.

Gen 44:1-34, “Then he commanded his house steward, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack. Put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his money for the grain.” And he did as Joseph had told him. As soon as it was light, the men were sent away, they with their donkeys. They had just gone out of the city, and were not far off, when Joseph said to his house steward, “Up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? Is not this the one from which my lord drinks and which he indeed uses for divination? You have done wrong in doing this.’ So he overtook them and spoke these words to them. They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing.“ Behold, the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks we have brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.” So he said, “Now let it also be according to your words; he with whom it is found shall be my slave, and the rest of you shall be innocent.” Then they hurried, each man lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack. He searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest, and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. Then they tore their clothes, and when each man loaded his donkey, they returned to the city. When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him. Joseph said to them, “What is this deed that you have done? Do you not know that such a man as I can indeed practice divination?” So Judah said, “What can we say to my lord? What can we speak? And how can we justify ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s slaves, both we and the one in whose possession the cup has been found.” But he said, “Far be it from me to do this. The man in whose possession the cup has been found, he shall be my slave; but as for you, go up in peace to your father.” Then Judah approached him, and said, “Oh my lord, may your servant please speak a word in my lord’s ears, and do not be angry with your servant; for you are equal to Pharaoh.  “My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father or a brother? We said to my lord, ‘We have an old father and a little child of his old age. Now his brother is dead, so he alone is left of his mother, and his father loves him. Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me that I may set my eyes on him. But we said to my lord, ‘The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die. You said to your servants, however, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’ Thus it came about when we went up to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. Our father said, ‘Go back, buy us a little food.’ But we said, ‘We cannot go down. If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down; for we cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ Your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons; and the one went out from me, and I said, “Surely he is torn in pieces,” and I have not seen him since. If you take this one also from me, and harm befalls him, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.’ Now, therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad’s life, when he sees that the lad is not with us, he will die. Thus your servants will bring the gray hair of your servant our father down to Sheol in sorrow. For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then let me bear the blame before my father forever.’ Now, therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. “For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me—for fear that I see the evil that would overtake my father?”

Note: It is such dramatic attempt to save Benjamin that Judah is willing to face all the consequences for the sake of Benjamin and his old father. When a man begins to decide to bear and face his responsibility, his conduct becomes good and correct and decent.

(P). Joseph made himself known and declared God did a great deliverance.

Gen 45:1-28, “Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried, “Have everyone go out from me.” So there was no man with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. He wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard of it. Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come closer to me.” And they came closer. And he said, “I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. “You shall live in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children and your flocks and your herds and all that you have. There I will also provide for you, for there are still five years of famine to come, and you and your household and all that you have would be impoverished.” Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth which is speaking to you. Now you must tell my father of all my splendor in Egypt, and all that you have seen; and you must hurry and bring my father down here.” Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. He kissed all his brothers and wept on them, and afterward his brothers talked with him. Now when the news was heard in Pharaoh’s house that Joseph’s brothers had come, it pleased Pharaoh and his servants. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your beasts and go to the land of Canaan, and take your father and your households and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you will eat the fat of the land.’ Now you are ordered, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father and come. Do not concern yourselves with your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them wagons according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. To each of them he gave changes of garments, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments. To his father he sent as follows: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and sustenance for his father on the journey. So he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the journey.” Then they went up from Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. They told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and indeed he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” But he was stunned, for he did not believe them. When they told him all the words of Joseph that he had spoken to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived.  Then Israel said, “It is enough; my son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

Note: Joseph was convinced it was God who controlled everything, and also his destiny. A spiritual man should be able to see beyond the surface. God controls whatever comes to pass, God controls events and timing. Joseph was so successful and so confident that he declared that God has made him a father to Pharaoh, not only the ruler of Egypt. When news is too good to be true, the recipient is stunned. Why Jacob did not believe his sons? Because they had lied and deceived him before. A man’s credibility is determined by his previous history. You cannot trust any man who had lied and deceived you before. Pharaoh was so generous that he said the best of all the land of Egypt belongs to Jacob’s family. When Jacob saw the wagons, he realized it was true. Is there anything more happier than his spirit revived? What you must do you must do it in a hurry before you die.

(Q). Joseph presented his father to Pharaoh, and he managed and ruled Egypt to make Pharaoh very wealthy.

Gen 47:7-31, “Then Joseph brought his father Jacob and presented him to Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many years have you lived?” So Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my sojourning are one hundred and thirty; few and unpleasant have been the years of my life, nor have they attained the years that my fathers lived during the days of their sojourning.” And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from his presence. So Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had ordered. Joseph provided his father and his brothers and all his father’s household with food, according to their little ones. Now there was no food in all the land, because the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine. Joseph gathered all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan for the grain which they bought, and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house. When the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food, for why should we die in your presence? For our money is gone.” Then Joseph said, “Give up your livestock, and I will give you food for your livestock, since your money is gone.” So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses and the flocks and the herds and the donkeys; and he fed them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year. When that year was ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is all spent, and the cattle are my lord’s. There is nothing left for my lord except our bodies and our lands. Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we and our land will be slaves to Pharaoh. So give us seed, that we may live and not die, and that the land may not be desolate.” So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for every Egyptian sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. Thus the land became Pharaoh’s. As for the people, he removed them to the cities from one end of Egypt’s border to the other. Only the land of the priests he did not buy, for the priests had an allotment from Pharaoh, and they lived off the allotment which Pharaoh gave them. Therefore, they did not sell their land. Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have today bought you and your land for Pharaoh; now, here is seed for you, and you may sow the land. At the harvest you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four-fifths shall be your own for seed of the field and for your food and for those of your households and as food for your little ones.” So they said, “You have saved our lives! Let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s slaves.” Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt valid to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth; only the land of the priests did not become Pharaoh’s. Now Israel lived in the land of Egypt, in Goshen, and they acquired property in it and were fruitful and became very numerous. Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; so the length of Jacob’s life was one hundred and forty-seven years. When the time for Israel to die drew near, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “Please, if I have found favor in your sight, place now your hand under my thigh and deal with me in kindness and faithfulness. Please do not bury me in Egypt, but when I lie down with my fathers, you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.” And he said, “I will do as you have said.” He said, “Swear to me.” So he swore to him. Then Israel bowed in worship at the head of the bed.”

Note: Joseph made it a statute that Pharaoh should have the fifth as tax. America has higher taxes. Once I was in charge of an important corporate project, when it was accomplished the executive vice president awarded me $3,000 as a bonus. I was shocked and stunned because the U.S. government took $1,000 which was one third of what I earned. It is even more atrocious when the American richest billionaires pay a lower tax rate than their secretaries. In Scandinavia, peoples pay high rate of taxes but they get the best social benefits in the world, totally free from the high cost of medical care like that in America which bankrupted millions of families. There are no poor or destitute or homeless people in Scandinavia.

(R). Joseph buried his father Jacob in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre, and his brothers begged for forgiveness; Joseph gave orders concerning his bones.

Gen 50:15-26, “When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father charged before he died, saying,  ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph, “Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.”  But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. Now Joseph stayed in Egypt, he and his father’s household, and Joseph lived one hundred and ten years. Joseph saw the third generation of Ephraim’s sons; also the sons of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph’s knees. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.” Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones up from here.” So Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten years; and he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.”

Note: In the history of mankind, you can hardly find anyone comparable to the life of Joseph, true but not idealized. The story of Joseph was my favorite Bible story as a child, and perhaps the story of Daniel was the second best in the Bible. Joseph was a dreamer and whose dreams came true. I was a dreamer too, and my small dream also came true; although I did not come to be a ruler. I never dreamed of becoming a ruler anyway. However, I worked my way the hard way through university to achieve an advanced degree in higher education without student debt or private debt. Joseph rose from slavery to the highest office in Egypt, from pit to prison and to palace all because God was with him. For the suffering life of Joseph, a great truth emerges before us is the fact that God controls events and timing, and God rules over the destiny of men. The ten brothers of Joseph meant evil against him, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this great result, to preserve many people alive. No matter what men do, however evil, God is able to turn evil into good, to control the results. Rom 8:28, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” The great power and glory of God is manifested in the fact we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God. If you study a little about cause and effect you know how complicated to identify what cause and effect. God causes all things to work together is beyond human understanding or scientific inquiry or cannons of logic. The wonder of wonders God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God. Joseph by faith made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones. Faith is seeing the invisible. Faith is looking into the future.

      4.  Moses

Heb 11:23-29, “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.”

Note: Moses in Greek is Mōÿsēs which means “drawing out”; the Hebrew lawgiver; – which occurs 80 times in the New Testament. The most important historical fact is summed up by Jesus, Jhn 1:17, “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

Here is a list of facts about Moses:

(A). Moses war born a beautiful son, adopted by the daughter of Pharaoh.

Exo 2:1-10, “Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a daughter of Levi. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got him a wicker basket and covered it over with tar and pitch. Then she put the child into it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to find out what would happen to him. The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the Nile, with her maidens walking alongside the Nile; and she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid, and she brought it to her. When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the boy was crying. And she had pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women that she may nurse the child for you?” Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go ahead.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. The child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. And she named him Moses, and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.”

Note: Moses was a Levite, a son of Amram. Moses was lovely in the sight of God. Imagine it is enough to be beautiful in the sight of man. How much more to be lovely in the sight of God.

Exo 6:20, “Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses; and the length of Amram’s life was one hundred and thirty-seven years.”

Act 7:20, “It was at this time that Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God, and he was nurtured three months in his father’s home.”

Note: Here again is an illustrious example of how God controls events and timing. The daughter of Pharaoh came down to the Nile to bathe when the wicker basket of Moses was floating. When the daughter of Pharaoh opened the basket, and behold, the boy was crying. The daughter of Pharaoh had pity on him. Moses’ sister was the smartest girl and knew what to say to the princess. “Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women that she may nurse the child for you?” She received the go ahead that paid Moses true mother wages for nursing her own son. Is there anything better than that providential arrangement?

(B). Moses grew up, identified with the people of God, and fled from Pharaoh.

Exo 2:11-25, “Now it came about in those days, when Moses had grown up, that he went out to his brethren and looked on their hard labors; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. So he looked this way and that, and when he saw there was no one around, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. He went out the next day, and behold, two Hebrews were fighting with each other; and he said to the offender, “Why are you striking your companion?” But he said, “Who made you a prince or a judge over us? Are you intending to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and said, “Surely the matter has become known.” When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the presence of Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters; and they came to draw water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. Then the shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock. When they came to Reuel their father, he said, “Why have you come back so soon today?” So they said, “An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and what is more, he even drew the water for us and watered the flock.” He said to his daughters, “Where is he then? Why is it that you have left the man behind? Invite him to have something to eat.” Moses was willing to dwell with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses. Then she gave birth to a son, and he named him Gershom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.” Now it came about in the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died. And the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God. So God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God saw the sons of Israel, and God took notice of them.”

Note: How most people seek and want to be a part of royalty. Yet Moses grown up refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. What a choice Moses made. Moses chose rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin in Egyptian palace. Moses considered the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. Moses did what most people of the world would not. Yet there are so many ministers who would consider it glory to be invited to the White House whose boss is a liar and killer and robber!

(C). God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and called him to lead the children of Israel exodus Egypt to the Promised Land.

Exo 3:1-12, “Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. The angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. So Moses said, “I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.” When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. The LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings. So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. Now, behold, the cry of the sons of Israel has come to Me; furthermore, I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians are oppressing them. Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” And He said, “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.”

Act 7:31-34, “When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, there came the voice of the Lord:  ‘I AM THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC AND JACOB.’ Moses shook with fear and would not venture to look. “BUT THE LORD SAID TO HIM, ‘TAKE OFF THE SANDALS FROM YOUR FEET, FOR THE PLACE ON WHICH YOU ARE STANDING IS HOLY GROUND. ‘I HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN THE OPPRESSION OF MY PEOPLE IN EGYPT AND HAVE HEARD THEIR GROANS, AND I HAVE COME DOWN TO RESCUE THEM; COME NOW, AND I WILL SEND YOU TO EGYPT.”

Note: The bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. The burning bush is a big problem for unbelieving scientists and theologians because no rational thought or cannons of logic can explain it. Why the bush is not consumed? What God does is beyond natural, beyond human reason can figure out. There is nothing impossible with God. For that reason, Revelation is a trillion times superior to reason. The existence and presence of God is the holy ground where no scientists, scholars, philosophers and theologians may tread or stand.

(D). God revealed His name to Moses and commissioned him.

Exo 3:13-22, “Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations. Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I am indeed concerned about you and what has been done to you in Egypt. So I said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, to a land flowing with milk and honey. They will pay heed to what you say; and you with the elders of Israel will come to the king of Egypt and you will say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So now, please, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God. But I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to go, except under compulsion. So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go. I will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. But every woman shall ask of her neighbor and the woman who lives in her house, articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you will put them on your sons and daughters. Thus you will plunder the Egyptians.”

Note: It is wrong to ask what God is, because God is not a thing. It is also wrong to ask who God is for God is not a man. God is Spirit, neither man nor thing. But the Lord God Almighty declares Himself to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ Jehovah who is the ‘I AM WHO I AM’ of the Old Testament is the ‘I AM’ of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. This knowledge is beyond comprehension of unbelieving scientists and philosophers.

(E). Moses’ life is divided into three forty years period.

The life of Moses is divided into three periods, each of forty years. The first 40 years extend from his infancy to his life in the palace as son of the daughter of Pharaoh. Act 7:22-23,“Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds. But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel.” In the first period of his life, Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds. For whatever its worth, the pyramids reflect the high level of Egyptian civilization, probably the profoundest at that period of time. I believe during these years Moses also mastered the Hebrew language, prepared and equipped him to write the Pentateuch. Anyway you look at the Pentateuch (the First Five Books of the Bible) literally, they are world masterpieces. More than that, they are the Holy Scriptures, the Word of God.

The second period of forty years, Moses fled and became an alien in the land of Midian where he was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law. Act 7:29, “At this remark, MOSES FLED AND BECAME AN ALIEN IN THE LAND OF MIDIAN, where he became the father of two sons.” The first period Moses learned all the learning of the world. The second period of forty years he was in the school of hard knocks, the University of God where God taught Moses how to shepherd flocks to prepare him to lead the Israelites exodus from Egypt. Act 7:30, “After forty years had passed, AN ANGEL APPEARED TO HIM IN THE WILDERNESS OF MOUNT Sinai, IN THE FLAME OF A BURNING THORN BUSH.” Exo 5:1, “And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.’”

The third period of forty years Moses led the Jewish people marching toward the Promised Land through the wilderness. Deu 29:5-6, “I have led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandal has not worn out on your foot. You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or strong drink, in order that you might know that I am the LORD your God.” For forty years the Lord kept the Jewish people alive with a multitude of miracles, and yet they often complained and rebelled against God. During the third period of his life, which extends from the exodus out of Egypt to his death on mount Nebo. In this interval how much did Moses accomplish under many circumstances, as the servant and immediate agent of the Most High.

I hold the position and dislike the so-called Bible scholars who make too much of typing Bible characters with Jesus Christ with seeming parallels. We should not use too much typing carelessly and unnecessarily. For I believe Jesus Christ is singularly incomparable. It is unproductive and futile to compare anyone with Jesus Christ. Rom 5:14, “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.” Type in Greek is typos which means example; a figure or image; example; pattern; fashion; manner; form; a type i.e. a person or thing prefiguring a future (Messianic) person or thing (Strong’s Concordance); style or resemblance; – which occurs 15 times in the New Testament. It is proper to use Christ as the model for all believers to imitate. It falls short for any man to be a model. 1Co 10:4-6, “and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.” There are many things in history written in the Bible for our instruction. Rom 15:4-5, “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus.” Our mind should focus on Jesus Christ, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Any attempt to shift the focus from Jesus Christ to any man is not sound doctrine, not sound theology.

(F). Moses and Aaron said to Pharaoh what God said, Let My people go!

Exo 5:1-9, “And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.’ But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and besides, I will not let Israel go.” Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God, otherwise He will fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labors!” Again Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their labors!” So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters over the people and their foremen, saying,  “You are no longer to give the people straw to make brick as previously; let them go and gather straw for themselves. But the quota of bricks which they were making previously, you shall impose on them; you are not to reduce any of it. Because they are lazy, therefore they cry out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ Let the labor be heavier on the men, and let them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words.”

Note: Pharaoh insulted God and said he did not know the Lord, and would not let Israel go. In the next stage of drama how God would compel Pharaoh, and the children of Israel would go free and not empty-handed.

Exo 7:7, “Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three, when they spoke to Pharaoh.”

(G). How the Lord put Pharaoh under compulsion to let the Jews go.

Exo 6:1, “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for under compulsion he will let them go, and under compulsion he will drive them out of his land.”

Note: Under compulsion in Hebrew means under strong hand. Under the strong hand of God even Pharaoh gave in and caved under. No one can withstand the strong Hand of God. You will see what the Lord will do to Pharaoh, and how God puts Pharaoh under compulsion so he will let the children of Israel leave Egypt.

Ten Plagues described in Exodus Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 are awesome miracles and power of God.

First plague: The water of Nile was turned to blood.

Exo 7:20-21, “ So Moses and Aaron did even as the LORD had commanded. And he lifted up the staff and struck the water that was in the Nile, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, and all the water that was in the Nile was turned to blood. The fish that were in the Nile died, and the Nile became foul, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. And the blood was through all the land of Egypt.”

Note: Water is essential to life. Man cannot exist without water. When water turns to blood, that is the worst. You cannot drink blood, take a bath in blood, or clean and wash in blood, or cook food in blood.

Second plague: Frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt.

Exo 8:5-6, “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the streams and over the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.’ So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt.”

Note: Frogs are carnivores, leaping or jumping is used as a means for evading predators, and imagine millions of frogs making unique calls to disturb you. Imagine frogs cover up the whole land, including your homes and beds and kitchens.

Third plague: God sent gnats on man and beast through all the land of Egypt.

Exo 8:16-17, “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, that it may become gnats through all the land of Egypt.’” They did so; and Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff, and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats through all the land of Egypt.”

Note: Gnats are flying insects that can be biting in the house and through out the land. Imagine gnats on man and beast.

Fourth plague: The Lord sent swarms of flies on people and on ground.

Exo 8:21-22, “For if you do not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and on your servants and on your people and into your houses; and the houses of the Egyptians will be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they dwell. But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are living, so that no swarms of flies will be there, in order that you may know that I, the LORD, am in the midst of the land.”

Note: What is the experience when flies compete with what you are going to eat, like falling into your soup?

Fifth plagues: God sent a very severe pestilence to kill Egyptian livestock.

Exo 9:3-4, “behold, the hand of the LORD will come with a very severe pestilence on your livestock which are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the herds, and on the flocks. But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing will die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel.”

Exo 9:6, “So the LORD did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the sons of Israel, not one died.”

Note: Pestilence is a fatal epidemic disease which God sent to kill Egyptian livestock. Imagine mountains of dead livestock everywhere and the stinking smell of them.

Sixth plague: Boils breaking out with sores on man and beast.

Exo 9:8-10, “Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of soot from a kiln, and let Moses throw it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh.  “It will become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and will become boils breaking out with sores on man and beast through all the land of Egypt.” So they took soot from a kiln, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses threw it toward the sky, and it became boils breaking out with sores on man and beast.”

Note: Boils are the painful sores turning white as pus collects under the skin and appear on the face, neck, armpits, shoulders, and buttocks. Now Egyptians feel the pain of boils.

Seventh plague: A very heavy hail and thunder came down to kill livestock and men.

Exo 9:18-19, “Behold, about this time tomorrow, I will send a very heavy hail, such as has not been seen in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. Now therefore send, bring your livestock and whatever you have in the field to safety. Every man and beast that is found in the field and is not brought home, when the hail comes down on them, will die.”

Note: It must be a very heavy hail and thunder that kills livestock and men. My first experience of hail was during the funeral of President Richard Nixon at Yorba Linda, in Orange County, California, where hail and rain with thousands and thousands of people lining up to pay tribute to the great president. The hail was small and did not kill anyone.

Exo 9:23-24, “Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt. So there was hail, and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very severe, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.”

Eighth plague: Locusts came and covered the surface of Egypt and ate every green in the field.

Exo 10:4-5, “For if you refuse to let My people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your territory.‘  They shall cover the surface of the land, so that no one will be able to see the land. They will also eat the rest of what has escaped—what is left to you from the hail—and they will eat every tree which sprouts for you out of the field.”

Note: Locusts are large grasshoppers with strong powers of flight, and they migrate in vast swarms that can eat up crops and green plants. The swarms of locusts were so large that no one will be able to see the land.

Ninth plague: Thick darkness which can be felt covered Egypt.

Exo 10:21-23, “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness which may be felt.” So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the sons of Israel had light in their dwellings.”

Note: Most people are afraid of darkness, it is a proof when massive power is out at night. Very few people have ever experienced thick darkness which can be felt. In my life time I have never heard of such thick darkness which can be felt happening anywhere.

Tenth plague: God killed the firstborn of the Pharaoh and all the firstborn even the cattle.

Exo 11:4-5, “Moses said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘About midnight I am going out into the midst of Egypt,  and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of the Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the millstones; all the firstborn of the cattle as well.”

Moses instituted the Passover. Exo 12:7-8, “And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.”

Exo 12:11-13, “And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’S passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.”

Note: Passover is derived from the fact that when God sees the blood on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the Jewish houses, God will pass over them, and the plague shall not be upon them to destroy them. The Passover lamb symbolizes the Lamb of God who was sacrificed on our behalf. 1Co 5:7, “Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.” Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for our sins.

(H). Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, and God led them on the way.

Exo 13:19, “Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones from here with you.” Then they set out from Succoth and camped in Etham on the edge of the wilderness. The LORD was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.”

Note: So in the journey of the Christian to the celestial city, we need the Lord going before us, a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to guide us in the figure of speech. For Christians today, the Word of God and the Holy Spirit guide and lead us.

(I). God destroyed Pharaoh’s entire army, the people feared the Lord.

Exo 14:5-31, “When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” So he made his chariot ready and took his people with him; and he took six hundred select chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he chased after the sons of Israel as the sons of Israel were going out boldly. Then the Egyptians chased after them with all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and they overtook them camping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon. As Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the LORD. Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness. But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent.”  Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land. As for Me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. Then the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I am honored through Pharaoh, through his chariots and his horsemen.” The angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. Thus the one did not come near the other all night. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided. The sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. Then the Egyptians took up the pursuit, and all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots and his horsemen went in after them into the midst of the sea. At the morning watch, the LORD looked down on the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud and brought the army of the Egyptians into confusion. He caused their chariot wheels to swerve, and He made them drive with difficulty; so the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from Israel, for the LORD is fighting for them against the Egyptians.” Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots and their horsemen.” So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak, while the Egyptians were fleeing right into it; then the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them; not even one of them remained. But the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. When Israel saw the great power which the LORD had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in His servant Moses.”

Note: Moses led the sons of Israel to go through the midst of the Red Sea on dry land is one of the greatest historical oceanic miracles, besides God destroyed or drowned Pharaoh’s entire army. Consequently, the Jewish people feared the Lord and believed in the Lord.

(J). Jethro brought Moses’ wife and her two sons to meet Moses at the mount of God.

Exo 18:1-12, “Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Moses’ wife Zipporah, after he had sent her away, and her two sons, of whom one was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.”  The other was named Eliezer, for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”  Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mount of God. He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.” Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed down and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had befallen them on the journey, and how the LORD had delivered them. Jethro rejoiced over all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians. So Jethro said, “Blessed be the LORD who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all the gods; indeed, it was proven when they dealt proudly against the people.” Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.”

Note: Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, was a great man in his own right. He made a declaration: “Now I know that the LORD is greater than all the gods.” All the gods are nothing.

(K). Moses listened to his father-in-law and appointed heads and leaders in the legal system of court and government.

Exo 18:24-27, “So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.  They judged the people at all times; the difficult dispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor dispute they themselves would judge. Then Moses bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way into his own land.”

Note: Jethro, Moses father-in-law, was a wise man. He could be properly called the forefather of modern management. Jethro understood management principles, especially the principle of delegation of authority and management effectiveness. Num 11:16-17, “The LORD therefore said to Moses, “Gather for Me seventy men from the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and their officers and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. Then I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit who is upon you, and will put Him upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you will not bear it all alone.”

(L). Moses came up to receive the Ten Commandments (Decalogue).

Exo 24:12-18, “Now the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandment which I have written for their instruction.”  So Moses arose with Joshua his servant, and Moses went up to the mountain of God. But to the elders he said, “Wait here for us until we return to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a legal matter, let him approach them.” Then Moses went up to the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. And to the eyes of the sons of Israel the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountain top. Moses entered the midst of the cloud as he went up to the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.”

Note: The law of Moses are contained in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Exo 34:28-35, “So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. It came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses’ hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him. So when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers in the congregation returned to him; and Moses spoke to them. Afterward all the sons of Israel came near, and he commanded them to do everything that the LORD had spoken to him on Mount Sinai. When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would take off the veil until he came out; and whenever he came out and spoke to the sons of Israel what he had been commanded, the sons of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone. So Moses would replace the veil over his face until he went in to speak with Him.”

Note: The life of Moses was sustained by the grace and power of God although he was with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. Moses the man of God, talking with God about the law, the face of Moses shone. How much more the Son of God who brought grace and truth, Mat 17:2, “And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.” Heb 3:1-3, “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house. For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house.” Heb 3:5-6, “Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later; but Christ was faithful as the Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.”

Deu 33:1-2, “Now this is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the sons of Israel before his death. He said,
“The LORD came from Sinai,
And dawned on them from Seir;
He shone forth from Mount Paran,
And He came from the midst of ten thousand holy ones;
At His right hand there was flashing lightning for them.”

Gal 3:23-26, “But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

2Co 3:13-18, “and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

Note: The old covenant (the law) was fading away, the veil is removed in Christ. Christians are under grace, not under law. Whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away, Jhn 1:14, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

(M). Moses prayed to the glory of God, God showed him only His back.

Exo 33:17-23, “The LORD said to Moses, “I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.”  Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” Then the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”

Note: No man has ever seen God, not even Moses.

(N). God showed the pattern and told Moses to build the tabernacle.

Exo 40:33-38, “He erected the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the veil for the gateway of the court. Thus Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day when it was taken up. For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.”

Note: Throughout all the journeys of the sons of Israel, they followed the directions of the Lord. Whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day when it was taken up. The tabernacle was later replaced by Solomon’s temple.

Heb 8:5, “who serve a copy and shadow of the Heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “SEE,” He says, “THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN.”

Heb 9:11-14, “But when Christ appeared as the High Priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

Note: Some scholars are so stupid to say that God is clean. God is far beyond clean, God is holy. Christ entered though the greater and more perfect tabernacle than that made by Moses. The Holy Place is not where clean people can enter. Through His own blood, Christ entered into the way of the Holiest of all, the Holy of Holies, having obtained eternal redemption for all believers in Christ, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Rev 21:1-5, “Then I saw a new Heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”

(O). God told Moses to lay his hand on Joshua and commission him as his successor.

Num 27:18-23, “So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; and have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and commission him in their sight.“ You shall put some of your authority on him, in order that all the congregation of the sons of Israel may obey him. Moreover, he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the LORD. At his command they shall go out and at his command they shall come in, both he and the sons of Israel with him, even all the congregation.” Moses did just as the LORD commanded him; and he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses.”

Note: Joshua was chosen by God to succeed Moses because he was a man in whom is the Spirit. At the command of Joshua the congregation of the sons of Israel shall go out or come in and obey him.

(P). The Lord on the top of Pisgah showed Moses the Promised Land but Moses would not go over there.

Deu 34:1-8, “Now Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, and all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, and the Negev and the plain in the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. Then the LORD said to him, “This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants’; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.” So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the Word of the LORD. And He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor; but no man knows his burial place to this day. Although Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated. So the sons of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end.”

Note: Moses had remarkable good health, when he died at 120 years old, his eye was not dim (he did not have cataract), nor his vigor abated. But Moses came to an end. No matter who you are, everybody sooner or later must come to an end. This serves as a warning to all dictators, warmongers, oppressors, imperialists, colonialists, capitalists, monopolists, militarists, supremacists, and terrorists. They all will soon come to an end.

Jde 1:9, “But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

Note: Why did the devil want the body of Moses? The devil does not have good intention. I cannot tell why the devil want the body of Moses. I think the devil can do many evil deeds with the body of Moses. For one, the devil may make the dead body of Moses as an object of worship, to seduce people to commit the sin of idolatry.

(Q). During the transfiguration of Jesus, Moses and Elijah, appearing in glory, were speaking about the departure or death of Jesus Christ.

Luk 9:28-36, “Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. And as these were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not realizing what he was saying. While he was saying this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!”  And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.”

Note: The crucifixion must be so important because that is the subject Moses and Elijah were talking with Jesus. The death of Jesus Christ on the cross for the sin of mankind is one of the greatest events in the universe. When Peter was talking about making three tabernacles: one for Jesus, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah; God seemed to be displeased and corrected him by saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” God does not want disciples to listen to Moses or Elijah. God wants the whole world to listen to His Son, His Chosen One, Jesus Christ. They saw no one but Jesus. Moses and Elijah are servants of God, Jesus Christ is the Son of God. We believers must fix our eyes on no one but Jesus Christ.

(R). The difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Jhn 1:17, “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came  through Jesus Christ.”

In studying the Scriptures, I hold the position there is absolutely no need to quote Josephus, Apocrypha and other secular sources as if they are important to validate the Word of God. I think secular academics do so to display how much is their learning or knowledge. I think it is facetious and malicious to cite the pilgrim fathers of New England that the institutions that they founded to be ascribed to the influence of the Hebrew legislator Moses. Moses was the Hebrew lawgiver, not legislator. Don’t you know the historical fact that the White Europeans so-called pilgrim fathers not only they robbed the land of the original natives of America, they almost terminated the Red Indian race from the surface of the earth. Indeed in the last 500 years Europeans, and later Americans, have lied, killed, and robbed the whole world in the name of democracy, freedom, independence, human right, justice falsely so called. It is blasphemous to associate Christianity with Western nations or its corrupt civilization. Do you know American presidents and congressional leaders have killed millions and millions of innocent peoples around the world since the end of World War II and to this day?

It is wrong to say Moses had absolute rule over Israel. It is God who had and who has absolute rule over not only Israel but the whole universe.

     5.  Stephen

Act 6:5-15, “The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. The Word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and miracles among the people. But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council. They put forward false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law; for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.” And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.”

Note: The management of a church is based on the principle to be found approval with the whole congregation. The greater in the faith lay hands on the lesser. The greater blesses the lesser, not the other way around. Stephen in Greek is Stephanos which means “crowned”; one of the seven deacons of the church in Jerusalem and the first Christian martyr; – which occurs 7 times in the New Testament. No one is able to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit of God. Stephen performed great wonders and miracles among the people. Wonders and miracles do not affect people who do not want to believe and who practice lawlessness and injustice.

These so-called freedmen, secretly induced men by collusion or bribery to bear false testimony against Stephen. The elders and the scribes were the establishment of the Jewish religion and yet they were corrupt and lawless. Often the religious or political establishment is the most corrupt and lawless one. America and Western nations that dominate and dictate the world are the most corrupt and lawless people in the world. In fact, the hypocrites always act in most hypocritical way. They dragged and brought Stephen to the Council or Sanhedrin, the high court of justice and supreme council in Jerusalem. The same today America and its allies employ illegal legislation, false witnesses, fake news, fake reports, false views, false legislation, fake laws, sanctions, etc. to interfere, target, oppress, violate, attack nations that do not follow their dictatorship or leadership. No matter how the wicked want to smear and soil the righteousness, Stephen had a face shining like that of an angel.

Act 7:2-60, “And he said, “Hear me, brethren and fathers! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said to him, ‘LEAVE YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR RELATIVES, AND COME INTO THE LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU.’ Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. From there, after his father died, God had him move to this country in which you are now living. But He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of ground, and yet, even when he had no child, He promised that HE WOULD GIVE IT TO HIM AS A POSSESSION, AND TO HIS DESCENDANTS AFTER HIM. But God spoke to this effect, that his DESCENDANTS WOULD BE ALIENS IN A FOREIGN LAND, AND THAT THEY WOULD BE ENSLAVED AND MISTREATED FOR FOUR HUNDRED YEARS. AND WHATEVER NATION TO WHICH THEY WILL BE IN BONDAGE I MYSELF WILL JUDGE,’ said God, ‘AND AFTER THAT THEY WILL COME OUT AND SERVE ME IN THIS PLACE.’ And He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs. The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him, and rescued him from all his afflictions, and granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and all his household. Now a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction with it, and our fathers could find no food. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers there the first time. On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family was disclosed to Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent word and invited Jacob his father and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five persons in all. And Jacob went down to Egypt and there he and our fathers died. From there they were removed to Shechem and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. But as the time of the promise was approaching which God had assured to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, until THERE AROSE ANOTHER KING OVER EGYPT WHO KNEW NOTHING ABOUT JOSEPH. It was he who took shrewd advantage of our race and mistreated our fathers so that they would expose their infants and they would not survive. It was at this time that Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God, and he was nurtured three months in his father’s home. And after he had been set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and nurtured him as her own son. Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds. But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel. And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended him and took vengeance for the oppressed by striking down the Egyptian. And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him, but they did not understand. On the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting together, and he tried to reconcile them in peace, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren, why do you injure one another?’ But the one who was injuring his neighbor pushed him away, saying, ‘WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND JUDGE OVER US? ‘YOU DO NOT MEAN TO KILL ME AS YOU KILLED THE EGYPTIAN YESTERDAY, DO YOU?’ At this remark, MOSES FLED AND BECAME AN ALIEN IN THE LAND OF MIDIAN, where he became the father of two sons. After forty years had passed, AN ANGEL APPEARED TO HIM IN THE WILDERNESS OF MOUNT Sinai, IN THE FLAME OF A BURNING THORN BUSH. When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, there came the voice of the Lord: ‘I AM THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC AND JACOB.’ Moses shook with fear and would not venture to look. BUT THE LORD SAID TO HIM,‘TAKE OFF THE SANDALS FROM YOUR FEET, FOR THE PLACE ON WHICH YOU ARE STANDING IS HOLY GROUND. I HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN THE OPPRESSION OF MY PEOPLE IN EGYPT AND HAVE HEARD THEIR GROANS, AND I HAVE COME DOWN TO RESCUE THEM; COME NOW, AND I WILL SEND YOU TO EGYPT.’ This Moses whom they disowned, saying, ‘WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND A JUDGE?’ is the one whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the help of the angel. This man led them out, performing wonders and miracles in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN.’ This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you. Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, SAYING TO AARON, ‘MAKE FOR US GODS WHO WILL GO BEFORE US; FOR THIS MOSES WHO LED US OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT—WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.’ At that time they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. But God turned away and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘IT WAS NOT TO ME THAT YOU OFFERED VICTIMS AND SACRIFICES FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS, WAS IT, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL? YOU ALSO TOOK ALONG THE TABERNACLE OF MOLOCH AND THE STAR OF THE GOD ROMPHA, THE IMAGES WHICH YOU MADE TO WORSHIP. I ALSO WILL REMOVE YOU BEYOND BABYLON.’ Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Moses directed him to make it according to the pattern which he had seen.“ And having received it in their turn, our fathers brought it in with Joshua upon dispossessing the nations whom God drove out before our fathers, until the time of David. David found favor in God’s sight, and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house for Him. However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says: ‘HEAVEN IS MY THRONE,
AND EARTH IS THE FOOTSTOOL OF MY FEET;
WHAT KIND OF HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME?’ says the Lord, ‘OR WHAT PLACE IS THERE FOR MY REPOSE? WAS IT NOT MY HAND WHICH MADE ALL THESE THINGS? You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it. Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into Heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the Heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep.”

Note: In the beginning Stephen gave a most brilliant summary of the Jewish history from Abraham, to Joseph, to Moses, to Solomon, to the prophets. But when Stephen preached the sins of the Jews who have become betrayers and murderers, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. Outbreak of sudden fit of rage with one impulse rushed at Stephen. When a preacher preaches against sins, he cannot expect a favorable response from the audience. That is why so many false preachers will speak what the audience like to hear, such as ‘something good is going to happen to you’. God will bless you with prosperity and you will do well in this world…’ That is why in the American history, no preacher ever dares to preach against the sins of American presidents and congressional leaders. Where are the American preachers who preach against the evil of imperialism, capitalism, interventionism, and militarism? Those who preach the truth hope to see the glory of God. Stephen was being full of the Holy Spirit, he saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. The false preachers preach peace and prosperity when there is no peace and prosperity. False preachers preach “I have a dream! I have a dream!” When there is nightmare, injustice, lawlessness, and unrighteousness, violence and blood covers the hands of the national leaders. The false preachers enjoy national popularity and prosperity on TV and at mega–churches and they are invited to the White House. The preachers of truth and righteousness suffer national obscurity and poverty. The capitalism version of Christianity is deceiving and deluding America, Europe, and minuscule Taiwan and Hong Kong. It is most revealing that those who murdered Stephen cried out with a loud voice and covered their ears. The Western leaders who practice lies, killings, and robberies habitually and facetiously cry out in the global propaganda of democracy, freedom, independence, and other phony slogans, but they cover their ears to the truth and justice. We know nothing about the marriage status of Stephen or his children. Stephen is the protomartyr of the Christian Church. Apparently, Stephen was not married and did not have children. The martyrdom already sacrificed the life of Stephen, and it would be more devastating if he had a wife and children. Paul is also believed to be single and having no children. Those who bear the brunt of the cross and sacrifice their lives for the Gospel would be better off not having family. Stephen courageously set as an example for countless Christians later  killed by the Roman Catholic Church, Islam, and other heresies and forces of darkness and evil.

IV.  THE HIGHEST GOAL OF CHRISTIANS. 

Doing the will of God is the highest goal of all Christians. A Christian succeeds or fails to the extent he/she fulfills or fails to do the will of God in his/her life. Jesus Christ sets the example for all Christians of all times and places. “I have come to do Your will.”

The will of God is supreme for all believers and unbelievers and the universe. Every one, be it angel, demon or human is subject to the will of God. God rules the universe by His will. This article was written for the reason many true believers are confused about the will of God, false prophets and false teachers take advantage of the situation to mislead many. It is of utmost importance to know there are two types of God’s will, the general and the special. The general will of God as it is written in the Bible is for every Christian to follow and do. The special will of God is not written, but for the specific individual to find out at a given time and place through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Although the Bible does not say exactly there are two types of God’s will, the Scriptures quoted will explain and support the basic framework. Just as the Bible does not say exactly about the Trinity, but the Scriptures do teach the doctrine of Trinity. What is implied may be as important as what is explicit. The will of God reflects His divine nature. Psa 5:4,“For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; no evil dwells with You.” God does not take pleasure in wickedness. No evil dwells with God. God is holy and absolutely good.

The will of God is the will of Heaven. The will of Heaven is what the Chinese call 天意. The Chinese people customarily call the will of Heaven (天意) based on personal opinion, tradition, or guesswork, or fatalism. Christians call the will of God based on the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Isa 46:10, “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying: My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.” No one is like God because God knows the end from the beginning; He is able to establish His purpose and will to accomplish His good pleasure. Nothing stands in the way of God.

Act 16:16-40,“It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling. Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying: These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation. She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit: I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! And it came out at that very moment. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the authorities, and when they had brought them to the chief magistrates, they said: These men are throwing our city into confusion, being Jews, and are proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans. The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying: Do not harm yourself, for we are all here! And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and after he brought them out, he said: Sirs, what must I do to be saved? They said: Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. And they spoke the Word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household. Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their policemen, saying: Release those men. And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying: The chief magistrates have sent to release you. Therefore come out now and go in peace. But Paul said to them: They have beaten us in public without trial, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they sending us away secretly? No indeed! But let them come themselves and bring us out. The policemen reported these words to the chief magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that they were Romans, and they came and appealed to them, and when they had brought them out, they kept begging them to leave the city. They went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they saw the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.” 

Note: Have you ever thought why Paul and Silas who were beaten with rods, their feet fastened in the stocks and put into high security section of the jail, with wounds and pain, about midnight they were praying and singing hymns of praise to God? Could any ordinary person sing songs in such adverse situation? Paul and Silas sang hymns because they were happy. Would you and could you be happy if you were beaten up with rods and your feet fastened in stocks? Do you know the terror of Roman rods which would inflict severe wounds? I have read these Scriptures many times, only recently the Holy Spirit enlightened and revealed to me the secret of Paul’s happiness. On the road to Damascus, the Lord Jesus appeared to Paul and told Ananias about Paul, Act 9:15-16,“But the Lord said to him (Ananias): Go, for he (Paul) is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” 

Paul sang hymns and rejoiced because he was doing the will of God. Christians are not on earth to make money, gain power, influence friends and enjoy pleasure. My brothers and sisters in Christ, I do not know what God wants you to do. God has a special work for His every child to do. If you listen to the Lord and walk with Him, He will reveal to you. Blessed is the one who knows what the Lord wants him to do (a lifework) and do it. Doing the will of God is the secret of true happiness no matter under what circumstances.

(1).  The Supremacy of the will of God.

Jhn 4:34,“Jesus said to them: My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.”

Note: We all know how important food is. To the Chinese, food is like Heaven (God). In the West, what are people working for? Is it not to have a good living or good life? To do the will of God and to accomplish His work is our food.

Gal 1:4,“Who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil world, according to the will of our God and Father,”

Mar 3:35,“For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”

Note: Will in Greek is thelēma, which means what one wishes or has determined shall be done, choice, inclination, desire, pleasure; – it occurs about 64 times in the New Testament. Thus the will of God means what God wishes to be done by us. Jesus Christ elevates anyone who does the will of God as His brother, sister and mother.

Rom 8:27,“And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

Note: The Holy Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Intercede in Greek is entygchanō, which means to pray, entreat, make intercession for; – it occurs only once in the New Testament. The mind of the Spirit knows what the will of God is. The Holy Spirit prays for the saints according to the will of God. Any prayer which is against the will of God is flawed and futile. 

Rom 12:2,“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Note: Conform in Greek is syschēmatizō, which means to conform one’s self (i.e. one’s mind and character) to another’s pattern, fashion one’s self according to; – it occurs only 2 times in the New Testament. If you fashion yourself according to this world, you will not know what the will of God is. Renewing in Greek is anakainōsis, which means a renewal, renovation, complete change for the better; – it occurs only 2 times in the New Testament. The mind of unbeliever changes for the worst with the passage of time. The mind of the believer can be renewed by the Holy Spirit and change for the better. The Holy Spirit applies the Word of God to renew the mind of believers. Prove in Greek is dokimazō, which means to test, examine, scrutinize to see whether a thing is genuine or not, recognize as genuine after examination, deem worthy; – it occurs about 23 times in the New Testament. With a renewed mind, conformed to the Lord, a believer can prove what the will of God is. The will of God is characterized by what is good and acceptable and perfect. It is not acceptable to fake a cause in order to do something good. Wrong means can never be used to further a right cause. Christians cannot do wrong in order to do good. This is the fundamental principle of doing right. You cannot use a fraudulent means to do right. Lie is the enemy of truth.

2Cr 7:10,“For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

Note: It is possible that sorrow is according to the will of God, and the sorrow can produce repentance without regret, leading to salvation. The sorrow of the world is different, it produces death. 

(2). The Right Attitude with respect to the Will of God.

Psa 40:8,“I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.”

Note: Delight in Hebrew is chaphets, which means to delight in, take pleasure in, desire, be pleased with, incline, be favorable to; – it occurs about 75 times in the Old Testament. If you do the will of God grudgingly, you have the wrong attitude. Not only you have to do the will of God willingly, but cheerfully.

Psa 143:10,“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”

Note: Teach in Hebrew is lamad,which means to train, discipline; – it occurs about 86 times in the Old Testament. It goes without saying, how much a believer needs to be taught, trained and disciplined to do the will of God. This is what the Holy Spirit is working in us. Jesus says, Jhn 16:13, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” Guide in Greek is hodēgeō,which means to be a guide, lead on one’s way; to give guidance to; – it occurs only 5 times in the New Testament. The more humble you are, the better the Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth. A self-conceited and arrogant person is not likely to learn the spiritual truth, for spiritual truth cannot be learned by carnal mind. For that reason, secularist, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers do not and cannot know the truth in Christ.

Hbr 10:7, “THEN I SAID: BEHOLD, I HAVE COME (IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME) TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.”

Note: This is what Christians can do in following the steps of Christ. I have come to do God’s will.

(3). The Two Types of the Will of God.

In knowing the will of God, it is important to know to whom the will of God is spoken, what is the nature of the will, whether it applies to a specific group of people or individual, or whether it applies to all human beings, all believers, or all servants of Christ.

There are two types of the will of God, namely the general will of God and the special will of God. The Bible does not seem to teach any special will of God for unbelievers. Unbelievers or evildoers do not deserve God’s special concern. Although the terms are not used exactly in the Bible, but it is based on Biblical Theology. 

Examples of the general will of God for all human beings:

A.  God is not wishing for any to perish.

2Pe 3:9,“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

Note: Lord Jesus Christ promised to come again, it is not because He is slow about His promise that He has not returned. God is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. God wants you to repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. This is the general will of God for every human being of all times and generations, now until the Kingdom comes. If you do not repent, you will perish. It is not God’s will that any to perish, if you perish it is because of your own fault. 

B.  The righteousness of God is for all who believe.

Rom 3:22,“Even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;”

Note: No one can obtain the righteousness of God through observing the law because no one is able to keep all the law all the time. What cannot be obtained by the law, Jesus Christ fulfilled the law by dying for sinners on the cross so that the righteousness of God is given freely through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. If you receive the righteousness of God, you are counted not guilty and there is no condemnation to those who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ. 

C.  God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.

Jhn 3:16,“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

Note: It is an amazing grace that God loved the world, the unworthy sinners. The love of God covers all races and all peoples in the world. Whoever believes in Christ includes everybody, excludes nobody. The salvation of God is available to all who want to come to Jesus and be saved. 

D.  No one can escape the judgment of God.

Rom 2:3,“But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?”

Note: Escape in Greek is ekpheugō, which means to flee out of, flee away, get away; – it occurs only 7 times in the New Testament. It is clear, no sinner or evildoer will escape the judgment of God.

Mat 23:33,“You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of Hell?”

Note: Guess who says the statement cited above. Don’t you think God is love and therefore there is no Hell. Many Wall Street executives, corrupt officials, predatory and fraudulent doctors and dentists, hospital owners and lawyers, etc. are serpents and brood of vipers. They may enjoy the filthy lucre now, but they will not escape the sentence of Hell.

Pro 19:5,“A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who tells lies will not escape.”

Note: Crooks and criminals, corrupt officials and executives, Western leaders and media, etc. lie and lie and lie and escape the human kangaroo court, but they will not escape the court of Heaven.

Hbr 2:3, “How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard.”

Note: What is so great a salvation? That is the salvation provided by Jesus Christ who died for sinners on the cross, the Righteous for the unrighteous. What humans are unable to obtain the righteousness of God by keeping the law at all times, Jesus fulfilled the law and obtained the righteousness of God as a gift to whoever repents and believes in Him. The great salvation is offered by God as a gift to all who come to Christ by grace through faith. If you neglect or reject this Gospel, there is no way you can escape the judgment of God. 

Examples of the special will of God:

A.  Virgin Mary shall bear a Son.

Mat 1:21,“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Note: Angel explained to Mary how a virgin will bear a Son, because she would conceive by the Holy Spirit. This was one and only will of God for Mary. This special will of God was fulfilled in Mary alone. It did not happen before, and it will not happen again. Thus the special will of God for a child of God is unique. 

B.  Elizabeth will bear a son.

Luk 1:13,“But the angel said to him: Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.”

Note: Elizabeth in old age gave birth to a son. This special will of God was fulfilled. John the Baptist was to prepare the way for Jesus Christ. 

C.  Simeon would not see death before he had seen Christ.

Luk 2:25-26,“And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”

Note: Reveal in Greek is chromatist, which means to be divinely instructed, make known to; – it occurs only 9 times in the New Testament.  Something was remarkable because the Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. It was one and only incident in history. Mary, Elizabeth and Simeon were special people of God, and God has special will for each of them. 

D.   Paul was chosen to know God’s will.

Act 22:14,“Then he said: The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.”

Gal 1:12,“I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” 

Eph 3:3,“That is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.”

Note: Paul was chosen to know the mystery of Christ by revelation, unlike any other, who wrote most of the Epistles in the New Testament, from Romans to Hebrews. The great Apostle who served and suffered for Christ more than others.

Hbr 10:7,“Then I said: Behold, I have come–In the volume of the book it is written of Me–To do Your will, O God.”

Gal 1:4,“Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of our God and Father,”

Note: The two Scriptures cited above reveal succinctly the will of God to Paul: Jesus Christ came into the world to do the will of God. Jesus Christ came into the world to die for sinners according to the will of God. 

(4). The General Will of God.

The general will of God can be broken down for all human beings, for all believers, and for servants of God. 

A.  The General Will of God for all human beings.

Rom 3:9，“What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.”

Note: All in Greek is pas, which means each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything; – it occurs about 1243 times in the New Testament. All are under sin means everybody is under sin, no one is excepted, every human being, the whole human race whether Jew or non-Jew are all under sin.

Rom 3:12,“They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.”

Note: Turn aside in Greek is ekklinō, which means to deviate from the right way, go the wrong way; – it occurs only 3 times in the New Testament. Sinners turned aside from the truth.

Rom 10:16,“But they have not all obeyed the Gospel. For Isaiah says: LORD, who has believed our report?”

Note: Obey in Greek is hypakouō, which means to listen, be obedient to, submit to; – it occurs about 21 times in the New Testament. People of the world have not all obeyed the Gospel.

Rom 11:32, “For God has consigned all men to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.”

Note: Consign in Greek is sygkleiō, which means to shut up together, enclose; – it occurs only 4 times in the New Testament. God has included all men to disobedience means that God considers everyone has disobeyed Him. All men mean all people, men, women, and children.

Jud 1:15,“To execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

Note: Convict in Greek is elegchō,which means to bring to the light, show one his fault, convince one of his sins; – it occurs about 17 times in the New Testament. Ungodly in Greek is asebēs, which means destitute of reverential awe towards God, condemning God, impious; – it occurs only 9 times in the New Testament. All sinners are ungodly people. All ungodly people have committed ungodly deeds in an ungodly way. All ungodly sinners have spoken against God. All humans have done ungodly deeds in an ungodly way and ungodly sinners have spoken the harsh things against God. God will execute judgment on all.

Gal 3:10,“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written: Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”

Note: All are cursed under the law because no one is able to continuously keep all things written in the law all the time.

Luk 2:10,“But the angel said to them: Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;”

Note: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is for all the peoples of the world, no exclusion of any race or group of people. It is up to you believe it or not, this is known as free will. However, the consequences of rejecting Jesus Christ are not what you can decide. The salvation accomplished by Jesus Christ is made available for all, but how can you escape if you neglect so great a salvation?

Act 3:22,“For Moses truly said to the fathers: The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you.”

Note: The Prophet mentioned is Jesus Christ, all human beings, Jews or Gentiles, must listen and obey Him. When Jesus Christ came into the world He revealed God. When Jesus spoke, God spoke.

Zec 8:17, “Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; and do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate, says the LORD.”

Note: God hates our evil thoughts against others and false oaths.

Eze 18:32,“For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, declares the Lord GOD. Therefore, repent and live.”

Note: This is the message of God to the peoples of the world: Repent and live.

Eze 33:11,“Say to them: As I live! declares the Lord GOD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?”

Note: Turn from your wicked way and live.

Luk 18:22,“So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him: You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

Note: It is difficult for the rich to follow Jesus.

At the National Prayer Breakfast recently, Obama testified “as a Christian” coincides with Jesus’ teaching that “for unto whom much is given, much shall be required.” 

Luk 12:45-48,“But if that slave says in his heart: My master will be a long time in coming, and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”

Jesus was speaking about the faithful servant and the evil servant.

Although Obama misapplied the Scriptures, it is in accordance with Christian principle of justice that the rich should and must pay taxes in higher proportion. Since America is not a Christian nation, even based on a secular principle of justice, the rich must pay more taxes. It is not fair for the rich to pay a tax rate lower than the middle class. If is very un-Christian for Obama to support same-sex marriage and sent a letter of congratulation to a gay couple. It is very un-Christian for officials to lie in public or in private. It is un-Christian to attack any nation under the pretext of freedom, democracy, justice, etc. It is un-Christian to violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other nation such as the US-Taiwan Relations Act, Hong Kong independence act, etc. It is the will of God that nations should seek peace and harmony and not war and aggression. God will not tolerate warmongers, evil empires, and aggressors.

B.  The General Will of God for all believers.

1Th 4:3,“For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;”

Note: Sanctification is done by the Holy Spirit, there are three stages: positional and conditional and final. Positionally speaking, the sanctification of every believer is completed once and for all by the precious blood of Jesus Christ when you are born again as the Holy Spirit enters into your heart. Conditionally, you need to be cleansed daily by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit as long as you live in this world. Finally the sanctification is consummated when we meet the Lord in the space. This is the general will of God, that is your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality. Some minority churches allow their preachers or pastors to have extramarital or homosexual affairs are not doing the will of God.

1Pe 4:2,“So as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”

Note: Live in Greek is bios, which means to spend life; – it occurs only once in the New Testament. To spend life is to live. It is always the general will of God that believers live the rest of the time in the flesh not for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. What are the lusts of men?  The lusts of men are the lusts of the flesh. Lusts are various, of many kinds; such as youthful lusts, worldly lusts, ungodly lusts, foolish and harmful lusts, deceitful lusts. The flesh lusts against the Spirit.

Gal 5:19-21, “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

Note: This is an example of Biblical theology, letting the Bible to interpret the Bible. There is no question about the clear Biblical definition of the works of the flesh or the lusts of the flesh. Do you know any American, European and Taiwanese politicians who do not practice “selfish ambitions”? Just this one sin alone will send them to Hell! Do you know any secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers who do not practice “heresies”? Just this one sin alone will bar them forever from inheriting the Kingdom of God. What is most surprising is that most people may not know that the works of the flesh include also idolatry (greed), hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, dissensions, envy, drunkenness, revelries, and the like.

Hbr 12:14,“Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.”

Note: Even you think you are a famous preacher having been invited to the White House, it is the general will of God for you to pursue peace with all men, and do not expect special treatment. Without sanctification no one will see the Lord.

2Cr 2:9,“For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.”

Note: Obedience to the will of God in all things applies to all believers, without any exception.

Eph 4:15,“But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head–Christ—“

Note: Every believer is required to speak the truth in love, and grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ. You cannot deliberately lie for profit or expediency. What about Western leaders who lie, kill, and rob for a long, long time?

Phl 4:12,“I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”

Note: Paul had learned how to live. That is the lesson most people have not learned. Most people do not know how to live. Christians, learn how to live like Paul and you will not be a failure. People who spend what they do not have and incur big debt do not know how to live. People who love luxuries do not know how to live. People who engage in sexual promiscuity or extra-marital affairs do not know how to live. People who have hot temper and commit suicide do not know how to live. People who are lazy and live a useless life do not know how to live.

Col 1:18, “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” 

Note: Jesus Christ is the Head of the church; He must have the preeminence in everything, not your pastor or leader. Believers submit to Christ in everything. A preacher who increases himself decreases Christ.

Col 3:20,“Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.”

Note: Obedience is the first important lesson for all children. Parents who have not taught children obedience have failed. Once on a train I observed a 5-year girl slapped her mother in the face. What a useless parent, not a loving parent. When you are an adult, you are responsible for your own decision. Many Chinese parents believe they own their children; they have the right to tell their children who to marry, etc. The practice is not biblical. If your parents want you to reject the Christian faith, you must not follow their advice.

Col 3:22, “Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.”

Tts 2:9, “Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back,” 

Tts 2:10,“Not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.”

Note: Nowadays except a few barbaric nations, slavery is abolished. Even if you are a slave, you are to obey your master for Christ’s sake. Although the Scriptures cited apply specifically to slaves and servants, the principle also applies to all employees and workers. Union members who demand higher and higher pay with lower and lower productivity is not adorning the doctrine of God our Savior. I used to work for a very large and good company; the demands of unions were among the reasons of its demise. While it is wrong for employers to exploit their employees, it is equally wrong for union members to expect higher benefits for nothing. The conflict between labor and management in a capitalistic society will never be solved due to greed on both sides.

1Ti 3:11,“Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.”

Note: For those who are in the ministry, the behavior of their wives is particularly important. In the West you usually hear about the adultery committed by preachers, rarely by their wives.

Hbr 13:18,“Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably.”

Note: The Christian way of life is to live honorably. To live honorably you need a good conscience. You see people in business and government who do not have conscience and they live dishonorably.

1Cr 9:25,“And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.”

Note: Perishable in Greek is phthartos, which means corruptible, perishing; – it occurs 6 times in the New Testament. Perishable are all earthly things, including money, power and sex. Imperishable in Greek is aphthartos, which means uncorrupted, not liable to corruption or decay, immortal; – it occurs 7 times in the New Testament. Imperishable are all divine and spiritual things, including faith, hope and love.

Jhn 14:26,“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

Note: The more humble and holy believers are, and the more diligently they search the Scriptures, the more the Holy Spirit will teach them all things.

Act 24:14,“But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.”

Note: The Way is the Way of God, not a sect. Christians believe in the Word of God, all things written in the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Rom 8:37,“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

Note: Through the love of Christ we can be more than conquerors.

Rom 12:17, “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.”

Note: Christians do not practice revenge. Repay no one evil for evil.

1Cr 14:40,“Let all things be done decently and in order.”

Note: The Bible condemns riots and all violent acts. I have lived through two riots in Los Angeles, and I saw brutalities with my own eyes live on TV. All things must be done decently and in order. The Word of God upholds decency and order. The Hong Kong riots (2019) incited and paid and sponsored by Western nations and Taiwan violated decency and law and order and violated the sovereignty of China.

2Cr 5:10,“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

Note: Even believers must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, to be judged according to what we have done, whether good or bad.

2Cr 5:17,“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Note: A new creation is a born again person in Christ. A Christian has new life, new perspective, new value, new mission and new goal.

Gal 6:6,“Let him who is taught the Word share in all good things with him who teaches.”

Eph 1:11,“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,”

Note: Believers are predestined according to the purpose of God who works all things according to the counsel of His will.

Eph 5:20,“Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,”

Note: It is the will of God for believers to give thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Ti 6:17,“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.”

Note: I was young and now I am old. I have never met those who are rich in this present world who are not haughty. The Bible commands believers who are rich not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches.

Believers who are rich in this present world are not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God.

1Jo 2:27,“But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.”

Note: The anointing is used of the gift of the Holy Spirit as the efficient aid in getting knowledge of the truth in Christ. Unbelievers including unbelieving scientists and scholars do not have such anointing; therefore they are ignorant of the eternal truth.

Phl 2:13,“For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

Note: God is at work in believers through the Holy Spirit, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

1Pe 2:15,“For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—”

Note: It is no use to argue with unbelievers, it is a waste of time to debate with those hydrocephalic obscurantists. This is the will of God for all Christians to do good and to do right in order to silence the ignorance of foolish men. Secularists, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers do not consider themselves ignorant or foolish.

C.  The General Will of God for all servants of Christ.

Phl 4:12,“I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”

Note: Know in Greek is eidō, which means to know, i.e. get knowledge of, understand, perceive, to know how, to be skilled in; – it occurs about 666 times in the New Testament. A servant of Christ must know how to be abased, and know how to abound. To be abased in Greek is tapeinoō, which means to bring into a humble condition, reduce to meaner circumstances, to humble or abase oneself by humble living; – it occurs about 14 times in the New Testament. Abound in Greek is perisseuō, which means to exist or be at hand in abundance, to be in affluence; – it occurs about 39 times in the New Testament. A servant of Christ who wants to be rich is unworthy, not by the will of God. Prosperity oftentimes is spiritually more dangerous than adversity to servants of Christ. To suffer need is part of the sufferings for Christ. Paul sets a good example for all servants of Christ and Christians alike. You have learned how to live if you have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 

2Cr 6:4，“But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,”

Note: Commend in Greek is synistēmi, which means to show, prove, establish, exhibit, present; – it occurs about 16 times in the Old Testament. Minister in Greek is diakonos, which means one who executes the commands of a master; a servant, attendant, minister; – it occurs about 31 times in the New Testament. How hard it is for true ministers of God to present themselves in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses. Those who aspire to be rich by preaching the Gospel are completely mistaken.

2Ti 4:5,“But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

Note: To watch in Greek is nēphō, which means to be sober, to be calm and collected in spirit, to be temperate, dispassionate, circumspect; – it occurs only 6 times in the New Testament. To fulfill your ministry, you need to be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, and do the work of an evangelist. This is why most churches today are dead; the minister described above is very rare. Occupational and professional preachers do not exhibit those qualities. Endure afflictions in Greek is kakopatheō, which means to suffer or endure evils (hardships, troubles); – it occurs only 4 times in the New Testament. The work of an evangelist is not what is portrayed in America as glamorous and glitzy in a crusade or a megachurch. The minister has to be watchful in all things, endure afflictions and do the work of an evangelist.

Tts 2:7,“In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, respectability, incorruptibility,”

Note: Pattern in Greek is typos, which means the mark of, an example to be imitated; – it occurs about 16 times in the New Testament. A pattern or model of good works is characterized by integrity, respectability, and incorruptibility. You do not find these qualities in American and European leaders or leaders of any nations. Integrity in Greek is adiaphthoria, which means incorruptibility, soundness, uncorruptedness; – it occurs only once in the New Testament. Respectability in Greek is semnotēs, which means the characteristic of a thing or person which entitles to reverence and respect, dignity, majesty, sanctity, probity; – it occurs only 3 times in the New Testament. Incorruptibility in Greek is aphtharsia, which means sincerity, incorruption, perpetuity, purity; – it occurs only 8 times in the New Testament. It is a serious matter to be a minister of Christ; he must show himself an example of good works, in teaching showing integrity, respectability and incorruptibility. The sound doctrine passes the test of integrity, respectability, incorruptibility. You cannot use a wrong means to achieve a right end. The end does not justify the means. I recall some years ago Oral Roberts made claims on TV that Jesus Christ appeared to him and demanded every believer to send him each $2000 or $3000 (I cannot be sure of the amount) or he would die. That was a most outrageous religious lie.

Hbr 13:18,“Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably.”

Note: Live in Greek is anastrephō, which means to conduct one’s self, behave one’s self, to have the manner of life and moral character; – it occurs about 11 times in the New Testament. A minister must have a good conscience, and in all things conduct himself honorably. To live honorably is to live honestly, uprightly.

1Pe 4:11,“If anyone speaks, let him speak as the Oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Note: Oracles in Greek is logion, which means the words or utterances of God, the sayings or discourses of Christ; – it occurs only 4 times in the New Testament. To minister in Greek is diakoneō,which means to serve, to be a servant, take care of; – it occurs about 37 times in the New Testament. To preach the oracles of God is to preach the words of God. Preachers must have the ability (gift) which God supplies. You go to visit many churches East or West, you will find many occupational ministers and pastors who do not have the ability to preach, they have the ability to put people to sleep. Some false preachers have ability to deceive and fool those who do not have knowledge of the Faith.

Ability in Greek is ischys, which means force, strength, might, to the extent of one’s ability; – it occurs only 11 times in the New Testament. It is impossible that you are called to minister without the ability which God supplies. A minister who does not know how to minister or preach the Word of God is a useless minister. This Scripture provides the motive of ministry: in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. A ministry that does not glorify God is a ministry of Satan.

2Cr 7:14, “For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true.”

Note: A servant of Christ must speak all things in truth. If a minister lies, he is not a servant of Christ. You cannot use fraudulent means to speak the truth. You cannot use wrong means to do right. Lies do not fit a ministry. I recall one preacher of a megachurch took a picture at a studio with the background or façade of the Great Wall of China, the preacher pretended he was preaching in China and asked TV audience for donations. 

2Cr 12:19, “Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification.”

Note: Edification in Greek is oikodomē,which means building up, the act of one who promotes another’s growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, holiness; – it occurs about 18 times in the New Testament. Preachers speak before God in Christ, it is most solemn and sacred. Preachers should never speak for their own benefits, benefits of a racial group, etc.

2Ti 2:10,“Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”

Note: Endure in Greek is hypomenō, which means to persevere under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one’s faith in Christ, to endure, take patiently, bear bravely and calmly; – it occurs about 17 times in the New Testament. Elect in Greek is eklektos, which means Christians who are chosen or elect of God; – it occurs about 23 times in the New Testament.

This Scripture provides the motive of ministry that God’s chosen people may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. Not only the blessing is eternal, the glory is also eternal.

1Pe 2:15,“For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.”

Note: It is the general will of God for all believers that we must do right. How can you know that Western leaders are not doing the will of God? Because they are not doing good or right; they are doing evil. They lie, lie, and lie; kill, kill, and kill; rob, rob, and rob. Doing wrong or evil is never the will of God for any believer or anyone anytime and anywhere.

1Ki 22:14,“And Micaiah said: As the LORD lives, whatever the LORD says to me, that I will speak.”

Note: This Scripture can be interpreted in the New Testament applicable to the servants of Christ: Whatever the Word of God says, that I will speak. I will speak whatever the Bible teaches and stresses. 

(5). The Special Wills of God for His saints or servants.

Hbr 11:4,“By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.”

Note: Abel means vanity (that is: transitory). Abel did not live in vain because he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, though he is dead, he still speaks.

Hbr 11:5,“By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.”

Note: Enoch means dedicated. Gen 5:22, “Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters.” Gen 5:24,“Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” Enoch walked with God means he lived in truth, in uprightness, leading a life pleasing to God. Wonderful thing was that God took Enoch home.

Hbr 11:7,“By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”

Note: Noah means rest. Noah obeyed the will of God in preparing an ark for the salvation of his household. Eight souls were saved but God destroyed the old world with water.

Hbr 11:8-10,“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

Note: Abraham means the father of a multitude, the founder of the Jewish nation; – it occurs about 73 times in the New Testament. Live as an alien in Greek is parodies, which means to be or dwell in a place as a stranger, to sojourn; – it occurs only 2 times in the New Testament.

Gal 3:9, “So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.” 

Gal 3:29, “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.” Gal 3:8,“The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying： ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.”

Note: God first preached the Gospel to Abraham.

Hbr 11:11,“By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.” 

Note: Sarah means princess, occurs only 4 times in the New Testament. Sarah received ability to conceive, even beyond her proper time of life.

Hbr 11:22,“By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.”

Note: Joseph means let him add, the eleventh son of Jacob; – it occurs about 35 times in the New Testament. Joseph lived a providential life.

Hbr 11:24-26,“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.”

Note: Moses means drawing out, who wrote the Pentateuch (the five books of Moses); – it occurs 80 times in the New Testament. Moses chose rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. Moses’ values are different from the values of the West and worldly people.

Act 13:36, “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption;”

Note: David by the will of God served his own generation, that was a lot in the history of the Jews. It is wonderful if a Christian can be said that he had served his own generation by the will of God.

Gal 1:1,“Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead),”

2Ti 4:7，“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;”

Rom 1:10,“Making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you.”

Note: Paul in Greek is Paulos, which means small or little; the greatest Apostle who wrote 14 books of the New Testament, occurs about 164 times in the New Testament. Paul was the only one who could say: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. He by some means found a way in the will of God. 

Phl 4:11,“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:”

Note: Greed can be most destructive to any person, especially to a servant of Christ.

All the persons cited above were remarkable people in the sense they obeyed and did the special wills of God for their lives. 

  (6). How to Find out the Special Will of God. 

A.  Search the Scriptures

Act 17:11,“These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”

Note: Search in Greek is anakrinō, which means to investigate, examine, enquire into, scrutinize, sift, discern; – it occurs 16 times in the New Testament. Every issue or matter that we should know can be settled by searching what the Scripture says. What the Scripture says on any subject is final. The Bible is the supreme authority on Christian faith and conduct. What the Bible says clearly we must accept as the truth. What the Bible does not say we should not speculate. In fact, everything we should know about our God and Savior, the way of salvation and sanctification, is spelled out in the Bible. By inductive and deductive reasoning, we may conclude what is not forbidden by the Bible may be o.k. to do, but it is not necessarily God wants you to do.

1Cr 6:12,“Everything is permissible for me–but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me–but I will not be mastered by anything.”

Note: Permissible in Greek is exesti which means lawful, allowable; – it occurs about 32 times in the New Testament. To be beneficial in Greek is sympherōwhich means to helpful, be profitable, be expedient; – it occurs about 17 times in the New Testament. You are a slave to the thing you are mastered by.

1Cr 10:23,“Everything is permissible–but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible–but not everything is constructive.”

Note: To be constructive in Greek is oikodomeō, which means to promote growth in Christian wisdom, affection, grace, virtue, holiness, blessedness; – it occurs about 39 times in the New Testament. This is the manifesto of Christian liberty in two verses, the model conduct for every servant of Christ.

Rom 15:4,“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”

Note: Learning in Greek is didaskaliawhich means instruction, teaching; – it occurs about 21 times in the New Testament. Whatever things were written in the Bible were written for our learning. We have many things to learn from the Bible. So do not waste your time and efforts on the writings or works of secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers.

B.  By Prayer.

Eph 1:18,“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,”

Note: Enlighten in Greek is photos, which means to give light, to shine, to bring to light, render evident, light up, illumine, imbue with knowledge, give understanding to; – it occurs about 11 times in the New Testament. Pray God to open our eyes that we may see spiritual truths in Jesus Christ and also seek guidance what is the special will for us to do at a specific time or place. For example, the Bible will not tell you which woman you should take to be your wife. But the Bible says, 1 Cr 7:9, “A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.” A Christian is free and may marry to whom he/she wishes, only in the Lord. In other words, do not marry unbelievers.

Luk 24:45,“Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,”

Note: Mind in Greek is nous, which means the mind, comprising alike the faculties of perceiving and understanding and those of feeling, judging, determining; the intellectual faculty, the capacity for spiritual truth, the faculty of perceiving divine things; – it occurs about 24 times in the New Testament. God answers prayer in many ways. If you listen to God, God will listen and speak to you. Our minds need to be opened to understand the Scriptures.

Rom 8:27,“Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Note: It is our duty to think, pray, work, and live according to the will of God. 

C.  Follow in His steps.

1Pe 2:21,“For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,”

Note: To follow in Jesus’ steps is a principle and a figure of speech. You ask the Lord to direct your steps and do not slip. There are many things you cannot follow in Jesus’ steps. You cannot follow Jesus in walking on water; you cannot follow Jesus in turning water into wine, etc. It is sheer stupidity to ask the question: How would Jesus vote? Jesus did not, does not, and will not vote for any politician. No one is worthy of Jesus’ vote, and He is not interested in corrupt money and power politics. In principle we should follow in Jesus steps in holiness, goodness, kindness, meekness, and above all obedience to God’s will. To know the special will of God for your life is the greatest knowledge. To do the will of God is the greatest achievement.

The most facetious and false application of following in Jesus’ step is illustrated by questions like: What would Jesus do? Whom would Jesus vote for the presidential candidate? In the first place, there are many things what we must do which Jesus does not. Jesus does not select a mate, does not look for a job, does not buy a home, does not join a party, does not vote, does not go to a university, does not invest, etc. There have been quite a few presidential candidates who claimed to have been led by God to run for presidency. Now do you know how to count, why would God lead some persons to run for the presidency at the same time since the job is one? What would Jesus do or not do are already written in the Bible. For example Christians cannot support what is condemned by the Word of God, such as homosexuality or same sex marriage. Thus, Christians cannot vote for or support a politician who supports homosexuality or same sex marriage. In principle Christians support whatever the Word of God approves and oppose whatever the Bible condemns – that is following in Jesus’ step.

      D.  Led by the Holy Spirit.

Gal 5:25, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

1Th 4:11-12, “and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.”

Psa 25:5, “Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
For You I wait all the day.”

Psa 31:3, “For You are my Rock and my fortress;
For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.”

Psa 61:2, “From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint;
Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.”

Psa 139:10, “Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will lay hold of me.”

Psa 143:10, “Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”

Note: It is a great gift to let the good Spirit of God to lead Christians on level ground. Secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers will never know the will of God because they do not have the Holy Spirit.

Psa 73:24, “With Your counsel You will guide me,
And afterward receive me to glory.”

Jhn 16:13,“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”

Note: This is the promise only Christians have: The Spirit of truth will guide Christians into all the truth.

    (7). The principle of the will of God. 

A.  The Word of God reveals the will of God.

Mat 7:21,“Not everyone who says to Me: ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.”

Note: Mouthful piety is not as good as doing the will of God

Luk 6:46,“Why do you call Me: ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”

Note: Obedience is better than empty praise or sacrifice.

1Ti 5:4，“But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.”

Note: Practicing piety is acceptable in the sight of God.

Jam 1:27，“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

Note: In this Scripture it does not explicitly says this is the will of God. It says what pure and undefiled religion is before God and the Father: Visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. Unspotted in Greek is aspiloswhich means spotless, irreproachable, free from vice, unsullied; – it occurs only 4 times in the New Testament.

Phl 4:8,“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Note: True in Greek is alēthēs,which means truthful; loving the truth, speaking the truth;- it occurs about 25 times in the New Testament. Noble in Greek is semnos, which means august, venerable, reverend, venerated for character, honorable; – it occurs only 4 times in the New Testament. Right in Greek is dikaios,which means in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, innocent, faultless, guiltless, whose way of thinking, feeling, and acting is wholly conformed to the will of God; approved of or acceptable of God; – it occurs about 81 times in the New Testament. Pure in Greek is hagnos, which means clean, exciting reverence, venerable, sacred, pure from carnality, chaste, modest; pure from every fault, immaculate; – it occurs only 8 times in the New Testament. Lovely in Greek is prosphilēs, which means acceptable, pleasing; – it occurs only once in the New Testament. Admirable in Greek is euphēmos, which means of good report, sounding well, speaking auspiciously, with good will to others; – it occurs only once in the New Testament. Excellent in Greek is aretē,which means a virtuous course of thought, feeling and action; virtuous, morally good, eminent; – it occurs only 5 times in the New Testament. Praiseworthy is Greek is epainos, which means worthy of approbation, commendation; – it occurs 11 times in the New Testament. Think in Greek is logizomai,which means to reckon inward, count up or weigh the reasons, to deliberate; to consider, take into account, weigh, meditate on; – it occurs about 41 times in the New Testament. There are eight precious jewels of Christian thinking, namely: whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. Clearly it is the will of God for believers to think and do whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, whatever is excellent, and whatever is praiseworthy. 

B.  The general will of God is for all believers. 

The general will of God is for all Christians, there is no exception.

For example, the Ten Commandments. Except the Sabbath is for the Jews, all Christians must keep the commandments.

Phl 4:8,“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.”

1Cr 1:10, “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

Note: Division in Greek is schisma, which means dissension, rent, schism; – it occurs only 8 times in the New Testament. Denominations are divisions among Christians.

1Pe 3:17,“For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”

1Pe 4:2,“As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for the lusts of men, but rather for the will of God.”

1Pe 4:19, “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” 

1Jo 2:17, “The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God lives forever.”

Note: This Scripture provides the reward for doing the will of God, even to suffer for doing good and for doing the will of God.

C.  The special will must not violate the general will of God.

The special will of God will never violate or contradict the general will of God. God will not tell you to commit suicide, commit murder, commit adultery, commit a crime, lie or cheat, etc. What is generally prohibitive to all Christians is also prohibitive to an individual believer. 

      (8). How to do the will of God. 

A.  Do the will of God from the heart.

Eph 6:6,“Not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.”

Note: Eyeservice in Greek is ophthalmodoulia, which means service performed only under the master’s eyes; – it occurs only twice in the New Testament. Men-pleasers in Greek is anthrōpareskos, which means studying to please man, courting the favor of men; – it occurs only twice in the New Testament. The slaves of Christ are not men-pleasers; do not perform eyeservice, doing the will of God from the heart. The right way of doing the will of God is doing from the heart. This Scripture explains the motive of doing the will of God.

Col 3:23,“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,”

Note: Heartily means gladly and willingly. Whatever Christians do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men. If you are janitor, do it heartily to the Lord. If you are a cook, do it heartily to the Lord. To live for Christ means no matter how to earn your living lawfully, you do it heartily as to the Lord. 

B.  Stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

Col 4:12, “Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”

Note: This Scripture provides the process of doing the will of God. Stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Never do it half-heartedly.

Col 3:17,“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Note: Whatever you do in word or deed in the name of the Lord Jesus, you won’t dare to do wrong. You cannot give thanks to God for defrauding patients or customers. You cannot give thanks to God for selling toxic food or drink for profit. You cannot give thanks to God for abusing your power or violating the rights of others, etc. You cannot give thanks to God for lying, killing, and robbing other nations and peoples. You cannot give thanks to God for committing sexual immorality, corruption and injustice.

Hbr 10:36,“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” 

Note: Perseverance is required in doing the will of God.

C. Whatever the Lord says, do it.

Jhn 2:5,“His mother said to the servants: Whatever He says to you, do it.”

Note: Mary’s advice sums up what every believer and servant of Christ must do. Whatever the Lord says, do it.

Jhn 15:14,“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”

Note: This Scripture provides the content of the will of God. Whatever the Lord says, do it.

D.  Do all to the glory of God.

1Cr 10:31,“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Note: This Scripture provides the motive or gives the purpose of doing the will of God. Doing the will of God is not for self glory. A good servant of the Lord does not seek to be the man of the century. A servant of God does not seek to be popular in this world. A faithful servant of Christ does not build his own spiritual empire.

E.  Be thankful for everything.

1Th 5:18,“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Note: This Scripture provides the attitude in doing the will of God. Christians are thankful to God everyday, not just on Thanksgiving Day.

Having read the above Scriptures with explanations, whether a believer or unbeliever, you cannot say you do not know the will of God. Let us follow in Jesus’ steps, even in the darkest hour, Mat 26:42,“He went away again a second time and prayed, saying: My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.”

Mat 6:10,“Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” The will of God will be done. The Kingdom will come.

This should be our prayer, Psa 143:10, “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” Amen.

The will of God is the greatest work, and doing the will of God is the greatest achievement.

V. Contend for the Faith.

All Christians are commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ to Preach the Gospel. Preach the Word. Preach Jesus Christ.

Jde 1:3, “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the Faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.”

Note: All Christians who share our common salvation have the duty and responsibility to contend earnestly for the Faith.

(1). Christianity has nothing to do with other culture or thought.

Christianity has nothing to do with classical culture or Hellenistic thought. Christianity was not and is not emerged or developed by any culture or civilization ancient or modern. There is no metamorphosis of Christianity encountering with Hellenism or any ideology or culture. Christianity is not a theological construction. There is no natural theology, there is only Biblical theology. Christianity is not shaped by any theological controversy or epistemology, philosophical speculation, or secular historical interpretation. Christianity is not influenced by Hellenistic intellectual milieu or any other milieu that permeated in the ancient or modern world. The thought-worlds of Gregory of Nazianzus, Basil, Augustine, etc. have no relation or connection to Christianity. The ideas expressed in the Greek New Testament have no relation or reference to any human and secular dogmatic proposals or presupposition. When we speak of the truth of Christ, it is not religious or moral truth or scientific truth from human points of view. Scientists and moralists are blind to the revelation of God.

The Christian doctrine of God is not reformulated by tradition cosmologies or anthropology. There is no teleology of the vision of God except revealed by Jesus Christ enlightened by the Holy Spirit. There are no strands of modern thought which can be viewed as an intellectual surrender of pure Christian theology to Greek philosophy. Greek philosophy and all other philosophies are contrary to the sound doctrines of Christianity. The Word of God never surrenders to any philosophy or human thought or culture or religion or science. Any attempt to connect any philosophy, any theology, any thought, any civilization, any religion, any tradition, any science, any myth, any mythology, any history, any superstition, any ideology, etc. to Christianity is false, fallacious, fictitious, facetious, fallible, frivolous, freakish, fuzzy, flimsy, and futile.

It is fallacious to say that Paul construes the death of Christ through the Old Testament idea of sacrifice. The Old Testament does predict the death of Christ as a sacrifice to atone the sins of the world. Paul on the contrary strongly defends the Gospel by saying, Gal 1:11-12, “For I would have you know, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” Paul received the Gospel through a revelation of Jesus Christ, not even by gleaning from the Old Testament or the Prophets. Paul is straightforward about the truth of the Gospel, to the point not even yielding to the major apostle like Peter. 1Co 15:3-8, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.” If the root of the Gospel is revelation, the branches are too. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not invented, manufactured, or developed by man.

Jesus Christ was not, and is not, an idea that made a person into an institution. The Bible never says the death of Jesus is an institution. The Levitical legislation in no way provides redemption. The Law only points to the sinfulness of man who needs divine redemption. Jesus Christ is purely Christianity. Christianity is Jesus Christ. Without Jesus Christ there is no Christianity. It is true that Christianity is identified with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Heb 7:27, “who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.” The sacrifice of the Lamb of God to atone the sins of the world Jesus did once for all when He offered up Himself. By the death of Jesus He procures eternal redemption for all believers. The death of Jesus is decidedly and definitely vicarious, substitution is fundamental not symbolical. 1Pe 3:18, “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the Just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.” By the substitutionary death of Jesus, the Just for the unjust, He also brought believers to God which is reconciliatory. Rom 5:10, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” The substitutionary or vicarious death of Jesus Christ on the cross and the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ by the power of God are two cardinal doctrines of Christianity, inseparable. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is not apostolic thought or invention. “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1Co 15:3) is not an apostolic thought or imagination. This is the truth in Christ. It is simply a matter of fact which does not need to be verified by Josephus or Philo. Christianity stands with the truth. Jesus is the Lamb of God “who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God.” (Heb 9:14) It is simply blasphemous to compare Jesus Christ with Confucius, the false prophet of an evil religion, even Buddha. There is no one historical or imaginary can be compared to Jesus. What Christ does no other person can do. Jesus saves. Jesus saves sinners. By the righteousness of Christ, He makes the guilty and sinful man fit and qualified to be reconciled with the holy and eternal God. The mankind which Christ redeems is one of infinite grace and reality, without any parallel in the other religions of history. Jesus Christ is One and Only, He is definitely incomparable. Jesus is the only Way to God, and there is no other way. There is no other religion or faith which has a crucified or slain founder as the sole and sufficient medium through whom God finds man and man may approach God. For Jesus is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to God but through Jesus. (Jhn 14:6).

Christianity is absolutely different from all other religions because Christianity is the only revealed religion, not man-made religion. Revelation by definition and nature is supernatural and miraculous, not learned or acquired by scientific enquiry or research. Rom 16:25-27, “ Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.” Indeed, Christianity or the Christian Faith, is a mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested or revealed by the Holy Scriptures, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading all believers to obedience of faith, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever.

What Christianity is all about does not depend on the explanations of Augustine, Calvin, etc. Many so-called theologians propose and propound false doctrines, erroneous teachings, and even heresies. If we have to define Christianity in two words, I would venture: the Faith, or, the Way. If we have to define Christianity in four words. Then I venture: the Faith in Christ; or, the Way of Christ. This is not metaphysical conception of Christianity the Christian religion. It is most difficult to define what Christianity is, some may be too simple and general, some may be too vague and not meaningful. The following definition is derived entirely from the Holy Bible, may be unprecedented.

It is false and facetious to compare the single founder of Christianity with some other religions, created each at a blow by the genius of a single person, raised far above his fellows by the loftiness or the strength of his personal character, by the force of his moral enthusiasm or his worldly ambition. Jesus Christ had no worldly ambition. Jhn 18:36, “Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My Kingdom is not of this realm.” Jesus was holy and never married, never had sex with a woman, and never had a wife. Unlike the founder of a religion who had many wives, and who allows his male followers to have many wives even today.

Jhn 14:6-13, “Jesus said to him, “I AM the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

Note: Christianity can be summed up in Jesus being the Way, there is no other ways to God. Jesus is the only Way, all others are thieves who steal, rob and kill. Jesus is the only Way to God is the Truth. Whoever believes in the Truth of Christ will receive the eternal Life. There are no alternative concepts of God and no different religious worldviews. You may think this is dogmatic and narrow-minded. Jesus is absolutely the Way, in Christianity there is no other way. Christianity is the Faith, the Faith in Christ. There is no other faith. Truth is One and Absolute, you may think this is dogmatic. One God, one Faith, one Way.

The skeptics insist faith must have support. In other words, you believe on ground of something. Truth is not undergoing the process of abstraction and generalization, nor the desire for simplification and unification. Truth is in Jesus. Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior who was once dead and rose again, the Lord who ascended to the highest Heavens, the coming King of kings and Lord of lords is all the support whereby I believe in the Faith. The truth of the Lord is everlasting. The Word of God is truth.

The authenticity of Truth does not depend on the acceptance of man. Jhn 12:48, “But all who reject ME and MY message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken.” Rom 2:8, “But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.” Reject means refuse to obey. Self-seeking people reject the truth and follow evil. Eph 4:21, “if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus.” Christianity is truth in Jesus Christ.

(2). Jesus Christ builds His Church upon Himself.

The Church of Jesus Christ was not due to an instinct of experience of His disciples which governed their thought and changed the event which threatened their faith with extinction by their action into the condition of its immortality. The Church of God is not an institution, like any other institution; it is the Body of Christ, made of members from the first righteous man to the last one called before the end of the world. Jesus Christ Himself says, Mat 16:18, “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” Jesus Christ Himself builds His Church, neither Paul nor Peter. The Roman Catholic Church habitually and deliberately misinterprets this Scripture by saying Peter is the rock that Jesus builds His Church upon. Far from it! The Scripture says, 1Co 10:4, “and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from the Spiritual Rock which followed them; and the Rock was Christ.” Jesus Christ is the Spiritual Rock, the Rock of Ages. The Lord Jesus builds His Church upon Himself. Peter is only a stone.

Eph 1:10-13, “with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the Heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the Gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. For this reason I too, having heard of the Faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints.”

Note: Things in the Heavens and things on the earth, especially Christianity, are all summed up in Christ. By the message of truth, the Gospel of our salvation, predestined according to God’s purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, Christians having also believed and to hope in Christ, were sealed in Christ with the Holy Spirit as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession. The Church is God’s own possession, the saints who have the Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Eph 1:17-19, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might.” Christians are exclusively given the Spirit of wisdom of revelation in the knowledge of God. The eyes of our heart may be enlightened, so that we will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. All these blessings and privileges are excluded from secularists and unbelievers.

Christians are not worried about the extirpation of the Church or the destruction of the Christian Faith. Why? Jesus Christ assures, “and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” Overpower in Greek is katischyō which means to prevail against; to be superior in strength; to overcome; to subdue; to overwhelm; to win; to triumph; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. Nothing and no one can subdue or prevail against the Church of Jesus Christ, not even the devil or the gates of Hades. For no one can triumph over the Almighty God.

(3). The Holy Bible has uniform and ultimate authority.

The Old and the New Testaments are the Word of God which has uniform and ultimate authority, it is not merely the Christian idea. The Word of God is the truth of Christ. The Word of God is not what Paul or any apostle says or speaks on their own. The Word of God is inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Word of God does not represent the private view of any apostle. The Scriptures do not allow private interpretation. 2Pe 1:19-21, “ And so we have the prophetic Word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a Light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the Morning Star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” The Word of God is the Light that shines in a dark place. All man-made religions are still in a dark place because they do not have the Light. Jesus Christ is the Morning Star who rises in the hearts of believers. For this reason, secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers are in a dark place spiritually because they do not have the Light, the Light of the world; the Morning Star does not rise in their hearts and minds. For this reason, secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers distort and discredit the Scriptures by their own private interpretation. The Word of God never came by the will of man, holy men and holy prophets spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. God is true. God is infallible; for this reason, the Word of God is absolute, complete, infallible, and ultimate. The basis of the Holy Scriptures is determined by thus says the Lord. Whatever the Holy Bible says God says. Whatever God says is so.

No legitimacy based on speculative prepossession and hypothetical constructions of so-called scientific criticism that rejects the record of supernatural revelation can be recognized or accepted by Christians. If the criticism of an ameba against a human being has no value, much less the criticism of mortal man against the Word of God based on pretensions of human reason can be valid. The so-called Lower or Textual Criticism and Higher Criticism are not worth a dime, my fellow Christians, so do not waste your time and effort on those pseudo intellectual rubbish. These arrogant and self-conceited Bible critics do not know even a simple thing such as the date and time of their death. How dare they challenge and criticize the Eternal God and His Word?

Jesus Christ is the central Message of the Bible, both historical and Christological. The Bible is more than the record of God’s dealings with the human race and God’s purpose to save the sinners and called out a people the elect of His own. Not the whole human race will be saved because there are unbelievers by choice. The Word of God can only be viewed from the divine point of view, and never from the human point of view. The human view only reflects human condition and nature which is fallen, limited, incomplete, and fallible. The Word of God consists of God revealing something about Himself through His spoken word, which is ultimately and perfectly manifested and personified in His Son Jesus Christ. When Jesus speaks God speaks. God speaks through His Son Jesus Christ. Secularists, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers are blind to the revelation of Jesus Christ. The Holy Bible as the revealed and written Word of God holds supreme and ultimate authority for the Christian faith and practice.

The Holy Bible is the Sacred Scriptures of both Judaism and Christianity. However, Judaism only accepts the Old Testament. Christianity accepts both the Old Testament (composed of 39 books), and the New Testament (made of 27 books), a total of 66 books, excluding Apocrypha. There is no doubt that peoples of all generations treat the Bible as a collection of world literary masterpieces. The Bible has been translated in more languages than any book in history. Of course, the Bible is much more than the world literary masterpiece. The Bible is the Word of God.

Mat 21:42, “Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures,
‘THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone;
THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD,
AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES?”

Note: Jesus cited the Scripture above which speaks about Himself.

Mar 14:49, “Every day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me; but this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures.”

Note: When they laid hands on Jesus and seized Him, Jesus cited that this had taken place to fulfill the Scriptures.

Luk 24:32, “They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?”

Note: After the resurrection, the disciples said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” A spirit-filled preacher who preach the Word of God can make our hearts burning within us. This is the power of the Word.

Jhn 5:39-40, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.”

Note: Jesus Himself confirmed that the Scriptures of the Old Testament testify about Him. If you are willing to come to Jesus, you may have life. The Old Testament are the Scriptures that testify about Jesus Christ. At that time the New Testament was not completed yet.

Act 18:24-25, “Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John.”

Note: A man who has been instructed in the way of the Lord and knows the Scriptures well can be mighty in the Scriptures; and is speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus.

Rom 1:2-6, “which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of Holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ.”

Note: The Scripture cited above speaks about the Gospel which God promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures (referring to the Old Testament), concerning His Son, born of a virgin, declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of Holiness. Through Jesus Christ our Lord we have received grace to bring about the obedience of faith, among whom we also are the called of Jesus Christ.

2Ti 3:15-17, “and that from childhood you have known the Sacred Writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

Note: The Holy Bible is also known as the Sacred Writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God, not made by man, not developed by culture or tradition, or influenced by the reason or thought of man. The authenticity of the New Testament does not depend on Eusebius or Origen, Polycarp or Ignatius, or anybody else. The Holy Bible is confirmed by Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, and fully accepted by all apostles and Christians.

Jesus Christ is the full and final authority of the Word of God.

(4). Christian unity is the unity of faith in Christ.

Christianity did not and does not materially call forth the idea of the unity of the human race, or a favorable influence on the humanization of nations in their morals, manners, and institutions. The White Man’s Burden has been the greatest historical lie and scam created and practiced by Europeans and Americans. Under the guise and false pretense of Christianity, Europeans in the last 500 years and later Americans have conquered and colonized many nations and peoples in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. European and American imperialists and colonialists have lied, killed, and robbed many nations and peoples of the world. They exploited and enriched themselves with the natural and human and financial resources of many nations and peoples. They sucked the blood of many nations and peoples to build up their infrastructure, science and technology, transportation; and monopolized currency, finance, diplomacy and trade to benefit themselves at the expense of Asians, Latin Americans and Africans. A classical example is the infamous Opium Wars to oppress and weaken China. America and European powers and Japan in the infamous Opium Wars alone robbed and looted China’s national treasures and antiques worth US$100,000 trillion dollars, not counting interest and the destruction of the Yuan Ming Garden. In more recent years America has done the same as the Europeans did or worse. The United States robbed the land of the natives of America and almost terminated the race of the Red Indians. Since the end of World War II, U.S.A. has killed millions and millions of innocent peoples around the world by conducted many unjust and unholy wars of aggression and bloody military interventions. American imperialists and militarists and supremacists have made more millions of peoples refugees living in abject poverty and misery. Under the false pretense of promoting democracy, independence, freedom, justice, human right, etc. — only God knows how much evil and immoral deeds and atrocities and brutalities American warmongers and dictators have done in this world. In order to maintain the status quo of world domination and dictatorship, the U.S. targets and oppresses Russia and China under phony Russia threat and China threat, with hundreds of overseas military bases to encircle Russia and China in order to eliminate competitors. The worst of all, European powers and America claim to be Christian nations. They distort, discredit, and disgrace Christianity by their words and deeds. Western media are the massive machine of propaganda which make fake news, fake reports, fake views and habitually and daily spread lies, falsehoods, and deception without shame and without qualm. Western leaders and Western media have reached the bottom of the Bottomless Pit in their immorality, lawlessness, and injustice.

There is so much confusion because some confuse the Christian Faith as a religion. Christianity is the Christian Faith, but Christianity is not a religion. Faith is Christianity in action. Christians live by faith and walk by faith. Faith is the way of life, the totality of one’s way of life. The Way is Christ, the unity of the Christian Faith is upon the person and work of Jesus Christ, and no one else.

Christian unity in Christ is exclusive, it cannot and does not include any other religion or faith or members. Christians are called the Elect of God. The ecumenical movement is to join and unite all faiths and religions into One World Religion to be led by the Man of Sin. The Church of Jesus Christ has no part or portion with the One World Religion.

(5). There are only two separate groups of people in the world.

Jesus Christ will finally divide the peoples of the world into two groups: Mat 25:31-33,“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.” The sheep on His right represent the righteous and believers. The goats on the left represent the wicked and unbelievers. Christians are sheep of Jesus Christ. The wicked and the unrighteous are the goats. Jesus sheep can never become goats. Evolution does not change the goats into the sheep.

Jhn 11:52, “and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.” Note: Jesus Christ will gather together the children of god into one. Jhn 1:12, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” 

Note: This is the good news: As many as receive Jesus Christ, to them He gives the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name. You can become children of God if you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and believe in His name. Rom 8:16, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” If you have the Holy Spirit in you, you will know that you are children of God. Phl 2:15, “so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.” 

If you are children of God, you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, and appear as lights in the world. 1Jo 3:10, “By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.” According to the Scripture, there are only types of people in the world: the children of God and the children of the devil. If you are the children of God, you cannot be the children of the devil. If you are the children of the devil, you cannot be the children of God. The children of God can never be united with the children of the devil. The children of God belong to the Church of Jesus Christ. The children of the devil will join the One World Religion to be led by the Man of Sin. How do you know that you are children of God? 1Jo 5:2, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments.” If you love God and observe His commandments, by this you know that you love the children of God. The children of God cannot mix or have fellowship with the children of the devil. Truth is offensive. Secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers are the children of the devil because they do not love God and observe His commandments, and they do not practice righteousness.

Tares among Wheat

Mat 13:24-30, “Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them. Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.”

Note: By analogy, Christians or children of God are the wheat, the children of the devil are the tares. Right now, both the children of God (the wheat) and the children of the devil (the tares) grow together in the world until the end of the world. The children of the devil will go to Hell to burn and suffer eternal punishment. The children of God will enter the Kingdom of Heaven and enjoy blessings and glory with the Lord forever and ever.

2Co 6:14, “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?”

Note: Believers do not be bound together with unbelievers. The righteous do not have partnership with the lawless. For light has no fellowship with darkness. Christians are children of Light, Eph 5:8. Unbelievers are children of darkness, 1Th 5:5. Those who call themselves Christians but worship idols, walk in the darkness, lie and do not practice the truth.

(6). Christ will bring all His sheep into one flock.

Jhn 10:16,“I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with One Shepherd.”

Note: The Lord Jesus will bring other sheep, the Gentile believers. The Jewish Christians and the Gentile Christians will become one flock with One Shepherd who is Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd and the Chief Shepherd. All Christians will become one in Christ, neither Jewish nor Gentile. 

Rom 12:5, “so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” The Church is the one Body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Gal 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” In Christ there is no race differential. In my life experience, there are not a few white believers who think they are superior than Christians of other races. There is spiritual unity in Christ, unity of faith, not organic unity. There is one thing that all Christian everywhere must be united to do. Phl 1:27, “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel.” 

Christians are standing firm in one spirit and with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel. I think the evangelical monopoly of the Gospel is a great peril. There is no such a thing called Christian nation or state, there is only the Kingdom of God.

(7). Jesus Christ is the Central Person of Christianity.

The Christian Faith in Jesus Christ is not based on theological literature or conception of Christ in the ecumenical creeds. It is stupid and senseless for secularists to say that without the metaphysical conception of Christ the Christian religion would long ago have ceased to live. The Christ we Christians believe and bow and worship is the Savior of mankind, the Son of God, the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, presented in the Holy Scriptures. Christians accept only the Holy Bible as it is written the final, full, and eternal Word of God, not the products of the Council of Nicaea or the Council of Chalcedon. We reject the historical portrait of Jesus in metaphysical terms. We accept the Word of Jesus Himself according to the Scriptures, His divinity, and ONE with the Father.

Jhn 10:30,“I and the Father are One.”

Jhn 14:10, “Do you not believe that I AM in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.”

Jhn 10:15, “even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.”

Jhn 6:40, “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

Note: The Son and the Father are ONE. Jesus Christ and God are ONE. God is in Christ, and Christ is in God. Jhn 8:18-19, “I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.” So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.” Without Christ, there is no Christianity. Christianity is the Faith in Christ. 

Jhn 17:1-10, “Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to Heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your Word. Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You; for the Words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me. I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours; and all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them.”

Note: Christians are the men and women whom God gave to Christ out of the world. Christians do not belong to the world. Christians are those whom God has given to Christ. The mystery of mysteries: All things that are Jesus’ are God’s, and all God’s are Jesus’. This is eternal life, that you may know God, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom God has sent.

An enemy of Christ said, “There has really never been a more monstrous imposition perpetrated than the imposition of the limitations of Paul’s soul upon the soul of Jesus.” He who said this is surely a monstrous soul who was a million miles far away from the truth. No one in Heaven or on earth can make imposition of any limitation upon Jesus. Paul was only a servant of Christ, subject all things to Christ in the fear of Christ. Paul did not speak on his own, Gal 1:11-12, “For I would have you know, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Jhn 1:14, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Jhn 14:7, “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

Note: To know Jesus Christ is to know God. To see Jesus Christ is to see God. God and Jesus Christ are ONE. This the true vision of Jesus Christ, God who became Man, the real substance, no double vision and half-lights, full of grace and truth. 

Christianity is not the religion which makes its appeal to the sense of the beautiful, and speaks to the fancy in legends, or to the imagination in symbols, and not the religion which addresses and exercises the rational thought. The Christian Faith is the exact truth in Christ without paradox or false premises. Christianity does not accommodate or adjust itself to the depraved mind and deprived of the truth. 

A man of depraved mind made a most arrogant and ignorant remark, “The mind of Jesus was intuitive rather than ratiocinative; His moral judgment was swift and sure; His spiritual discernment direct; and these are characteristic of women rather than of men.” I am reminded by what Jesus says, Mat 12:35-37, “The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” The Judge of the living and the dead will judge according to the thoughts, deeds, and words of people. If every careless word that people speak will be judged, how much more is a deliberate lie? 

This evil man was saying that the mind of Jesus is intuitive and not ratiocinative. The man is haughty in mind and his mind set on the flesh, in the futility of his mind, from selfishness or empty conceit. The more I have studied the writings of secularists the more I realize their works are rubbish, useless and not worthwhile. In truth the mind of Jesus is the divine mind without any defects, flaws, and limitations of human mind. It is a destructive heresy to claim Jesus had the mind characteristic of women. In fact the mind of Jesus is not characteristic of women or men. 1Co 2:14-16, “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.”

The mind of Christ is manifested with the following attitude and attribute: Phl 2:5-11, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in Heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

2Pe 2:1-3, “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”

Mal 3:13,“Your words have been arrogant against Me,” says the LORD. “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’” The words of secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers have been arrogant against God the Almighty.

The Christian Faith is by no means of keen and dexterous logic, a mere fictitious or artificial mystery, significant only the extravagances of the ecstatic or dogmatic mind, without any significance for the saner reason. On the contrary, Christians are told to do the following: 

1Co 16:13, “Be on the alert, stand firm in the Faith, act like men, be strong.”

Rom 14:22, “The Faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.”

1Ti 3:9, “but holding to the mystery of the Faith with a clear conscience.”

2Ti 1:12-14, “For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the Faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.”

Tit 1:1-3, “Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the Faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, but at the proper time manifested, even His word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior.”

Tit 1:13, “This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the Faith.”

Jde 1:3, “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the Faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.”

Note: There is no higher or more perfect ethical standard and thought as represented by Jesus Christ who says, Mat 5:38-48, “You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in Heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Luk 6:27-36, “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Luk 23:34, “But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.” During the crucifixion, Jesus Christ practiced what He preached; for He was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

Note: Secular academics and unbelieving theologians are completely wrong to say that Jesus believes this or that. They often project their ignorance and wrong views because they do not know the Word of God and do not understand the power of God. In fact, secular academics and unbelieving theologians do not even believe God and Jesus Christ. Jesus never says that He believes this or that, or He does not believe this or that. Jesus knows, He does not need to believe or not to believe. Jesus often says, Truly, truly, I say to you. Jhn 1:47-51, “Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit! Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”  Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the Heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Jesus knows everything and all men. For example, Jesus knows the Pharisees. Luk 16:13-15, “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.” Jesus even knows the heart of man, your heart, my heart. 

Jhn 18:19-21, “Inside, the high priest began asking Jesus about his followers and what he had been teaching them. Jesus replied, “Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people gather. I have not spoken in secret. Why are you asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. They know what I said.” Jesus Christ has no hidden or secret message. Every one knows what Jesus teaches.

Jesus says to the unbelieving Jews: Jhn 5:40-42, “and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. I do not receive glory from men; but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves.”

Jesus is Omniscient, He knows the end from the beginning, and He knows every secret and hidden thing of man. This is the proof: Jhn 6:64, “But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him.”

Jhn 10:25-28, “Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”

Note: This is the eternal security of Christians. Jesus knows His sheep. Jesus’ sheep hear His voice and He knows them, and they follow Him. Jesus gives His sheep eternal life, and they will never perish. If anyone does not believe in Jesus because he is not Jesus’ sheep. If you are Jesus’ sheep, you would listen to Him, believe and follow Him.

Secular academics hold the opinion that Jesus was the tactician, not the strategist. It is funny and despicable that secular academics repeatedly and often downgrade Jesus in order to upgrade themselves, to despise Jesus in order to boast themselves. A little frog blows itself to slight the great elephant. It is like a kindergarten pupil who says her math is better and greater than that of Einstein. God says to them, 1Sa 2:3, “Boast no more so very proudly, Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth;
For the LORD is a God of knowledge,
And with Him actions are weighed.” May I remind them, it is Jesus Christ who is the Judge of the living and dead, who is going to judge their thought, word, and deed.

God warns the boastful and the wicked:

Psa 75:2-8, “When I select an appointed time,
It is I who judge with equity. The earth and all who dwell in it melt;
It is I who have firmly set its pillars. Selah. I said to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up the horn; Do not lift up your horn on high, Do not speak with insolent pride.’ For not from the east, nor from the west, nor from the desert comes exaltation; but God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another. For a cup is in the hand of the LORD, and the wine foams; it is well mixed, and He pours out of this;
surely all the wicked of the earth must drain and drink down its dregs.”

Isa 10:15, “Is the axe to boast itself over the one who chops with it?
Is the saw to exalt itself over the one who wields it?
That would be like a club wielding those who lift it,
Or like a rod lifting him who is not wood.”

Note: If a man thinks he is more rational and powerful than God, let him answer the questions cited above. 

Jer 9:23, “Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches.”

Jas 4:16, “ But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.”

Note: Secular academics and unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers often boast in their arrogance; all such boasting is evil.

Jesus Christ is so unique, so wonderful, and singularly incomparable that even the doubting Thomas, Jhn 20:24-29, “But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”  Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” The doubting Thomas acknowledged and confessed to Jesus Christ after verification, “My Lord and my God!”

An anecdote was told about an English essayist and critic. I like and understand what Charles Lamb meant when he said that if any of the heroes of literature or history should enter the room, he would rise; if this Galilean workman entered, he would kneel. If Jesus Christ should enter the room, not only I would kneel, I would bow and worship and shout loudly with joy, My Lord and my God!

No one in Heaven or on earth, and nothing takes the center stage of Christianity, but Christ Himself.

(8). Christ is the mystery of God. 

Eph 3:3-10, “that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the Body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel, of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the Church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.”

Note: Revelation in Greek is apokalypsis which means manifestation; appearance; enlightenment; laying bare; making naked; disclosure of truth; disclosure concerning things before unknown; uncovering; instruction concerning divine things before unknown; making known; – which occurs 18 times in the New Testament. I consider the Greek word apokalypsis one of the most beautiful words in the language. Paul stresses the fact that by revelation the mystery of Christ was made known to him. Christianity as the revealed religion is a mystery for God is the greatest mystery of all. For all their knowledge, secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers are wise in their own estimation, do not know the mystery of Christ. The divinity of Christ is not the product of idealization. Christianity is a mystery which reason, rational principle, science and philosophy, and human thought cannot measure or explain or fathom. The Bible mentions many mysteries by revelation as follows:

(A). God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself.

Col 2:2-3, “that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Note: Wonder of wonders, mystery of mysteries, Jesus Christ is God’s mystery. The mystery of God is Jesus Christ Himself. In Christ is hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Therefore, it is impossible to know God without knowing Jesus Christ. To know Jesus Christ is to know God. This is what Christianity is all about. Christianity is the Faith by revelation of God in Christ. The center and summary of Christianity is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the mystery of God. This knowledge of God is beyond the capacity and comprehension of any natural man, including secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers. The mysteries proclaimed in the Scriptures are not not intended for those who oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the Faith, to resolve or reduce by dialectics. If God is impenetrable, unfathomable, and unexplainable because He is beyond human mind and wisdom, so His mysteries must be also beyond capacity and capability of man, outside the very processes of the human intellect. The divinity of Christ is not the very apotheosis of the inconceivable. Luk 18:27, “But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.” The supernatural, invisible, the heavenly, spiritual, and eternal are impossible and inconceivable with men. The God of Christianity is not restricted or restrained by time, space, and limitations of man or nature. The mystery of God is neither fictitious nor artificial. There is no use for the blind to argue about the existence of sunlight all because he cannot see it. In the things of God, human mind cannot grasp them no matter how hard they try. 2Co 4:4, “in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the Image of God.” I would rather believe in Jesus Christ my Redeemer than all unbelieving scientists and philosophers of all generations put together. Why? All scientists and philosophers do not know even a little thing such as when they are going to die. My Lord Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead. Jesus Christ is coming again to judge the living and the dead, and reign with the saints for eternity.

(B). The mystery of Christ.

Eph 3:4, “ By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.”

Col 4:3, “praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the Word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned.”

Note: The Gospel is the mystery of Christ.

(C). The mystery of the Kingdom of God.

Mar 4:11, “And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the Kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables.”

(D). The mystery of the Gospel.

Rom 16:25, “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past.”

Eph 6:19, “and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel.”

(E). The mystery of God’s will.

Eph 1:9, “ He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him.”

Note: The will of God and His purpose are one.

(F). The mystery which for ages has been hidden in God.

Eph 3:9, “and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things.”

Note: The administration of God has been hidden in God.

(G). The mystery of Christ and the Church.

Eph 5:32, “ This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the Church.”

Note: The mystery of Christ and the Church is great.

(H). The mystery of Christ in you the hope of glory.

Col 1:25-27, “Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the Word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Note: The riches of the hope of glory is the mystery in Christ.

(I). The mystery of lawlessness.

2Th 2:7-12, “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that Lawless One will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.”

Note: The mystery of lawlessness is in accord with the activity of Satan.

(J). The mystery of the Faith.

1Ti 3:9, “ but holding to the mystery of the Faith with a clear conscience.”

Note: The Faith of Christianity is a mystery. For example, we Christians believe in the Trinity of God (the Holy Father, the Holy Son, and the Holy Spirit), the Infallible Word of God, Creation of the universe and mankind, Incarnation, Redemption, Resurrection, Atonement, Justification, Regeneration, Sanctification, Second Coming of Christ, the Body of Christ, Glorification, the Kingdom of Heaven, etc. — all this Christians hold to the mystery of the Faith with a clear conscience.

(K). The mystery of godliness.

1Ti 3:16, 

“By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness:
He who was revealed in the flesh,
Was vindicated in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Proclaimed among the nations,
Believed on in the world,
Taken up in glory.” 

Note: They mystery of godliness is great because it is the mystery of Christ, God manifested in the flesh. 

(L). The mystery of the seven stars.

Rev 1:20, “As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”

(M). The mystery of God.

Rev 10:7, “but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets.”

(N). The mystery Babylon the great.

Rev 17:5, “and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”

(O). The mystery of the woman and of the beast.

Rev 17:7, “And the angel said to me, “Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.”

(P). The Mystery of Resurrection.

1Co 15:50-57, “Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Note: This is the mystery of the redemption of the body (new body) which all Christians aspire to. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. In other words, our human body cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Our natural body is unfit for Heaven. When Jesus returns to earth, those who are asleep in Christ will rise first and will be transformed into spiritual, immortal and glorious body, not by dialectical process, but by the power of God. How beautiful and powerful that the mortal must put on immortality, and the perishable will have put on the imperishable! Death is swallowed up in victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Those who are still alive at the coming of Christ will be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, into glorious, spiritual and immortal body to meet the Lord in the space.

(9). The Gospel is the power of God for salvation.

Rom 1:16-17, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”

Note: The Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile. In the Gospel the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. From faith to faith means it begins with faith and ends with faith, complete by faith. A man is saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; that is the meaning of the Gospel of Christ.

2Co 4:4, “in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the Image of God.”

Note: No matter how intelligent secular academics and unbelieving theologians are, their minds have been blinded by the god of this world (the devil) so that they might not see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ. All Christians believe Christ is the Image of God.

Eph 3:6, “to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the Body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.”

Note: They mystery of the Gospel is the fact that the Gentile and Jewish believers are fellow heirs and fellow members of the Body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.

Literary analysis does not enable anyone to discover a primary and a seconday stratum in the Gospels. There are no primary and secondary stratum in the Gospels. The following Scriptures cited below indicate the primary standard requirements of those who preach the Gospel and of  those who believe the Gospel: 

Act 14:15, “and saying,  “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the Gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM.”

Act 15:7, “After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the Word of the Gospel and believe.” 

Note: It is the choice of God that the Gentiles would hear the Word of the Gospel and believe.

Act 20:24, “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the Gospel of the grace of God.”

Rom 1:9, “For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the Gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you.”

Note: The Gospel all Christians believe is the Gospel of the Son of God.

Rom 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

Rom 2:16, “on the day when, according to my Gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.”

Rom 15:18-19, “For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the Gospel of Christ.”

Rom 16:25-27, “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.”

1Co 1:17-18, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the Gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void. For the Word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

Note: To secular academics and unbelieving theologians who pride themselves in cleverness of speech, dialectic of thought, the analytic process of literary and historical criticism, higher and lower criticism, the Word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. But to Christians who are being saved the Gospel is the power of God. 

1Co 9:23, “I do all things for the sake of the Gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.”

Note: Sadly but truly, there are many in America who do all things to merchandise the Gospel for money, especially the preachers and followers of prosperity gospel which is a false gospel.

1Co 15:1-8, “Now I make known to you, brethren, the Gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the Word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.”

Note: The Scriptures cited above provide the essential and summary substance of the Four Gospels as it is written. It is the Gospel which all Christians received, by which also we are saved, and hold fast the Word.

2Co 4:3, “And even if our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.”

Note: Significantly but strangely the Gospel is veiled to those who pride themselves as the intelligentsia (secularists, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers), who are enemies of the cross, and who are perishing. Why? 2Co 4:4, “in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the Image of God.”

Jhn 20:30-31, “Therefore many other miracles Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”

Note: All the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

2Co 11:3-4, “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.”

Gal 1:7-9, “which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the Gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!”

Note: I have studied some of the works of secular academics and unbelieving theologians apparently and evidently they disturb true believers and distort the Gospel of Christ. It is a waste of time and effort and not worthwhile to read their writings which are contrary to the Gospel of Christ. According to the Scripture, they are accursed and their works are accursed.

Gal 1:11-12, “For I would have you know, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Note: The Gospel is not according to man, it was received through a revelation of Jesus Christ; for that reason, secularists fail to understand.

Gal 2:5, “But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the Gospel would remain with you.”

Note: Christians must not yield in subjection to secular academics and unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers for even a minute, so that the truth of the Gospel would remain pure and full.

Eph 1:13, “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the Gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise.”

Note: Secular academics and unbelieving theologians reject the message of truth, the Gospel of our salvation. Since they not believe, they are not saved, and they do not have the Holy Spirit in them, probably instead they have the evil spirit which inspires them to distort the Gospel.

Phl 1:7, “For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.”

Note: All true preachers suffer in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel. Paul died and did not leave an estate of $10 million dollars.

Phl 1:27, “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the Faith of the Gospel.”

Note: Both preachers and believers must conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ. Christians everywhere are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the Faith of the Gospel.

Col 1:5, “because of the hope laid up for you in Heaven, of which you previously heard in the Word of truth, the Gospel.”

Note: The Gospel is the Word of truth. All believers have the hope laid up for us in Heaven. Christians are citizens of Heaven.

Col 1:23, “if indeed you continue in the Faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under Heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.”

Note: All Christians continue in the Faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Gospel.

1Th 1:5, “for our Gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.”

Note: The Gospel comes not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. The reason some local churches are declining and dying because the ministers speak empty words that put the congregation to sleep and without power in the Holy Spirit and without full conviction. I recall one minister proudly announced that he was just back from Denmark where he was trained in social work!

1Th 2:4, “but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.”

Note: I recall in America one minister pleasing men so much and invented many sly and sleek slogans, one of them is Something good is going to happen to you! It is like the message of Chinese fortune cookies after dining at a Chinese restaurant.

2Th 1:7-10, “and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.”

Note: This may be the primary and secondary stratum in the Gospels: When the Lord Jesus reveals from Heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, He will deal out retribution those who do not know God and to those who do not obey but distort the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. They include secular academics and unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers will pay the penalty of eternal destruction.

2Ti 1:10, “but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.”

Note: All who believe in Jesus Christ our Savior will receive eternal life and immortality.

Rev 14:6-7, “And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal Gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the Heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.”

Note: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the eternal Gospel. Let Christians everywhere fear God and give Him glory. No history, universal or secular, can compare to the history of the Gospels. Every person mentioned in the Bible was a historical person. Every place mentioned in the Bible was a real geographical place. Every event took place in the Bible was a real historical event. The miracles Jesus performed were seen in the public with large crowds so much so that the Jewish establishment was so afraid because people have gone to Jesus. Jesus’ supernatural birth, His sacrificial and vicarious death, His bodily resurrection, and His ascension seen by His disciples were firsthand eyewitnesses of these historical facts, not what the authors of the Gospels ascribed to Him. They were not imaginations, touched by the enthusiasm of an all-believing love became creative. Historical facts are not created by imaginations. At first the disciples did not believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ until they confirmed it by facts and personal experiences, and that they had the very power to distinguish things that actually had happened which they saw with their own eyes and heard with their own ears and experienced them personally. What Jesus preached and performed were not the idealism of the disciples’ dreams mingled with realities. Act 2:32-33, “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.” Act 5:32, “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Act 10:38-43, “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” 2Pe 1:16-18, “For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”—and we ourselves heard this utterance made from Heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.” 

The credibility and integrity of the holy apostles and early disciples with their ears and eyes have more value than the speculations and guesswork of all secular academics and unbelieving theologians of all generations put together. It is not unscientific to identify Jesus Christ with Deity because science has no knowledge of God and much less the power of God or the knowledge of the Word of God.

(10). God does not have any problems or difficulties.

God does not have any problems or difficulties, real or imaginary. The study of nature cannot be the means of unfolding, explicating, and defining the contents of the idea of God; the study of history does not develop, amplify and explain the conception of Christ. God is true, He is not an idea. Christ is true, He is not a conception. God does not need a dexterous logician with strong intellect to prove His existence any more than the sun needs a blind man to prove the existence of sunlight. God Himself is the supreme arbiter, the Ultimate Reality, not reason or human thought. Unbelieving scientists try to make reason a god. Nature is created by God, not related to God. God does not need Augustine or Aquinas to have their thought transcended or reconciled in some higher synthesis. Rational logic and analytical criticism have no value or worth in the truth of Christ just as a cup is useless to measure the ocean or an ameba to understand humanity. The Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient God declares Himself, Exo 3:14, “God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Rev 1:8, “I AM the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” No one Who Is and Who was and Who is to come except God the eternal.

Jesus Christ does not need to be fitted into the scheme of things of secular academics and unbelieving theologians. No naturalism can explain or understand how God became Man in Jesus Christ, born of a Virgin Mary, performed all sorts of miracles including raising Lazarus who had been dead four days, healing every kind of diseases, casting out demons and evil spirits, died on the cross for sinners, rose from the dead by the power of God, ascended back to Heaven in daylight, and He is coming again to judge the living and the dead, and reign with the saints forever and ever in the Kingdom of Heaven. It does not bother me if secular academics and unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers do not believe. Jesus says, Jhn 8:45,“But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.” 2Th 2:10-12, “and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.” 

A god who has problems is not true God. God is not like man who has problems of unlimited kinds. The God of the Bible is free, independent, all-powerful, all-wise, sovereign, unlimited, Self-Existent, Eternal, without any restriction or difficulty. God is not thwarted by anyone, anything or any force, any event, time or space. Nothing is impossible with God.

Those who do not believe in Christ will perish for the deception of wickedness, for not receiving the love of the truth so as to be saved. If you have studied the writings and works of secularists and unbelieving theologians, it is apparent and clear that they are having a deluding influence and taking pleasure in wickedness and falsehood. I would rather believe in the real and historical character and true nature of Jesus Christ than the deluded and deceived intellect of all unbelieving scholars and theologians of all generations put together. They have perished and they will perish, but my Redeemer lives forever.

(A). God is not interested in secular politics and does not have political attributes.

The world has only secular politics, there is no such a thing called Christian politics. Politics has to do with administration and distribution of national resources, power and wealth, law and order, and system or form of government. It is blasphemous to suggest that God has political attributes. God has no concern at all with political life and He is not interested in corrupt politics of men. Although it is true that God decided the destiny of the kings and empires. How God dealt with King Nebuchadnezzar is a classical example. (Dan Chapter 2.) The word “politics” does not occur in the Bible. The word “political” occurs twice in the Bible only in the Old Testament. 2Ch 1:2, “Solomon called together all the leaders of Israel—the generals and captains of the army, the judges, and all the political and clan leaders.” Jer 2:36, “Why do you constantly go about changing your political allegiances? You will get no help from Egypt just as you got no help from Assyria.” Christianity is not considered to have the essential traits and implications of tribal or group-religion. It is blasphemous to impute the attributes to God that relate Him directly to the political life of the people. There is no where in the Bible to indicate that God is interested in politics or the political life of the sons of Israel who rejected theocracy and embraced the rule of a king. The illustration of the vital interaction between religion and politics in ancient Greece is not worth mentioning because it has no relation to Judaism or Christianity. To equate the political interests of Athena and Zeus with the God of the Bible is sheer nonsense and vain speculation.

Some American church members are so outrageous and outlandish and even blasphemous that they suppose Jesus Christ would be interested in the corrupt and dirty American politics. The American democracy is ruled by 1 percent of the population at the expense of 99 percent. The system of government which makes 1 percent of the population who owns most of the power and wealth. They often ask inappropriately, How would Jesus vote and whom He will vote for? Iniquity upon iniquity, would Jesus Christ vote for any American leaders who have been liars, killers, and robbers since the beginning of the nation and more brazenly since the end of World War II, who killed millions and millions of innocent peoples around the world in hundreds of wars of aggression and bloody military interventions which created millions and millions of refugees who live in abject poverty? The current American leaders who have military bases all over the world to encircle and target Russia and China under false pretenses of threat and in order to maintain American and European domination and dictatorship in the world. Where in the world there exists truly a nation which has LIBERTY, PROSPERITY, EQUALITY, SECURITY, and CIVILITY? If you find one, please let me know.

Mat 20:25-28, “But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.“ It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Here lies the Christian attitude toward politics. Jesus says, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. The governance of the Church is not like the governments of the world. The rulers of the Gentile nations (even Israel today is a secular nation) lord it over them, and their great men (leaders like president, prime minister, etc.) exercise authority over them. This does not mean Jesus Christ endorses the forms of the government in this world (be it authoritarian, dictatorial, democratic, socialistic, or communistic). Jesus Christ is indifferent to the nations and governments of the world. For Jesus says, Jhn 18:36, “Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My Kingdom is not of this realm.” The Kingdom of Jesus is not of this world, not of this realm. Jesus had no reason or expectation to envisage His followers in political office at all.

The Kingdom of Jesus is unlike the kingdom or empire of any nation. There is no such a thing called the Christian nation. American and European nations are not Christian nations; they are unchristian and secular nations. Mat 4:8-10, “Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’” Luk 4:5-7, “And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.“ Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.”

Note: Ironically, you may not know, that all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, all this domain and its glory, has been handed over to the devil, and he can give it to whomever he wished. The devil is the present ruler of the world. The devil offers all the kingdoms of the world and their glory to tempt Jesus to fall down and worship the devil. Jesus rebuked the devil and said, “Go, Satan. For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only! Perhaps you may not know: Jhn 12:31,“Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” Jhn 16:11, “and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.” 1Jo 5:19, “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” Some leaders are so proud and arrogant, but they do not realized actually they are under the influence of the evil one. They are running dogs of Satan.

Dan 6:26, “I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; For He is the living God and enduring forever,
And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed,
And His dominion will be forever.” 

Note: Even Darius the king had to admit the Kingdom of God is one which will not be destroyed, and His dominion will be forever. Rev 11:15, “Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in Heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” The days are coming when all the kingdoms of the world will become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. 

What should be the Christian attitude toward politics?

Eph 2:19, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household.”

Note: First and foremost, Christians are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household.

Phl 1:27, “Above all, you must live as citizens of Heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the Faith, which is the Good News.”

Note: Secondly, Christians must live as citizen of Heaven, not as citizens of evil empire or warmongering nation. Christians conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Christians are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the Faith, which is the Good News or the Gospel.

Phl 3:20, “But we are citizens of Heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior.”

Note: Last but not least, Christians are citizen of Heaven and we are eagerly waiting for Jesus Christ to return as our Savior. The preaching of the Gospel and the eagerly waiting for Jesus Christ to return are the two main tasks of every Christian, not the politics of any nation.

The Lord does not approve the use of violence even for a good cause. Mat 26:51-52, “And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.” Europe in the last 500 years and later America have from the beginning took up the sword to kill and rob many nations and peoples in the world. What is worst they did it in the name of Christendom (which does not exist) and under the false pretense of democracy, human rights, freedom, independence, justice, etc. Even today America and its allies still take up the sword to maintain the status quo of world domination and dictatorship. But the Word of Jesus stands: All those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. Warmongering America and Europe may start a nuclear war that will destroy the whole world.

A white secularist remarked that a sense of responsibility for the continuance of a social system is basic to any morality. Oh boy, the morality of Western civilization is the frightening destruction and injustice, havoc and cruelty, oppression and exploitation in the world. In the last 500 years or more what European and later American imperialists and colonialists have done to the social and economic and political system in the world are not only writing on the wall, it is an open book of travesty, iniquity, abnormality, absurdity, immorality, cruelty, brutality, atrocity, criminality, corruptibility, debility, destructibility, and depravity. During the infamous Opium Wars alone, Great Britain, France, Germany, the United States, Japan, Russia, etc. had robbed and looted China’s national treasures worth at least at market value of US$100,000 trillion dollars, not counting interest, and not counting the total loss and destruction of Yuan Ming Garden. You can find the robbed and looted priceless national treasures and antiques of China in British Museum, Smithsonian Institution, the Louvre, the royal palaces, public and private museums of many European nations, Japan, Russia, etc. 

Since the end of World War II the United States and its allies had lied, robbed and killed millions of innocent peoples around the world in hundreds of unjust wars of aggression and oppression and bloody military interventions that created millions of refugees and more millions of displaced peoples living in abject poverty and misery. Western mass media continue daily and habitually make fake news, fake reports, and fake views and spread lies to smear and tarnish nations and peoples they do not like and act as agents for their aggressive and oppressive governments under the false banners of democracy, human rights, freedom, independence, and justice.

God has the absolute power, there is no other absolute power. Christianity survives the onslaught of the forces of darkness. The Church that Jesus builds is upon the Rock of Himself, and the gates of Hades cannot overpower it. Jesus wants to make a separation between the Church and the government of nations. Mar 12:17, “And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at Him.” Because His Kingdom is not of this world, not of this realm.

Rom 13:1-7, “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”

Note: In the last days we face with the phenomenon unusual and abnormal: There is authority not established by God, in fact established by evil. A clear example, the Washington, Wall Street, Hollywood, military-industrial-security complex are evil. There are rulers who are a cause for evil. There are leaders and officials who are not ministers of God for good. There are rulers who are not servants of God, but agents of the devil. Yet, the Lord never advocates revolution to overthrow the evil Roman empire. Jhn 14:30, “I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.” The ruler of the world is already in the world. Eph 2:2, “in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.” The Bible does not advocate a course of political action to overthrow the prince of the power of the air. 1Jo 5:19-20, “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” We know Washington, Wall Street, Hollywood, military-industrial-security complex, Islamic terrorists, etc. lie in the power of the evil one who is the devil. The Bible does not command Christians to organize resistance of the evil. We know the Son of God is true, and we are in Him who is true. This is the true God and eternal life. The Gospel is the greatest concern of all Christians, not political world affairs. This is the Christian attitude toward politics collectively.

Act 5:27-32, “When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as the Prince and the Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Note: This is the truth in Christ. Individually, Christian are witnesses of the Savior and obey Him. We must obey God rather than men, no matter what authorities and governments say or do. 

This following Scripture is the promise of Lord to the churches:

Rev 3:9-13, “Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of Heaven from My God, and My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Note: The last message of Jesus Christ to all Christians: I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

Christianity does not belong to any country or government, and refuses to be recognized by any nation or government.

(B). God gave Moses the best and perfect law.

The old-world view of God as the legislator of a political body is not true and irreverent. God is never the legislator, God makes and gives laws and commandments. To compare God with the lawless and immoral legislators of the warmongering nation that pass illegal extraterritorial laws governing other nations and territories to violate their sovereignty under any pretext is a blasphemy of highest order. The legislative body needs the consensus of a majority to pass or enact a law. God makes and gives law does not require the consensus of anybody. A legislative body can only legally makes laws for its own nation and people, not extraterritorial covering other nations and peoples. The law may be divided into moral law and ceremonial or religious law.

Gen 26:4-5,“I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because Abraham obeyed Me and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws.”

Note: God says and blesses Abraham because he obeyed God and kept His charge, His commandments, His statutes and His laws.

Exo 24:12, “Now the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandment which I have written for their instruction.”

Note: In the Old Testament there are many laws for specific occasions or reasons, such as the law for the burnt offering, the law of the grain offering, the law of the sin offering, the law of the guilt offering, the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, etc. may be called ceremonial law. Above all, God has written the law and the commandment for the instruction of the children of Israel; not only for instruction, but also for observance.

Lev 26:46, “These are the statutes and ordinances and laws which the LORD established between Himself and the sons of Israel through Moses at Mount Sinai.”

Note: The statutes and ordinances and laws which the Lord established between Himself and the sons of Israel through Moses at Mount Sinai are written in the Books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Exo 18:15-16, “Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. When they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

Note: In ancient time when the sons of Israel came to Moses to inquire of God, when they had a dispute, Moses judged between a man and his neighbor and made known the statutes of God and His laws. Israel was governed by the statutes of God and His laws.

Exo 18:20-22, “then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.”

Note: The Scripture cited above explains the purpose of God’s statutes and laws to make known to the children of Israel the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. The father-in-law of Moses Jethro gave wise counsels to Moses in establishing the principle and requirements of selecting out leaders and judges: they must be able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain. It is shocking when you compare them with the leaders and legislators of so-called democratic nations which Western powers are so proud of today. These leaders are able only to enrich and serve themselves, without fear of God, men and women of lies and falsehoods, and who love dishonest gain!

Neh 9:13, “Then You came down on Mount Sinai,
And spoke with them from Heaven;
You gave them just ordinances and true laws,
Good statutes and commandments.”

Note: God spoke with the sons of Israel from Heaven, gave them just ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments. In comparison which nation under the sun that has just ordinances and true laws, good statutes and fair regulations? The so-called democratic Western nations are kidnapped and hamstrung by the rich and powerful to make laws and regulations which benefit themselves at the expense of the majority. Some immoral and shameless leaders of Western nations even make illegal laws to castrate and oppress and violate the sovereignty of other nations under the false pretense of the rule of law and human rights! For example, the powerful gun lobby controls the congress so that there is no gun control law, and so guns are in greater number than population and easily available so that violence is the way of American life and peoples are killed and shot dead every day without end. The American legal system greatly benefits crooks and criminals, lawyers and prosecutors, legal professionals, courts and judges, at the expense of the public.

Exo 12:49, “The same law shall apply to the native as to the stranger who sojourns among you.”

Note: The law means the body of all God’s laws apply to the native as to the stranger who sojourns among the children of Israel. There is to be one law and one ordinance for sons of Israel and for the alien who sojourns with them. It seems to say there should not be discrimination of law against aliens or strangers. God forbids discrimination from the beginning. There are all sorts of discrimination practiced today in America, including racial discrimination, gender discrimination, job discrimination, pay discrimination, housing discrimination, education discrimination, welfare discrimination, etc. Affirmative Action is an unjust legal form of discrimination where a racial group receives special treatment and privileges under the law.

Exo 13:9,“And it shall serve as a sign to you on your hand, and as a reminder on your forehead, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth; for with a powerful hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt.”

Note: The law of the Lord may be in your mouth means you shall talk about it. Jos 1:8, “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”

There is law regarding the animal and the bird, and every living thing that moves in the waters and everything that swarms on the earth. There is law for woman who bears a child, whether a male or a female. 

There is law of leprosy: law for the mark of leprosy in a garment of wool or linen, whether in the warp or in the woof, or in any article of leather, for pronouncing it clean or unclean; law of the leper in the day of his cleansing; law for him in whom there is an infection of leprosy, whose means are limited for his cleansing; law for any mark of leprosy—even for a scale, to teach when they are unclean and when they are clean. 

There is law for the one with a discharge, and for the man who has a seminal emission so that he is unclean by it.

There is the law of jealousy: when a wife, being under the authority of her husband, goes astray and defiles herself, or when a spirit of jealousy comes over a man and he is jealous of his wife, he shall then make the woman stand before the LORD, and the priest shall apply all this law to her.

There is the law of the Nazirite when the days of his separation are fulfilled, he shall bring the offering to the doorway of the tent of meeting.

There is the law of the Nazirite who vows his offering to the LORD according to his separation, in addition to what else he can afford; according to his vow which he takes, so he shall do according to the law of his separation.

There is the law when a man dies in a tent: everyone who comes into the tent and everyone who is in the tent shall be unclean for seven days.

Deu 4:8-9, “Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today? Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.”

Note: Moses was challenging the sons of Israel with the question what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law (the law of God also known as the law of Moses)? What nation has the Ten Commandments which are the basis of all human laws of all nations. God gave Moses the Law whereby the Jewish nation and people must abide and whereby judges must deliver just decisions.

Jos 22:5, “Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Note: This is the greatest commandment to love the Lord and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

1Ki 2:3, “Keep the charge of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn.”

Note: The Scripture cited above is the last word of David to his son Solomon, or his last advice.

2Ki 17:13, “Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah through all His prophets and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments, My statutes according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you through My servants the prophets.”

Note: The Scripture cited above sums up the central message of the Lord to Israel and Judah through all His prophets and every seer from generation to generation.

(C). The nature and character of the law of the Lord.

Psa 19:7, “The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”

Rom 7:12, “So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.”

Rom 7:14, “For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.”

Rom 7:16, “But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good.”

1Ti 1:8, “But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully.”

Note: The law of the Lord is perfect, holy, spiritual, and good. Where can you find the law of any nation which perfect, holy, spiritual and good? For instance, is there anything better than the Ten Commandments which are the basis of all human laws in the world? Where can you find a legal system of any nation which is perfect, holy, spiritual and good?

(D). Theocracy versus Democracy.

The idea of the god-king or the semi-divine ruler was not supported by the Law of God. At first the Jewish nation practiced theocracy where God-King was a reality. Theocracy cannot succeed when the people rebelled and disobeyed the law of God. Since the sons of Israel rejected theocracy, they embraced the one-king rule. The king was never god-king or the semi-divine ruler. Even during the reign of the great king David, the king was assisted and advised by the prophet and the priest. The prophet was not afraid of the king when the king sinned as illustrated by 2Sa 12:7-15, “Nathan then said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul. I also gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these! Why have you despised the word of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own household; I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun.’”Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has taken away your sin; you shall not die.“ However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die.” So Nathan went to his house. Then the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s widow bore to David, so that he was very sick.”

Note: Even in the New Testament, the great John the Baptist was not afraid of king Herod when he took the wife of his brother Philip. Consequently, the head of the great prophet John the Baptist was worth half a kingdom. Mat 14:3-12, “For when Herod had John arrested, he bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. For John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded John as a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Having been prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” Although he was grieved, the king commanded it to be given because of his oaths, and because of his dinner guests. He sent and had John beheaded in the prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. His disciples came and took away the body and buried it; and they went and reported to Jesus.” Mar 6:21-24, “A strategic day came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his lords and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee; and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom.” And she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.”

Since the beginning Jesus Christ put a demarcation and separation between the secular and the spiritual, between Caesar and God. Mar 12:15-17, “Shall we pay or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.” They brought one. And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at Him.” As a citizen of Rome, you have to fulfil certain responsibility. As a child of God, you obey the will of God. When the secular violates the spiritual, what shall Christians do? 

Act 5:27-29, “When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.” When any government forces and orders you not to preach Jesus Christ, We must obey God rather than men. Here lies the root cause of persecution and even death or martyrdom. Christianity from its inception practices the severance and separation between secular politics and the Faith. The Church must not participate or engage in corrupt, dirty, and immoral politics.

The so-called recognition of the political character and interests of the divinity in the belief that God inspires the leaders of a kingdom or state with wise counsel is not supported by the Scriptures. God has made known His law and will, it is up to the leaders of kingdoms or nations to obey and follow. Judaism or Christianity is not a humanitarian religion, it is divine. It does not mean Christianity is inhuman like an evil religion. The central person of Christianity is Jesus Christ, not man. Jesus Christ is the only religious leader who says, Love your enemy. The Catholic Church did not escape from the bondage of the Sacred Books, on the contrary the Catholic Church committed apostasy and was corrupted by deviation and disobedience from the Holy Scriptures. The Church of England liturgy hypocritically contains the prayer uttered during the session of Parliament that God will direct their counsels to righteousness and His glory. By the way the Bible does not recognize any liturgy, liturgy is made by men. There is no Christian liturgy. The British Empire was among the most evil, immoral, unrighteous and un-Christian empires which had done so much evil in the world. The British Empire lied, killed, and robbed the resources of its conquered colonies in Asia and Africa so much so to enrich themselves beyond measure. The infamous Opium Wars certainly did not reflect the righteousness and glory of God. In fact, in the last 500 years or more European powers and later America have lied, killed, and robbed and have done more evil and atrocities and iniquities than all other empires and kingdoms in the history of mankind. The modern politics of Western nations has never been responsible and righteous, but maintains itself in sordidness of their imperial policy of aggression and oppression, the presence of tragic catastrophes, calamities and agonies of many unjust wars of aggression and expansion, coupled with the depressing and deadly milieu of immorality, cruelty, meanness, inhumanity, injustice and intrigue. It is certainly not divine providence that Europe and America have distorted and disgraced Christianity. Democracy as represented by Western (Europe and America) nations are the most atrocious and fallacious and vicious form of government where 1 percent of the population rules over the 99 percent of population. And 1 percent of the ruling population owns most of the power and wealth. Democracy is the worse form of government because it pretends to be what it is not, kidnapped by special interests, power in the hands of the few, and enriches the 1 percent of the population at the expense of the majority. The proof: America the so-called oldest and largest democracy is useless and most corrupt, immoral and totally dysfunctional, on top of it which is warmongering and violent having the largest national debt in the world.

The conception of the divine right of kings does not apply to secular nations of secular kings. David the great king over the house of Judah and over the house of Israel was the exception. David had the divine right of being king because he was appointed and anointed by God. Today no nation and no king can claim the divine right of king.

To call democracy a modern freedom force or a moral religious ideal is a repugnant hypocrisy of the highest order. God never and does not rule by democracy. The sovereignty of God is absolute and non-negotiable. Dan 2:44, “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand for ever.” The Kingdom which God will set up is the Kingdom of Heaven, its sovereignty is eternal. God will break and destroy the nations of the world in pieces, and all the kingdoms and states of this world will come to an end, and only the Kingdom of God shall stand for ever. There is no such a thing called national soul.

The idea that as a rule God approves war or takes pleasure in war is mistaken. Exo 13:17, “Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” God does not like people to see war. Historically, Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim. Exo 17:13-14, “So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under Heaven.” God hated warmonger Amalek so much so that He would utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under Heaven. America the warmonger is the modern Amalek, who knows God will utterly blot out the memory of America from under Heaven.

Num 10:9-10, “When you go to war in your land against the adversary who attacks you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the LORD your God, and be saved from your enemies. Also in the day of your gladness and in your appointed feasts, and on the first days of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be as a reminder of you before your God. I am the LORD your God.” In the event that the adversary attacks Israel, Israel shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that Israel may be remembered before the Lord God, and be saved from the enemies. God clearly prefers peace.

Deu 2:9, “Then the LORD said to me, ‘Do not harass Moab, nor provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, because I have given Ar to the sons of Lot as a possession.” God told Israel not to harass Moab, nor provoke them to war. America and its allies have harassed other nations and provoke them to war since the end of World War II. America under false pretense continuously and consistently harasses and oppresses Russia and China, and provokes them to war. Eventually America and its allies Europe, NATO, Britain, Canada, Australia, Japan, etc. may trigger a nuclear war that will destroy the whole world.

Deu 4:34,“Or has a god tried to go to take for himself a nation from within another nation by trials, by signs and wonders and by war and by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm and by great terrors, as the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?” Historically, the Scripture cited above sums up God through various means including war to save Israel in Egypt. However, throughout the Jewish history God prefers to make peace than to make war.

1Ch 5:20-22, “They were helped against them, and the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hand; for they cried out to God in the battle, and He answered their prayers because they trusted in Him. They took away their cattle: their 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys; and 100,000 men. For many fell slain, because the war was of God. And they settled in their place until the exile.”

Note: There may be time when the war was of God as cited in the Scripture above. God may use wars to destroy wicked nations and peoples.

Psa 144:1, “A Psalm of David.
Blessed be the LORD, my Rock,
Who trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle.”

Note: In the life experience of king David, he had to fight many wars with the Philistines to defend Israel. God is his Rock, who trains his hands for war, and his fingers for battle. Remember, God helped David to kill Goliath the giant of Philistine.

Isa 42:13, “The LORD will go forth like a warrior,
He will arouse His zeal like a man of war.
He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry.
He will prevail against His enemies.”

Note: When it is necessary, the Lord will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yer, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies. The nation of Israel is surrounded by its hostile enemies. Have no fear if God is on the side of Israel. Peace be upon Israel. God will prevail against His enemies. God will prevail against the nuclear shield and nuclear weapons of His enemies.

Rev 12:7-12, “And there was war in Heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in Heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the Word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. For this reason, rejoice, O Heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”

Note: The first war took place in Heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world, was thrown down to the earth. For that reason the devil is the present ruler of the world. The devil has only a short time, for Jesus Christ is coming to judge the world and reign with the saints forever and ever.

Rev 17:14, “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”

Note: The beast and his followers will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings. The called and chosen and faithful are Christians with Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. There is the most profane and provocative claim by Western warmongers who think they are on the side of the King of kings and Lord of lords, but in fact they are on the side of the beast who is the serpent of old, the dragon who is called the devil and Satan.

Isa 2:4, “And He will judge between the nations,
And will render decisions for many peoples;
And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
And never again will they learn war.”

Mic 4:3, “And He will judge between many peoples
And render decisions for mighty, distant nations.
Then they will hammer their swords into plowshares
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
And never again will they train for war.”

Note: The Scriptures cited above provide a most beatific and beautiful vision of the Kingdom of Heaven when Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace reigns with the saints. Psa 72:5-9, “Let them fear You while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. May He come down like rain upon the mown grass, like showers that water the earth. In His days may the righteous flourish, and abundance of peace till the moon is no more. May He also rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. Let the nomads of the desert bow before Him, and His enemies lick the dust.” The days are coming when the enemies of Christ will lick the dust!

Isa 9:7, “There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over His Kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.”

Isa 55:12, “For You will go out with joy
And be led forth with peace;
The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before You, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”

Isa 66:12-13, “For thus says the LORD, “Behold, I extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream;
and you will be nursed, you will be carried on the hip and fondled on the knees.“As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you;
and you will be comforted in Jerusalem.”

Note: The Scripture cited above provides a glimpse of the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, where peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like a overflowing stream.

(E). The fallacy that God is the author and source of our thoughts.

The idea that God is the source and author of our thoughts and moods is at least fallacious and irresponsible, and at most a dangerous and perilous doctrine. Gen 6:5-7, “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.” The secularists must be sick and insane to claim that God is the author of every intent of the thoughts of man’s heart is only evil continually. The great wickedness of man on earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually was the reason that God was grieved in His heart and the Lord wanted to blot out man from the face of the land. Deluge (the flood of Noah) became God’s solution. The intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth (Gen 8:21). Gen 50:20, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” Joseph learned the great truth that man may mean evil, but God means it for good by making all things work together for good. Man by nature is prone to evil. Exo 32:22, “Aaron said,“Do not let the anger of my lord burn; you know the people yourself, that they are prone to evil.” Luk 6:45, “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.” The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good is like a good tree bears good fruit. The evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth what is evil is like a bad tree bears bad fruit. 

Mar 7:20-23, “And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.” Jesus Christ provides the etiology of evil things coming out of the evil heart of men.

Mencius a Chinese philosopher said, “In the beginning man was good.” God made man originally was good. Since the fall of man, man is by nature evil. Jesus is the final and ultimate authority on the nature of man. Mat 12:34, “You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.” Mar 10:18, “And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.” Jesus is good because He is God. Even Apostle Paul admitted, Rom 7:18-21, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.” Flesh is by nature sin which dwells in man. For that reason, a man must be born again by the Spirit. Jhn 3:5-6, “Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Water refers to the Word of God. Thus, far from it that God is the author of evil. The devil is the origin of evil. The most illustrious example is Judas the traitor. Jhn 13:2, “During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him.” The devil implanted in Judas an evil thought or imagination. Although the devil put into the heart of Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus, it does not mean that Judas is not responsible. For Jesus says, Mar 14:21, “For the Son of Man is to go just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” By the same token Hitler cannot claim innocent because the devil put in his heart to kill six million Jews, and the Japanese military killed 35 million Chinese, and American leaders killed millions and millions of innocent peoples around the world since the end of World War II. Everyone is responsible for his sins, and dies in his sins if he does not repent and believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God and the Savior of mankind. Jas 1:13-17, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” Without doubt or dispute, evil comes from the devil. Every good thing comes down from the Father of lights.

(F). The evil and injustice exist in the world.

Evil is a mystery, and it originates from the devil. The devil is also mystery. Why did Lucifer sin and became a fallen angel and the devil? Injustice is practically the result of evil deeds of men. Since the fall of man, the world has been cursed. Sin brings sorrows, tribulations, and death. The mission of the Church is not to change the world, but to save souls. Social reform is good, philanthropy or charity is good. But the main task of the Church is not social work, not political action, but the preaching of Jesus Christ and waiting eagerly for the return of Jesus Christ to be King of kings and Lord of lords.

There are uninformed and untrained people who think the existence of evil deeds and injustice in the world are the problems of God. These unbelieving academics think that God must be like Apolo who contributed much to the development of criminal law and assisted in relieving society from the tyranny of the blood-feud. They think the theocratic society of the Hebrew was seriously erroneous because it was not eminently secular. It is like the dummkopf who thinks poison was nutritious while the dog feces is delicious and fragrant. The social and political life of man does naturally engender the view that all human history is the working-out of God’s will. Jesus Christ never advocated revolution to overthrow the evil Roman Empire. 

Luk 3:10-14, “And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “Then what shall we do?” And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.” And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”  And he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.” Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.” The Scripture cited above is what John the Baptist tells the crowds what they should do. John the Baptist did not tell the soldiers to overthrow the corrupt Roman government. Western politicians and officials would do well if they heed the advice of John the Baptist, do not take money from anyone by force. Western governments today are kidnapped by powerful moneyed interests to serve the military-industrial-security complex. Do not accuse anyone falsely. Under the flawed American legal system, the wicked can accuse anyone falsely with immunity from prosecution. Once the Los Angeles Daily picked up my name from the phone book and sent it to a collection agency with the false charge that I subscribed their daily without payment. If I do not pay, they threaten to ruin my credit. Luckily, a colleague of mine was a lawyer who represented me without charge and called Los Angeles Daily that I never subscribed their paper and owe them nothing. So the Los Angeles Daily management apologized and dropped the charge with impunity. It would be fine if all politicians and officials be content with their wages. That is not the case of so-called democracy. Most American presidents and high ranking officials who were not rich before automatically became multimillionaires after holding their offices on account of their previous positions and political connections and political influence.

All human history only indicates rebellion and disobedience to the will of God. God is working and events are marching toward the end of the world and culmination of the scheme of things. The whole universe is geared up for the Millennium to be established by Jesus Christ.

Some scholars must be deluded and deceived to surmise the so-called splendor of the old monarchies and empires, which colored and heightened men’s imagination of the deity and the divine attributes, with magnificent celestial court, the ineffable majesty, the hopeful belief of the people in the benevolence and compassionateness of the king as the shepherd of his people, and the august phrase bequeathed to us from the old social order. There is no such a thing called Christendom. Western imperial and colonial powers in the last 500 years or more have done so much evil in the world are certainly not the working-out of God’s will. In fact the domination and dictatorship of America and Europe may trigger a nuclear war that will destroy the whole world. The history of kingdoms and empires were filled with wicked, savage and self-indulgent kings and emperors of the lowest immoral order. Even today some leaders of nations boldly practice beheading believers of other religion and live in luxury, cruelty, adultery and sexual immorality.

Since God gave man free will, man is held responsible for doing good or evil. Man has a choice. Man may choose life or death, good or evil. The human history is the drama of human voluntary agents acting freely for good or for evil. God will judge the deed, word, and thought of everyone. There is a judgment day when the Lord Jesus will judge the living and the dead. God does not settle accounts with men here and now. When Eve succumbed to temptation of the devil in stretching out her hand toward the forbidden fruit, God did not chop off her hand. God did not prevent Judas from betraying Jesus Christ. God did not prevent the Japanese military from killing 35 million Chinese in 14 years of war of aggression and brutality. God works according to His plan and schedule. Ecc 11:9-10, “Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things. So, remove grief and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.”

The depressing Epicurean doctrine that the gods have no care for human affairs is wrong. Jhn 3:16-21, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” 2Pe 3:9, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

The subject of evil and injustice in this world is beyond the inquiry or scope of this article, we can only touch the surface of the problem, but that is definitely not a problem of God.

It is wrong to interpret the so-called bellicose tradition of the Old Testament, and in large areas inflamed with the warrior-spirit. In the dispensation of Law, it is proper to execute AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH. God often used wars or retribution to punish wicked nations and peoples. For the same reason, in the day of judgment, 2Pe 2:6, “and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter.” Jde 1:7, “just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.”

Exo 23:23, “For My angel will go before you and bring you in to the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will completely destroy them.” Consequently God gave the Land of Canaan, the Promised Land, to the sons of Israel. A white missionary from South Africa distorted the Bible by telling me that the blacks are Canannites, and so the white Christians are justified to destroy them in order to posses the land. The so-called Palestine was given to the children of Abraham from the beginning by God, the Promised Land belongs only the sons of Israel; Palestinians, Arabs, and other races have no part or portion of it. Num 33:51-53, “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you cross over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their figured stones, and destroy all their molten images and demolish all their high places; and you shall take possession of the land and live in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it.” Deu 7:2, “and when the LORD your God delivers them before you and you defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them.” Deu 12:2-3, “You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess serve their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. You shall tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and burn their Asherim with fire, and you shall cut down the engraved images of their gods and obliterate their name from that place.” Deu 20:16-18, “Only in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you shall not leave alive anything that breathes. But you shall utterly destroy them, the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite and the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that they may not teach you to do according to all their detestable things which they have done for their gods, so that you would sin against the LORD your God.” God considers idols and false gods as detestable things and their worshippers must be utterly destroyed. 1Sa 15:2-3, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way while he was coming up from Egypt. Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” God punished Amalek by utterly destroyed all that he had for the evil deeds he did to Israel. 1Sa 15:18, “and the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are exterminated.” The Lord sent king Saul on a mission to utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are exterminated. God destroys His enemies to let the whole world know that God rules in the affairs of man. God rules the universe absolutely.

Deu 32:4,“The Rock! His work is perfect,
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteous and upright is He.”

Note: It is a Christian doctrine that God is our Rock, His work is perfect. All the ways of God are just. God is faithful and without injustice, righteous and upright is He. God gave His law so that the people of the world may do right and do good. Injustice is an evil. God hates injustice. Let there be no injustice. No one can say that war against unbelievers was inspired by God.

Lev 19:15, “You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly.” God commands judges to do no injustice in judgment, not to be partial, and to judge fairly everybody. Corrupt judges are the root cause of legal injustice. Terrible is the legal system where if you have money and power to hire a dream team of lawyers, even a murderer can be acquitted. It is iniquity where a legal system allows presentation of fake evidence. It is very funny when judges routinely counsel crooks and criminals to plea not guilty. It is ineffective and unproductive to have a jury trial of capital crime while jurors basically do not know the law. It is distortion of justice to have all jurors consensus in order to convict a murderer.  To make the innocent guilty and to acquit the guilty is the travesty of justice, a serious case of abominable injustice. Those who plow wickedness will reap injustice. It is a violent injustice when the rich and powerful are enjoying immunity from prosecution or when anyone is above the law. There is no injustice with God. Whether evil deed or injustice God will repay them sooner or later. There is no one who can escape the judgment of God.

It is simple and easy to put all evil into two main types: moral evil and natural evil. Moral evil covers the willful acts of human beings, such as murder, rape, robbery, terror, etc. Natural evil refers to natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, drought, etc. Sometimes God used natural disasters to punish the wicked.

Secularists and unbelievers want to blame God for all evil in the universe. They argue why God did not stop such horrendous evil caused by Hitler in killing six million Jews and Japanese aggressors who killed 35 million Chinese in the wars of aggression known as World War II? They also want to blame God for letting horrible natural evil such as giant earthquakes and tsunamis that killed thousands and thousands. On the surface, they seem to have a case against God by denying His existence or refuting His power or His goodness. The truth is self-evident: No sinful and mortal man is in a position to judge God and saying what God should do and should not do. God does whatever as He pleases. Whatever God does is just and right, for God is the supreme Ruler. Can a dog tell his master what to do?

The problem of evil in relation to free will and the sovereignty of God is such a huge and profound subject which is beyond the scope of this article. In fact, it requires volumes to do justice to the matter. However, in passing I want you to know several key points:

1. Evil is a mystery which cannot be dealt with lightly.

2. We reject the idea of secularists and unbelieving theologians that the creation of God was not perfect, and so evil exists. Sin brings evil.

3. Evil comes from the Devil who is responsible for most of the evil done in this world, including putting the idea of betraying the Lord of Life in the heart of Judas. The Devil is sinning and doing evil from the beginning.

4. It is a mystery why God allows the existence of the Devil. God is even a greater mystery than the Devil.

5. Psa 47:8, “God reigns over the nations,
God sits on His holy throne.” God not only reigns over the nations, God rules the universe. God knows what He is doing.

6. We also reject the idea of secularists and unbelieving theologians that by allowing the existence of evil, God in His infinite wisdom created the best of all possible worlds.

7. God moves according to His time table. There is a Judgement Day when the Judge of the living and dead will finally separate the wicked on the left from the righteous on the right.

8. The Devil, his agents and the wicked, will be thrown into Hell, the Lake of Fire, to be tortured forever and ever.

9. Jesus Christ will set up the Kingdom of Heaven to reign with the saints forever and ever and once and for all eliminate all evil, filth and injustice.

(G). Christianity is not a religion like all other religions.

Act 17:32, “When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him, but others said, “We’d like to hear from you again about this.”

Act 25:19, “but they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive.”

Note: Religion in this verse in Greek is deisidaimonia which means superstition; fear of the gods; reverence for the gods; piety; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. Festus used the word religion disparagingly to mean superstition.

Act 26:4-5, “So then, all Jews know my manner of life from my youth up, since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion.”

Note: Paul defended himself by saying he lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of their Jewish religion. Here Paul used religion in a more respectable way, appertaining to the worship of the God Almighty; the word religion in Greek is thrēskeia which means religious worship; religious discipline; worshiping; ceremonial observance; piety; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. The Jewish religion was instituted by God through Moses and His servants the prophets.

Col 2:23, “These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.”

Note: Here religion in Greek is ethelothrēskia which means arbitrary worship; will worship; worship which one prescribes and devises for oneself; the misdirected zeal and the practice of ascetics; sanctimony; simulated, cult or counterfeit religion (example is the practice of reenactment of crucifixion in the Philippines every Good Friday); – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Self-made religion and self-abasement are of no value in the sight of God.

Jas 1:26, “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.”

Note: Here the original word religion is used the same as in Act 26:5. People who have loose tongues, their religion is worthless. If loose tongues alone would make one’s religion worthless, would not loose morals even more make one’s religion worthless? Would you say the terrorism of a religion automatically make it evil? Christians need not to be religious, but devout and spiritual. All religious people may not be Christians.

Jas 1:27, “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”

Note: Here the Greek word for religion is the same as Act 26:5, used in a respectable manner and captured the true practice of pure religion. People who practice pure and undefiled religion keep themselves unstained by the world. Unstained in Greek is aspilos which means without spot; irreproachable; unsullied; unblemished; unspotted; free from vice; not morally tainted; – which occurs 5 times in the New Testament. The world stains your soul through sin, love of money, power and sex. That is the reason the Bible says, Do not love the world.

However, you may be surprised the word “religion” does not exist in the Old Testament. Instead, the word “faith” occurs in the Old Testament. Faith first appears in Deu 32:20, “And He said: ‘I will hide My face from them,
I will see what their end will be,
For they are a perverse generation,
Children in whom is no faith.”

Note: God first accused of the Jews as children in whom is no faith. Faith in Hebrew is ’emuwn which means truth; trustworthiness; faithfulness; – which occurs 5 times in the Old Testament. God accused that perverse generation without faith, not without religion. Perverse people have no faith. God seems to say the problem of man is not without religion, but without faith. But the faith that man needs is another word.

Hab 2:4, “Behold, as for the proud one,
His soul is not right within him;
But the righteous will live by his faith.”

Note: Faith in Hebrew here is ’emuwnah which means faithfulness; truth; firmness; stability; steadfastness; steadiness; fidelity; – which occurs 48 times in the Old Testament. The righteous live by faith. Rom 3:22, “even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction.”

In the first place, what is a religion? To avoid confusion or misunderstanding, we must first have the same frame of reference so that we know what we are talking about. It is difficult to achieve a consensus what precisely constitutes a religion. Perhaps we could agree on this: Religion is what people believe in something supernatural or spiritual and transcendent whether it is the supreme being or beings important to their lives.

Science, philosophy, theology, reason, tradition, history, nature, culture, technology, etc. do not provide the basis for a credible argument that makes it unreasonable to believe in the existence of God. God exists by Himself in spite of science, philosophy, theology, nature, tradition, etc. and in spite of time and space, environment or anything. God cannot be refuted or denied simply by anyone or anything or any force. God is the supreme and ultimate reality, not bound by space and time, any concepts, reasons or arguments.

Suffice to say, the story of God has a happy ending. The children of God will be with our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus in perfect joy and bliss, peace, holiness and righteousness beyond human imagination. Evil and death will be swallowed up. What Christians are doing now is to witness for the Lord and wait eagerly for the second coming of Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

A blind man argues because he cannot see the light so the sun doesn’t exist. His opinion is supported by millions of the blind. Likewise secularists propose if evil exists and God exists, then either God doesn’t have the power to eliminate all evil, or doesn’t know when evil exists, or doesn’t have the desire to eliminate evil. This is a prime example of sheer ignorance of the knowledge of God and an evil heart of unbelief. Secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers want to create God in their own image.

God was not conceived by the Jews, God revealed Himself to the Jews through His servants the prophets. Exo 3:13-15, “Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you. Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.” Historically, the Jews was the first race who believe in the One True God. Judaism does not and cannot tolerate polytheism.

We do not debate on what a religion should be, we take religion or religions as they are already existing in the world.

1Ti 6:15-16, “which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.”

God is not Higher Power. God is the Highest Power, the Supreme Power, the Ultimate Power. God is not made. It is not that certain attributes make God. The god conceived by all religions is different from the God of the Bible. The God of the Bible is: 1Ti 1:17, “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” The God of Christianity is the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.

Note: Eternal in Greek is aiōn which means perpetuity of time; time without end; for ever; evermore; that which causes life; the endless future; everlasting; – which occurs 118 times in the New Testament. Immortal in Greek is aphthartos which means incorruptible; uncorruptible; not corruptible; imperishable; not liable to corruption, decay or death; undecaying; living and lasting forever; – which occurs 8 times in the New Testament. Invisible in Greek is aoratos which means that which cannot be seen; unseen; impossible to see; – which occurs 5 times in the New Testament. Only in Greek is monos which means alone; by oneself; sole or single; merely; – which occurs 61 times in the New Testament. The God of Christianity is King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God; One and Only, there is no other. It is absolutely impossible for secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers to find, learn, and know such God by their own wisdom and efforts.

The God of Christianity is He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light. Sovereign in Greek is dynastēs which means mighty; of great authority; Potentate; a ruler; powerful one; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. Unapproachable in Greek is aprositos which means no man can approach; inaccessible; – which occurs only 1 time in the New Testament. God is holy and unapproachable by sinful men; for that reason no man can come to God but through Jesus Christ.

The True God has reality and personality not what humans can think or imagine. Many gods of many religions were made out of human imagination by human hands.

Jer 10:3, “For the religion of these people is worthless. They cut down a tree in the forest, and a craftsman makes it into an idol with his tools.”

Note: Worthless in Hebrew is hebel which means vain; vapor; emptiness; something transitory and unsatisfactory; the breath of the mouth; something vain and empty; – which occurs 72 times in the Old Testament. Idols are worthless. God says the religion of these people is worthless. Idolatry is worthless. Taiwanese politicians worship worthless idols and yet some claim to be Christians is the laughingstock of the century. Idol is nothing. Idol worship is most primitive and primeval.

There are two Greek words of faith, oligopistos and pistis. The second word is the saving faith.

Mat 6:30, “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!”

Note: The word faith here in Greek is oligopistos which means of little faith; trusting too little; lacking confidence; – which occurs 13 times in the New Testament.

Mat 8:10, “Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.”

Note: The word faith here in Greek is pistis which means belief; conviction of truth; confidence in God or Christ; fidelity; faithfulness; persuasion; reliance upon Christ for salvation; trust in God or Christ; – which occurs 243 times in the New Testament. Eph 2:8, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” This is the saving faith.

Act 24:14, “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets.”

Note: Christians believe everything in the Faith, and serve the God of our fathers according to the Way.

Although believers of world religions hang their hopes in their religions, bu the Scripture says, Eph 2:12, “remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” Excluded Christians, the Bible insists the peoples of the world live in the world without God are without hope. All lives come to an end without hope. No matter who you are, rich and powerful, you live in the world without God and without hope. Of course, the Bible refers to the true living God, the Creator and Lord of the universe. Hope in Greek is tiqvah which means expectation of fulfillment; the thing that one longs for; expectancy; belief in fulfillment; – which occurs 34 times in the New Testament. Men separate from Christ are lost, having no hope and without God in the world. This is the general condition of all sinners.

In the New Testament what Christians believe and practice is not religion, it is called the Faith or the Way.

The historical story of Healing the Lame Beggar illustrates the truth that Christianity is not a religion.

Act 3:1-10, “Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!” And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God; and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”

Note: The early Christian Church did not possess silver and gold, but the apostles had the power of God. The Roman Catholic Church is the richest church in the world, but without the power of God. Peter in the name of Jesus Christ ordered the lame beggar to walk! The lame beggar with a leap he stood upright and began to walk. He entered the temple with Peter and John, walking and leaping and praising God. This is Christianity, not religion. This is faith in action.

Someone made the following false statement about Christianity:

“Christianity started out in Palestine as a fellowship; it moved to Greece and became a philosophy; it moved to Italy and became an institution; it moved to Europe and became a culture; it came to America and became an enterprise.“

In the first place Christianity did not start out in Palestine. Christianity started out in the Promised Land which God gave to Abraham and his descendants. Christianity did not start out as a fellowship with men. Christianity is not a fellowship of men with men or a fellowship among men. 1Co 1:9, “God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” Christianity is fellowship of Christians with the Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord. Fellowship in Greek is koinōnia which means communion; communication; association; joint participation; sharing; intimacy; partnership; social intercourse; – which occurs 19 times in the New Testament. Christians are called into fellowship with the Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord. 2Co 13:14, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” To have fellowship with Christ is also to have the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. 1Jo 1:3, “what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.” The Christian fellowship is with the Triune God and have fellowship with each other too.

Christianity started out with the disciples who had been with Jesus armed with the power of the Gospel and they have turned the world upside down. Rather they have turned the world right side up.

Act 17:6, “And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brethren before the city authorities, crying, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also.” No, Christianity did not turn the world upside down. Christianity turns the world right side up.

Christianity moved to Greece and it did not become a philosophy. Rom 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Col 2:8, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” Do not let philosophy and empty deception take you captive. Christianity is not Greek philosophy.

Christianity moved to Italy and it did not become an institution. When Emperor Constantine embraced Christianity as the state religion of the Roman Empire, the Roman Catholic Church was corrupted and became an apostate institution to this day. Christianity does not need the recognition or support of any state or government. When the church becomes a monopolistic religious institution, it invariably becomes corrupted by power and money and influence.

Christianity moved to Europe and it did not become a culture. The infamous “White Man’s Burden” born and bred in Europe became an imperial tool to conquer and colonize many nations in Asia, Latin America, and Africa by force and conquest. The Western imperialism and colonialism distorted and disgraced Christianity by doing so many evil deeds, injustice and bearing the bitter fruits of inhumanity and brutality and exploitation and oppression, and Western powers (Europe and America) have dominated and dictated the world to present day. The Western culture is fit with Jesus’ description. Mat 23:28, “So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” Christianity advertised as a white man’s religion is a badge of dishonor, disgrace and shame. European nations and later America in the last 500 years have done nothing good that can make Christians proud. There is nothing in the European and American culture of corruption and conquest which is admirable and noble.

Imperialism and colonialism have robbed the whole world poor and made European nations (including U.S.A.) filthy rich and affluent and powerful in the last 500 years to the present. Europe’s economic, military and technological achievements were built entirely on the capital resources Europeans robbed from their colonies and the world through monopoly, exploitation, military and open robbery by force.

Christianity came to America as a continuity of the European imperialism and colonialism, and it did not become an enterprise. Under Protestant ethics white supremacists built the greatest evil empire since the end of World War I. All American presidents, except President Richard Nixon who sought a just and lasting peace, have sought absolute military supremacy and economic and financial monopoly to dominate and dictate the whole world. American imperialism and capitalism (including EU), coupled with Japanese resurgent militarism and Islamic terrorism are responsible for 99% of all problems, troubles, difficulties, poverty, injustice, violence, and lawlessness in the world today. “America First” foreign policy has made America the most aggressive, oppressive, autocratic, despotic, violent, and hated nation on earth. These arrogant, violent, self-deluded and shameless, reckless and ruthless leaders may be responsible to bring about the coming nuclear war that will end the world.

Christianity does not change since its inception. Christianity is Jesus Christ and His followers, not evil men, impostors, and children of the Devil who claim and pretend to be Christians. Mostly the Whites who lifted up high the banners of Christianity, human rights, civil rights, freedom, democracy, humanitarian aid, independence, etc. are indeed to fool and mislead the world.

Heb 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Note: The deified Christ is not a product of idealization. No one and nothing can be the same yesterday and today and forever. No one and nothing lasts forever. Only Jesus Christ is the Supreme God who is the same yesterday and today and forever. Jesus Christ is our Great God and Savior. No other religions present or proclaim such a God.

Heb 13:9, “Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.”

Note: Christians need to be strengthened by grace, not to be carried away by varied and strange teachings especially prevalent in the West today, such as modernism (liberal theology) and prosperity gospel.

It is absolutely false to classify Fundamental Christianity as conservative, all the rest denominations as progressive. A modernist is not a progressive Christian, but a denier of Christ, an enemy of the cross. So many denominations misrepresent Christianity. Denominations were made by religious founders who hold and stress specific doctrines. We believe Christians must stress what the Bible stresses, and not to stress what the Word of God does not stress. Denominations are intended to divide and distort Christianity. The Bible does not recognize any denomination. The Bible does not recognize any church, except the Church of Jesus Christ, the Body of Christ. The Bible does not recognize any authority, except the authority of Jesus Christ.

(H). Is Christian ethics also a rational ethics?

The Christian faith and Christian morals are interrelated and interdependent. Any attempt to secularize or rationalize Christian ethics with human perspective or view will do violence to the Word of God. Just as Christianity is the revealed religion, unlike all other religions, so Christian ethics is absolutely based on the Word of God, not the moral standard of man. God determines what is right or wrong, not by theologians or philosophers or scientists. What is right is only right in the sight of God, what is wrong is only wrong in the sight of God. The holy and eternal God is the arbiter of Christian morality and all morality. Those who raise the question whether Christian ethics is rational indicates their ignorance of the Word of God at the least and have a wrong concept of what is rational. It is like asking whether the water of the ocean is enough to fill a cup. Do you question if snow is white, truth is good, honey is sweet or sunlight is bright? Obnoxious secular academics and unbelieving theologians always hold themselves up so high that they secretly think they are wiser than the Almighty God. They have a reprobate and warped mind that they think they are more rational than God. It is like a self-important elementary student who questions if the Einstein’s formula E=mc2 is correct or not.

Act 26:24-25, “And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.” If Paul is speaking true and rational words, can anyone in his right mind would question if the moral standard set by the holy and righteous God is rational or not? At heart secular academics and unbelieving theologians want to declare the Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent God to be irrational, but they do not dare to say so because that would make them look like fools. The real enemy of odious secular academics and unbelieving theologians is God, not Christian ethics. Christian ethics is not a theory, but a whole body of God’s commandments and moral components which is far more superior than any standard of any religion or ethical system. Can you find anyone who makes irrational attacks on Christian ethics a decent and upright man? Let you be the judge. Christian ethics does not need Kierkegaard or Kant to defend it. The flawless and perfect diamond is not afraid to be examined under microscope. 

An unbelieving self-appointed theologian made a false assumption that Jesus Christ Himself did not offer His ethics as a pattern for the future of mankind because He did not believe that mankind had a future. It is true that mankind without God is without hope, and there is no future. However, Jesus Christ calls people to repent and believe in Him. The ethics that Jesus Christ set for Christians is the noblest and highest. 

Jesus Christ set His grand and noble pattern of ethics even higher than that of the Old Testament as follows:

Mat 5:21-48, “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.“ Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent. You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.“It was said, ‘WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’; but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.’ But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil. You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’ “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,so that you may be sons of your Father who is in Heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” 

The Christian ethics can be summed up in Jesus word, “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” There is no ethics can be compared to the perfect God.

Jesus also pronounces the Beatitudes:

Mat 5:1-20, “When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in Heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

What ethics anywhere in the world that stresses and blesses the poor in spirit (a note: secularists are high and puffed up in spirit); those who mourn; the gentle; those who hunger and thirst for righteousness; those who are merciful; those who are pure in heart; those who are peacemakers; those who suffer insult and persecution for the sake of righteousness. You can be sure warmongers, militarists, aggressors are not children of God. There is great reward in Heaven for all who do good and do right for the sake of Jesus Christ. 

It is absolutely false and misleading to say Jesus was wrong because He expected the end of the world to come within a few years. For no one knows the date and time when Jesus Christ shall return.

Mat 24:4-14, “And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Two thousands years have passed, we believe the second coming is imminent and could happen any time now. Mat 24:44,“For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.” 

The second coming of Christ is imminent but not immediate. Christ is coming at an hour when people do not think He will. The Christian attitude is to be ready at all times, witnessing for Christ, and be eagerly waiting for the second coming of Jesus Christ which can happen anytime now.

The principles (rules to live by) of Christian conduct in the world:

Mat 5:13-20, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in Heaven. Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until Heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Note: Christian ethics is not poetry or metaphor. Christian ethics is symbolized by being the light of the world. Christians, Let your light shine before men in such a way they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.

Secular academics and unbelieving theologians want to mislead you by implying the words, doctrines or teachings of Jesus Christ cannot be known for sure, because Jesus wrote nothing, and He spoke in Aramaic that is a language now almost extinct. The New Testament were written in Greek and translated into our English language and most languages in the world. The diabolical act is always to inject and instill doubt into the Word of God. That was how the devil deceived Eve.

Rom 3:1-3, “Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the Oracles of God. What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?”

Note: The Jews were entrusted with the Oracles of God which refers to the Old Testament. God knows some did not believe. Will the unbelief of secular academics and unbelieving theologians nullify the faithfulness of God? Certainly it will not.

Act 7:38, “This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received Living Oracles to pass on to you.”

Note: Moses received Living Oracles to pass on to you and you. The Living Oracles refers to the Old Testament.

Heb 5:12, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the Oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.”

Note: The Old Testament is the elementary principles of the Oracles of God. Col 2:17, “things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.” In the Old Testament things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but in the New Testament is the substance which belongs to Christ. Christ fulfilled the requirements of the Old Testament. The New Testament fulfills the Old Testament. The New Testament sparkles and shines like no other.

1Pe 4:11, “Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the Utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Note: The Words of Jesus Christ are the Utterances of God. When Jesus speaks God speaks. Those who preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ speak the Utterances of God and serve the Lord so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. For there is nothing beyond the grandeur and high moral elevation of Christianity.  

The books of New Testament and genuine Gospels were universally accepted and acknowledged by the holy apostles and the early Church, without doubt or limitation, as the basis of the Christian Faith, equal and better in authority than the Old Testament because it is the final and full revelation of Jesus Christ. The Holy Bible (The Old Testament and the New Testament) has full and final authentication, dignity and authority of God, confirmed by Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. The authenticity of the New Testament does not require acknowledgement by Eusebius homologoumena, or any church historian, or Origen, Polycarp or Ignatius, or anybody else. Jesus Christ is the full and final authenticity of the Holy Bible. The Word of God is complete, we do not believe there is a need for Apocrypha to fill so-called some of the gaps. That is why we reject totally Apocrypha because it is spurious.

Secular academics and unbelieving theologians want you to think the Fourth Gospel–that of John–presents problems by itself. Why? The Gospel of John focuses singly on Jesus Christ the Son of God. It is written to convince readers that Jesus is the Son of God. Jhn 20:30-31, “Therefore many other miracles Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” 

Secular academics and unbelieving theologians do not believe in miracles and they also deny the divinity of Jesus Christ; that is why they attack the Gospel of John which is the greatest Gospel ever written with a noble style and unmatched clarity and profundity and simplicity declaring the powerful and eternal Words of Jesus Christ and narrating the marvelous deeds and miracles of the Lord. John traces in the beginning, longer than the beginning of the universe (in Genesis), was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. When I was a boy an American professor gave me a most profitable advice. He told me to study the Gospel of John 100 times, and study the Book of Romans 100 times. These two books will help any believer to understand the fundamental Faith of Christianity. It is a fallacy to think the Gospels were written reflecting the personality or character and private thought of each writer, they were all inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Gospels as well as the rest of the New Testament were not written to reflect special interest of the author. The sayings, events, history, sermons, teachings, miracles, accounts, reports, etc. were actual, factual, historical and real. The persons named in the Bible were real historical persons, and the places mentioned were real and true geographical places. The writers of the Gospels each has special emphasis or focus or perspective but always consistent, and they do not contradict each other. There is unity in the doctrines and teachings of the Christian Faith. From which nothing can be taken away and to which nothing can be added. The Bible interprets itself and bars any private interpretation. The Bible does not derive from or influenced by any civilization, culture, ethics, history, religion, theology, philosophy or tradition. The Christian Faith is unique and unusual, and not in the framework of any religion or tradition or human wisdom. It is not the motive of man that matters, it is the Will of God which is supreme, final, absolute, complete, and ultimate. Christians do not pay attention to motive, behavior, and consequences; believers first and foremost want to do the Will of God for His honor and glory. Christians are not enslaved by reason, logic, intellect, science or philosophy. Christians are obedient to the Faith and absolutely loyal to the Lord and despise and repel the other; and serve Him with all our heart and all our soul.

What is right or wrong is determined in the sight of God. Christian ethics is determined in the eyes of God. What God sees as evil, it is evil. What God sees as good, it is good. The teaching of Jesus is the teaching of God, not in the eyes of philosophical moralists who are abject sinners.

The core of Christian ethics can be summed up in one word: love. It is generally understood by most when Christ answered to an expert in religious law trying to trap Him. Mat 22:35-40, “One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Note: To love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind; and to love your neighbor as yourself are the core of Christian ethics. This can rightly be called an ultimate ethics. To love your God the highest is agreeable and understandable. However, no natural affection could ever carry men up to the level of loving your neighbor as yourself. Most people can be good to their neighbors and respect them, but to love your neighbor as yourself is quite a different matter. Self-giving is much harder than self-discipline, self-denial, self-direction, self-sacrifice, self-abnegation, self-rule, self-abasing, etc. What is even more shocking and showstopping, stunning and transcendental and impossible is what Jesus requires and demands His followers: 

Mat 5:43-48, “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” 

It is like a little boy looking up to the Empire State, Jesus orders Christians to be perfect, as our heavenly Father is perfect. What theologians and philosophers could ever conceive such an exalted idea?! What noblest human beings would ever think of such a wonderful thing?! The transcendentalism in Protestant thought is not between Luther and Barth. Luther was the greatest man ever lived outside the Holy Bible. Barth is a faulty and fallacious theologian full of erroneous and invalidated teachings and thoughts. Secular academics and unbelieving theologians are guilty of distorting and misinterpreting the Holy Scriptures. Love is self-evidently and intrinsically good and true and reasonable, and it does not need to be defended on rational grounds. For God is Love. Whoever in his right mind would think light has to be supported by moralists? For God is Light. To love your enemy and be perfect as God is perfect is enjoined by the imitation of Christ, and the motivation of fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith. 

(I). God’s thoughts and God’s ways are not man’s thoughts and ways.

Isa 55:7-9, “Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the LORD,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. For as the Heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Note: Conclusively, the problems of secular academics and unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers are their thoughts and ways. They conceitedly and fancifully believe and imagine their thoughts and ways are higher than God’s. They are ignorant and blind to the fact that God’s thoughts and ways are higher than any man’s thoughts and ways. How high? As the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are God’s ways higher than their ways, and God’s thoughts are higher than their thoughts. The highest man’s ways and thoughts are called science and philosophy. Science and philosophy is nothing but “profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called.”

There is no such a thing as the intellectual vision the eternal why of things. The human mind is so limited by the temporary and visible, it cannot and does not enter the realm of eternal and invisible. The human mind often does not know what is what, and much less why and how. Nothings are eternal in this world. Love and truth are eternal in Heaven. Jesus never expresses the interest or value of the pursuit of human science or philosophy – human wisdom. It is said modern science and philosophy are largely the product of the Greeks. The Scripture, however, declares: 1Co 1:18-29, “For the Word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
“I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for miracles and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.”

Note: The Omniscient and Omnipotent God does not have foolishness or weakness. If hypothetically (although impossible) God has foolishness and weakness, the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. Ask secular academics and unbelieving philosophers and scientists if they know a little thing such as when are they going to die?

Man is given the knowledge of good and evil since the fall. Generally speaking, man knows and is able to distinguish good from evil. An infant has no knowledge between good and evil. Ignorance is defined as without knowledge. Not everyone has the knowledge of the Most High. In addition, there are many types of knowledge in the world, and everyone is ignorant in the thing that he does not know.

1Sa 2:3, “Boast no more so very proudly,
Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth;
For the LORD is a God of knowledge,
And with Him actions are weighed.”

Note: God is perfect in knowledge and so He can weigh the actions of men. Those who boast proudly only let arrogance and ignorance come out of their mouths.

2Ch 1:10, “Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours?”

Note: Solomon asked God to give him wisdom and knowledge, he did not ask for riches and wealth and honor; so that he may go out and come in before his people, and can rule his great people. Wisdom and knowledge enables a man to do good and right, and to act and judge correctly. Pro 4:7, “Wisdom is supreme — so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding.”

Job 21:22, “Can anyone teach God knowledge,
In that He judges those on high?”

Note: If you study the writings of secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers — they are so high-minded that they may think they can ‘teach God knowledge.’

Psa 92:5-8, “How great are Your works, O LORD!
Your thoughts are very deep. A senseless man has no knowledge,
Nor does a stupid man understand this: That when the wicked sprouted up like grass and all who did iniquity flourished, it was only that they might be destroyed forevermore. But You, O LORD, are on high forever.”

Note: Do secularists and unbelievers know that a senseless man has no knowledge, nor does a stupid man understand this great truth: When the wicked sprouted up like grass and all who did iniquity flourished, it was only that they might be destroyed forevermore! The Lord is on high forever.

What is man that he should be so proud and arrogant. There is knowledge too wonderful and too high that man cannot attain to it. Pro 1:7, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Pro 1:29, “Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD.” The wicked and unbelievers choose not to fear the Lord. Pro 2:2-10, “Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; for if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice, and He preserves the way of His godly ones. Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity and every good course. For wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.” You cannot find sound wisdom anywhere or from any man. The Lord gives wisdom, and from His Word come knowledge and understanding. Do secularists and unbelieving scientists and philosophers ever discover or experience that the knowledge of God is like hidden treasures which is pleasant to the soul?

Pro 8:10-13,“Take my instruction and not silver, and knowledge rather than choicest gold. For wisdom is better than jewels; and all desirable things cannot compare with her. I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth, I hate.”

Note: Take the instruction of wisdom and not silver, and knowledge rather than choicest god. For wisdom is better than jewels; and all desirable things cannot compare with wisdom. Wisdom dwells with prudence and wisdom finds knowledge and discretion. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. Wisdom hates pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth.

Pro 9:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Note: Do you want wisdom? The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Do you want understanding? The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. If you do not know this, you do not know anything.

Pro 13:16, “Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool displays folly.”

Note: On the world stage today is clearly illustrated by a Western leader who is not a prudent man because he acts without knowledge and he is a fool who displays folly. No matter how powerful is the Western media that makes fake news, fake reports, and fake views; they cannot hide a fool who displays his folly.

Pro 24:5, “A wise man is strong,
And a man of knowledge increases power.”

Note: Western nations think they are strong because they have the largest quantity of nuclear weapons, not knowing by their aggression and sanction they may start a nuclear war that will destroy the world. Knowledge is power. A man of knowledge increases power.

Ecc 1:18, “Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain.”

Note: The wisdom of the world brings much grief, and the knowledge of human affairs increases pain. Those who are without God are without hope. What everyone needs is the knowledge of salvation and the forgiveness of their sins. The real knowledge gives comfort and hope. “Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.” 2Co 4:6, “For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” Col 2:2, “that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself.” 1Ti 2:4, “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” A man who is saved comes to the knowledge of the truth. 2Pe 1:8, “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” A man who has the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ is neither useless nor unfruitful. What is the use of a Ph.D. that makes the man useless and unfruitful. An unfulfilled life is a useless life. A useless life has no meaning. The executives of Washington, Wall Street, Hollywood, military-industrial-security complex, doctors, hospital owners and lawyers who lie, kill, and rob are the most pitiful people in the world!

However, by faith we Christians understand that God created the Universe and mankind. Carl Sagan has a point, “The universe will always be much richer than our ability to understand it.”

 Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck writes:

“That we do not construct the external world to suit our own ends in the pursuit of science, but that vice versa the external world forces itself upon our recognition with its own elemental power, is a point which ought to be categorically asserted again and again… From the fact that in studying the happenings of nature we strive to eliminate the contingent and accidental and to come fully to what is essential and necessary, it is clear that we always look for the basic thing behind the dependent thing, for what is absolute behind what is relative, for the reality behind the appearance and for what abides behind what is transitory.”

Karl Popper asserted that “knowledge consists in the search for truth… not the search for certainty,” he writes:

In no case can we rest assured that what is absolute in science today will remain absolute for all time.”

We hold absolutely there is nothing is absolute in science. There is nothing in science is absolute for all time. That which is absolute for all time is not science but the eternal truth of God. We must not have a false worldview or superstition about science. We must know science as it really is. If the aim of science is to reach the absolute truth, the goal can never be achieved or reached. By its very nature, it is unattainable to reach the absolute truth through scientific means just as it is impossible to examine diamonds with a telescope. Absolute truth is beyond science and capability of man. The sooner we realize the limits of science and the limits of man the better. For it is futile to chase the impossible. We must humbly bow to acknowledge the absolute truth of the Supreme Creator.

Secularists and unbelieving scientists and philosophers make a big fuss about the Biblical event recorded in the following Scriptures:

Jos 10:12-14, “Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,
“O sun, stand still at Gibeon,
And O moon in the valley of Aijalon.” 

So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies.
Is it not written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.There was no day like that before it or after it, when the LORD listened to the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel.”

Note: The Scriptures speak of the common things in the visible world as they appear to common man. Gen 15:12, “Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him.” It is understood when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram. Just as we speak, we feel and we see, of the sun as rising and setting, although there exists the revolution of the earth. No man can feel and see the earth as rising and setting or moving. It will be shocking if the Bible says the earth is rising or setting or moving. Whoever sees and feels that the earth turns once daily? When the earth moves, it is called an earthquake. I believe an astronomical miracle really took place, by which the motion of the heavenly bodies was for about a whole day suspended. About a whole day is about twelve hours; the average time between sunrise and sunset. The Omnipotent God caused the optical stoppage of the sun to appear the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until Joshua could have sufficient time to avenge themselves of their enemies. For the Lord fought for Israel no day like that before it or after it. Some unbelievers talk as if the Creator and the Ruler of the universe does not know whether the Earth planet is orbiting the Sun annually, also turns once daily on its own axis. The Lord rules the universe with or without a heliocentric system. It is not the Sun which is the center of the universe, it is the Almighty God who created the Heavens and the earth. I do not have sympathy with mortal and feeble men who think God must make a mistake and His word is fallible. Mat 24:35, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” I bet secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers will pass away much sooner than Heaven and earth will pass away. Mar 8:38, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” 

It must be said strongly and clearly, I am not ashamed of Jesus Christ and His Words. If all the words and works of all secular scholars and scientists of all generations put together, they are not worth a dime in comparison to the Words of Jesus Christ, my Redeemer who lives forever and ever. Five Words of Jesus are worth more than all the words and works of unbelieving scholars and scientists of all generations put together. I choose to abide by the Word of Jesus Christ for now and forever more. 

Christianity and wealth.

The Bible does not say money or wealth is bad by itself. The Bible makes it clear, Mat 6:24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Note: First of all, you cannot serve two masters. Mammon is a master of many. You cannot serve God and mammon. Mammon in Greek is mamōnas which means wealth; treasures; riches; money; avarice deified; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. I discovered almost all people are motivated by money, very few would be motivated by truth. Since people treat wealth or money as an object of worship, wealth becomes a peril. In America only primitive immigrants worship idols, some Taiwanese politicians who claim to be Christians also publicly burn incense and worship idols. Idolaters cannot call themselves Christians. However, most Americans worship money, power, and sex. Anyone or anything takes the place of God is a false god, an idol.

1Ti 6:10-11, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some by longing for it have wandered away from the Faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.”

Note: Secondly, the love of money is the root of all evil. By coveting for money some have wandered away from the Faith and pieced themselves with many sorrows. Man of God must flee from the love of money, for it will interfere and obstruct him from pursuing righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Have you ever met a greedy man who is righteous and godly? This explains the evil deeds committed by executives of Washington, Wall Street, Hollywood, military-industrial-security complex, predatory and fraudulent doctors, hospital owners and lawyers, drug and insurance companies, etc.

Luk 16:9,“And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.”

Note: Consequently, many make friends with unrighteous mammon or ungodly money or filthy lucre.

Psa 49:6, “Even those who trust in their wealth
And boast in the abundance of their riches?”

Note: Those who have wealth invariably trust in their wealth, and boast in the abundance of their riches. Have you ever met a humble rich man?

Jer 9:23, “Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches.”

Note: Secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers boast of their knowledge and wisdom; the militarists and supremacists boast of their nuclear might; and a rich man boasts of his riches. God does not like boasters.

Gen 47:15, “When the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food, for why should we die in your presence? For our money is gone.”

Note: The inevitable takes place to many: their money is gone or spent.

2Ki 12:15, “Moreover, they did not require an accounting from the men into whose hand they gave the money to pay to those who did the work, for they dealt faithfully.”

Note: Those who loved the Lord in building the Temple, an accounting was not required from them into whose hand they gave the money to pay to those who did the work, for they dealt faithfully. If you remodel your home, you will find the works cheat by careless work and cheaper materials but charged at high cost. Those who handle church treasury must be required to have full accounting to be verified and audited by reliable professionals. Nowadays you cannot trust people to deal faithfully with money. Finance management is not based on trust. I read report that billions or trillions of dollars cannot be accounted for just by the Defense Depart, not to say in all other departments. No Western mass media ever report where and how the untold wealth, riches and treasures of Muammar Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein were gone. Western mass media has proved itself uninterested in truth and totally lack of integrity.

Psa 15:5, “He does not put out his money at interest,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken.”

Note: A righteous and godly man does not put out his money at interest to other brothers, and he does not take a bribe against the innocent. Today the bribery and corruption of officials make a black hole that trillions of dollars disappeared without a trace; and yet these governments claim to be democratic and lawful.

Ecc 5:10, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity.”

Note: This is the greatest peril involving money. Those who love money will not be satisfied with money, nor they who love abundance with their income. 

Ecc 7:12, “For wisdom is protection just as money is protection,
But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors.”

Note: Many consider money is protection. The rich has money so they build iron-gated house and live in iron-gated community. The super-rich hire body guards to protect them and their family members. They have safety vaults with plenty of cash, jewelry, and treasures. They display costly paintings and antiques and sculptures in their mansion. They live in a multi-room mansion with modern facilities and conveniences. They live in luxury. They install electronic warning system. They maintain electronic surveillance with a number of cameras. They bought multimillion dollars health, life and casualty insurances. They donated a large sum of money to candidates of both parties. They have a troupe of lawyers and advisers and private physicians. They mingle with other rich, powerful, and famous. They own luxurious cars with bullet proof. They hire a group of male and female servants to serve them. One thing that money cannot buy protection is the length of their lives. Another thing that money cannot buy is peace, security and happiness.

Isa 55:2, “Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And delight yourself in abundance.”

Note: Poor money managers may spend money for what is not bread and for what does not satisfy. Money can buy sex that does not satisfy. There is no guarantee the rich can delight themselves in abundance.

Mat 21:12-13, “And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’; but you are making it a ROBBERS’ DEN.” Jhn 2:14-15, “And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables, and He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.”

Note: You may not know that some religious establishment is a Robbers’ Den. Some cult leaders are among the richest in the world. Not a few merchandise the Gospel such as prosperity gospel preachers, etc. The Roman Catholic Church is the richest religion in the world. Many governments are the most corrupt Robbers’ Dens. The national leaders and officials swallow up trillions of dollars like a black hole. 

Mat 25:27,‘Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest.”

Note: Yes, you can put the money in the bank and earn interest. This does not mean Jesus Christ endorses the banking system of the world. You can put your money in an American bank like City Bank, but the rules and regulations are established to favor the bank tremendously and unjustly. Why the American banking system is so unfair and predatory that if you put your money of  $15,000  at an American bank like Citibank, you may only earn more or less  $0.13 (13 cents) a month, at an annual rate of  0.01%,  which is  $1.80 a year. If you do not maintain a balance of $15,000, the bank will charge you $20 a month, which is $240 a year. The bank also charges you $5 for each check issued. It is possible that your money in the bank may dwindle to zero and you still owe bank’s charges. If you borrow from the bank mortgage interest rate is 1 Year ARM 4.14% , Credit Card is 13.24% – 20.24% APR based on credit worthiness, and 48 month new car loan is 2.9%. Do you see how capitalism exploits and extorts and robs the people? Why do the banks make all the rules that enrich themselves and the government approves them? The rate on the 10-year Treasury is just 1.62 percent. This is the beauty of capitalism, the government let banks to practice monopoly and set almost zero interest for savings but high interest for loans. This is the kind of democracy American leaders are so proud of in making the 1 percent of the population very rich at the expense of 99 percent of the population. 

Mat 26:9,“For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.”

Note: The man who made this statement is no other than Judas the traitor. He was a thief, not concerned with the poor. Beware of the thief’s charity. In America charity can take in $100 and gives out only $1 for charity and is still considered charity, in fact it is not a real charity but robbery. 

Mat 28:11-15, “Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep. And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.” And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.”

Note: In ancient time the Jewish establishment gave a large sum of money to the soldiers and told them to make a fake report that the disciples of Jesus came by night and stole Him away while they were asleep. They were so afraid of the truth that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Today, Western media daily and habitually makes fake news, fake reports, fake views and spreads lies to smear and tarnish other nations that European and American governments do not like.

Mar 12:41-44, “And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”

Mar 14:11, “They were glad when they heard this, and promised to give him money. And he began seeking how to betray Him at an opportune time.” Luk 22:5, “They were glad and agreed to give him money.” In many transactions, money is used as the basis of agreement. There is a price for almost anything. Once among the British high society ladies, a shrewd and shameless man asked a lady would she be willing to have sex with him for £100? The woman said no. Then he asked again how about £1 million ? The woman was silent.  

Luk 3:14, “Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.”

Luk 16:8-15, “And his master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light. And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings. He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.”

Note: There are two views or perspectives: in the sight of men is the human perspective; in the sight of God is the divine view. If you take ethics, conduct, character, logic, reason, science, and philosophy from the point of view of man, you are all wrong. If you take all things based on the sight of God, you are all right.

Act 22:28, “The commander answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.” And Paul said, “But I was actually born a citizen.”

Note: I heard many Chinese spent a large sum of money to acquire Shanghai hukou (household registry). In ancient time, people also paid a large sum of money to acquire a Roman citizenship. Apparently, money helps you to acquire what otherwise you cannot acquire. Here lies the root cause of corruption. Many illegal transactions are made possible by money. Former American presidents and high ranking officials become filthy rich by selling political connections and influence.

2Ti 3:1-5, “But realize this, that in the last days perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; avoid such men as these.”

Note: Perilous in Greek is chalepos which means fierce; dangerous; hard to do or bear; troublesome; harsh; savage; difficult; grievous; hazardous; precarious; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Now is in the last days and it is perilous times. The most terrible and undesirable things that characterize the last days are men of lovers of self, lovers of money, and lovers of pleasure — the threefold love. These characteristics make men very dangerous. Men of lovers of self, lovers of money, and lovers of pleasure would dare and do almost anything to achieve their three objectives. On top of them, these men are boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, not lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power. Christians are told to avoid such men as these. Having read the Scriptures cited above depicting and describing what money entails and involves in many aspects of life, you may realize why the Bible teaches that Christians must be free from the love of money. You may understand the meaning the love of money is the root of all evil. If you watch your national news, it becomes apparent how the love of money, power, and sex are controlling and ruining the world.

Heb 13:5, “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU.”

Note: Character in Greek is tropos which means manner of life; way of life; mode or style; fashion; deportment; conduct; – which occurs 12 times in the New Testament. It is of utmost importance that the Christian character is free from the love of money. This is the will of God. Anyone who loves money does not love God. To be content is to be satisfied, to be enough, to be sufficient. Greed is bottomless, a greedy person is never enough. Be content with what you have. A man deplores so much because he does not have shoes and barefooted until he met a man who has no feet. He realized it is better to be barefooted without shoes than to have shoes without feet. To a Christian, wealth is not the most important thing in his life.

1Co 1:26-28, “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are.”

Note: God calls many people out of this world to be His children. Those who are Christians there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble. In other words, there are not many intelligentsia, academics, scientists and philosophers who become Christians. There are not many presidents, prime ministers, generals, high ranking officials who become Christians. There are not many noble and royalty who become Christians. God has called many poor, despised, and ordinary people in the world. There is no theoretical exaltation of poverty in the Scriptures. There is historical fact that Jesus Christ became poor for our sake. Mat 8:20, “Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” For a preacher to own multi-million dollar mansion, have private jet, large bank account, drive fancy car, and live in luxury is neither the imitation of Christ nor following in His steps.

Christians do not belong to this world. Jas 4:4, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” For this reason, God wants to nullify the things that are, the order and system of this world. Phl 1:27, “Above all, you must live as citizens of Heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the Faith, which is the Gospel.” Christian are citizens of Heaven, standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the Faith, which is the Gospel.

Phl 3:20-21, “For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”

Note: As citizens of Heaven, Christians do not fix their hope on this world. Christians eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ to come back to earth, who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory. Flesh and blood cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. When Jesus Christ returns to judge the world and reign with the saints, He will first raise the dead in Christ to be caught up in the space to meet the Lord. Those Christians who are still alive their bodies will be transformed into spiritual, glorious, and immortal bodies by the power of God. This is called the redemption of our bodies. The second coming of Jesus Christ is the most important event to take place in the universe. The so-called good life in this world is no comparison with the eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

Mat 10:39, “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”

Note: The executives of Washington, Wall Street, Hollywood, military-industrial-security complex, corrupt and fraudulent doctors and hospital owners, lawyers, etc. may think they have “found life” because they own most of the power and wealth in the world, Jesus says they will lose their life. Because they have the present worldly life and they do not have eternal life. He who has lost his life for Jesus’ sake will find it.

Mat 16:24-27, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.”

Note: Jesus Christ makes it clear, if anyone wishes to come after Jesus, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Jesus. Those who wish to seek their lives in this world will lose them. What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Soul is the most precious thing that a man has and that nothing can give in exchange. The Son of Man means the Son of God, Jesus Christ, is coming again and He will repay every man according to his deeds.

Luk 12:15, “Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”

Note: Jesus says to all Christians: Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed. There are many forms of greed. There is every kind of greedy desire. There are greedy desires for money, power, sex, position, vain glory, honor, luxury, pleasure, jewelry, precious collections, publicity, and costly electronic gadgets and conveniences.

1Sa 2:7, “The LORD makes poor and rich;
He brings low, He also exalts.”

Note: Does it mean the Lord makes all the poor and rich? No. Evidently, most of the rich make rich themselves. Most of the poor make poor themselves. It is a fallacy to believe the divinely ordained disparity divides men into two classes: the rich and the poor. There are many people who are born rich because their ancestors and parents were rich. So they were born with advantages that others do not have. They were born with a silver spoon in their mouth, so to speak. There are also many who are born poor because they were born in poor countries and their parents were poor. Do you see most of the economic refugees come from what countries and what parts of the world? The Lord made Abraham rich. The Lord made Solomon very rich. Some simple-minded ascribe the condition of wealth and poverty to chance, and say therefore of the rich are fortunate, and the poor are unlucky. Little they know that in the last 500 years or more, European imperialists and colonialists and later American imperialists and colonialists who claimed to be Christian nations have lied, killed, and robbed the resources and wealth of many nations in Asia, Latin America, and Africa to enrich themselves. With the ample resources and a superfluity of wealth they robbed from conquered nations, Europeans and Americans built up their infrastructure, science and technology, transportation, manufacturing, trade, education, public health, luxurious edifice, etc. With their absolute military supremacy, they singularly monopolize the international currency, finance, economy, trade, transportation, diplomacy, etc. to dominate and dictate the whole world. Europe and America own most of the power and wealth in the world today absolutely not by chance or luckiness, and it would be most blasphemous and sacrilegious to claim that God who makes Europe and America rich. The disparity of the poorest and most backward nations in the world is compounded with the most corrupt and spendthrift and ignorant leaders. Iniquity upon iniquity is the mass culture of laziness and non-productiveness. All those poor and backward nations should adopt the Protestant ethics for survival and progress. At the same time, Luk 7:22, “And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.” Gal 2:10, “They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do.” Act 20:35, “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” There is no doubt that Christians need to practice mercy and have duty to help the poor and suffering. Jas 1:27, “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”

Amo 6:4, “Those who recline on beds of ivory
And sprawl on their couches,
And eat lambs from the flock
And calves from the midst of the stall.”

Note: The Scripture cited above describes how the rich live.

Jas 5:1-6, “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten.  Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you.”

Note: God warns the rich in the Scriptures cited above. A special sin committed by the rich is withholding wages. Many migrant workers suffer that injustice in China where companies withhold pay of their laborers. Democracy which Western nations are so proud of is the practice of capitalism which enriches the 1 percent at the expense of the 99 percent. 

Mar 10:21-30, “Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven; and come, follow Me.” But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property. And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the Kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.”  They were even more astonished and said to Him, “Then who can be saved?” Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.”  Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the Gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.”

Note: The poor rich young ruler who chose rather his much property and not willing to have treasure in Heaven, come and follow Jesus is to receive eternal life. Poverty by itself is never exalted in the Bible. Wealth is denounced because it is an hindrance for entering the Kingdom of God. In fact, God wants Christians to be rich in faith. Jas 2:5, “Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” 

Note: The Christian teaching is not about poverty as a means to the enrichment of the spirit. The Christian teaching is about to be rich in faith. To be rich in faith is to love the Lord. The importance is not whether a Christian is rich or poor, but to be rich in faith and love the Lord. 2Co 8:9,  “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” Through the poverty of Jesus Christians become rich. Rich in money? No. Rich in faith. To be heirs of the Kingdom of God is to be rich in faith. Imagine the new Heaven and new earth, the New Jerusalem, the Holy City, the eternal life, the Kingdom of Heaven, etc. all belong to you. Are you not rich?

Mat 5:3,“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Note: There is a distinction between the poor and poverty. To preach the Gospel to the poor is God’s priority. Isa 61:1-2, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed Me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD and the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn.”

However, the Bible never says the poor are blessed. Do not confuse the poor with poverty. The Bible never praises and endorses poverty. Poverty is not a blessing. Poverty is never a happy thing. People who are destitute and desperate can never be happy. It does not mean the rich are happy too. To be poor in spirit means to have a low opinion of oneself, to be conscious that we are unworthy sinners, and have no righteousness of our own; to be humble and willing to be saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; to be obedient to God, to bear the cross and follow Jesus, and to do the will of God without self-seeking, vain glory, and unholy ambition.

Mat 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

Psa 42:1-2, “For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.
As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God?”

Psa 63:1, “A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly;
My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.”

Note: Be alert, Jesus never says, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst. I know what hunger is, because I had suffered hunger before. The body is natural to hunger for food and thirst for drink. The soul must hunger and thirst for righteousness. What is righteousness? Righteousness is not a ‘high-minded’ man with a mere feeling of noblesse oblige.

Deu 6:25, “It will be righteousness for us if we are careful to observe all this commandment before the LORD our God, just as He commanded us.” To obey the commandment before the Lord our God is righteousness for us. Psa 15:2, “He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart.” The righteous walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. Psa 18:24, “Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His eyes.” The righteous has the cleanness of hands in the eyes of God. Do you know any leaders or high ranking officials of any nations who have clean hands in the eyes of God? Pro 11:5, “The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way,
But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.” The wicked are the opposite of the righteous, the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. Pro 11:18, “The wicked earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness gets a true reward.” The wicked doctors and hospitals in America earn deceptive wages with impunity, because of their fraudulent, predatory and overcharge practices millions of patients went bankrupt. Pro 14:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” If you find a righteous nation in this world, please let me know. Pro 16:8, “Better is a little with righteousness than great income with injustice.” The richest and most powerful people in the world today have great income with injustice.

2Co 6:7, “in the Word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left.”

Note:  Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, hunger and thirst for the Word of truth in the power of God. They shall be satisfied. Gal 5:5-6, “For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.” Eph 5:9, “(for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth).” 1Jo 3:7, “Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.” American and European powers do not practice righteousness, they deceive themselves by claiming to be Christian nations because they lie, kill, and rob many nations and peoples.

An enemy of Christ held that ‘Christian ethics inevitably, through the emphasis laid upon sexual virtue, did a great deal to degrade the position of women.” This is a vicious lie coming out right from the bottomless pit. For Jesus lifts up women to the highest level by saying, Mat 12:50, “For whoever does the will of My Father who is in Heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.” Jesus calls woman who does the will of God as His sister and mother. Luk 8:21, “But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.” Pro 11:16, “A gracious woman attains honor,
and ruthless men attain riches.” Pro 31:30, “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.” Mat 5:28, “but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Next time, when you look at a woman, remember the Word of Jesus, not with lust for her to commit adultery with her in your heart. If we cannot even look at a woman with lust, how dignified we would treat a woman. Mat 5:32, “but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” Mat 19:9, “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” Man no longer can divorce his wife at will and without reason. Divorce is forbidden, thereby woman right is protected. Polygamy is unlawful, therefore women right is upheld. Women are emancipated from being sex slaves and abuse by men. 1Co 11:11, “However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.” Gal 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” On earth there is a difference in gender. In Heaven all Christians are one in Christ Jesus, sons of God like angels; there is neither male nor female, neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free man. Christians are all one in Christ Jesus forever.

Jhn 8:47,“He who is of God hears the Words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.” He who is of God hears the Words of God. Jesus says, Jhn 10:27, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” 

Jhn 4:13-14, “Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

Note: Do you want the water that Jesus will give you, a well of water springing up to eternal life, and shall never thirst?

Jhn 6:35, “Jesus said to them, “I AM the Bread of Life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”

Note: This is the Good News in Christ. Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life. He who comes to Jesus will not hunger, and he who believe in Christ will never thirst. Wonderful news, and absolutely free.

Jhn 7:37-38, “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’

Note: Dear reader, Jesus has the Bread of Life and living water, won’t you come to Him now? You will be satisfied in Christ which the world does not offer and money cannot buy. This is the meaning rich in faith.

1Ti 6:6-11, “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the Faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.”

Note: This is the final and ultimate message for a every Christian to remember as long as he lives in this world: For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. What Christians pursue in this world is not money, power, and sex. Christians pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.

My dear reader, you have learned so much from the Scriptures about the Christians as a group of people called, and chosen by God. There is nothing like becoming a Christian, because to become a Christian is to become a son of God. To become a son of God is to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal life with power and glory.

Would you now accept and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

You can do it right now no matter who you are and where you are.

WILLIE WONG THOUGHT
WILLIE WONG
AUGUST 7, 2025
https://williewong.cw.center/wp-admin
Copyright © 2018 – 2025 by Willie Wong

ARE DEPORTATION EFFORTS HURTING THE ECONOMY? WRONG QUESTION. RIGHT QUESTION: ARE ILLEGAL ALIENS HURTING AMERICA? Most of illegal aliens are on welfare, there are 45 million unlawful migrants already residing in America, including their children born in America who are not citizens. America needs to deport illegal aliens without further delay. To warn Mexico not to be an unlawful door for unlawful migrants to invade America, America needs to drop a few bombs on Mexico City to DETER them.

ON September 3, 2025 for China to mark 80^th anniversary of victory over Japanese aggression and fascism is a historical necessity and hard-earned victory. All foreigners who heroically sacrificed their lives for China in their fight against Japanese aggression must individually be commemorated and remembered, their relatives are eternal friends of China. I  have never seen such a great parade before, the size and scope of it would overwhelm your mind; every aspect of it was systematically planned, every step of male and female soldiers was of uniform procedures, every military vehicle with all nuclear missiles and every war airplane in the sky well performed; the words such as grand, massive, superb, magnificent fail to describe the whole celebration. I wholeheartedly salute every Chinese military man and woman who participated. From 1931-1945, the brutal behavior of Japanese and its inhuman atrocities were worse than wild beasts and deserve ten atomic bombs in recompense. Even today Japanese government and leaders do not admit and repent of their war crimes, they worship executed war criminals as their national heroes and living gods. Japan never apologizes and pays compensation for killing 35 million Chinese, made hundreds of thousands sex slaves, millions of labor slaves and untold atrocities. Never again will China be oppressed. I am sure the militant Japan is deterred, but America is on the wrong side of history. Thank God it did not rain.

The mayors of Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Chicago are for crooks and criminals, they must be dismissed and deported. All the facts point to the need, Ukraine must be destroyed and its leader executed in order to end the war. Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis are terrorists and the countries that harbor them must be destroyed all together.

Since Gaza, West Bank, etc. are the Jewish lands, Palestinians must evacuate from all Jewish lands and flee to Arab lands where they are safe to receive international aid and build a Palestinian state of their choice.

The leader of Ukraine is corrupt and evil. Ukrainians are stupid to follow the path of destruction. He was the one who instigated war with Russia. Now he asks for security guarantees. The nincompoop should be executed to end the war.

Palestinians, Africans, and others serve as example of peoples who want to eat and do not want to work. UN, WHO, EU, etc. champion their cause. Palestinians do not want evacuate from Gaza, Jewish lands to resettle in Arab lands. Because they will lose their status as refugees where they can get their food, fuel, water, medicine and everything for free from international community. These problems multiply with the passage of time.

UN, EU, GERMANY, UK, FRANCE, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZELAND, ETC. are strange and unreasonable peoples. Who is stopping Palestinians to build a Palestinian state in an Arab land? It is wrong and illegal to build a Palestinian state in Jewish land (Gaza, West Bank, etc.). That is the cause of conflict.

The fact that National Guards have to patrol Washington, D.C. with weapons speaks loudly and badly of the capital. The mayor of Washington, D.C. should be dismissed and deported. All the more urgent the national capital should move to Lincoln, Nebraska, without delay.

The mayor of Washington, D.C. bowed to the illegal acts of street people who set up tents on public streets. She should be dismissed and deported. The National Guards are empowered to trash the tents, clear the streets and vanish street people. Los Angeles is a disgraced city because the California Governor and Los Angeles mayor failed to solve the problems of street people who not only set up tents on public streets, but also urinate and defecate. All the more urgent for the national capital to move to Lincoln, Nebraska. In the face of national debt exceeding $37 trillion, the people can save money by abolishing the House, retain the unicameral legislation of Senate to move also to Lincoln Nebraska. All this can be accomplished legally by a national referendum. America is ruined by dark and evil forces.

Heroes of all races who sacrificed their lives for China in the war against Japanese aggression should be celebrated and remembered. The descendants of them are eternal friends of China. Descendants of American Flying Tiers whose forefathers had sacrificed their lives in the war against Japanese aggression and atrocities must always be honored and remembered. The Chinese government must treat them as eternal friends, and they are welcome to China anytime. Such blood bonds must be appreciated and maintained forever.

The world wrongly marks the anniversary of dropping atomic bomb on Hiroshima while neglecting the Japanese aggression and atrocities of killing 35 million innocent Chinese without remorse or reparations. UN over–appointed unqualified blacks and media have given too much coverage to unworthy black spoke-persons. It is amazing no matter how beautifully white organizations and individuals hail human rights, civil rights, democracy, development, technology, benefits, justice, etc., what they are actually after is MONEY. This can be said equally true about blacks.

Pet economy is wasted economy. Money should better be spent on nutrition and education of children and orphans. In cities all dogs must have annual license of Y5,000, cats Y4,000, and birds Y3,000. It is exempt for rural areas. If a dog defecates in public place, it shall be fined Y3,000 plus cleanup by owner or walker.

Global media highlight the number of Palestinians who have died, but fail to consider why Palestinian Authority and Palestinians do not want to evacuate from Jewish land and resettle in Arab land. Palestinians, men and women, young and old, are shameless beggars. They remain in Gaza to qualify for refugees so that they can get everything free from international community. The international community is ignorant of the fact that GAZA and related territories all belong to the Jews. Israel has every right to take back and take over Gaza and related territories. Palestinians must evacuate and relocate to Arab lands, make a living and establish its own Palestinian state without further delay.

French nincompoop Macron recognized Palestine as a state but failed to know that Palestine does not have territory and sovereignty. Leaders of UK, GERMANY, AUSTRLALIA would commit the same mistake by supporting terrorists. Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis are wicked terrorists, they should be destroyed without mercy. Leaders of Palestinian Authority are guilty for the death and malnutrition of children because they lead Palestinians to the path of destruction. They could have led Palestinians to lands of Arabs to earn a living and build their own Palestinian state. Palestinians (young & old, man & woman) are most shameless beggars for food & water, they don’t want to go to an Arab land to earn a living and build their own Palestinian state. Africa amid famine has the most fat people in the world, they are also shameless beggars. Ukrainians are shameless beggars for weapons, they do not have reason for existence. Harvard though the richest university in the world is a shameless beggar for US aid. Japan claims to practice democracy, its ruling party lost election miserably, yet its prime minister shamelessly wants to stay in power. The world must realize years of aid to Africa produced nothing, trillions of dollars went to black holes.  Africa is corrupt, unmotivated and useless. Black leaders and politicians take advantage of it; dress well, eat well, and live a luxurious life style. Black problems can be solved only by Blacks. Let Africa alone to survive on its own. Blacks create most of the problems in the world, given too much coverage and platform in world media, over–appointed and given too many spokespersons and positions in UN. Any nation who shares destiny with Africa will be doomed. Nothing good comes out of Africa: primitive religion, superstition, spiritism, orgies, black magic, tribalism, voodooism.

If the Texas flooding is an act of God; Ukraine conflict, and conflicts of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthis must be acts of the devil.

India must coexist with China, at the same time India and South Africa must be expelled from BRICS besause they do not remain true to BRICS’ founding mission, they do not belong, must be replaced by Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. US and EU must not rearm Ukraine, let Russia destroy it, and never to be rebuilt. The leader of Ukraine must also be executed.

Palestinian Authorities are guilty for leading Palestinians to a path of death, children died and suffer malnutrition.  Palestian Authorities do not lead Palestinians (who are Arabs) to a land of Arabs to work for a living and build the Palestinian state.

American forces have successfully wiped out three Iranian nuclear sites through B-2 bombers. The “everlasting consequence” is Iran cannot be a nuclear threat anymore. I stand with the overwhelming majority of Dutch people to demolish NATO — the war machine.