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What God had done in the UNIVERSE cannot be counted, the most important matters what God had done are written in the Holy Bible for mankind to examine and study and learn. God had done innumerable things that are not recorded in the Holy Scripture. Here is a living example, I believe God is now using COVID-19 to warn and punish the world for its sins and iniquities before the second coming of Jesus Christ. Apparently American and Western leaders and politicians have not got the message. They wrongly charge and blame China for creating CORONAVIRUS; how could a weak and poor China have such an ability and power to make such violent and virulent virus?
The infection and death toll are expected to rise, and no one knows exactly when and how the Pandemic will end.
God had done trillions of things in the universe which are not privy to mankind to know. Nothing is impossible with the Omnipotent Almighty God. What God had done were innumerable, incalculable and incomprehensible for humans to understand. Some major things or events God intended for mankind to know and so God commanded prophets and apostles to write them down in the Holy Bible. The following are just a few:
1. God created the Heavens and the Earth。
Gen 1:1, “In the beginning God created the Heavens (universe) and the Earth.”
Note: God in Hebrew is ‘elohiymwhich means the true God, the One and Only God, the Divine One; – it occurs 2,606 times in the Old Testament. God existed by Himself before anything. God is Self-Existent and eternal. Beginning here means before time and space, before everything. Create in Hebrew is bara’which means to form, shape, produce, make out of nothing; – it occurs about 54 times in the Old Testament. Heavens in Hebrew is shamayimwhich means the universe; – it occurs about 420 times in the Old Testament.
Gen 2:4, “These are the generations of the Heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the Heavens.”
Note: Some ignorant people say the Bible says the world was created 6,500 years ago. It is absolutely false. The Bible only says in the beginning God created the universe. The Bible does not define how long ago the beginning was. No one exactly knows when the universe was created. Unbelieving scientists only make estimate, the estimate with gaps of billions of years. The unbelieving scientists do not even know when they are going to die, how can they know events billions and billions of years ago since they were not there?
One look at the night sky will reveal that the universe is a very big place. With the sky splattered with small dots of slightly different colors and brightness, some that twinkle and some that do not, it is hard to vividly imagine that each of those dots are billions of miles away and millions of miles in diameter. And what we see is NOT all that is there.
So What is Out There?
Our Universe contains billions of stars arranged in groups called galaxies, patterns called constellations, pairs called star systems, or stars just flying solo. Gases, dust particles (the size of planets), and nebulae also grace space with their spectacular presence.
When we look up at the stars at night, they seem inches apart, however inches is further from the truth. They are light years away. We use light years to measure the distance from star to star. Light travels at a whopping 186,000 mi/sec or 5,869,713,600,000 (pronounced 5 Trillion 869 Billion 713 million 600 hundred thousand) miles per year! Thus the term light year. Even though some of these stars are thousands of light years apart They are also thousands of light years away. So how do astronomers determines a star’s size and brightness if they are so far away?”
You see how wonderful is the universe, the wonder of God’s creation, not big bang or small bang. Abraham was the first man to know by revelation that the stars in the universe are not countable.
Gen 15:5, “And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the Heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
2. God made the beast after its kind。
Gen 1:25, “And God made the beast of the earth after its kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creeps upon the earth after its kind: and God saw that it was good.”
Note: The word “kind” in Hebrew is miynwhich means kind, sort, species; – it occurs 31 times in the Old Testament. God made animal after its kind, after its own species. That was the origin of the species. God created animals and plants after its own species. The greatest scientific myth is a lower species after billions of years evolved into a higher species. For thousands of years monkey remains to be monkey, but man has degraded into monkey. The theory of evolution is the greatest scientific myth without proof.
“Everyone wants hard figures, but the fact is that estimating the number of animal species that inhabit our planet is an exercise in educated guesswork. The challenges are numerous.
Species counts are biased by our tendency to study certain organisms more than others. Birds, as a group, have been extensively studied, so scientists believe that the estimated number of bird species alive today (between 9,000 to 10,000) is a relatively good approximation of the actual number. On the other hand, nematodes, also known as roundworms, are a little-studied group of invertebrates and consequently, we have little grasp of how diverse they may be.
Habitat can make counting animals difficult. Animals that live in the deep sea are not easy to access, so naturalists have less understanding of their diversity. Organisms that inhabit the soil or parasitize other animals are likewise challenging to locate and therefore difficult to quantify. Even terrestrial habitats, like the Amazon rainforest, can present insurmountable obstacles to a species census.
Animal size often complicates the detection and counting of species. In many instances, the smaller species are more difficult to find and count. “
3. God created man in His own image.
Gen 1:27, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
Note：The word “create” in Hebrew is bara’which is different from the word “make” in Hebrew `asah.To make is a lower level of activity, to create is a much higher.
Image in Hebrew is tselem which means likeness or resemblance; – it occurs about 17 times in the Old Testament. Since God is Spirit, what kind of image is God’s? The image of God does not refer to physical characteristics; it refers divine attributes of God’s holiness, righteousness, truth and goodness. Some ungodly people have lost the image of God, they have degraded into monkeys (animals) – corrupt, greedy, immoral, base, evil, wicked…
Mar 10:6, “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.”
Note: With the authority of Jesus Christ, the first man (Adam) and woman (Eve) were NOT a product of evolution, but they were the direct creation of God. I would rather believe in Jesus Christ than all the monkey scientists of all ages put together because they could not even know the day of their deaths. You cannot claim to be a Christian and be an evolutionist at the same time. An evolutionist can repent and become a Christian. A Christian can never become an evolutionist. There is a former American president who advertised himself as a born-again Christian but he is an evolutionist. Evolution is contradiction to the clear teaching of Jesus Christ. Therefore no one can be a Christian and an evolutionist at the same time. An evolutionist can be converted to become a Christian, a Christian can never become an evolutionist.
Gen 1:27, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
The wonder of wonders was the creation of man. God created man in His own image. What is the Image of God? Image means likeness. Of course, it does not mean the physical likeness, for God is Spirit and He does not have a body like man.
The Scripture says, Eph 4:24,“and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” The likeness of God is composed of righteousness, holiness and truth. So the more a Christian has righteousness, holiness and truth, the more he is like God. The wicked do not have righteousness, holiness and truth
and so they are like the children of the devil.
Man is a tripartite: body, soul, and spirit. 1Th 5:23, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“How do the 100 trillion neural connections in our brains work together to create the feeling of being alive? Many great thinkers consider consciousness to be the biggest mystery not just of the human body, but the biggest one, period. As the neuroscientist V.S. Ramachandran put it, “[A]ny single brain, including yours, is made up of atoms that were forged in the hearts of countless, far-flung stars billions of years ago. These particles drifted for eons and light-years until gravity and chance brought them together here, now. These atoms now form a conglomerate — your brain — that can not only ponder the very stars that gave it birth but can also think about its own ability to think and wonder about its own ability to wonder. With the arrival of humans, it has been said, the universe has suddenly become conscious of itself. This, truly, is the greatest mystery of all.”
I do not know about billions of years ago, I know God created man in His likeness is one of the greatest mysteries. I do not know how scientists measure it, we are told that our body holds about 60,000 miles of blood vessels.
4. God blessed them。
Gen 1:28, “And God blessed them, and God said to them: Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Note: Instead of filling the earth with good things, men have filled the earth with violence and corruption, injustice and evil, pollution and destruction.
5. God planted the Garden of Eden。
Gen 2:8, “And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there He put the man whom He had formed.”
Note: Plant in Hebrew is nata`which means to set, fasten, fix, establish; – it occurs 58 times in the Old Testament. The Bible says, God planted a garden; Noah planted a vineyard ( Gen 9:20), and Abraham planted a tamarisk tree (Gen 21:23) — all use the same original word to plant in Hebrew. I could imagine how Noah planted a vineyard or Abraham planted a tamarisk tree. I have no idea how God planted the Garden of Eden. It must be a perfect masterpiece. Interesting is the fact the Bible does not say that God created the garden as He created the universe, and I do not know why. God made a perfect place (the Garden of Eden) for human to live and enjoy, but because of human disobedience the Paradise was lost. God planted the Garden, men created cities which are no better than jungles. Cities no longer have wild animals, but many humans in cities are worse than beasts. For example, the prime minister of Japan denied all Japanese war crimes, genocide, and sex slavery and even said Japanese wicked soldiers fought for peace in South Pacific. Beasts do not know how to distort historical facts, evil leaders do. Men pollute the world with cars, carnage, carcass, carcinogen, cigarette, crooks and criminals. Western leaders and politicians out of the blue make many false accusations and charges against Russian and China for the purpose of maintaining world dictatorship and domination.
6. God commanded Adam.
Gen 2:16, “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying: Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat.”
Note: The greatest ability of man is obedience. The first man disobeyed God and brought sin into the world. The last Man (Christ) obeyed God and brought salvation to the world.
7. God caused Adam a deep sleep.
Gen 2:21, “So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs, and closed up its place with the flesh.”
Note: This was the first surgery ever performed, performed by God on Adam. In simple words it explained the standard surgical procedure: God put Adam on a deep sleep (anesthesia), took out one of his ribs (incision, rib to be used for making Eve) and closed up its place with the flesh (suture).
Gen 41:52, “And the name of the second he called Ephraim. For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
Note: God is the first Cause. God can cause anything to happen. But God cannot force you to repent and believe if you are not willing. God has given you freewill. God cannot lie because that is against His nature. God has power not to do wrong, God is able to do right always. God can cause an empire to rise and a kingdom to fall. What God can do is infinite and unlimited. Blessed is the person who attributes all his prosperity and success to God.
8. God saw the wickedness of man.
Gen 6:5, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
Note： God saw the greatest fraud and biggest robbery committed by Wall Street in 2008 in human history which robbed the world $50 trillion dollars. God saw all the corruption, injustice, oppression, sanction and violence in the world. Those who did evil think they can get away are gravely mistaken. In the infamous Opium Wars, America, Britain, other Western nations and Japan attacked, killed, burned, robbed and looted China national treasures worth at least market value of US$100,000 trillion dollars not counting years of interest. You can see the priceless China national treasures at the American, European, Japanese and other public and private and royal museums.
God saw the wickedness of Japanese aggressors who killed 50 million peoples (35 million Chinese and 15 million Asians), making hundreds of thousands of Chinese and Korean young women sex slaves and committed unprecedented atrocities in the history of mankind. Japanese soldiers bombed and destroyed China’s national treasures, public and private properties in continuous 14 years of war worth damages US $12,000 trillion. God saw American presidents and politicians since the end of World War II in hundreds of unjust wars and bloody military interventions that killed millions and millions of innocent peoples around the world. God sees the killing and beheading of multitudes daily done by the Islamic terrorists. God sees the wickedness of every man, woman and child in the world.
Gen 6:12 , “And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.”
Note: The Great Flood (the Deluge) was the judgment of God and the Ark of Noah was the means of salvation. God saw how Western powers in the last 500 years have lied, killed, and robbed the world. God sees what the United States of America has done since the end of World War II to the present time. God see all atrocities and brutalities committed by Japanese aggressors. God sees the evil deeds of Islamic terrorists.
9. God made promise to Abraham.
Hbr 6:13, “For when God made promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He swore by Himself.”
Note: God promised Abraham that Messiah shall come to save the Chosen People and the world.
In the beginning there was Israel and the Jews. There was no Palestine, no Palestinian, no Hamas. Some 4,000 years God gave the Promise Land (which is Israel today) to Abraham and his descendants. The Jews disobeyed God and were scattered all over the world. During the British colonial rule of the Holy Land, illegal Arabs moved in and occupied without payment. Palestinians are actually Arabs. Thus Palestine is an illegal legacy of the British empire. The leaders of the United Kingdom have no moral character and courage to come out to inform the Palestinians and Hamas that they do not have any right of resettlement. No one, not even the United Nations has the authority to give away the Holy Land to Palestinians and Hamas. The two-state proposal is the wrong solution. Palestinians and Hamas cannot establish a Palestinian state on the Jewish land. Because Israel is God’s chosen people, they cannot mix with other races or peoples. The war between Israel and Palestinians and Hamas is wrong and unnecessary. Jerusalem is forever the capital of the great king David. Israel is surrounded by hostile Arab states, but God is the Protector of Israel. Do not become enemies of God, for God will fight for Jerusalem. It is wise for Palestinians and Hamas to seek statehood in Arab lands. All illegal aliens including Palestinians and Hamas must withdraw from the Holy Land or to be evicted by force. It is wise not to claim and fight for something that does not belong to you in the first place. It is wise for Palestinians and Hamas to seek residency in the neighboring Arab states.
10. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
Gen 19:29, “And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot lived.”
Note: God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because the people practiced homosexuality and same-sex marriage. God condemns any church or denomination that ordains gay or lesbian minister. There is no such a thing as a gay Christian. It is incompatible to be gay and Christian at the same time. A gay (male or female) can repent and become a Christian. A Christian can never become gay just as a sheep can never become a goat. Nations that legalize same-sex marriage follow the path of Sodom and Gomorrah and will have the same fate.
Obama and some politicians were advocating and supporting legalization of same-sex marriage and homosexual practice in the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court has legalized same-sex marriage and some politicians glorify homosexuality and same-sex marriage, I am afraid just as God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, God will destroy the United States also. It is a matter of time.
11. God heard the voice of the lad.
Gen 21:17, “And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her: What ails you, Hagar? Fear not; for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is.”
Note: It is Scriptural to say that God especially cares about little children. Christian parents, teach your children to pray. God hears the prayers of His little children. Let us pray and see the work of God.
12. God appeared to Jacob.
Gen 35:9, “And God appeared to Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.”
Note: God appears in the lives of believers many times even without our awareness. There are moments of our lives when God is very near and real. If you get near to God, God will get near to you.
13. God looked upon the children of Israel.
Exd 2:25, “God looked upon the children of Israel, and God took notice of them.”
Note: The nations that vow to destroy Israel, God takes notice of them and will destroy them. God knows the sufferings of Israel. God takes notice of all peoples in the world, good or bad. God especially takes notice of His children. God is looking and watching. No one and nothing escapes God’s sovereignty.
14. God called Moses.
Exd 3:4, “When the Lord saw that he (Moses) turned aside to look, God called him from the midst of the bush, and said: Moses, Moses! And he said: Here I am.”
Note: God called Moses to lead the Israelites exodus from Egypt. God still calls His servants to do something. Moses represents the Law of God. Moses and Prophets represent the Old Testament.
15. God led the people.
Exd 13:18, “So God led the people around through the way of the wilderness to the Red sea; and the children of Israel went up in battle array out of the land of Egypt.”
Note: Just as God in ancient times led the people of Israel out of Egypt to Canaan (the Promised Land), even so today Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit is leading believers (the chosen people) on a pilgrimage to the Holy City – the New Jerusalem, the Kingdom of Heaven.
16. God so loved the world.
Jhn 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Note: This Scripture is the central message of God to mankind. Although the humankind is not lovable and sinful, God loved sinners no matter how unworthy, and sent His Son Jesus Christ to come down to the world to die for sinners so that all who believe in Him may receive forgiveness of sins and inherit eternal life.
The way of salvation is so simple:
(A). God so loved the world even we are all sinners and do not deserve it. Sinners cannot save themselves. No one is good enough to go to Heaven, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The wages of sin is death, that is why we all will die.
(B). Jesus Christ the Savior of the world can save sinners. Jesus Christ came down from Heaven to save sinners by dying on the cross for our sins, and rose from the dead for our justification. Justification means God will justify sinners on account of the redemption that Jesus Christ had accomplished.
(C). By faith in Jesus Christ, sinners can be saved. It is the grace of God for those who repent and believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God, the Lamb of God. Eternal life is a gift of God to all who come and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. You can be saved now by coming to Christ no matter where you are. To accept Jesus Christ is to accept eternal life.
17. God raised Jesus Christ from the dead.
Act 4:10, “Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him this man stands here before you all.”
Act 5:30, “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you slew and hanged on a tree.”
Note: The two cardinal doctrines of Christianity are that Jesus Christ died for sinners on the cross, and rose again from death to justify all who repent and believe in Him as their Lord and Savior. All religious founders were dead and buried in their tombs, only Christianity has the empty tomb for Christ rose from the dead by the power of God.
18. God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit.
Act 10:38, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him.”
Note: Today the Holy Spirit is the sole Representative of Christ on earth who lives in believers, not the Roman Catholic pope falsely so-called.
19. God wrought special miracles by Paul.
Act 19:11, “And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:”
Note: Miracles are demonstrations of the power of God. God manifests His power through signs, wonders and miracles. The Book of Acts is the historical account how God used His apostles to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole world.
20. God made foolish the wisdom of this world.
1 Cr 1:20, “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the sophist of this world? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?”
Note: There are very sinister and sinful people who think they are superior and wise and they have military power and money to rule the world. They do not know in God’s sight, their unholy ambition is foolishness and madness. Most unbelieving scientists are arrogant and big-headed, but they do not even know when they are going to die; how can they know things and events billions and billions of years ago? God will make foolish the wisdom of Wall Street, Washington and Hollywood.
21. God spoke in time past by the prophets.
Hbr 1:1, “God, who at many times and in various manners spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets.”
Note： The Old Testament was mainly the writings of Moses and Prophets inspired by the Holy Spirit.
22. God did not spare the angels who sinned.
2 Pe 2:4, “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to Hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved to judgment.”
Note: If God did not spare the angels who sinned, so God would not spare the wicked people who refuse to repent. Do not fancy you are special and God may spare you! Hell is ready to swallow up all unbelievers and evildoers. When God casts the wicked down to Hell, no one can escape; not even president, king, queen, princess, prince, prime minister, general, chairman, tycoon, Ph.D., scientist, theologian, philosopher, etc.
23. God loved us and sent His Son.
1 Jo 4:10, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
Note: God so loved the world and sent His Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, to save sinners is the central message of the Holy Bible.
Propitiation in Greek is hilasmoswhich means the means of appeasing; atonement; an expiator; propitiating; regaining the favor; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, was the atoning sacrifice on the cross for the sin of mankind. This is one of the most important things God had done for the people of the world. What God had done are too many to count and record.The above are only a few of the most important examples of what God had done.
Propitiation basically means appeasing. Christ was the expiatory sacrifice offered on the cross to appease God. This is the wonderful message from God: For God so loved mankind that He sent His only Son Jesus Christ to be the propitiation for our sins, so that we may be reconciled to God and receive forgiveness and eternal life.
Note: It is impossible to record and report all that God had done. What God had done was history. The articles listed above are only a meaningful small sample of what God did and they were written in the Word of God so that you may believe and know. Before we end, I want to remind you something even more wonderful that Jesus says God is working.
24. God is working.
God causes all things to work together for good.
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.”
A stupid false teacher said because God is at work and so he must work to create and contribute his good deeds to the Kingdom of God. Jesus Christ has accomplished all the redemptive work which no one can add to it. No good deed is good enough to enter the Kingdom of God.
Note: According to this Scripture, we know that God causes all things to work together. No one knows how many are children of God alive today. Say one billion. God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, and to those who are called according to His purpose.” No one knows how marvelous and wonderful God causes all things to work together it is due to His Omnipotence and Omniscience. Man is so helpless and powerless, cannot even make a few things to work together. No one can control time and events. My journey of life is not finished yet, so I do not know what and how God causes all things to work together for my good. Of course I also do not know at all how and what God causes all things to work together for my dear ones. But Jesus tells us that God has been working. It is wonderful to know that my Heavenly Father is working to cause all things work for my good.
To you and me the most important thing God had done was to send Jesus Christ the Son of God to die on the cross for your sins and my sins. If you now repent of your sins and accept and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, you can be saved and receive the eternal life.
*Our mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ absolutely free. We do not want donation. We only want you to know the truth.
THIS ARTICLE IS WRITTEN TO LET YOU KNOW THE WORLD HAS NO WISDOM OF GOD. THE WISDOM OF THE WORLD IS NOT SOUND WISDOM.
Job 28:28, “And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.’”
Sadly American and European leaders and politicians do not fear God and they do not depart from evil.
Today the world is devoid of truth, integrity, and justice. SAD AND SORRY to inform you, the whole world does not have wisdom, understanding, and knowledge; that is why the world is in chaos, a big mess of trouble.
“The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble! God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts!”
Chaos means uproar; rage; trouble; utter confusion; out of order. The world is in chaos because of wars, military interventions, sanctions, injustice, poverty, depravity, famine, oppression, corruption, inequality, deceit, superstition, ignorance, violence, and terror.
The leaders and politicians of the world believe and act and speak as if money, power, and pleasure are the supreme value.
Why so? What is the root cause of the problem? 1Jo 5:19,
“We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the Evil One.” You may be surprised, at the present God is not in charge of the world. The present ruler of the world is the Evil One, the Devil. This does not mean the power of the Devil is greater than the power of God. It simple means God temporarily permits the Devil to rule the world until the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Some Western leaders and politicians think, speak, and act as if they are the dictators of the world. Little they realize that they are only agents of the Evil One, they lie in the power of the devil. Like their father, they continuously and persistently do evil and wrong. There is no wisdom in doing evil and wrong, unrighteousness and injustice. They sway under the evil influence, that explains why otherwise intelligent persons would carry out wicked scheme of world domination and do wicked things to lie, kill, and rob without shame. Thus, Western leaders and politicians call the one percent of population ruling over the 99 percent as democracy and freedom, justice and international order.
I am sad to inform you, billions of people in the world seek wealth; very few people seek wisdom. That is why the world is so bad, confused, chaotic, foolish, mismanaged, misdirected, misinformed, militant, poverty-stricken, uncivilized and violent. Most people in the world do not know wisdom is supreme.
‘Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, yet without wisdom.’
Note: Wisdom in Hebrew is chokmah which means prudence; shrewdness; wits; various learning, knowledge and skill; good sense; ability to discern basic qualities; correct course of action; – which occurs 153 times in the Old Testament. Is it not true that most people you know die without wisdom?
Country that seeks world domination and dictatorship will die without wisdom. People who seek only money, power, and sex will die without wisdom. By definition you should know why wisdom is supreme.
Since childhood I have been seeking and studying wisdom all my life relentlessly and tirelessly. There are basic questions: What is wisdom? What is the nature of wisdom? How do you define wisdom? How can one obtain wisdom? How do you know you have wisdom or not? What are the consequences if you fail to get wisdom? Where can you find wisdom? Why wisdom is supreme? A number of related questions focus on wisdom.
In a lifetime of deliberation I have concluded: Among the most stupid people in the world are those who do not know how to count their time and money. Simply put, they do not know how to use their time and spend money. They are complete failures in this world. However, above all, the most foolish people are those who reject Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, for they will go into eternity of damnation and destruction and punishment.
Knowledge is the ability to recognize what is and what is not (fact), and wisdom is the judgment how to apply knowledge to meet a situation or to solve a problem.If you observe and study the world today, you cannot help to reach the following conclusions:
(1). If you prepare for a wedding because you will have a wedding. If you prepare for a funeral because you will have a funeral. The only two nations which are preparing for war and conducting military exercises continuously and consistently and ceaselessly are America (including NATO) and Japan. You must be fool if you cannot see American and Japanese leaders want war. They deliberately target China and Russia as their enemies although China and Russia do not seek hegemonic power and they do not want to be an empire. But hegemonic powers are bent on aggression and territorial expansion and domination of the world.
(2). Since the end of World War II American and European leaders and politicians have proven to be liars and killers, robbers and hypocrites as demonstrated by hundreds of unjust wars and bloody military interventions they have conducted in killing millions and millions of innocent peoples around the world and making hundreds of millions of peoples living in abject poverty and misery as their war victims. Evil leaders are the world dividers and destroyers as demonstrated by their military acts in dividing Taiwan and China, North and South Korea, North and South Vietnam, pro-America Arab states and anti-America Arab states, etc. The American aggressors with its allies have intruded in the South China Sea and the East China Sear and Yellow Sea to encircle China, with NATO into the Black Sea to target Russia.
(3). Japanese officials shamelessly and immorally deny all Japanese war crimes, genocide, sex slavery and unprecedented atrocities. With the help of American leaders, Japan has re-militarized with the most advanced and deadly weapons.
(4). Taiwan and China will never be united or unified because the America stands in the way and between them. America is afraid of a strong and prosperous China and so it does all dirty and evil deeds bent on to divide and destroy China. Taiwanese leaders are traitors and running dogs of America, they are not Chinese although they may have looked like Chinese. It is proper for Chinese to liberate Taiwan and destroy the enemies.
(5). American leaders are afraid of a strong Russia and stand between Russia and Ukraine and other neighbors to divide and destroy Russia. It was lawful and right for Crimea to rejoin Russia with legal self-determination.
(6). Korea will never be united because the America stands between them. Let South Korean leaders know and recognize that North Korea is not their enemies but brothers; the real enemies are the American leaders. The American leaders want to keep them divided and weak. For South Korea to ditch America is the only path to Korean peaceful reunification.
(7). Let the leaders and peoples ofAsia, etc. beware to be a member of the Axis of Evil is to incur destruction. India must be wise not to fall into the trap.
(8). Let EU ditch the American empire by using NATO solely for the interest of EU, not supporting American aggression and destruction of the world, and seek harmony and prosperity with China and Russia is the best policy.
(9). Let Chinese and Russian leaders and peoples realize that only two nations standing together and joining forces can effectively deter Western aggression and expansion into Asia and Europe because a global nuclear war will bring “mutual destruction” and destruction of the whole world.
Let truth and justice triumph over evil and injustice.
(10). The coming of Jesus Christ to judge the world and reign with the saints is at hand. All kingdoms of the world including the United States, Russia, China, Germany, France, Japan, Canada, India, etc. will become the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Wisdom is not mysteriously embodied in poetry, philosophy or science; Wisdom is the embodiment of God in the Person of Jesus Christ. For Jesus Christ is the Wisdom of God.
1Co 1:22-24，“For indeed Jews ask for signs 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 is the power of God and the wisdom of God.“
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE WORLD?
(1). There is no wisdom in death and destruction.
Pro 11:19，“He who is steadfast in righteousness will attain to life, and he who pursues evil will bring about his own death.”
He who pursues evil will bring about his own death. Warmongers, aggressors, oppressors, imperialists, supremacists, militarists, capitalists, monopolists and terrorists pursue evil and will bring about their own deaths.
Pro 14:12, “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”
It seems right to many who love money, power and sex; but its end is the way of death.
Mat 16:25-26, “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?”
There is nothing you can exchange for your soul.
Jhn 10:10 , “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
It seems America exists for death and destruction, NATO, EU, UK, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, japan etc. are agents of America to sanction and target any nation that does not belong to the Western bloc, in order to bolster and continue American domination in the word.
The work of the devil is to kill and destroy; Jesus Christ came to give life and have it more abundantly to all who come to Him. The wicked will suffer body and soul in eternal destruction in the Lake of Fire.
Ukraine conflict is a case of folly, death, destruction, high inflation, refugees, displaced persons on account of a puppet and nincompoop and obedient of Ukrainian president who wants to join EU and NATO to target Russia.
(2). There is no wisdom in believing in lies.
Rom 1:25 , “For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
There are a species of people in particular world leaders and politicians who believe in the greatest lie: if you tell lies long and loud enough, they will turn into truths. A lie is a lie no matter how long and loud you tell it as a truth will never become a truth. Lie will be defeated because the truth will win in the end.
Japanese leaders and people glorify and worship their convicted and executed war criminals as national heroes and true gods. Japanese officials deny their war crimes, genocide, sex slavery and atrocities. The prime minister of Japan says the Japanese soldiers were fighting for peace in World War II they started. American leaders spread the lie of China and Russia threat. This is the age of lies where politicians and mainstream mass media habitually and routinely spew out lies without shame or reason.
Jas 3:14,“But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie.”
American (including European) and Japanese leaders are jealous of China’s success and so they lie about China threat, etc. and target to destroy China by hook or by crook.
1Jo 2:21,“I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth.”
Western leaders and media have not learned: no lie is of the truth, no matter how long and loud they may tell. No lie is of the truth. There is no truth in the American lie of China threat. There is truth in the two greatest threats in the world today: American imperialism and Islamic terrorism. Truth will be triumphant and the whole world will know about the lies of American and Japanese leaders. American and Japanese leaders not only believe in lies, they tell lies, they manufacture lies, they spread lies, they practice falsehood . Lies are use to cover up their evil deeds. Amid Coronavirus pandemic in 2020, you watch incredibly and ludicrously on TV Western leaders and politicians deliberately and publicly tell the blackest lies about China, Russia, without shame and without conscience!
All lies will be defeated because in the end the truth will win.
(3). There is no wisdom in darkness.
Job 12:25,“They grope in darkness with no light, and He makes them stagger like a drunken man.” Scientists and unbelieving scholars grope in darkness with no light when they promote the scientific myths of evolution and big bang. Western leaders and politicians grope in darkness while they tell lies and stagger like a drunken man.
Mat 6:23,“But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”
American (including European) and Japanese leaders have no light in them because they are blinded by darkness in them. The only rational explanation of those world leaders who lie without shame publicly is because the light that is in them is darkness. How awful when the light in a person is darkness.
Jhn 1:5,“The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”
Many, including unbelieving scientists and scholars, world leaders and politicians, do not comprehend the truth in Jesus Christ, the Light that shines in the darkness.
Rom 13:12, “The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”
This is a great truth: when people do deeds of darkness, there is no light in them. Aggression, intervention and war are deeds of darkness. They may have the most deadly weaponry, but they do not have the armor of light. The armor of light is the truth.
Act 26:18, “To open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.”
Evildoers are under the dominion of Satan, they are blind and they have not turned from darkness to light, from Satan to God. After meeting millions of peoples in the world and after living a long life, it is awful to discover the wicked and evil doers prefer to live in darkness and they love darkness just like pigs love muds.
Western media without shame spreads lies, deceits, falsehoods, fake news and disinformation.
(4). There is no wisdom in arrogance.
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.”
Western leaders and politicians are so ignorant and arrogant to blame China for creating COVID-19 and spread of the pandemic. As far as science is concerned, no man is able to create a virus. The arrogance of the West is based on its domination of the world. It is also based on fear that China shall replace them soon. The greatest threat to the world is not China, but the aggression and expansion of the West.
There are no people more arrogant and lawless and ruthless than American and European leaders and politicians. God knows what American leaders had done since the end of World War II. In the last 500 years European imperialists and colonialists and militarists had done great evil in the world and they have not apologized or made compensations to their victims. God is a God of knowledge and He weighs American and Europeans actions in the world. God knows all the secrets and evil deeds done by American and Western leaders.
Pro 8:13,“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth, I hate.”
I hate the perverted mouth of American and Japanese leaders. I hate evil pride and arrogance and the evil way of any leader or people. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. If you do evil, you do not fear God.
Jas 4:16, “But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.”
American officials boast in their arrogance because America is the sole superpower, all such boasting is evil.
Isa 40:28,“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable.”
There is wisdom in humility, and no wisdom in boasting.
(5). There is no wisdom in war.
Psa 55:21,“His speech was smoother than butter, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.”
The Scriptures cited fit the description of evil leaders. It is clear and definitive America wants to have war with China demonstrated by word and deed. American and Japanese leaders have drawn swords in order to rob and loot China’s territories and resources in the South China Sea and the East China Sea. Warmongers delight in war that is why they prepare for war, conduct endless military exercises, put the most advanced weaponry and thousands of troops at China’s doorsteps and to encircle China and Russia with hundreds of overseas military bases around the world poised to strike. And their spy plans, bombers, aircraft carriers, warships, etc. encroach and violate the air defense zones and territorial waters of China and Russian every day.
In spite of wasting 20 years of war, wasting 8 trillions of dollars, with superior military might and weapons, with deaths of many American soldiers, in August 2021, Afghanistan has fallen into the hands of Taliban. The deadly and fatal mistakes repeated again and again by the American government all because there is no vested sovereign power in the hands of American citizens. American leaders and politicians can do whatever as they please. The American citizens are powerless to stop them. They have all the power and the American people have none. Therefore a Constitutional change is required urgently to vest the sovereign power of America into the hands of American citizens to save America without further delay!!!
Rev 13:4, “They worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?”
God is able to wage war with the beast who is the devil. The beast and all his followers are doomed to lose, doomed to be condemned, doomed to be defeated, and destined to be sent to Hell for eternal punishment.
America can kill 1 billion Chinese, there will still be 400 million Chinese all over the world. China and Russia can kill 350 million Americans, there will not be one American left in the world. So the numbers are against America. Do not start a war that will have mutual destruction and the destruction of the whole world.
(6). There is no wisdom in lust.
Jas 1:14-15, “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.”
Evil leaders are enticed by their own lust to rob and loot China’s territories and resources in the South China Sea and the East China Sea. American leaders are motivated by lust for power and money to dominate and dictate the world. Japanese leaders are motivated by lust for a “great Nippon” to repeat the tragedy of aggression in wars against China and World War II. The American values of money, power and sex can be summed up in the word of lust. For lust of expansion and domination American leaders lie and kill and rob since the end of World War II.
2Pe 1:4 ,“For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”
The world is corrupted by lust. The United States is corrupted by lust. The U.S. is corrupting the world by the lust for power, money and sex. 1Jo 2:16,“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.”
The lust of the flesh is corresponding to American love of sex, the lust of the eyes is the love for money, and the pride of life is the love for power.
(7). There is no wisdom in ignorance.
Eph 4:18,“Being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart.”
American leaders may be educated at the most prestigious universities in the world, but in the sight of God they are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their hearts they pursue absolute military supremacy and world domination. The evidence of the hardness of the hearts of American leaders is frightening, it is evident in their increasing military and political provocations by massive and intrusive and pervasive spying and surveillance activities of China’s vital areas by air and sea and land. The intention of American leaders is clear to destroy China’s nuclear capabilities by first strike. It is the ignorance of American leaders to believe they can win the war against China without destroying themselves. America is able to kill one billion Chinese, but there still will be 400 million Chinese around the world; China and Russia are able to kill 350 million Americans worldwide, there will be not one American left in the world. So the numbers are against America and its allies. They are blinded by unholy ambition and ignore the liability of “mutual destruction” and destruction of the world. American and European leaders and politicians are ignorant of the fact why the so-called democracy and capitalism that benefit only one percent of the population at the expense of 99 percent do not work in the world anymore and the people reject them.
1Co 6:9-10,“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the Kingdom of God.”
Yes, American leaders have their evil empire, but they will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
The Western civilization for thousands of years has gone for the wrong things, namely money, power, and sex. The Western civilization cannot find rest and so white supremacists use imperialism, colonialism, capitalism, supremacism, monopoly, militarism to dictate and dominate the world. The Western civilization uses Christianity, democracy, human rights, freedom, and justice as phony pretenses in order to fool the world. The free world does not want to be enslaved by American and European leaders and politicians.
(8). There is no wisdom in injustice.
Psa 53:1, “For the choir director; according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David. The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God,” They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; there is no one who does good.”
Godless and ungodly people commit abominable injustice.
American and Japanese leaders do not know before God they are fools. The leaders of Japan committed abominable injustice in war crimes, genocide, sex slavery and inhuman atrocities. Unlike Germany that confessed and repented and paid compensations, the evil empire of Japan denies all its liabilities and responsibilities and refuses to pay war reparations and compensations. The prime minister of Japan distorts historical facts and tells blackest lies that Japanese soldiers were fighting for peace in World War II they started. American leaders have committed abominable injustice since the end of World War II in hundreds of unjust wars and bloody military interventions they conducted to kill millions and millions of innocent peoples around the world. Only God knows how many acts and deeds of abominable injustice American and Japanese leaders have committed.
Hos 10:13,“You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice, You have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your way, in your numerous warriors.”
The Scriptures cited fitly describe evil leaders. In particular, American and European leaders who have plowed wickedness and reaped injustice all over the world. They have eaten the fruit of lies in many unjust wars and in the lie of China threat and Russia threat. American leaders trust in their imperial way and in being the sole superpower. The just God will make American leaders pay for their abominable injustice.
Alas, Alas, Alas! There is no truth, integrity, and justice in the world!!!
(9). There is no wisdom in despair.
Psa 42:11,“Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.”
The ungodly are without God and without hope in this world though they may be the richest and most powerful people on earth.
Ecc 2:20,“Therefore I completely despaired of all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun. When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge and skill, then he gives his legacy to one who has not labored with them. This too is vanity and a great evil.”
All human endeavors and undertakings end in despair.
2Co 4:7-8,“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair.”
The whole world is in despair no matter who you are. Only Christians are not in despair because they have hope in God and they are waiting for the second coming of Jesus Christ to reign and rule the new heavens and new earth.
(10). There is no wisdom in unbelief.
Rom 3:3,“What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?”
Poor and miserable unbelieving scientists and scholars who do not even know the day of their deaths, would their unbelief nullify the truthfulness of God? Certainly not.
1Ti 1:13,“Even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief.”
There are only two groups of people: believers and unbelievers, children of God and children of the devil. You have a choice. Those who disbelieve God and reject Jesus Christ act ignorantly in unbelief.
Jde 1:5,“Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.”
A reminder:
All who disbelieve will be destroyed eventually and eternally.
Wisdomis the way, the truth and the life. Wisdom is believing in truth. There is no wisdom in arrogance. Wisdom is humility. Wisdom is obeying God rather than man.
There are two kinds of wisdom, earthly and heavenly. Earthly wisdom differentiates what is right and wrong, good and bad, true and false, important and unimportant, heavy and light, civilized and uncivilized. Heavenly wisdom distinguishes the holy and the sinful, the spiritual and the carnal, the eternal and the temporal, the divine and human, and the ultimate and the immediate. Earthly wisdom enables a person to do well on earth in a life of vanity, without God and without hope. Heavenly wisdom enables a believer to seek things above, recognizing Jesus Christ is the Way and the Wisdom of God, following the footsteps of Jesus Christ, and doing the will of God on earth as the supreme duty and ultimate good.
I do not know historically has anyone defined the wisdom of man versus the wisdom of God and what differentiates between the two. My definition of the human wisdom and divine wisdom is based on my understanding of the Holy Scriptures and enlightened by the Holy Spirit. You cannot discover the truth by human efforts or scientific discovery. The definitions not only help me to distinguish between human wisdom and divine wisdom conceptually, they provide me a framework of a world view, a philosophy of life.
When wisdom is applied to man it means full and broad intelligence, when wisdom is applied to God it means absolute and supreme intelligence. Wisdom originates from God. Based on my knowledge of the Scriptures, I define human wisdom as broad and full intelligence. Divine wisdom is absolute and supreme intelligence. Human wisdom no matter how broad is not absolute, no matter how full is not supreme. For that reason, human wisdom is fallible, but the wisdom of God is infallible. Why would anyone rely on the fallible and ignore the infallible? Why would anyone believe in man and not believe in God?
Recently in my observation of world events I discover there is the third kind of wisdom which is neither human nor divine – in fact it is not real wisdom but the darkest and dirtiest trick and it is demonic, diabolical and Satanic in nature. The current prime minister of Japan is possessed by this Satanic wisdom or trick characterized by distortion, deception, denial, disgrace and dishonor. It is Japan that robbed China’s Diaoyu Islands with American aid in 1971, the leader of Japan turns around and says China is a threat to Japanese security and therefore Japan has to be re-militarized and armed with most advanced war machine. The robber is the threat to the victim, the victim cannot be a threat to the robber – this is the kind of distorted and warped wisdom purely demonic, devilish and dishonorable practiced by evil leaders .
Worldly wisdom values money, power and sex. There is not one sin or crime which is not related to the love of money, power and sex. The United States of America is a prime example of a nation driven mad by the love of money, power, and sex. There is no country which has committed more evil deeds than the United States of America because of the love of money, power and sex. Wall Street, Washington, and Hollywood represent the evil trinity of money, power and sex. The American values of money, power and sex not only has ruined America, they have corrupted the whole world.
The Bible is the Word of God, inspired and infallible. The Bible says: “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. ” ( 1 King 4:29 ). If I understand what the Scripture says correctly, God gives wisdom to whoever He likes in different degree, extent, portion or quantity as well as dimension. It can be said that a few are more intelligent or wiser than most. Some are wiser than others. It is already difficult to know whether a person is wise or foolish because no one has all the facts. It is even more difficult to know whether this person is wiser than that person or not. Besides one may not live long enough to make a determination of the final outcome involving a person or event or time. Take notice that wisdom, understanding, and largeness of heart go together. Largeness of heart does not mean enlarged heart, enlarged heart is a heart disease. Largeness of heart means a heart that can take in good and bad, pleasant and unpleasant with tolerance and endurance.
The Scripture says: “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom and in all your getting get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7) The supreme thing is wisdom, not wealth, power, pleasure, glory, beauty, success, etc. Riches come and go, but wisdom is eternal. Most if not all rich people are corrupted by wealth. Interestingly when people got rich through wicked means, they invariably became philanthropists to redeem themselves. But that is phony charity. The love of money is the root of all evil. Power is a deadly pursuit. It was the root cause of the down fall of Lucifer. Obsession with power created tyrants, dictators and human monsters of varieties and caused wars, imperialism, colonialism, hegemonism, terrorism, genocide, slavery, and all kinds of brutalities. Pleasure or sex has degraded humans to animal level. The sin of pleasure produces homosexuality, lust, fornication, adultery, pornography, sex trade, drug trafficking, AIDS and STDs, etc. Glory is vain because it creates arrogance, self-seeking, self-centeredness, and hydrocephalic mentality. Beauty is not evil by itself, but it easily becomes an agent of vanity that ruins many lives. If Marilyn Monroe or Princess Diana were not beautiful women, they probably would not have tragic deaths. Success makes a person dizzy and self-important and that builds up one’s unholy ambition. Since riches, glory, power, pleasure, success, beauty, etc. do not make a person’s life happy or lead people to the right path – these are not supreme things in life.
Wisdom is supreme. How many fools suffered unnecessarily for their foolish acts? There are infinite varieties of foolish act. Just use one illustration: There was a foolish 18-year old who lent her ID card to another woman. The woman used her ID card to apply for a credit card. The bank was stupid not to verify the person and compare the picture on the ID card and checked her background with work experience and salary history and credit worthiness. The woman used the credit card obtained by fake ID card to defraud a large sum of money from the bank and ran. Now the bank demanded money from the original owner of the ID card. There are many things that you cannot lend to others, not even your family members. The person who does wrong to himself/herself is hopelessly without remedy. Oh, you say, that 18-year old girl must be stupid. Yes, indeed! If you smoke, drink, use drugs and engage in sexual promiscuity; don’t you think that is dangerously stupid? If you borrow large sum of money and live beyond your means, is that not financially stupid? If a city wants to stop traffic congestion and air pollution without controlling the proliferation of private cars, is that not practicing ignorant city management? The nation that wasted trillions in phony defense and wars of aggression, is that not suicidally foolish?
I. The Nature of Wisdom.
1.) In wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship.
Exd 31:3 , “I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship.” I believe this Scripture gives the secret of being a master who creates masterpieces whether in art, humanities, science and technology, and philosophy. Wisdom in Hebrew chokmahwhich means the idea that comprises comprehension of various learning, piety to God, skill in management and strategy, prudence and shrewdness, and moral integrity. Understanding in Hebrew tabuwn which means intelligence, insight, the faculty of having objective knowledge. Knowledge in Hebrew da`ath which means knowing something with perception and discernment. Craftsmanship in Hebrew mĕla’kah which means fine workmanship or work skill. Anyone who has excellent possession of wisdom, understanding, knowledge and skills is destined to be a great master. The difference between a master painter and me is the fact I do not have his wisdom, understanding, knowledge and skills in painting.
2.) The wisdom of God was in him.
1Ki 3:28 , “When all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had handed down, they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.”
Note: It requires the wisdom of God to administer justice.
3.) God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind.
1Ki 4:29 , “Now God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand that is on the seashore.”
Question: Where does wisdom come from?
Pro 2:6 , “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
Note: Wisdom comes from God.If the wise has the breadth of mind, the fool has small mind without discernment. The wicked does not bear his own responsibility. A fool bears the responsibility of others.
Ecc 2:26 , “For to a person who is good in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is vanity and striving after wind.”
Dan 2:21 , “It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding.”
4.) Wisdom which God had put in his heart.
1Ki 10:24 , “All the earth was seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart.”
Note: This Scripture answers the question where can wisdom be found? Heart does not mean the physical heart, it means the seat of knowledge and understanding. Probably it is the same as the mind.
5.) Wisdom and knowledge to rule.
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: Blessed are the people whose leaders have wisdom and knowledge to rule. Do you know any leader who has wisdom and knowledge?
6.) The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom.
Job 28:28 , “And to man He said: Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.”
Note: If you fear the Lord, you will depart from evil. Evildoers do not fear the Lord, that is why they get worse and worse. Japanese leaders are among those who do not fear the Lord. They are liars and killers who deny their war crimes and glorify their war criminals as national heroes.
7.) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Psa 111:10 , “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.”
Pro 9:10 , “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Note: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, not the end. The moment you truly fear God that is the beginning of your wisdom.
8.) The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom.
Pro 15:33 , “The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, and before honor comes humility.”
9.) The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
Pro 18:4 , “The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.”
The fountain of wisdom does not run dry because wisdom originates from the eternal God.
10.) The rod and reproof give wisdom.
Pro 29:15 , “The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.”
Note: There are so many stupid mothers who let their children get their own way thinking that is to love them. Undisciplined children not only bring shame, they may bring self-destruction. Stupid mother spoil and ruin their children.
11. )Wisdom is better than jewels.
Pro 8:11 , “For wisdom is better than jewels; and all desirable things cannot compare with her.”
Note: In a capitalistic society, people consider jewels are better than wisdom. In America, most people seek money, power and sex; you can hardly find anyone seeking wisdom.
12. ) How much better it is to get wisdom than gold.
Pro 16:16 , “How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.”
Note: In a materialistic society, people want gold and despise wisdom. Washington, Wall Street and Hollywood worship gold, not God. This is the tragedy of the world, everybody wants gold, nobody wants wisdom.
13.) With the humble is wisdom.
Pro 11:2 , “When pride comes, then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom.”
Note: There is wisdom in humility. Arrogance is stupidity. American and European leaders and politicians are so arrogant that they think, speak and act as if they rule the world. The one who rules the world today is the devil, and so they are agents of the devil.
14.) Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding.
Pro 14:33 , “Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, but in the hearts of fools it is made known.”
Wisdom is not something you deposit in the bank or put in the safety box. Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding. The heart that treasures the temporary and rejects the eternal has no wisdom.
15.) Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding.
Pro 17:24 , “Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.”
American leaders lack understanding because the pressing American problems they do not solve, and yet they want to lead and rule the world.
16. ) Wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.
Ecc 2:13 , “And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.”
Note: The wise knows what is better. Wisdom is better than folly. Light is better than darkness. Peace is better than war.
There is no fool like the fool who does not know the difference between good and evil, right and wrong, sweet and bitter, important and unimportant, bright and dark, up and down, high and low, noble and mean, honorable and dishonorable, perfect and defective, long and short, big and small, young and old, safe and dangerous, heavy and light, white and black, rich and poor, spiritual and carnal, eternal and temporary, success and failure, Heaven and hell.
Peter Apps (April 5, 2013) wrote, “As Koreas face off, risk of accidental war grows.” There is a grain of truth in the statement. More than that, as the United States is inciting, encouraging, arming, equipping, and conducting massive and provocative military exercises with its allies Japan, Australia, South Korea, etc. not only risk of accidental war grows, war of aggression is most likely to the point of inevitable. If you play with fire, it is inevitable someone will be burned. If you play with dynamite, inevitable explosions are going to happen. There is no brain to prepare for war and wonder if there is risk of accidental war. Not only there is miscalculated war, there is war of clear intention. Evidence is everywhere and eminently clear that the U.S. and its allies are preparing for war, the U.S. has lifted up the sword, how can you expect there is no clear and present danger? Roughly, there arethree risksin the world. First and foremost, the U.S. and its allies and re-militarized Japan are the biggest threat and greatest risk to world peace and security. Is it wise to have provocative public deployment of U.S. firepower, including B-52 and B-2 bombers in the sky? Secondly, the Islamic terrorists are a threat to regional and some local areas. The U.S. and its allies cannot escape partial responsibility for some of the evil deeds that terrorists have committed. For example, for the U.S. and its allies to attack and occupy a nation with false accusation of having weapons of mass destruction would certainly by itself breed violent terrorists. Thirdly, there are the pressing problems of Iran and North Korea. Iran is a separate issue with the declared intention of its leaders to threaten and vow to destroy Israel. There is no nation like Iran. North Korea is a poor nation with extreme patriotism and bellicositydue to Korean War instigated by the U.S. in the past. If the U.S. lives and let live, things would calm down and go better. Both Iran and North Korea should be handled through the United Nations and diplomacy. Rattling the saber does not help peace. There may be ignorance on the part of North Korea and some terrorists, but the U.S.’s pursuit of expansion and world domination is a deliberate act.
Obama’spivot to Asia policy was aimed at containing, constricting and confronting China – this is the hottest spot in the world. You do not find your feet far away from home and display your strengths with nuclear weaponry, nuclear submarines, bombers and aircraft carriers, deployment of firepower including B-52 and B-2 bombers and thousands of troops in readiness at many military bases and expect peace and good will. American aggression not only will bring with it the greatest risk in years of a regional nuclear exchange; American leaders miscalculate the war of aggression against China will be fought only in foreign lands of its allies. China will be forced to implement “mutual destruction ” policy to engulf and inflame the whole mainland America and bring in global nuclear war to end the world. It is high time for American leaders and supremacists and militarists to look at the mirror and look within what they have done since the end of World War II.
It is the greatest folly for the United States and its allies to seek world domination through wars of aggression. If the U.S. leads a war of aggression against China, it will be mutual destruction, the war that ends the world. Peace and prosperity are wisdom, conflict and war are folly.
17. ) Wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors.
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: Individually speaking, people walking on a railway bridge or on an express way have no wisdom. Nations that let their peoples live without power and water, but spend most of national budget on acquiring weaponries, aircraft carriers, war planes, nuclear bombs, etc. are senseless. Nation that seeks world domination and dictatorship is totally lack of wisdom and committing suicide and destroying the world.
18. ) Wisdom strengthens a wise man.
Ecc 7:19 , “Wisdom strengthens a wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.”
The strength of wisdom is better than nuclear weapons. Wisdom can save, nuclear weapons only destroy.
19.) A man’s wisdom illumines him.
Ecc 8:1 , “Who is like the wise man and who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man’s wisdom illumines him and causes his stern face to beam.”
Note: A man ’s folly darkens his mind. Stupidity darkens a man’s mind. Foolish leaders do not know they are leading the nation to death and destruction. The leaders of evil empires think they are doing great. American leaders are on the wrong side of history to defend and support the war crime nation of Japan in re-militarization and changing its peace constitution into War Constitution because they do not have wisdom to enlighten them. They want to use Japan as an attack and running dog so that the U.S. may expand into Asia Pacific.
20. ) Wisdom is better than strength.
Ecc 9:16 , “So I said: Wisdom is better than strength. But the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded.”
Note: In a mindless and senseless society, people listen to the rich and powerful. The wisdom of the poor is not even heard. American leaders say America is strong because it has the largest quantity of weapons of mass destruction, but wisdom is better than strength. American leaders do not have wisdom, they make alliances with Japan, etc. in order to launch a war of aggression against China so that they can rob China’s territories and loot China’s resources in the South China Sea and the East China Sea. Little do American leaders realize that their aggression and expansion and provocation may trigger a global nuclear war that will destroy and end the world!
21.) Wisdom is better than weapons of war.
Ecc 9:18 , “ Wisdom is better than weapons of war , but one sinner destroys much good.”
Note: Wisdom is better than nuclear weapons, missile and anti-missile systems, etc. The sole super power with a stockpile of weapons worth more than $3 trilliondollars is unable to protect its citizens from being shot dead, robbed or raped, defrauded and discriminated. America has the largest quantity of nuclear weapons and most advanced offense weapons (weapons of mass destruction), but American and European leaders and politicians have no wisdom and they are leading America and the world to destruction. Why? The pretexts are democracy, human rights, freedom, rule of law, security, etc. to fool the world. The real motives are absolute military supremacy and world domination.
22.) Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.
Ecc 10:10 , “If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.”
Not all successful people have wisdom, wisdom can make a person successful. It depends on what you define success is. By fraudulent and predatory practices, American doctors and hospital owners, drugs and insurance companies become filthy rich, that is not success in the Biblical sense. That is fraud and evil deed. Wall Street executives and bankers created the 2008 American economic and financial crisis that looted the world more than $50 trillion, that is not success. It is robbery. The paramount leader of China Deng Xiaoping had wisdom and under his capable leadership in the short period of 35 years China has achieved the most spectacular successes that no other nation had ever done before. American leaders envy and being jealous of China’s achievements want to destroy China by spreading the blackest lie of China threat to justify American arrogance and aggression against China.
23.) Wisdom and power belong to God.
Dan 2:20 , “Daniel said: Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him.”
Note: God gives wisdom to those who ask. God does not give power to anyone, for power belongs to God. Warmongers and terrorists think they have power. Wall Street, Washington, and Hollywood think they have power. Really they have no wisdom, if they had wisdom they would not rely on superior military power.
24.) Wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.
Mat 11:19 , “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say: Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
25.) Kept increasing in wisdom.
Luk 2:52 , “And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”
Note: Wisdom can be increased; it is incremental and accumulative and progressive.
26.) The depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God.
Rom 11:33 , “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!”
There is no wisdom in human knowledge summed up as science because science is tentative and progressive. Science is only human organized knowledge at a given time and place. Wisdom is eternal because God is eternal.
27.) God has made foolish the wisdom of the world.
1Cr 1:20 , “Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the sophist of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?”
Note: God has made foolish the wisdom of the world, evidence you can find in Wall Street, Washington and Hollywood, capitalism, hegemonism, fascism, secularism, legal system, financial and economic system, health-care and medical systems, democracy, totalitarianism, nuclear weapons, industrial-military-security complex, etc.
28.) Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1Cr 1:24 , “But to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
Note: Wisdom in Greek sophia which means the supreme, highest and noblest intelligence; an attribute ascribed and belongs to God with absolute cognitive excellence and perfect character. It occurs 51 times in the New Testament. Unbelieving scientists, scholars and philosophers do not have wisdom. For all they know, they do not know when they are going to die and where they are going after death. Without Christ is without wisdom. Without God is without hope.
Christ is the Wisdom of God, it is wise to trust the Savior of the world who is able to save us to the end. Philosophers for thousands of years searching and seeking wisdom in vain. It is the Revelation of God that Jesus Christ is the Wisdom of God. To have the Wisdom of God you must repent and believe in Jesus Christ.
29.) The wisdom of this world is foolishness before God.
1Cr 3:19 , “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written: He is the ONE who catches the wise in their craftiness.”
Note: The wisdom of this world is earthly, natural, and demonic. Evil leaders think they are very smart because they are talking and walking in their craftiness. In 1971 American leaders violated international law and the sovereignty of China by illegally giving the administrative control of China’s Diaoyu Islands to the unconditionally surrendered war crime nation of Japan. Japan pretentiously bought and nationalized Diaoyu Islands. No nation in history ever bought and nationalized its own territories. American leaders declare they will defend Japan against China and support rogue nations in making false claims to China’s territories all because they want to rob China’s territories and loot China’s resources in the South China Sea and the East China Sea. The wisdom of evil leaders in aggression and expansion is foolishness before God.
30.) To one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit.
1Cr 12:8 , “For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit.”
Note: Warmongers, supremacists, militarists, monopolists, capitalists, hegemonists, imperialists, colonialists, and all evildoers do not have the Holy Spirit, they are possessed by the evil spirits. They do not have the Spirit of wisdom.
31.) In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom.
Col 2:3 , “In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ, you cannot find them in American universities or anywhere else.
32.) The wisdom that leads to salvation through faith.
2Ti 3:15 , “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.”
Note: The Bible is the sacred writings which are able to give us the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. The wisdom of the world leads to death and destruction. American leaders lack wisdom because they are leading America and the world to death and destruction.
33.) The wisdom from above is first pure…
Jam 3:17 , “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.”
Note: The civilizations of the world in general, and Western civilization in particular, exhibit the opposite of the wisdom from above. The wisdom from above is characterized by purity, peace, gentleness, reason, mercy, good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. American (including European) and Japanese leaders not only lack the wisdom from above, they possess bad fruits with shamelessness and hypocrisy. The world is made stupid by the filth of Hollywood.
II. What to do with Wisdom.
1.) Make your ear attentive to wisdom.
Pro 2:2 , “Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding.”
The ears of most people are attentive to money, power and sex.
2.) Say to wisdom : You are my sister.
Pro 7:4 , “Say to wisdom: You are my sister, and call understanding your intimate friend.”
Do you have relatives who are wise?
3.) Wisdom is with those who receive counsel.
Pro 13:10 , “Through insolence comes nothing but strife, but wisdom is with those who receive counsel.”
Note: American leaders are unreasonable and irrational and do not receive counsel, but bent on the path of death and destruction in pursuit of military supremacy and world domination. This is indicative of a lack of wisdom. Japanese leaders are out-and-out stupid, they think they can deny their war crimes and so they can escape financial and moral and legal responsibility.
4.) The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way.
Pro 14:8 , “The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way, but the foolishness of fools is deceit.”
Note: If you do not understand your way, that means you are not sensible. If you do not know where you are, that means you are lost. Evil leaders do not know what is sensible, in stead they are enemies of historical facts to deny genocide, war crimes and atrocities. America in 1971 unlawfully gave the administrative control to the unconditionally surrendered war crime nation of Japan. Evil leaders do not their way of leading the world to destruction.
5.) Understand wisdom.
Pro 8:5 , “O naive ones, understand prudence; and, O fools, understand wisdom.”
Note: This is a striking truth: Naive people do not understand prudence; fools do not understand wisdom.
6.) He who gets wisdom loves his own soul.
Pro 19:8 , “He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will find good.”
Note: He who gains the world and loses his own soul does not have wisdom. People who love money, power and sex do not get wisdom. Leaders who love war do not love their own souls. Why do you need to love your own soul? Because God can cast you to Hell with your body and soul for eternal destruction. Unless you repent and believe in Jesus Christ, you will die in your sins in Hell.
7.) Acquire wisdom.
Pro 4:5 , “Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.”
Note: People of Wall Street, Washington, and Hollywood acquire money and power and pleasure; they do not acquire wisdom.
8.) The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom.
Psa 37:30 , “The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.”
Pro 10:31 , “The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom, but the perverted tongue will be cut out.”
Note: By the mouth of a man, you can know about him. The mouths of evil leaders utter lies and falsehoods to fool the world. Strange it may be, the mouth that utters wisdom is not popular, the mouth which speaks folly and filth people like.
9.) Keep sound wisdom.
Pro 3:21 , “My son, let them not vanish from your sight; keep sound wisdom and discretion.”
Note: Money devalues over time. One experience that shocked me and most unforgettable was this: Some years ago I put my American dollars at Citibank in Shanghai. Not only the money did not increase even with interest, the monthly statement told me its total amount was significantly reducing and getting less and less with substantial losses. It simply meant the longer I keep dollar in the bank, the less American dollar valued. The dollar was losing its value because the bank by force automatically changed dollar into RMB without my consent. The bank practically robbed me a large sum of money. Wisdom is more precious with the passage of time. The longer you keep wisdom, the more dividend you get.
IT IS NOT SOUND WISDOM NO MATTER HOW MUCH POWER, MONEY, AND PLEASURE YOU HAVE IN THIS WORLD WITHOUT GOD AND WITHOUT HOPE!!!
10.) A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad.
Pro 29:3 , “A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad, but he who keeps company with harlots wastes his wealth.”
Note: A man who keeps company with prostitutes not only wastes his wealth and health, he may get AIDS and STDs and die in shame. Is it not strange some fathers are glad because their sons deal with drugs or their sons are pimps which make good money.
11.) Seek and explore by wisdom.
Ecc 1:13 . “And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is a grievous task which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.”
Note: Wisdom does not fall on your lap. You need to seek and explore by wisdom. People explore gold and oil, do you know anyone seeks and explores wisdom?
12.) Set my mind to know wisdom.
Ecc 1:17 , “And I set my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly; I realized that this also is striving after wind.”
Most people in the world set their minds on money, power and sex; in particular the Americans. Infected by capitalism, the whole world sets their minds on money, power and sex.
13.) Seek wisdom and an explanation.
Ecc 7:25 , “I directed my mind to know, to investigate and to seek wisdom and an explanation, and to know the evil of folly and the foolishness of madness.”
Note: Western imperialism and hegemonism clearly exhibits the evil of folly and the foolishness of madness. War is evil. War is folly. War is madness. Nuclear war can destroy the whole world.
14.) Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom.
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: A wise man does not boast. The fool boasts of everything. If you boast you have wisdom, that means you do not have wisdom. The Japanese officials boast in the event of war, they will defeat China and yet they seek the military aid from the sole superpower. China can drop three atomic bombs to wipe out Japan from the face of the earth. A wise man said that he knew nothing.
15.) Act according to your wisdom.
1Ki 2:6 , “So act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray hair go down to Sheol in peace.”
A man is known by his action to determine if he has wisdom or not. Warmongers do not have wisdom. Those who love money, power, and sex have no wisdom. Those who seek the things below have no wisdom.
16.) We speak God’s wisdom in a mystery.
1Cr 2:7 , “But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory.”
1Cr 2:6 , “Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, neither of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away.”
Note: The wisdom of the rulers of this age and everything in the world are passing away. Let me tell you, the Kingdom of Heaven is a mystery.
17.) Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders.
Col 4: 5 , “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.”
Note: A fool loses the opportunity, but a wise man makes the most of the opportunity. Peoples outside the body of Christ are outsiders.
Mat 10:16 , “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves .”
Note: Wise in Greek isphronimos which means intelligent, prudent, mindful of one’s interests, having quick and correct perceptions, discreet, circumspect, having good judgment, sound action, prompted by wisdom, knowledgeable and informed, having proper understanding, opposite of being foolish; – it occurs 14 times in the New Testament.
Jesus also provides the example of Ten Virgins (Mat Chapter 25) as lesson of how to differentiate the wise virgins from the foolish virgins.
Mat 25:8-9, “And the foolish said to the wise: Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the wise answered, saying: No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.”
Note: The wise must be mindful of his/her proper interest, not selfish interest. It is not charity or generosity to give what you need to others, it is sheer stupidity. It is wise to say No to anyone whose request may threaten your own interests or vital needs or endanger your life – “lest there should not be enough for us and you.” If you do not have enough, there is no need to share with others.
Innocent in Greek isakeraioswhich means unmixed, pure, free from guile, harmless, simple, doing nothing wrong; – it occurs only 3 times in the New Testament.
Very often Christians suffer needlessly because they are only innocent as doves, but not wise as serpents. Jesus provides the wisdom how Christians should live in this evil world: be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. If you are wise as serpents without innocent as doves, you are a very cunning and wicked person. If you are innocent as doves but not wise as serpents, you will become victims. If you are wise as serpents and innocent as doves, you are doing well. Here is an incident that illustrates the importance of the truth. A Christian young woman and her friend were carrying a lot of stuffs for Christmas party on December 22, 2012 to be loaded on a car. A wicked man was honking mad and spewed out insults, the Christian young woman asked him not to honk and be patient. The bully came out of car to beat up the Christian woman and she yelled her friend to call 110. But her friend did not call or take a cellphone picture of the wicked man’s car license plate. The Christian woman suffered swollen face on the left side and her finger smashed. On December 23, 2012 she reported to police, and the police took a report and told her to go hospital for checkup. She went to a hospital and the doctor ordered CT and a prescription. The medical costs plus transportation totaled ¥350. She was called on December 24 afternoon to view film taken by street camera, but the car license plate could not be seen, so the whole investigation came to nothing. Here is a good example of being innocent as dove but not wise as serpent. When she was being attacked, her friend did not call 110 or take a picture of the car license plate. Action prompted by wisdom at the critical moment can mean life or death. The whole lesson points to needless suffering and waste of money and time and efforts to no avail. Without evidence, there could not be prosecution.
18.) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God.
Jam 1:5 , “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
Note: Ask, it will be given to you. This is a promise to Christians: ask God wisdom and it will be given to you. From childhood to old age, we daily ask our Heavenly Father to give me wisdom.
III. HOW TO KNOW YOU LACK WISDOM.
Based on the following principle you can test and measure whether you lack wisdom of not.
1). There are things which you should not have done, but you did. There are things which you should have done, but you did not.
2). What you should (ought to) seek, you did not. What you should not seek, you sought.
3). What you should love , you did not. What you should not love, you did.
4). What you should care about , you did not. What you should not care about, you did.
5). What you should pay attention , you did not. What you should not give attention to, you did.
6). What you should think about, you did not. What you should not think about, you did.
7). What you should treat as important, you treated as unimportant. What you should regard as unimportant, you regarded as important.
8). What you should cherish, you did not cherish. What you should discard, you cherished.
9). What you should invest, you did not. What you should not invest, you did.
10). What you should spend time on it, you did not. What you should not waste time on it, you did.
11). What you should do first, you did not. What you should do last, you did first.
12.) What you should support, you did not. What you should not support, you did.
13). What you should remember, you forgot. What you should forget, you reminiscence.
14). What you should respect, you did not. What you should not respect, you did.
15). What you should keep, you did not. What you should discard, you kept.
16). What you should hold dear, you discarded. What you should discard, you held dear.
17). What was valuable, you regarded it as trash. What you should regard as trash, you treated as valuable.
18). What was right, you thought it was wrong. What was wrong, you thought it was right.
19). What was ignoble, you thought it was noble. What was noble, you though it was ignoble.
20). What was unjust, you thought it was just. What was just, you thought it was unjust.
21). What was good, you thought it was bad. What was evil, you thought it was good.
22). What was temporary, you treated as eternal. What is eternal, you treated as temporary.
23). What was important, you thought it was unimportant. What was unimportant, you thought it was important.
24). What was a virtue; you hated like a vice. What was a vice, you loved like a virtue.
25). What was wrong, you mistook it to be right. What was evil, you mistook it to be good. What was unimportant, you mistook it to be important. What was dark, you mistook it to be light. What was false, you mistook it to be true. What was worthless, you mistook it to be worthwhile.
26). What you should denounce, you defended. What you should defend, you denounced.
27). What you should hold on, you let go. What you should let go, you held on.
28). What you should preserve, you relinquished. What you should relinquish, you preserved.
29). What you were able to do, you did not. What you were not able to do, you tried.
30). When you should move forward, you withdrew. When you should withdraw, you moved forward.
31). When it is time to build, you destroyed. When it is time to tear down, you rebuilt.
32). When you should rejoice, you felt sorrowful. When you should feel sorry, you did not.
33). When you should speak up, you shut up. When you should shut up, you spoke up.
34). When you should speed up, you slowed down. When you should slow down, you sped up.
35). When you should give credit where credit is due, you took credit for yourself.
36). When you should give, you took. When you should take, you gave.
37). When you should have left, you stayed. When you should have stayed, you left.
38). When you should tell the truth, you lied.
39). When you should make a stand, you ran.
40). Who is an enemy, you thought it was a friend. Who is a friend, you thought it was an enemy.
41). Who is the trustworthy, you did not trust. What was the untrustworthy, you trusted.
42). You should have deliberated before you proceeded. You proceeded without deliberation.
43). What you should have done, you did not. What you should not have done, you did.
P.S. If you are smart, you would carefully check out the list of 43 items cited above. It is not a boast, it is better than reading many books.
IV. Wisdom Shows.
Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
Jam 3:13 , “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.”
A lifetime of study and deliberation brings me to the definition of wisdom. Wisdom is to know the difference between right and wrong, good and evil, important and unimportant and act accordingly. Thus, it can be derived from the definition that a wise man is the person who knows the difference between right and wrong, good and evil, important and unimportant; and therefore he thinks, says, and does what is right. By the same token, a fool is the one who does not know the difference between right and wrong, good and evil, important and unimportant; and therefore what he thinks, says, and does is wrong.
Wisdom is gentle, war is violent. There is gentleness in wisdom. Warmongers and militarists and hegemonists and supremacists lack wisdom. Those who seek harmony and peace have wisdom; those who seek war and destruction and death are foolish. Wisdom is always associated with gentleness, not violence. The warmongering nations have violence, but no wisdom.
Whether a person is wise or foolish is a very complex matter. The process of making a wise or foolish person is long and winding. There are three ingredients that determine whether a person become a wise or foolish one. They are conception, perception and action. Perception deals with thought. The Bible says, Pro 23:7, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…” Thinking is the most vital part of a person because thinking makes the man. A thoughtless person can never become wise. A scheming person is not without thought, but his thoughts focus on doing evil. No one can do right who has a wrong idea. An idea is not good simply because it is new. The value of one’s thought is whether it is good and right and important.
Conception influences perception. If one thinks the whole world is against him, his perception of others will be blinded by bias. If one conceives of himself as superior, his action will be aggression and domination. If one wears a colored glass, one will see a colored world. A smoker does not see the harm he does to others; he only thinks he has a right to do what he pleases. A drunk driver does not see the danger of his behavior that he might kill other people; he only sees his selfish preference as a right.
Action is the fruit of conception and perception. A person who acts without thinking is a classical fool. How conception and perception influence one’s action is complex and often hard to comprehend. Why would a terrorist use suicidal bombing to honor his religion or nation is beyond normal conception. Many irrational and brutal actions are determined by cultural, social, political, and religious values.
Jesus Christ taught the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, Matthew Chapter 25 . The parable seems to teach, a wise person prepares for the inevitable and be ready at all times. There is no doubt that readiness is an attribute of wisdom. You need an umbrella before the rain. Folly is indicative of a lack of making plan and providing all the necessary. Here again lies wisdom in terms how a person’s conception, perception and action determines his/or destiny. The foolish virgins have lamps without oil – the critical factor. The wise virgins have both lamp and oil. A person is deemed foolish if he/she does not make full preparations for whatever he/she is going to undertake. A person is counted wise because he/she has made provisions for whatever he/she is undertaking.
Thinking, seeing and doing are not separate things. They interact and influence each other. Doing or acting becomes the transparent result or outcome. What a person is thinking in his heart cannot be known by others. Thinking is a silent process known only to God and the thinker. Seeing is verifying the facts. Seeing is also a silent process. Unless you disclose your perception, people will not know what you are seeing. Doing or acting is of a public nature. What you do can be observed, and the outcome is clear and can be determined. Wisdom is known by its actions. There have been countless evildoers in human history, not one of them ever had true wisdom and good understanding. The wicked are eternal losers.
Dan 12:10 , “Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.” You do not understand because you are not wise. The wicked will not understand.
Dan 12:3 , “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the firmament of heaven; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”
Note: The stars of eternity do not come from Washington, Wall Street, or Hollywood. They are the unknown saints of the Kingdom of God, the followers of Jesus Christ.
You have learned that Jesus Christ is the Wisdom of God. There is no other. Everyone and everything will pass away into nothing.
He is wise who believes in Jesus Christ. He is wise who gives up the temporary in order to gain the eternal.
Would you believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior now?
ON September 3, 2025 for China to mark 80th 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.
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This article is written to let you know there are better things that God has provided for His children.
Luk 12:32, “Do not be afraid, Little Flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the Kingdom.”
Little Flock is a term of endearment referring to all believers of all generations, who are children of God.
The Kingdom of God is much, much better; and far, far better than the kingdoms of the world, even Scandinavia, and even the sole superpower. Just as a pearl of great price is far, far better than a fish eye. The problem of the world is to regard a fish eye better than a pearl of great price. Only the blind and senseless would regard a fish eye better than a pearl. Yet, the illegal Palestinians attack the State of Israel although they know Palestinians have no claim to the Jewish land which God gave to Abraham and his descendants some 4,000 years ago. Palestine was an illegal legacy of the evil British empire. Palestinians are Arabs who have no part or portion of the Promised Land. Palestinians do not give up the false claim and seek peace by joining other Arab nations. Unlawful Blacks rob the stores and attack Asian Americans for no reason. Although Blacks claim to be discriminated by Whites, while they themselves also discriminate against Asian Americans. Japan is willing to be a running dog of America in order to have the sole superpower to militarily help robbing China’s Diaoyu Islands. Although they know the South China Sea, Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and Diaoyu Islands belong to China long before they existed. Australian leaders are willing to waste money in weapons and military in order to be running dogs of America so that it can become a great power. The traitorous Taiwanese regime would rather be used as a running dog of America against China, buying costly weapons of mass destruction and let the people go without water and power! These are endless examples of the blind and senseless and perverted who make wrong choices. They seem not to know the simple truth: Better to be a live dog than a dead lion.
The Lord Jesus Christ is coming again! To destroy all unrighteous nations and peoples.
Better is a comparison between the two, to find out which is superior or of higher quality. Better is a driving force or onward movement toward progress. If a man is self-contended, he is not going to improve himself. As a practical experience, man finds out a pair of boots are better than regular shoes for walking in the rain. Otherwise, there would not be a reason to invent boots.
Gen 22:4, “On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance.” Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance. Your perspective may actually determine your destiny. In ancient days, most people did not travel 50 miles beyond their place of birth.
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.” Abraham looked beyond the River to the Promised Land.
Abraham looked far and afar. Metaphorically speaking, every human has his River. This article is written so that you may look beyond your River. A self-contented person is short-sighted, conservative and non-progressive. 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.” Human knowledge is not sufficient, because human knowledge is limited, finite, and bounded. By faith we can see the invisible. Gen 15:5, “And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the Heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And God said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” Abraham not only looked far, he looked high. By faith Abraham looked far to the Promised Land, and by faith Abraham looked toward the Heavens to count the stars of his descendants.
Heb 11:14-16, “For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a Heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a City for them.”
All believers like Abraham are seeking a country of their own, they desire a better country, that is, a Heavenly one. During 1975-76 I went to the six most advanced countries in the world (namely England, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway) looking for a better country than America. I supported President Richard Nixon because he was the only American president who sought a just and lasting peace for the world. Since President Nixon, all American presidents and politicians have been seeking absolute military supremacy to dictate and dominate the world. Since Nixon, America is getting worse and worse because American presidents and politicians have led America going the wrong way. Sadly, I concluded Scandinavia of 1976 were most closest to Good Societies. I believed Norway was the best country in 1976. Since then the governments of Scandinavia have practiced wrong policies, there is no Good Society under Heaven anywhere. I hold the Theory of Good Society to consist of Liberty, Prosperity, Equality, Civility, and Security. The more or the higher a country scores in these variables of Liberty, Prosperity, Equality, Civility, and Security the closer that nation to the Good Society. Please read my following article:
This article is written to let you what is better so that you can choose which is better.
There are good and bad things in the world. There are also better things in life. There are enough people in this world who cannot differentiate between the good and evil. There are even more people who do not know what is better. Least of people know what is best. The same concept applies to what is important and what is unimportant. Not many know what is more important. Very few people know what is the most important just as very few know what the best is. Once I lectured on Strategy at Xian Jiaotong University when graduate and doctoral students and professors asked me how come I had the ability to correspond with the presidents of the United States? I told them I did not communicate with them about important things. They were stunned. Did I write to the American presidents about unimportant things? Of course not! I discussed with the presidents of the United States about the most important things and that was why they had to respond. I never donated one penny to any American president. See · The Nixon I Know and Precious Collection .
You will find most interesting and instructive to learn what are better as it is written in the Bible.
1. A little of a righteous is better than the abundance of many wicked.
Psa 37:16, “A little that the righteous has is better than the abundance of many wicked.”
Note: This Scripture is a didactic parallelism. Little is contrasted with abundance, the righteous is compared to many wicked. Better in Hebrew is towb which means more good, pleasant, agreeable, excellent, valuable, beautiful, happy, prosperous; – it occurs 559 times in the Old Testament. Better is comparative. A little in Hebrew is m@`atwhich means littleness, few, fewness, small, not much; – it occurs 102 times in the Old Testament. Little is substantive. Abundance in Hebrew is hamownwhich means wealth, plenty, riches; – it occurs 83 times in the Old Testament. Probably wealth is the most important thing to most people. I have discovered and learned that for most people are motivated by money and not truth. People are motivated to get more and more and more. Righteous is the opposite of the wicked. Righteous in Hebrew is tsaddiyqwhich means just, lawful, right, correct, upright, honest, virtuous, innocent, pious; – it occurs 206 times in the Old Testament. Wicked in Hebrew is rasha`which means guilty one, one guilty of crime, guilty of sin; – it occurs 263 times in the Old Testament. A little that the righteous has is better than the abundance of many wicked. Many wicked in the world want only wealth and power and sex. Probably you could not find a righteous man in Washington, Wall Street and Hollywood. The righteous are few, the wicked are many. There is no value in the quantity of the wicked.
Luk 12:15,“And He said to them: Beware of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
Note: Greed in Greek is pleonexia which means greedy desire to have more, covetousness, greediness, avarice; – it occurs 10 times in the New Testament. Capitalism is born in greed and exists in greed. Isn’t it a terrible thing that for hundreds of years, I do not and could not find one American preacher who preaches against the greed of Capitalism! Even today you do not hear American preachers who proclaim that Capitalism is not compatible with Christianity.
A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. That is what Jesus says. Life does not consist in what you have, but what you are. If you tell me what you want most, I will tell you who you are. But for most people they would rather have wealth (money) than righteousness. A righteous poor man is better than a wicked rich man. A righteous poor man is better than the monopolist who has $130 billion dollars. Peoples in the world worship money. If you drive a luxury car and wear expensive clothes and have the appearance of wealth, even strangers bow to you. For most people in the world they would rather be a wicked rich man than a righteous poor man. The American prevalent values of money, power and sex are contrary to the Christian values of faith, hope and love.
Psa 63:3,“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.”
Note: There are many persons who live in this world without knowing God’s lovingkindness. Lovingkindness in Hebrew is checed which means goodness, kindness, mercy, faithfulness; – it occurs 248 times in the Old Testament. There is almost nothing is better than life. For example, what is the use of money, power and sex if you do not have life or if you are dead? However, life without God’s lovingkindness is miserable. Yes, my lips shall praise the Lord for all His goodness, kindness, lovingkindness, and faithfulness to me. God’s lovingkindness is better than life, than worldly life, than any earthly life.
I always treasure this verse from my childhood, Psa 23:6, “Certainly goodness and faithfulness will follow me all the days of my life, and my dwelling will be in the house of the LORD forever.”
It is a miserable life that does not have the goodness and faithfulness of God.
3. A day in God’s courts is better than a thousand.
Psa 84:10 , “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”
Note: Court in Hebrew is chatser which means the holy tabernacle and temple. In the Old Testament there was the Holy Tabernacle, later Solomon built the Temple. It was better for a day in God’s Holy Tabernacle or Temple than a thousand days anywhere. It would be better to be a doorkeeper in the House of God than to live in the mansion of wickedness, or the royal palace, of the White House. There are many wicked royal palaces, mansions, and houses of corrupt leaders and dictators. It is better to have God with you than to have a thousand wicked kings, queens, presidents, and state leaders with you. It is important to remember where you are and with whom you are. I recall the president of a corporation to have breakfast with a U.S. senator and it cost him $4,000 dollars. I would not have breakfast with a corrupt American politician even he gives me $4,000!
4. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.
Psa 118:8 , “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”
Note: Trust in Hebrew is chacahwhich means to seek refuge, flee for protection, put trust in God, confide or hope in God; – it occurs 37 times in the Old Testament. Peoples of the world like to associate themselves with the rich and powerful people, people in authority. For that reason even though many Americans realize that American presidential politics are money politics and power politics and corrupt politics, they are still crazy and excited about power and support candidates who are not good for the country. To put confidence in Hebrew is batachwhich means to trust, trust in, to be secure, to set one’s hope and confidence upon; – it occurs 120 times in the Old Testament. The peoples of the world put their hope and confidence in leaders even corrupt leaders, it is better to trust in the Lord. Supremacists put their trust in superior military power and money, there is no refuge in power, ask yourself where is Babylon the greatest empire in history now? Where is the Roman Empire now? Where is the British Empire? All empires crumbled and perished. There is no security in nuclear weapons and no protection in missiles and anti-missiles. American leaders and politicians who trust in superior military might to pursue world domination are in fact leading the United States to death and destruction.
Jesus warns American leaders or any leaders, Mat 26:52, “Then Jesus said to him: Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword.” In taking up the sword to dominate and dictate the world, America will perish by the sword. I have no confidence in any system of government. I have no confidence in any leader. I have no confidence in military might. I trust in the Lord. I trust Jesus Christ the King of kings and the Lord of lords is coming to reign and rule the world with saints forever and ever.
Many Americans have learned the truth they cannot trust in their leaders and politicians. World leaders and politicians have lost righteousness, justice, and integrity. The leaders who lie, lie, and lie; kill, kill, and kill; rob, rob, and rob; destroy, destroy, and destroy are not worthy to be trusted.
If you live long enough, you will soon learn that nothing and no one is trustworthy in this world. Among the worst is your government.
5. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.
Psa 118:9, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.”
Note: To trust is to seek refuge, make refuge in, flee for protection, put trust, hope in. Prince in Hebrew is nadiybwhich means a ruler, leader; – it occurs 28 times in the Old Testament. Prince symbolizes the leading person, chief. There are many princes; the prince in government, the prince in business, the prince in finance, the prince in industry, etc. Why is it better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes? All leaders and rulers die and many are corrupt and unreliable. Some giant corporations whose leaders are also considered like princes, but giant corporations also fall and vanish like empires and kingdoms.
6. The law of God’s mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver.
Psa 119:72 , “The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver.”
Note: Law in Hebrew is towrahwhich means direction, instruction, doctrine, body of legal directives, the Deuteronomic or Mosaic Law; – it occurs 219 times in the Old Testament. The law of God’s mouth is the Word of God. The Word of God is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver. A poor boy in his dream was so happy because he picked up so many silver coins. When I was a kid I saw Dutch guilders which were worth more than American dollar coins. Gold and dollar are linked. When dollar’s value drops, gold price rises. As concerns grow over the EU and American sovereign debts crisis, analysts believe in the event of extreme dollar weakness the gold price could hit $2,500 per ounce. The value of currency is not fixed. When the currency of a nation drops, it means that nation is in worse off financial situation. The price of rare coins is not solely based on their weight in gold or silver, but also a matter of historical significance, rarity, condition and demand. For instance, the U.S. 1933 Double Eagle, is probably the most expensive coin ever sold ($7.6 million); it is also rich in international intrigue. Flowing Hair Dollar, a rare coin tops the list of world’s most expensive coins. It was sold for $7,850,000, making it the world’s most expensive coin. The Word of God has eternal life, so it is more precious than the most expensive gold coins in the world. All gold and silver coins will melt in the extreme heat in the end of the world.
7. The proceeds of wisdom are better than the profits of silver.
Pro 3:14, “For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold.”
Note: Proceed in Hebrew is cachar which means gain, profit, gain from merchandise; – it occurs 4 times in the Old Testament. The gain of wisdom is better than that of silver. The gain of wisdom is better than that of fine gold. The profit of wisdom is better than silver and gold. Ah, how stupid are people who are greedy for money! Most people in America would rather have money than wisdom. Probably most of the peoples in the world would prefer to have money than wisdom. Wisdom in Hebrew is chokmah which means shrewdness, prudence, good judgment, fine discretion, sagacity, soundness of thinking and correctness of action; – it occurs 149 times in the Old Testament. I am not rich and do not aspire to become rich. Little money I earned I spent in seeking wisdom and gaining understanding. Most people of the world are interested in the proceeds of stocks and bonds than the proceeds of wisdom. Do you know why Western countries (capitalistic nations) put their trust in gold and not in God, and seek to gain money and not wisdom?
Pro 4:7, “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”
Supreme in Hebrew is rē’šîṯ which means first; chief; best; choice part; highest in degree or quality; foremost; ultimate; – which occurs 51 times in the Old Testament. Supreme means the first of its kind. I do not have the honor or pleasure of knowing anyone who wants to get wisdom first. You wonder why there are so few wise men or women in the world. If you tell me what is supreme in your life, I will tell who you are.
Sad is the world that seeks money, power, and sex but do not seek wisdom.
8. Wisdom is better than rubies.
Pro 8:11, “For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.”
Note: According to Wikipedia,
A ruby is a pink to blood-red coloured gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapphires. Ruby is one of the traditional cardinal gems, together with amethyst, sapphire, emerald, and diamond. The word ruby comes from ruber, Latin for red. The color of a ruby is due to the element chromium.
Ruby in Hebrew is paniynwhich means a precious stone, red gem, pearl; – it occurs 6 times in the Old Testament. Together with sapphire, emerald, and diamond, ruby is considered one of the four precious stones. All the things we may desire cannot be compared with wisdom, for wisdom is better than rubies. Ruby is a red most desirable gem due to its hardness, luster, durability, and rarity. It is said that transparent rubies of large sizes are even rarer than diamonds. Good things need to be compared in order to determine which is better in value. The tragedy of tragedies in the last days is that you can hardly find people who seek wisdom. Jesus Christ is the Wisdom of God.
9. The fruit of wisdom is better than gold.
Pro 8:19, “My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver.”
Note: Fruit in Hebrew is pĕriywhich means produce (of the ground), progeny (of the womb), result of labor or endeavor, reward; – it occurs 119 times in the Old Testament. The fruit of wisdom is better than fine gold or choice silver. Fine gold and choice silver are precious, but not as precious as wisdom.
Pro 16:16 , “How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.”
If you tell me what is most important to you, I will tell you who you are.
10. Better is the one who is slighted but has a servant, than he who honors himself but lacks bread.
Pro 12:9, “Better is the one who is slighted but has a servant, than he who honors himself but lacks bread.”
Note: This proverb presents the practical worth of wisdom. To be slighted in Hebrew is qalah which means to be disgraced, to be lightly esteemed, to be dishonored, to be despised, to be treated with contempt, to be made light of, to be counted despicable, to be treated shamefully; – it occurs 6 times in the Old Testament. It is better to be despised but having a servant, than to be honored but having no bread. There is some honor which does not have practical value. Empty title has no practical value. Bread is more valuable than empty honor or title.
Not a few leaders of poor and unproductive nations who exalt themselves, but they are no better than beggars. There is a prevalent mentality among the poor and unproductive peoples who think they are entitled to have food, drink, drug, and aid from other countries. The fact is not a few nations have no reason to exist.
11. Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble.
Pro 15:16, “Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure with trouble.”
Note: The poor has very little. The poor who has very little with the fear of the Lord is better than great treasure with trouble. A corrupt former Taiwanese leader is reported to have great treasure of real estate worth hundreds of millions of dollars in Taiwan and foreign countries, but he is in jail with trouble. (Later his corrupt party and treacherous regime released him.)
Trouble in Hebrew is mĕhuwmahwhich means tumult, confusion, disquietude, discomfiture, destruction, vexation, problem, turmoil, great emotional disturbance; – it occurs 12 times in the Old Testament. Job 5:6-7, “For disaster does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground, for man is born for trouble, as sparks fly upward.” Do you know any man who has no trouble? There are many kinds of trouble in this world: poverty, unemployment, sickness, broken home, divorce, drug use, alcohol, smoking, promiscuity, perversity, discrimination, injustice, natural disaster, man-made disaster, war, mental illness, victims of crime, etc.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Those who have wisdom will not be greedy or corrupt and they stay out of trouble. Do you know why the United States has more gold in treasury and yet the country which has the most troubles? (Debts and deficits, violent crimes, most hated country in the world, inequality, injustice, alienated society, divisiveness, unemployment, poverty, misery index, insecurity, incivility, unhappiness.) The worse trouble I have observed is self-inflicted!
There are so much troubles in the world today because the leaders and peoples have no fear of God.
12. Better is a dish of vegetables where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred.
Pro 15:17, “Better is a dish of vegetables where love is than a fatted calf served with hatred.”
Note: When I was a kid I ate only meat and disliked vegetables until I learned meat alone was not good for your skin or health. When you can have sirloin or salmon steak, who would want a vegetarian diet? But love is better than hatred. It is better to have a dish of vegetables where love is than a fatted calf with hatred. So much is ruined by hatred in this world. Supremacists hate China and Chinese people and do not like to see China become a strong and rich nation. In fact, hegemonists have been doing everything possible to stop China’s rise by calling it China’s threat. A nation is poor indeed to spend all it has and runs into big deficit and debt just to want to be the supreme power in order to dominate and dictate the world. Such a nation not only practices hatred and has become the most hated nation on earth. For a home to be healthy and happy love is necessary. Where there is love, eating vegetables is better than eating sirloin steak and spareribs served with hatred. A marriage without love is going on the rocks even $130 billion dollars cannot save it.
13. Better is a little with righteousness, than vast revenues without justice.
Pro 16:8, “Better is a little with righteousness, than vast revenues without justice.”
Note: Righteousness in Hebrew is tsĕdaqahwhich means justice, truthfulness, uprightness, righteous acts, according to what is right, in just measure, in punishing the wicked and rewarding the godly; – it occurs 157 times in the Old Testament. Justice in Hebrew is mishpat which means that which is just, judgment, without partiality, according to law, lawfulness, fairness, rectitude, propriety, fitting measure, the use of authority and power to uphold what is just, lawful and right; – it occurs 421 times in the Old Testament. Corrupt and fraudulentdoctors and hospital owners, drug and insurance companies, labs and medical suppliers have vast revenues without justice because they overcharge and defraud patients and bankrupt millions of families. Revenue in Hebrew is tĕbuw’ah which means income, financial gain, profits, return, yield, proceeds from investment; – it occurs 42 times in the Old Testament. The American healthcare cost in the highest in the world, highest because healthcare providers gouge patients and commit fraudulent and predatory practices. All monopolies have vast revenues. Wall Street executives who created the economic and financial crisis in 2008 looted the world more than $50 trillion dollars. Wall Street executives who gamble on investor’s money can earn several billions a year. Lawyers because of monopolistic and predatory practice such as class action suits can have vast revenues in billions. Most of the rich and powerful have great wealth and vast income because they have no righteousness and without justice. The most shocking thing in the last days is the fact that justice is perverted everywhere. The powerful and the rich and all governments practice injustice as routine of operations or standard modus operandi. It is better to be a poor honest man than the richest crooked man in the world. Those who have eyes and ears must be convinced today the world neither have righteousness nor justice.
14. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Pro 16:19, “Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.”
Note: Humble spirit means lowly in station, lowly in position, cast down, humble of condition or spirit. Spoil in Hebrew is shalalwhich means prey, plunder of war, private plunder, booty, dubious gain; – it occurs 73 times in the Old Testament. As a historical footnote: The United States launched an unjust war against Iraq on account Iraq had weapons of mass destruction although it was falsely accused; this does not mean I have any sympathy for the dictator, but the dictator of Iraq was very wealthy with many palaces. The self-righteous American mass media and Western media never report what happened to the vast treasures and riches of the Iraqi dictator. Where did his money, gold, jewelries and other treasures go? Did the American troops and others divide the spoil (worth billions of dollars)? The proud supremacists conquered nations and looted their wealth under false pretenses? The 31 tons gold of Venezuela was also robbed by Western powers.
Proud in Hebrew is ge’eh which means arrogant, high-minded, haughty, having high opinion of oneself; – it occurs 9 times in the Old Testament. It is better to be humble and lowly than to loot wealth of the rich and divide the booty with the proud. Usually the victors take the spoils of war. The United States violated the international law and violated the sovereignty of China in giving control of China’s Diaoyu Islands to the defeated war crime nation of Japan which unconditionally surrendered. How outrageous! Moreover, the United States supports the empire of Japan in making false claim to China’s territories and declared to cover Diaoyu Islands under the US-Japanese defense treaty. How outrageous is the sole superpower! How un-Christian activity! How diabolical!
Western leaders and politicians exhibit arrogance and pride unprecedented in the world.
15. He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty.
Pro 16:32, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who captures a city.”
Note: Anger in Hebrew is ‘aph which means wrath, rage, the blowing of breath through the nostrils as of those who are enraged; – it occurs 276 times in the Old Testament. Quick-tempered, hot-tempered and bad-tempered persons are more liable to have high blood pressure or even heart attack. Mighty in Hebrew is gibbowr which means strong, powerful, impetuous, influential; – it occurs 158 times in the Old Testament. Supremacists, hegemonists, militarists, imperialists and generals all think themselves mighty. Have you ever seen a man of power and wealth who is slow to anger? Theory X managers and supervisors routinely and habitually explode their anger on their subordinates. He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty. If you can control your temper, it is better than to capture a city. Rule in Hebrew is mashal which means to have dominion, reign, control, exercise dominion, rule over; – it occurs 81 times in the Old Testament. He who rules his spirit is better than he who captures a city. You have heard of generals, governors, presidents, officials, executives who fail to rule their spirit and committed adultery or sex scandals and fall from grace. How the mighty fall! A person who knows how to control his anger is better than a mighty general or a national leader.
16. Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.
Pro 17:1, “Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.”
Note: Morsel in Hebrew is path which means a piece of bread, bit, fragment, crumb; – it occurs 15 times in the Old Testament. Quietness in Hebrew is shalvah which means ease, calmness, in the midst of security, without noise, in peaceful and relaxing manner, tranquility; – it occurs 8 times in the Old Testament. Usually there is no quietness in Chinese restaurants. One time in a Hong Kong decent restaurant after a tired flight, I thought I could have peace and quiet in enjoying a good lunch. That was impossible. Peoples of many nations are suffering what I call DND (Disorderly, Noisy, Dirty) syndrome. Strife in Hebrew is riyb which means controversy, dispute, quarrel, contention, verbal fighting, discord; – it occurs 62 times in the Old Testament. Home should have warmth, care and love. How many homes are full of conflict, quarrel and strife. Feasting is like a banquet. It is better to have a dry piece of bread with quietness, than a house full of banquet with strife. If solitude is the luxury of a philosopher, quietude is the necessity of an author. Harmony is precious in a house. Strife is the main cause of poor mental health in many homes. Strife among nations is worse because of the consequences of wars.
17. Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
Pro 19:1, “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.”
Note: Through mass media you can watch live some world leaders who walk unrighteously and perverse in their lips and they are fools. Integrity in Hebrew is tom which means completeness, fullness, innocence, simplicity, uprightness, perfection; – it occurs 23 times in the Old Testament. Perverse in Hebrew is `iqqesh which means twisted, distorted, crooked, perverted, froward, corrupt, deceitful; – it occurs 11 times in the Old Testament. I watch sons of Belial who are perverse in their lips. They shrewdly and skillfully say, you have to be careful about China. As if China had attacked and occupied and robbed any nation. You know who had dictated and dominated the world for hundreds of years!
A man who has no integrity is perverse in his lips. A pervert does not walk in integrity. The poor who has integrity is better than a pervert who has no integrity and is a fool. A pervert and one who has no integrity may be rich. How many rich and powerful people in the world you know who walk in integrity? Many Western leaders and all evil leaders do not walk in integrity and they are perverse in their lips. The perverted leaders say China’s Diaoyu Islands belong to Japan. Why would anyone pretentiously buy what belongs to them and nationalize them? And then evil leaders suggest that China share in the development of Diaoyu Islands. Would you share your wife with a pervert? China can never share its territories with evil perverts. People who are perverted and do not walk in integrity are fools in the sight of God. Fool in Hebrew is kĕciyl which means a stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one, impious person, ungodly person; – it occurs 70 times in the Old Testament. The Hebrew definition of a fool fits the description and action and attitude of evil leaders who have no integrity and who are perverse in their lips in distorting historical facts.
18. A poor man is better than a liar.
Pro 19:22, “What is desirable in a man is kindness, and a poor man is better than a liar.”
Note: Desirable in Hebrew is ta’avah which means pleasant, delightful, honorable; – it occurs 20 times in the Old Testament. Kindness in Hebrew is checed which means goodness, faithfulness, goodliness, lovingkindness, mercy, benevolence, pity for those in misfortune; – it occurs 248 times in the Old Testament. What is desirable in a man is not his money, power, good look or even talent. This is a great truth: What is desirable in a man is kindness. A man can be kind even if he is poor. Liar in Hebrew is kazab which means a man of falsehood or untruth, deceptive person, lying man; – it occurs 31 times in the Old Testament. A poor man is better than a liar. Probably evil leaders and officials are the greatest liars because they shamelessly changed historical facts and boldly tell lies without shame. Why is it all evil leaders are liars? A poor man is better than an evil leader and its officials who are full of lies. Liars and killers are children of the devil.
The characteristic of the age is that people lie boldly without shame. Western leaders and politicians lie without shame. Western mainstream media lie, lie, and lie to spread falsehood, fake news, false charges against China and Russia without conscience and reason.
19. Better to live in a corner of a roof than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
Pro 21:9, “Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, than in a house shared with a contentious woman.”
Pro 25:24, “It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, than in a house shared with a contentious woman.”
Note: Do you want to know the misery of life? Live with a contentious woman who is also a tigress. A corner of a roof is not a good place due to heat or cold. You see beggars stay at corners of a street. Contentious means brawling, discordant, quarreling. To share is to have fellowship, to have company, to associate, to have partnership or to enjoy something with someone. A contentious woman is terrible to associate with. Perhaps the lines on Lincoln’s face and forehead were due to the fact he shared a house with a contentious woman, a bad wife. Unhappy is the man who has a contentious wife.
20. Better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and angry woman.
Pro 21:19, “Better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and angry woman.”
Note: Wilderness in Hebrew is midbar which means uninhabited land, solitary place, desolate land, desert; – it occurs 271 times in the Old Testament. Unless you are John the Baptist, you would not survive in wilderness. Angry in Hebrew is ka`ac which means vexing, provocative, hot-tempered, grievous, indignant; – it occurs 25 times in the Old Testament. It is better to live in the wilderness than with a contentious and angry woman. The voice of a contentious and angry woman threatens the peace of mind. A contentious and angry woman made the life of Abraham Lincoln miserable.
21. It is better that he say to you: Come up here, than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince.
Pro 25:7, “For it is better that he says to you: Come up here, than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen.”
Note: To be elevated is better than to be put down. To be honored is better than to be humiliated. It is always nice and easy to go up than to go down. Up and down is the situation of life, it is much better to be up than to be down. It is better for the authority to ask you to move up than to move down. The same thing applies to a corporation, it is much nicer to work for a company that is expanding and doing well than to be expecting a big layoff. Hiring may be individual, laying off may be in mass. Promotion is individually going up; layoff may be going down en masse. It is better to be promoted than to be demoted or discharged. When you are humiliated in the presence of the prince is much harder than to be humiliated among your own peers. The rich and powerful usually cast an evil eye looking down at people.
22. Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed.
Pro 27:5 , “Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed.”
Note: Rebuke in Hebrew is towkechah which means correction, reproof, punishment, chastisement, impeachment; – it occurs 28 times in the Old Testament. Rebuke has its place. Pro 17:10, “A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.” Rebuke can be public or private, open and secret. Some rebuke must be done openly, most rebuke can be done privately. In most situations, a supervisor should not rebuke an employee in public. Ecc 7:5 ,“It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise man than for one to listen to the song of fools.” I do not like to listen to the songs and dance of fools on TV.
No American preachers ever rebuked American presidents for being liars and killers since the end of World War II.
No Taiwanese preachers ever rebuked Lee Teng-hui and Ma Ying-jeou for worshiping idols even they claim to be Christians.
Theory X managers or supervisors suffer severe abnormal personality problems; they enjoy humiliating people in public. They have pleasure in abusing and mistreating their subordinates verbally and openly. Abusive supervisors and managers do not have ability to motivate their employees. They do not know management principles and they do not know how to manage. They like to control people and put them in chains. Unfortunately, I met an unqualified supervisor who ran his group like military because he had military and no management experience. That is why many corporations do not do well because their employees are not free to perform. It is always bad for a manager or supervisor to make open rebuke of their employees. There is a cost when you insult the dignity of a man. Parents should not rebuke their children in front of other people. It has negative effect when you humiliate people in public. I have never seen or observed true love carefully concealed. True love cannot be concealed just like sunshine cannot be hidden. Conceal in Hebrew is cathar which means to hide, cover up, keep from being seen, keep out of sight; – it occurs 82 times in the Old Testament. Love cannot be concealed just as light shines in the darkness. Light cannot be concealed. Truth cannot be concealed.
23. Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
Pro 27:10 , “Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.”
Note: The Chinese has a saying, “Distant waters cannot quench the fire at hand. A good neighbor is better than a distant relative.” So the Chinese culture agrees with the principle expressed in the proverb cited above. Distance can be a factor for survival. If you live in the jungles of Africa suffering famine, what does the abundance of food in American benefit you? The idea is similar to the Chinese saying: Faraway relative is no better than a close neighbor. Faraway water cannot extinguish nearby fire. Human beings are restricted by time and space. If you are in one place, you cannot be at the same time in another place. If you are here, you cannot be there. If someone is far away from you, it is impossible to be near you. A nearby neighbor is better than a brother far away. What a good neighbor can do for you, a brother far away cannot do. Nowadays it is not easy to have a good neighbor. Many Americans do not even speak to their neighbors, and not a few do not even know their neighbors.
24. Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
Pro 28:6, “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.”
Note: I do not have rich friends. During the American scandal of savings and loan, I needed $200 million dollars to open a bank and I had the crew ready. I told my friend Dr. Harold Koontz to find me a rich man and that the rich man would be the Chairman of the Board, but he could not find one for me. Reflecting I believe God never intended me to be rich anyway. Integrity in Hebrew is tom which means innocence, simplicity, completeness, fullness, uprightness, wholeness; – it occurs 23 times in the Old Testament. Perverse in Hebrew is `iqqesh which means twisted, distorted, crooked, perverted, froward, deceitful, fraudulent; – it occurs 11 times in the Old Testament. To walk in Hebrew is halak which means to conduct oneself, to live in a manner, follow a manner of life; – it occurs 500 times in the Old Testament. Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than the rich who is perverse in his ways. There are many who get rich by becoming perverse or crooked in their ways. I cannot remember recalling anyone who is rich and powerful and walking in his integrity. I often think business people (big and small) are hard to enter the Kingdom of God because they lie all the time or most of the time. Do you know any politician who walks in his integrity and does not lie? It is frightening to know that many doctors and hospital owners who are perverse in their ways and commit fraudulent and excessive billing all the time. Most Americans, probably most people in the world, would prefer to have riches than integrity.
The bad value of America today is the fact if you are rich you will be respected no matter how you got rich. They respect even a crooked rich man. A man is valued by how much money he has, what house he lives in, what car he drives, what clothes he wears, what position he has, no matter how perverse he is.
25. Nothing is better than for a man that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor.
Ecc 2:24 , “Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.”
Note: In a perverse country like America, crooks and criminals can enjoy the fruit of your labor. Bankers like Citibank can pay you 15￠ interest a month for your deposit of $15,000, or $1.80 a year at the interest rate of 0.01 percent annually. At the same time Citibank charges you $5 for each check you write. And charge you $20 a month if you do not maintain your monthly balance of $15,000. Bankers can defraud your pension on the pretext no credit is posted because it is a nonbusiness day. Banks make all kinds of rules to defraud customers. Doctors and hospitals can rob your lifetime savings and bankrupt you in one illness. Crooks and criminals can blackmail you for what you never owe them and the legal system does not protect you. In a car accident, fake claimant and corrupt doctor and lawyer conspire to strip you everything you have. A good society is where a man can eat and rink and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. If you work for a big corporation, you know there are many who work to insure you do not succeed. Corporate infighting and malice you have to experience to understand. If I were the CEO of a big enterprise, I would build a different corporation. As you already know, God does not intend me to be rich in this world.
26. Nothing is better than to rejoice and to do good.
Ecc 3:12, “I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives.”
Note: To rejoice in Hebrew is samach which means to be glad, to cause to rejoice, gladden, make glad; to have expressions of joy; – it occurs 152 times in the Old Testament. A person who can do good and rejoice in his life is greatly blessed.
Psa 35:9, “And my soul shall rejoice in the LORD; it shall exult in His salvation.” The righteous rejoice in the Lord because of His salvation.
Luk 10:20, “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in Heaven.” Those who are saved, their names are recorded in Heaven in the Book of Life. The power to cast out demons and evil spirits is not the reason for believers to rejoice. Christians rejoice because their names are recorded in Heaven. Years ago when I first started my website on the Internet, there was a Chinese woman with her picture to claim she is Willie Wong. It seemed she was ignorant of the fact that Willie is a male name. Today it is amusing you can see a number of men and women with pictures who claim to be Willie Wong on the Internet. I never put my picture on the Internet. God knows which Willie Wong, his name is recorded in Heaven, I do not have to worry. No one can by fraud enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Phl 4:4 , “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” Rejoice in Greek is chairō which means to be glad, to be well, to thrive, to be full of joy; – it occurs 74 times in the New Testament. Christians must rejoice in the Lord always; yes, always no matter it is sunny or rainy. Christians have plenty to rejoice because we have hope of glory in Jesus Christ. There is nothing better for a man (woman included) than to rejoice and do good in his life. To do good is to show kindness to someone, to be kind towards someone. Those who do good will rejoice, and those who rejoice must do good. There is nothing in life than rejoicing and doing good. I know there are people who rejoice in doing evil, they are the wicked ones. Just as pigs rejoice in dirty mud, so the wicked rejoice in doing evil. Supremacists, terrorists and evil leaders rejoice in doing evil.
I live to be an old man knowing that there are many persons who rejoice in doing evil.
27. Nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works.
Ecc 3:22 , “So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?”
Note: American corporate culture is very bad indeed. There are may in a big corporation to work make sure you do not succeed. If you succeeded, they want to steal or rob the fruits of your labor. This is so-called the Land of the free. Yes, indeed, nothing is better than a man should rejoice in his own works. When you do what you love and you do it very well, it is a great joy. Just as a farmer joyfully gathers the harvest, a man rejoices in the fruit of his labor. In America most people do not like what they do, they do because they need to make a living, and they do to pay their mortgage. I have met people who were very afraid of their supervisors, they are afraid to be laid off or fired and being unable to make monthly mortgage payment. They are mortgage slaves. There are supervisors and managers who know this fact and take advantage of their subordinates by abusing and threatening them. To rejoice in your work (not life work, but livelihood), you need to like what you do, your supervisor, your co-workers, your pay, and your working environment. If any one of these requirements goes wrong, you can be miserable. Abusive supervisors cause the most mental, emotional and psychic and even physical damages to their subordinates. I knew a woman who confided with me how her new supervisor tortured or mistreated her and she later developed a brain tumor and died young. Enlightened corporate executives need to establish policy and procedure whereby employees may channel their grievances or file complaints without fear of retaliation or being fired. There is a very useful method of job evaluation that is evaluation of management by their subordinates. Working for business and government all my life, I do not know any corporation or agency that practices evaluation from below. Performance evaluation whether in public or private sectors is usually done one way, from above down. You know why there are many terrible incidents happening in American workplaces, shooting and suicide. There are foreign companies making big money in China that treat their employees like dogs, requiring them to work 7 days and 7 nights (although officially five days in the office, the rest of hours at home) a week without overtime pay. Their supervisors will give them orders and assignments even at night or early in the morning while they are not in the office.
28. Better is he who has never existed than he who has seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
Ecc 4:3, “Yet, better than both is he who has never existed, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.”
Note: How terrible is the evil work that is done under the sun; it is so evil that it would be better to have never existed than to have seen the evil work that is done under the sun. Evil in Hebrew is ra`which means bad, disagreeable, malignant, unpleasant; that which is giving pain, unhappiness, misery; displeasing, sad, harmful, grievous, unhappy, unkind, wicked; – it occurs 663 times in the Old Testament. Work in Hebrew is ma`asehwhich means deed, act, activity, labor, pursuit, undertaking, business, enterprise, doing; – it occurs 235 times in the Old Testament. I certainly do not want to see Japanese militarists who cut open the belly of a pregnant Chinese woman, take out the infant and throw it up in the air and cut it to pieces as it falls down to the ground. I do not want to see how Japanese troops force feed water and suds into the mouth and rectum of a Chinese victim so that his belly balloons up and Japanese militarists step on his abdomen so that water gushing out from all holes of the body. Japanese militarists should have never existed. I certainly do not want to see the naked Jews pushed into a great furnace to be burned alive. Nazis should never have existed. I certainly do not want to see bombs exploded in a crowd and body parts fly in all directions. Islamic terrorists should never have existed. I believe this statement of Solomon is a hyperbole. If I had never existed, I would not be able to do some good for the sake of Christ which I have done in my life. If I have never existed, I would not have seen the beauty of the green valley from Oslo skip jump. If I have never existed, I would not have seen the most beautiful beaches in the world where the sand was fine as powder that you can use it to rub your skin or brush your teeth. If I have never existed, I would not have seen the crystal clear river of Kanas Lake in Xinjiang like the pure river of water of life. If I have never existed, I would not have seen the glorious sunset from the shore of West Lake, Hangzhou or its marvelous peach blossoms in spring. If I have never existed, I would not have seen the beauty of millions of orchids. To exist is to come into being. I have existed to do what the Lord wants me to do in my humble life. Although I have known the evil deeds of men and women and children, I am glad God has predestined and called me into existence in Christ. I will live because my Redeemer lives forever.
There is too much evil in the world because there are too much sins.
29. Better a handful with quietness than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.
Ecc 4:6, “Better a handful with quietness than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.”
Note: Since the Fall of man, toil and grasping for the wind can describe the human existence. Whether you have a handful or both hands full, the same you toil and grasp for the wind. Toil in Hebrew is`amal which means labor, trouble, hard work, mischief, misery, travail, sorrow, pain, weariness, vexation; – it occurs 55 times in the Old Testament. People are dumb because they go for quantity instead of quality. A handful with quietness is better than both hands full with weariness. Quietness in Hebrew is Nachath which means rest, peace, tranquility, quiet attitude; – it occurs 8 times in the Old Testament. I increasingly dislike dining at a Chinese restaurant or any restaurant where children are screaming and adults talking loudly with stupid noisy rock and roll music. Those who seek money, power and sex are grasping for the wind. Striving for money, power, sex and glory is a vain pursuit.
Warmongers, imperialists, militarists, supremacists, capitalists, monopolists and terrorists do not realize that they are grasping for the wind.
30. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
Ecc 4:9, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.”
Note: Two are better than one because human beings need companions. It is not good for man or woman to live alone. It is a joy to share the reward for labor together with someone you love. A joy shared is doubled, a sorrow shared is lessened. To pray you need a solitary place. To think you need solitude. To write you need quietude. To live a productive and happy life you need a good mate.
31. Better a poor and wise youth that an old and foolish who will be admonished no more.
Ecc 4:13, “Better a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more. Note: A wise youth may be poor, an old king may be foolish. Whether a person is wise or foolish has nothing to do with his/her age, or with his/her position in the world. I once asked my female students in a lesson on decision making: Would you marry a poor and wise youth or an old and rich man? A young man is not necessarily wise; an old man is not necessarily rich and foolish. No matter you are young or old, if you no more accept advice or admonition, you are poor and foolish. To be young and poor is better than to be old and poor. It is most terrible to be old, poor and sick anywhere in general, and in America in particular. To be young and foolish maybe better than to be old and foolish. To be old and wise is better than to be young and foolish. Old age does not guarantee wisdom. There is no fool like an old fool.
Do not take for granted that age has wisdom. A poor and wise youth is hard to find. If there is a poor and wise youth he is better than a rich old fool.
32. Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.
Ecc 5:5, “Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.”
Note: Vow in Hebrew is nadar which means to make a vow, pledge, promise voluntarily; – it occurs 31 times in the Old Testament. If you make a vow, you must perform. If you make a promise, you must keep. If you make a pledge, you must fulfill. A poor man who keeps his promise is rich. A rich man who does not keep his word is a pauper. A man is only as good as his word. Beware of those who are quick to promise but never perform.
It is bad for rich nations that pledge to reduce environmental pollution and do nothing to fulfill their pledge.
33. A stillborn is better than he who begets a hundred children and lives many years, but his soul is not satisfied with goodness.
Ecc 6:3, “If a man begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with goodness, or indeed he has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better than he.”
Note: There is no guarantee that the rich and powerful his soul will be satisfied with goodness. There is no guarantee that a man who begets a hundred children his children will take care of his old age and burial. A beautiful woman when she was young and told me when she is old, that she made a mistake in finding the wrong man. Blessed is the one whose soul is satisfied with goodness. Money, power and sex cannot satisfy your soul. Love, truth and wisdom can satisfy your soul in general, salvation and the blessings and gifts of God can satisfy your soul in particular.
34. Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire.
Ecc 6:9, “Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.”
Note: Sight of the eyes is so important that a man can hardly function without it. I have much sympathy for the blind and willing to walk to help them. Yes, many blind people have been trained to live normal life. Of all the functions of the body, sight is so vital to be able to get in touch with the outside world. A man can think or pray or sing by himself. A man cannot fully interact with others without seeing. No matter how intelligent you are, without sight you cannot see the beauty, glory and majesty of the sun, moon and stars; the beauty of various flowers; the majesty of snow-caped mountains and the vastness of sea, etc. Without eyes you cannot see the blossoms in the spring and the golden yellow leaves in the autumn. Without sight you cannot see the eyes beaming with love and tenderness. Without sight you cannot see the charm of a sweet smile and the agony of sorrow. Without sight you cannot see the tranquility of the valley and the serenity of a moon-lit night. Desire in Hebrew is nephesh which means mind, emotion, passion, vitality of life, innermost being; – it occurs 753 times in the Old Testament. The desire of man wanders in the desert of life and cannot find rest. Jesus says,
Mat 11:28, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”
Are you weary and heavy-laden because of problems of life and troubles and worries of this world, come to Jesus and He will give you rest, peace of mind and the hope of glory for eternity.
35. Man is better with no increase of vanity.
Ecc 6:11, “Since there are many things that increase vanity, how is man the better?”
Note: Vanity in Hebrew is hebel which means vapor, breath, something transitory, evanescent, frail and empty; – it occurs 73 times in the Old Testament. The most precious things that you cherish in the world are vanities. Human life is full of vanities. Vanity degrades any man or woman. In my youth I discovered: There is vanity in beauty but no beauty in vanity. The Western values of money, power and sex are vanities of vanities.
36. A good name is better than precious ointment.
Ecc 7:1, “A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.”
Note: There are many rich and powerful people in America without a good name. What is worse, most Americans respect money and power no matter what. There are many who prefer money and power than a good name. For the righteous, the day of death is better than the day of birth. For the wicked the day of death is the Day of Judgment. The most stinking man in the world today is the evil leader who denies all the war crimes, genocide, sex slavery committed by evil aggressors and oppressors in World War II, the man of sin even distorts historical facts by calling the aggressive wicked soldiers fighting for peace! Can you believe the Japanese military went to China to protect China from American imperialism and thereby killing 35 million Chinese in 14 years of war? The revisionist can distort history.
The bad thing is the fact that peoples no longer seek a good name, they seek money, power, and sex by all means.
37. Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting.
Ecc 7:2, “Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; and the living will take it to heart.”
Note: Mourning in Hebrew is ‘ebel which means to make a wailing cry especially for the dead, expression of grief, feeling sorrow, lamentation; – it occurs 24 times in the Old Testament. It is proper to cry for the dead. Even the son of David wanted to kill him, when his son died, David mourned for him. 2Sa 18:33 , “The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked: O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” Feasting in Hebrew is mishteh which means a celebration or festival, having a feast, a rich and elaborate meal, drink, banquet; – it occurs 46 times in the Old Testament. In a poor country people are undernourished and underweight; in a rich nation people are obese. Of course there are exceptions where people are obese in poor countries. For ordinary people, the house of feasting is better than the house of mourning. For the wise, it is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting. Why? Death is the end of all men, the end of life on earth. Arrogant evolutionary scientists, do you know the time of your death, the date of your end? Since you do not even know what is going to happen to you, how can you know things happened billions of years ago?
38. Sorrow is better than laughter.
Ecc 7:3, “Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad face the heart is made better.”
Note: Sorrow in Hebrew is ka`acwhich means vexation, grief, frustration, feeling sad, contrition, affliction, anguish, sadness; – it occurs 25 times in the Old Testament. Laughter in Hebrew is sĕchowq which means jest, laughing stock, mocking, derision; – it occurs 15 times in the Old Testament. The laughter of a fool is worse than the cry of a monkey. The English proverb says: An ounce of mirth is worth a pound of sorrow. The preacher teaches the opposite. Why？Sadness makes a man serious. Life is a serious matter. Life is not a joke. Pain makes man think, and thought makes man wise. Wisdom is to pay the price. Sadness can teach a heart what university cannot teach. One who has suffered, by sadness his heart is made better to appreciate life, goodness, justice, truth and wisdom.
39. Better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the songs of fools.
Ecc 7:5, “It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools.”
Note: Rebuke in Hebrew is g@`arahwhich means a reproof, sharp reprimand, blame; – it occurs 15 times in the Old Testament. It is not pleasant to the ears to hear a rebuke, but the rebuke of the wise has instructive value. The sound of music is pleasant to the ears and the voice of an opera singer is marvelous. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise man than to hear the songs of fools. There are many songs of fools on TV and on stage. The worst songs of fools are the rock and roll and the music that drives you crazy.
40. The end of a thing is better than its beginning.
Ecc 7:8, “The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”
Note: The German has a saying, “All is well that ends well.” What has begun well may not end well. All is well that ends well. It is too bad when a thing begins well but ends badly. There are many businesses that begin well and vanish. There are many good restaurants, the more money they make they worse they become. It is possible to begin an enterprise poorly, but the entrepreneur learns and succeeds. It does not matter where you come from; it matters where you are going. Patient in Hebrew is ‘arek which means slow to anger, longsuffering, bearing or enduring pain, forbearing, able to wait long calmly; – it occurs 15 times in the Old Testament. Proud in Hebrew is gabahh which means arrogant, haughty, self-important, high-minded, overbearing, showing an overweening opinion of oneself, exulting in oneself, exhibiting an air of superiority; – it occurs 4 times in the Old Testament. The secretary of state of the United States John Foster Dulles was so proud in spirit and self-righteous that he refused to shake hands with Zhou Enlai the prime minister of China. The leaders of the sole superpower are usually proud in spirit and self-righteous. Do you know any American leader who is humble in spirit? Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson were so arrogant that they threatened China with atomic bombs. Spirit in Hebrew is ruwach which means disposition, nature, hallmark, seat of moral character, mind, temper, impulse, will, inner force; – it occurs 378 times in the Old Testament. The spirit of a man reveals his true character and self-worth. Just as the end of a thing is better than its beginning; so the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. You rarely meet the rich and powerful people who are patient in spirit no matter of what race or country of origin. In America, almost all rich and powerful people are proud in spirit. The white supremacists are the most arrogant people on earth. When a black in power and wealth, he is worse than a white supremacist. Evil leaders are the model examples of men without integrity who are proud in spirit with perverse lips. The men of those nations which usually treat women as inferior are among the worst kind of men and having the worst kind of spirit.
It does not matter how you began, it all matters how you end.
41. Why the former days were better?
Ecc 7:10 , “Do not say: Why were the former days better than these? For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.”
Note: Not all inquires are wise. You do not even know the present days, how can you be sure about former days. It is better make the best of what you have than to imagine what was in the past. In the scheme of things, God has declared in the last days things will get worse and worse. There is a universal degeneracy in morals. The China of 1985 that I first met was not the same China of 2021 I know. The China of 1985 was more honest and moral than today, the China of today is more modern and prosperous than before. The America of Nixon was not the same America of today. In all respects it was a better America. When Nixon was the president, California was golden and today it is rusty iron in all respects. The world is not getting better? The night is far spent, and the day is at hand. It is not wise to inquire why the night is far spent; if the night is not dark and deep, how would the dawn arrive? Men are not competent judge of past and present, and not knowing the reason of many things. When the days are evil, we should be grateful because they could become worse. It is wise to be contented with what you have and with a grateful heart. Old days were better because today the wicked and evildoers get worse and worse.
42. A man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry.
Ecc 8:15 , “So I commended enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.”
Whoever deletes the Word of God, God will delete his name from the Book of Life, his name will be in the Book of Death.
Note: Enjoyment in Hebrew is simchah which means joy, mirth, gladness, gaiety, pleasure, glad result, happy issue; – it occurs 94 times in the Old Testament. If you observe all celebrations of all nations they have one thing in common: people eat, drink, and be merry. Is there anything better under the sun for men to do other than to eat, drink, and be merry? For worldly men, women and children; no. For spiritual man, yes. Jesus says, Jhn 4:32-34, “But He said to them: I have food to eat that you do not know about. So the disciples were saying to one another: No one brought Him anything to eat, did he? Jesus said to them: My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.” The food of Jesus was to do the will of God who sent Him and to accomplish His work. Do you know any preacher or pastor who considers the work of God more important than what to eat and drink?
43. A living dog is better than a dead lion.
Ecc 9:4 , “But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.”
Note: The English speaking people appropriated this verse as an English proverb. The English proverb says: While there is life, there is hope. There is hope for him who is joined to all the living. It is wrong to commit suicide under any circumstances. Life is precious. There is no reason for a Christian to commit suicide because there is hope of glory for all children of God. Lion is the king of animals and is much stronger than a dog. But a dead lion is no better than a log. A dead lion not only has no strength, it cannot do anything. A living dog is better than a dead lion. There are some Chinese turncoats and traitors who are running dogs of supremacists. There are corrupt leaders of the world who are no better than dead dogs. What life has is better than what is dead.
What a living dog can do, a dead lion cannot.
44. Wisdom is better than strength.
Ecc 9:16, “Then I said: Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.”
Note: Wisdom in Hebrew is chokmah which means shrewdness, skill, prudence, good judgment, wit, erudition, sagacity, comprehension of various learning, knowing what is supreme; – it occurs 149 times in the Old Testament. Strength is Hebrew is gĕbuwrah which means might, power, force, mighty deed; – it occurs 61 times in the Old Testament. American supremacists and Islamic terrorists are most dangerous people because they believe might is better than wisdom, power is better than justice. The poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. Wisdom of the poor cannot be applied because it is despised. Once I wrote to Carter about developing a national health plan to cover everyone but not to exceed $500 billion dollars a year, he despised my proposal and did not even care to respond. Although I am not French, I was delighted when President Georges Pompidou personally responded to my proposal of helping President Nixon in ending the Vietnam War. However, I was surprised after election loss for his foundation Carter wrote me asking for money. Today the American healthcare system is the most costly and predatory in the world because of monopoly, organized crime, fraud and waste and blatant overcharge at more than $8 trillion dollars a year. However, President Richard Nixon was quite different from Carter. When I proposed a national policy and strategy to President Nixon, not only he listened and even personally responded in two signed official letters. Please see and read The Nixon I Know and Precious Collection . Nixon was a great president who recognized wisdom no matter from the poor or rich. I also know another president who would write back to any rich man who wrote him. This is only one aspect why I consider in my life time there were only two great leaders: Richard Nixon and Deng Xiaoping. Unfortunately, the words of the rich and powerful have clout; the wisdom of the poor is despised and not heard. To despise in Hebrew is bazah which means to hold in contempt, disdain, look down, scorn, trample with feet; – it occurs 43 times in the Old Testament. The word of the rich and powerful has weight and people will listen. In America the wisdom of the poor is trampled both by government and business.
American leaders and politicians have nuclear might but they do not have wisdom to seek peace.
45. Wisdom is better than weapons of war.
Ecc 9:18 , “Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good.”
Note: The American leaders after President Richard Nixon do not have wisdom, and they think weapons of war are better than wisdom. Imperialists practice aggression and war of conquest to expand their power and wealth. Weapons of war do not improve one bit the quality of life. Nuclear weapons do not feed, clothe, house or educate the people. The leaders of poor nations who want to be a major power by wasting money on weapons of war such as aircraft carriers, war planes, war ships, missiles and anti-missiles, and nuclear weapons are guilty of depriving their people a decent living. Leaders who put their trust in nuclear weapons may start a nuclear war to destroy and end the world. One corrupt and wicked leader destroys much good. The 1 percent of population can destroy much good for the 99 percent. Many foolish leaders of nations build or buy weapons of mass destruction. In some countries they have aircraft carriers and war planes, but their peoples do not have the necessities of life such as food, water, electricity, toilet and shelters.
Very few know that wisdom is better than nuclear weapons.
46. Love is better than wine.
Sgs 1:2, “[The Shulamite] Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth–For your love is better than wine.”
Note: True love or sincere love is better than wine. I do not like wine, and I do not drink wine from childhood; but I am sure love is better than many things. I know love is better than hate, love is better than strife and many bad things in the world.
Sgs 4:10, “How fair is your love, My sister, my spouse! How much better than wine is your love, and the scent of your perfumes than all spices!”
The love between a man and a woman is a wonderful thing, better than many good things in the world. There are many who think love is sex especially people in the West in general, and in America in particular. Love is not sex, love may have sex, but sex is not love.
47. A Name is better than that of sons and daughters.
Isa 56:5, “Even to them I will give in My house and within My walls a place and a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.”
Note: God will give a name, a place, and a Kingdom to the children of God which are better than to have many sons and daughters. There are servants of God who have no sons and daughters, but they will have what God has prepared for them better than many sons and daughters.
Rev 2:17, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.”
Note: Those who overcome, the Spirit will give them a white stone, hidden manna and a new name written on the stone. I am sure this is more valuable than all precious stones we know. We do not have the knowledge of their value now.
48. Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger.
Lam 4:9,“Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger; for these pine away, stricken for lack of the fruits of the field.”
Note: This is a comparative statement. It does not mean it is good to be slain by sword. To be slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger. To die of hunger must endure longer and more painful sorrows. Just like Jesus says,
Mat 5:30, “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 is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into Hell. There are those who think to suffer in Hell is a mental state. Jesus confirms those who reject Him will suffer body and soul in Hell forever. The wicked will have resurrection to face God’s judgment with a body that can feel pain, the worms to torture and the fire to burn; forever dying but not dead.
49. It is better for me to die than to live.
Jon 4:3, “Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”
Jonah made this statement when he was unhappy in his circumstances.
Jon 4:8, “And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah’s head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said: It is better for me to die than to live.”
Note: These were the words of Jonah the prophet. Jesus not only certifies Jonah was a prophet and a great prophet.
Mat 12:39, “But He answered and said to them: An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet.”
Mat 12:41, “The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.”
Luk 11:32, “The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.”
Now who am I that I should criticize a great prophet? I believe it is normal to have a death wish some of the time, but abnormal to have death wish often or all the time. When you know what God wants you to do and do it, it is wonderful to live.
50. It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Mat 18:6, “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Mar 9:42, “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.”
Luk 17:2, “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.”
Note: The truth is the fact that Jesus Christ cares for little ones who believe in Him. We should not harm or hurt the little ones. Catholic priests and nuns who raped children have committed grave sin. Better in Greek is sympherō which means profitable, useful, suitable, expedient; – it occurs 17 times in the New Testament. This is a terrible truth: You can cause one of little ones who believe in Christ to sin. The little ones I am thinking of boys and girls who have been raped by Catholic priests and nuns, teachers, coaches, boy and girl scout masters, parents, relatives, etc. It is a terrible sin to cause some one to sin. What does it mean to cause someone to sin? I believe drug traffickers cause people to sin to get hooked on narcotics. Pimps cause prostitutes to sin. Prostitutes cause men to sin. Prosperity gospel preachers cause church members to love money and the world. Corrupt leaders cause his subordinates to sin. There is a Chinese saying: If the upper beam is crooked, the lower beams are bent.
51. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed.
Mat 18:8 , “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire.”
Mat 18:9, “And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into Hell fire.”
Mar 9:43, “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to Hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—”
Mar 9:45, “And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into Hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—”
Mar 9:47, “And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into Hell fire—”
Note: Most peoples do not realize the eternal Hell Fire is no joking. Once you enter Hell, you will never get out.
A similar idea: A living dog is better than a dead lion. It is better to suffer for righteousness here on earth and enter the Kingdom of God than to enjoy the wealth and pleasure of this world and to be cast into the everlasting fire. A little suffering on earth is no comparison to the great glory in Heaven. Sin leads to death, repentance leads to life. It is better to have little now and have much later. It is infinitely better to be poor on earth and rich in Heaven and eternity than to be rich on earth and to be cast into Hell fire forever.
52. It is better not to marry.
Mat 19:10, “His disciples said to Him: If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.”
1Cr 7:9, “But if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.”
1Cr 7:38, “So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.”
Note: It is better for some not to marry in the context of some situation. It is better for most to marry as a general rule. It is a pitiful case for many a man with his wife. It is also a pitiful case for many a man without a wife. I believe a couple missionaries better not to have children. Missionary life is hard, I was a son of missionaries.
1Cr 7:9, “But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” Burn in Greek is pyroō which means to be inflamed with sexual desire; – it occurs 6 times in the New Testament. It is difficult to be a man, for passion burns like fire. Probably and generally speaking men have stronger sexual needs than women. Many famous or infamous American men even with their wives they still burn with passion and commit adultery. Wishing and practicing to have extramarital relations is a greed. There are people who are greedy for money, there are people who are greedy for fame, and there are people greedy for sex. It is better for drug addicts, patients with AIDS, defects and degenerative diseases, etc. not to marry.
Marriage is for most people. For the special people like Paul, it is better not to marry.
53. She had spent all that she had and was no better.
Mar 5:26, “And had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.”
Note: This is a great injustice, medical injustice and it is also medical terrorism. Why should a person spend all that he/she has and does not get better from medical treatment? Why the United States has the most costly and predatory and fraudulent healthcare system in the world? Why doctors and hospital owners, drug and insurance companies, labs and medical suppliers are allowed to defraud, gouge and overcharge patients and bankrupt millions of families? Now American and Western doctors have gone to China and charge whatever they please; and there are two medical systems in China: one for the rich with few patients, and one for the common people with crowds and long lines. The hospital business by virtue of monopoly is the most profitable and lucrative business in the world no matter in what form of government. The most outrageous thing is that the U.S. government knows how wicked and greedy doctors and hospital owners and other healthcare providers defraud or suck the life blood of American people and does nothing to stop the evil and predatory practices. A patient should not spend all he/she has or goes bankrupt for medical care. The healthcare terrorists (doctors, hospital owners, drug and insurance companies, etc.) are worse than many terrorists. When a patient is admitted, he/she must sign his/her life savings and possessions away because doctors and hospitals do not give cost information in advance so that the patient may have a choice. The doctors and hospitals never sign an agreement to treat the patient at the least cost possible.
At present, even a patient dies at the hospital emergency, his children still have to pay a big bill. There should be a law, when the doctors and hospital cannot make a patient better, there should be no fees. If the patient dies, the doctors and hospital cannot charge the patient anything.
54. The Old is better.
Luk 5:39, “And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says: The old is better.”
Note: It has been said: The old wine is better. I have no interest or knowledge in wine, old or new wine does not matter to me since I do not drink wine at all. It has been said: Old friends are better. I say: Good and true friends are better, it does not matter old or new. Probably old friends have a record or history of reliability, new friends you do not know. Old shoes do not pinch you. Nowadays you can buy a pair of good new shoes that do not pinch you. New house is better than old house because it is better built and equipped with quality materials. A poorly built house, the older the worse. New furniture is better than old furniture. New car is better than old car because less likely to have a breakdown. There is no old truth or new truth. Truth is eternal only you have not discovered it. Jesus is the truth, the same yesterday, today and forever.
55. Neither we eat are we the better.
1Cr 8:8, “But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.”
Note: Food does not commend us to God, or to be a better Christian or more spiritual. Whether you are a vegetarian or a meat eater does not incur favor from God. Food, the right kind of food, is important to your health. Fatty, salty, oily, too sweet and sour food are generally are unhealthy for your health. One should eat according to the nutrition one needs. Expensive food does not necessarily mean better food.
It does not mean if you eat expensive food such as abalone, lobster, roast pig, etc. you will become a morally better person.
56. It would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void.
1Cr 9:15, “But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void.”
1Cr 9:15, “But I have used none of these things. And I am not writing these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than have any man make my boast an empty one.”
Note: Boast in Greek is kauchēma which means a glorying or boasting, matter or ground of glorifying, rejoicing, satisfaction; – it occurs 11 times in the New Testament. Apostle Paul rejoiced because he did not live on the Gospel, he did not get pay for preaching the Gospel, he did not make his living on preaching the Gospel; he was self-supporting. There are some American preachers who think they are very smart and important because they get rich in preaching the gospel; they even made a special version of the Bible in their names for sale. Preachers of megachurches glorify in having private planes, luxury cars, million-dollar mansions, big bank account, etc. Even if you preach the Gospel not for pay and absolutely free, there is nothing to boast. A good servant of Christ does what he must do.
57. A desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
Phl 1:23, “For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.”
Note: Tired and burdened preachers and believers may have a desire to leave the world and to be with Christ, which is far better. Desire in Greek is epithymia which means craving, longing, strong wish, active hoping in a good sense; – it occurs 38 times in the New Testament. However, it is un-Scriptural and against the will of God to commit suicide. Enemies of Christ may kill true believers and make them martyrs, but no believers can make themselves martyrs or kill themselves under any circumstances. It is forbidden for Christians to kill themselves. Christians who have the hope of glory have no reason to kill themselves. For a child of God, to die is to go home – the place Jesus Christ has prepared for all who believe and follow and serve Him. Heaven is a real place, not a figment of imagination, not just a state of mind. If you do not believe in the Paradise of God, you are not qualified to be a preacher. If you are a preacher and do not believe in Heaven, you are a false preacher and a servant of the devil. There is nothing better than to be with Christ; however, a servant of Christ must do here on earth what he must do.
58. Let each esteem others better than himself.
Phl 2:3, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”
Note: Conceit in Greek is kenodoxia which means vain glory, groundless self esteem, empty pride, a vain opinion; – it occurs only once in the New Testament. Supremacists (black and white) and Japanese leaders are the worst people who harbor selfish ambition or conceit and they are most arrogant because they esteem themselves better than others. In fact, Japanese leaders are among the worst of mankind because they have no integrity and they have perverse lips in speaking lies; however, they do not claim to be Christians. Many supremacists claim to be Christians which make their sins more sinful, their selfish ambition more selfish, and their conceit more conceited. Esteem in Greek is hēgeomai which means to consider, treat, deem, account, think; – it occurs 28 times in the New Testament. It is much easier to know who is more able or richer or more handsome. It is not easy to know who is a better person, more holy, more humble, and more virtuous. Those who proudly declare and proclaim “America First” are dangerous to America and the world. American imperialists, hegemonists, supremacists and militarists are the most dangerous people because they believe they are anointed or have divine right to rule the world. The rich and powerful always think they are better than others. White people generally think they are superior to the colored people. Have you ever met a leader who has lowliness of mind and humility? The infamous preacher of prosperity gospel used to declare to common people, “Do you know who I am?” Yes, a false teacher.
This is not an easy thing to do: let each esteem others better than himself. The white race always feels, acts, and speaks better than other races. The white race suffers the superiority complex. To compensate for their inferiority complex, some race exhibits superiority complex in a most abnormal way.
59. We are confident of better things concerning you.
Hbr 6:9, “But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.”
Note: Even in spiritual matters, there are better things. No one can be confident of lie, fraud, greed, corruption, abuse of power, aggression, exploitation, injustice and immorality. Not only they are not better things, they are very bad things. What are better things that accompany salvation? The heavenly gift, the goodness of the Word of God, the fruit of the Holy Spirit (see Gal 5:22), the fruit of righteousness , the powers of the world to come, serving the saints, the full assurance of hope, the promises of God and many more leading to the eternal life in the Paradise of God.
60. The lesser is blessed by the greater.
Hbr 7:7, “Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the greater.”
Note: This is an important truth. The greater can bless the lesser, the lesser cannot bless the greater. No one is greater than God, so from God the Father all blessings flow. Human beings have no power to bless, human beings can only wish someone well. Once I met a blind man at a Chinese church. Whenever anyone did the blind man a favor, he would strongly pronounce: God bless you! I believe the blind man was well-meaning but ignorant of this Scripture that the lesser is blessed by the greater. No lesser man can bless the greater person.
A little Lot is in no position to bless the great Abraham.
61. There is the bringing in of a better hope.
Hbr 7:19 , “For the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.”
Note: God gives His children everything better, better things regarding salvation, better way, better covenant, better hope, better promises, better country, better resurrection, better and lasting possession. When Jesus was born, hope was born. The hopeless mankind may be saved by the blood of Jesus and be brought near to God by a better hope which is the hope of glory. Many hope to get rich. Some hope to get fame. A few hope to obtain power and glory. The hope in Jesus Christ is far better than anyone can hope and dream in this world. What God has prepared and given to His children are infinitely better than anything the world may offer.
1Cr 2:9, “But, as it is written: What God has prepared for those who love Him, no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no heart of man has conceived.”
Although I am not rich and do not possess a mansion, I have seen some fabulous royal palaces, and the most expensive jewelries and antiques in the world, etc. Although I do not own many things, I have heard of unbelievable luxuries and treasures. My heart can conceive of the most beautiful, wonderful, majestic, precious and priceless things. What God has prepared for those who love Him, no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no heart of man has imagined.
The poorest Christians have a better hope than the richest crooks in the world.
62. Jesus has become the guaranty of a better covenant.
Hbr 7:22, “By so much more Jesus has become the guaranty of a better covenant.”
Note: Guarantee in Greek is eggyos which means a surety, a sponsor or guarantor; – it occurs only once in the New Testament. Jesus has become a surety or guarantee of a better covenant. Jesus is the guarantor of a better covenant, the new covenant which was made by the blood of Jesus. The covenant made by the precious blood of Jesus can never be abolished because our Redeemer lives forever and saves believers to the end. For that reason the new covenant is better than the old covenant. Grace is better than law; faith is better than work.
Jesus Christ is the guarantee of the eternal life, the New Jerusalem, the Kingdom of Heaven, all the promises and better things for Christians.
63. Established on better promises.
Hbr 8:6, “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was enacted on better promises.”
Note: Enact in Greek is nomotheteō which means to enact laws, sanction by law, make law, ordain, furnish legally, decree; – it occurs only twice in the New Testament. Why the New Testament is more excellent than the Old Testament? Why grace is better than law? The law requires that you do and live. Grace requires you believe and live. What man cannot do under the law, grace makes possible for sinners to repent and believe in Jesus and be saved. For that reason, the new covenant was enacted on better promises. The law is holy, but man is sinful. The Gospel brings good news that by grace one can be saved through faith in Jesus the Savior.
64. The heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices.
Hbr 9:23, “Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the Heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.”
Note: It was necessary for Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins in order to redeem us and save us from eternal damnation. Necessary in Greek is anagkēwhich means needful, of necessity, imposed by circumstances or requirements, imposed by law or the Word of God, compelled by need; – it occurs 18 times in the New Testament. Food is necessary but even if you are full you still will die. The Bread of Life is more necessary because you will live forever. Water is necessary but you will thirst again. The Water of Life is more necessary because you will never thirst again. The Word of God is necessary so that you may know the Way of Salvation. It was necessary for every high priest to have something to offer to God. Jesus Christ the High Priest had something better to offer, the Lamb of God offered Himself to die for sinners in order to atone for our sins. The sacrifice of the Son of God is better because it was done once and for all, finished and accomplished. Salvation is available for whoever repents of his sins and believes in Jesus Christ.
65. You have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in Heaven.
Hbr 10:34, “For you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in Heaven.”
Note: Enduring in Greek is menō which means lasting, not perishing, permanent, durable; – it occurs 120 times in the New Testament. Nothing is enduring in this world. Possession in Greek is hyparxiswhich means goods, wealth, property, substance, riches; – it occurs only twice in the New Testament. Property or possession in this world is the criteria people look at you. People who live in mansion, drive luxurious car, wear fashionable clothes are generally more respected than the poor. You would be surprised to find out how expensive woman bags can be, not mentioning fur coats. I always think it is sinful for a preacher to wear a $10,000 suit or a preacher’s wife to have $30,000 mink coat. It is obscene to have $1,000 dinner. I have heard of an official in China who owns 80 houses. The greedy people are never satisfied: they own several fancy cars, many grand mansions, diamonds and jewelries, countless precious collections, big bank accounts, etc. – but all these goods and possessions are not enduring. The wealth and riches of this world are passing away. Christians have a better and an enduring possession in Heaven – the Kingdom of God, the Paradise and eternal life.
66. They desire a better, that is, a Heavenly country.
Hbr 11:16, “But now they desire a better, that is, a Heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a City for them.”
Note: When I was young I used to think America was the best country in the world. Indeed, during the Nixon presidency, the United States was in the golden era. Later I was disillusioned by corruption, greed, fraud, inequality, injustice, crime, uncivilized behavior, violence, profanity, lust, lewdness, aggressive foreign policy, etc. prevalent in America. I went to Scandinavia looking for a better country where I developed a theory of good society. Please read The Theory of Good Society . I discovered Norway was the best country in the world then. However, recently I am disappointed in Norway, not only the paradise was lost by a terrorist act, also by the way the Norwegian government has conducted itself. Please read A Response to the Norwegian Nobel Committee . I must conclude by saying: My kingdom is not of this world. There is no better country than the heavenly country which the Lord has prepared for His followers.
Rev 21:10-27, “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west. And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall. The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements. The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Do you want to have your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? By grace through faith in Jesus Christ, you can.
67. They might obtain a better resurrection.
Hbr 11:35, “Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.”
Note: There are two resurrections. The first resurrection is for those who have died in Christ. When Jesus Christ returns to the earth, all believers will rise and receive a spiritual, immortal and glorious body fit for the Kingdom of Heaven. All who perished without Christ will rise also known as the second resurrection but to be judged and sent to Hell with body and soul to be tortured forever. If you were born once and rejected Jesus Christ, you will die twice. The first death is the physical death because all have sinned and the wages of sin is death. The second death will take place after the second resurrection when the wicked and unbelievers will die forever but not dead and suffer in Hell without end. If you were born twice, you will only die once. The first was physical birth and the second was spiritual birth. To be born again is to be saved by faith in Jesus Christ and with the Holy Spirit living you. If a Christian dies (physical death), he will be with the Lord immediately. When Jesus Christ returns, he will have the first resurrection with a spiritual and glorious body to meet the Lord in the space. Christians will reign with the Lord on earth for 1,000 years. After that the dawn of the eternal Kingdom of God, God will live with His children in the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, the new Heaven and the new earth forever and ever.
Christians will have a better resurrection because they will be given glorious, spiritual and immortal bodies like Jesus Christ.
68. God has provided something better for us.
Hbr 11:40, “God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.”
Note: Better here in Greek is kreittōn which means more useful, more serviceable, more advantageous, more excellent; – it occurs 18 times in the New Testament. Compared to what is the best in the world, everything God has provided for His children is better. The enduring is better than the fading and fleeting; and the heavenly is better than the earthly. What the Law of Moses could not do, the grace of Jesus makes better. What the righteousness of man is imperfect, the righteousness of God is perfect. Believers are made perfect by the Word of God, the blood of Jesus Christ and the sanctification of the Holy Spirit.
69. The blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
Hbr 12:24, “To Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.”
Note: Mediator in Greek is mesitēs which means one who intervenes between two, either in order to make or restore peace and friendship, or form a compact, or for ratifying a covenant; – it occurs 6 times in the New Testament. Jesus the Mediator also the Savior, interposed by His death and restored harmony between God and man which human sin had broken. Eph 2:16 , “And He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.” When Jesus Christ died on the cross for sinners, He put to death the enmity between God and man.
The precious blood of Jesus speaks better things that that of the blood of Abel. The dispensation of grace is better than the dispensation of law. The dispensation of faith is better than the dispensation of work. Jesus the Son of God is the Mediator between God and man. The blood of Jesus the Lamb of God which sprinkles on our conscience is better than the blood of the sacrifice sprinkled on the altar and the sacrifice. By His substitutionary death Jesus the Redeemer brings us near to God.
70. It is better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
1Pe 3:17, “For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”
Note: Most people think if you suffer because you are doing evil. Most people do not realize believers may suffer for doing good. Most people think you suffer because you do evil. No, you can suffer for doing good. You can suffer for doing what is right. If it is the will of God, children of God may suffer for doing good. There are people who do evil and yet they do not seem to suffer at all. Why the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer is the perennial intellectual and emotional problem of believers of all ages and times. It is normal to suffer for your unfaithfulness or for you sin. Men suffer many things in this world. To suffer death is the fate of all men for all have sinned. If you do not sin, you will never die. Suffer in Greek is paschō which means to be affected or have been affected badly, to feel pain, have a painful experience, to undergo evils, to be in a bad plight, to be afflicted; – it occurs 42 times in the New Testament.
1Pe 2:20, “For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.”
Note: The worldly could not understand this: If when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. You find favor with God in suffering for doing what is good and right. To find favor with God means God is pleased with you. When you suffer for doing good, God regards you with favor.
71. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness.
2Pe 2:21,“For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.”
Note: Righteousness in Greek is dikaiosynēwhich means the condition acceptable to God, the way in which man may attain a state approved of God, integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking, feeling, and acting; – it occurs 92 times in the New Testament. The way of righteousness is the way of salvation. This is a comparative statement. It does not mean it would have been better for people not to know the way of righteousness; it simply means it is very bad for those who know the way of righteousness and reject the salvation of God.
Since the end of World War II, judging from the records of what the United States has done in the world to the present, do you believe America is a righteous nation?
You have learned a greater deal from the Word of God about What is better.
What is the advantage of knowing the truth but not accepting it?
What is the use of claiming to be a Christian nation but obsessed with money, power and sex and engaging in unrighteous war of aggression and bloody military intervention for self-interest?
What is the use of knowing the way of salvation and reject it?
Since you know what is better. Won’t it be better for you to repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior AND inherit the Kingdom of Heaven?
ON September 3, 2025 for China to mark 80th 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.
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This article is written to let you know what a prayer is. Why there is a need for prayer? Why do people pray? Because all human beings have problems, troubles, difficulties, adversities, worries, and calamities. Mankind needs Someone who is greater, better, and more powerful to help in time of trouble. It is useless to pray to false gods or idols which have eyes cannot see, which have legs and feet but cannot walk, which have ears but cannot hear, which have mouths but cannot talk. The true God who has not only mercy, compassion, but also power and ability to help those who come to Him in the day of trouble.
The God of Heavens and earth, the Lord of the universe, the Almighty and Omnipotent God, there is nothing too difficult for Him. Luk 3:6:
AND ALL FLESH WILL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD.’” All flesh means all human beings will see the salvation of God. Jesus Christ is the salvation of God. The salvation of God is in Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.
This article is written so that you know what prayer is. Many are confused about what a prayer is. Even preachers think reporting to God is prayer. Some preachers even preach to God when they pray. Prayer is not reporting to God, for God knows everything and He does not need anyone to report to Him what is happening in the world. Preachers should not use prayer as a sermon, preaching to God and men. Preachers should not pray long prayers during Sunday service as if long prayers were indicative of their devotion and piety. Old people are unable to stand up for long prayers. Do not confuse public prayers with private prayers. Preachers may pray all night alone by themselves in their own homes.
Luk 6:12 , “It was at this time that He (Christ) went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.”
When the Lord taught His disciples to pray, the prayer was not long. Pastors should not pray long prayers in public and let old people stand a long time. Some preachers mistake long prayers for devotion. Preachers and believers can pray long prayers in their own rooms alone.
See Mat 6:9-13, Basically, praying is asking God, asking God for favor or mercy. The following Scriptures teach us what prayer is. Prayer must be offered to God alone, not angels, not apostles, not saints dead or alive, not Mary the mother of Jesus, not anybody else.
1. Your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to You.
2Sa 7:27, “For You, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made a revelation to Your servant, saying: I will build you a house; therefore Your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to You.”
Note: Prayer is Hebrew is tĕphillah which means supplication, entreaty, request. To pray in Hebrew is palal meaning to intercede, intervene, interpose. When you pray for someone, in fact you intervene because you supplicate and ask God on his behalf. Through Jesus Christ, sinners may find courage to pray to God.
2. The Lord was moved by prayer.
2Sa 24:25 , “David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Thus the Lord was moved by prayer for the land, and the plague was held back from Israel.”
Note: This Scripture provides us reason to pray, because the Lord can be moved by prayer. If you pray earnestly in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord can be moved.
3. Have regard to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication.
1Ki 8:28 , “Yet have regard to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today.”
4. I pray, let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to the prayer.
2Ch 6:40 , “Now, O my God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.” Cf. 2Ch 7:15 , Neh 1:6 , Neh 1:11 .
Note: The Temple of God was the house of prayer.
Isa 56:7 , “Even those I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.” Cf. Mat 21:13
5. Their prayer came to His holy dwelling place.
2Ch 30:27 , “Then the Levitical priests arose and blessed the people; and their voice was heard and their prayer came to His (God’s) holy dwelling place, to heaven.”
Note: Heaven is God’s holy dwelling place. Heaven is a real place, not a place of imagination.
6. O God…be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
Psa 4:1 , “Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; be gracious to me and hear my prayer.”
Note: It is of great importance to study the Book of Psalms because it teaches us how to pray.
7. O Lord…give ear to my prayer.
Psa 17:1 , “Hear a just cause, O Lord, give heed to my cry; give ear to my prayer, which is not from deceitful lips.”
Note: God will not hear a prayer from deceitful lips. The wicked have deceitful lips, they can turn black into white, white into black, fact into lie, lie into fact. They call light darkness, darkness light. If you watch Western leaders and politicians on TV and read Western media, you know for sure they lie, lie, and lie without shame. God hates deceitful lips. These people have such hatred and malice toward China and Russia without cause and without reason. Yes, there is a reason they want to continue to dictate and dominate the world.
8. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry.
Psa 39:12 , “Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; do not be silent at my tears; for I am a stranger with You, a sojourner like all my fathers.”
Note: The sooner a man realizes he is a sojourner the better he knows the world is passing away and he must seek a better country which is eternal.
9. O You who hear prayer, to You all flesh will come.
Psa 65:2 ,“O You who hear prayer, to You all flesh will come.”
Note: Flesh in Hebrew is basar which means mankind, all men, people, all living things, all living creatures, the whole human race; – it occurs 269 times in the Old Testament. All flesh means all people. All people have problems, troubles, needs and difficulties. All flesh needs to come to God for mercy and help. The fact that God hears prayers, the whole human race will come to Him. It is foolish not to come to God who hears our prayers. From Abel to the last saint can testify that God answers prayers. This is not superstition. This is a proven and verified experience. I have passed through many crises, dangers and difficulties in my life. God has helped and saved me many times. From childhood God saved me from being drown or eaten by a crocodile. From childhood to manhood and to old age, God has saved me many times on the verge of deaths. God says to His children, Psa 50:15 ,“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will glorify Me.” In my days of trouble, I always claimed this promise and God rescued me and I glorified Him. This is just a little story to illustrate how wonderfully God answered my prayer. I went to a supermarket in the morning; there would be a box of fresh fruit delivered to my house that day. I prayed to God that the fruit would be delivered after I returned from the supermarket. The escalator of the stupid supermarket was out of order, and so I was delayed. I kept on praying. When I arrived home before I changed my street clothe, the door bell rang. The fruit box arrived. How wonderful! You say it was a coincidence. If ten times happened that God answered my prayers, do you still call them coincidences? How about 1,000 times, 100,000 times, a million times? God answered my prayers countless times. I will keep on praying and praising the Lord God Almighty who answers prayers all the days of my life.
This is the basis and reason why we should pray and come to God because He hears prayers.
Psa 102:17 , “He has regarded the prayer of the destitute and has not despised their prayer.”
All who are destitute and poor and miserable may come to the throne of grace in Jesus’ name. The reason to come to God is because God hears prayers.
10. May my prayer be counted as incense before You.
Psa 141:2 , “May my prayer be counted as incense before You; the lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.”
Note: Rev 8:4 , “And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand.” Both the Old and New Testaments count prayers of the saints as incense before God. Those who burn incense for idols pollute the air and the environment.
11. My prayer is against their wicked deeds.
Psa 141:5 , “Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; it is oil upon the head; do not let my head refuse it, for still my prayer is against their wicked deeds.”
Note: Your prayer cannot be for wicked deeds. Your prayer must be against wicked deeds. Pray against wicked deeds of warmongers, capitalists, imperialists, militarists, hegemonists and terrorists, all crooks and criminals.
12. The prayer of the upright is His delight.
Pro 15:8 , “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.”
Note: Have you noticed those who got rich through crooked means invariably become philanthropists and set up foundations to do charity work. The charity of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, not to say they get tax free benefits. The prayer of the upright is God’s delight. Believers must learn it is a delight to talk to the Heavenly Father and the Lord. You can tell the Lord the deep secrets in your heart which you cannot share with others. It is not long prayer that God is pleased, it is the prayer of the upright which is His delight.
13. The Lord…hears the prayer of the righteous.
Pro 15:29 , “The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.”
Note: The Lord is far from the wicked, and the wicked is far from the Lord. Let the righteous come near to God for help and mercy; for God hears the prayer of the righteous. If God never hears your prayer, that proves you are not a child of God. God hears the prayers of His children in the name of Jesus Christ.
14. Even his prayer is an abomination.
Pro 28:9 , “He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, even his prayer is an abomination.”
Note: He who does not listen to the Word of God, his prayer is an abomination. If you do not listen to God, God will not listen to you.
15. All things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.
Mat 21:22 , “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
Note: Jesus Christ confirms prayer is asking. Ask, and it will be given to you.
16. These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer.
Act 1:14 , “These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”
Note: To devote in Greek is proskartereō which means to give constant attention to, to be steadfastly attentive to, to give unremitting care to. All believers with one mind must devote themselves to prayer, praying that God will open the door of the Gospel in many desperate places.
17. They were continually devoting themselves to…the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Act 2:42 , “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
Note: A living church is devoting to the apostles’ teaching. The apostles’ teaching is written in the New Testament, subject to the teaching of Christ. Fellowship is the sharing of believers. The breaking of bread is to remember the death of Christ. Prayer is seeking God’s will and asking for help and mercy.
18. The hour of prayer.
Act 3:1 , “Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.”
Note: You can pray at any time. It seemed the apostles had the habit of praying at specific time. The ninth hour corresponds to our 3 o’clock in the afternoon. The Bible does not set the rule to pray at certain hour. Believers can pray at any time and anywhere. Every hour can be the hour of prayer. It is fine if you want to set the time to pray. It is not when you pray but how you pray that matters.
19. We will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.
Act 6:4 , “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Note: To devote oneself to prayer and to the ministry of the Word are exactly what a servant of Christ should do. However, the preachers of prosperity gospel devote themselves to money, raising money and making money which is contrary to the teaching of the Bible. The servants of Christ must not devote themselves to fundraising, politicking, charity, etc. The servants of God must devote themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. What I am doing is the ministry of the Word.
20. Your payer has been heard.
Act 10:31 , “And he (angel) said: Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.”
Note: Every child of God knows the joy of answered prayers. God hears prayers of His children. God remembers your every good deed done for Jesus’ sake.
21. Prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.
Act 12:5 , “So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.”
Note: “Fervently” in Greek is ektenōs which means earnestly, intensely. The best way to pray is to pray earnestly.
22. My heart’s desire and my prayer to God.
Rom 10:1 , “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.”
Note: Desire in Greek is eudokia which means delight in anything which intensely produces a longing for it. Our heart’s desire is not money, power and pleasure. Not all your heart’s desires are prayers; your heart’s desire can be your prayer. Prayers are made to God, not to Mary, not to apostles or any saints dead or alive. You can pray for your heart’s desire. Not all your heart’s desires are according to the will of God.
23. Continuing steadfastly in prayer.
Rom 12:12 , “Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.”
Note: Prayer is a continuing act and it must be performed steadfastly. The secret of prayers is continuing steadfastly and earnestly.
24. So that you may devote yourselves to prayer.
1Cr 7:5 , “Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
Note: To devote in Greek is scholazō which means to give oneself to a thing. Devoting to prayer for a specific cause is giving yourself to it. Devoting to prayer is so important that Christian couples may agree to suspend making love for a time temporarily.
25. By prayer on your behalf.
2Cr 9:14 , “While they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.”
Note: You can pray to God on behalf of anyone, far or near.
26. With all prayer and supplication.
Eph 6:18 , “Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.”
Note: Prayer is supplication. To pray is to make supplication. To pray at all times in the Spirit does not require bowing your head, closing your eyes, and saying your prayer audibly. It is making your heart’s wish in the Spirit to the Lord at all times. Let your spirit get in touch with the Spirit of God with sighing and supplicating.
27. Always offering prayer with joy.
Phl 1:4 , “Always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all.”
Note: To pray with joy is to pray with delight. It is a joy that believers can pray to God about anything at any time.
28. In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.
Phl 4:6 , “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Note: To pray with thanksgiving is to pray with gratitude. To pray is to make known your requests to God. Christians ought to be anxious for nothing, be prayerful in everything, and be thankful for everything.
29. Continue steadfastly in prayer.
Col 4:2 , “Continue steadfastly in prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.”
Note: Prayer is not a one time performance. We need to continue steadfastly in prayer.
30. It is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer.
1Ti 4:5 , “For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”
Note: The word of God can sanctify our lives, and by prayer God can cleanse the food we eat and cleanse us from all sins.
31. The prayer of faith will save the sick.
Jam 5:15 , “And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”
Note: God heals the sick in Christ. The prayer of faith will save the sick. The error of Pentecostalism is that it teaches God always heals the sick. It is not God’s will to always heal the sick. Paul asked the Lord thrice, but the Lord did not heal him. 2Cr 12:9 , “And He (Christ) has said to me: My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”
32. The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power.
Jam 5:16 , “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power.”
Note: This Scripture is attested by prophets like Elijah and apostles. Do you know, the earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power?
33. His ears are attentive to their prayer.
1Pe 3:12 , “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Note: True, God loved the world. Also true, the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. God does not hear the prayer of those who do evil. God’s ears are attentive to the prayers of the righteous.
34. Watchful in your prayer.
1Pe 4:7 , “The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound mind and watchful in your prayer.”
Note: To be watchful is to keep alert. Why is it necessary to be watchful in your prayer? The end of all things is near. We live in perilous times. The coming of the Lord is near.
35. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Act 2:21 , “And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Note: To call upon God is to make appeal to God, to pray to God. Prayers are addressed to God. When you call on the name of the Lord and ask Him to save you, you will be saved. Salvation is simply for asking, it is free because it is the grace of God to whoever repents and believes in Jesus Christ. The rich may call, the poor can also call.
Rom 10:13 , “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Whoever means anybody and everybody, there is no distinction, and there is no discrimination.
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 Lord is not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. If you do not repent and perish, that is your responsibility.
Jesus Christ says, Mar 1:15 , “And saying: The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.”
The Gospel is the good news that sinners who turn to God and believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior can be saved and have eternal life.
Prayer is a privilege that God has granted to His children to ask Him for help in Jesus’ name anytime and anywhere. Unless you are a child of God, you do not know how wonderful that God answers prayers. You can have the same privilege if only you repent of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. No matter who you are and where you are, you can come and do it now; for now is the day of salvation.
This is the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Do you want to be saved? Call now on the name of the Lord and you will be saved. Pray this way:
Lord Jesus, I am a sinner who cannot save myself, and I come to you to accept you as my Lord and Savior. Please let your Holy Spirit enter my heart and give me a new life, the eternal life. Thank You, Lord. Amen.
*Our mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ absolutely free. We do not want donation. We only want you to know the truth.
–This article is written to let you know mankind is not like animals. There are things we must do, and there are also things we must not do.
Animals are basically different from human beings. There is no moral requirement that animals must do good and do right.This articles is written to let you know that there are things men and women must do. There are things men and women must not do. It is God who determines what men and women must do. It is God who determines what men and women must not do. What men say do not matter. What God says matters.
This is a message for you and to you. God is speaking to you. There are only two groups of people in the world: Christians and unbelievers. Christians are children of God; they are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Unbelievers are children of the devil, they are condemned already and will be sent to Hell for eternal punishment with the devil and his agents. You still have a choice as long as you are alive. The choice is yours. Obey the Word of God and live.
One of the most important things that Jesus says:
Jhn 3:6-7, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.”
Note: Must in Greek is dei which means should; ought; must needs; to be commanded or required; it is necessary; there is a need of; it behooves; it is right and proper; what is required to attain; have to; – which occurs 103 times in the New Testament. You may have a high opinion of yourself — interm of character, education, achievement, integrity, value, etc. But Jesus says, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh.” No matter who you are, after all you are nothing but the flesh. No one is good enough to enter the Kingdom of God by flesh. You need a new birth, born from above, to be born of the Spirit, a new nature, and new creation in Christ to participate in the divine nature and spiritual things in the Kingdom of God.
(1). You must master sin.
Gen 4:7 ,“If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
Note: The first human couple, Adam and Eve, did not sin because they ate the forbidden fruit. They sinned because they disobeyed God. Disobedience to God is the basic sin of mankind.
Must means it is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, it is right and proper, ought to. Master in Hebrew is mashal which means to rule, have dominion, reign; to exercise dominion, govern, have power over; – it occurs 83 times in the Old Testament. You must master sin and not to let sin master you. The same is to master money and do not let money master you. Everyone who sins is a slave to sin. A greedy man is a slave to money. An ambitious man is a slave to power and honor. A man of lust is a slave of lust. A drunkard is a slave to alcohol. A drug addict is a slave to drugs. A smoker is a slave to cigarette.
You must master your lust and do not let your lust master you. To do well is not to sin. A sinner is enslaved by sin; you need redemption of Jesus Christ to free you from sin. Death is a master, you need the Lord of life to save your from eternal death.
Western leaders and politicians are liars, killers, and robbers and so they are slaves of sins.
(2). You must hurry and bring my father.
Gen 45:13 ,“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.”
Note: Joseph was in power and splendor in Egypt, his father Jacob was old. If Joseph’s brothers must tell all his splendor in Egypt, how much more should we tell the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ. Age waits no one, Joseph’s brothers must hurry and bring their father down to Egypt and enjoy the blessings Joseph had received. If you want to honor your parents, you must hurry to honor and treat them well while they are still alive. There are things you must do it in a hurry, time does not wait for you. If you do not do it now, when you want to do it may be too late. For example, it is better for you to repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior now. Tomorrow may be too late.
To do good and to do right, you must do it in time and on time. Time and space can change everything. So what you must do, you must do it quickly.
(3). You must deliver the quota.
Exo 5:18-19,“So go now and work; for you will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the quota of bricks. The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble because they were told, “You must not reduce your daily amount of bricks.”
Note: This is how masters oppress the slaves. You must deliver the quota of work without providing the requirements. You cannot make bricks without straw. Workers need the material and tools to do their job. In modern management, corporations provide in-house training for employees to develop skills in order to do their work efficiently and effectively. Bad executives put their employees in chain and still demand productivity. There is a quota to deliver. Quota seems to mean a set minimum requirements. Do you know what are the set minimum requirements of your life?
(4). You must certainly not eat it.
Lev 7:24 , “Also the fat of an animal which dies and the fat of an animal torn by beasts may be put to any other use, but you must certainly not eat it.”
Modern science has discovered it is not good to eat too much animal fats, oil, salt and sugar. For a diabetes, sugar may be poison.
Act 21:25,“But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication.”
Note: Chinese idol worshipers also offer fruits and cakes to their object of worship. So not only meat, but whatever offered to idols Christians must certainly not eat it. Chinese people are also accustomed to eat blood of animals (be it pig, duck or chicken, etc.), eating blood is forbidden. We cannot eat what is strangled. Sexual immorality including homosexual and same sex marriage are also prohibitive. Chinese also practice ancestor worship which is also forbidden to Christians. When I was hired by the Ministry of Education as a professor at the National Overseas Chinese University at Quanzhou, we had a private chef. One day I discovered they put blood (chicken or duck or pig) into the soup. I loudly protested that Christians do not eat blood. This will make you faint when the assistant to the cook said, blood is good for you. It is just like saying to an ordinary man, poison is good for you! So Chinese Christians have to pay extra attention that their food does not contain any blood.
(5). You must not forget.
Deu 25:19 , “Therefore it shall come about when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your surrounding enemies, in the land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under Heaven; you must not forget.”
Note: You must not forget the salvation of your soul. There are many things you must not forget. You must not forget who you are. You must not forget your duty, your agreement and your promise. You must not forget the goodness people have done to you. You must not forget the blessings of the Lord. You must not forget the commandments of the Lord. You shall blot out the memory of past sins and indulgences. You shall blot out the memory of the wicked. You must not forget the lessons you have learned in your life.
(6). You must not turn aside.
1Sa 12:21,“You must not turn aside, for then you would go after futile things which can not profit or deliver, because they are futile. ”
Note: Futile in Hebrew is tohuw which means vain, nothing, that which is empty and unreal; – it occurs 25 times in the Old Testament. Idols are empty and unreal. Money and power and pleasure are also empty and unreal. Idols cannot profit or deliver. We must never turn aside to idols of any form or shape because they futile. We must not turn aside from God to do evil. We must not turn aside from truth to tell lies. Vanity of vanities, all is vanities. The things of the world are futile.
Do not turn to idols. Do not turn to mediums or spiritists. Do not turn to evil. Do not turn to godlessness. Turn to Jesus Christ and be saved.
(7). You must not listen to the wicked and worthless men.
1Sa 30:20-25, “So David had captured all the sheep and the cattle which the people drove ahead of the other livestock, and they said, “This is David’s spoil.” When David came to the two hundred men who were too exhausted to follow David, who had also been left at the brook Besor, and they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him, then David approached the people and greeted them. Then all the wicked and worthless men among those who went with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away and depart.” Then David said, “You must not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us, who has kept us and delivered into our hand the band that came against us. “And who will listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike.” So it has been from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.”
Note: This incident illustrates the principle sharing alike. Those who take care of the home front share the spoil with those who fight in the front line. Those who plow must share the harvest. Those who labor are entitled to their wages. In a capitalistic society executives share the profits out of proportion to that of the employees. Because executives make so much, employees make so little. Capitalism violates the principle of sharing. All the wicked and worthless people do not believe in equality and justice.
European and American leaders and politicians have done so much evil in the world for so long. European and American (including Australian and Canadian) leaders and politicians want desperately to maintain status quo of world dictatorship and domination under the guise of democracy, freedom, human rights, justice, equality, rule of law, etc. You must not listen to the wicked and worthless men. Do you notice that many Western leaders and politicians are useless, worthless and wicked people?
(8). You must not fight against your relatives.
1Ki 12:24 , “Thus says the LORD, “You must not go up and fight against your relatives the sons of Israel; return every man to his house, for this thing has come from Me.”’ So they listened to the Word of the LORD, and returned and went their way according to the Word of the LORD.”
Note: You must not go up and fight against your relatives. American imperialists are so wicked that they divide up the world so that brothers fight against brothers, like Taiwan and Mainland, South Korea and North Korea, etc. Those who betray their countries are not your brothers and relatives. There are many in Taiwan and some in Hong Kong who betray China intending to overthrow China, they are not real Chinese. Snakes and tigers are not your relatives. Wolves and foxes are not your relatives. If you listen to the Word of God, you must not join the warmongering nation in engaging endless wars and bloody military interventions since the end of World War II. If you listen to the Word of God, repent and believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God.
Do not mistake the devil as your Father, and demons as your relatives.
(9). You must go to be with your fathers.
1Ch 17:11 ,“When your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up one of your descendants after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.”
Note: God thus spoke to David. When your days are fulfilled, you must go. Everybody must go to die sooner or later. Our days are numbered by God. When our days are numbered, we must go. David had godly fathers, so he went to them. If you are saved, and if your father who died was saved; when your days are fulfilled you must go to be with your father. There are many ungodly fathers; if you are saved you will not go to be with them. When a Christian dies, he goes to be with the Lord. There was a distinction between the Old Testament saints and the New Testament saints. All New Testament saints when they die they go to be with the Lord in the Paradise.
(10). You must choose.
Job 34:33 , “Shall He recompense on your terms, because you have rejected it? For you must choose, and not I; therefore declare what you know.”
Note: God has given man a choice; so you must choose. Man has no choice to be born, but you have a choice how to live. You must choose to receive the Lord Jesus Christ or reject Him. You must choose the way of life or the way of death. You must choose the narrow gate that leads to life or the wide gate that leads to death. You must choose to do right or to do wrong. You must choose to serve the Lord or the devil. Those who lie and kill serve the devil. Choose life in order that you may live. Choose for yourself today whom you will serve. Choose for yourself what is right. Choose the fear of the Lord. Choose good and refuse evil. Choose what pleases the Lord. So choose life in order that you may live. To choose Jesus Christ is to choose life.
Choose what is right.
Choose the fear of the Lord.
Choose good and not evil.
Choose what pleases God.
The choice of man reveals his character and destiny.
(11). You must wait for Him.
Job 35:14 , “How much less when you say you do not behold Him, The case is before Him, and you must wait for Him!”
Note: Suffering saint, present your case before the Lord, and you must wait for Him. Do not run in front of the Lord. Those who wait for the Lord will not be put to shame. In fact, none of those who wait for the Lord will be ashamed. Take courage and wait for the Lord. Waiting is hard, but it is worthwhile to wait for the Lord.
Psa 27:14 , “Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.”
Psa 37:7 , “Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.”
It is hard for the righteous to live in this wicked world and watch the wicked to carry out their wicked schemes. It is wonderful to rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Western leaders and politicians they cannot and do not sleep but thinking plots and carry out wicked schemes to dictate and dominate the world.
Psa 39:7, “And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.”
Note: It is of great importance to realize what do you wait for! Waiting for your ship to come? Waiting for your golden opportunity to get rich? Waiting the economy to turn better? Waiting for your country to have peace and prosperity? There are many dashed hopes in this world. There are many disappointments and discouragements. But one thing is sure, God will not fail us. Those who wait for the Lord, their hope is in God.
Psa 130:5 , “I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, And in His Word do I hope.”
Wait for the Lord, let your soul wait. Hope in His Word.
Isa 40:31 , “Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”
Wonderful promise, those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength.
(12). You must become like the youngest.
Luk 22:26 , “But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.”
Note: In the way of the world, you seek to be the greatest, the richest, the most powerful, and the most arrogant. In the Christian way you must become like the youngest, the humblest, and the lowliest. To be a leader is to be like the servant. To be a servant is to serve.
Be like a watered garden.
Be like a tree planted by the water.
Be like an eagle and spreads out His wings.
Be like the olive tree.
Be like the dawn.
Be like a mustard seed.
(13). You must be born again.
Jhn 3:7, “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
Note: Must in Greek is dei which means ought, should, it is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, it is right and proper, it is required, necessity established by God’s will; – it occurs 103 times in the New Testament. To be born again is to receive new life by the Holy Spirit. To be born again is to be saved from sins and eternal death. To be born again is to receive the Holy Spirit living in you. To be born again is to be a new man in Christ. Do not be surprised flesh and blood cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Man by nature is bad; to be born again is to participate in the divine nature by the power of God. You do not need to be rich. You do not need to be powerful. You do not need to be rich. You must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God.
Born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Born of water and the Spirit.
Born of the Spirit.
Born according to the Spirit.
Born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring Word of God.
Born of God.
Born of God and knows God.
Born of God overcomes the world.
(14). You must help the weak.
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.’”
Note: In a capitalistic society, people want to get, get, and get. Get whatever you can. For a greedy person, he wants to receive, receive and receive like a Dead Sea and never gives. By working hard a Christian may have enough for himself and his family and have some means to help the weak and the poor. Unlike American charity or foundation, raise 100 dollars in the name of charity and give one dollar is called charity and tax-exempt. Christian charity is practiced on the principle: It is more blessed to give than to receive. There is no greed in Christian charity; there is a quagmire in worldly charity and cesspool in non-profit foundation. Almost all crooked people who got rich through corrupt means inevitably turn to charity to compensate their guilt. In Christian giving you do not expect any return. Unlike prosperity gospel which teaches giving to God is an investment that will bring material and monetary blessings. Christians seek to be rich in faith.
(15). You must witness at Rome also.
Act 23:11, “But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage, Paul; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”
Note: Jesus spoke to Paul. Now the Holy Spirit speaks to His servants. If you are a servant of Christ, you will know where the Lord wants you to witness. Generally speaking, you must witness wherever you are. Personal evangelism can take place anywhere. I know the Lord wants me to witness through the Internet to reach the whole world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ absolutely free. Rome may be your grave, Christians must witness even at the risk of his life.
(16). You must stand before Caesar.
Act 27:24 , “Saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.’
Note: Not all the servants of Christ will stand before Caesar or the head of state or the president, but all servants of Christ must take a stand. Wherever you are, you can take a stand for Christ.
(17). I must do whatever the Lord speaks.
Num 23:26 , “But Balaam replied to Balak, “Did I not tell you, ‘Whatever the LORD speaks, that I must do’?”
Note: Balaam may be a greedy prophet, but what he said is true: Whatever the Lord speaks, that I must do. Generally, the Lord speaks through the written Word of God, the Bible. Specifically, the Holy Spirit may speak to an individual servant of Christ or an ordinary Christian. When I was young, I learned about a servant of Christ who took charge of an orphanage, he did not go out to solicit money. The Holy Spirit would speak to Christians to bring money to the orphanage. Whatever the Holy Spirit leads you, that you must do.
(18). You also must be ready.
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.”
Note: No one knows when the Son of God is coming, for this reason we also must be ready. Jesus Christ will return at an hour when you do not think He will. So be ready at all times. A wise person is always ready. Remember the foolish virgins.
(19). Know how you must respond to each person.
Col 4:6 , “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you must respond to each person.”
Note: Speech is so important because it sounds like the man. Seasonal speech can solve many problems. There is only one way to respond to each person, you must speak with grace and salt. With grace so that you speak the truth. With salt so that you respond appropriately.
(20). You must walk and please God.
1Th 4:1 , “Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you must walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.”
Note: The Word of God instructs us how to walk to please God. How to walk means how to conduct oneself, how to behave at all times. To please God, you cannot please man or the world. The following Scriptures comprehensively teach us the way in which we should walk.
Gen 17:1, “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.”
We need to walk before God, and be blameless.
Exo 16:4 , “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from Heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction.”
We must not be greedy, we gather a day’s portion every day, and walk in God’s instruction.
Lev 26:13 , “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so that you would not be their slaves, and I broke the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.”
To walk erect means to walk uprightly. To walk uprightly means to do what is right.
Deu 5:33 , “You shall walk in all the way which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you will possess.”
We must walk in all the way which the Lord our God has commanded us, that we may live and it may be well with us, and that we may prolong our days on earth.
Deu 8:6 , “Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.”
To keep the commandments of the Lord is to walk in His ways and to fear Him.
Deu 10:12 , “Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”
This is what the Lord our God requires from us, but to fear the Lord, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord with all our heart and with all our soul.
Deu 11:22 , “For if you are careful to keep all these commandments which I am commanding you to do, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and hold fast to Him.”
We must be careful to keep all God’s commandments, to love the Lord our God, to walk in all His ways and hold fast to Him.
Deu 13:5 , “But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has counseled rebellion against the LORD your God who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to seduce you from the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from among you.”
We shall not listen to false prophet or false teacher to rebel against the Lord or seduce us from the way in which the Lord our God commands us to walk, but purge the evil from among us.
Deu 19:9 , “If you carefully observe all this commandment which I command you today, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in His ways always—then you shall add three more cities for yourself, besides these three.”
We must carefully observe all God’s commandments, to love the Lord, and to walk in His ways always.
1Ki 11:38 , “Then it will be, that if you listen to all that I command you and walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight by observing My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build you an enduring house as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.”
To walk in God’s ways is to do what is right in His sight.
2Ch 6:27, “Then hear in Heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and Your people Israel, indeed, teach them the good way in which they should walk. And send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people for an inheritance.”
We should walk in the good way. To love money, power and sex is to walk in the wrong way.
Neh 5:9 , “Again I said, “The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?”
To walk in the good way, we should walk in the fear of our God.
Psa 1:1 , “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!”
We should not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers.
Psa 26:11 , “But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; Redeem me, and be gracious to me.”
We walk in our integrity. Those who lie and kill have no integrity.
Pro 2:7 , “He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity.”
We must walk in integrity. American imperialists, Japanese militarists and Islamic terrorists do not walk in integrity. People of Washington, Wall Street and Hollywood do not have sound wisdom. Unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers do not have sound wisdom. Do you really believe that American and European leaders and politicians walk in God’s ways and do what is right in His sight?
Psa 84:11 , “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
We are to walk uprightly. To walk uprightly means to do right. Those who walk uprightly the Lord God is their Sun and Shield.
Psa 86:11, “Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.”
We are to walk in God’s truth, unite our heart to fear God’s name. Imperialists, capitalists, militarists, monopolists, supremacists, terrorists and Western media walk in lies and walk in darkness.
Psa 89:15 , “How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O LORD, they walk in the light of Your countenance.”
We are to walk in the light of God’s countenance.
Psa 119:1 , “Aleph. How blessed are those whose way is blameless, Who walk in the law of the LORD.”
We are to walk in the law of the Lord.
Psa 119:3 , “They also do no unrighteousness; They walk in His ways.”
We who do no unrighteousness walk in God’s ways.
Pro 2:20 , “So you will walk in the way of good men And keep to the paths of the righteous.”
We are to walk in the way of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous.
Pro 8:20 ,“I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice.”
We are to walk in the way of righteous in the midst of the paths of justice.
Isa 2:5 , “Come, house of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.”
Let us walk in the light of the Lord.
Jhn 8:12 , “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
He who follows Jesus will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.
Jhn 12:35 , “So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes.”
Walk while you have the Light.
Act 21:24 , “Take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law.”
We are to walk orderly, keeping the Law. Riots, chaos and lawlessness belong to the devil. In late 2020 America is chaotic, riots, burning and lootings are taking place in many cities.
Rom 6:4 , “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”
We are to walk in newness of life.
Rom 8:4 , “So that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
We do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Gal 5:16 , “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”
Those who walk by the Spirit, do not carry out the desire of the flesh.
Gal 5:25 , “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”
Christians live by the Spirit and also walk by the Spirit.
Eph 4:1 , “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.”
Christians walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which they have been called.
Eph 5:2, “And walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”
We walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
Eph 5:8, “For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.”
Christians walk as children of Light. Unbelievers walk as children of darkness.
Eph 5:15 , “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise.”
Christians are careful how to walk, not as unwise men but as wise. Imperialists, capitalists, militarists, monopolists, supremacists and terrorists walk as unwise men because they lie, lie and lie; kill, kill and kill; rob, rob and rob.
Phl 3:17, “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.”
Christians join in following example of Apostle Paul, and observe those who walk according to the pattern we have in apostles.
Col 1:10, “So that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
Christians are to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Col 2:6 , “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.”
Those who have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him. To walk in Christ is to walk in the light, walk in the truth, and walk in love.
1Th 2:12 , “So that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own Kingdom and glory.”
Christians would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls them into His own Kingdom and glory.
1Th 4:1 , “Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.”
Christians received instruction how ought to walk and please God. The instructions are written in the New Testament. Those who walk to please men are tragic.
1Jo 1:7, “But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. Notice Christian fellowship is based on walking in the Light.
1Jo 2:6 , “The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”
Christians ought to walk in the same manner as Jesus walked. This does not mean as Jesus walked on the water and performed miracles. It means as Jesus walked in the light, in the truth, and in love.
2Jo 1:6 , “And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.”
If we walk according to His commandments, this is love. This is the commandment that we should walk in it.
(21). We must follow the example of Apostle Paul.
2Th 3:7, “For you yourselves know how you must follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you.”
Note: We must follow the example of Apostle Paul who did not act in an undisciplined manner. Paul said,
2Ti 4:6-8, ”For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
You have learned by the Word of God what you MUST DO. You must repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the Savior of mankind.
Would you accept and believe in the Lord Jesus who is able to help you to walk in the light, in the truth, and in love? One day you will walk with the Lord on the street of gold in the Kingdom of Heaven, in the Holy City, the New Jerusalem.
You can do it right now.
–This article is written to let you know mankind is not like animals. There are things we must do, and there are also things we must not do.
Animals are basically different from human beings. There is no moral requirement that animals must do good and do right.This articles is written to let you know that there are things men and women must do. There are things men and women must not do. It is God who determines what men and women must do. It is God who determines what men and women must not do. What men say do not matter. What God says matters.
This is a message for you and to you. God is speaking to you. There are only two groups of people in the world: Christians and unbelievers. Christians are children of God; they are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Unbelievers are children of the devil, they are condemned already and will be sent to Hell for eternal punishment with the devil and his agents. You still have a choice as long as you are alive. The choice is yours. Obey the Word of God and live.
One of the most important things that Jesus says:
Jhn 3:6-7, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.”
Note: Must in Greek is dei which means should; ought; must needs; to be commanded or required; it is necessary; there is a need of; it behooves; it is right and proper; what is required to attain; have to; – which occurs 103 times in the New Testament. You may have a high opinion of yourself — interm of character, education, achievement, integrity, value, etc. But Jesus says, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh.” No matter who you are, after all you are nothing but the flesh. No one is good enough to enter the Kingdom of God by flesh. You need a new birth, born from above, to be born of the Spirit, a new nature, and new creation in Christ to participate in the divine nature and spiritual things in the Kingdom of God.
(1). You must master sin.
Gen 4:7 ,“If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
Note: The first human couple, Adam and Eve, did not sin because they ate the forbidden fruit. They sinned because they disobeyed God. Disobedience to God is the basic sin of mankind.
Must means it is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, it is right and proper, ought to. Master in Hebrew is mashal which means to rule, have dominion, reign; to exercise dominion, govern, have power over; – it occurs 83 times in the Old Testament. You must master sin and not to let sin master you. The same is to master money and do not let money master you. Everyone who sins is a slave to sin. A greedy man is a slave to money. An ambitious man is a slave to power and honor. A man of lust is a slave of lust. A drunkard is a slave to alcohol. A drug addict is a slave to drugs. A smoker is a slave to cigarette.
You must master your lust and do not let your lust master you. To do well is not to sin. A sinner is enslaved by sin; you need redemption of Jesus Christ to free you from sin. Death is a master, you need the Lord of life to save your from eternal death.
Western leaders and politicians are liars, killers, and robbers and so they are slaves of sins.
(2). You must hurry and bring my father.
Gen 45:13 ,“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.”
Note: Joseph was in power and splendor in Egypt, his father Jacob was old. If Joseph’s brothers must tell all his splendor in Egypt, how much more should we tell the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ. Age waits no one, Joseph’s brothers must hurry and bring their father down to Egypt and enjoy the blessings Joseph had received. If you want to honor your parents, you must hurry to honor and treat them well while they are still alive. There are things you must do it in a hurry, time does not wait for you. If you do not do it now, when you want to do it may be too late. For example, it is better for you to repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior now. Tomorrow may be too late.
To do good and to do right, you must do it in time and on time. Time and space can change everything. So what you must do, you must do it quickly.
(3). You must deliver the quota.
Exo 5:18-19,“So go now and work; for you will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the quota of bricks. The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble because they were told, “You must not reduce your daily amount of bricks.”
Note: This is how masters oppress the slaves. You must deliver the quota of work without providing the requirements. You cannot make bricks without straw. Workers need the material and tools to do their job. In modern management, corporations provide in-house training for employees to develop skills in order to do their work efficiently and effectively. Bad executives put their employees in chain and still demand productivity. There is a quota to deliver. Quota seems to mean a set minimum requirements. Do you know what are the set minimum requirements of your life?
(4). You must certainly not eat it.
Lev 7:24 , “Also the fat of an animal which dies and the fat of an animal torn by beasts may be put to any other use, but you must certainly not eat it.”
Modern science has discovered it is not good to eat too much animal fats, oil, salt and sugar. For a diabetes, sugar may be poison.
Act 21:25,“But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication.”
Note: Chinese idol worshipers also offer fruits and cakes to their object of worship. So not only meat, but whatever offered to idols Christians must certainly not eat it. Chinese people are also accustomed to eat blood of animals (be it pig, duck or chicken, etc.), eating blood is forbidden. We cannot eat what is strangled. Sexual immorality including homosexual and same sex marriage are also prohibitive. Chinese also practice ancestor worship which is also forbidden to Christians. When I was hired by the Ministry of Education as a professor at the National Overseas Chinese University at Quanzhou, we had a private chef. One day I discovered they put blood (chicken or duck or pig) into the soup. I loudly protested that Christians do not eat blood. This will make you faint when the assistant to the cook said, blood is good for you. It is just like saying to an ordinary man, poison is good for you! So Chinese Christians have to pay extra attention that their food does not contain any blood.
(5). You must not forget.
Deu 25:19 , “Therefore it shall come about when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your surrounding enemies, in the land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under Heaven; you must not forget.”
Note: You must not forget the salvation of your soul. There are many things you must not forget. You must not forget who you are. You must not forget your duty, your agreement and your promise. You must not forget the goodness people have done to you. You must not forget the blessings of the Lord. You must not forget the commandments of the Lord. You shall blot out the memory of past sins and indulgences. You shall blot out the memory of the wicked. You must not forget the lessons you have learned in your life.
(6). You must not turn aside.
1Sa 12:21,“You must not turn aside, for then you would go after futile things which can not profit or deliver, because they are futile. ”
Note: Futile in Hebrew is tohuw which means vain, nothing, that which is empty and unreal; – it occurs 25 times in the Old Testament. Idols are empty and unreal. Money and power and pleasure are also empty and unreal. Idols cannot profit or deliver. We must never turn aside to idols of any form or shape because they futile. We must not turn aside from God to do evil. We must not turn aside from truth to tell lies. Vanity of vanities, all is vanities. The things of the world are futile.
Do not turn to idols. Do not turn to mediums or spiritists. Do not turn to evil. Do not turn to godlessness. Turn to Jesus Christ and be saved.
(7). You must not listen to the wicked and worthless men.
1Sa 30:20-25, “So David had captured all the sheep and the cattle which the people drove ahead of the other livestock, and they said, “This is David’s spoil.” When David came to the two hundred men who were too exhausted to follow David, who had also been left at the brook Besor, and they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him, then David approached the people and greeted them. Then all the wicked and worthless men among those who went with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away and depart.” Then David said, “You must not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us, who has kept us and delivered into our hand the band that came against us. “And who will listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike.” So it has been from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.”
Note: This incident illustrates the principle sharing alike. Those who take care of the home front share the spoil with those who fight in the front line. Those who plow must share the harvest. Those who labor are entitled to their wages. In a capitalistic society executives share the profits out of proportion to that of the employees. Because executives make so much, employees make so little. Capitalism violates the principle of sharing. All the wicked and worthless people do not believe in equality and justice.
European and American leaders and politicians have done so much evil in the world for so long. European and American (including Australian and Canadian) leaders and politicians want desperately to maintain status quo of world dictatorship and domination under the guise of democracy, freedom, human rights, justice, equality, rule of law, etc. You must not listen to the wicked and worthless men. Do you notice that many Western leaders and politicians are useless, worthless and wicked people?
(8). You must not fight against your relatives.
1Ki 12:24 , “Thus says the LORD, “You must not go up and fight against your relatives the sons of Israel; return every man to his house, for this thing has come from Me.”’ So they listened to the Word of the LORD, and returned and went their way according to the Word of the LORD.”
Note: You must not go up and fight against your relatives. American imperialists are so wicked that they divide up the world so that brothers fight against brothers, like Taiwan and Mainland, South Korea and North Korea, etc. Those who betray their countries are not your brothers and relatives. There are many in Taiwan and some in Hong Kong who betray China intending to overthrow China, they are not real Chinese. Snakes and tigers are not your relatives. Wolves and foxes are not your relatives. If you listen to the Word of God, you must not join the warmongering nation in engaging endless wars and bloody military interventions since the end of World War II. If you listen to the Word of God, repent and believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God.
Do not mistake the devil as your Father, and demons as your relatives.
(9). You must go to be with your fathers.
1Ch 17:11 ,“When your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up one of your descendants after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.”
Note: God thus spoke to David. When your days are fulfilled, you must go. Everybody must go to die sooner or later. Our days are numbered by God. When our days are numbered, we must go. David had godly fathers, so he went to them. If you are saved, and if your father who died was saved; when your days are fulfilled you must go to be with your father. There are many ungodly fathers; if you are saved you will not go to be with them. When a Christian dies, he goes to be with the Lord. There was a distinction between the Old Testament saints and the New Testament saints. All New Testament saints when they die they go to be with the Lord in the Paradise.
(10). You must choose.
Job 34:33 , “Shall He recompense on your terms, because you have rejected it? For you must choose, and not I; therefore declare what you know.”
Note: God has given man a choice; so you must choose. Man has no choice to be born, but you have a choice how to live. You must choose to receive the Lord Jesus Christ or reject Him. You must choose the way of life or the way of death. You must choose the narrow gate that leads to life or the wide gate that leads to death. You must choose to do right or to do wrong. You must choose to serve the Lord or the devil. Those who lie and kill serve the devil. Choose life in order that you may live. Choose for yourself today whom you will serve. Choose for yourself what is right. Choose the fear of the Lord. Choose good and refuse evil. Choose what pleases the Lord. So choose life in order that you may live. To choose Jesus Christ is to choose life.
Choose what is right.
Choose the fear of the Lord.
Choose good and not evil.
Choose what pleases God.
The choice of man reveals his character and destiny.
(11). You must wait for Him.
Job 35:14 , “How much less when you say you do not behold Him, The case is before Him, and you must wait for Him!”
Note: Suffering saint, present your case before the Lord, and you must wait for Him. Do not run in front of the Lord. Those who wait for the Lord will not be put to shame. In fact, none of those who wait for the Lord will be ashamed. Take courage and wait for the Lord. Waiting is hard, but it is worthwhile to wait for the Lord.
Psa 27:14 , “Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.”
Psa 37:7 , “Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.”
It is hard for the righteous to live in this wicked world and watch the wicked to carry out their wicked schemes. It is wonderful to rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Western leaders and politicians they cannot and do not sleep but thinking plots and carry out wicked schemes to dictate and dominate the world.
Psa 39:7, “And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.”
Note: It is of great importance to realize what do you wait for! Waiting for your ship to come? Waiting for your golden opportunity to get rich? Waiting the economy to turn better? Waiting for your country to have peace and prosperity? There are many dashed hopes in this world. There are many disappointments and discouragements. But one thing is sure, God will not fail us. Those who wait for the Lord, their hope is in God.
Psa 130:5 , “I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, And in His Word do I hope.”
Wait for the Lord, let your soul wait. Hope in His Word.
Isa 40:31 , “Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”
Wonderful promise, those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength.
(12). You must become like the youngest.
Luk 22:26 , “But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.”
Note: In the way of the world, you seek to be the greatest, the richest, the most powerful, and the most arrogant. In the Christian way you must become like the youngest, the humblest, and the lowliest. To be a leader is to be like the servant. To be a servant is to serve.
Be like a watered garden.
Be like a tree planted by the water.
Be like an eagle and spreads out His wings.
Be like the olive tree.
Be like the dawn.
Be like a mustard seed.
(13). You must be born again.
Jhn 3:7, “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
Note: Must in Greek is dei which means ought, should, it is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, it is right and proper, it is required, necessity established by God’s will; – it occurs 103 times in the New Testament. To be born again is to receive new life by the Holy Spirit. To be born again is to be saved from sins and eternal death. To be born again is to receive the Holy Spirit living in you. To be born again is to be a new man in Christ. Do not be surprised flesh and blood cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Man by nature is bad; to be born again is to participate in the divine nature by the power of God. You do not need to be rich. You do not need to be powerful. You do not need to be rich. You must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God.
Born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Born of water and the Spirit.
Born of the Spirit.
Born according to the Spirit.
Born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring Word of God.
Born of God.
Born of God and knows God.
Born of God overcomes the world.
(14). You must help the weak.
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.’”
Note: In a capitalistic society, people want to get, get, and get. Get whatever you can. For a greedy person, he wants to receive, receive and receive like a Dead Sea and never gives. By working hard a Christian may have enough for himself and his family and have some means to help the weak and the poor. Unlike American charity or foundation, raise 100 dollars in the name of charity and give one dollar is called charity and tax-exempt. Christian charity is practiced on the principle: It is more blessed to give than to receive. There is no greed in Christian charity; there is a quagmire in worldly charity and cesspool in non-profit foundation. Almost all crooked people who got rich through corrupt means inevitably turn to charity to compensate their guilt. In Christian giving you do not expect any return. Unlike prosperity gospel which teaches giving to God is an investment that will bring material and monetary blessings. Christians seek to be rich in faith.
(15). You must witness at Rome also.
Act 23:11, “But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage, Paul; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”
Note: Jesus spoke to Paul. Now the Holy Spirit speaks to His servants. If you are a servant of Christ, you will know where the Lord wants you to witness. Generally speaking, you must witness wherever you are. Personal evangelism can take place anywhere. I know the Lord wants me to witness through the Internet to reach the whole world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ absolutely free. Rome may be your grave, Christians must witness even at the risk of his life.
(16). You must stand before Caesar.
Act 27:24 , “Saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.’
Note: Not all the servants of Christ will stand before Caesar or the head of state or the president, but all servants of Christ must take a stand. Wherever you are, you can take a stand for Christ.
(17). I must do whatever the Lord speaks.
Num 23:26 , “But Balaam replied to Balak, “Did I not tell you, ‘Whatever the LORD speaks, that I must do’?”
Note: Balaam may be a greedy prophet, but what he said is true: Whatever the Lord speaks, that I must do. Generally, the Lord speaks through the written Word of God, the Bible. Specifically, the Holy Spirit may speak to an individual servant of Christ or an ordinary Christian. When I was young, I learned about a servant of Christ who took charge of an orphanage, he did not go out to solicit money. The Holy Spirit would speak to Christians to bring money to the orphanage. Whatever the Holy Spirit leads you, that you must do.
(18). You also must be ready.
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.”
Note: No one knows when the Son of God is coming, for this reason we also must be ready. Jesus Christ will return at an hour when you do not think He will. So be ready at all times. A wise person is always ready. Remember the foolish virgins.
(19). Know how you must respond to each person.
Col 4:6 , “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you must respond to each person.”
Note: Speech is so important because it sounds like the man. Seasonal speech can solve many problems. There is only one way to respond to each person, you must speak with grace and salt. With grace so that you speak the truth. With salt so that you respond appropriately.
(20). You must walk and please God.
1Th 4:1 , “Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you must walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.”
Note: The Word of God instructs us how to walk to please God. How to walk means how to conduct oneself, how to behave at all times. To please God, you cannot please man or the world. The following Scriptures comprehensively teach us the way in which we should walk.
Gen 17:1, “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.”
We need to walk before God, and be blameless.
Exo 16:4 , “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from Heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction.”
We must not be greedy, we gather a day’s portion every day, and walk in God’s instruction.
Lev 26:13 , “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so that you would not be their slaves, and I broke the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.”
To walk erect means to walk uprightly. To walk uprightly means to do what is right.
Deu 5:33 , “You shall walk in all the way which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you will possess.”
We must walk in all the way which the Lord our God has commanded us, that we may live and it may be well with us, and that we may prolong our days on earth.
Deu 8:6 , “Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.”
To keep the commandments of the Lord is to walk in His ways and to fear Him.
Deu 10:12 , “Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”
This is what the Lord our God requires from us, but to fear the Lord, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord with all our heart and with all our soul.
Deu 11:22 , “For if you are careful to keep all these commandments which I am commanding you to do, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and hold fast to Him.”
We must be careful to keep all God’s commandments, to love the Lord our God, to walk in all His ways and hold fast to Him.
Deu 13:5 , “But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has counseled rebellion against the LORD your God who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to seduce you from the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from among you.”
We shall not listen to false prophet or false teacher to rebel against the Lord or seduce us from the way in which the Lord our God commands us to walk, but purge the evil from among us.
Deu 19:9 , “If you carefully observe all this commandment which I command you today, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in His ways always—then you shall add three more cities for yourself, besides these three.”
We must carefully observe all God’s commandments, to love the Lord, and to walk in His ways always.
1Ki 11:38 , “Then it will be, that if you listen to all that I command you and walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight by observing My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build you an enduring house as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.”
To walk in God’s ways is to do what is right in His sight.
2Ch 6:27, “Then hear in Heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and Your people Israel, indeed, teach them the good way in which they should walk. And send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people for an inheritance.”
We should walk in the good way. To love money, power and sex is to walk in the wrong way.
Neh 5:9 , “Again I said, “The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?”
To walk in the good way, we should walk in the fear of our God.
Psa 1:1 , “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!”
We should not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers.
Psa 26:11 , “But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; Redeem me, and be gracious to me.”
We walk in our integrity. Those who lie and kill have no integrity.
Pro 2:7 , “He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity.”
We must walk in integrity. American imperialists, Japanese militarists and Islamic terrorists do not walk in integrity. People of Washington, Wall Street and Hollywood do not have sound wisdom. Unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers do not have sound wisdom. Do you really believe that American and European leaders and politicians walk in God’s ways and do what is right in His sight?
Psa 84:11 , “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
We are to walk uprightly. To walk uprightly means to do right. Those who walk uprightly the Lord God is their Sun and Shield.
Psa 86:11, “Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.”
We are to walk in God’s truth, unite our heart to fear God’s name. Imperialists, capitalists, militarists, monopolists, supremacists, terrorists and Western media walk in lies and walk in darkness.
Psa 89:15 , “How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O LORD, they walk in the light of Your countenance.”
We are to walk in the light of God’s countenance.
Psa 119:1 , “Aleph. How blessed are those whose way is blameless, Who walk in the law of the LORD.”
We are to walk in the law of the Lord.
Psa 119:3 , “They also do no unrighteousness; They walk in His ways.”
We who do no unrighteousness walk in God’s ways.
Pro 2:20 , “So you will walk in the way of good men And keep to the paths of the righteous.”
We are to walk in the way of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous.
Pro 8:20 ,“I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice.”
We are to walk in the way of righteous in the midst of the paths of justice.
Isa 2:5 , “Come, house of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.”
Let us walk in the light of the Lord.
Jhn 8:12 , “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
He who follows Jesus will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.
Jhn 12:35 , “So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes.”
Walk while you have the Light.
Act 21:24 , “Take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law.”
We are to walk orderly, keeping the Law. Riots, chaos and lawlessness belong to the devil. In late 2020 America is chaotic, riots, burning and lootings are taking place in many cities.
Rom 6:4 , “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”
We are to walk in newness of life.
Rom 8:4 , “So that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
We do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Gal 5:16 , “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”
Those who walk by the Spirit, do not carry out the desire of the flesh.
Gal 5:25 , “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”
Christians live by the Spirit and also walk by the Spirit.
Eph 4:1 , “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.”
Christians walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which they have been called.
Eph 5:2, “And walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”
We walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
Eph 5:8, “For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.”
Christians walk as children of Light. Unbelievers walk as children of darkness.
Eph 5:15 , “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise.”
Christians are careful how to walk, not as unwise men but as wise. Imperialists, capitalists, militarists, monopolists, supremacists and terrorists walk as unwise men because they lie, lie and lie; kill, kill and kill; rob, rob and rob.
Phl 3:17, “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.”
Christians join in following example of Apostle Paul, and observe those who walk according to the pattern we have in apostles.
Col 1:10, “So that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
Christians are to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Col 2:6 , “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.”
Those who have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him. To walk in Christ is to walk in the light, walk in the truth, and walk in love.
1Th 2:12 , “So that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own Kingdom and glory.”
Christians would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls them into His own Kingdom and glory.
1Th 4:1 , “Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.”
Christians received instruction how ought to walk and please God. The instructions are written in the New Testament. Those who walk to please men are tragic.
1Jo 1:7, “But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. Notice Christian fellowship is based on walking in the Light.
1Jo 2:6 , “The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”
Christians ought to walk in the same manner as Jesus walked. This does not mean as Jesus walked on the water and performed miracles. It means as Jesus walked in the light, in the truth, and in love.
2Jo 1:6 , “And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.”
If we walk according to His commandments, this is love. This is the commandment that we should walk in it.
(21). We must follow the example of Apostle Paul.
2Th 3:7, “For you yourselves know how you must follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you.”
Note: We must follow the example of Apostle Paul who did not act in an undisciplined manner. Paul said,
2Ti 4:6-8, ”For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
You have learned by the Word of God what you MUST DO. You must repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the Savior of mankind.
Would you accept and believe in the Lord Jesus who is able to help you to walk in the light, in the truth, and in love? One day you will walk with the Lord on the street of gold in the Kingdom of Heaven, in the Holy City, the New Jerusalem.
You can do it right now.
–This article is written to let you know mankind is not like animals. There are things we must do, and there are also things we must not do.
Animals are basically different from human beings. There is no moral requirement that animals must do good and do right.This articles is written to let you know that there are things men and women must do. There are things men and women must not do. It is God who determines what men and women must do. It is God who determines what men and women must not do. What men say do not matter. What God says matters.
This is a message for you and to you. God is speaking to you. There are only two groups of people in the world: Christians and unbelievers. Christians are children of God; they are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Unbelievers are children of the devil, they are condemned already and will be sent to Hell for eternal punishment with the devil and his agents. You still have a choice as long as you are alive. The choice is yours. Obey the Word of God and live.
One of the most important things that Jesus says:
Jhn 3:6-7, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.”
Note: Must in Greek is dei which means should; ought; must needs; to be commanded or required; it is necessary; there is a need of; it behooves; it is right and proper; what is required to attain; have to; – which occurs 103 times in the New Testament. You may have a high opinion of yourself — interm of character, education, achievement, integrity, value, etc. But Jesus says, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh.” No matter who you are, after all you are nothing but the flesh. No one is good enough to enter the Kingdom of God by flesh. You need a new birth, born from above, to be born of the Spirit, a new nature, and new creation in Christ to participate in the divine nature and spiritual things in the Kingdom of God.
(1). You must master sin.
Gen 4:7 ,“If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
Note: The first human couple, Adam and Eve, did not sin because they ate the forbidden fruit. They sinned because they disobeyed God. Disobedience to God is the basic sin of mankind.
Must means it is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, it is right and proper, ought to. Master in Hebrew is mashal which means to rule, have dominion, reign; to exercise dominion, govern, have power over; – it occurs 83 times in the Old Testament. You must master sin and not to let sin master you. The same is to master money and do not let money master you. Everyone who sins is a slave to sin. A greedy man is a slave to money. An ambitious man is a slave to power and honor. A man of lust is a slave of lust. A drunkard is a slave to alcohol. A drug addict is a slave to drugs. A smoker is a slave to cigarette.
You must master your lust and do not let your lust master you. To do well is not to sin. A sinner is enslaved by sin; you need redemption of Jesus Christ to free you from sin. Death is a master, you need the Lord of life to save your from eternal death.
Western leaders and politicians are liars, killers, and robbers and so they are slaves of sins.
(2). You must hurry and bring my father.
Gen 45:13 ,“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.”
Note: Joseph was in power and splendor in Egypt, his father Jacob was old. If Joseph’s brothers must tell all his splendor in Egypt, how much more should we tell the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ. Age waits no one, Joseph’s brothers must hurry and bring their father down to Egypt and enjoy the blessings Joseph had received. If you want to honor your parents, you must hurry to honor and treat them well while they are still alive. There are things you must do it in a hurry, time does not wait for you. If you do not do it now, when you want to do it may be too late. For example, it is better for you to repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior now. Tomorrow may be too late.
To do good and to do right, you must do it in time and on time. Time and space can change everything. So what you must do, you must do it quickly.
(3). You must deliver the quota.
Exo 5:18-19,“So go now and work; for you will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the quota of bricks. The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble because they were told, “You must not reduce your daily amount of bricks.”
Note: This is how masters oppress the slaves. You must deliver the quota of work without providing the requirements. You cannot make bricks without straw. Workers need the material and tools to do their job. In modern management, corporations provide in-house training for employees to develop skills in order to do their work efficiently and effectively. Bad executives put their employees in chain and still demand productivity. There is a quota to deliver. Quota seems to mean a set minimum requirements. Do you know what are the set minimum requirements of your life?
(4). You must certainly not eat it.
Lev 7:24 , “Also the fat of an animal which dies and the fat of an animal torn by beasts may be put to any other use, but you must certainly not eat it.”
Modern science has discovered it is not good to eat too much animal fats, oil, salt and sugar. For a diabetes, sugar may be poison.
Act 21:25,“But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication.”
Note: Chinese idol worshipers also offer fruits and cakes to their object of worship. So not only meat, but whatever offered to idols Christians must certainly not eat it. Chinese people are also accustomed to eat blood of animals (be it pig, duck or chicken, etc.), eating blood is forbidden. We cannot eat what is strangled. Sexual immorality including homosexual and same sex marriage are also prohibitive. Chinese also practice ancestor worship which is also forbidden to Christians. When I was hired by the Ministry of Education as a professor at the National Overseas Chinese University at Quanzhou, we had a private chef. One day I discovered they put blood (chicken or duck or pig) into the soup. I loudly protested that Christians do not eat blood. This will make you faint when the assistant to the cook said, blood is good for you. It is just like saying to an ordinary man, poison is good for you! So Chinese Christians have to pay extra attention that their food does not contain any blood.
(5). You must not forget.
Deu 25:19 , “Therefore it shall come about when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your surrounding enemies, in the land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under Heaven; you must not forget.”
Note: You must not forget the salvation of your soul. There are many things you must not forget. You must not forget who you are. You must not forget your duty, your agreement and your promise. You must not forget the goodness people have done to you. You must not forget the blessings of the Lord. You must not forget the commandments of the Lord. You shall blot out the memory of past sins and indulgences. You shall blot out the memory of the wicked. You must not forget the lessons you have learned in your life.
(6). You must not turn aside.
1Sa 12:21,“You must not turn aside, for then you would go after futile things which can not profit or deliver, because they are futile. ”
Note: Futile in Hebrew is tohuw which means vain, nothing, that which is empty and unreal; – it occurs 25 times in the Old Testament. Idols are empty and unreal. Money and power and pleasure are also empty and unreal. Idols cannot profit or deliver. We must never turn aside to idols of any form or shape because they futile. We must not turn aside from God to do evil. We must not turn aside from truth to tell lies. Vanity of vanities, all is vanities. The things of the world are futile.
Do not turn to idols. Do not turn to mediums or spiritists. Do not turn to evil. Do not turn to godlessness. Turn to Jesus Christ and be saved.
(7). You must not listen to the wicked and worthless men.
1Sa 30:20-25, “So David had captured all the sheep and the cattle which the people drove ahead of the other livestock, and they said, “This is David’s spoil.” When David came to the two hundred men who were too exhausted to follow David, who had also been left at the brook Besor, and they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him, then David approached the people and greeted them. Then all the wicked and worthless men among those who went with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away and depart.” Then David said, “You must not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us, who has kept us and delivered into our hand the band that came against us. “And who will listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike.” So it has been from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.”
Note: This incident illustrates the principle sharing alike. Those who take care of the home front share the spoil with those who fight in the front line. Those who plow must share the harvest. Those who labor are entitled to their wages. In a capitalistic society executives share the profits out of proportion to that of the employees. Because executives make so much, employees make so little. Capitalism violates the principle of sharing. All the wicked and worthless people do not believe in equality and justice.
European and American leaders and politicians have done so much evil in the world for so long. European and American (including Australian and Canadian) leaders and politicians want desperately to maintain status quo of world dictatorship and domination under the guise of democracy, freedom, human rights, justice, equality, rule of law, etc. You must not listen to the wicked and worthless men. Do you notice that many Western leaders and politicians are useless, worthless and wicked people?
(8). You must not fight against your relatives.
1Ki 12:24 , “Thus says the LORD, “You must not go up and fight against your relatives the sons of Israel; return every man to his house, for this thing has come from Me.”’ So they listened to the Word of the LORD, and returned and went their way according to the Word of the LORD.”
Note: You must not go up and fight against your relatives. American imperialists are so wicked that they divide up the world so that brothers fight against brothers, like Taiwan and Mainland, South Korea and North Korea, etc. Those who betray their countries are not your brothers and relatives. There are many in Taiwan and some in Hong Kong who betray China intending to overthrow China, they are not real Chinese. Snakes and tigers are not your relatives. Wolves and foxes are not your relatives. If you listen to the Word of God, you must not join the warmongering nation in engaging endless wars and bloody military interventions since the end of World War II. If you listen to the Word of God, repent and believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God.
Do not mistake the devil as your Father, and demons as your relatives.
(9). You must go to be with your fathers.
1Ch 17:11 ,“When your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up one of your descendants after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.”
Note: God thus spoke to David. When your days are fulfilled, you must go. Everybody must go to die sooner or later. Our days are numbered by God. When our days are numbered, we must go. David had godly fathers, so he went to them. If you are saved, and if your father who died was saved; when your days are fulfilled you must go to be with your father. There are many ungodly fathers; if you are saved you will not go to be with them. When a Christian dies, he goes to be with the Lord. There was a distinction between the Old Testament saints and the New Testament saints. All New Testament saints when they die they go to be with the Lord in the Paradise.
(10). You must choose.
Job 34:33 , “Shall He recompense on your terms, because you have rejected it? For you must choose, and not I; therefore declare what you know.”
Note: God has given man a choice; so you must choose. Man has no choice to be born, but you have a choice how to live. You must choose to receive the Lord Jesus Christ or reject Him. You must choose the way of life or the way of death. You must choose the narrow gate that leads to life or the wide gate that leads to death. You must choose to do right or to do wrong. You must choose to serve the Lord or the devil. Those who lie and kill serve the devil. Choose life in order that you may live. Choose for yourself today whom you will serve. Choose for yourself what is right. Choose the fear of the Lord. Choose good and refuse evil. Choose what pleases the Lord. So choose life in order that you may live. To choose Jesus Christ is to choose life.
Choose what is right.
Choose the fear of the Lord.
Choose good and not evil.
Choose what pleases God.
The choice of man reveals his character and destiny.
(11). You must wait for Him.
Job 35:14 , “How much less when you say you do not behold Him, The case is before Him, and you must wait for Him!”
Note: Suffering saint, present your case before the Lord, and you must wait for Him. Do not run in front of the Lord. Those who wait for the Lord will not be put to shame. In fact, none of those who wait for the Lord will be ashamed. Take courage and wait for the Lord. Waiting is hard, but it is worthwhile to wait for the Lord.
Psa 27:14 , “Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.”
Psa 37:7 , “Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.”
It is hard for the righteous to live in this wicked world and watch the wicked to carry out their wicked schemes. It is wonderful to rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Western leaders and politicians they cannot and do not sleep but thinking plots and carry out wicked schemes to dictate and dominate the world.
Psa 39:7, “And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.”
Note: It is of great importance to realize what do you wait for! Waiting for your ship to come? Waiting for your golden opportunity to get rich? Waiting the economy to turn better? Waiting for your country to have peace and prosperity? There are many dashed hopes in this world. There are many disappointments and discouragements. But one thing is sure, God will not fail us. Those who wait for the Lord, their hope is in God.
Psa 130:5 , “I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, And in His Word do I hope.”
Wait for the Lord, let your soul wait. Hope in His Word.
Isa 40:31 , “Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”
Wonderful promise, those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength.
(12). You must become like the youngest.
Luk 22:26 , “But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.”
Note: In the way of the world, you seek to be the greatest, the richest, the most powerful, and the most arrogant. In the Christian way you must become like the youngest, the humblest, and the lowliest. To be a leader is to be like the servant. To be a servant is to serve.
Be like a watered garden.
Be like a tree planted by the water.
Be like an eagle and spreads out His wings.
Be like the olive tree.
Be like the dawn.
Be like a mustard seed.
(13). You must be born again.
Jhn 3:7, “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
Note: Must in Greek is dei which means ought, should, it is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, it is right and proper, it is required, necessity established by God’s will; – it occurs 103 times in the New Testament. To be born again is to receive new life by the Holy Spirit. To be born again is to be saved from sins and eternal death. To be born again is to receive the Holy Spirit living in you. To be born again is to be a new man in Christ. Do not be surprised flesh and blood cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Man by nature is bad; to be born again is to participate in the divine nature by the power of God. You do not need to be rich. You do not need to be powerful. You do not need to be rich. You must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God.
Born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Born of water and the Spirit.
Born of the Spirit.
Born according to the Spirit.
Born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring Word of God.
Born of God.
Born of God and knows God.
Born of God overcomes the world.
(14). You must help the weak.
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.’”
Note: In a capitalistic society, people want to get, get, and get. Get whatever you can. For a greedy person, he wants to receive, receive and receive like a Dead Sea and never gives. By working hard a Christian may have enough for himself and his family and have some means to help the weak and the poor. Unlike American charity or foundation, raise 100 dollars in the name of charity and give one dollar is called charity and tax-exempt. Christian charity is practiced on the principle: It is more blessed to give than to receive. There is no greed in Christian charity; there is a quagmire in worldly charity and cesspool in non-profit foundation. Almost all crooked people who got rich through corrupt means inevitably turn to charity to compensate their guilt. In Christian giving you do not expect any return. Unlike prosperity gospel which teaches giving to God is an investment that will bring material and monetary blessings. Christians seek to be rich in faith.
(15). You must witness at Rome also.
Act 23:11, “But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage, Paul; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”
Note: Jesus spoke to Paul. Now the Holy Spirit speaks to His servants. If you are a servant of Christ, you will know where the Lord wants you to witness. Generally speaking, you must witness wherever you are. Personal evangelism can take place anywhere. I know the Lord wants me to witness through the Internet to reach the whole world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ absolutely free. Rome may be your grave, Christians must witness even at the risk of his life.
(16). You must stand before Caesar.
Act 27:24 , “Saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.’
Note: Not all the servants of Christ will stand before Caesar or the head of state or the president, but all servants of Christ must take a stand. Wherever you are, you can take a stand for Christ.
(17). I must do whatever the Lord speaks.
Num 23:26 , “But Balaam replied to Balak, “Did I not tell you, ‘Whatever the LORD speaks, that I must do’?”
Note: Balaam may be a greedy prophet, but what he said is true: Whatever the Lord speaks, that I must do. Generally, the Lord speaks through the written Word of God, the Bible. Specifically, the Holy Spirit may speak to an individual servant of Christ or an ordinary Christian. When I was young, I learned about a servant of Christ who took charge of an orphanage, he did not go out to solicit money. The Holy Spirit would speak to Christians to bring money to the orphanage. Whatever the Holy Spirit leads you, that you must do.
(18). You also must be ready.
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.”
Note: No one knows when the Son of God is coming, for this reason we also must be ready. Jesus Christ will return at an hour when you do not think He will. So be ready at all times. A wise person is always ready. Remember the foolish virgins.
(19). Know how you must respond to each person.
Col 4:6 , “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you must respond to each person.”
Note: Speech is so important because it sounds like the man. Seasonal speech can solve many problems. There is only one way to respond to each person, you must speak with grace and salt. With grace so that you speak the truth. With salt so that you respond appropriately.
(20). You must walk and please God.
1Th 4:1 , “Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you must walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.”
Note: The Word of God instructs us how to walk to please God. How to walk means how to conduct oneself, how to behave at all times. To please God, you cannot please man or the world. The following Scriptures comprehensively teach us the way in which we should walk.
Gen 17:1, “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.”
We need to walk before God, and be blameless.
Exo 16:4 , “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from Heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction.”
We must not be greedy, we gather a day’s portion every day, and walk in God’s instruction.
Lev 26:13 , “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so that you would not be their slaves, and I broke the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.”
To walk erect means to walk uprightly. To walk uprightly means to do what is right.
Deu 5:33 , “You shall walk in all the way which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you will possess.”
We must walk in all the way which the Lord our God has commanded us, that we may live and it may be well with us, and that we may prolong our days on earth.
Deu 8:6 , “Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.”
To keep the commandments of the Lord is to walk in His ways and to fear Him.
Deu 10:12 , “Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”
This is what the Lord our God requires from us, but to fear the Lord, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord with all our heart and with all our soul.
Deu 11:22 , “For if you are careful to keep all these commandments which I am commanding you to do, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and hold fast to Him.”
We must be careful to keep all God’s commandments, to love the Lord our God, to walk in all His ways and hold fast to Him.
Deu 13:5 , “But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has counseled rebellion against the LORD your God who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to seduce you from the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from among you.”
We shall not listen to false prophet or false teacher to rebel against the Lord or seduce us from the way in which the Lord our God commands us to walk, but purge the evil from among us.
Deu 19:9 , “If you carefully observe all this commandment which I command you today, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in His ways always—then you shall add three more cities for yourself, besides these three.”
We must carefully observe all God’s commandments, to love the Lord, and to walk in His ways always.
1Ki 11:38 , “Then it will be, that if you listen to all that I command you and walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight by observing My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build you an enduring house as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.”
To walk in God’s ways is to do what is right in His sight.
2Ch 6:27, “Then hear in Heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and Your people Israel, indeed, teach them the good way in which they should walk. And send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people for an inheritance.”
We should walk in the good way. To love money, power and sex is to walk in the wrong way.
Neh 5:9 , “Again I said, “The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?”
To walk in the good way, we should walk in the fear of our God.
Psa 1:1 , “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!”
We should not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers.
Psa 26:11 , “But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; Redeem me, and be gracious to me.”
We walk in our integrity. Those who lie and kill have no integrity.
Pro 2:7 , “He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity.”
We must walk in integrity. American imperialists, Japanese militarists and Islamic terrorists do not walk in integrity. People of Washington, Wall Street and Hollywood do not have sound wisdom. Unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers do not have sound wisdom. Do you really believe that American and European leaders and politicians walk in God’s ways and do what is right in His sight?
Psa 84:11 , “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
We are to walk uprightly. To walk uprightly means to do right. Those who walk uprightly the Lord God is their Sun and Shield.
Psa 86:11, “Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.”
We are to walk in God’s truth, unite our heart to fear God’s name. Imperialists, capitalists, militarists, monopolists, supremacists, terrorists and Western media walk in lies and walk in darkness.
Psa 89:15 , “How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O LORD, they walk in the light of Your countenance.”
We are to walk in the light of God’s countenance.
Psa 119:1 , “Aleph. How blessed are those whose way is blameless, Who walk in the law of the LORD.”
We are to walk in the law of the Lord.
Psa 119:3 , “They also do no unrighteousness; They walk in His ways.”
We who do no unrighteousness walk in God’s ways.
Pro 2:20 , “So you will walk in the way of good men And keep to the paths of the righteous.”
We are to walk in the way of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous.
Pro 8:20 ,“I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice.”
We are to walk in the way of righteous in the midst of the paths of justice.
Isa 2:5 , “Come, house of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.”
Let us walk in the light of the Lord.
Jhn 8:12 , “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
He who follows Jesus will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.
Jhn 12:35 , “So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes.”
Walk while you have the Light.
Act 21:24 , “Take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law.”
We are to walk orderly, keeping the Law. Riots, chaos and lawlessness belong to the devil. In late 2020 America is chaotic, riots, burning and lootings are taking place in many cities.
Rom 6:4 , “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”
We are to walk in newness of life.
Rom 8:4 , “So that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
We do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Gal 5:16 , “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”
Those who walk by the Spirit, do not carry out the desire of the flesh.
Gal 5:25 , “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”
Christians live by the Spirit and also walk by the Spirit.
Eph 4:1 , “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.”
Christians walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which they have been called.
Eph 5:2, “And walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”
We walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
Eph 5:8, “For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.”
Christians walk as children of Light. Unbelievers walk as children of darkness.
Eph 5:15 , “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise.”
Christians are careful how to walk, not as unwise men but as wise. Imperialists, capitalists, militarists, monopolists, supremacists and terrorists walk as unwise men because they lie, lie and lie; kill, kill and kill; rob, rob and rob.
Phl 3:17, “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.”
Christians join in following example of Apostle Paul, and observe those who walk according to the pattern we have in apostles.
Col 1:10, “So that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
Christians are to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Col 2:6 , “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.”
Those who have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him. To walk in Christ is to walk in the light, walk in the truth, and walk in love.
1Th 2:12 , “So that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own Kingdom and glory.”
Christians would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls them into His own Kingdom and glory.
1Th 4:1 , “Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.”
Christians received instruction how ought to walk and please God. The instructions are written in the New Testament. Those who walk to please men are tragic.
1Jo 1:7, “But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. Notice Christian fellowship is based on walking in the Light.
1Jo 2:6 , “The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”
Christians ought to walk in the same manner as Jesus walked. This does not mean as Jesus walked on the water and performed miracles. It means as Jesus walked in the light, in the truth, and in love.
2Jo 1:6 , “And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.”
If we walk according to His commandments, this is love. This is the commandment that we should walk in it.
(21). We must follow the example of Apostle Paul.
2Th 3:7, “For you yourselves know how you must follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you.”
Note: We must follow the example of Apostle Paul who did not act in an undisciplined manner. Paul said,
2Ti 4:6-8, ”For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
You have learned by the Word of God what you MUST DO. You must repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the Savior of mankind.
Would you accept and believe in the Lord Jesus who is able to help you to walk in the light, in the truth, and in love? One day you will walk with the Lord on the street of gold in the Kingdom of Heaven, in the Holy City, the New Jerusalem.
ON September 3, 2025 for China to mark 80th 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.
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This article is written so that you may know the Word of God is composed of the written Word the Holy Bible or the Holy Scriptures, and the living Word who is Jesus Christ who speaks when God speaks, God who became Man. The Word is so wonderful that it has many aspects, multiple facets, and rich meanings. Yet it is the same, the Word of God.
Jhn 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Word in Greek islogoswhich means the sayings of God, the divine reason or expression, the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the personal wisdom and power in union with God; the person of Jesus the Messiah, the second person in the Godhead; – it occurs about 330 times in the New Testament. Word in Hebrew isdabarwhich means speech, saying, utterance, oracle; – it occurs 1,439 times in the Old Testament. Do you know how important is the Word of God? God created the whole universe by His Word. Whatever God says, it becomes a reality. God said, Let there be light, and there was light. The Word of God is absolute, complete, perfect, supreme, ultimate and eternal.
1．The Word of God
Rev 19:13 , “He (Christ) was clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is called the Word of God.”
Christ is the Word of God. The Word of God is expressed in spoken Word, written Word and Living word. The Holy Bible is the written Word of God. Whatever God says is so. Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God.
Luk 8:11 , “Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God.”
Cf. Luk 5:1, Act 17:13, Act 18:11, Act 19:20, Eph 6:17, 1 Ti 4:5, 2 Ti 2:9 .
Heaven and Earth will pass away, the Word of God will never pass away.
2. The Word of the Lord
Gen 15:1, “After these things the Word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying: Do not fear, Abram. I am your shield, and your exceedingly great reward.”
Cf. Num 15:31, Num 22:18, Deu 18:21, Psa 18:30, Psa 33:4,6; Luk 22:61, Act 15:35.
The Word of the Lord is the Word of God.
3. The Word of Christ
Col 3:16, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
Note: There are not all psalms like the Psalms in the Bible. Many modern songs used in some churches and denominations are not really hymns of praise or spiritual songs because they are inspired by the Hollywood culture. The Word of Christ is the Word of God.
Rom 10:17 , “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word
of Christ.”
The Word of Christ is written in the New Testament, mostly in the four Gospels.
4. The Word of Jesus
Mat 26:75 , “Then Peter remembered the Word of Jesus who said to
him: Before the cock crows, you will deny Me thrice. He went out and
wept bitterly.”
The Word of Jesus is the Word of Christ, the Word of Christ is the Word of God. When Jesus speaks, God speaks. Jesus speaks to reveal God, to reveal the truth.
5. The Word of truth
2 Ti 2:15 , “Endeavor to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.”
Note: All heresies and false doctrines are not rightly dividing the Word of truth. They misinterpret or distort the Word of God. The Bible is the Word of truth.
Cf. Jam 1:18 , Psa 119:43 , Eph 1:13, 2 Cr 6:7.
The Word of God is the Word of truth, the absolute truth, the infallible truth, and eternal truth.
6. The Word of life
1 Jo 1:1 , “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have touched, concerning the Word of life.”
Note: The Word of Christ is the Word of Truth, the Word of Truth is the Word of Life.
Phl 2:16, “Holding fast the Word of life, so that I may rejoice on the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”
The Word of Christ is the Word of life. To have Christ is to have life. Unbelieving theologians and secularists run in vain because they do not have the Word of life.
7. The Word of the Holy One of Israel
Isa 5:24, “Therefore as the fire devours the stubble, and the flame consumes the chaff, so their root will be rotten, and their blossom will go up like dust; because they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the Word of the Holy One of Israel.”
The God of the Bible is the Holy One of Israel.
8. The Word of the Kingdom
Mat 13:19 , “When anyone hears the Word of the Kingdomand does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the way side.”
The Word of God is not concerned about this world, it is about the Kingdom of God. This is the fatal mistake of prosperity gospel that stresses the material and earthly blessings above the spiritual. Or the preachers of prosperity gospel and they followers want the best of two worlds. You cannot serve God and money. The wicked one is the devil, if you do not have sincere heart of belief, he will snatch away what was sown in your heart, the evil heart of unbelief.
9. The Word of the Gospel
Act 15:7, “When after much dispute, Peter stood up and said to them, Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the Word of the Gospeland believe.”
In the early Church there was a great debate at Antioch as to what Gentile （non-Jewish） Christians should do because some false teachers came down from Judea and taught Gentile Christians must be circumcised according to the custom of Moses or they would not be saved. Paul and Barnabas went up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue. A sect of the Pharisees said it was necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses. The apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter. The first council in Jerusalem took place to settle the matter. Peter stood up and said,
Act 15:10-11 , “Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”
Note: There is no distinction as to how a Jewish or Gentile believer is saved. We are all saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. The law of Moses can save no one.
Eph 2:8 , “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” However, there is a distinction as to how a Jewish Christian or a Gentile Christian should conduct himself. James said, Act 15:19-20, “Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.”
The apostles and the brethren who were elders sent a letter to Gentile Christians saying,
Act 15:25-29, “It seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.” At that time, the Apostles and Elders proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ by word of mouth. The New Testament was not written yet. The Apostles made it clear Gentile Christians do not need to be circumcised or keep the Sabbath. The ceremonial Law of Moses was no longer required, but the moral law as repeated in the New Testament remains. However, the essentials for all believers whether Jewish or Gentile to observe are to abstain from:
1. eating things sacrificed to idols and worshiping of idols 2. eating blood 3. eating meat of strangled animals 4. fornication
Christians must be free from eating blood, free from eating food sacrificed to idols and worship of idols, free from eating food from strangled animals, and free from committing sexual immorality (including homosexuality and divorce). In other words, Christians are forbidden to eat blood, food sacrificed to idols or worship of idols, food from strangled animals, and fornication. Chinese Christians must pay particular attention because the Chinese custom of eating blood (blood of pig, chicken, etc.), worshiping ancestors and idols, and eating food sacrificed to idols. Some politicians of Taiwan who claim to be Christians have publicly committed idolatry by worshiping idols, I do not know whether they have stopped doing it or not. No one has the right to claim to be a Christian and worship idols at the same time just like no woman has the right to marry two men at the same time. Worshiping idols is a great sin against the living God. Those Taiwanese politicians who claim to be Christians must come clean. If you claim to be a Christian, you cannot worship idols. If you want to worship idols, you cannot claim to be a Christian. That is fair. That is religious freedom. There is no hangky-pangky in being a Christian.
The Gospel means good news. Good news because sinners do not have to go to Hell for eternal suffering. You may repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ so that you may obtain the forgiveness of sins. You can be saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ freely, because it is the gift of God.
10. The Word of His grace
Act 20:32 , “And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
Note: The Word of God is the only source which is able to build believers up. Christians can only grow by feeding on the Word of His grace, not tradition or teaching of man.
11. The Word of promise
Rom 9:9 , “For this is the Word of promise: At this time I will return, and Sara shall have a son.”
Note： God in ancient time promised that the Messiah shall come to save the world.
Luk 1:72-73, 78-79, “To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham, Through the tender mercy of our God with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
The Way of Christ is the Way of peace. Christ died on the cross for sinners to bring reconciliation between God and man, and to bring peace to the heart of believers.
Jhn 1:41 , “He first found his brother Simon, and said to him: We have found the Messiah (which means Christ).”
In the Old Testament God promised the Messiah, in the New Testament Jesus Christ is the Messiah. Oh, my Jewish friends how I pray God would open your eyes and see that Jesus Christ is the Jewish Messiah.
12. The Word of faith
Rom 10:8, “But what does it say? The word is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart; that is, the Word of faith which we preach.”
In the things of the world, we know and believe. In the things of God, we believe and know. Faith is not built on scientific inquiry or the knowledge of man. Faith takes hold on the Word of God and believes whatever God says is true. It is through the Revelation of Jesus Christ we come to know the salvation of God.
13. The Word of wisdom
1 Cr 12:8 , “For to one is given by the Spirit the Word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;”
The wisdom of man cannot know God. You need wisdom from above to know God. Jesus Christ is the Wisdom of God, to know Christ is to know God. The Word of wisdom is to believe and know that Jesus Christ the Son of God is your Lord and Savior. The people of Washington, Wall Street and Hollywood do not have the Word of wisdom. Western leaders continue to lie, kill, and rob many nations and peoples. Unbelieving scientists do not have the Word of wisdom.
14. The Word of knowledge
1 Cr 12:8 , “For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;”
The Word of knowledge is not human knowledge. Human knowledge is fallible, Divine knowledge is infallible. If Western leaders have the knowledge of God, they would stop lying, killing and robbing.
15. The Word of reconciliation
2 Cr 5:19 , “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them; and has committed to us the Word of reconciliation.”
Note: Reconciliation in Greek is katallagēwhich means atonement; adjustment of a difference; restoration to favor; in the NT of the restoration of the favor of God to sinners that repent and put their trust in the expiatory death of Christ (Strong’s Concordance); getting right with God; having peace with God; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. Sinners are enemies of God. Jesus Christ died for sinners to appease God so that sinners can be reconciled to God by the redemption of Jesus Christ.
16. The Word of the truth of the Gospel
Col 1:5 , “For the hope which is laid up for you in Heaven, of which you heard before in the Word of the truth of the Gospel;”
The Word of the truth of the Gospel is that all have sinned and all will die, for the wages of sin is death. But all who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will receive the eternal life. This is the Word of truth of the Gospel. You can believe it, because it is the Word of God. Oh, the poor, the oppressed, the homeless people of the world, there is good news for you, not only Jesus Christ can save your souls from eternal damnation, He has prepared the Paradise of God for you, mansions in Heaven. The hope is laid up for you in Heaven.
17. The Word of His power
Hbr 1:3 , “Who being the brightness of His (God’s) glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He (Christ) had by Himself cleansed our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high;”
There is power in the Gospel which can save all who come to Jesus Christ.
18. The Word of righteousness
Hbr 5:13 , “For every one who lives on milk is a babe, unskilled in the Word of Righteousness.”
There is no righteousness in man. Through Jesus Christ believers obtain the righteousness of God.
19. The Word of Prophecy
2 Pe 1:19, “We also have a more sure Word of prophecy; 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.”
Note: Christ is the Word of God. He is so Wonderful. Without the Word of God, there is no truth, no way, and no life. The Bible is the Written Word of God. Christianity is based on the authority of the written Word of God, not man or institution. Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God, the central message of God to mankind. To believe in Jesus Christ is to believe in God. To believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior is to be saved. To be saved is to have the eternal life.
Now you have learned that Jesus Christ is the Word of God. The Name above every name, in Heaven or on earth; the Son of God, the Savior of the world.
Would you accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior now?
*Our mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ absolutely free. We do not want donation. We only want you to know the truth.
-This article is written to let you know the wicked are the problems of the world. No wicked peoples, No problems.
Why do the wicked? Evil comes out of the wicked, the origin of evil is the devil. The wicked are children of the devil, like father they exist to do evil.
Western leaders and politicians cannot rest if they do not lie against, do harm, target, sanction and slander China and Russia.
These are stupid questions: What should the United States do about Russia?What should the United States do about China? White and black supremacists ask stupid questions. To achieve strategic stability and just and lasting peace in the world. NOTHING. The United State must do nothing about Russia and China. Leave them alone, do not interfere and meddle in the internal affairs of Russia and China and any other nations. There cannot be a New America until white and black supremacists give up the evil empire and regain the respectable Republic. The United States should mind its own business and solve its pressing problems of dictatorship, abuse of power, corrupt government, climate change, unaccountable bureaucracies, self-serving political parties, foreign policies of aggression and sanction, racial discrimination, legal injustice, police brutality, polarized politics, largest national debts and deficits in the world, largest income gap in the world, massive illegal alien invasion, dysfunctional governance, economic decline, restricted trade and unfair tariffs, high crime rate, public disturbance and unrest, riots and terror, social problems of welfare, drug addiction, unemployment, homeless peoples; run down infrastructure, ineffective educational system, fraudulent and predatory health care system, legal terrorism, monopolistic banking and finance system, low corporate tax, environmental pollution, and waste and fraud in defense, etc.
Jesus Christ never tells the Church to reform the world or any nation. The West represents and practices a wrong version of Christianity in imperialism, colonialism, capitalism, and hegemonism. The Western powers claim to be Christian nations have disgraced and distorted Christianity in the last 500 years. The mission of the Church is to preach and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole world. The world will get worse and worse until Jesus Christ returns. Winning souls for Christ and live godly lives and wait for the appearance of our Lord is what every Christian must do in this evil generation. The night is far spent, the dawn is at hand. All theologies are man-made are wrong and flawed, only the Biblical Theology is right. I am for Israel because I am also a son of Abraham. The God of Israel will protect Israel, we also pray that the Jewish people to come to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Messiah.
9/19/2020
American government needsa baptism of repentance, giving up the evil empire. Cease aggression and warmongering. Cease sanctions and oppression of China, Russia, and many weak nations. Abolish all American foreign military bases more than 700. Stop interfering with the internal affairs of any nation, and mind its own businesses. Honor international laws and agreements and fulfill its responsibilities. Cooperate with the United Nations, WTO, WHO, International Criminal Court of Justice in pursuit of just and lasting peace for the world!
Willie Wong, 9/4/2020
WHAT is a scientific question? HOW is a technological question? WHENis a chronological question? WHERE is a geographical question? WHICH is an identical question? WHY is a philosophical question, the most difficult of all questions.
This article is written in an attempt to answer the perennial and persistent philosophical question, Why do the wicked still …….? In the long conflict of good and evil, man is helpless. History attests to the truth that the great majority of people suffer under the hands of the few wicked. On the surface, it seems the world is out of order.
“God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.”
Note: Reign in Hebrew is malakwhich means to rule; to cause to reign; to take control; to become king; to exercises sovereign power; to have dominion; to have supreme authority; – which occurs 520 times in the Old Testament. It seems people forget that God reigns over the nations including superpower and rules the whole universe. What the wicked do does not disturb or surprise God at all. God is seated on His holy throne. Throne in Hebrew is kicce’which means royal seat; seat of honor and power; seat of sovereignty; – which occurs 136 times in the Old Testament. Amid the chaos, darkness, violence, difficulty, disturbance in the world, God is at ease with Himself, seated on His holy throne. For God is still in charge, high above all the nations and everything and everyone else.
Job 21:7 ,“ Why do the wicked still live, Continue on, also become very powerful?”
Note: The wicked in Hebrew is rasha` which means the criminal, guilty one, one guilty of crime, hostile to God, guilty of sin (against God or man), morally wrong, an actively bad person, condemned and ungodly; unrighteous; – it occurs 293 times in the Old Testament. Live in Hebrew is chayah which means to have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, be alive, to continue safe and sound; – it occurs 322 times in the Old Testament. Continue in Hebrew is `athaqwhich means to move forward, proceed, move on, to advance in years, become old; – it occurs 11 times in the Old Testament. This reminds me of a wicked Chinese traitor who had lived long . Very powerful in Hebrew is chayil which means of strength or might, strong, mighty, wealthy; – it occurs 245 times in the Old Testament. There is an ancient philosophical question: “Why do the wicked still live, continue on, also become very powerful?”
Jer 12:1 , “Righteous are You, O LORD, that I would plead my case with You; Indeed I would discuss matters of justice with You: Why has the way of the wicked prospered? Why are all those who deal in treachery at ease?”
Note: Plead in Hebrew is riyb which means to strive with word, contend; to conduct a legal case or suit; to make complaint; to quarrel; to plead a cause – it occurs 72 times in the Old Testament. Discuss in Hebrew is dabar which means to speak, declare, converse; to speak with one another, talk; to communicate, put words in order; to consult; – it occurs 1,140 times in the Old Testament. Justice in Hebrew is mishpat which means act of deciding a case; case, cause presented for judgment; right, rectitude; right or privilege (statutory or customary); due order, doing no unrighteousness in judgment; that which is just, lawful according to law; doing what is right; – it occurs 426 times in the Old Testament. God cares about matters of justice. Prophet Jeremiah had a case, he wanted to talk to God about some matters of justice: Why has the way of the wicked prospered? Why are all those who deal in treachery at ease? Since Abel the first righteous man, all want to know the answers of the Jeremiah’s questions. All suffering saints want to know the answer to those questions. The questions are raised not because of unbelief, but because lack of understanding. It is a confession of ignorance, limitation, and weakness. It is also a confrontation with reality. Our perception is blinded by darkness, ignorance and doubt, as well as disappointment but not despair. It is a fundamental realization of human incompetence and incomprehension of things that matter. Why …? Why …? It is not only the ordinary believers having these problems; they are also the problems of prophets and apostles, the strong in faith. The way of the wicked prospered. Prosper in Hebrew is tsalach which means to advance, make progress, succeed, and be profitable; to push forward; to go on well; to experience prosperity or success; – it occurs 81 times in the Old Testament. The way of the wicked prospers! How uncomfortable! How discouraging! How disappointing! How desperate!
I. THE NATURE OF THE WICKED
1Sa 24:13 ,“As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness‘; but my hand shall not be against you.”
Note: The wicked in the original language is the same of Job 21:7. Wickedness in Hebrew is resha` which means wrong, guilt; wickedness (as violence and crime against civil law); wickedness (in ethical relations); something evil against good; iniquity; fraud, falsehood, unrighteousness; – it occurs 32 times in the Old Testament. This is the eternal truth: Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness. Wickedness comes from the wicked. All the evil in the world comes from evildoers and their father the evil one. It is simple like that, although wickedness and evil are no simple matters. There is mystery in evil just as there is mystery in the Devil. The evil tree bears evil fruits. It is impossible for a good tree to bear bad fruits. A man does wickedness because he is wicked. Funny is the American defense: “I am not bad, I just did bad things.” Good people cannot do bad things. Bad people do bad things is clear as the light. Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness. A warmonger starts war of aggression. A capitalist commits fraud and monopoly. An imperialist colonizes other nations. A terrorist does terrors and kills.
Job 8:22 ,“Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, And the tent of the wicked will be no longer.”
Note:The nature of the wicked is such that the tent of the wicked will not last. An evil empire will collapse sooner or later. All evil empires come to an end. The house of the wicked will be destroyed.
Eze 18:20 , “The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.”
Note: To sin in Hebrew is chata’ which means to miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt; to miss the goal or path of right and duty; to miss the mark; to bring into guilt or condemnation or punishment; to make a false step; to commit trespass; – it occurs 252 times. Sin has consequences. Sin has punishment. To die in Hebrew is muwth which means to be killed, to be executed; to die as penalty, be put to death; to perish, to be destroyed; – it occurs 984 times in the Old Testament. Sin has penalty and the penalty is death. Sin is a personal responsibility. The son will not die for the iniquity of the father; the father will not die for the sin of the son. Iniquity in Hebrew is `avon which means perversity, depravity, guilt or punishment of iniquity; consequence of or punishment for iniquity; fault; mischief; a depraved action; – it occurs 237 times in the Old Testament. The righteous will not die for the wicked; the wicked will die for his sins. The only historical exception is that Jesus Christ the Righteous died for the unrighteous so that sinners can be saved by grace through faith.
Pro 12:21 , “No harm befalls the righteous, But the wicked are filled with trouble.”
Note: Harm in Hebrew is ‘aven which means trouble, wickedness, sorrow; emptiness, vanity; misfortune, adverse circumstances, calamity; – it occurs 77 times in the Old Testament. The idea that the wicked is free of all troubles is false. The wicked rich and powerful are filled with troubles, harms, sorrows, misfortunes and calamities. You must have heard of the calamities of the Kennedy clan. Trouble in Hebrew is ra` which means bad, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery); harm, affliction; distress, injury, adversity; wretchedness; – it occurs 690 times. You know your own troubles; but the troubles of the wicked you might not know.
Pro 10:24 , “What the wicked fears will come upon him, But the desire of the righteous will be granted.”
Note: I can testify to the grace and mercy of the Lord. There was a time when economy was so bad in America and millions were unemployed and even Ph.D.s could not find a job; I was afraid to become a beggar. Thanks for the promise of God: the descendants of the righteous will not beg for bread. Psa 37:25 ,
“I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken Or his descendants begging bread.”
A white colleague of mine told me he had once looking for food in the garbage can.
Warmongers, imperialists, capitalists, militarists, monopolists, supremacist, terrorists – the wicked, what you fear will come upon you – so says the Word of God. So do not envy the wicked for their power, position, possessions, luxury and glamour.
Heb 3:13 , “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
Note: To harden in Greek is sklērynō which means to make hard; to become obstinate or stubborn; – it occurs 7 times in the New Testament. The wicked is hardened. The wicked becomes obstinate and stubborn. That explains why Japanese leaders deny, deny and deny historical facts of Japanese war crimes, genocide, sex slavery, slave labor, germ warfare, chemical warfare, and inhuman atrocities. That explains why Japanese leaders distort history; whitewash Japanese inglorious past and worship convicted and executed war crime criminals as national heroes and true gods. This explains why the imperialists continue to wage war and threaten China and Russia and having killed millions and millions of innocent peoples since the end of World War II because their hearts are hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. How tragic and terrible is the deceitfulness of sin. Evil leaders believe by conquest and world domination they can rule and dictate the world. Deceitfulness in Greek is apatēwhich means deceit, deceivableness, deception, deceiving; deceitful influence exerted by sin; – it occurs 7 times in the New Testament. Sin is deceitful. Sin deceives sinners. Sin deceives the wicked. The deceitfulness of sin can harden people.American leaders knew it was illegal to give administrative control of Diaoyu Islands of China in 1971 to the unconditionally surrendered war crime nation of Japan; not only they did not apologize and right the wrong; at first Obama said the U.S. took no position on the sovereignty of Diaoyu Islands; later he said American defense treaty with Japan covers Diaoyu Islands. How the deceitfulness of sin has hardened evilleaders, evil doers and Islamic terrorists. The worst thing is that the wicked people do not realized they are hardened by the deceitfulness of sin; they think they are strong and smart.
The deceitfulness of sin is so terrible, awful, and horrible that it blinds otherwise intelligent leaders in the most consequential ways:
The evil Western leaders have killed millions and millions of innocent peoples in hundreds of unjust wars and bloody military interventions around the world since the end of World War II to present day, and yet not one American leader (although most American leaders confess to be Christians) admits he is wrong and repents of his sins. They are deceived by the deceitfulness of sin so much so they think they represent good and not evil. They fool themselves in a distorting way in the name of freedom, liberty, democracy, capitalism, rule of law, human rights, and civil rights so incredibly to cover up their evil deeds. They are the devils disguising themselves as angels of light.
American leaders wasted trillions and trillions of dollars in conducting wars, defense and destruction. In fact, there is no nation openly or actually threatens America. What American leaders do is deceived by sin in pursuit of absolute military supremacy and world domination – not defense.
American leaders wasted trillions and trillions in building weapons of mass destruction, all instruments of war, preparations for war and arming Japan, etc. in preparation of the coming war of aggression.
American leaders encircle China and Russia with hundreds of overseas military bases around the world and with most advanced weapons of mass destruction. American leaders are hardened by deceitfulness of sin because they are able to destroy the world in one hour.
American leaders put 65 percent of all its most advanced weaponry and armed forces of more than 360,000 troops stationed in Japan, Singapore, Australia, etc. at China’s doorsteps continuously conducting military exercises with aircraft carriers, 7 th Fleet, nuclear submarines, war planes, spy planes, war ships, and the largest 4 radars (in Japan, Korea, Philippines, Taiwan) intending and targeting to launch attacks on China’s nuclear facilities and aiming to destroy China’s strike back nuclear capabilities.
American leaders deceive themselves in believing and acting they have the right to conduct military operations in the territorial and defense zones of other nations. China does not operate militarily near Guam or Hawaii, or in the West coast or East coast of America. China does not demand freedom of navigation at American doorsteps.
American leaders deceive themselves in fabricating the rumor of China’s threat or Russian threat because they are in fact the no. 1 threat to the world today, Japanese resurgent militarism being no. 2, and Islamic terrorism no. 3.
Common people can see the truth from falsehood, American leaders blinded by deceitfulness of sin cannot see the truth or they want to believe in lies.
American people are fooled by their leaders who are betraying their country by enriching special interests like the military-industrial complex, Wall Street and Hollywood at public expenses of huge annual deficits and the largest national debt exceeding $27 trillion.
American leaders represent the evil force that divides the world as they divide South Korea from North Korea since the Korean War, Taiwan from China since 1949, and NATO from Russia since the Cold War and continuously destroys the world.
Jhn 8:34 , “Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.”
Rom 6:6 , “Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin.”
Rom 6:17 , “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed.”
Note: Slave in Greek isdouloswhich means a bondman, man of servile condition; one who gives himself up wholly to another’s will; an indentured servant; – it occurs 130 times in the New Testament. The imperialists, hegemonists, militarists, terrorists, capitalists, monopolists, warmongers, dictators, oppressors, violators of law, crooks and criminals are slaves of sin and to sin although they think they are the masters of the universe. Believers are obedient from the heart to the Christ’s teaching to which they are committed.
Rom 6:13 , “And do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin asinstruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”
Note: The bodies of the wicked are instruments of unrighteousness and the slaves of sin. The bodies of the righteous are instruments of righteousness. The instruments of unrighteousness commit lies and killings.
Rom 7:13 , “Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.”
Note: Sin effects death through the commandment makes sin utterly sinful. Sin is utterly sinful because law is holy.
Rom 7:14 , “For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.”
Note: All people including the wicked are of flesh and sold into bondage to sin. Sin is bondage. Sin is slavery. There is no liberty in sin. There is the funny slavery of sin which evil leaders think doing evil is liberty and glory.
Deu 9:27 , “Remember Your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; do not look at the stubbornness of this people or at their wickedness or their sin.”
Note: The nature of mankind is stubbornness, and the nature of sin is wickedness.
Rom 7:23 , “But I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.”
Note: Law in Greek is nomos which means anything established, anything received by usage, a custom; controlling principle; – it occurs 196 times in the New Testament. The law of sin makes a sinner (the wicked) a prisoner and wages war against the members of his body.
Psa 38:3 , “There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your indignation; There is no health in my bones because of my sin.”
Note: In the flesh of the wicked (sinner) there is no soundness, because of sin in his bones there is no health. The human body is not spiritually sound. Man is by nature depraved.
Psa 38:18 , “For I confess my iniquity; I am full of anxiety because of my sin.”
Note: Because of sin the wicked is full of anxiety. The wicked has no peace of mind. The wicked lives in fear.
Psa 51:3 , “For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.”
Note: The wicked knows his transgressions; the consciousness of sin is ever before him.
Psa 51:5 , “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.”
Note: The fact a man was conceived in sin by his mother and brought forth in iniquity explains the nature of his wickedness. There is no glory in wickedness, but shameless Japanese leaders believe they do and so they whitewash their inglorious past and worship convicted and executed war crime criminals as their national heroes and true gods.
Rom 7:25 , “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.”
Note: There are two sides of human nature: Through Jesus Christ our Lord with our mind we are serving the law of God; but on the other, with our flesh we are serving the law of sin. That is why Jesus says, You must be born again. Born of the flesh is of the flesh, born of the Spirit is of the Spirit.
1Jo 1:8 , “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.”
Note: Those who say they have no sin, they are deceiving themselves and the truth is not in them. There is no man who does not sin. Jesus Christ came down from Heaven to save sinners. Evil leaders are deceiving themselves and the truth is not in them.
Pro 14:34 , “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people.”
Note: Recently I heard the titular head of a Western nation apologized to an African nation for its colonial wound. In the last 500 years Western imperialists and colonialists had done much evil in the world, not just colonial wound, but massacre, robberies, exploitation, oppression, injustice and brutality. During the infamous Opium Wars, Western nations led by Great Britain, America, Japan, etc. attacked and killed Chinese, burned, robbed and looted China national treasures in millions of items worth at the market value more than US$100,000 trillion dollars, not counting the interest of so many years. These Western nations still interfere in China’s internal affairs, practice lies and falsehoods, aggression and hostilities, commit oppression and sanctions against China without cause. The most ludicrous is the recent CORONAVIRUS pandemic, they blamed and charged China for creating and spreading of the virus, they shamelessly want to charge or sue China for damages and collect monies!
Sin is a disgrace to any people. Do you know any righteous nation in the world today? For that reason, the sins of Japaneseleaders are grave because they deny Japanese war crimes, genocide, sex slavery, slave labor, germ warfare, chemical warfare, and atrocities of most inhuman kind. They want to exalt and glorify a war crime nation. The sins of evil leaders are grievous because they exalt their sin of aggression, oppression, exploitation and suppression by killing millions and millions of innocent peoples and making millions of war refugees and peoples who live an abject poverty since the end of World War II to this day. They glorify disgrace and distort facts in pursuit of military supremacy and world domination.
1Pe 2:22 , “WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH.”
Note: There is plenty of deceit in the mouth of evil leaders and Islamic terrorists. Western leaders and politicians and media reporters daily and persistently tell lies, make fake news, fake views, fake reports, and fake charges against Russian and China and others.
Rom 3:9 , “What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin.”
Note: There is no exception; both Jews and Greeks are all under sin. Both men and women are under sin. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Jhn 8:34 , “Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.”
Note: Everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. Everyone includes the wicked, and there is no exception. There are wicked people who consider committing sin is a smart and sophisticated thing such as those in Washington, Wall Street and Hollywood.
Rom 3:20 , “Because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.”
Note: No flesh can be justified in God’s sight for all have sinned. Through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. The knowledge of sin does not and cannot save anyone. It only tells you how terrible and awful sin is. The good news of Jesus Christ is that sinners can be justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
II. The Acts of the Wicked.
Rom 7:17 , “So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.”
Rom 7:20 , “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.”
Note: The sin that dwells within controls and propels the acts of the wicked. It is human nature to sin. Human nature has a tendency to do wrong.
1Jo 5:17 , “All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.”
Note: The wicked commits acts of unrighteousness; all unrighteousness is sin. Lies, aggression, oppression, sanction, deception, killing, robbery, etc. are unrighteousness.
Rom 7:23 , “But I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.”
Note: All humans (including the wicked) are prisoners of the law of sin. The war within is more fierce than the war outside. Only Jesus Christ is able to set us free.
Deu 24:16 ,“Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, nor shall sons be put to death for their fathers; everyone shall be put to death for his own sin.”
2Ch 25:4 , “However, he did not put their children to death, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, which the LORD commanded, saying, “Fathers shall not be put to death for sons, nor sons be put to death for fathers, but each shall be put to death for his own sin.”
Note: Everyone is responsible for his own acts of sin. Everyone shall be put to death for his own sin. The wages of sin is death. For that reason, all will die.
Hab 1:4 , “Therefore the law is ignored And justice is never upheld. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore justice comes out perverted.”
Note: The wicked ignore the law. Evilleaders ignore international law. Ignore in Hebrew is puwgwhich means to be torpid, to be feeble, to be numbed; – it occurs 4 times in the Old Testament. To uphold in Hebrew is yatsa’ which means to proceed, to go forth, to go forth, to bring out; to run through; – it occurs 1,214 times in the Old Testament. The West has perverted justice for the last 500 years, and still does.Evil leaders extol the law in a crafty way by violating the law. For example, they sing freedom of navigation, by this they violate the territorial waters and defense zones of China with their aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, war ships, war planes and provocatively navigate their weapons of mass destruction at China’s doorsteps. Evil leaders sing praises of justice, but they never uphold international justice. They surround China and Russia with hundreds of overseas military bases. Pervert in Hebrew is `aqal which means to twist, to be bent out of shape, be distorted, be crooked; – it occurs only once in the Old Testament. They make rumors of China’s threat to pervert justice. Ignoring law, surround the righteous and perverting justice are acts and characteristics of the wicked. American and Japanese justice come out perverted.
Jas 2:9, “But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors .”
Note: Show partiality in Greek is prosōpolēmpteō which means to have respect of persons, discriminate; to favor an individual; – it occurs only twice in the New Testament. The wicked show partiality and are convicted by the law as transgressors. The American leaders violated China’s sovereignty by illegally giving administrative control of China’s Diaoyu Islands in 1971. American leaders favor Japan because Japanese leaders are running dogs of America. Not only they do not right the wrong and apologize for their transgression, at first they said they took no position on the sovereignty of China’s Diaoyu Islands, later Obama said to defend Japan against China over Diaoyu Islands. Evil leaders despise international law and act lawlessly repeatedly over and over.
Jas 4:17 , “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.”
Note: To know the right thing and do not do it is sin. Evil leaders know the right thing, since the end of World War II they have been doing the wrong thing and killing millions and millions in hundreds of unjust wars and bloody military interventions around the world. Except President Richard Nixon who sought a just and last peace. Wall Street executives know the right but they do the wrong thing. In 2008 Wall Street executives created the largest economic and financial crisis in history and robbed the world more than $50 trillion. The American legal system does not execute justice; only one Jewish crook was sent o jail. Islamic terrorists know the right thing but they choose to believe in a lie by killing many innocent peoples. American leaders know Diaoyu Islands belong to China, and yet they declare to defend Japan against China.
2Pe 2:14 , “Having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children.”
Note: Hollywood can fitly be described as “having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls” – the lust. Washington and Wall Street fit into the description “having a heart trained in greed.” They are very sophisticated people, Washington represents greed for power, and Wall Street represents greed for money. There is nothing like it in the world, the evil trinity of Washington, Wall Street and Hollywood. They are well trained and products of American Ivy League universities. Those who love money, power and sex are accursed children. Washington leaders have been proven liars and killers, children of the devil.
1Jo 3:4 , “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.”
Note: The wicked practices sin also practices lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness. Lawlessness is sin. The most sinful are those who practice lawlessness accusing others of violations of law.
1Jo 3:8 , “The one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.”
Note: The wicked practices sin, the wicked is of the devil. The devil sinned from the beginning by rebellion. The Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil. All sin, lawlessness, transgression, iniquity and evil are the works of the devil. Liars and killers are children of the devil.
Pro 5:22 , “His own iniquities will capture the wicked, And he will be held with the cords of his sin.”
Note: The iniquities of the wicked will capture the wicked. There is an English saying: hoist by one’s own petard. The wicked will be hoist by their own petard. The wicked will be destroyed by the very devices with which they meant to destroy others. Those who lift up the sword will be destroyed by the sword. For that reason, America is committing suicide. The aggressor is committing suicide. American imperialists are spreading cords to capture others will be held with the cords of their sin.
Rom 7:8 , “But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.”
Note: Sin taking opportunity produces in the wicked coveting of every kind. Greed is the root of all evil.
Ecc 5:6 , “Do not let your speech cause you to sin and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice and destroy the work of your hands?”
Note: God can be angry on account of the voice of the wicked. The wicked boast and brag and speak craftily.
2Ki 21:11 , “Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations, having done wickedly more than all the Amorites did who were before him, and has also made Judah sin with his idols.”
Note: Idols are abominations. The two Taiwanese traitors both professed to be Christians but they have worshiped idols in public.
2Ch 6:36 , “When they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin) and You are angry with them and deliver them to an enemy, so that they take them away captive to a land far off or near.”
Note: All acts of sin are sins that the wicked sin against God. There is no man who does not sin. Thus all sinners will die eventually.
Neh 13:26 , “Did not Solomon king of Israel sin regarding these things? Yet among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless the foreign women caused even him to sin.”
Note: Foreign women caused even Solomon king of Israel to sin. So it is unwise to marry unbelieving women. Bad women can cause men to sin. Bad men can cause women to sin. Christians must not marry those who worship idols or false gods.
Job 2:10 , “But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”
Note: Foolish women speak foolish things. The wicked sins with their lips. The wicked Japanese leaders deny Japanese war crimes, genocide, sex slavery, slave labor, germ warfare, chemical warfare, atrocities of most inhuman kind and distorts facts by revising history textbooks. God will judge the wicked according to his thoughts, words and deeds. Evil leaders are skillful to sin with their lips, distorting facts and perverting justice. They have violated China’s territories and looted China’s resources, and yet they spread the rumor of China’s threat.
Pro 24:9 , “Thedevising of folly is sin, And the scoffer is an abomination to men.”
Note: The devising of folly is sin, not only devising of wickedness. Hollywood and Wall Street and Washington are expert in devising folly. Many who make ads are most devious people and Western media that makes fake news are most diabolical. Those who scoff at truth are an abomination. Those who distort history are an abomination. Those who seduce and fool people are an abomination.
Isa 3:9, “The expression of their faces bears witness against them, And they display their sin like Sodom; They do not even conceal it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves.”
Note: This Scripture reminds me of those evil leaders when they say Diaoyu Islands belong to Japan, the expression of their faces bears witness against them. When they say China or Russia is a threat, they display their sin like Sodom. They will bring evil on themselves.
2Ch 6:36 ,“When they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin) and You are angry with them and deliver them to an enemy, so that they take them away captive to a land far off or near.”
Note: All sins are against God. There is no man who does not sin. God is angry with the wicked. God will judge the wicked.
Num 18:22 , “The sons of Israel shall not come near the tent of meeting again, orthey will bear sin and die.”
Note: The wicked will bear sin and die.
Deu 9:18 , “I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all your sin which you had committed in doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke Him to anger.”
Note: All the sin of the wicked which they have committed in doing what was evil in the sight of God provokes God to anger. God is angry with the wicked. The wrath of God is on the wicked.
Gen 4:7,“If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
Note: Sin is crouching at your door, especially at the door of the wicked. If you do well, your countenance is lifted up – your face shines. If you do not do well, sin desires you to enslave you.
Gen 18:20 , “And the LORD said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.”
Note: God said, the outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah was indeed great, and the sin was exceedingly grave. The sin of homosexuality and same-sex marriage are indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. Yet the American Supreme Court decreed that same-sex marriage is lawful; and Obama even glorifies it. How can they meet God at the Day of Judgment? Do you know the outcry of America and EU have reached the God of the universe?
Gen 39:9 ,“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?”
Note: It is a great evil and sin against God to have sex with another man’s wife. Adultery is a great evil and sin against God.
Exo 32:31, “Then Moses returned to the LORD, and said, “Alas, this people have committed a great sin, and they have made a god of gold for themselves.”
Note: To worship a god of gold is a great sin. Greed is idolatry.
Num 12:11 , “Then Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, I beg you, do not account this sin to us, in which we have acted foolishly and in which we have sinned.”
Note: All sin is acting foolishly. There is no smart sin. Japanese leaders think they are smart by denying all Japanese war crimes so that Japan does not have to pay compensation and war reparation. The sex slaves that the Japanese troops violated are dying out. But the eternal God will take vengeance on the Japanese militarists and Japan. Evil leaders acting craftily whenever they want to do evil in committing aggression other nations, but they cannot fool God.
Num 16:26 , “And he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart now from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing that belongs to them, or you will be swept away in all their sin.”
Note: Depart from the tents of the wicked, and touch nothing that belongs to them, or you will be swept away in all their sin. Do not do business or associate with the wicked, or you will be swept away in all their sin. Some silly nations have alliance with the imperialist will be swept away in all their sin. All American overseas military bases will be swept away in all their sin once the global nuclear war started by the United States.
1Sa 15:23 ,“For rebellion is as the sin of divination, Andinsubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the Word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king.”
Note: Rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Those who reject the Word of the Lord, God will reject them
Job 34:37 , “For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God.’”
Note: Rebellion to God is sin, and some add rebellion to their sins. To speak against God is sin; the infidels multiply their words against God.
Psa 32:3 , “When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long.”
Note: If an individual who kept silent about his sin, his body wasted away, and groaning all day long; how much is Japan that denies all its war crimes, genocide, sex slavery, slave labor, germ warfare, chemical warfare, atrocities of the most inhuman kind. American leaders cannot keep silent about their sins since the end of World War II, and waste away America.
Psa 59:12 , “On account of the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, Let them even be caught in their pride, And on account of curses and lies which they utter.”
Note: The leaders of Japan are caught on account of the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips in their pride. If Diaoyu Islands really belong to Japan, why Japan had to pretentiously buy the islands? If Diaoyu Islands really belong to Japan, why Japan had to pretentiously nationalize them?If American leaders are for peace, why do they make alliances and establish hundreds of overseas military bases and put their advanced weaponry and more than 360,000 troops at China’s doorsteps and continuously prepare for war?They are caught by their lies in their pride. The sins of the foul mouths of evil leaders are grave and the words of their lips are full of lies, deceits and falsehoods.
Psa 109:14 , “Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD, And do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out.”
Note: The iniquity of the fathers of the wicked will be remembered before the Lord, and the sin of their mothers will not be blotted out.
Jer 16:10 , “Now when you tell this people all these words, they will say to you, ‘For what reason has the LORD declared all this great calamity against us? And what is our iniquity, or what is our sin which we have committed against the LORD our God?’”
Note: The Lord will declare great calamity against the evil empire of Japan for their iniquities and sins. God will judge America for its iniquities and sins committed since the end of World War II to this day.
Jer 16:18 ,“I will first doubly repay their iniquity and their sin, because they have polluted My land; they have filled My inheritance with the carcasses of their detestable idols and with their abominations.”
Note: God will doubly repay the iniquity and sin of the lands of the wicked for they pollute the lands with detestable idols and abominations. God will repay the iniquity and sin of America for they pollute the world with violence and greed and oppression.
Deu 19:15 , “A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed.”
Note: Major offense of the wicked must be confirmed on the evidence of two or three witnesses. Thousands and even millions have confirmed the war crimes, genocide, sex slavery, slave labor, germ warfare, chemical warfare, and most inhuman atrocities, and yet Japanese leaders deny them all.
Deu 20:18 , “So that they may not teach you to do according to all their detestable thingswhich they have done for their gods, so that you would sin against the LORD your God.”
Note: Homosexual prostitution was done as one of the detestable things which pagans have done for their gods; it is a grave sin against God.
Deu 21:22 , “If a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree.”
Note: Death penalty or capital punishment is for sin or crime worthy of death. What is the difference between sin and crime? Sin is a violation of God’s law; crime is a violation of human law. All crimes are sins, but not all sins are crimes. Adultery is not a crime in many nations, but it is a grave sin in the sight of God. God institutes death penalty, all nations should have capital punishment for crimes worthy of death. Crimes worthy of death include treason committed by traitors, etc.; bombing, murder, serial rape, massive arson, human trafficking, drug trafficking, terrorism, drunk driving, high crime of corruption and abuse of power, etc. Jesus Christ died on the cross for sinners, the Righteous for the sins of the unrighteous.
Deu 15:9 , “Beware that there is no base thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of remission, is near,’ and your eye is hostile toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing; then he may cry to the LORD against you, and it will be a sin in you.”
Note: Discrimination and abusive and unfair practices committed by employers against employees are acts of the wicked and considered as sins.
Deu 24:15 ,“You shall give him his wages on his day before the sun sets, for he is poor and sets his heart on it; so that he will not cry against you to the LORD and it become sin in you.”
Note: Years ago in America, you got pay once a month. It was unfair and withholding employee wages to earn interest for the company. Outrageous Chinese construction companies hold employee wages for a long period of time. Unfair withholding of employee wages is a sin.
Isa 5:18 , “Woe to those who drag iniquity with the cords of falsehood, And sin as if with cart ropes.”
Note: Japanese leaders drag their iniquities with the cords of falsehood by denial and distortion of historical facts. American leaders drag their iniquities since the end of World War II with the cords of falsehood and distortion of facts. The wicked drag their sins as if with cart ropes.
Isa 30:1 , “Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD, “Who execute a plan, but not Mine, And make an alliance, but not of My Spirit, In order to add sin to sin.”
Note: Woe to the Axis of Evil with their military alliances in a global strategic plan to target China and Russia, evil leaders add sin to sin, iniquity to iniquity. American leaders seek absolute military supremacy for world domination.
Heb 12:1 , “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
Note: Sin enslaves the wicked, even entangles the saints.
Jas 1:15 . “Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”
Note: This is the etiology of sin: When lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin. When a man lusts over a woman in his heart, it gives birth to adultery. When sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Just as lust is related to sin, so is death the result of sin.
IIl. THE END OF THE WICKED.
Job 21:30, “For the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity; They will be led forth at the day of fury.”
Note: This is one of the reasons the righteous should not envy the wicked. For the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity. They will be led out at the day of fury. The day of calamity is reserved for the wicked. What is the day of fury? The day of fury is the Day of Judgment. There is no escape; the wicked will be brought out to face the judgment.
Psa 7:9 , “O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; For the righteous God tries the hearts and minds.”
Note: The evil of the wicked will come to an end.The evil of Japan will come to an end. The evil empire will come to an end. The evil of Islamic terrorists will come to end. The evil of Washington, Wall Street and Hollywood will come to an end. The evil of the wicked will come to an end. The righteous God knows the hearts and minds of man. No one can fool God.
Jhn 8:21 , “Then He said again to them, “I go away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come.”
Note: The wicked will die in their sin. They cannot go to Heaven. They will go to Hell.
Hos 13:12 , “The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; His sin is stored up.”
Note: The iniquity of the wicked is bound up; his sin is stored up. The sins of the wicked are stored up for the wrath to come.
Mic 6:7, “Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams, In ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
Note: Even in the old dispensation you offer in thousands of rams and in ten thousand rives of oil, the Lord does not like the rebellious acts of the wicked or the sin of their soul.
Rom 7:20 , “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.”
Note: The sin dwells in the wicked do the wicked things.
Rom 7:23 , “But I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.”
Note: Sinners including the wicked are prisoners of the law of sin.
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.”
Note: At the end of the world, the angels will come forth to separate the wicked from among the righteous. The wicked cannot disguise themselves and have no place to hide. In the end the wicked will be forever separated from the righteous.
Num 9:13 ,‘But the man who is clean and is not on a journey, and yet neglects to observe the Passover, that person shall then be cut off from his people, for he did not present the offering of the LORD at its appointed time. That man will bear his sin.”
Note: In the past the man who neglected to observe the Passover would be cut off. Today whoever neglects the salvation of God will go to Hell.
Job 10:6 , “That You should seek for my guilt And search after my sin?”
Note: Who can stand when the Lord should seek for his guilt and search after his sin? No wicked will be able to stand before God.
Job 10:14, “If I sin, then You would take note of me, And would not acquit me of my guilt.”
Note: The wicked have the wrong idea that when they sin, God would not take note of them. When they commit crime, God would acquit their guilt. God has taken note of all the war crimes, genocide, sex slavery, slave labor, germ warfare, chemical warfare, and atrocities committed by Japanese aggressors in World War II. God has taken note of all the war crimes, lies and killings committed by American leaders since the end of World War II to this present day. God has taken notice of American imperialists who prepare war of aggression against China and Russia. God also has taken notice of all the bombings and killings committed by Islamic terrorists.
Pro 11:5 , “The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.”
Note: The wicked will fall by his own wickedness. Some wicked nations think they have the largest quantities of weapons of mass destruction and so they are strong and invincible. The Word of God says the wicked will fall by their own wickedness. The Babylon had fallen. The Roman Empire had fallen. The British empire had fallen. The Japanese empire will fall. The American empire will fall. The Islamic State will fall.
IV. TURN FROM WICKED WAYS.
2Ch 7:14 , “and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Note: God in His mercy had provided the way of salvation. Even the wicked may repent and turn from their wicked ways. If the wicked repent and believe in Jesus Christ, their sins can be forgiven.
Isa 53:12, “Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.”
Note: The Son of God, the Savior of the world, poured our Himself to death for the sins of the world and He Himself bore the sins of many. The righteous are saved by grace through faith in the Lord. The Lord intercedes for His own and will save them to the end.
Psa 32:5 , “I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.”
Note: Sinners including the wicked may acknowledge their sin to God, and not to hide their iniquity. They can confess the transgressions to the Lord and ask forgiveness for the guilt of their sin. Repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.
Gal 3:22 , “But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”
Note: The Scripture has shut up everyone (including the wicked) under sin. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. There is no man who does not sin. But God has provided salvation in Christ Jesus to all who repent and believe. You are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Eze 33:19 ,“But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and practices justice and righteousness, he will live by them.”
Note: When the wicked turns from his wickedness and practices justice and righteousness, repents of his sins and believes in Jesus Christ, he can be saved.
1Jo 3:9 , “No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”
Note: The wicked practices sin and wickedness. Those who are born of God practice righteousness. Evilleaders have proven to be liars and killers and robbers and they practice wickedness. They falsely claim to be Christians.
V. GOD WILL PUNISH THE WICKED.
Psa 1:6 , “For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, Butthe way of the wicked will perish.”
Note: God will punish the wicked is as sure as God lives. The way of the wicked will perish is for sure. Hitler was an example. It is a matter of time. The Day of Judgment is at hand. The way of the wicked is not smart because it is the way of death and destruction.
Exo 34:7 , “Who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”
Note: God will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. God will punish the wicked. God has many ways to punish the wicked. God can visit the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to many generations. Is the clan of Kennedy an example? Another example, mother who has AIDS gives birth to child infected by AIDS. There are also diseases by heredity.
Exo 32:34 , “But go now, lead the people where I told you. Behold, My angel shall go before you; nevertheless in the day when I punish, I will punish them for their sin.”
Note: Be patient, saints. God will punish the wicked for their sins. God has set the day to punish the wicked. God may punish the wicked in their lifetime, if not surely after death. After death there is the judgment. Jesus Christ is with the saints until the end of the world.
Jhn 15:22 , “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.”
Note: There is no excuse for the sins and iniquities of the wicked. God has spoken through the Bible. God has spoken through Jesus Christ and prophets and apostles. There is no excuse for any sinner or the wicked.
Pro 11:10 , “When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.”
Note: It will go well with the righteous. The righteous will go well no matter how terrible is the world. The righteous will have hope for the second coming of Jesus Christ and to reign with the Lord. When the Day of Judgment comes, the wicked will perish and go to Hell forever and ever.
1Co 15:56 , “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.”
Note: The sting of death will finally sting the wicked. In Hell the wicked will suffer eternal punishment with body and soul.
Rom 5:12 , “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—
Note: Through Adam sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all have sinned. Through Jesus Christ salvation enters into the world. All who repent and believe in Jesus Christ may receive the eternal life in Heaven.
Rom 6:12 , “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts.”
Note: Sin reigns in the mortal body of the wicked so that they obey its lusts. This is the etiology of sin and lusts.
Rom 6:14 , “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”
Note: All sinners including the wicked are mastered and enslaved by sin. The righteous are under grace. Those under law are cursed.
Rom 7:11, “For sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”
Note: Sins deceives the wicked sinners and kills them.
The wicked brags and is jealous and arrogant and domineering. The wicked acts unbecomingly, seeks its own interest, rejoices in unrighteousness. Why the wicked do wicked? The wicked do wicked just because they are wicked. Bad trees bear bad fruits. It is simple as that although its ramifications and consequences are not simple. The children of God can rest in the hands of God.
Psa 46:1-11, “For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah, set to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea.
Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted.
The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has wrought desolations in the earth.
He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire.
Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. “
Now you have learned a lot about the wicked and why. It is hoped you will not choose the wicked way, the way of death and destruction.
American and European leaders and politicians may escape the International Criminal Court of Justice, they surely cannot escape the Supreme Court of Heaven. No one is exempt from the judgment of God, be it president, prime minister, king, queen, general, strategist.
Let the wicked turn away from their wicked way, repent and live!
Will you repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior so that you may be saved?
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 80th 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.
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This article is written to let you know the Christian Faith is unlike the different faiths in the world. This is the Christian Manifesto that declares to the world, Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There is no other.
Many are confused about what “faith” is. Even many church members cannot differentiate what is “faith” and what is “the Faith“. This article is written so that you not only know what “faith” is, you have faith in God, and believe the Christian Faith with all your heart and mind.
Faith is the first important thing of the three great things which remain, namely: Faith, Love, Hope. People speak loosely about “faith” and “the faith” because many do not understand and confuse between “faith” and “the faith”. Even among church members, they do not have a clear conception of faith and the faith. Keep in mind we speak of the faith, not the faiths. In this article we are not interested in other faiths. There are other faiths than the Christian faith, other religions than the Christian religion. However, we focus here on “faith” and the “Christian faith” only. They have different meanings although they are very closely related. The first term “faith” refers to one’s belief and attitude toward God and the Savior. The second term “the Faith” refers to the whole body of the Christian belief, the dogmas and doctrines as taught by Jesus Christ and through His apostles. Henceforth, “faith” in small letter means your or my “personal faith” in God or Christ WHOM we trust. The “Faith” in capital letter means the “common faith” of all believers of all generations believe WHAT to be in the body of the Christian belief as it is written in the Holy Bible and handed down from Jesus Christ and the holy Apostles.
“And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God.”
Note: Faith in Greek is pistiswhich means assurance; belief; fidelity; conviction of the truth; conviction of God and divine things; trust; belief that Jesus is the Messiah; the Christian beliefs; faithfulness; persuasion; moral conviction of the truthfulness of God; reliance upon Christ for salvation; the system of the Gospel truth itself; belief and truth in God; – which occurs 243 times in the New Testament.
Faith is synonymous with belief, the act of believing. Faith is not a proposition. Faith is not a theological system. Faith is personal and individual act from the heart. To have faith in someone is to believe in someone. Faith is to have faith means to believe, to believe means to put your trust in someone. Faith is in “Whom” you believe. Have faith in God means to put your trust in God. The Faith is ‘What’ you believe. The Faith is common and collective. The “Faith” is the Christian Faith what all Christians of all ages believe as it is written in the Holy Bible, and nothing else. To prevent confusion, in this article your “personal faith” in Christ or God, “faith” is used in small letter. The whole body of what all Christians believe collectively, the body of truth believed is called the Faith, the “common faith” of what we all believe is the “Faith” in capital letter.
Faith in Christ is not superstition, although all other religious faiths are superstition. Christianity is not superstition. Faith is not religion, religion does not save anyone.Faith in Christ is a saving grace. If a rustic believes in Jesus Christ, he will be saved. If an intellectual believes in a false god, he will perish. So it is not faith that saves you, it is the faith in the Savior who saves you from eternal death.Jesus rose from the death by the power of God is not superstition. When you believe in something which is historically true, it is not superstition. If you believe in something which is not true, your faith is worthless. Faith in all religions is worthless and useless.
Act 25:19, “But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.”
Note: Superstition in Greek is deisidaimonia which means fear of the gods; false belief about gods; an irrational abject attitude of mind; irrational belief or practice; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. There are many superstitions in Chinese culture, one example is the welcome of the god of wealth during Chinese New Year; and the use of firecrackersto chase away evil spirits. Another is the upside down character of ‘blessing’ to bring blessing.
Faith is not tradition. Roman Catholic Church is full of un-scriptural traditions. Mat 15:3, “And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?” Pharisees and scribes of Judaism often violated the commandment of God for the sake of their tradition.
There is nothing parallel to Christianity. Christianity is the true religion that does not depend or require so-and-so to make declaration. Christianity does not need any country, government, institution, or individual to validate or recognize it. There is no such a thing called ‘Christian Protestantism’. Protestantism is simply an attempt to return to the original Christianity established by Jesus Christ and the Apostles. If there is such a thing called un-Christian Protestantism, it has nothing to do with the the great Reformation started by Martin Luther to expose the apostate Roman Catholic Church. There is no such a thing called ‘Reformed Christianity’, there is only one Biblical Christianity. There is no Christendom. There is no Christian nation on earth. There is no Christian nationalism.
When we talk about faith and the Faith in Christ, it has nothing to do with the universality of religion among all races at all times. It is the fancy and baloney talk of unbelieving theologians that God is continuously wrestling with man. It is blasphemous to suggest that God is wrestling with Himself. Among Christians the Bible is the only and sole authority. There is no church or human or papal infallibility. Christians reject any ideology, scientific or philosophic, pretending to be authority. It is not narrow or arbitrary, the Word of God is the only and final and supreme and ultimate authority.
Act 11:1, “Now the apostles and the brethren who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the Word of God.”
Note: Faith is not a venture of the soul, it is full acceptance of the Word of God. There is no such a thing called unconscious faith, faith is constantly conscious of humbly taking God at His Word and obey Him.
The character of faith is not propaedeutic, it is receiving the Word like the simplicity of a child. Jhn 1:40-41, “One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ).” Andrew heard John the Baptist speak about Jesus and followed Jesus. Andrew found first his own brother Peter and said to him, “We have found the Messiah.”
Faith is not speculative. When two blind men sitting by the road that Jesus was passing by; they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” And Jesus stopped and said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” Mat 20:33, “They said to Him, “Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.”There is nothing speculative about what the two blind men want, they want their eyes to be opened.
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.”
Note: The faith which you have (personal faith) is your own conviction before God. If what you approve does not condemn you, happy are you.
Rom 4:16, “For this reason it isby faith, in order that it may bein 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: Faith is in accordance with grace, it has nothing to do with your efforts, works or merit. The promise of faith is guaranteed to all the descendants of Abraham and to all who believe.
Act 3:16, “And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.”
Note: Perter healed a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb on the basis of the lame’s faith in the name of Jesus Christ. This is an exact example of what faith is. The lame from his mother’s womb had faith in Jesus Christ and he was given the perfect health. The lame was healed on the basis of his faith in Jesus. Faith in Greek is pistiswhich means firm belief; fidelity; a conviction of the truth; trust in God or Christ; belief that Jesus is the Messiah; reliance upon Christ for salvation; – which occurs 234 times in the New Testament.
Sometimes in the Bible, even though it says the faith, it does not mean the body of Christian belief, in the context as your own conviction or trust in God. To prevent confusion, henceforth I use personal faith in God or Christ as faith in small letter, but referring the body of the Christian Faith in capital letter. For example, 2Co 13:5, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?” Here it hits the nail in the head. Christians must not only believe in the dogmas and doctrines of Jesus Christ, you must test and examine yourself from time to time to see whether you have faith in Christ, whether Christ is in you. You can have all the theological knowledge of the Christian Faith, but Christ is not in your heart. That is the problem of unbelieving theologians who do not have Christ and the Holy Spirit.
1Ti 4:1, “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the Faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.”
Note: The Spirit explicitly says that in later times (which is now) some will fall away from the Faith. You see not a few theologians and false preachers have fallen away from the Faith, although they may call themselves modernists or evangelicals. Anyone who pays attention to deceitful spirits and doctrine of demons has fallen away from the Faith. An anti-christ is he who denies the divinity of Jesus Christ. He who rejects the infallibility and inspiration of the Holy Bible and the divinity of Jesus Christ has fallen away from the Faith.
1Ti 5:8, “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the Faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
Note: If anyone claims to be a Christian but does not provide for his own household, he has denied the Faith and is worse than an unbeliever. A person who has denied the Faith is worse than an unbeliever. This is a definitive statement, there is no doubt or confusion about it. So all men who desert their wives are worse than unbelievers. All fathers who abandon their children are worse than unbelievers. It is possible for a so-called believer to deny the Faith by his mouth. It is also possible for a so-called believer to deny the Faith by her disobedience to the Faith. Some Taiwanese politicians who claim to be Christians, and yet they publicly burn incense and worship idols. These Taiwanese so-called believers have denied the Faith. They are false brothers, not genuine Christians; and they are worse than unbelievers. Many American and European leaders and politicians claim and pretend to be Christians, and yet deny the Faith by lying, killing, and robbing many nations and peoples in the world. Imperialism is not compatible with Christianity. Capitalism is not compatible with Christianity. White supremacy is not compatible with Christianity. The West has practiced a false version of Christianity for a long, long time. Corrupt, fraudulent and greedy doctors, dentists and hospital owners who claim to be Christians, their predatory practices are not compatible with Christianity.
1Ti 6:10, “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.”
Note: This is most serious. Almost all know that the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil. The love of money can make you wander away from the Faith. Just as Jesus says, Mar 4:19, “but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful.” The deceitfulness of riches, the love of money and other things can choke the Word of God so that people hear the Gospel and become unfruitful.
2Ti 2:18, “men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the Faith of some.”
Note: There are unbelieving preachers and church members who go astray from the truth because they do not believe in the resurrection, and they upset the Faith of some. Christians should stick to the Faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.
2Ti 3:8, “Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the Faith.”
Note: Just as in the ancient time Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, nowadays the liars and impostors also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the Faith. In fact, all the works of secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and scholars are intended to oppose the Christian Faith. God says they are men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the Faith. Depraved in Greek is kataphtheirō which means corrupt; to perish utterly; to spoil entirely; to destroy; to be perverted; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. A depraved mind is a corrupt and perverted mind. Secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and scholars may think they have brilliant mind; but God says they are men of depraved mind, corrupt and perverted because they oppose the truth.
It is wrong to say that Martin Luther agreed with the Catholic outlook far more than he differed from it. This is a revisionist view of the great Reformation. The Roman Catholic Church had strayed so far away from the Biblical Faith, that it must be considered as another religion, another Faith, strange from Christianity. It is not what Luther accepted or not accepted that matters, it is the Faith that all believers from the beginning had accepted and believed that matters. It is what the Word of God says that matters. Protestantism is nothing but a total return to the original Christianity, and the written Word of God (the Holy Bible) as the sole and final and ultimate authority of the Faith.
1Co 13:13, “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
Note: There are three most important things abide in this world. They are faith, hope, and love. To unbelievers, they are money, power, and sex. To Christians they are faith, hope, and love. Faith is the first and foremost; without faith, there cannot be hope and love. Faith and hope are necessary on earth, in Heaven it will be love forever. Love is the greatest, for God is love.
1Ti 1:5, “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
Note: The goal of every true servant of Christ is that our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Sincere faith is honest, pure and true faith without ulterior mo
I. FAITH
The common and important question: What is faith? To give you a head start: you must know first that faith is personal. Whether you believe in God or not is a personal matter. It is not transferable. You and your household can have faith in God, but each of you must believe in God personally. Faith is individually accomplished. Believing in God is personal just like eating a meal is personal. No one can eat for you. Just as you cannot eat for someone else, so you cannot believe for someone else. You can only believe for yourself. No one can believe on your behalf. Faith is a trusting and personal relationship with God or Christ. If you want to be saved, you must have faith in Christ and have a personal relationship with Christ for your salvation, you as a sinner, and Christ as your Lord and Savior.
Mar 11:22, “And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God.”
Note: This is the command of Jesus Christ to all, “Have faith in God.” Have in Greek isechō which means to hold; to have possession of; to own; to possess; to keep; to lay hold of; – which occurs 651 times in the New Testament. Faith is receptive to God’s Word. Faith says yes to God. To have faith in God is to lay hold and trust in God. To have faith in God is to have possession of faith and reliance in God. To hold possession of faith is better than to have possession of the most expensive properties in the world in Hong Kong. There are many well organized terrorists trained, funded and supported by Western powers (2019) in the name of democracy and freedom and independence trying to possess Hong Kong because they want to possess the most expensive properties in the world and use Hong Kong as a money-making center and as a military base to destroy China. Have faith in God is not like to have faith in man, power, money, and nuclear weapons. Man, power, money, and nuclear umbrella will fail. God cannot and will not fail.
Heb 11:6, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”
Note: Without faith it is impossible to please God. To have faith is to be obedient to the Faith.
Follow faith does not mean playing fast and loose with the requirements of rational thought, the canons of logic or the canons of reason. Follow faith is not being intellectually dishonest. The mind of the flesh is spiritually dead. Rom 8:7-8, “because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” For example, what rational thought can explain miracles and wonders, the supernatural, and the power of God? What cannons of logic can explain the creation of the universe by God in six days? It is not possible for faith to adjust itself to human reasoning. Jesus says explicitly, Luk 18:27, “Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”Mar 10:27, “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” God is almighty and the greatest mystery before time and space in the universe, for God is Spirit and cannot be explained by rational thought. To unbelievers, God is not plausible. Science and philosophy cannot know or understand Spirit, it is beyond their range and sphere of ability. Secular academics and unbelieving theologians try to diminish and disparage, vitiate and vilify God so that they can create god in their own image. Their god is not the God Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient of the Bible. These unbelieving scientists and scholars prize themselves as the ‘intellectuals’ of the world, and they demand the thoughts and ways of God to be acceptable to them. In fact, the secular academics and unbelieving theologians do not want God, they make themselves gods. By their writings you can judge secularists, unbelieving scientists and theologians and philosophers are very hostile toward God, and they do not subject themselves to the sovereign rule of God. They want to overthrow God in order to set up their kingdom. The unbelieving philosophers treacherouslyhave the delusion to erect a temple of reason on sacred ground, and welcome the Man of Lawlessness to take his seat in this temple as the object of worship. They may call it a new religion, the One World Religion.
1Co 2:5, “so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.”
Note: There is nothing more clear than the Word of God. Faith is the act of believing, the Faith is the thing believed. Faith is personal, the Faith is common. Our faith in God does not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. For that reason, faith cannot rest on science or philosophy, the wisdom of men. Those who do not know the power of God would not believe. Science and philosophy the so-called reason rest on the wisdom of men, not on the power of God. Therefore, the wisdom of men is constantly in conflict with the power of God. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
2Th 2:13, “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”
Note: Believers are saved through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. Other faiths believe in lie or falsehood. Christianity is not superstition. Christianity is faith in the truth. Christians have faith in the truth, the truth of Christ. Faith in falsehood is useless.
(1). Meanings of faith in the Old Testament.
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: For the proud one, his soul is not right within him. Have you ever met secularists who are humble? The righteous will live by his faith. Faith is personal, the righteous will live by his faith in God. Faith in Hebrew is ’emuwnah which means moral fidelity; firmness; stability; verity; truthfulness; faithfulness; – which occurs 48 times in the Old Testament. The righteous will live by his faith in God.
Exo 4:5,“that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”
Note: Believe in Hebrew is ‘aman which means to trust; to have assurance; to stand fast; to confirm; to stand firm; to be certain; to sustain; to support; to lean on; to confide in; – which occurs 117 times in the Old Testament. To believe in the Lord is to trust the Lord, to lean on Him.
It is not the Jewish religion from which God has turned away His face. The Jewish religion was established by God through Moses. It was the rebellious and stubborn people that provoked the Lord to wrath. Deu 9:6-8, “Know, then, it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stubborn people.Remember, do not forget how you provoked the LORD your God to wrath in the wilderness; from the day that you left the land of Egypt until you arrived at this place, you have been rebellious against the LORD.Even at Horeb you provoked the LORD to wrath, and the LORD was so angry with you that He would have destroyed you.” Eze 18:30-32, “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct,” declares the Lord GOD. “Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you.Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel?For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord GOD. “Therefore, repent and live.” Even when the Messiah appeared on earth, the Jews wanted to kill Him. Jhn 5:18, “For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.” The Jews claimed to be 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.” During the early Church, Act 14:2, “But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren.”
Note: There was nothing wrong with the Jewish religion. What was wrong is the conduct of the sons of Israel, their transgressions, iniquity and evil deeds that provoked the Lord to wrath. The Lord wants the Jews to repent and live. For the Lord has no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies. The Jews did not know their own religion and wanted to kill Jesus Christ who is their Messiah. The Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the Christians.
Psa 119:66, “Teach me good discernment and knowledge, For I believe in Your commandments.”
Note: The word “believe” in this verse is the same original word in Exo 4:5. To believe in God is to believe in His commandments.
Isa 43:10, “You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “And My servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and believe Me And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me.”
Note: Believe in Hebrew in the verse cited above is the same believe in Psa 110:66. In things of the world including science, you know and believe. In things of God, you believe and know and understand. By human wisdom no one can know and understand God.
Psa 78:22, “Because they did not believe in God And did not trust in His salvation.”
Note: Believe in Hebrew in this verse is the same in original word in Isa 43:10.Trust in Hebrew is batach which means to have confidence; to hope; to be sure; to confide; to persuade to trust; – which occurs 129 times in the Old Testament. To believe and to trust are synonymous. To believe in God is to trust in His salvation.
Isa 50:10, “Who is among you that fears the LORD, That obeys the voice of His servant, That walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.”
Note: Trust in the original word here in this verse is the same original word in Isa 43:10. Rely in Hebrew is sha`an which means to rest on; to lean on; to rely; to trust in; to trust in God; to repose confidence in; – which occurs 23 times in the Old Testament. He who trusts in the name of the Lord also relies on God.
Pro 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Note: If you trust in the Lord with all your heart, then you do not lean on your own understanding. That is the problem of secularists and unbelieving scientists and philosophers who lean on their own understanding so-called reason or cannons of logic. Acknowledge in Hebrew is yada` which means to know; to consider; to understand; to declare; to find out and discern; to recognize; to admit; to confess; to be aware; to comprehend; to regard; to have respect; to see about; – which occurs 1,008 times in the Old Testament. Acknowledge God means to give cognition and recognition to God. Acknowledge God in all our ways and God will make our paths straight. The paths of unbelievers are crooked.
Psa 7:1, “A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning Cush, a Benjamite. O LORD my God, in You I have taken refuge; Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me.”
Note: David expressed his faith in God by saying, “O Lord my God, in You I have taken refuge.” To take refuge in Hebrew ischacah which means to trust; to have hope; to make a refuge; to seek refuge; to flee for protection; to confide in; to put trust; – which occurs 74 times in the Old Testament. So to believe in God is to have taken refuge in God. And also to believe God will deliver you and save you from all those who pursue you. More important, to save you from your sins.
Psa 118:8-9, “It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in man.It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in princes.”
Note: It is amusing that Korea and Japan complain that the American protection fees are too high for them, they ask for a discount. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man, than to to trust in princes, than to trust in the superpower, than to trust in nuclear umbrella. The Lord does not charge protection fees.
Psa 33:22, “Let Your lovingkindness, O LORD, be upon us, According as we have hoped in You.”
Note: To have hoped in God is to have faith in God, to trust God. There is no hope in this world, no matter who you are.
Psa 33:20, “Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.”
Note: To wait for the Lord is to have faith in Lord. Shield in Hebrew is magen which means buckler; protector; armed defense; – which occurs 63 times in the Old Testament. To wait for the Lord is to trust in the Lord. For God is our help and our shield. God is better than nuclear shield. There are foolish leaders of foolish nations who trust in nuclear shield. In a nuclear war they will perish with the their nuclear weapons and as well as their nuclear shield.
Deu 9:23, “When the LORD sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, ‘Go up and possess the land which I have given you,’ then you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God; you neither believed Him nor listened to His voice.”
Note: Believe in Hebrew is ‘aman which means to trust; to assure; to stand fast; to support; to confirm; to uphold; to be faithful; to make firm; to be certain; to turn to the right; to lean on; to confide in; – which occurs 117 times in the Old Testament. Listen in Hebrew is shama` which means to obey; to understand; to hearken; to give heed; to give ear; to attend to; – which occurs 1,169 times in the Old Testament. To believe God is to listen to His voice. To listen to the voice of God is to obey Him.
Gen 15:6, “Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.”
Note: Abraham believed in the Lord means Abraham put his trust completely to the Lord. Abraham did not count himself anything or worth anything before God. So God reckoned or counted his faith as righteousness. When you come to God, you must come as nobody. The problems of secularists are they think they are somebodies. Whoever comes to God must come to believe God is. God not only exists, God is the Self-Existent Eternal Almighty God, and God may reward a believer by grace. There is nothing between God and man, only a sincere faith can link man to God. On the basis of faith man begs God for mercy. That is the meaning, the righteous shall live by faith. The meaning of faith in the Old Testament is made on promise. The meaning of faith in the New Testament is based on the manifestation of truth in the person of Jesus Christ.
(2). Meanings of faith in the New Testament.
Heb 11:1, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Note: Faith in Greek is pistis which means firm belief; assurance; fidelity; conviction of the truth; conviction that God exists; a conviction of divine things; belief that Jesus is the Messiah; trust; confidence; persuasion; credence; moral conviction; reliance upon; – which occurs 243 times in the New Testament. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for. Assurance in Greek is hypostasis which means confidence; substance; foundation; that which has actual existence; essence; firm trust; – which occurs 5 times in the New Testament. Hope in Greek is elpizō which means to trust; to expect; to wait for; to want something to happen; – which occurs 36 times in the New Testament. Conviction in Greek is elegchos which means evidence; proof; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Faith involves at least 3 elements: firm trust or firm belief, things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. If you have faith in God, such faith involves at least 3 things: you believe in the actual existence of God, you hope God provides you salvation and eternal life; all these things are not seen yet, they are to happen in the future. Faith in not about the past, not even today, it focuses on tomorrow. No one hopes what he has seen. Here focuses on “personal faith” in God or Christ. The New Testament does not redefine faith, the New Testament clarifies faith in Christ.
Faith is the assurance that because of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for sinners, our sin is not to be held against us, that the divine wrath has been appeased through faith in the righteousness of Christ, and that with the grace ofOmnipotence on our side, we are now and forever safe.Without faith, there cannot be assurance. Without faith, there is no hope. Our assurance and hope come from our faith in Jesus Christ.
Deu 28:66, “So your life shall hang in doubt before you; and you will be in dread night and day, and shall have no assurance of your life.”
Job 24:22, “But He drags off the valiant by His power; He rises, but no one has assurance of life.”
Note: Death is certain, no one has assurance of his life. Your life shall hang in doubt before you. Man is in dread night and day. No one has assurance of life. The uncertainty of life and lacking assurance drive people to have faith in God. This is how a religion is born.
It is stupid and torpid to say because the moral degradation of all people becomes the occasion of God’s saving activity. It is like saying God is obligated to do saving activity because of man’s sin, it is like saying sinful men are doing God’s a favor, and prompted God to show His mercy. This mind set of the flesh puts God in a passive position and sinful man in the driving seat. It is like the Prodigal Son made the converse statement, “Father, although I have sinned, I am worthy to be called your son, worthy to have double honor.” God does not owe sinful men anything. No man is worthy of God’s mercy. Act 13:25, “And while John was completing his course, he kept saying, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold, one is coming after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.” John the Baptist said he is not worthy to untie the sandals of Jesus’ feet. Sinners are not worthy even to kiss the feet of the Lord. Rom 9:15-16, “For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”
It is wrong and incorrect to say Paul in his letter to the church in Rome variously described this salvation using the analogies of justification, redemption, reconciliation, and freedom. The limitation of language employs speaking in human terms. However, things divine are never analogies, they are more real than E=mc2. The process of salvation involves repentance, faith, regeneration, justification, redemption, reconciliation, sanctification, and glorification. There is a tendency for academics to use terms that may reflect favorably their mental acuity and spiritual superficiality, but cast a shadow of doubt on the Word of God.
Jde 1:20-21, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy Faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.”
Note: Christians build ourselves up on our most holy faith. The Christian Faith is the most holy Faith because it is faith in the love of God, and waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
THE PROCESS OF SALVATION:
(1). Repentance
Act 20:21, “solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Note: Repentance in Greek is metanoia which means a change of mind; compunction for guilt; reversal of one’s decision; shame for sin; – which occurs 22 times in the New Testament. Repentance is made toward God, turning from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God.
Luk 5:32, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
Note: Secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers are self-righteous, and so they would not repent. Jesus Christ has come to call sinners to repentance.
Act 26:20, “but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.”
Note: Repentance is not a slogan or talk. When a man repents and turns to God, he automatically performs deeds appropriate to repentance. Study the history of Zaccheus, Luk 19:1-10.
2Co 7:10, “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
Note: A man who truly repents of his sins will produce a sorrow leading to salvation. Without repentance there is no leading to salvation.
2Ti 2:25, “with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth.”
Note: Repentance leads to the knowledge of the truth. Those who do not want to repent will not have the knowledge of the truth. This is exactly the problem of secularists and unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers. That is why they do not have the knowledge of the truth.
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: The Lord is patient, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. God is waiting for you to repent.
(2). Faith
Act 20:21, “solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Note: Faith in Greek is pistis which means belief; assurance; fidelity; conviction of the truth; conviction that God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe; conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah; moral conviction; reliance on Christ for salvation; trust; – which occurs 243 times in the New Testament. Faith in itself does not save. Faith cannot save anyone. Faith in science cannot save you. Faith in philosophy cannot save you. Faith in religion cannot save you. Faith in anything cannot save you. Religion cannot save you. The most ludicrous are the Western nations who have faith in nuclear umbrella. They may realize their mistake in ashes too late. Faith in any man cannot save you. Repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only One who can save you.
Rom 1:5, “through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake.”
Note: Faith obeys God, it is called obedience of faith. Faith is impossible without action. Faith without action is dead. Obedience in Greek is hypakoē which means compliance; submission; observing the requirements of faith; attentive hearkening; conformity; – which occurs 15 times in the New Testament. Faith is perfected in obedience. Any true believer automatically obeys the Lord, obeys the truth, obeys the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. Faith without obedience is rebellion. Believe and be saved.
Gal 5:22, “And the fruit of the Spirit is: Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith,meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
Note: It is important to know that faith is a fruit of the Spirit. He who is full of faith is full of the Spirit. Remember, Stephen was a man full of faith and full of the Holy Spirit. (Act 6:5)
Mar 1:15, “and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.”
Note: Repent alone cannot save you, repent and believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ you will be saved.
Jhn 3:18, “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.”
Note: The good news is so simple that if you believe in the Son of God, you will not be judged. If you do not believe you have been judged already because you have not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Rom 10:9, “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Note: If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Those who have head knowledge of the Gospel are not saved. To be saved you need to believe the Lord Jesus in your heart.
(3). Regeneration
Tit 3:5, “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.”
Note: Regeneration in Greek is paliggenesia which means new birth; production of a new life; born again; spiritual renovation; internal change; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. By birth human nature is corrupt and depraved, by regeneration the Holy Spirit gives the believer a divine nature; or rather to participate in the divine nature. As Jesus says, Jhn 3:6, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. A born again Christian has the Spirit of Christ dwelling in him. Secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers do not have the Holy Spirit, so they will never have the knowledge of God. Once you have a new birth instantaneously you have a new life. Birth is once and instantaneous, life is continuous. New life in Christ is eternal life.
1Pe 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
Note: It is the Lord Jesus Christ who has caused believers to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Regeneration means to be born again, to have a new life in Christ.
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 Spirit of the Lord gives life. Science cannot give life. Philosophy cannot give life. Religion cannot give life. If you have the Spirit of Christ, then you belong to Christ.
(4). Justification
Rom 4:25, “He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.”
Note: Justification in Greek is dikaiōsis which means acquittal; the act of God declaring men free from guilt and acceptable to Him (Strong’s Concordance); adjudging to be righteous; counted as righteous; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead to justify us before God. The righteousness of Christ is imputed or credited to believers as the righteousness of God.
Rom 5:16, “The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification.”
Note: Justification is the free gift of God arose from transgressions to all who believe in Jesus Christ.
Rom 5:18, “So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.”
Note: The act of righteousness done by Jesus Christ has resulted justification of life to all men and women who believe in Jesus Christ.
(5). Redemption
Rom 3:24, “being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”
Note: Redemption in Greek is apolytrōsis which means deliverance; a releasing effected by payment of ransom; ransom in full; riddance; – which occurs 10 times in the New Testament. Where can you find redemption? The redemption is in Christ Jesus. Without Jesus Christ there is no redemption.
1Co 1:30, “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.”
Note: Jesus Christ became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.
Col 1:14, “in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Note: What is redemption? Redemption is the forgiveness of sins in Christ Jesus.
Eph 1:7, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”
Note: How redemption is accomplished? We have redemption in Christ Jesus through His blood. To obtain redemption, the forgiveness of sins, Jesus Christ died for our sins on the cross, the Just for the unjust. Jesus paid for our redemption with His precious blood.
Heb 9:15, “For this reason He is the Mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”
Note: What kind of redemption that Jesus accomplished? It is the redemption of the transgressions. Once the redemption of our transgressions is done, we have passed out of death into life and our soul is saved and may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Heb 9:12, “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.”
Note: How good is the redemption of Jesus Christ? It is eternal redemption, good for eternity. Once a believer is redeemed, she is redeemed for eternity.
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.”
Note: The redemption of our soul is done now while we are on earth. The redemption of our body will take place when Jesus Christ returns to judge the living and the dead and reign with the saints. Our natural body will be transformed into spiritual, glorious and immortal body. 1Co 15:42-44, “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishablebody;it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” The Christian body in the future is spiritual, glorious and eternal or immortal.
(6). Reconciliation
Rom 5:11, “And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”
Note: Why do we need reconciliation? Sinners are enemies of God. Reconciliation in Greek is katallagēwhich means atonement;restoration of the favor of God to sinners that repent and put their trust in the expiatory death of Christ (Strong’s Concordance); exchange; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. Through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for sinners we have now received the reconciliation. We have made peace with God by the blood of Jesus.
2Co 5:18-19, “Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the Word of reconciliation.”
Note: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Word of reconciliation. God reconciled us believers to Himself through Christ. God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting our trespasses against us.
(7). Sanctification
Rom 6:22, “But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.”
Note: Sanctification in Greek is hagiasmos which means holiness; purification; consecration; – which occurs 11 times in the New Testament. The suffering and death of Jesus Christ resulted in sanctification of believers. Believers have been freed from sin and enslaved to God. The outcome of sanctification is eternal life.
Rom 6:19, “I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.”
Note: Sanctification has two meanings: positional and conditional. Believers freed from sin is sanctified by the Holy Spirit in Christ which is positional sanctification once and for all. Conditional sanctification is the will of God that we abstain from sexual immorality, and live daily a life or purity in faith and in the truth. Our position in Christ in perfect, our condition in the world is not. We need to be sanctified daily and progressively.
1Th 4:3, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality.”
Note: Sanctification is the will of God. Christians abstain from sexual immorality. Homosexuality and same-sex marriage is sexual immorality. Fornication and adultery are also sexual immorality.
1Th 4:7, “For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.”
Note: Impurity is the opposite of sanctification.
2Th 2:13, “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”
Heb 12:14, “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.”
Note: Christians pursue peace and purity in hope of the second coming of Jesus Christ, for without sanctification no one will see the Lord.
(8). Glorification
1Co 2:7, “But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God decreed before the ages for our glorification.”
Note: Glorification in Greek is doxawhich means honor; praise; dignity; glory; splendor; brightness; magnificence; excellence; preeminence; dignity; grace; majesty; a most glorious and exalted state; the glorious condition of blessedness; exaltation; – which occurs 168 times in the New Testament.
The last stage of salvation is culminated in the glorification of believers when Jesus Christ returns to share glory with saints, and reign with saints in the Kingdom of Heaven, forever and ever.
Rom 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Note: Christians do not have glory in this world. The children of the ruler of this world have all the power, wealth, and glory. The sufferings which Christians share with Christ of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. The glory to be revealed at the second coming of Jesus Christ in great power and glory.
Rev 14:7, “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: An angel said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory.” The hour is coming when the judgment of God has come. All the world must worship God who made the Heaven and the earth.
The Word of God (the Old Testament and the New Testament) is not defined or influenced by the uniqueness of historical and cultural setting. The continuity of the Old Testament and the New Testament is summed up in the person of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament is the shadow of things to come, the New Testament is the substance that grace and truth have come. The Old Testament is fulfilled in the New Testament just as the Messiah has fulfilled the Messianicprophecies.The unity of the Holy Scriptures is the central revelation of Jesus Christ. The central message of the revelation is that Jesus Christ, the time is fulfilled in the Son of God, who is the Way to God.
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.”
Note: A true knowledge of God’s mystery comes from the personal knowledge of Jesus Christ. All the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding springs from the Spirit of Christ so that our hearts may be encouraged and having been knit together in love. Unbelievers do not have a true knowledge of God’s mystery.
Heb 3:14, “For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end.”
Note: Born again believers have become partakers of Christ, by faith we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, until the Lord comes.
Heb 6:11, “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end.”
Note: Partakers of Christ need to apply all diligence,not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord so as to realize the full assurance of the blessed hope until the Lord returns.
Heb 10:22, “let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Note: Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience, cleansing our hearts by faith, and leading to the obedience of faith. Faith without obedience is like a tree without fruit.
(3). The New Testament describes the nature of personal (individual) faith, various sizes of faith, and various degree and quality.
(A). Little 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: Little faith in Greek is oligopistos which means trusting too little; lacking confidence; – which occurs 13 times in the New Testament. Little faith is bad.
(B). Great faith.
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: Great in Greek is tosoutos which means so much; as large; so vast as this; – which occurs 40 times in the New Testament. Great faith is good.
Mat 15:28, “Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once.”
Note: Great here in Greek is megas which means huge; loud; great mass and weight; abundant; mighty; strong; powerful; eminent; excellent; splendid; grand; preeminent; stately; distinguished; something higher, more exalted, more majestic; notable; – which occurs 256 times in the New Testament. In the sight of Christ, megas faith is greater than tosoutos faith.
(C). Size of a mustard seed.
Mat 17:20, “And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.”
Note: Mustard in Greek issinapi which means “the name of a plant which in oriental countries grows from a very small seed and attains to the height of a tree, 10 feet (3 m) and more; hence a very small quantity of a thing is likened to a mustard seed, and also a thing which grows to a remarkable size” (Strong’s Concordance); – which occurs 5 times in the New Testament. Apparently and sadly, almost all believers (including me) do not even have faith the size of a mustard seed.
(D). Faith can be seen.
Mar 2:5, “And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Note: Jesus Christ can see the faith of the four men who carried the paralytic, they removed the roof above Christ, and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. I do not have the gift of seeing the faith of others. I do not know anyone who has the gift to see the faith of others. Jesus Christ sees your faith.
(E). No faith.
Mar 4:40, “And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
Note: It is clear those who still have no faith will be afraid. No faith can never be introduced into grace. No faith is unbelief. Unbelief is evil.
(F). Great confidence in the Faith.
1Ti 3:13, “For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the Faith that is in Christ Jesus.”
Note: Faith varies in quality and quantity. Those who have served well in Christ obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the Faith that is in Christ Jesus. For example, 2Ti 4:8, “in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” Apostle Paul has great confidence that in the future there is laid up for him the crown of righteousness. Not all believers have such great confidence. I never consider myself having a high standing in the Kingdom of God. I am most thankful just being a member of God’s household, a lowly servant. Jas 1:12, “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” I met a man of God in China just one year before his death, Wang Ming Tao, who suffered in prison for many years. I believe he will also receive the crown of life.
(4). Blessings of true faith in 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.”
Note: A personal faith in Christ attains the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself.
Heb 3:14, “For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end.”
Note: True faith in Christ makes one a partaker of Christ. Believers must hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the coming again of Jesus Christ.
Heb 6:11, “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end.”
Note: Believers must show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end. True faith does not give up in the middle. True faith does not go half way, but to the end.
Heb 10:22, “let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Note: You can have full assurance of faith only with a sincere heart. With a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, children of God may draw near to God, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and out bodies washed with pure water.
Phl 1:25, “Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith.”
Note: It is normal for a Christian to have progress and joy in the faith, in the Christian life by faith.
II. FAITH IS PERSONAL
Faith is personal or individual means each man has to have faith in God personally like the same you eat food or drink personally. Faith is the act of believing. Just as no one can eat food or drink for you, so no one can believe on your behalf. Your parents cannot believe on your behalf. You spouse can not have faith on your behalf. Your sibling cannot believe on your behalf. No one can believe for you, you have to believe yourself and for yourself. The Bible is full of heroes of faith, here we selectively pick some giants of faith in the Hall of Fame of Faith described in Hebrews Chapter 11.
Mat 9:22, “But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” At once the woman was made well.”
Note: There is no doubt what God can do. But the power of God applies only to those who believe. Only by faith can a believer appropriates the power of God. Jesus heals the woman because she has faith in Him. So Jesus said to her, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” Faith is personal or individual and the outcome of faith is also personal.
Mat 21:21, “And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.”
Note: To have faith is not to doubt. When you doubt, you do not have faith. Faith and doubt cannot and do not coexist.
Mat 14:25-32, “And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea.When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”When they got into the boat, the wind stopped.”
A real story cited above can be used to illustrate what faith is. Jesus was walking on the sea. Peter asked the Lord to grant him walking on the sea to Him. Peter was afraid seeing the wind and wave, as he began sinking he cried out, “Lord, save me!” The Lord stretched out His hand to Peter. Faith is a spiritual act, and indeed the most important of all such acts, for our fate depends on it. Faith is personal, like the sinking Peter letting Jesus stretched out Hand to take hold of him. (Mat 14:31)1Ti 6:19, “storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.” Faith is taking hold of that which is life indeed.
Mar 4:40, “And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
Note: If you are afraid, you do not have faith. If you have faith, you are not afraid.
Jhn 9:38, “And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him.
Note: The correct attitude is like theman blind from birth who says, “Lord, I believe.” Lord, I believe and I worship Jesus Christ.
You maybe a pure Barthian and not a Christian. By the same token you can be a Calvinist or a Lutheran and not a Christian. A Christian does not need to be a Barthian or Lutheran or Calvinist or anything else. Once I met a young student nurse at a Lutheran hospital, she said she was a Lutheran, but not a Christian. If Luther were alive, hearing this statement would certainly infuriate him. A Christian is not anything else but a believer, disciple, and follower of Jesus Christ. It is not of pagan origin. 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.” It is strange and the noun ‘Christian’ is misused particularly by the white race. Those who are born in Europe or America automatically think or consider themselves Christians. There are quite a few Chinese in Shanghai who wear the cross necklace as a fashion but they are not Christians.
Luk 22:32, “but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
Note: The Lord prayed for Peter that his faith may not fail. Although Peter denied the Lord three times, he turned again and served the Lord to his death. Judas the betrayer is different, for Judas from the beginning did not believe. God help us so that our faith may not fail.
1Th 1:3, “constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father.”
Note: Bear in mind, whatever Christians work is the work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father.
Heroes of faith are examples of faith; examples of faith are those who are worthy of our imitation and admiration listed as follows:
(1). Abel
Gen 4:1-17, “Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a manchild with the help of the LORD.”Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was akeeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground.Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering;but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?“ If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground.Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth.”Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is too great to bear!Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” So the LORD said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” And the LORD appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one finding him would slay him. Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.Cain had relations with his wife and she conceived, and gave birth to Enoch; and he built a city, and called the name of the city Enoch, after the name of his son.”
Note: Cain in Hebrew is Qayin which means possession; – which occurs 19 times in the Old Testament. Abel in Hebrew is Hebel which means breath; something vain and empty; exhalation; vapor; mist; darkness; shortness of life; – which occurs 8 times in the Old Testament. Abel is the second son of Adam and Eve. Why did Adam and Eve give Abel a good man with a bad name? Some grandparents or parents who give a bad nickname to their descendant may have a negative impact on her life. Just see how wrong were Adam and Eve. They thought they got a possession in Cain which turned out to be a murderer, the first fratricide in the history of mankind. They called Abel the first righteous man breath, short life like a vapor. A good man may have a bad name, a bad man may have a good name. You cannot know a man just by his name. But from the beginning, God separates two groups of people: The unrighteous like Cain on the left, the righteous like Abel on the right.
The Scriptures cited above provide the background history of Abel and his brother Cain. Cain is the archetype of the wicked. Cain is the first (human) murderer, the first fratricide, the first (human) liar, the first hypocrite or pretender, the first angry man, the first vagrant and wanderer on the earth. The way of Cain is the way of murder and lie. Western colonialists, imperialists, militarists, capitalists, warmongers, terrorists, Western media and Islamic terrorists are the descendants of Cain. Cain was the first murderer who complained death penalty was too great to bear. Cain never repented of his sin, never expressed regret or remorse for killing his own brother. Cain was a professional liar who denied what he had done and pretended ignorance. Cain covered himself with hypocrisy and jealousy. Cain did nothing to seek the righteousness of God. Western leaders and Western media are descendants of Cain, they lie, lie, and lie; kill, kill, and kill; rob, rob, and rob even to these days. Abel was the first victim of murder, the first righteous man who suffers. It is false to say when Cain suddenly struck Abel down, dying Abel took all the blame on himself. Unbelieving secularists have the habit of adding to the Word of God and also subtracting. From the beginning, the history of mankind is the history of the righteous suffering under the hands of the wicked to this day.
Heb 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: What does it mean that “By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain”? Although the Bible does not explain its meaning. In all probability, Abel by faith offered to God a better sacrifice because a lamb was slain signifying shedding of blood to atone for his sin, and Abel had a better attitude and manner toward God. While Cain offered the fruit of the ground which had been cursed, and probably Cain had an arrogant attitude displaying his work, not by faith. Why did Cain kill Abel? I believe it is more than just jealousy. Cain is evil, evil is a mystery. 1Sa 24:13, “As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you.” The heart of Cain inclined toward wickedness, with the leaven of malice and wickedness Cain killed his brother, and apparently took pleasure in wickedness. Cain asked God for more lenient punishment, but he did not express his regret and remorse, and much less repentance. Wickedness is as mysterious as the devil. In comparison, Abel was the first man to worship God in a way that pleased God by faith. Sadly, Abel was also the first man to be murdered, the first victim of fratricide. This depicts the depravity of humanity. Even today Western leaders and warmongers still lie, kill, and rob other human beings for the last 500 years. Though Abel is dead, he still speaks means the righteousness of the righteous will live on and speak. The wickedness of the wicked will stink for a thousand years and rot in Hell.
Clearly the occupation of Cain as a a tiller of the ground (farmer) has nothing to do with his wickedness. The view of the superiority of the pastoral over the agricultural occupation is unfounded. In fact, when I was a child the best human being I had ever met was a farmer who was a total stranger. We happened to wander to his farm house, and he treated us with boiling fresh peanuts which I have never tasted more delicious ever since. However, some occupations do influence and incline to do evil such as executives of Washington, Wall Street, Hollywood, military-industrial-security complex, and Islamic terrorists. You will not find a righteous prostitute except Rahab. Heb 11:31, “By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.” By experience I have found additionally those who are in finance, treasury, banking, medicine, hospital, drug, insurance, funds management, stocks and bonds, government, charity, foundation; etc. are more greedy than ordinary people. Any honest job is more honorable than the richest and most powerful crooks in the world. When I was working in hospital, janitors were friendly to me because I told them their jobs are so important. You know how terrible it could be if the floor is slippery and patients fall and injure themselves. The following Scripture gives a summary comment on Cain. 1Jo 3:12, “not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.” The Scripture says Cain was of the evil one, it means Cain was of the devil. Cain’s deeds were evil. It looks like the conflict of good and evil will continue until the end of the world. Are you on the wrong side, on the side with the devil? The most shocking happening in the last days is American and Western leaders and Western media that call good evil, and evil good, killing and destroying and robbing under false pretenses, constantly and continuously making fake news, fake reports, and spread lies and wrong views in the world without shame. They have gone the way of Cain. I reject the idea that Cain is a type of the Jew. Just as Abel is the type of the righteous, Cain is the type of the wicked. Cain and Abel were not twins.
Heb 12:24, “and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.”
Note: Jesus the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the Mediator of a new covenant, whose blood speaks better than the blood of Abel. The blood of Abel was innocent, but the blood of Jesus is precious. The precious blood of Christ not only can cleanse the sins of believers, also make propitiation for the sins of the people, bring us near to God, release us from our sins, and cleanse our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
Abel was was akeeper of flocks or a shepherd. It is wrong to believe being a shepherd would automatically make a man righteous. Although a shepherd reflects nicely Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd and the Chief Shepherd. Even a king is viewed as a shepherd of a nation. Significantly, Jesus calls Abel the righteous. Mat 23:35, “so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.” The blood of Abel was shed by his own brother. What a sad tragedy. The amazing thing about the blood of Abel is the fact the voice of Abel’s blood was crying to God from the ground. Millions of innocent blood around the world killed by American presidents and congressional leaders since the end of World War II to the present must be crying out aloud to God. Thirty five millions of the innocent blood of Chinese killed by Japanese militarists in 14 years of the war of Japanese aggression must be crying out aloud from the ground to God. How many thousands of the innocent blood killed by Islamic terrorists to this day must be crying out aloud to God. Abel was the first martyr.Second most amazing thing is the fact, through faith, though Abel is dead, he still speaks. The Bible does not explain what Abel still speaks about. I believe Abel speaks by his act of faith. If you want to please God, you must offer to God a better sacrifice by faith. Your attitude toward God is important. God will judge the wicked. Vengeance belongs to God. No one can escape the wrath of God.
Academics are guilty of pride in pretending what they really do not know. It is pseudo scholarship to say that Abel was killed about the year of the world, 130. It was the folly of another scholar who counted the world was created 6,000 years ago. A little knowledge spoils and soils the truth.
(2). Enoch
The Bible speaks very little about Enoch. However, the following is a list of facts about Enoch:
(A). Oldest son of Cain (Gen 4:17, “Cain had relations with his wife and she conceived, and gave birth to Enoch; and he built a city, and called the name of the city Enoch, after the name of his son.”
(C). Father of Methuselah (Gen 5:21, “Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah.”
(D). Walked with God 300 years (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.”
(E). Lived 365 years (Gen 5:23, “So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.”
(F). God took Enoch (Gen 5:24, “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” Heb 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.”
(G). Pleasing to God (Heb 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.”
(H). Prophesied second coming of Christ (Jde 1:14-15, “It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones,to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”
Note: Enoch is known as the man who walked with God. What does it mean to walk with God? Could it be a literal walk? If it is a literal walk, how could it be done, how can Enoch walk in steps with God? How can Enoch walk with God 300 years, what did he do for a living, did he not have to eat, drink and sleep? I believe it was not literally walking with God. I believe it means Enoch had perfect fellowship with God and obedience to God, the daily actions of Enoch were upright, conducting himself in a manner worthy of God, conducting himself with wisdom, conducting himself honorably in all things, conducting himself in the fear of God, to be in holy conduct and godliness,pleasing God by doing His will. How interesting and fascinating that Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death. Enoch was not a legend of any kind, he was a Biblical history. I dislike some academics who habitually exaggerate human tradition and making parallel with other nations and civilizations. The so-called Book of Enoch is not a part of the Holy Bible, and there is no need to quote it or use it as a reference. It is fatally wrong to assert that certain legends, civilizations, customs, traditions, histories, ideologies, myths, mythologies, religions, etc. have exerted influence on the doctrines of the Bible. The Holy Bible is the Word of God, not influenced by anything or anyone any place any time. Any scholar who holds the Holy Bible (The Old Testament and the New Testament) is the influence or parallel or result of other outside sources is a false teacher, an antichrist, an agent of the devil. These false and facetious, incorrect and invalid assertions appear a great deal in the works of secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers. The Apocalyptic literature is not the Word of God.
(3). 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 ischrēmatizō 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 thewickedness 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 ischamacwhich 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 the United States of America. How insane is any government that makes guns available to crooks and criminals and terrorists!
(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 kibōtoswhich 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.
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 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, 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 reject also 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, 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.” 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.
(4). 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, not Hamas 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.”
(P). Circumcision 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 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, 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.
(5). 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 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 isḥerpâ 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 sothey hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms.”
Note: General speaking, parental favoritism may cause 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, 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.”
Perhaps it is better to keep your dream to yourself.
(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 great. 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 warmongers, militarists, imperialist, 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. 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. So 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 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.
(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. 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 ownoffenses.“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 youthwas 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.
(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 produceof 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. 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 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 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 Josephremembered 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. 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 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 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 hima 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 $2,000 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 wasmy 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. I worked my way the hard way through university to achieve the advanced degree in higher education. 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 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.
(6). 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, theboy 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.”
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 backso 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 noticeof 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.
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 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 typoswhich means ensample; 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 frogsmaking 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 heavyhail 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 Nixon at Yorba Linda, in Orange County, 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 isthe 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 theLORD 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 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.”
(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 theSon 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 theglory 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 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 astheHigh 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, satdown 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 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 comes 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 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 Chose 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 the universe.
(7). 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 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. YetGod 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 personsin 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 thembeing 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 begangnashing 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 megachurches and they are invited to the White House. The preachers of truth and righteousness suffer nationalobscurity 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 voiceand 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 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 on killed by the Roman Catholic Church, Islam, and other heresies and forces of darkness and evil.
III. THE COMMON FAITH
As faith is individual or personal, so the common Faith refers to the Faith that all Christians of all generations have in common, accepting and believing in the body of Christian dogmas and doctrines deemed essential and fundamental to the Faith which was once for all handed down to the saints by Jesus Christ and the Apostles from the beginning as it is written in the New Testament.
Act 3:16,“And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the Faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.”
Note: The Faith which we believe comes through Jesus Christ, not from Augustine, Aquinas, Calvin, Erasmus, Barth or Kierkegaard, etc. The body of beliefs which all Christians believe from the beginning is the Faith, not Roman Catholic theology, black theology, natural theology, Eastern Orthodox theology, liberal theology, Calvinism, moral theology, polemic theology, liberation theology, feminist theology, not even Protestant theology. There is no Protestant theology, or Lutheran theology; Protestantism is only an attempt to return to the Bible and original Christianity. So the Christian Faith is based absolutely on the Biblical theology, that is as it is written in the New Testament.
All Christians of all generations accept and believe the body of Faith common to all as a whole, usually it summarized in a creed. When church leaders and believes accept some and reject other doctrines, they turn at best into denominations, and at worst they turn into cults and heresies. Some denominations practice over emphasizing some aspects of doctrines, while some de-emphasizing other doctrines. All persons mentioned in the Bible were historical figures, and all places mentioned in the Bible were real geographical places, and all events took place written in the Bible were real historical events. The Word of God is true, and worthy of all acceptance. Let God be true, and man a liar — particularly unbelieving scientists and theologians and philosophers.
It is wrong to say that Martin Luther agreed with the Catholic outlook far more than he differed from it. This is a revisionist view of the great Reformation. The Roman Catholic Church had strayed so far away from the Biblical Faith, that it can be considered as another religion, strange from Christianity. It is not what Luther accepted or not accepted that matters, it is the Faith that all believers from the beginning had believed that matters. It is what the Word of God says that matters. Protestantism is nothing but a total return to the original Christianity.
The secularists and unbelieving theologians without basis hypothesized that Paul got the Gospel from what was floating in the Jewish thought of his time; he adopted it because it balanced so naturally his theory of redemption. This is a lie comes right up from Hell to say the Gospel is so vague and universal sin is somewhat arbitrary. 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.” 2Co 4:3-4, “And even if our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 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.” The Gospel is neither vague nor veiled, only the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelieving, including secular academics, unbelieving scientists, theologians and philosophers. 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” 1Pe 1:9, “obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.” Peter testified to the same Gospel as Paul did. 1Jo 5:4-6, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.” Paul, Peter, John and all the apostles of Jesus Christ testified to the same definite Gospel truth in Christ without compromise or retreat.
Mar 12:24, “Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God?
Note: Regarding the Christian Faith, so many secular academics, theologians and philosophers are mistaken, because they do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God. Because they do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God, so they distort, misrepresent, misinterpret, and mislead people to their destruction. Believing the Scriptures is not deliberate ignorance or intellectual dishonesty. Heb 3:12-14, “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.” Secularists and unbelieving theologians are departing from the living God because of their evil heart of unbelief, hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. They have been deceived by the sin of vain glory, guilty at times of undue pride, and belief in themselves. Only Christians are partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. The devil’s scheme is to disrupt and destroy that confidence in the Scripture. Secularists and unbelieving philosophers and theologians have been catastrophically wrong in advocating their so-called science and reason that are retarding for centuries the advance of truth and integrity in the West. In the last 500 years or more the West, and later America, have done so much evil in the world under imperialism, colonialism, capitalism, militarism,white supremacism, and terrorism. The West and America worship money, power, and sex; not the God of Christianity.
Secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers demonstrate the indulgence of human pride and vanity of self-glorification. Reason is incompetent and incapable in the sphere of divine truth, and the knowledge of God. What is worst, they deliberately distort, misrepresent, and misinterpret the Word of God with their unbelief and bias, riddles and metaphors. Little they know that evil heart of unbelief will lead them to destruction and eternal death.
Tit 1:4, “To Titus, my true child in a common Faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.”
Note: If you have grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior, you are a child in the common 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: The Faith refers to the doctrines and dogmas given that which all saints must believe; it is what we believe, it is Christianity itself. Our common salvation is the result of our common Faith in Christ which was once for all handed down to the saints. The Common Faith is that we sinners are all saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God. Salvation is the gift of God, not because of our efforts or work or merit.
The authority of the Bible is final and infallible and incorruptible. This is the Scripture.Jhn 10:35, “If he called them gods, to whom the Word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken).” To be broken in Greek islyō which means to break up; to break down; to destroy; to dissolve; to put off; to dismiss; to annul; to subvert; to do away with; to deprive of authority; to overthrow; – which occurs 45 times in the New Testament. The Scripture cannot be dismissed or subverted or overthrown.
The Word of God does not depend on the interpretation of so-called reputable authorities. No man or institution can claim to be the reputable authority of the Bible. There are no reputable interpreters of the Bible. The Bible interprets and explains itself in the light of the Holy Spirit. Luk 11:34-36, “The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness.Then watch out that the light in you is not darkness.If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no dark part in it, it will be wholly illumined, as when the lamp illumines you with its rays.”Eph 1:17-19, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you theSpirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.I pray thatthe 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.” This is the truth of Christ. What Christians need is not any so-called reputable theologian or so-called authority to interpret the Bible. To have the knowledge of God, we need the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation, and 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.
1Ti 5:8, “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the Faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
Note: If anyone claims to be a Christian and does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the Faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Here the Faith refers to Christianity, the Christian Faith. To believe in the Faith, you must act according to the Faith. Faith must express itself obedient to the Faith.
Rev 13:10, “If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the Faith of the saints.”
Note: To be destined is to be appointed by God. What God has destined, no one can escape. Destiny is an interesting concept. Let secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers ponder whether there is such a thing called destiny. In reality can anyone escape from his destiny? Has anyone ever avoided his destiny? There is a conceptual problem, if God destines or appoints, who can oppose the power of God? If God destines, where there is the free will? Can anyone decide or determine his own destiny? According to the Scripture, how a man dies is destined. If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the Faith of the saints. To the unbelievers they have no hope. For the saints require perseverance and the Faith. We put our faith and our destiny in the Lord’s hand, whatever God destines for His children will be good.
The Apostles’ Creed is a little misleading because it was not written by the apostles. Probably it was written soon after all the apostles had passed away. It is believed to be the oldest creed of the Christian church and is the basis that most Christians of all generations believe and follow. The Apostles’ Creed is not the Scripture, but it is a summary of the Christian Faith.
“I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The Holy catholic Church, the Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, And the Life everlasting. Amen.”
The word “catholic” is also misleading because it does not mean the Roman Catholic Church; it relates to the universal invisible Church of Christ, which is the Body of Christ. The phrase, “He descended into hell,” was not part of the original creed form.
My modernized version of the Apostles’ Creed would be as follows:
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord, Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; the Holy universal Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the Resurrection of the body, and the Life everlasting. Amen.
IV. IF YOU HAVE FAITH
Faith is of utmost importance that it can determine your destiny.
(1). Faith can move mountain.
Mat 17:20, “And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.”
Faith is power, for faith appropriates the power of God. The power of God can move mountain, remove all obstacles or hindrances. Nothing is impossible with faith, for nothing is impossible with God. Faith is not magic, faith is not superstition. God is pleased when anyone has faith in Him. The power of faith is the power of God. Problems in life are like mountain, but faith can move mountain.
(2). Faith can cast mountain into the sea.
Mat 21:21, “And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.”
Note: By faith you can cast your doubt into the sea.
(3). Perfect health on the basis of faith.
Act 3:16,“And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the Faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.”
Note: Pentecostal churches have a wrong emphasis on heath and on faith healing. The primary purpose of Jesus Christ coming into the world is to save souls, to heal the sick is secondary. No matter how healthy you are, you are going to die anyway. It is important for Christians to be concerned about health matters. Do not drink or smoke or use drugs, and do not eat unhealthy food. Do not practice sexual immorality. So that we can live long to serve the Lord. Christians get sick anyway. God can heal the sick. But it is not always God’s will to heal the sick. Christians can use doctors and medicine, but must acknowledge God in everything. Physicians also get sick and die. I do not have the gift of speaking in tongues, although I understand a few languages. I do not have the gift of healing, but God healed me many times and saved my life many times. I am upset by so many fake healings and fake healers practiced today. If God heals your blindness or paralysis, it should be good for life until you die. It is not possible for God to heal paralysis only temporarily.
(4). The righteousness of God comes on the basis of faith.
Phl 3:9, “and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.”
Note: The righteousness of God can only be obtained through faith in Jesus Christ, and there is no other way.
(5). Our hearts are cleansed by faith through the precious blood of Jesus.
Act 15:9, “and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.”
Note: The cleansing of our hearts is done by faith in Christ through the Holy Spirit. There is no holy water able to cleanse your heart.
(6). Believers are sanctified by faith in Christ through the Holy Spirit.
Act 26:18, “to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.”
Note: No ritual, no abstinence, no food, no celibacy, no meditation, no hermitage, no acetic practices, and nothing can sanctify you. Believers can be sanctified by faith in Christ through the Holy Spirit.
(7). The righteous shall live by faith.
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.”
Heb 10:38, “BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.”
Note: The righteous are those who are counted righteous by God. The righteous shall live by faith, not by sight, not by science, not by sex, not by sports, not by subsidy, etc. From faith to faith means completely by faith and nothing else.
(8). Man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
Rom 3:28, “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.”
Rom 9:32, “Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.”
Gal 2:16, “nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.” Gal 3:11, “Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”
Gal 3:24, “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.”
Note: Man is justified (counted as righteous) by faith in Christ apart from works of the Law. No one can fulfil the requirements of the Law to earn the righteousness of God.
(9). God will justify the circumcised and the uncircumcised through faith.
Rom 3:30, “since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.”
Rom 9:30, “What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith.”
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: The circumcised are the Jews, and the uncircumcised are the Gentiles. God will justify both the Jews and the Gentiles by faith. There is no other way to God. Unrighteous men cannot approach God.
(10). You are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Rom 4:16, “For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may bein 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: Salvation is a gift of God, according to His grace. To accept the gift of God you must have faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. This is the only way you are saved by grace and through faith in Christ, there is no other way.
(11). Having justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom 5:1, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Note: Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ we are reconciled to God, and thus we have peace with God. For sinners are enemies of God.
(12). Through Christ by faith we obtained introduction to God.
Rom 5:2, “through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.”
Note: By faith in Jesus Christ, we are introduced to God by grace in which we stand, and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
Note: Christians cannot walk by science, by philosophy, by sight, or by human wisdom. We walk by faith following the steps in Jesus Christ.
(14). Christians live by faith in the Son of God.
Gal 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
Note: A Christian life is the life to live by faith in the Son of God. Self-seeking is not the Christian life.
(15). The promise by faith in Jesus is given to those who believe.
Gal 3:22, “But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”
Note: The promise by faith in Jesus Christ is eternal life and eternal inheritance in Heaven.
(16). Through the Spirit, by faith, Christians are waiting for the hope of righteousness.
Gal 5:5, “For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.”
Note: The hope of righteousness is the hope of the redemption of our body, the hope in Christ to the praise of His Glory, the hope of His calling what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints laid up for us in Heaven, the hope of glory and the hope of eternal life.
(17). Preach the Gospel is to further the administration of God by faith.
1Ti 1:4, “nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.”
Note: By preaching the Gospel, Christians everywhere can further the administration of God which is by faith.
(18). Hearing the good news must be united by faith.
Heb 4:2, “For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.”
Note: To profit those who hear the good news preached to them, the word must be united by faith in those who heard.
(19). By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the Word of God.
Heb 11:3, “By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.”
Note: By faith we understand the worlds were created by the Word of God, seeing things which are not visible.
(20). By faith Abel, though dead, he still speaks.
Heb 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: By faith though the righteous is dead, yet his work speaks.
(21). By faith Enoch was taken up because he was pleasing to God.
Heb 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: Only by faith can a man be pleasing to God.
(22). By faith Noah, became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
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: By faith Noah was being warned by God about things not yet seen. Noah became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
(23). By faith Abraham obeyed, and he went out not knowing where he was going.
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: Abraham in obedience of faith went out, not knowing where he was going.
(24). By faith Abraham lived in tents, waiting for the mansions above.
Heb 11:9, “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.”
Note: By faith Abraham lived as an alien in tents because he was looking for a better country in Heaven.
(25). By faith Sarah beyond the proper time of life, received ability to conceive.
Heb 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: By faith Sarah an old lady beyond the proper time of life, received ability to conceive and bore a son of promise. Gen 17:17, “Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” By faith, Sarah did.
(26). By faith Abraham when he was tested offered up Isaac.
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: By faith Abraham was willing to offer up Isaac. Abraham did not keep anything left for himself. He obeyed God 100%.
(27). By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.
Heb 11:20, “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.”
Note: By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau regarding things to come.
(28). By faith Jacob when dying blessed his 12 sons.
Heb 11:21, “By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.”
Note: By faith Jacob when dying blessed his 12 sons and grandsons.
(29). By faith Joseph when dying, mentioned the exodus and gave orders concerning his bones.
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: By faith Joseph gave order concerning his bones.
(30). By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for 3 months by his parents, not afraid of the king’s edict.
Heb 11:23, “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.”
Note: By faith parents of Moses were not afraid of the king’s edict.
(31). By faith Moses, when grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
Heb 11:24, “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.”
Note: Most people would seek somehow to connect or relate to the king or the rich and powerful, but by faith Moses refused to be called the son of the princess of Pharaoh. Pharaoh was an absolute monarch with wealth and power no current kings and queens could match.
(32). By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king.
Heb 11:27, “By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.”
Note: By faith Moses feared God, left Egypt and not fearing the wrath of the king.
(33). By faith Moses kept the Passover to save the firstborn of the Jews.
Heb 11:28, “By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.”
Note: By faith Moses kept the Passover so that he who destroyed the firstborn of Egyptians would not touch the sons of Israel.
(34). By faith the sons of Israel passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land.
Heb 11:29, “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: By faith the sons of Israel passed through the Red Sea, this is one of historical greatest miracles of God.
(35). By faith the walls of Jericho fell down as God said.
Heb 11:30, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.”
Note: By faith the walls of Jericho fell down. By faith the walls of obstruction in our lives may fall down too.
(36). By faith Rahab and her family were saved.
Heb 11:31, “By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.”
Note: Although prostitutes are the lowest of females, yet by faith Rahab the harlot and her family were saved. So prostitutes can be saved if they give up greed for money, repent and believe in Jesus Christ.
(37). Who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions.
Heb 11:33, “who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions.”
Note: There is no tension between the power of God and anyone or anything. No one and nothing can stand in the way of God.Faith is not what you wish it considered just as astronomy or chemistry is. There are two kinds of knowledge, human and divine, which in themselves clear enough. Human knowledge is a result of reason and research. For example, astronomy or chemistry. However, human knowledge cannot go beyond the visible and natural and temporal. Divine knowledge is the knowledge of God, spiritual, supernatural, infinite and eternal unaided by the light of reason and nature. It is impossible by human means to discover God and to have knowledge of God. The knowledge of God can only be achieved by revelation through faith. Some objected a revealed knowledge of God as arbitrary. Yes, God is absolute, supreme, and ultimate, Self-Existent and Eternal. God is not negotiable. Truth is not negotiable. What is misleading can never be truth. The longer I live, the more I know, the more I hear and see, the less I have confidence in humanity and human institutions, or products of human efforts, science and philosophy. Let God be found true, though every man be found a liar. It does not matter what Hume, Kant, Aristotle, Karl Barth, Plato, Einstein, Darwin, Confucius, Mozi, Laozi, etc. all dead persons had said. I know my Redeemer lives forever. So I have unequivocally complete faith in the absolute, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Creator and Ruler of the universe, the eternal Almighty God. That is one of the reasons I write this article so that you may believe in God and Jesus Christ our Lord.
V. WHAT OR WHO TO BELIEVE
(A). God
Jhn 14:1, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.”
Heb 6:1, “Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.”
Note: God is Who He Is, the Creator and the Ruler of the universe. No man, no one can question the ultimate authority of God. Man’s duty is to believe, bow, listen and worship God. Whatever God does is right because He does it, and hence it is right whatever it is.To believe in God is to have faith toward God. This is the first principle. To have faith toward God, you cannot have faith toward anyone, any religion, any institution, any tradition, any custom, any system, any ideology, anything. God is supreme. If you put anything or anyone in the place of God, it becomes your idol or false god. In America, only primitive immigrants worship idols, but most Americans worship money, power, and sex. Whatever you put in the place of God, it becomes an idol or false god. The Bible does not say believe in theology, for theology is made by men. There are different types of theology which is flawed and misleading. The only correct is Biblical Theology. Only the Word of God is absolute and infallible.
Psa 78:22, “Because they did not believe in God And did not trust in His salvation.”
Note: To believe in God is of paramount importance because those who disbelieve God trying to call God a liar. Unbelief insults God. Faith in God is not the acceptance of a proposition, faith in God is the full acceptance of His Word. Faith is the act of believing, trusting in God. God is the Creator and the Ruler of the universe. Before time and space God is. God is Who He Is. God declares, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ It is fundamental to have faith in God, it is impossible to come to God without believing He is. To believe in God means to trust in His salvation.
God is faithful and worthy of worship, it presents no difficulty whether majority of scientists, scholastics, theologians and philosophers believe or not. There is no such a thing called the natural knowledge of God. Rom 11:33, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” No one can discover the knowledge of God except by revelation. Mar 12:27, “He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken.” It is pathetic to find scholars and scientists who are greatly mistaken and they do not even know it. God does not need anyone to demonstrate His existence more than the Sun needs the blind to prove its existence. God is not a first cause. 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.” After all scholars, scientists, theologians and philosophers are dead and buried a priori or a posteriori, God is and God will be forever and ever.
Rev 4:8-11, “And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.”And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever,the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
Note: Sinful men have no idea what it means “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.” The will of God is supreme, even nuclear weapons cannot destroy it.
Psa 78:32, “In spite of all this they still sinned And did not believe in His wonderful works.
Note: To believe in God also believe in His wonderful works. The wonderful works of God are written in the Holy Bible.
It is absurd and abhorrent for a sinful and immoral man to question God is good in what sense. It is worse than an elementary student asking how good is Einstein in mathematics. Mat 19:17, “And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” Good in Greek is agathos which means that which is good; the thing which is good; excellent; distinguished; upright; honorable; benevolent; kind; generous; beneficent; free of evil; – which occurs 128 times in the New Testament.The goodness of God is beyond the scope of this article. Suffice it to say God is the only One who is good. Mar 10:17-18, “As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.” What is good or not is in the sight of God. If it is in the sight of God it is good, it is good. If in the sight of God it is evil, it is evil. Jesus definitely says, “No one is good except God alone.”
Rom 3:12, “ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”
Note: This is the verdict of God, There is none who does good, there is not even one. The problem of secularists, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers is the fact they think they are good for something. In the sight of God, all are good for nothing.
Rom 7:18, “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.”
Note: Even the great Apostle Paul admits that he knows that nothing good dwells in him, that is, in his flesh. This is the correct view, this is the truth about man, all men and women and children.
3Jo 1:11, “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.”
Note: The one who does good is of God. On the contrary, secularists want to philosophize that there is good in themselves. For Christians who imitate what is good, and if there is any good it is not of themselves, it is of God. God is the fountain of all goodness.
Psa 106:24, “Then they despised the pleasant land; They did not believe in His Word.”
Note: To believe in God is to believe in His Word. The Holy Bible is the Word of God (written), and Jesus Christ is the Word of God (living).
Psa 119:66, “Teach me good discernment and knowledge, For I believe in Your commandments.”
Note: To believe in God is to believe in His commandments.
2Co 1:20, “For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.”
Note: To believe in God is to believe in the promises of God. The promises of God are yes and true.
Eph 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it isthe gift of God;not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Note: To believe in God is to believe salvation by grace through faith is the gift of God; not as a result of works or merits. No one is deserved to be saved, it is by grace you have been saved through faith in Christ.
Deu 32:51, “because you broke faith with Me in the midst of the sons of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, because you did not treat Me as holy in the midst of the sons of Israel.”
Num 27:14, “for in the wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to treat Me as holy before their eyes at the water.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)
Num 20:1-13, “Then the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to the wilderness of Zin in the first month; and the people stayed at Kadesh. Now Miriam died there and was buried there. There was no water for the congregation, and they assembled themselves against Moses and Aaron. The people thus contended with Moses and spoke, saying, “If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the LORD!Why then have you brought the LORD’S assembly into this wilderness, for us and our beasts to die here?Why have you made us come up from Egypt, to bring us in to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, nor is there water to drink.”Then Moses and Aaron came in from the presence of the assembly to the doorway of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them;and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the rod; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it may yield its water. You shall thus bring forth water for them out of the rock and let the congregation and their beasts drink.”So Moses took the rod from before the LORD, just as He had commanded him;and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?”Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank.But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”Those were the waters of Meribah, because the sons of Israel contended with the LORD, and He proved Himself holy among them.”
Note: This is no small matter. To obey the command of the Lord and to treat the Lord as holy is never a small matter. Let us tremble before the Lord. Let me always treat the Lord as holy in my sight. The Lord told Moses to speak to the rock before the eyes of the Lord’s assembly, that it may yield its water. What a terrible thing that Moses struck the rock twice with his rod. Thus Moses had not believed the Lord, to treat the Lord as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel. For this reason, the Lord did not allow him to enter the Promised Land.
Deu 32:51-52, “because you broke faith with Me in the midst of the sons of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, because you did not treat Me as holy in the midst of the sons of Israel.For you shall see the land at a distance, but you shall not go there, into the land which I am giving the sons of Israel.”
Note: May God help us under no circumstances to break faith with the Lord, or not to treat Him as holy.
(B). Christ
Jhn 20:31, “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: It is not enough to believe in God, to believe in God you must also believe in Christ as God commanded. To believe in Christ is to believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you have life in His name. To have life in the name of Jesus Christ is to have eternal life.
Rom 3:9, “What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin.”
Note: In the sight of God, there is no one group of heathen better than another group of heathen. There is no one group of sinners better than another group of sinners. The heathen can never in their own way rely upon divine grace, it meansthe unsaved no matter who they are in no way less heathen, poor and utterly lost. There is absolutely nothing in a lost sinner that deserves any grace from God. There is no any other way, indigenous or meritorious, than the way of Christ to God. Both Jews and Gentiles, including Karl Barth, Emil Brunner, etc. are all under sin.
Jhn 1:18, “No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side —He has revealed Him.”
Note: Do not let anyone fool you. No one has ever seen God, not even Moses. Jesus Christ the only begotten of God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has revealed and explained Him. To know Jesus Christ is to know God. To see Jesus Christ is to see God.
Only one thing is really decisive for the distinction of truth and falsehood, it is not providential disposition. That one thing is the truth in Christ. Rom 9:1, “I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit.” The truth in Christ is testified by the Holy Spirit. A whole range of other religions do not have the truth in Christ nor the testimony of the Holy Spirit. It is a false teacher who places Christianity on a par with all pagan religions devoid of divine revelation. Without doubt, the revelation of God’s righteousness in Christ is the Truth, the only Truth, without whom no man comes to the Father.
Act 8:37, “[And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”]
Note: To believe in Christ is to believe with all your heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Gal 2:16, “nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”
Note: A man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ. No flesh will be justified by the works of the Law.
Rom 3:22, “even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction.”
Note: To believe in Christ is to believe the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ is a gift of God for all those who believe; for there is no distinction whether you are a Jew or Gentile, male or female.
Rom 6:8, “Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.”
Note: To believe in Christ is to believe we have died with Christ to sin and the world, we believe that we shall also live with Him for eternity.
Gal 3:22, “But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”
Note: To believe in Christ is to believe that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. These are the promises of God to Abraham, and believers are heirs according to promise.
1Ti 1:16, “Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.”
Note: To believe in Christ is to find mercy, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
1Jo 3:23, “This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.”
Note: This is the commandment of God that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ. There is a religion that claims to believe in God but does not believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, that religion disobeys the commandment of God, and so it is a false religion. To believe in Christ is to obey the commandment of God, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. It is impossible for anyone who claims to a Christian and yet he lies, kills and robs. It is impossible for Christians to be warmongers, oppressors, aggressors and terrorists. Christians love one another as Christ has commanded.
Heb 12:2, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Note: To believe in Christ is to fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith. The Christian faith does not fix our eyes on anyone else or anything.
Phm 1:5, “because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints.”
Note: If you have faith toward the Lord Jesus, you will also love Him and love toward all the saints.
(C). The Gospel
The Gospel is the message of good news from God to mankind. This is what you must do with the Gospel of God.
(1). Repent and believe in the Gospel.
Mar 1:15, “and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.”
Note: To believe in God and to believe in Christ is to repent and believe in the Gospel. Only Christianity has the Gospel (good news), and no other religion has gospel. When Christians gather we always sing praises to the Lord, in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with our hearts to the Lord; singing with thankfulness in our hearts to God.When I was a boy, I did not like Buddhist temples because people inside moaned and groaned. Surprisingly, today Buddhist temples have people singing imitating Christian churches.
(2). Believe the Gospel so that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus.
Act 15:7-11, “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.And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”
Note: To believe in the Gospel is to believe the Word of the Gospel, receiving the Holy Spirit for cleansing our hearts by faith, and to be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus.
Rom 10:8, “But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the Word of faith which we are preaching.”
Note: The Gospel is the Word of faith. If you have faith in Jesus Christ, the Gospel becomes the power of God for your salvation.
(3). The essence of the Gospel ministry of Jesus.
Mat 11:5, “the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.”
Note: The poor have the Gospel preached to them. When Christ preached the Gospel on earth, the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up.
Luk 4:18, “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED.”
Note: This is the prophesy fulfilled in Jesus Christ anointed to preach the Gospel to the poor and to save the souls of sinners.
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.”
Note: This statement cited above is a concise summary of the ministry of Jesus on earth.
(4). The Gospel must be preached in the whole world before the end will come.
Mat 24:14, “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.”
Note: The Gospel of Jesus Christ shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end of the world will come. My websites through the Internet are intended to preach the Gospel in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations absolutely free.
(5). The Gospel must first be preached to all the nations.
Mar 13:10, “The Gospel must first be preached to all the nations.”
Note: To preach the Gospel to all the nations is the first task for the Church to do. It is not social work. It is the duty of Christians to preach the Gospel to all nations.
(6). Jesus Christ commanded disciples to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation.
Mar 16:15, “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation.”
Note: During the Ascension, the Lord Jesus commanded and commissioned all disciples to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation. The primary task of the Church is to preach the Gospel to all creation, not social work, not charity work, not any other work.
(7). To believe in the Gospel is to turn from idols to the living God.
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 the living God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM.”
Note: To preach the Gospel is to call people turn from idolatry (idols are vain things) to the living God who made the universe. There are many kinds of idols, not only those made of stones, wood, and metal. Some Taiwanese politicians claim to be Christians and yet they publicly burn incense and worship idols broadcast on TV. They are fake and false believers. No one who worships the vain things can be called a Christian. In America only primitive immigrants worship idols made of hands. But most Americans worship money, power, and sex as their idols.
(8). To testify solemnly of the Gospel of the grace of God is more important than our lives.
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.”
Note: True servants of Christ like Apostle Paul do not consider their lives of any accounts as dear to themselves, so that they may finish their course and the ministry which they receive from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the Gospel of the grace of God. The Gospel is about the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ that men may be saved.
(9). To believe in the Gospel is to believe in the Gospel of His Son.
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: Why the present-day unbelieving theologians regard the Gospel of John as the least reliable of the gospels facetiously, because its clear central message is Jesus Christ the Son of God. It is in this Gospel Jesus Christ declares to the world, Jhn 14:6, “Jesus said to him, “I AM the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” It is also in this Gospel the purpose is clear, 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.” When I was a lad, an American professor advised me to read the Gospel of John 100 times, and study the Book of Romans 100 times. My understanding of the Faith is invariably endowed and enhanced by my study especially of the Gospel of John and and the Book of Romans. Let me tell you the enemies of the cross especially hate these two books of the Bible.
(10). The Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.
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 Gentile.”
Note: A secular academics incredibly and incoherently said, “it is one thing to call him a sinner when he has actually sinned, and another thing to call him a sinner because he is capable of sinning. For man is capable also of noble deeds, of self-sacrifice and heroism; yet one would not call him a saint or a hero until his deeds have actually merited such an appellation. There is no reason why this moral plasticity of man… should be equated with sin rather than with virtue.” This worldly scholar seems to say he is not a sinner, and he has not sinned. Rather he can be equated with virtue. How do I debate with a man so blind that he cannot see the fact of sins, crimes and evil committed by men everyday. He is even oblivious to the historical facts of how European nations and America have done so much evil in the world, lying, killing, and robbing to this day. He seems to be oblivious to the atrocities and wickedness of World War I and World War II, not to say the coming nuclear war that will destroy the world. If man is so virtuous and noble by nature, which world is he living in, why do we face with so many problems and so much evil and wickedness in this world anyway? I have no problems with people doing good and doing right. The problem is the evil man who does evil daily and continuously and deliberately. Just take a look of Washington, Wall Street, Hollywood, military-industrial-security complex and Islamic terrorists what they are doing. Jesus Christ says, Mat 12:33-37, “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. 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.”
No man will die because of Adam’s sin or the original sin. No one will die or be judged for involuntary sin. Jesus says emphatically, Jhn 8:24, “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” Don’t worry about Adam’s sin, worry about your own sins. You will not die because of Adam’s sin or the original sin. Jesus says you will die in your sins. Unless you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior of Mankind, you will die in your sins. Rom 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The funny part is that secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers think they are the exception, they have not sinned. Since they have not sinned, let us watch and see if they will die. You will have the answer.
(11). According to the Gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
Rom 2:16, “on the day when, according to my Gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.”
Note: This is very significant, God also knows the secrets of secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers which no one knows; God will judge them through Jesus Christ. I am not interested in the secrets of any man.
(12). The Gospel is the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past.
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.”
Note: The Gospel is not made by man, it is the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past.
(13). To preach the Gospel not in cleverness of speech.
1Co 1:17, “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.”
Note: To preach the Gospel is to preach Jesus Christ who died for our sins on the cross, not in cleverness of speech. I recall a prosperity gospel preacher who invented a series of cleverness of speech, such as ‘something good is going to happen to you.’
(14). Preachers endure all things so that they cause no hindrance to the Gospel of Christ.
1Co 9:12, “If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the Gospel of Christ.”
Note: Anyone is accursed if she causes hindrance to the Gospel of Christ. Instead Christians must endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the Gospel of Christ. In the last 500 years Western nations (later America) have lied, killed, robbed, and attacked nations in Asia, Latin America and Africa and pretend to be Christians, indeed they cause hindrance to the Gospel of Christ. The history of Western (Europe and America) powers is the history of aggression, atrocities, cruelties, brutalities, exploitation, oppression, suppression, subjugation, injustice, and destruction.
(15). Offer the Gospel without charge.
1Co 9:18, “What then is my reward? That, when I preach the Gospel, I may offer the Gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the Gospel.”
Note: On the Internet I preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ absolutely free. We do not want donation, we only want you to know the truth.
(16). Do all things for the sake of the Gospel.
Co 9:23, “I do all things for the sake of the Gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.”
Note: True servants of Christ do all things for the sake the Gospel. Many preachers today do all things for the sake of money.
(17). Unbelievers are blinded and they might see the light of the Gospel.
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: The god of this world is the devil. The devil blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ. Christ is the image of God. That is the reason secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers do not believe because their minds have been blinded by the god of this world. Not only they do not know the god of this world has blinded their minds, on the contrary they think they have brilliant minds.
(18). Any man is preaching another gospel is to be accursed.
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: There are deceivers who distort the Gospel of Christ, including secular academics and unbelieving theologians. There is one true Gospel of Jesus Christ. If any man or even an angel who is preaching a different gospel, contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he is to be accursed, he is to be damned.
(19). The Gospel of your salvation is the message of truth.
Eph 1:13-14, “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.”
Note: The Gospel of our salvation is the message of truth, sealed in God with the Holy Spirit of promise, given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. Poor thing, secularists, philosophers, scientists and unbelieving theologians could not recognize the message of truth.
(20). The Gospel is revealed as the mystery of Christ.
Eph 3:3-6, “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.”
Note: The Gospel is the revealed mystery of Christ, to be specific, that the Gentile believers are fellow heirs and fellow members of the Body of Christ, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus. The mystery of Christ is beyond comprehension of secularists, scientists, philosophers, and unbelieving theologians who consider it contrary to the rational thought.
(21). Christ is the mystery of the Gospel.
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.”
Note: Christ is the mystery of the Gospel, which was not made known to the sons of men in ages past, now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; that whoever believes in the Son of God may receive the eternal life.
(22). Christians must conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ.
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: Believers only conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ, standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the Faith of the Gospel.
(23). True believers share the struggle in the cause of the Gospel.
Phl 4:3, “Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the Gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.”
Note: True believers share the struggle in the cause of the Gospel, their names are in the Book of Life. Since my websites have become globally known, it is funny there are many men suddenly appear on the Internet with their pictures as Willie Wong. Once I found a Chinese woman who even called herself Willie Wong with her picture on her website quoting my writings verbatim. Because I never put my picture on the Internet, she might not know that Willie Wong is a man. Could there be any problem since there are so many Willie Wong(s), which one whose name is written in the Book of Life? No problem at all. My Heavenly Father has known and called me before the foundation of the world, so God only knows which one is the Willie Wong, whose name is in the Book of Life. Just like there are millions of Paul in the history of the world, there is only one Apostle Paul whose name is on the wall of the Holy City twelve foundation stones, Paul is one of the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
(24). The Gospel is the Word of truth.
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 of Jesus Christ, the Christian Gospel is the Word of truth. It is worthy for all to accept and believe.
(25). The Gospel comes in power and in the Holy Spirit.
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 is not in word only, it is also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction to those who believe. The power of God and the Holy Spirit changes liars, thieves, robbers, murderers, prostitutes, crooks and criminals, the worst of sinners.
(26). Those who do not know God and do not obey the Gospel will pay the penalty of eternal destruction.
2Th 1:8-10, “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: I do not know why secularists, scientists, philosophers, and unbelieving theologians are so stubborn in refusing and disobeying the Gospel, don’t they know the penalty is eternal destruction?
(27). True ministers of Christ are not ashamed to join in suffering for the Gospel.
2Ti 1:8, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the Gospel according to the power of God.”
Note: True servants of Christ are not ashamed to join in suffering for the Gospel. Funny it is that prosperity gospel preachers and followers not only they do not suffer for the Gospel, they want to get rich and become popular in this world.
(28). Our Savior Christ Jesus appeared to bring life and immortality to light through the Gospel.
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: To believe in the Gospel is to believe in the Savior Jesus Christ who gives you life and immortality.
(29). The Gospel is the fact Jesus Christ dies and rose from the dead.
2Ti 2:8, “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my Gospel.”
Note: The complete Gospel is that Jesus Christ our Savior came down from Heaven to die on the cross for sinners, the Righteous for the unrighteous; and the third day Jesus Christ rose from the dead to justify all who believe in Him, to receive the forgiveness of sins, and by grace to be counted as righteousness in the sight of God. We are saved by grace though faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is the gift of God, not our work.
(30). The Gospel preached by the Holy Spirit sent from Heaven.
1Pe 1:12, “It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from Heaven—things into which angels long to look.”
Note: Jesus proclaimed the Gospel while He was on earth. Jesus returned to Heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel through the apostles and disciples. Gospel is the most interesting things into which angels long to look.
(31). Hear the Word of the Gospel and believe.
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: Those who the Word of the Gospel must believe.
(32). Judgment is for those who do not obey the Gospel of God.
1Pe 4:17, “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if itbegins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the Gospel of God?”
Note: The judgment to come will begin with the household of God. The outcome for those who do not obey the Gospel of God will be more devastating. But there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. The Gospel is preached all over the world, but people must believe and obey the Gospel.
(D). The Prophets
Act 26:27, “King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do.”
Note: Christians believe the Prophets of the Lord as it is written in the Bible.
2Ch 20:20, “They rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa; and when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your trust in the LORD your God and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed.”
Note: In old times, the children of Israel were admonished to put their trust in God’s prophets and succeed.
Jer 29:19, “because they have not listened to My words,’ declares the LORD, ‘which I sent to them again and again by My servants the prophets; but you did not listen,’ declares the LORD.”
Note: God called His prophets His servants. To listen the prophets of the Lord is to listen to God’s words.
Jer 35:15,“Also I have sent to you all My servants the prophets, sending them again and again, saying: ‘Turn now every man from his evil way and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to worship them. Then you will dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your forefathers; but you have not inclined your ear or listened to Me.”
Note: God had sent all His servants the prophets again and again, saying: Turn now every man from his evil way and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to worship them. The sons of Israel had not inclined their ears or listened to God.
Dan 9:10, “nor have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in His teachings which He set before us through His servants the prophets.”
Note: The teachings of God were set before the Jews through His servants the prophets, yet they had not obeyed the voice of the Lord.
Amo 3:7, “Surely the Lord GOD does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets.”
Note: Why do we believe the prophets? Because in old time the Lord God did nothing unless He revealed His secret counsel to His servants the prophets.
Mat 2:23, “and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
Note: What were spoken through the prophets about Jesus were fulfilled.
Mat 5:12,“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Note: Jesus says that Christians will be persecuted in the same way the prophets were persecuted.
Mat 5:17,“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.”
Note: This is the difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament: Jesus Christ did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, He came to fulfill them. The Old Testament is fulfilled in the New Testament. Judaism is fulfilled in Christianity.
Luk 6:31, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
Note: This is one of the most famous and precious teachings of Jesus Christ, later known as the Golden Rule.
Mat 7:12, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Note: Jesus Christ sums up the Law and the Prophets: In everything treat people the same way you want them to treat you. Do to others as you would have them do to you. This simple but profound doctrine remembers and resonates through the ages. The truth of Christ is not an abstracted conception of logic, it is the moral precept of everyday Christian practice. Warmongers, aggressors, dictators, oppressors, troublemakers, imperialists, colonialists, capitalists, monopolists, supremacists, militarists, and terrorist practice exactly the opposite of Christ’s teachings.
Mat 7:15, “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
Note: Western aggressors and warmongers are just like false prophets, who come to the international forum in sheep’s clothing, and pretending to advocate democracy, freedom, independence, equality, justice, etc. but inwardly and outwardly they are worse than ravenous wolves, because they lie, kill, and rob without shame.
Mat 24:11, “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.”
Note: Jesus predicts that in the last days many false prophets will arise and mislead many. Just in the United States alone how many false prophets there are. The work of false prophets is to mislead many. False prophets mislead many to depart from the faith. False Western political leaders use democracy, freedom, independence, justice, etc. to deceive and violate and attack other nations. Western media daily and habitually mislead the world with fake news, fake reports, fake views, falsehoods, and spread lies without shame.
Mat 24:24, “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great miracles and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.”
Note: What is worse is the fact that false Christs and false prophets will show great miracles and wonders to mislead many. There are fake miracles and fake wonders to mislead believers. There are innumerable fake things in the world today, who ever thought of fake miracles and fake wonders!
Luk 1:70, “As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—”
Note: Rarely God spoke to individual like Abraham. God spoke to Moses face to face. Usually God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old. For this reason, what holy prophets spoke in the name of God are the Word of God. Therefore, Christians believe in the books of prophets in the Old Testament. Prophets are spokesmen of God. However, there are no longer prophets of old like those in the Old Testament. The Old Testament is completed. There are also no prophets of the New Testament, for the revelation of Jesus Christ in the New Testament is also completed. Since the deaths of the apostles and elders, there has not been a new prophet. For it is not possible for a new prophet to add anything to the completed revelation of the New Testament. Since then New Testament prophets are not the servants of Christ who predict things to come. The New Testaments prophets now are those who are filled of the Holy Spirit and who are equipped to explain, expound, and preach the Word of God and the truth of the Gospel in power with great results. In my lifetime I have not known any servant of Christ who can be qualified to be called a New Testament prophet. There are some evangelists and preachers and Bible scholars known in these last days. We need to pray for servants of Christ who are able to preach the Word in great power and with great results. You will not find them in American mega-churches or on TV. Sadly although I have known a great number of preachers worldwide, I cannot name one who was or who is filled with the Holy Spirit with great power. What you can find are so many false prophets and false preachers today.
Luk 18:31, “Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished.”
Note: Everything written through the prophets in the Old Testament about the Son of God had been accomplished. The only thing that has not been fulfilled is the second coming of Jesus Christ to judge the living and the dead, to reign with the saints in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Luk 24:27, “Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.”
Note: The most revealing and enlightening was the fact that Jesus Christ beginning with Moses and with all the prophets explained to disciples the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures (the Old Testament).
Jhn 1:45, “Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
Note: Whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote is Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God. The central message of the Holy Bible (both the Old and New Testaments) is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the world.
Act 3:18, “But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.”
Note: The things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets concerning the sufferings of Christ had been fulfilled. Remember, prophecy is always announced beforehand, before things happen. When things happened according to prophecy they become history. In America there have been many false prophets who made big money prophesying the date of the second coming of Christ. False prophecy never comes true, and these false prophets have no shame to again and again make false prophecy for money. So many gullible and ignorant Americans believed and gave false prophets large sums of money and their properties.
Act 10:43, “Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”
Note: This prophecy is still true, of Jesus Christ all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Jesus Christ receives forgiveness of sins. Although I am no prophet, I also bear witness through my websites that all who believe in Christ will be saved by grace. For that reason we preach the Gospel absolutely free. We do not want donation, we only want you to know the truth.
Act 15:15-18, “With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written, ‘AFTER THESE THINGS I will return, AND I WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID WHICH HAS FALLEN, AND I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS, AND I WILL RESTORE IT,SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD, AND ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME,’SAYS THE LORD, WHO MAKES THESE THINGS KNOWN FROM LONG AGO.”
Note: The words of all the Prophets agree, the Gospel of God has been revealed in Jesus Christ, whosoever believes in Him receive eternal life.
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: The Way, the Christian Way, Jesus Christ the Way to God is everything in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets. There is no other way.
Rom 1:1-5, “Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the Gospel of God,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 theSon 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.”
Note: The Gospel of God was promised beforehand through the prophets of God in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, the Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord. Those who received grace also brought about the obedience of faith. Faith always leads to obedience of faith. If you have faith in Christ, you obey Christ and follow Him.
Rom 16:26, “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.”
Note: The commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations by the Scriptures of the prophets, leading all believers to obedience of faith to Jesus Christ. Faith is obedience to Jesus Christ.
Heb 1:1-2, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.”
Note: God spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways (the Old Testament). In these last days God has spoken to the world in His Son Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ speaks God speaks. So the Word of Christ is far more important than the prophets because it is the last, absolute, and ultimate.
2Pe 3:2, “that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.”
Note: The Word of God was spoken beforehand by the holy prophets, in these last days concluded by Jesus Christ, and what the Lord and Savior spoken by His apostles. So the Old Testament is the Word of God. Not only the Gospels, the whole New Testament is the Word of God. That is the meaning we believe in the holy prophets and apostles. Jhn 20:31, “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.” 2Ti 3:15, “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.”
In summary, we believe in God, we believe in Christ, we believe in the Gospel, and we believe the holy prophets in the Holy Scriptures (the Sacred Writings) which give wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
VI. THROUGH FAITH
(1). Receive forgiveness of sins.
Act 10:43, “Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”
Act 26:18, “to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receiveforgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.”
Note: This is the good news that sinners and everyone who believers in Jesus Christ receives forgiveness of sins. You cannot pay money to get forgiveness of your sins. You cannot do the work of the Law to receive forgiveness of your sins. You cannot earn merit to receive forgiveness of your sins. You can do nothing to receive forgiveness of your sins. You receive forgiveness of your sins freely and simply by believing in the name of Jesus Christ because it is the grace of God on account of the righteousness of Christ who died for sinners.
(2). The righteousness of God.
Rom 3:22, “even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction.”
Phl 3:9, “and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.”
Note: You are counted or credited righteous through faith in Jesus Christ, believers receive the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith in His Son Jesus Christ.
(3). A propitiation in His blood.
Rom 3:25, “whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed.”
Note: Propitiation in Greek is hilastērion which means relating to an appeasing or expiating, having placating or expiating force, expiatory; a means of appeasing or expiating (Strong’s Concordance); a means of appeasing or expiating; an expiatory sacrifice; appeasement; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. Jesus died on the cross in His blood as an appeasement to God so that God passed over our sins through faith.
(4). Justification in Christ.
Rom 3:30, “since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.”
Gal 2:16, “nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”
Note: Justify in Greek is dikaioō which means to be freed; to render righteous; to declare one to be just; to regard as innocent; to declare not guilty; to be acquitted of a charge; to be absolved; – which occurs 40 times in the New Testament. God justifies sinners not by works of the Law, but through faith in Christ Jesus.
(5). Receive the promise of the Spirit.
Gal 3:14, “in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Gal 3:22, “But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”
Note: To receive the promise of the Spirit is to receive the promise in Jesus Christ by faith.
(6). Become children of God.
Jhn 1:12, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right tobecome children of God, even to those who believe in His name.”
Gal 3:26, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Note: As many as received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, to them God gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name. What an honor and privilege for unworthy sinners.
(7). Have been saved.
Eph 2:8, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
Mar 16:16, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”
Note: He who has believed and repented and baptized shall be saved through faith.
(8). Into this grace in which we stand.
Rom 5:2, “through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faithinto this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.”
Note: No one can stand before the Holy God. Believers have obtained introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand.
(9). To please God.
Heb 11:6, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”
Note: Faith pleases God. God is pleased with him who comes to God and believes that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
(10). Have boldness and confident access.
Eph 3:12, “in Whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.”
Note: Sinners are afraid of the Holy God, having no access to God, much less boldness and confidence. Through faith in Jesus Christ who opened the way to the God by His blood, we have boldness and confident access to God for mercy.
(11). Christ dwells in our hearts.
Eph 3:17, “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love.”
Note: The wonder of all wonders is the fact that Christ dwells in the heart of a believer, being rooted and grounded in love. A Christian can know for sure that Christ lives in his heart through faith by the Holy Spirit.
(12). Raised up with Christ from the dead.
Col 2:12, “having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”
Note: Believers are raised up with Jesus Christ through faith to receive the new life and participate in the nature of God.
(13). Salvation which is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:15, “and that from childhood you have known theSacred Writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
Note: The Sacred Writings (the Holy Scriptures) which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
(14). Cleansing our hearts.
Act 15:9, “and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.”
Note: Our hearts are cleansed by faith in Christ through the Holy Spirit.
(15). To be Sanctified.
Act 26:18, “to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.”
Note: God opens the eyes of believers so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ.
(16). Inherit the promises.
Heb 6:12, “so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
Note: Christians should not be sluggish or lazy, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
(17). The Word of God performs its work in you.
1Th 2:13, “For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the Word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.”
Note: Wonderful is the Word of God which also performs its work in those who believe.
(18). Become 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.”
Jhn 12:46, “I have come asLight into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.”
Note: Jesus Christ is the Light of Life, the Light of the World. Believe in the Light so that you may become sons of Light. Sons of Light will not remain in darkness. Western leaders and politicians who lie, kill, and rob other nations without shame are sons of darkness and children of the devil. Western media that lie, lie, and lie without shame; make fake news, fake reports, fake views and spreads lies and falsehoods to deceive the world are sons of darkness and children of the devil. They may feel triumphant and arrogant now, but the Day of Judgment is near. Clearly, those who believe in Jesus Christ will not remain in darkness. You remain in darkness because you are sons of darkness.
(19). Live by faith in the Son of God.
Gal 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
Note: Christians do not live for themselves, do not live for money, power, and sex; they live by faith in the Son of God.
(20). Have eternal life.
Jhn 3:15, “so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.”
1Jo 5:1, “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.”
Note: Whoever believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God have eternal life.
(21). Enter the rest of God.
Heb 4:3, “For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, “AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,” although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.”
Note: We who have believed enter the rest of God. The rest and joy in Heaven is eternal.
(22). Building ourselves up.
Jde 1:20, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.”
Note: The most holy faith can build up believers in Christ, praying in the Holy Spirit.
(23). Fight the good fight.
1Ti 1:18-19, “This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight,keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.”
Note: To keep faith and a good conscience is to fight the good fight.
(24). Working through love.
Gal 5:6, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.”
Note: Neither circumcision nor uncircumsicion means anything. Many falsely believe ritual means anything. The important thing is faith working through love. It is not possible to have faith without love. It is not possible for warmongers, oppressors, liars, killers, robbers, and terrorists to claim they have faith.
(25). Fill with all joy and peace.
Rom 15:13, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Note: This is the joy and peace unbelievers do not know. The God of hope can fill believers with all joy and peace in believing, so that we will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
(26). Overcome the world.
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: American and European leaders want to conquer the world by superior military power and nuclear weapons, and they will meet mutual destruction. Christians overcome the world by faith.
(27). Extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Eph 6:16, “in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
Note: Taking up the shield of faith with which we Christians will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
(28). Protected by the power of God.
1Pe 1:4-5, “to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in Heaven for you,who are protected by the power of God through faith for the salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
Note: Little Flock, do not be afraid, for you are protected by the power of God through faith for the salvation ready to be revealed in the last time when Jesus Christ is coming again soon to redeem our body.
VII. WHAT TO DO WITH FAITH
Faith is active, by faith doing the will of God. Believers by faith perform.
(1). Have faith in God.
Mar 11:22, “And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God.”
Heb 6:1, “Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.”
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.”
Note: Man cannot have faith in science, philosophy, religion, man, institution or anything. Man can have faith only in God. Faith in God brings grace. Faith is toward God, not man, not thing, not science, not philosophy, not religion, not anyone or anything. The faith which you have personally is your conviction before God. People in the West have faith toward money, power and sex and their nuclear weapons.
(2). Have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Act 20:21, “solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Note: Have faith in God is not enough, for Christ is the way to God. To be saved, you need to repent toward God and have faith in Christ who is the Son of God and died for our sins. Sinners cannot come to God without going through Jesus Christ.
(3). To cleanse the heart by faith.
Act 15:9, “and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.”
Note: God made no distinction between the Jews and the Gentiles, cleansing our hearts by faith in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.
(4). To have a propitiation in His blood through faith.
Rom 3:25-26, “whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 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.”
Note: Propitiation in Greek is hilastērion which means a means of appeasing or expiating; the blood of Jesus for the atonement of our sins; appeasement; sacrifice to appease God; an atoning sacrifice; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. Jesus died on the cross for our sins as a propitiation in His blood to appease to God who passed over our sins previously committed. To demonstrate the righteousness of God at the present time, so that God would be just and the Justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
(5). To be justified by faith.
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.”
Note: The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith means a sinner begins to come to God from faith by grace and saved through faith in Jesus Christ to receiving the eternal life. The whole process of salvation is from faith to faith, a sinner is saved by faith in Christ alone and nothing else.
Gal 2:16, “nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”
Note: Justify in Greek is dikaioō which means to render righteous; to be freed; to declare righteous; to be counted righteous; to regard as just or innocent; to be considered righteous; to declare guiltless; to be acquitted of a charge; to deem right; – which occurs 40 times in the New Testament. No flesh will be justified by the works of the Law. No one can be justified before God by his own good deeds or merit. We all have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law. To be justified by faith in Christ means to be counted or credited as righteous before God because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
Rom 3:28, “For we maintain that a man is justified byfaith apart from works of the Law.”
Rom 4:5, “But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.
Note: Man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. Faith is credited as righteousness.
(6). To be sanctified by faith in Christ.
Act 26:18, “to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.”
Note: The precious blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sins, and by this faith we are sanctified in Christ.
(7). To receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Gal 3:14, “in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Note: Just as believers are saved through faith, we would also receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
(8). To have eternal life.
1Jo 5:13, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
Note: This is for sure, everyone who believes in the name of the Son of God, may know that you have eternal life.
(9). Saved through faith.
Eph 2:8, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
Note: By grace of God we believers have been saved through faith; and that not of ourselves, because it is the gift of God. Salvation is the gift of God. The gift of God is free.
(10). To have obedience of faith.
Rom 1:5, “through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about theobedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake.”
Rom 16:26, “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.”
Note: Believers have faith in Christ, through Whom we have received grace to bring about obedience of faith for His name’s sake. Faith obeys Jesus Christ. The commandment of the eternal God has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith in Christ.
(11). Increase our faith.
Luk 17:5, “The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
2Co 10:15, “not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you.”
2Th 1:3, “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater.”
Note: Faith can grow and faith grows. Faith can increase. We need to pray to the Lord to increase our faith. Your faith can be greatly enlarged.
(12). Grow strong in faith.
Rom 4:20, “yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God.”
Note: Believers must grow strong in faith, giving glory to God. To be strong in faith is not self-glory.
Col 2:7, “Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
Note: The secret to grow strong in faith is to go strong in the truth.
(13). Faith may not fail.
Luk 22:32, “but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
Note: We need to pray that our faith may not fail. God is faithful. God will not fail us.
(14). Faith is the basis.
Act 3:16, “And on the basis of faith in His name,it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.”
Rom 10:6, “But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, ‘WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?’ (that is, to bring Christ down).”
Note: Basis is foundation or the ground in matters relating to God. On the basis means according to or by virtue of. Christianity is based on faith in the truth of Jesus Christ. Without faith is like a building without foundation. Faith opens the way to God by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. We come to God on the basis of faith in the name of Jesus Christ. No one can come to God on any other basis or on any other name. The righteousness in Christ is obtained based on faith.
(15). To be full of faith.
Act 6:5, “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.”
Act 11:24, “for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.”
Note: Stephen is a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. Barnabas is a man full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. We do not know whether a man is full of faith because he is full of the Holy Spirit, or a man is full of the Holy Spirit because he is full of faith. It does not matter, God knows which is which and what is what. So we pray to the Lord for believers to be full of faith and full of the Holy Spirit.
(16). To be revealed from faith to faith.
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.”
Note: The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith means the righteousness of God can be obtained through faith alone in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is distinction. It begins with faith and completes by faith. From start to finish, it is on the basis of faith, from faith to faith.
(17). Follow in the steps of the faith of Abraham.
Rom 4:12, “and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.”
Note: All believers follow in the steps of the faith of Abraham.
(18). Introduction by faith into grace.
Rom 5:2, “through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.”
Note: Sinful men through faith in Jesus Christ can obtain introduction by faith into the grace of God in which we stand. Believers can stand on nothing else but the grace of God.
(19). Faith rests on the power of God.
1Co 2:5, “so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.”
Note: Faith rests on the power of God means faith exists on the power of God, faith is subject to the power of God. That is the problem of secular academics, unbelieving theologians, scientists and philosophers who exist on the wisdom of men. Wisdom of men is contrary to the power of God. The wisdom of men do not co-exist with the power of God.
Note: Walk in Greek is peripateō which means to conduct oneself; to regulate one’s life; to live; to make one’s way; to pass one’s life; to deport oneself; – which occurs 105 times. To walk by faith does not mean to move along on foot. Christians not only live by faith, we walk by faith. Walking by faith covers the the totality of one’s way of life, how one lives, and how one conducts oneself. Faith is seeing the invisible. God is invisible for God is Spirit. Christians do not walk according to the tradition of men, do not walk in the darkness, do not walk according to the customs of nations, do not walk according to the flesh, do not walk according to the elementary principles of the world. To walk by faith means to walk according to the Spirit, to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, to walk as children of Lightwalk in a manner worthy of the Lord.
(21). See if you are in the Faith.
2Co 13:5, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the Faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?”
Note: If you in Jesus Christ, you are in the Faith. From time to time, we must examine and test ourselves to see if we are in the Faith.
(22). Live by faith.
Gal 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
Note: The meaning of this verse “live by faith” is different from and the verse Rom 1:17, “THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”Gal 2:20 is talking about to live your life by faith for Christ, exemplified by the ministry of Apostle Paul. Rom 1:17 refers to how a man receives the new life by faith in Jesus Christ.
(23). Preach the Word of faith.
Rom 10:8, “But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the Word of faith which we are preaching.”
Note: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Word of faith. From Jesus Christ to Apostles to disciples today, Christians are preaching the Word of faith.
(24). In God we have boldness and confident access through faith in Christ.
Eph 3:12, “in Whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.”
Note: In Christ we have boldness and confident access to God through faith in Jesus. No one has access to God through anyone or anything else.
(25). Have stability of your faith in Christ.
Col 2:5, “For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.”
Note: Discipline in Greek is taxis which means right order; orderly condition; character; style; quality; fashion; official dignity; orderly conduct or pattern of behavior; – which occurs 11 times in the New Testament. Christians discipline themselves for the purpose of godliness. Stability in Greek is stereōma which means steadfastness; firmness; solid front; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. True faith in Christ has stability.
(26). Take up the shield of faith.
Eph 6:16, “in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
Note: Shield in Greek is thyreos which means a large door-shaped shield; a protective structure; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. The shield of faith is used to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. The flaming arrows of the evil one are many, including false gospel, false doctrine, heresy, unbelief like higher criticism, deceptive teaching; etc.
(27). Do the work of faith.
1Th 1:3, “constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father.”
Note: Faith is not lazy or inactive. Faith works. Faith performs. True believers have work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father. For believers everything is in the presence of our God and Father.
(28). Love from a sincere faith.
1Ti 1:5, “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
2Ti 1:5, “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.”
Note: Sincere in Greek isanypokritos which means unfeigned; without hypocrisy; without dissimulation; undisguised; undissembled; pure; honest; true; – which occurs 8 times in the New Testament. Faith is internal. All true believers have a sincere faith within them. Love is from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
(29). Keeping faith.
1Ti 1:19, “keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.”
Note: Faith needs to be kept. All good things need to be kept. Without keeping faith and a good conscience, people have suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.
(30). Continue in faith.
1Ti 2:15, “But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.”
Note: Not only child-bearing women need to continue in faith, all believers need to continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.
(31). Pursue faith …
1Ti 6:11, “But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.”
Note: Pursue in Greek is diōkō which means to follow after; to run after; to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavor to acquire (Strong’s Concordance); to press forward; – which occurs 47 times in the New Testament. Christians must pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. In the world people pursue money, power, and sex; especially in Europe and America.
(32). Fight the good fight of faith.
1Ti 6:12, “Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
Note: Faith not only needs to be kept and it must be fought. To fight the good fight of faith you need to take hold of the eternal life and make good confession of the Faith.
(33). To be sound in faith.
Tit 2:2, “Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.”
Note: Sound in Greek is hygiainō which means to be whole and complete; to be wholesome; of the Christian faith which is free from any mixture of error; to be uncorrupt; to be true in doctrine; – which occurs 15 times in the New Testament.To be sound in faith you need to be rooted in the Word of God. John Calvin was not sound in faith because he taught a false doctrine that God predetermined some groups of people to go to Hell.
(34). Show good faith to adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
Tit 2:10, “not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.”
Note: Those who profess to be Christians yet they are liars, thieves and robbers and pilfering and killers do not show all good faith, and do not adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. Believers strive to adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.
(35). To be united by faith.
Heb 4:2, “For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.”
Note: Hearing the Word of God must be united by faith to make profitable. The church of Satan wants to unite people in one world religion contrary to the Faith.
(36). Testing of faith produces endurance.
Jas 1:3, “knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”
Heb 6:12, “so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
Note: It is the will of God for Christians to be imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Those who have faith must also have patience. Patience is never easy. In the Chinese character of ‘patience’, there is a knife in your heart. The testing of your faith produces endurance, endurance strengthens patience. Through faith and patience we will inherit the promises.
(37). Have faith to the preserving of the soul.
Heb 10:39, “But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”
Note: Those who backslide or shrink back meet destruction, but true believers are those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.
(38). By faith we understand.
Heb 11:3, “By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.”
Note: In the matters of the world we understand and then believe. In the things of God by faith we understand, we believe in order to understand. If you believe and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth, you will understand the Word of God. I could not understand God and Jesus Christ by reason and human wisdom. I understand by faith that God is my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ the Son of God is my Lord and Savior. The knowledge of the Most High can be obtained only by revelation through Jesus Christ.
(39). Fix our eyes of Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith.
Heb 12:2, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Note: You are blessed to have learned so much about faith in Christ. Fix your eyes on Jesus who is the Author and Perfecter of faith. If I have to live my life over again, I will still be a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ. There is no such a thing called reincarnation. To believe in Jesus Christ is the greatest thing in anybody’s life.
(40). Ask in faith without any doubting.
Jas 1:6, “But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.”
Note: Prayer is asking God. To pray we must ask God in faith without any doubting. I can testify God answers my prayers without number, therefore I continue to pray all the time.
(41). To be rich in faith.
Jas 2:5, “Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this worldto be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”
Note: Many want to get rich in this world. Everybody is getting mad to make money by all means. There are so many crooks, liars and frauds in this evil generation and they terrify me. Even if you are rich it can last only a short time. I would rather be rich in faith than to be the richest crooked man on earth who is without God and without hope.
(42). Faith pleases God.
Heb 11:6, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”
Note: Faith pleases God. For that reason, unbelievers are doomed. You do not need to kill or rape or rob to go to Hell. Unbelief will send anyone straight to Hell.
(43). Faith without works is useless.
Jas 2:20, “But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?”
Jas 2:26, “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”
Note: It does not mean you are saved by works. No matter how good your works are, they cannot save you or earn you the righteousness of God. If one says he believes but does not repent, he deceives himself. Faith is not inactive or passive. Faith rises up in action. Faith obeys God, that is called obedience of faith. Faith without works is useless. The righteous lives by faith. For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. Faith without obedience is dead.
(44). Prayer offered in faith.
Jas 5:15, “and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.”
Note: The importance of prayer is not how long you pray, but how the prayer is offered earnestly in faith to God.
(45). Proof of your faith.
1Pe 1:7-9, “so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”
Note: Mark you, faith has proof. The proof of a believer’s faith is more precious than gold, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the coming of Jesus Christ. Christianity is based on faith. Though Christians have not seen Christ, we love Him, and though we do not see Him now, but we believe in Him, obtaining the outcome of our faith the salvation of our souls.
(46). Faith and hope are 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: Faith is linked to hope. It is impossible to have hope without faith. Our faith and hope are in God.
(47). Faith overcomes the world.
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: Overcome in Greek is nikaō which means to conquer; to prevail; to get the victory; to win the case; to subdue; to surmount; to defeat; – which occurs 28 times in the New Testament. Heb 11:33-34, “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.” By faith Christians have overcome the world.
(48). Build yourselves up on your most holy faith.
Jde 1:20, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.”
Note: By studying and obeying the Word of God and praying in the Holy Spirit, you can build up yourself on your most holy faith. The faith in God and Christ is most holy.
Rev 14:12, “Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”
Note: Faith in God is not like faith in man. Faith in Jesus is the most holy faith that builds up believers, praying in the Holy Spirit.
(49). Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
Eph 3:17, “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love.”
Note: It is also through faith so that Christ may dwell in our hearts, and that we are being rooted and grounded in love. Through faith means by means of faith, or through the use of faith.
(50). Offer the sacrifice and service of your faith.
Phl 2:17, “But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.”
Note: The service you do for yourself may last a lifetime. The service you offer to mankind may last several generations. True faith will produce sacrifice and service to the Lord. The sacrifice and service of your faith will last for eternity.
(51). Not all have faith.
2Th 3:2, “and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith.”
Note: Do not be surprised. Not all people have faith. Judging from the Word of Jesus, Mat 7:14,“For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” There seems to be more unbelievers than believers. But don’t you get the wrong idea that Heaven will be a lonely place, sparsely populated. Jde 1:14, “Enoch, who lived in the seventh generation after Adam, prophesied about these people. He said, “Listen! The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones.” Rev 5:11, “Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands.” Heb 12:22, “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels.” I have met millions of people around the world, but one good man is worth a billion wicked men. Besides one thing you may not know, all those aborted and killed infants by the grace of God go to Heaven.
Perverse and evil men do not have faith. May God rescue us from perverse and evil men. Those who preach good news and those who heard must be united by faith. Christians everywhere are united by faith. It is hoped you have faith in Christ Jesus so that you may be saved from your sins and judgment to come and have the eternal life.
(52). I do believe; help my unbelief.
Mar 9:24, “Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”
Note: We should pray like the father whose son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foam it at the mouth; the boy had the condition from childhood. But the father prayed, “I do believe, help my unbelief.” Lord, I do believe, help my unbelief.
IN CONCLUSION
Scholars and theologians are usually turgid and pompous in expressing their so-called knowledge and views as fact. Do not waste your time and efforts to study secular academics who put Christianity on a par with Islam, Buddhism, Shintoism, animism, totemism and many more, who do not consider the distinction between Christian and non-Christian religion, and who use so-called higher criticism to discredit the Holy Bible. They attempt to know God from their own standpoint. They bolt and bar themselves against revelation of Jesus Christ by providing a substitute of their own views. Unbelief is always man’s belief in himself. Self, Sin, and Satan prevent oneself from believing and knowing the truth in Christ.
You have learned a lot what faith is. Faith is the act of believing, full of conviction. Faith in God and Christ is personal and individual matter. No one can believe on your behalf just as no one can eat for you. Jesus offers you the bread of life and the eternal life. Come and get it. It is for you to decide whether you want to believe in the Son of God, the Savior of mankind or not. No one can force you. Not even God will force you, for God has given you free will, free to choose life or death. The Faith is the thing we believe. The Christian Faith is the Faith all Christians believe in all generations collectively, the truth in Christ, so that we may receive the eternal salvation and inheritance in Heaven. The Faith is the Holy Faith because none in other religions, it was bought by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. The Faith is the Way, Christianity.
The Christian Faith is holy because it was backed and guaranteed and substantiated by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Jhn 2:22, “So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the Word which Jesus had spoken.” The Apostles and early disciples made a decision, Jhn 6:68-69, “Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have Words of eternal life.We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” Our faith is holy because we believe in the Holy One of God.
Rom 10:12-13, “For there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”
1Jo 5:20, “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.”
Note: It is hoped you have the understanding so that you may know the Son of God who is true, His Son Jesus Christ. To believe and know the true God is eternal life.
Jhn 5:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”
Note: Jesus says, Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes God who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
It was reported that Franklin Delano Roosevelt was killed by a brain hemorrhage after his last words, “I have a terrific headache.” Truly, no matter who you are, powerful, wealthy, and famous, you have no control how you are going to die. Even secular academics and scientists do not know when they are going to die, not to say how they are going to die. A French atheist philosopher was dying, his followers gathered to watch his last moment; and he was struggling desperately to grab for something. They asked him what he was grabbing at. The atheist said, “I have nothing to hold to.” Watch how a Christian martyr died, Steven was stoned to death.
Act 7:59-60, “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.” To die in Christ is like falling asleep. It will be the day of resurrection when Jesus Christ returns to the earth to judge the living and the dead and to reign forever with the saints.
Everyone dies not knowing when and how. But you can be sure like Paul who said, 2Ti 1:12, “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.” If you know Whom you have believed is the Lord of life, you do not worry.
Once upon a time there was an old lady who lived in a remote village. One day severe earthquake struck the small village, people were frightened running to and fro. A little girl asked her grandma, “Are you not afraid?” The grandma said, “No, I rejoice to know that my God can shake the world.”
David says, Psa 23:4-6, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
Note: Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow Christians all the days of their lives, and we will live in the House of the Lord forever.
Now you know what “faith” is, and what the “Faith” is. It is up to you to act. Faith requires action.
Jesus Christ is calling you, Come and receive eternal life by faith without cost.
You can come now no matter who you are and where you are to accept and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
ON September 3, 2025 for China to mark 80th 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.
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This article is written to let you know what a Christian life is and how to lead a Christian life. First, it is absolutely impossible for an ordinary or average man (sinner) to live a Christian life. Only a Christian can live a Christian life. A monkey lives a life of monkey. A lion does not and cannot live a life of monkey. A bird cannot live a life of fish. Every animal lives according to its own life. Sinners live a sinful life. Only a Christian can live a Christian life. Before you can live a Christian life, you must first become a Christian.
Jhn 3:5-8, “ 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. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Note: Water refers to the Word of God. Truly, truly, unless one is born of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which born of the flesh is flesh, man is born of the flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. A Christian is a born again by the Word and the Spirit. A Christian has a spiritual life which a sinner does not have. Without the Holy Spirit living inside, no one can live a Christian life.
Mat 4:4 , “But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘ MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE , BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’”
Note: A Christian does not live on bread alone, but live on the Word of God.
Luk 7:25 , “But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are found in royal palaces! ”
Note: How true it is that luxuries are found in royal palaces. There are so many useless and worthless peoples who live in luxuries.
Live in luxury does not mean to live a Christian life. Something is seriously wrong with preachers who live in luxury.
Luk 15:32 , “But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”
Note: A sinner’s life is spiritually dead. You have not begun to live until you are born again and receive a new life in Jesus Christ. The life in Christ is to live forever. Lest you start in the wrong way, you cannot live a Christian life unless you have the Spirit of Christ living in you.
Jhn 11:25 , “ Jesus said to her, “ I AM the Resurrection and the Life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies.”
Note: Jesus is the resurrection and the life. He who believe in Jesus will live even if he dies because true believers will have the resurrection in spiritual, glorious and eternal body.
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.’ ”
Note: On earth now all children of God in Christ live and move and exist. For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.
Rom 6:8 , “Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.”
Rom 8:12 -13 , “So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ”
2Ti 3:12, “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. ”
The world hates Christians because they live godly in Christ.
Rom 14:8 , “ for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. ”
2Co 13:4, “For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you. “
No one can live a Christian life without the power of God directed toward him.
Gal 2:19 , “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. ”
Note: What is a Christian life like? Christians live in Christ, live with Christ, live for Christ, and live to God.
I. How to be saved
What must I do to be saved?
The Jailer Converted
Act 16:30-32, “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. ”
Note: This jailer is a typical person how he and his household were saved. Jailer knew he was a sinner. He wanted to be saved. So he asked Paul and Silas who were imprisoned, what must he do to be saved. The way of salvation is the way of God. All other religions teach the way of salvation is the way of man.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ says, Eph 2:8 , “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
Note: Grace in is chariswhich means unmerited favor; loving-kindness; mercy; good will; benefit; bounty; unmerited divine assistance; – which occurs 159 times in the New Testament. Faith in Greek is pistiswhich means belief; conviction that Jesus Christ is the Messiah; reliance; trust; – which occurs 243 times in the New Testament. Save in Greek is sōzōwhich means to rescue from death and destruction; to make whole; to deliver or protect literally and figuratively; to preserve; to save body and soul from Hell;- which occurs 123 times in the New Testament. Gift in Greek is dōronwhich means present; offering; something given freely; – which occurs 19 times in the New Testament. Salvation is the gift of God, no one can earn it. So it is by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ you may be saved, and it is not what you have done. It is what Christ has done for you and me.
What does salvation through Christ involve?
Jhn 3:17 , “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. ”
Note: Jesus Christ the Son of God came into the world the first time to save sinners. Jesus Christ is coming again the second time to judge the world.
Jhn 10:9 , “I am the Door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. ”
Note: Jesus is the Good Shepherd and He is the Door of salvation. If anyone enters through Jesus Christ, he will be saved. Salvation is only in Christ.
Jhn 14:6 , “Jesus said to him, “I AM the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. ”
Note: Jesus Christ is the Way, there is no other way to God. All man-made religions lead people astray. No man can find God by science or his efforts. This is the Truth. To believe in Jesus Christ is to receive eternal life.
Rom 3:22 , “even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction .”
Rom 3:24 , “being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus .”
Sinners are unrighteous in the sight of God, but sinners can be justified as a gift by God’s grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ redeems sinners by dying on the cross for our sins. So we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Simply by believing in what Jesus Christ has done for you, you may obtain the righteousness of God and be justified, it means God counts not as sinner but as righteous.
Phl 3:9 , “and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith .”
Note: From the law no one can be justified because if you violate one law you violate all laws. So sinners need the righteousness from God on the basis of faith, not work.
There is no distinction whether you are male or female, free or slave, of any color or class. If you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Savior of mankind, you will awarded the righteousness of God. By His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, a sinner can be justified as a gift of God.
Rom 5:1 , “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ .”
Note: God considers every sinner an enemy. Having been justified by grace, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. A saved believer no longer fears God might hurt him.
Rom 5:9 , “ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. ”
Note: Having now been justified by the precious blood of Jesus Christ (redemption), we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. The wrath of God in the judgment to come will fall upon the wicked and unbelievers.
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. ” Jesus Christ rose again from the dead by the power of God, He is able to save those who come to Him to the end. For Jesus Christ lives forever and ever.
Note: Sinners are enemies of God. The wages of sin is death. For that reason we all have to die, sooner or later. Through the death of His Son, we are reconciled to God, and having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Our Redeemer lives forever to save believers to the end.
Rom 8:11 , “ But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. ”
1Pe 1:3 , “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead .”
Note: The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in believers. God who raised Christ Jesus from the dead also gives life to our mortal bodies through His Spirit who lives in us. In Christ we have a living hope.
Eph 1:7 , “ In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace .”
Eph 2:18 , “for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. ”
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: Redemption in Greek is apolytrōsis which means deliverance; liberation procured by the payment of a ransom; according Strong’s Concordance, deliverance effected through the death of Christ from the retributive wrath of a holy God and the merited penalty of sin ; – which occurs 10 times in the New Testament. In Christ we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses (sins), according to the riches of God’s grace. Through Christ we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. Through the Gospel, Gentile believers are fellow heirs and fellow members of the Body of Christ, and fellow partakers of the promises in Christ.
Heb 7:25 , “ Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. ”
Heb 9:12, “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.”
Note: Jesus Christ is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, through His own blood, He has obtained eternal redemption. Believers have been sanctified once and for all through the body of Jesus Christ.
The process of obtaining salvation :
1. Repent.
Mat 4:17 , “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “ Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
Mar 1:15 , “and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.”
Note: The Kingdom of Heaven is the Kingdom of God. Repent in Greek is metanoeō which means to change one’s mind; to be sorry for one’s past sins; to think differently; to turn around; to turn from sin to God; to turn from darkness to light; turn away from idols to the living God; – which occurs 32 times in the New Testament.
Why should one repent?
Luk 13:3 , “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. ”
Note: Perish in Greek is apollymiwhich means to be destroyed; ruin; to be put to death; to be lost; to put an end to; to give over to eternal misery in Hell; – which occurs 94 times in the New Testament. Sinners will die in their sins and perish in Hell. Mat 10:28 , “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell. Luk 12:4-5 , “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into Hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! ”
Act 17:30 , “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent .”
Note: Overlook in Greek ishyperoraōwhich means to wink at; to take no notice of; excuse; not attend to; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. Ignorance in Greek is agnoia which means lack of knowledge; moral blindness; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. Declare in Greek is apaggellō which means to tell; show; bring word; to proclaim; to make known openly; to announce; – which occurs 47 times in the New Testament. Ignorance cannot be excused anymore. God overlooked your past times of ignorance, but now God is seriously declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent. All people means you and you and you and me and everybody.
Zaccheus Converted
Luk 19:2-10, “And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich. Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way. When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly. When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Note: Zaccheus in Greek is Zakchaios which means “pure”; but his life was corrupt. Although he was small in stature, he was big in determination. So he ran ahead of the crowd and climbed up into a tree in order to see Jesus. He overcame the problems of crowd and his short stature. The crowd grumbled that Jesus had gone to be a guest of a sinner. Zaccheus repented of his sins and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.” This is an example of faith in action, the result of true repentance. It is not possible for a man who believes in Jesus and not to repent. Act 26:20 , “but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.” He who repents and turns to God will perform deeds appropriate to repentance. Mat 3:8 , “Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance.” In keeping with in Greek is axios, which means worthy; to meet; corresponding to; befitting; deserving; comparable or suitable; – which occurs 41 times in the New Testament. Jesus says, Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
Many church members believe repentance is only once when you accepted Jesus.
Rev 2:5 , “Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent. ”
Note: A saved believer still can fall. Just do not fall from grace. Repent and do the deeds you did at first when you accepted the Lord as your Savior, when you first loved the Lord.
Rev 3:3 , “So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. ”
Note: Keep what you have received and heard the Word of God and repent. Wake up from your spiritual slumber.
Eph 4:25-32 , “Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,and do not give the devil an opportunity. He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. ”
Note: Do you lie? Repent and speak the truth. Do you get angry? Do not sin and repent. Do you steal? Repent and steal no longer. How many employees steal from their employers? I know a head-nurse who stole from her hospital. How many managers and executives steal from their corporations. One man told me he was in the Army, so many stole from the warehouse of Army. How many managers and executives use company petty cash as their own. Do you use curse and filthy word? Repent and use good word. How many times we grieve the Holy Spirit? Report and obey the Holy Spirit. Do you practice bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and slander with malice? Repent and put them away from you. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has forgiven us. Do you see we Christians need to repent whenever we fall short or miss the mark.
Why Jesus has not come yet?
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: Repentance in Greek is metanoia which means a change of heart or mind; sorry for one’s sin; compunction (for guilt); turn to the right path; change of mind to abhor sins and misdeeds; a recognition of sin and sorrow for it; remorse for one’s misdeeds or shortcomings; – which occurs 22 times in the New Testament.
Act 2:38 , “Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ”
Act 26:20 , “ but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance. ”
2. Believe.
Faith is necessary for new birth, participation of divine nature, a new life. Faith is still necessary when a Christian ends his journey on earth and dies. Faith follows a Christian through his life.
Rom 10:17 , “ So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ. ”
Note: Preaching the Gospel of Christ is of greatest importance. Without hearing the Word, people cannot believe. For faith comes from hearing the Gospel.
Mar 1:15 , “and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.”
Note: Repent of sins and believe in the Gospel go together. Those who repent of their sins must believe in the Gospel, those who believe in the Gospel must repent of their sins.
Luk 8:12 , “Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. ”
Note: The process of salvation is to repent of your sins, believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and you will be saved.
Jesus says, Jhn 5:24 , “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My Word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. ”
Note: He who hears the Word of Christ, and believes God who sent Jesus, has eternal life, and does not come into judgement (because his sins are forgiven), but has passed out of death into life. To be saved is to have passed out of eternal death into eternal life.
Rom 10:9 , “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; ”
Note: If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Heb 11:6, “ And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. ”
Why faith? Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Do you know unbelief is a great sin that can send anyone to Hell? Jhn 16:9 , “ concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me .” Jhn 8:24 , “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” Jde 1:5 , “ Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.”
1Jo 5:13 , “ These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. ”
The Bible is written so that people who believe in the name of the Son of God may know that they have eternal life.
Heb 11:3, “ By faith we understand that the universe was formed by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. ”
Note: Form in Greek katartizōwhich means to make perfect; frame; fit out; prepare; perfectly joined together; put in order; arrange; – which occurs 15 times in the New Testament. Scientists only study the things visible, even that, with all scientific instruments and tools, not very well and often fallible. The invisible is beyond scientific inquiry. In human knowledge you understand and then believe. In spiritual knowledge by faith we understand. We understand the worlds (universe) were prepared or created by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of thing which are visible. Faith is seeing the invisible. Scientists with all instruments, telescope and microscope, cannot see the invisible.
Gal 3:26 , “ For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ”
1Co 2:5 , “ so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. ”
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.”
Rom 3:28 , “ For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. ”
Rom 4:5 , “ But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness .”
Note: Through faith in Jesus Christ we become sons of God. Our faith rests on the power of God, not wisdom of men. Believers live by faith. A man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. No one can be justified from works of the Law or his own merit. The one who believes in Christ who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.
Rom 5:1-2 , “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. ”
Note: Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Jesus Christ we also obtained grace in which we stand. No one can stand before God without grace. Believers exult in hope of the glory of God when Jesus Christ returns to earth.
Mat 9:28 , “When He entered the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”
Note: Faith is simply believes that Jesus Christ is able to save sinners, not only to heal all diseases and pains. Blessed is the person who says, “Yes, Lord.” To say yes to the Lord, you need to say no to the devil.
Mar 9:20 -24, “They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us! And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”
Note: The boy’s father was wise to cry out to Jesus, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” The man is wiser than many unbelieving scientists, theologians and philosophers. A man is hopeless if he does not realize he needs help.
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: As many as who believe and receive Jesus Christ, to them God gives the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.
Jhn 3:18, “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. ”
Note: He who believes in Jesus Christ 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 God. You need not to be a killer, robber, and liar to be judged. Your unbelief has been condemned and judged already, it is a matter of time to be sent to Hell for eternal punishment. Do you see how serious is the difference between belief and unbelief, between life and death.
Jhn 6:29 , “Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
Note: No one can be saved by his good deeds. This is the work of God, if you believe in Jesus Christ whom God has sent.
Jhn 8:24 , “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
Note: You will die in your sins; for unless you believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, you will die in your sins.
Jhn 9:38 , “And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him. ”
Note: All who believe in Jesus Christ worship Him, for He is our God and Savior.
Jhn 10:26, “But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep.”
Note: There are people who are so proud and arrogant that they declare they do not believe in Jesus Christ, not knowing they seal their own fate–eternal death. You do not believe because you are not of Jesus’ sheep. You live in this world without God and without hope.
Jhn 20:31 , “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: The Holy Scriptures 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.
3. Confess.
Rom 10:8 -11 , “ But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”
Note: Confess in Greek is homologeō which means to profess; make confession; assent; to agree with; declare; not to deny; to admit; acknowledge; concede; to declare faith in; adhere to; – which occurs 27 times in the New Testament. All Christians confess with their mouths that Jesus is the Lord. Believe in Greek is pisteuō which means to have confidence; to accept the word of; to fave a firm conviction; to put in trust with; to have faith in; to think to be true; to trust in Jesus or God for salvation; – which occurs 244 times in the New Testament. To confess Jesus is the Lord you use your mouth, to believe that God raised Jesus from the dead you use your heart. A person believes with the heart resulting in righteousness, and confesses with the mouth resulting in salvation.
Mat 10:32 , “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in Heaven.”
Luk 12:8 , “And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God .”
Note: It is vital to confess Jesus Christ before men, so that Jesus Christ will confess us before the Father who is in Heaven.
2Co 9:13 , “Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the Gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all.”
Note: In addition to the confession that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, Christians also have obedience to and make confession of the Gospel of Christ. To make confession of the Gospel of Christ is to proclaim to the people. Heb 4:14 , “ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ” Hold fast in Greek is krateōwhich means to lay hold on; lay hand on; get possession of; take hold of; seize or retain; not to let go; to continue to hold; – which occurs 58 times in the New Testament. Heb 10:23 , “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful .” Hold fast in Greek is katechō which means to possess; keep; retain; keep secure; keep firm possession of; seize on; – which occurs 25 times in the New Testament. So Christians hold fast to the confession of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, and our confession to the obedience of the Gospel of Christ.
Not only we need to confess our Lord Jesus Christ, confess our faith, we also need to confess our sins. Not to confess our sins to a Catholic priest, but to God.
1Jo 1:9 , “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ”
After a Christian is saved from everlasting death, he still has to confess his sins as long as he lives in this world.
4. Accept.
Mar 4:20 , “And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the Word and accept it and bear fruit , thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”
Note: Accept in Greek is paradechomai which means to receive willingly; to take up; to delight in; to acknowledge as one’s own; to believe; to say yes; – which occurs 6 times in the New Testament. Those who hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and accept it in an honest and good heart will bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.
Mar 10:15 , “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all. ”
Luk 18:17 , “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all. ”
Note: Receive in Greek is dechomai which means to accept gladly; to take up; to take hold of; to get; to acquire; – which occurs 56 times in the New Testament. Child in Greek is paidion which means little child; young child; little one; figuratively an innocent and unsophisticated person; – which occurs 52 times in the New Testament. We must receive the Kingdom of God with the innocence and simplicity and sincerity of a child. No one can come to Jesus Christ as president, politician, or prime minister. However, you may come to Christ as pimp or prostitute, thief or robber. All must come to Christ as sinners.
Jhn 12:48 , “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. ”
Note: He who rejects Jesus Christ and does not receive His sayings, the word Jesus spoke is what will judge him at the last days.
Act 26:18 , “to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’
Note: The Holy Spirit opens the eyes of those who believe so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have be sanctified by faith in Christ Jesus.
2Th 2:10 , “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. ”
Note: Those who perish believe in all the deception of wickedness, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. They believe what is false and take pleasure in wickedness.
Heb 12:28 , “ Therefore, since we receive a Kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.”
Note: To believe in Jesus Christ not only to receive forgiveness of sins, salvation and sanctification, but also receive the Kingdom of Heaven which cannot be shaken. Christians ought to show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.
II. How to grow
An infant grows because it has life. A doll cannot and does not grow, because it is dead. For a Christian to grow his spiritual life, he needs to study the Word of God, to pray to God, and imitate Christ.
1Pe 2:2 , “like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.”
1Co 3:2 , “ I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able .”
Note: If you take a doll and an infant, how can you tell the difference. A doll has no life in itself, will never grow. An infant has life in itself, it can breath and cry and eat. New converts are like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, so that by it may grow. Just as babies cannot eat solid food, so young converts are not able to receive solid doctrine like sanctification and sacrifice.
2Pe 3:17-18, “ You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. ”
Note: Not only God knows everything; God knows the end from the beginning. Time and space do not restrict and limit the knowledge and foreknowledge of God. The Word of God always warns and forewarn believers beforehand. Be on guard in Greek is phylassō which means to keep one’s self; beware; keep watch; observe; have an eye open; to preserve, observe, avoid; – which occurs 33 times in the New Testament. Carry away in Greek is synapagō which means to lead away with; sweep away; condescend; – which occurs 5 times in the New Testament. Error in Greek is planē which means deceit; delusion; deception; falsehood; mental straying; fraud; wandering away from truth; wrong opinion; leading astray from the right way; – which occurs 10 times in the New Testament. There are many doctrinal errors and wrong opinions spread by false prophets and false teachers. Roman Catholicism is an error. Evolution is an error. Secularism is an error. Liberal theology is an error. Unprincipled in Greek is athesmos which means wicked; lawless; unscrupulous; evil; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. Beware the error of the wicked which can carry people away and make people fall. Do not fall from grace. Steadfastness in Greek is stērigmos which means firm condition; moral and mental stability; – which occurs 1 times in the New Testament. It is possible for you to fall from steadfastness, therefore be on your guard. The following is a good advice for all believers of all times and places:
Eph 6:11-13, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ”
Note: Armor in Greek is panoplia which means whole armor; panoply; full armor includes shield, sword, lance, helmet, greaves, and breastplate ; – which occurs 6 times in the New Testament. The full armor of God includes THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, the shield of faith , THE HELMET OF SALVATION , and the sword of the Spirit . Scheme in Greek is methodeia which means wile; cunning arts; deceit; trickery; craft; deceitful devices; design; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Schemes of the wicked are the schemes of the Devil and more. The schemes of the devil are wicked and evil schemes and schemes of iniquity.The schemes of the devil are to take advantage of you.
Luk 2:40 , “ The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.”
Note: The Child Jesus can be a model for young converts. A young convert needs to continue to grow by feeding on the pure milk of the Word of God so he can become strong, increase in wisdom, and grow in the grace and knowledge of God.
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: Young believers need to continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, having root. Focus on the hope of the Gospel.
1Ti 4:6 , “In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the Words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.”
Note: A good servant of Jesus Christ, in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity , needs to show himself an example of those who believe. Constantly nourished on the Words of the faith and of the sound doctrine he is able to instruct young believers. A preacher of prosperity gospel who loves money and the world is not a servant of Christ.
Phl 1:25 , “Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith .”
Note: As his faith grows, a true believer will show progress and joy in the faith.
1Pe 1:7 , “so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ .”
Note: A true believe has the proof of his faith, being more precious than perishable gold, even though tested by fire (tribulations), may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Eph 4:15 , “but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the Head, even Christ .”
Note: Christians do not and cannot lie, but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects conforming to the image of Christ who is the Head of the Church. Not a few preachers or pastors try to make their members their disciples. Christians are disciples of Jesus Christ, not any man no matter how famous he is.
2Pe 3:18 , “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. ”
Note: Christians are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christians want to be rich in the faith, rich in good work. The supreme goal of a Christian life is to Jesus Christ be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity.
For Christians to grow, we need to study the Bible, pray to God, imitate Christ, testify for Jesus Christ, and do good deeds.
(A.) How to study the Bible.
The Holy Bible is not like any other book. The Bible is the sole Book whereby Christianity is built and based upon. The Bible or the Scripture claims to be the Word of God, although holy prophets and holy apostles were moved and wrote by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Bible never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit and wrote them down. The Bible is right because God cannot be wrong. It simply means the Bible is not the teaching of man; it is the revelation of God. The Bible is divided into two parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is the basis of Judaism, mainly the Mosaic Law and the Prophets – from Genesis to Malachi, a set of 39 books. The New Testament is the basis of Christianity, written by apostles after the ascension of Jesus Christ – from Matthew to Revelation, a set of 27 books. Thus, the Bible is composed of 66 books. Unfortunately, the Jews still wait for the Messiah, they do not know or believe that Jesus Christ was the Messiah who was God and became Man some 2,000 years ago. For this reason the Jews believe only the Old Testament. Christians believe in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is fulfilled in the New Testament because Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law of Moses. All the prophets spoke about the Messiah fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. The Bible is not like other books, it is the message of God to mankind. The central message of the Bible is that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was sent into the world to die for our sins, rose from death for our justification. He ascended to Heaven sitting at the right hand of God, and He is coming again to reign with the saints forever and ever. Some humanists and modernists and unbelievers out of their evil heart of unbelief want a ‘different and better Bible’. There is no other Bible, there is no better Bible, there is only one Bible which is the Word of the Lord. Men may fake a Good Book. There is no other Good Book, the Bible is the only Good Book because it has the Word of life, and it teaches the Way of God in truth.
The Bible was not conceived by man, or woman, or men. The Bible was not invented by human being or human beings. The Bible was not made by an institution or institutions. The Bible was not a product of culture, tradition, religion, custom, experience or experiment, discovery or wisdom of human beings. The Bible was not a fable, fiction, composition, novel, anthology, essay, philosophy of human mind. The Bible is the Holy Scripture, the Word of God.
Jhn 10:35,“If he called them gods, to whom the Word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken).” The Bible, the Scripture and the Word of God are synonymous. Word in Greek is logos which means speech, a living voice, a conception or idea, what is said, decree, dictum, mandate, declaration, instruction, reason, revelation, oracle or utterance, the sayings of God, the moral precepts given by God, doctrine, teaching, the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the personal Wisdom and Power in union with God; – it occurs 334 times in the New Testament. The Word of God came to holy prophets and apostles.
What to Do with the Word of God.
Peoples of the world and Christians are at least told to do the following. The Word of God speaks two groups of people: believers and unbelievers. What the Word of God tells Christians to do, unbelievers cannot do.
(1.) Hear the Word.
Isa 28:14, “Therefore hear the Word of the LORD, you scornful men, who rule this people who are in Jerusalem.”
Isa 66:5 , “Hear the Word of the LORD, you who tremble at His Word: Your brethren who hated you, who cast you out for My name’s sake, said: Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy. But they shall be ashamed.”
Jesus says, Mat 13:9 , “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Rom 10:17 , “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
Note: Hear the Word means to listen to what God says and obey the Word of God. The Holy Bible is the Word of God.
(2.) Pay attention to the Word.
2Pe 1:19, “And we have the Word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
Note: Pay attention in Greek is prosechō which means to turn the mind to, attend to be attentive, give attention to, take heed, devote thought and effort to; – it occurs about 24 times in the New Testament. You do well to pay attention to the Word of God which a light like the morning star that shines in your hearts.
(3.) Believe the Word.
Act 4:4 ,“However, many of those who heard the Word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.”
Note: Believe in Greek is pisteuō which means to think to be true, to be persuaded of, place confidence in, trust in Jesus or God as able to aid; – it occurs about 248 times in the New Testament. To believe the Word is to take God at His Word.
Act 15:7,“And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the Word of the Gospel and believe.”
Note: It is the duty of man to hear the Word of the Gospel and believe.
Eph 1:13 , “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the Word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.”
Note: To hear the Word of truth, the Gospel of our salvation and believe is to be sealed to receive the Holy Spirit.
(4.) Receive the Word.
Act 8:14 , “Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.”
Note: Receive in Greek is dechomai which means to take hold of, take up, give ear to, embrace, approve, make one’s own; – it occurs 59 times in the New Testament. We must receive the Word of God.
Act 17:11 , “These were more noble-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: Readiness in Greek is prothymia which means readiness of mind, eagerness, zeal, spirit, inclination; – it occurs only 5 times in the New Testament. Search the Scriptures and receive the Word with readiness of mind and eagerness.
1Th 1:6, “And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the Word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit.”
Note: For followers of Jesus Christ to receive the Word in affliction means to suffer for the Lord and to be with joy of the Holy Spirit.
1Th 2:13, “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.”
Note: The Word of God is the Word of truth.
(5.) Desire the Word.
1Pe 2:2 , “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby.”
Note: Desire in Greek is epipotheō which means to long for, pursue with love, long after; – it occurs only 9 times in the New Testament. As newborn babes desire the milk so Christians should desire the pure milk of the Word. The Word is vital for spiritual growth. Christians are to grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ. Knowledge of and obedience to the Word of God are essential for Christian growth.
(6.) Taste the Word.
Hbr 6:5 , “And have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the age to come.”
Note: Taste in Greek is geuomai which means to try the flavor of, partake of, enjoy, feel and experience; – it occurs about 15 times in the New Testament. The taste of the Word of God is good because of its promises and blessings. If you are a child of God, you must have experienced the divine providence and how God has blessed and helped you in many ways.
(7.) Keep the Word.
Luk 11:28 , “But He said: More than that, blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it!”
Note: Keep here in Greek is phylassō which means to guard, watch, keep watch, guard i.e. care for, take care not to violate, observe; – it occurs about 30 times in the New Testament.
1Jo 2:5 , “But whoever keeps His Word, truly the love of God is perfected in Him. By this we know that we are in Him.”
Note: Keep in Greek is tēreō which means to attend to carefully, take care of, observe of God’s or Christ’s command; – it occurs about 75 times in the New Testament. To keep the Word is to obey the commandments of God and do the will of God.
(8.) Remember the Word.
Jhn 15:20 , “Remember the Word that I said to you: A servant 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.”
Note: Remember in Greek is mnēmoneuō which means to be mindful of, call to mind, hold in memory, keep in mind, make mention of; – it occurs about 21 times in the New Testament. Christians must remember the Word that Jesus said in the New Testament and keep it. To remember the Word of Christ you have to keep it in your heart. Here “yours” refers what the apostles later said and wrote in the New Testament. It does not mean what church leaders, theologians or pastors say.
(9.) Obey the Word.
Jos 24:24 , “The people said to Joshua: We will serve the LORD our God and we will obey His voice. ”
Note: Obey in Hebrew is shama`which means to hear, listen to, consent, agree, yield to, be obedient, give heed; – it occurs about 1,159 times in the Old Testament. God’s voice and God’s word mean the same. To obey God’s voice is to obey His Word.
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.”
Note: Obey in Greek is hypakouō which means to be obedient to, submit to, harken to a command; – it occurs 21 times in the New Testament. To obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus is to obey the Word. Those who do not obey will receive retribution. Retribution in Greek is ekdikēsis which means vengeance, punishment; – it occurs only 9 times in the New Testament. What punishment for those who do not obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ says, Mat 25:46 , “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Punishment in Greek is kolasis which means correction, penalty; – it occurs only 2 times in the New Testament. What is eternal punishment? Body and soul suffer in Hell forever.
(10.) Be doers of the Word.
Jam 1:22, “But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
Note: Doer in Greek is poiētēs which means a performer, practitioner, one who obeys or fulfills the law; – it occurs only 6 times in the New Testament. One who hears the Word, but does not do it, deceives himself. A good illustration is the Western powers that claim to be Christian, but they practice imperialism, colonialism, capitalism, and hegemonism which are totally contrary to the Word of God.
Luk 6:46 , “Why do you call Me: ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
Be doer of the Word is to do what the Lord says.
(11.) Hold firm the Word.
Phl 2:16 , “Holding out the Word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”
Note: Hold out in Greek is epechō which means to have or hold upon, hold toward, hold forth; – it occurs only 5 times in the New Testament.
Tts 1:9 ,“Holding firm the faithful Word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.”
Note: Hold firm in Greek is antechō which means to hold to firmly, cleave to; – it occurs only 4 times in the New Testament. Believers must hold out and hold firm the Word of life in this ungodly world.
(12.) Speak the Word.
Act 4:31 , “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.”
Note: Speak in Greek is laleō which means to utter a voice or emit a sound, use the tongue or the faculty of speech, talk, tell, use words in order to declare one’s mind and disclose one’s thoughts, make known by speaking; – it occurs about 296 times in the New Testament. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is not meant to speak in tongues, but to speak the Word of God with boldness. Boldness in Greek is parrēsia which means freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech, open, frankly, free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, assurance; – it occurs about 31 times in the New Testament.
Act 16:32,“Then they spoke the Word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.”
Phl 1:14 , “And most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the Word without fear.”
Note: What is the difference between speaking the Word and preaching the Word. Speaking the Word is informal, preaching the Word is formal. We should pray that the Word of God can be proclaimed everywhere without fear. In some countries that have state religion, you will lose your life or your head to preach the Word of God. If one of their citizens is converted to Christianity, he/she will be beheaded. That kind of oppressive religion should be outlawed in all civilized nations. Religious freedom should mean preaching and practicing the Gospel of Jesus Christ without fear.
(14.) Preach the Word.
Act 8:4, “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the Word.”
Note: Preach in Greek is euaggelizō which means to evangelize, bring good news, announce glad tidings, proclaim glad tidings; – it occurs about 55 times in the New Testament. There is a wrong idea among believers. They think to preach the Word is only the job of preachers. Christians everywhere must preach the Word to unbelievers.
Act 8:25 ,“So when they had testified and preached the Word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the Gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.”
Act 15:35 ,“Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the Word of the Lord, with many others also.”
2Ti 4:2,“Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”
Note: Here the word preach is kēryssō which means to be a herald, to officiate as a herald, publish, proclaim openly; – it occurs about 61 times in the New Testament. The Gospel of Jesus Christ can be preached by TV, radio, movie, printed matter, record, DVD, and the Internet.
(15.) Spread the Word.
Act 13:49 ,“And the Word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.”
Note: Spread in Greek is diapherō which means to bear or carry through any place, carry in different directions, to different places, spread abroad; – it occurs about 13 times in the New Testament. Preachers must preach the Gospel; all Christians must spread the Word. Today the Internet is the most effective and fastest means of spreading the Word of the Lord throughout the world, and the cheapest means.
(16.) Bear witness to the Word.
Act 14:3 ,“Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the Word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”
Note: Bear witness in Greek is martyreō which means to testify, affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, be a witness of the truth; – it occurs about 79 times in the New Testament. Every born-again Christian is a witness to the Word of His grace; even most believers do not have the gift of performing signs and miracles. A Christian life is a living testimony to the grace and power of God.
(17.) Teach the Word.
Act 18:11 ,“And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the Word of God among them.”
Note: Teach in Greek is didaskō which means to hold discourse with others in order to instruct them, deliver didactic discourses, impart instruction, instill doctrine into one, explain or expound a thing; – it occurs about 97 times in the New Testament. Not everyone can teach the Word. Ministers must be equipped to teach sound doctrines. The strangest things are professors of theology and ministers who do not know the Word but teach everything to deny and repudiate the Word. Such are false teachers. You wonder why they exist in seminaries and churches today. Actually it is a fulfilled prophecy,
Jud 1:4 , “For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2Pe 2:1,“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.” Any doctrine that denies Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world is a destructive heresy and false doctrine.
(18.) Labor in the Word.
1Ti 5:17 ,“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the Word and doctrine. ”
2Ti 2:15 , “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Note: This task is assigned to the preachers and Bible teachers. Labor in Greek is kopiaō which means to toil with wearisome effort; – it occurs about 23 times in the New Testament. What I am trying to do is to put the Word and fundamental doctrines of Christianity on the Internet absolutely free, rightly dividing the Word of truth, proclaiming and promoting the Kingdom of God and Christ. Rightly dividing in Greek is orthotomeō which means to make straight and smooth, to handle aright, to teach the truth directly and correctly; – it occurs only once in the New Testament. To explain the differences between law and grace, between work and gift, between reward and punishment, between heaven and hell, between this life and the life to come, between things below and things above, between the worldly and the spiritual, between the eternal life and eternal punishment, etc. is rightly dividing the Word of truth. Among those who labored in the Word and doctrines that I admire most are G. Campbell Morgan, J. C. Ryle, John Bunyan, etc.
(19.) Glorify the Word.
Act 13:48 ,“Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the Word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”
Note: Glorify in Greek is doxazō which means to praise, extol, magnify, celebrate, honor, do honor to, hold in honor, make glorious, adorn with luster, clothe with splendor, render it excellent or illustrious; – it occurs 62 times in the New Testament. There is nothing like the Holy Bible because it is the Word of God. There is nothing like the Word of God because it is truth, nothing but the truth, trustworthy to accept and believe. To glorify the Word of the Lord is to glorify God. Those who glorify the Word of God do not commit idolatry (bibliolatry). To glorify the Word of God you cannot glorify the words of men. Those who glorify the words of men are guilty of idolatry. The church of Jesus Christ must obey the Word of God.
Ezr 7:6 -12 , “ This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all he requested because the hand of the LORD his God was upon him. For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practiceit, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel. Now this is the copy of the decree which King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, learned in the words of the commandments of the LORD and His statutes to Israel: “Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace. And now ”
Note: Ezra in Hebrew is Ezra’ which means Ezra = “help” , he was a co-worker with Nehemiah; – which occurs 22 times in the Old Testament. Ezra was a most remarkable learned man, gifted, a scribe and priest, learned in the Words of the commandments of the Lord and His statutes to Israel. Ezra was a model student of the Word of God. He who studies the Bible must set his heart. Set in Hebrew is kuwn which means to prepare; to make ready; to be securely determined; to apply one’s mind to do something; to direct; – which occurs 237 times in the Old Testament. Heart in Hebrew is lebab which means mind; soul; the seat of senses, affections, and emotions of the mind; the mode of thinking and acting; the seat of will and purpose; intellect and wisdom; – which occurs 250 times in the Old Testament. Study in Hebrew is darash which means to search; seek with care; enquire; investigate; to apply oneself; – which occurs 167 times in the Old Testament. Practice in Hebrew is `asah which means to do; perform; execute; keep; maintain; accomplish; bring about; put in order; follow; fulfill; work about; – which occurs 2,642 times in the Old Testament. Ezra set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it because he wanted to teach God’s statutes and ordinances in Israel.
2Ti 3:14 -17 , “You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 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: Timothy was blessed to have known the Sacred Writings from childhood. I am grateful to have studied the Bible from childhood. Convince in Greek ispistoō which means to be assured of; to be firmly persuaded of; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. Christians are convinced the Word of God is true, and Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. Sacred in Greek ishieros which means Sacred Scriptures because inspired by God; holy; pertaining to God; consecrated to God; worthy of veneration; deserving respect; – which occurs 74 times in the New Testament. Writing in Greek is gramma which means Scriptures; a document or record; that which has been written; the sacred writings of the Old Testament; – which occurs 13 times in the New Testament. The Sacred Writings are able to give us the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Scripture in Greek is graphē which means the Scripture, used to denote either the book itself, or its contents ; a certain portion or section of the Holy Scripture ; Holy Writ; – which occurs 51 times in the New Testament. Inspire in Greek istheopneustos which means to be given inspiration by God; divinely breathed in; to influence by divine inspiration; to communicate supernaturally; to bring about; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Luk 24:27 , “Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” From Moses to all the prophets, they speak concerning Jesus Christ. Profitable in Greek is ōphelimos which means helpful or serviceable; advantageous; beneficial; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. A Chinese philosopher said, It is profitable to open a book. Although I had studied the world’s great masterpieces, I can assure you there is nothing more profitable or beneficial than the study of the Holy Bible. All the more a servant of Christ must master the Word of God in order to be adequate, and equipped for every good work.
Jhn 5:39 , “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me .”
Note: Search in Greek is eraunaō which means to examine into; to seek; to investigate; to look into carefully; – which occurs 7 times in the New Testament. Testify in Greek is martyreō which means to bear witness; bear record; to give honest testimony; attest; – which occurs 96 times in the New Testament. The Scriptures testify about Jesus Christ. Everything we know about Jesus Christ we learn from the Scriptures.
Years ago when I was young, an American professor advised me: Study the Gospel of John 100 times. Study the Book of Romans 100 times. Now I am old, it was a good advice. Here is a plan for your self-study of the Bible. You begin by reading carefully the Gospel of John, do it consecutively, do not skip chapter. Read every verse, pay attention to every word. If you study the Gospel of John carefully, you will have the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the central message of the Holy Bible. Then read the Book of Romans the same way you read the Gospel of John. If you study the Book of Romans, you will understand the Christian faith. When you finish the Book of Romans, then start with the Gospel of Matthew and finish the whole New Testament. Afterwards you begin with Genesis and finish the whole Old Testament. Since the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New Testament, it is profitable that you focus more on the New Testament. You do not need to use commentary. Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you and lead you into all truth. If you are acquainted with the Scriptures, probably you will find many commentaries are wrong with private interpretations. Of course you may need a good dictionary to find the meanings of a word or the words you do not know. You can study the Bible, book by book, chapter by chapter, and verse by verse. You can also study the Bible by topics, such as atonement, baptism, confession, faith, forgiveness, glorification, grace, judgment, justification, reconciliation, redemption, regeneration, repentance, salvation, sanctification, etc. To do topic or word study, you need a concordance. The best concordance is Strong’s Concordance, it is provided free on line on the Internet.
Strong’s Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html
Those who make Strong’s Concordance available and free on line is doing a good work. I cannot do my studies and writings about many subjects published on the Internet absolutely free without Strong’s Concordance ; otherwise it will take a long time and much greater efforts.
(B.) How to pray.
It must be said that we pray to God only — never pray to Mary, Apostles, Angels, Saints, dead people (including your parents or loved ones), ancestors, demons or spirits, sun, moon, stars, animals, trees, mountains, rivers, seas, idols, images, statutes, etc.
Many are confused about what a prayer is. Even preachers think reporting to God is prayer. Some preachers even preach to God when they pray. Prayer is not reporting to God, for God knows everything and He does not need anyone to report to Him what is happening in the world. Preachers should not use prayer as a sermon, preaching to God and men. Preachers should not pray long prayers during Sunday service as if long prayers were indicative of their devotion. Old people are unable to stand up for long prayers. Do not confuse public prayers with private prayers. Preachers may pray all night alone by themselves in their own homes.
Luk 6:12 , “It was at this time that He (Christ) went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.”
When the Lord taught His disciples to pray, the prayer was not long. Pastors should not pray long prayers in public and let old people stand a long time. Some preachers mistake long prayers for devotion. Preachers and believers can pray long prayers in their own rooms alone.
See Mat 6:9-13. Basically, praying is asking God, asking God for a favor or mercy.
The Bible teaches us how to pray :
(1.) Pray at all times in the Spirit.
Eph 6:18, “Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.”
Note: Prayer is supplication. To pray is to make supplication. To pray at all times in the Spirit does not require bowing your head, closing your eyes, and saying your prayer audibly. It is making your heart’s wish in the Spirit to the Lord at all times. Let your spirit get in touch with the Spirit of God with sighing and supplicating. To pray to God is simply to ask God for mercy, for help, for salvation, for forgiveness of sins. You can pray: God, have mercy on me!
(2.) Always offering prayer with joy.
Phl 1:4 , “Always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all.”
Note: To pray with joy is to pray with delight. It is a joy that believers can pray to God about anything at any time.
2Th 1:11 , “To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power.”
(3.) In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.
Phl 4:6 , “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Note: To pray with thanksgiving is to pray with gratitude. To pray is to make known your requests to God. Christians ought to be anxious for nothing, be prayerful in everything, and be thankful for everything.
(4.) Continue steadfastly in prayer.
Col 4:2 , “Continue steadfastly in prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.”
Note: Prayer is not a one time performance. We need to continue steadfastly in prayer.
1Pe 4:7, “The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound mind and watchful in your prayer. ”
Note: To be watchful is to keep alert. Why is it necessary to be watchful in your prayer? The end of all things is near. We live in perilous times. The coming of the Lord is near.
(6.) Pray in every place.
1Ti 2:8 , “Therefore I want the men in every place to pray , lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension. ”
(7.) Pray in the Holy Spirit.
Jde 1:20 , “ But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit . ”
What is to pray for?
There are endless things we can pray for, but pray for most important things.
(1.) Pray that the Word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified.
2Th 3:1 , “ Finally, brethren, pray for us that the Word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you .”
(2.) Pray for believers to be filled with the knowledge of His will.
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 .”
(3.) Pray that the fellowship of Christian faith may become effective.
Phm 1:6, “ and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake. ”
(4). Pray for believers to prosper and be in good health.
3Jo 1:2 , “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. ”
(5.) Pray to have a good conscience and conduct ourselves honorably.
Heb 13:18 , “Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things. ”
(6.) Pray for those who are suffering, including the sick.
Jas 5:13 , “ Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. ”
(7.) Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Psa 122:6 , “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. ”
(8.) Pray for those who persecute you.
Mat 5:44 , “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
(9.) Pray for those who mistreat you.
Luk 6:28 , “bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. ”
(10.) Pray for all the saints.
Eph 6:18 , “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints .”
Note: The saints mean all living believers (brothers and sisters) on earth now, not dead Christians who are with the Lord.
(11.) Pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened.
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.”
(12.) Pray that your love may abound still more and more.
Phl 1:9 , “ And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment.”
The physical posture of prayer includes sitting, standing and kneeling. Here are some important points to remember:
Mat 14:19 , “Ordering the people to sit down on the grass , He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward Heaven , He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds .”
Luk 22:41 , “And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray.”
Mat 6:5 , “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. ”
Mat 6:6, “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room , close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. ”
Mat 6:9 , “ Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in Heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ”
Mat 14:23 , “ After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. ”
Mar 6:46 , “After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray. ”
Luk 6:12 , “It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray , and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. ”
Luk 9:28 , “Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. ”
Note: Jesus often went off to the mountain to pray without fear. We must have common sense. Jesus was not afraid of any danger, beast or robber. The safest way is to pray in your room alone.
Act 10:9 , “On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. ”
Luk 18:1 , “ Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart .”
Luk 18:9-14 , “And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’But the tax collector, standing some distance away , was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘ God, be merciful to me, the sinner !’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luk 22:40 , “ When He arrived at the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
Rom 8:26 , “ In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words .”
1Co 14:15 , “ What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. ”
Eph 6:18 , “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit , and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.”
(C.) How to imitate Christ.
To imitate Christ is to learn from Christ.
Mat 11:29 , “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. ”
Note: Yoke in Greek is zygos which means metaphorically, used of any burden or bondage, it is so transferred to the commands of Christ unlike the Mosaic Law; – which occurs 7 times in the New Testament. I believe it spiritually refers to the cross. So Jesus says, Mat 10:38, “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. ” Gentle in Greek is praÿs which means mild, kind, meek; not violent; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. 1Pe 3:4 , “but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. ” Humble in Greek is tapeinos which means lowly, lowly in spirit, of low degree, not arrogant or haughty; – which occurs 8 times in the New Testament. In heart means not in appearance. As a comparison, there was an American prosperity gospel TV evangelist. He was so arrogant that he pushed a flight attendant and declared, Do you know who I am? Those who learn from Christ and take up the cross to follow him will find rest for their souls.
Heb 12:2 , “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Endure in Greek is hypomenō which means to suffer, to take patiently; to persevere ; under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one’s faith in Christ ; – which occurs 20 times in the New Testament. To learn from Christ is to take up the cross, endure the cross, fixing our eyes on Jesus and follow after Jesus.
(1.) Christians must learn the obedience of Christ.
Heb 5:8 , “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. ”
Note: Learn in Greek is manthanō which means to understand, to increase one’s knowledge; to gain knowledge or understanding; – which occurs 26 times in the New Testament. Obedience in Greek is hypakoē which means compliance, submission, act of obeying; – which occurs 15 times in the New Testament. We can learn obedience from sufferings. To suffer is to feel pain. Sufferings cause pain. Pain makes man think. We learn many things from sufferings. Psa 119:71, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.”
2Co 2:9 , “For to this end also I wrote, so that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. ”
Note: Can we put ourselves to the test to prove our trustworthiness? Christians must learn to be obedient in all things the Lord commands.
Rom 15:18, “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.”
Note: What Christ has accomplished for us are tremendous and precious and eternal. What Christ has accomplished through His servants are recorded in Heaven. What we have accomplished for Christ will be remembered forever. Our obedience to Christ must be proved by word and deed.
2Co 9:13 , “Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the Gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all.”
Note: Our obedience is to our confession of the Gospel of Christ. Our obedience to the Gospel of Christ glorifies God.
2Co 10:5 , “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
Note: All speculations and imaginations against the knowledge of God must be destroyed and we are taking everything thought captive to the obedience of Christ. To obey Christ we must reject all speculations and lofty ideas of unbelieving theologians and philosophers raised up against the Word of God. I have studied the so-called lofty ideas of theologians and philosophers, they are vain and not worthwhile.
(2.) Christians must learn from the humility of Christ.
Phl 2:8 , “Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ”
Note: Humble in Greek is tapeinoō which means to make low, bring low, metaphorically to bring into a humble condition; to abase one self by humble living; to have a modest opinion of one’s self; to behave in an unassuming manner; – which occurs 18 times in the New Testament. Our glorious Lord became Man in appearance as a man; obeyed the will of the Holy Father by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Death on a cross was the cruelest form of Roman empire punishment.
Phl 2:5-7 , “Have this mindset 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. ”
Note: Humility of Christ is revealed in the mind of Christ, Mind or mindset in Greek is phroneō which means thought, opinion, view, concern, affection; the complex of elements in an individual that feels, perceives, thinks, wills, and especially reasons; mentality; intellectual ability; mental capabilities; a mental attitude or inclination; a person’s way of feeling and thinking; – which occurs 36 times in the New Testament. God wants believers to have the mind or mindset of Christ, to deny oneself. Christ preexisted in the form of God, but He emptied Himself. Grasp in Greek is harpagmos which means to rob, seize, hold fast, retain; to clutch; to lay hold of; to take or seize eagerly; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Unbelievers live and labor to grasp fame and fortune, money, power, and pleasure. Empty in Greek is kenoō which means to make void, to make of no reputation, to abase; to lay aside; – which occurs 9 times in the New Testament. Jesus Christ emptied Himself so as not to grasp equality with God.
Christians must have the mind (or mindset) of Christ. We must learn to empty ourselves – empty our pride, position, pleasure, power, possession, privilege, prerogative, perspective, prejudice, preconception, prejudgment, presumption, pretext, purse, knowledge; etc. To be filled with the Holy Spirit, we must first empty ourselves.
2Co 10:1, “By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! ”
Note: Humility in Greek is praÿtēs which means meekness, gentleness of spirit, mildness of disposition, lack of pride or arrogance; – which occurs 11 times in the New Testament. The exalted Son of God has humility.
Act 20:19, “serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews.”
Note: Serving the Lord requires all humility.
Col 3:12 , “So, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Note: The elect of God must put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Tit 3:2 , “to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. ”
Note: Most people think you need to show all humility to the rich and powerful and people of high position. Christians in imitating Christ show all humility to all men. Humility is a special quality: If you think you are humble enough, you are not humble at all.
1Pe 5:5, “You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. ”
Note: The reward of humility is the blessing God gives grace to the humble.
(3.) Christians must learn from the sufferings of Christ.
Phl 3:10 , “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.”
Note: To have fellowship of the sufferings of Christ is a higher level of knowing and following Christ. Fellowship in Greek is koinōnia which means communion, communication, joint participation, sharing, intimacy, partnership, social intercourse, association; companionship; – which occurs 19 times in the New Testament. To deny oneself is to be conformed to His death.
Why we must learn from the sufferings of Christ? At least 4 reasons:
(1.) 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.”
Note: To do our share of sufferings on behalf of the body of Christ which is the Church is to fill up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. This is a high spiritual truth. The meaning is what is wanting in Christ’s affliction on behalf of His body the Church is to be borne by me willingly in order to repay for all the benefits freely I have received from the Lord. Affliction in Greek is thlipsis which means tribulation, persecution, trouble, anguish, oppression, burden; – which occurs 45 times in the New Testament. To share Christ’s afflictions is to suffer with Him.
(2.) 1Pe 4:13, “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. ”
Note: To share the sufferings of Christ is a guarantee to rejoice with exultation at the revelation of His glory. To suffer for Christ now is to rejoice with Christ when He comes in great power and glory.
(3.) 2Co 1:5, “For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.”
Note: To have sufferings of Christ in abundance is to have abundant comfort through Christ. This is the abundant spiritual life.
(4.) Rom 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ”
Note: It is important to know what is worthy or not worthy. How can one know what is worthy or not worthy? By comparison. Comparison is to judge of one thing in connection with another. Comparison is a a measure to wear the merit or value of something against another thing. The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. So it is worthy to suffer for Christ.
1Pe 1:22, “Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart .”
Note: Purify in Greek is hagnizō which means to make pure, cleanse; to sanctify morally; – which occurs 7 times in the New Testament. Obedience to the truth can purify our souls. Not only we must know the truth, believe in the truth, speak the truth, testify to the truth, listen to the truth, practice the truth, walk in truth, and we must also obey the truth. We must learn obedience to the truth. Jhn 17:17, “ Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” The more you know the truth in Jesus Christ the more you can be sanctified.
Heb 12:10 , “For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. ”
Note: Discipline in Greek is paideuō which means to train up, chasten, chastise, teach, instruct, correct, educate, penalize, punish; – which occurs 13 times in the New Testament. God disciplines His children for our good so that we may share His holiness. Heb 12:14, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. ” Without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Act 26:18 , “ to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.
III. How to Develop Christian Character.
It is not enough for one to be born again, to be saved, he needs to develop the Christian character. Just as it is not sufficient for a baby is born, he needs to grow up to be a mature man.
Rom 5:3-5, “And not only that, but we also exult in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance produces character; and character produces hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. ”
Note: Tribulations (sufferings) produce perseverance, and perseverance produces character. Exult in Greek is kauchaomai which means to rejoice; glory; boast; vaunt; to leap for joy; to express great happiness; – which occurs 39 times in the New Testament. Tribulation in Greek is thlipsis which means suffering; affliction; trouble; anguish; persecution; oppression; distress; pressure; – which occurs 45 times in the New Testament. Perseverance in Greek is hypomonē which means patience; endurance; steadfastness; constancy; continued effort to be or do despite difficulties; continued determination; tenacity; – which occurs 33 times in the New Testament. Character in Greek is dokimē which means tried character; proof; experience; a specimen of tried worth; trustworthiness; approvedness; distinguished attributes; distinctive characteristics or qualities; main or essential nature; – which occurs 10 times in the New Testament. Hope in Greek is elpis which means expectation of good; joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; – which occurs 54 times in the New Testament. Hope in Christ will never disappoint. The hope in Christ is glorious. Disappoint in Greek is kataischynō which means to be put to shame; dishonor; disgrace; confound; to fail to meet expectation; – which occurs 16 times in the New Testament. There is no disappointment in Christ. There are too many disappointments in this world. Unless you are born again, you do not know the experience or meaning of the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has given to us. All unsaved people are without the Holy Spirit. All unbelievers live without God and without hope in this world, no matter whether he is king, queen, prince, princess, president, prime minister, general, tycoon.
1Co 15:33 , “Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character .”
Note: Bad company corrupts good character. A man is known by the company he keeps. Bad in Greek is kakos which means evil; harmful; wicked; wrong; worthless; depraved; troublesome; injurious; pernicious; baneful; destructive; ill; of a bad nature; – which occurs 56 times in the New Testament. Company in Greek is homilia which means companionship; communion; intercourse; association; fellowship; – which occurs 1 times in the New Testament. Corrupt in Greek is phtheirō which means to defile; to destroy; to perish; to ruin; to shrivel or wither; to degrade; to spoil; to rot; – which occurs 10 times in the New Testament. Character in Greek is ēthos which means manners; custom; moral habits; good morals; distinctive character; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament.
Phl 1:11 , “May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. ”
Note: Christian character (or righteous character) is produced in Christian life by Jesus Christ, the fruit of salvation. The righteous character will bring much glory and praise to God.
Heb 1:3 , “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and He sustains everything by the mighty power of His command. When He had cleansed us from our sins, He sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in Heaven. ”
Note: Jesus Christ the Son of God radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God. Christians conform to the Image of Christ should also radiate the character of Christ. Before we have the Christian character, Jesus Christ had cleansed us from our sins.
Rth 2:1 , “Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side. He was a prominent man of noble character from Elimelech’s family. His name was Boaz. ”
Note: Boaz was a prominent man of noble character. Nowadays the richest the man, the worst is his character.
Rth 3:11, “Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you say, since all the people in my town know that you are a woman of noble character. ”
Note: Ruth was a woman of noble character because she was a woman of virtue and excellence. Boaz was a man of noble character and Ruth was a woman of noble character, their marriage was made in Heaven.
Pro 12:4, “A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones. ”
Note: A wife of noble character is a virtuous woman, an excellent wife, a worthy wife, a noble wife, a good wife, a worthy woman.
Pro 31:10 , “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. ”
1Ki 1:52 , “Then Solomon said, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground, but if evil is found in him, he dies.”
Note: Character in Hebrew is chayil which means virtue, uprightness, fitness, and integrity; – which occurs 245 times in the Old Testament. Solomon said if Adonijah is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground, if evil is found in him, he dies.
Act 17:11 , “ The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the Word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. ”
Note: Noble character in Greek is eugenēs which means well born; noble-minded; high in rank; outstanding qualities; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. Those who received the Word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so are of more noble character.
Eph 5:4 , “Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. ”
Note: Out of character is Greek is anēkō which means not fitting; not proper; not convenient; unbecoming; discreditable; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. Christians cannot use vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting — all of which are our Christian character.
2Co 2:9 , “ I wrote for this purpose: to test your character to see if you are obedient in everything. ”
Note: Character in Greek is dokimē which means approved, tried character; trustiness; proof; approvedness; distinctive attributes or qualities of an individual; – which occurs 7 times in the New Testament. The proof of Christian character is to be obedient to God in everything.
Phl 2:22 , “But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the Gospel ministry like a son with a father. ”
Note: You can know a person by his proven character. Timothy has proven his character because he has served with Apostle Paul in the Gospel ministry like a son with a father. To serve with Paul in the Gospel ministry is never to live in luxury, but to suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal, and endure persecutions and afflictions.
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; conduct; way; fashion; deportment; mode or style; turn of mind; distinctive qualities or features of an individual; – which occurs 12 times in the New Testament. The Christian character is free from the love of money and being content with what one has. Content in Greek is arkeō which means to be satisfied; to be sufficient; to be enough; to be contented; happy and satisfied; – which occurs 8 times in the New Testament. Jesus Christ will never desert Christians, nor will He ever forsake us.
1Pe 1:7 , “so that the proven character of your faith — more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire — may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ”
Note: The proven character of faith is more valuable than gold, may result in praise, glory, and honor at the coming of Jesus Christ.
An ordinary person corrupted in the world by lust cannot have Christian character, just like a monkey cannot have human blood. Having become partakers of the divine nature, Christians are equipped to build or develop Christian character. All Christians need to develop Christian character. Character is built by the process of addition. Christian character is built by adding one Christian virtue to another. Only Christians can have Christian character. It takes Christian character to live the Christian life.
1Pe 1:2-3, “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
Note: Foreknowledge in Greek is prognōsis which means forethought; pre-arrangement; divine knowledge beforehand; supernatural knowledge; divine knowledge of all events before they happen; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. God knows everything from the beginning to the end. God knows all things beforehand and before they happen. Predestination has something to do with the foreknowledge of God. 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. ”Jesus has foreknowledge and knew from the beginning that Judas would betray Him because Jesus is God. Christians are God’s special people. A Christian is a chosen one according to the foreknowledge of God, by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, according to God’s great mercy caused to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to be purified by His precious blood in order to obey Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:4 , “For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. ”
Note: Promise in Greek is epaggelma which means a self-committal; a binding declaration of assurance that something is given or to be done; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Precious in Greek is timios which means especially dear; honorable; of great value; of great price; highly esteemed; very valuable; – which occurs 15 times in the New Testament. God’s promises are more precious than precious stones. Magnificent in Greek is megistos which means exceeding great; very great; greatest; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. Partaker in Greek is koinōnos which means partner; sharer; associate; companion; fellowship; – which occurs 10 times in the New Testament. Divine nature is the opposite of human nature. Corruption in Greek is phthora which means destruction; perishing; what is perishable; moral decay; ruin; eternal misery; – which occurs 9 times in the New Testament. Lust in Greek is epithymia which means desire for what is forbidden; concupiscence; unholy longing or craving; – which occurs 38 times in the New Testament. The love of money, power and sex is the lust in the world. Granted by God’s precious and magnificent promises, believers may become partakers of the divine nature. With the divine nature, believers can produce the Christian character.
2Pe 1:5-9 , “And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge self-control ; and to self-control patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love. For if these qualities be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purified from his old sins. ”
Note: Add in Greek is epichorēgeō which means to add as a supplement; furnish; present; aid or contribute; provide; – which occurs 5 times in the New Testament. Apparently the Christian character is the addition of some excellent qualities.
The Scriptures identify 8 qualities of Christian character: faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. Christian character is adding quality to quality, quality upon quality. Faith in Greek is pistis which means belief; assurance; moral conviction of the truth; belief that Jesus is the Messiah; trust in God or Christ; fidelity; according Strong’s Concordance: “a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the Kingdom of God” ; – which occurs 243 times in the New Testament. Virtue in Greek is aretē which means moral excellence; moral goodness; modesty; purity; an eminent endowment; a virtuous course of thought, feeling and action; – which occurs 7 times in the New Testament. Knowledge in Greek is gnōsis which means the general knowledge of Christian faith; science; general intelligence or understanding; the fact of knowing something; – which occurs 30 times in the New Testament. Self-control in Greek is egkrateia which means temperance; the virtue of mastering one’s desires and passions; self-restraint; continence; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. Patience in Greek is hypomonē which means perseverance; enduring; steadfastness; endurance; constancy; unswerved from original purpose; loyalty to faith and piety even facing greatest trials and sufferings; steadfast waiting for; sustaining; – which occurs 33 times in the New Testament. Godliness in Greek is eusebeia which means holiness; moral righteousness; reverence; piety towards God; the quality of being godly; – which occurs 51 times in the New Testament. Brotherly kindness in Greek is philadelphia which means brotherly love; the love which Christians cherish for each other; fraternal affection; – which occurs 12 times in the New Testament. Love in Greek is agapē which means charity; affection or benevolence; – which occurs 117 times in the New Testament.
Faith is the first and foremost basic quality of Christian character. Faith can be little or great, weak or strong. Believers obtain the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ. By grace believers have been saved through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God. Faith can grow strong and increase. If you have faith you do not doubt. Have faith in God, not the world, wealth, power or man. Christians become obedient to the faith. Believers must continue in the faith. Believers stand firm in the faith. Our faith does not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. Christians walk by faith, not by sight. Christians live faith in the Son of God. Believers received the promise of the Holy Spirit through faith. We are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. Christians are told to fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life.
Virtue is moral excellence. Phl 4:8 , “ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. ” 2Pe 1:3 , “ as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.”
Knowledge of good and evil we all have. Knowledge can increase. He who hears the Words of God has the knowledge of the Most High. Wisdom and knowledge are necessary for a ruler. The workers of wickedness have no knowledge. The Lord teaches man good discernment and knowledge. The youth lacks knowledge and discretion. The LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly. Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays folly. The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly. He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps errs. There is gold, and an abundance of jewels; but the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing. Apply your heart to discipline and your ears to words of knowledge. A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increases power. Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain. Those who believe in Jesus Christ have the knowledge of salvation, and the forgiveness of their sins. Through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit. 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. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ . 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. And to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. Secular academics, unbelieving theologians and scientists have what is falsely called “knowledge”. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment. 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. 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 Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 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— . God our Savior desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. And I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake. Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Self-control has a lot to do with one’s destiny. A man will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness. Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city. A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls. Governor Felix became frightened as Apostle Paul reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control. Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control. There is no law against the fruit of the Spirit, such as self-control. So an elder must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. In the same way, their wives must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do. You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience. So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.
Patience in Chinese is a knife in the heart which is unbearable. By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone. Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride. Isn’t it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well? Should you talk that way, O family of Israel? Will the LORD’s Spirit have patience with such behavior? If you would do what is right, you would find my words comforting.
May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy. Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. But God had mercy on me (Paul) so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of His great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance. Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience. For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—.
Godliness is divine quality. As for you, if you will follow Me with integrity and godliness, as David your father did, obeying all My commands, decrees, and regulations, then I will establish the throne of your dynasty over Israel forever. For I made this promise to your father, David: ‘One of your descendants will always sit on the throne of Israel.’ May Your priests be clothed in godliness; may Your loyal servants sing for joy. The godliness of good people rescues them; the ambition of treacherous people traps them. Godliness guards the path of the blameless, but the evil are misled by sin. Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people. The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but He loves those who pursue godliness. Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest. Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come. But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God. These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy. Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.
Brotherly kindness can be defined as sincere love of the brethren.
The affection of Christ Jesus produces brotherly kindness. What is desirable in a man is his kindness, and it is better to be a poor man than a liar. He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? I believe brotherly kindness can be defined by Zec 7:9, “Thus has the LORD of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother.”
Love is the greatest for God is love. Love is the greatest motivation. Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments. Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD and so bring wrath on yourself from the LORD? Hate evil, you who love the LORD, Who preserves the souls of His godly ones; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked. I love the LORD, because He hears my voice and my supplications. Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions. Better is a dish of vegetables where love is than a fattened ox served with hatred. Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed. For love is as strong as death, jealousy is as severe as Sheol. Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the gate! He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? So love truth and peace. “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Jesus’ ideal is the highest moral. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
And Jesus said to him, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant. Love never fails. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. Let all that you do be done in love.
If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha.
For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Through love serve one another. So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. From whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself up for her. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ. But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 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. For the love of money is the root of every evil; which some having aspired after, have wandered from the faith, and pierced themselves with many sorrows. So that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children. And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. Let love of the brethren continue. 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.” Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. But whoever keeps His Word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him. Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 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. 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.
We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it. Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. Those whom I (God) love, I (God) reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
IV. How to Bear Fruit.
Mat 3:8 , “Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance .”
Note: In keeping with in Greek is axios which means worthy; having the weight of another thing of like value; worth as much ; befitting; corresponding to; deserving; comparable or suitable; agreeing with; – which occurs 41 times in the New Testament. Believers must bear fruit agreeing with repentance as Zaccheus did.
Rom 7:4 , “ Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. ”
Note: Join in Greek is ginomai which means to be married to; to become a man’s wife; to come together with one accord; – which occurs 536 times in the New Testament. Christians are married to Jesus Christ through the body of Christ the Church, spiritually speaking. Believers are joined to Christ who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.
Mar 4:20 , “And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”
Note: Believers bear fruit in different degree, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. One should not be satisfied with the least.
Luk 8:15 , “But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance. ”
Note: Perseverance in Greek is hypomonē which means patience; enduring; patient waiting; patient continuance; steadfastness; loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings ; constancy; unswerved from purpose; – which occurs 33 times in the New Testament. To bear fruit one needs to hold fast the Word in an honest and good heart with constancy and patience.
Jhn 15:2 , “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. ”
Note: Jesus Christ is the True Vine, believers are the branches. Prune in Greek is kathairō which means to purge; to cleanse of filth and impurity; to expiate; to remove the superfluous; to cut away what is unwanted; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. I believe the Lord disciplines believers as a vinedresser cultivates and prunes grapevines. Pro 22:15 , “ Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of discipline will remove it far from him. ” The rod of discipline removes foolishness bound up in our heart. Heb 12:10-11 , “For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” The Lord disciplines us because He wants us to bear more fruit, to train us to share His holiness, and to yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Jhn 15:4 , “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. ”
Note: Abide in Greek is menō which means to remain; dwell; not to depart; to continue to be; to endure; to stand; to maintain unbroken fellowship; to hold fast; – which occurs 118 times in the New Testament. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so Christians cannot bear fruit unless we abide in Christ. Independence for a Christian is death. 1Co 1:30 , “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.”
Jhn 15:16, “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. ”
Note: We did not choose Christ but Christ chose us. No one can by his efforts or wisdom find God. Heb 12:27 , “ This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. ”
Remain in Greek is menō which means to abide; continue; endure; not to perish; to survive, live; to last; – which occurs 118 times in the New Testament. If you do something good for yourself, it may last for a life time. If you do something good for mankind, it may last several generations. If you do something good for Christ, it would last for eternity. Power, position, possession, money, wealth, mansion and all worldly things can be shaken. The good fruit in Christ would remain which cannot be shaken. The good deeds in Christ would remain. Heb 13:14 , “ For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come. ” The City which is to come and eternal is the New Jerusalem, the Holy City. 1Co 13:13, “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. ” 1Jo 2:17, “ The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”
Hear ye, hear ye: The one who does the will of God lives forever.
1Co 3:12 -15 , “Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. ” The work genuinely, sincerely, and honestly done for Christ will remain and receive a reward.
Rom 7:4 , “Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. ” Jhn 15:8 , “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. ” Phl 1:11 , “ having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. ” Christians do not bear fruit for self-glory, but for God. The fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ is to the glory and praise of God.
Jhn 15:8 , “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
Note: Christians have two purposes in bearing much fruit, first to glorify God and second to prove we are disciples of Jesus Christ.
Rom 7:4 , “Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. ”
The Bible explains various kinds of fruit:
Heb 13:15 , “ Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. “
Note: Most church members do not know that the fruit of lips that give thanks to God is offering up a sacrifice of praise to God. The fruit of our lips must continually give thanks to His name.
Gal 5:22-23 , “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ”
Note: Fruit in Greek is karpos which means work, act, deed; fruit as plucked literally or figuratively; an effect, result; advantage, profit, utility; product; – which occurs 66 times in the New Testament.
The fruit of the Spirit includes 9 virtues:
Love in Greek is agapē which means charity, affection, good will, benevolence, brotherly love, kindness; – which occurs 117 times in the New Testament. Love is a big word in Christianity.
1Jo 4:7-8 , “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God ; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. ” Hate is from the devil. Liars, killers and robbers cannot be children of God. Warmongers, imperialists, militarists, capitalists, monopolists, supremacists, racists, and terrorists do not love, do not know God and they are children of the devil. 1Co 13:4 , “ Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant .”
Joy in Greek is chara which is gladness; cheerfulness; calm delight; happiness; bliss; – which occurs 59 times in the New Testament. The state of early Christians, Act 13:52 , “ And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. ” Christianity is not pessimistic like Buddhism. Christ enabled Paul and Silas after having been beaten with rods, struck with many blows, thrown into prison, and their feet fastened in the stocks; b ut about midnight they were praying and singing hymns of praise to God. Phl 4:4 , “ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! ”
Peace in Greek is eirēnē which means rest; quietness; a state of tranquility; harmony; concord; felicity; exemption from the rage and havoc of war ; the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ ; fearing nothing from God; – which occurs 92 times in the New Testament. Jhn 14:27 , “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” If your heart is troubled and fearful, you have no peace. The peace of Christ can be portrayed in a fierce gale of wind, the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up, Jesus was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. Jhn 16:33 , “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” Jesus has overcome the world, Satan, and death.
Patience in Greek is makrothymia which means long-suffering; endurance; perseverance in bearing troubles and ills; forbearance; steadfastness; longanimity; fortitude; constancy; – which occurs 14 times in the New Testament. Jas 5:10 , “As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. ” It is well for us to study the prophets as an example. Jas 5:11 , “ We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. ” Endurance in Greek is hypomonē which means patience, enduring; steadfastness; not swerved from faith even in the face of trials and tribulations; – which occurs 33 times in the New Testament. Heb 10:36 , “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.”
Kindness in Greek is chrēstotēs which means moral goodness; gentleness; benignity; the quality of being generous and helpful; usefulness; moral excellence; – which occurs 10 times in the New Testament. Eph 4:32 , “ Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. ”
Goodness in Greek is agathōsynē which means uprightness of heart and life; virtue or benevolence; kindness; beneficence; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. Phm 1:14 , “but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will. ” Good deed must be done by free will, not by compulsion. All who become rich by fraud, theft and monopoly eventually become philanthropists to compensate their guilt. To raise $100 in the name of charity, keep $99 and give out only $1 is not good deed, it is robbery. In the name of Gospel to establish a foundation to enrich oneself is not goodness, but religious theft.
Faithfulness in Greek is pistis which means fidelity; assurance; loyalty; trustworthiness; conscientiousness; dependability; character that can be relied on; – which occurs 243 times in the New Testament. Lam 3:23 , “ They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ” The faithfulness of God is great. Pro 25:19 , “ Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble. ” Ask yourself how many persons you can count on in time of trouble.
Gentleness in Greek is praÿtēs which means meekness; mildness of manners or disposition; humility; quality of being gentle; – which occurs 11 times in the New Testament. Jas 3:13 , “ Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. ”
Self-control in Greek is egkrateia which means temperance; the virtue of mastering one’s desires or passions; self-discipline; self-restraint; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. 1Co 7:5 , “ Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. ” A good example of self-control is Joseph: Gen 39:7 -10 , “ 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.”
Eph 5:8-9 , “ for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth).” Note: Children of Light bear the fruit of the Light. The fruit of the Light consists of three virtues: goodness, righteousness and truth.
Goodness in Greek is agathōsynē, the same original word used in Gal 5:22-23 , one virtue of the fruit of the Spirit.
Righteousness in Greek is dikaiosynē which means the condition acceptable to God; integrity; virtue; purity of life; correctness of thinking, feeling and acting; justice; what ought to be; moral correctness; – which occurs 91 times in the New Testament. Phl 3:9 , “ and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.”
Note: No one can have a righteousness of his own derived from the Law, for no one can fulfill the the righteousness of the law all the time. Through faith in Christ we obtain the righteousness which comes from God by grace. 1Jo 2:29 , “ If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.” Everyone who practices righteousness is born of God. Warmongers, aggressors, dictators, robbers, imperialists, militarists, capitalists, monopolists, supremacists, racists, and terrorists practice unrighteousness. So they cannot claim to be Christians. 1Jo 3:7 , “Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.” Christians, make sure no one deceives you. The one who practices righteousness is righteous. 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.” The children of God practice righteousness and love the brotherhood. The children of the devil do not practice righteousness and hate the people. The children of the devil lie, kill, and rob.
Truth is a virtue of the fruit of the Light. Truth is Greek is alētheia which means verity; objectively what is true; in reality; in fact; things as taught in the Bible; things pertaining to God or Christ; that which is free from falsehood, deceit, pretense, or simulation; everything as it is really is; the body of real facts; factuality; – which occurs 110 times in the New Testament. Psa 119:160 , “ The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting. ”The sum of God’s Word is truth. 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. ” God became MAN in the person of Jesus, and Jesus is the Truth. 2Co 13:8 , “ For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth. ” Those who do evil and walk in darkness do not practice the truth.
Phl 1:11 , “having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Christians are filled with the fruit of righteousness. The fruit of righteousness comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
Heb 12:11 , “ All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. ” Warmongers, aggressors, dictators, imperialists, militarists, supremacists, and terrorists do not bear the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Jas 3:18 , “ And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. ” Those who make peace bear the fruit of righteousness.
How Christians should walk in this world?
Col 1:10 , “so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
Note: Walk in Greek is peripateō which means to make one’s way, to progress; to live; to conduct oneself; to behave; to regulate one’s life; to be occupied with; – which occurs 105 times in the New Testament. Figuratively, to walk is to live. Those who walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bear fruit in every good work and increase in the knowledge of God. Jhn 8:12 , “ Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness , but will have the Light of life.” Those who follow Jesus will not walk in the darkness. Warmongers, aggressors, oppressors, dictators, imperialists, capitalists, monopolists, supremacists, racists, and terrorists walk in darkness so they do not follow Jesus.
Rom 6:4 , “ Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. ”
Gal 5:25 , “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. ”
Eph 5:2 , “ and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. ”
Eph 5:8 , “ for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.”
Eph 5:15 , “ Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise.”
Col 2:6 , “ Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him .”
1Th 2:12 , “ so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own Kingdom and glory.”
1Th 4:1 , “ Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. ”
Note: Please in Greek is areskō which means to strive to please; to accommodate oneself; to seek to be so; to be agreeable; to give pleasure or satisfaction; to gratify; to submit to the will of; – which occurs 18 times in the New Testament. This instruction is clear. Christians ought to walk and please God. Something is wrong in our walk if it does not please God.
1Jo 1:7 , “ but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. ”
Note: Walk in the Light means to walk as children of the Light, walk in the light of God’s countenance, walk in the light of the Lord. Fellowship in Greek is koinōnia which means communion; communication; contribution; association; joint participation; social intercourse; having the share; partnership; – which occurs 19 times in the New Testament. 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. ” Cleanse in Greek is katharizō which means to make clean; to purge; to purify from wickedness; to sanctify; to remove stains and dirt; to free from the defilement of sins and faults; to consecrate; to free from the guilt of sin; – which occurs 35 times in the New Testament. Self-abasement, self-affliction, self-mortification , self-inflicted acts of ascetical practices of Roman Catholicism and monasticism such as castration and flagellation , etc. cannot cleanse us from our sin. Thank God the precious blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1Jo 2:6 , “ the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”
Note: This is the highest standard, to walk in the same manner as Jesus walked. That is to walk in Jesus’ steps.
2Jo 1:6 , “ And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it. “ ”
Note: Commandment in Greek is entolē which means an order, precept, command, a prescribed rule; an injunction; – which occurs 67 times in the New Testament. Mar 12:29 -31 , “Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Jhn 13:34 , “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ” Jhn 14:21, “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”
Rev 3:4 , “ But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.”
Note: A few in Greek is oligos which means a small number; a little quantity; puny number; not many; – which occurs 49 times in the New Testament. Those who worthy are few. Soil in Greek is molynō which means to defile, stain, pollute, contaminate; used in New Testament of those who have not kept themselves pure from the defilements of sin, who have soiled themselves by fornication and adultery; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. A few people have not soiled their garments. Mat 17:2 , “And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. ” This is the highest reward: those who have not soiled their garments will walk with Jesus Christ in white. There is nothing black or dark in Heaven. There is glory and holiness everywhere, no darkness anywhere.
The purpose of serving the Lord is gathering fruit for life eternal.
V. How to serve the Lord.
Deu 10:12 , “Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Note: The Lord God requires all His children to fear the Lord, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord our God with all our heart and all our soul.
Mat 6:24 , “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. ”
Note: No one can serve two masters. We cannot serve God and wealth (money). If we love God we will hate wealth. If we serve God we will be devoted to God and despise wealth. Prosperity gospel preachers and followers want to serve two masters. If you are a servant of God, you cannot be a servant of wealth. If you are a servant of money, you cannot be a servant of God.
Act 26:7 , “the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews. ”
Note: Christians must earnestly serve God night and day.
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: To serve God you must serve in your spirit, not lips. Jhn 4:24 , “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Rom 7:6 , “ But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. ”
Note: To serve God in your spirit is to serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.
1Th 1:9 , “For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living true God.”serve a living a
Note: To serve the living and true God, you must turn from idols to God. Primitive peoples worship idols of their work made of fingers and hands, made of silver and gold, wood and stone, etc.
2Ti 1:3 , “ I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day.”
Note: To serve God, we must serve with a clear and good conscience. There are world leaders who are liars, killers and robbers and yet they think they serve God who have evil conscience, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,both their mind and their conscience are defiled.
Heb 9:14 , “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: Those who serve the living God, their conscience must first be cleansed from dead works by the blood of Christ through the eternal Spirit.
Gal 5:13 , “ For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ”
Note: Christians not only serve God, Christ, but through love serve one another.
Col 3:24 , “ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
Note: To serve the Lord Christ we will receive the reward of the inheritance.
To serve the Lord Christ, one must live in Christ, live for Christ, live with Christ, and live through Christ.
(1.) Live in Christ
Gal 2:20 , “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. ”
Note: Crucify with in Greek is systauroō which means to impale in the company with literally or figuratively; to put to death by nailing to a cross; to mortify; – which occurs 5 times in the New Testament. To crucify with Christ means it is no longer I live, but Christ lives in me. The life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and died on the cross for me.
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: To live in Christ means to be fellow heirs and fellow members of the Body of Christ, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.
2Ti 3:12 , “ Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. ”
Note: If the world loves you and you are popular, it proves you do not live a Christian life. Godly in Greek is eusebōs which means piously; devoutly; righteously; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Persecute in Greek is diōkō which means to suffer persecution; to trouble, harass or molest one; to be mistreated; to put to flight; to treat people unfairly and cruelly; – which occurs 47 times in the New Testament. All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
Phl 1:21 , “ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ”
Note: Gain in Greek is kerdos which means advantage; lucre; profit; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. Apostle explains:
Phl 3:7-8, “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ .” To live is Christ is to gain the surpassing values of knowing Christ Jesus. To gain Christ is to gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Th 2:14 , “ It was for this He called you through our Gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ”
THIS IS THE SECRET OF HOW TO LIVE A CHRISTIAN LIFE
Phl 4:11-13, “ Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
Note: Learn in Greek is manthanō which means to increase one’s knowledge and experience; to understand; to be apprised; to be imbued with knowledge; to gain knowledge and experience; – which occurs 26 times in the New Testament. The Christian life is a process of learning and growing. Christians have many things to learn: learn to fear God, learn to observe, learn what it is and why it is, learn God’s righteous judgments, learn God’s commandments, learn God’s ways, learn to do good, learn righteousness, learn the meanings of God’s words, learn from Christ, learn what is pleasing to the Lord, learn to practice piety, learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, etc. Content in Greek is autarkēs which means to be contented with one’s lot, with one’s means ; to be sufficient for oneself; to be strong enough to need no aid or support; to be independent of external circumstances; – which occurs 1 times in the New Testament. Circumstance is event or condition. Circumstance controls men, and no man controls his circumstance. God is greater than any circumstance. Paul had learned to be content in whatever circumstances he was. Learning to be content in whatever circumstances is more valuable than getting a Ph.D. Get along in Greek is tapeinoō which means to bring low; to bring into a humble condition; reduce to meaner circumstances; to abase oneself by humble living; to bring down one’s pride; to have a modest opinion of oneself; to behave in an unassuming manner; to humiliate; to submit oneself in a lowly spirit to the power and will of God ; – which occurs 18 times in the New Testament. Do you know why secular academics and scientists, theologians and philosophers cannot be saved? They are unwilling to submit themselves in a lowly spirit to the power and will of God. Paul knew how to get along with humble means. To live in prosperity is easy, to get along with humble means is difficult. A man’s biggest problem is he does not know how to live. Warmongers, aggressors, dictators, oppressors, liars, killers, robbers, imperialists, militarists, capitalists, monopolists, supremacists, and terrorists do not know how to live. In everything and in all things Paul had learned the secret. What is the secret? “ I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. ” Strengthen in Greek is endynamoō which means to be made strong; to increase in strength; to enable; to empower; – which occurs 9 times in the New Testament. Christians can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthen them. “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”
Eph 3:16-19, “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. ”
Note: Grant in Greek is didōmi which means to give; to supply, furnish; to furnish, endue; to permit, commission; bestow as a gift; offer; hand out; – which occurs 414 times in the New Testament. According to the riches of His glory, Jesus Christ grants believers to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. The inner man means our soul, within. To be rooted is to be grounded, to be firm. To ground is to lay a basis for; to establish; to make stable. Christians who are rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge. Comprehend in Greek katalambanō which means to apprehend; to attain; obtain; to lay hold of; to take possession of; to understand, perceive, learn; to appropriate, seize upon; – which occurs 18 times in the New Testament. Surpass in Greek is hyperballō which means to exceed; excel; pass; to transcend; to throw beyond the usual mark; to throw over and beyond; – which occurs 5 times in the New Testament. Poor secular academics and unbelieving scientists do not realize there are things beyond and over their knowledge and they cannot comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth of the Divine attributes and power such as the love of Christ, the wonder of creation, t he depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God , etc. Just as an ameba cannot comprehend man, so man cannot comprehend God. The fullness of God is greater than the expanding universe.
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: To live in Christ is to do so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.
(2.) Live for Christ.
Rom 14:8 , “ for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. ”
Note: For Christians, if we live we live for the Lord, or if we die we die for the Lord. Therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. Christians belong to the Lord. This is the meaning of living for Christ.
2Co 5:15 , “ and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. ”
Note: Why Christians no longer live for themselves? Jesus Christ died for believers in order to save them, so that they live no longer for themselves, but for the Lord who died and rose again on their behalf.
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: To live for Christ is to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. The will of God is the supreme goal or purpose of a Christian life.
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 live for Christ is to confess that we are strangers and exiles on the earth.
1Ti 6:9-12, “ 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 a 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. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
Note: How should a man of God live for Christ? The cited Scriptures provide the instructions. A man of God or a servant of Christ should never want to get rich. That is exactly the problem of prosperity gospel preachers and followers. They love money and the world. The bankruptcy of the Crystal Cathedral pierced themselves with many griefs. Man of God or servant of Christ must pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life, and make good testimony of Jesus Christ to many. If your pastors do not follow the Scriptures cited, separate from them.
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. ”
Note: Young preachers should show themselves in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity as an example of those who believe. There are somethings seriously wrong with preachers and evangelists who live in luxury: own mansion of multi-million dollars; drive Mercedes, wear $10,000 suit, whose wives wear $30,000 mink coat, eat $1,000 dinner; fly private planes, and have large sums of money in bank accounts.
Th 1:3 , “constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father.”
Note: Christians who live for Christ, do the work of faith and labor of love. Maintain steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father.
Heb 12:2 , “ fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. “
Note: Christians fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith. It is wrong to fix your eyes on man, whoever it is. Jesus set an example for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God. We look to Jesus.
(3.) Live with Christ
Mat 28:20 , “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”
Note: Jesus returned to the Father, ascended to the highest Heaven. He did not abandon His disciples and said them: Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the word. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to dwell with believers of all generations until the end of the world. At the end of the world, the Lord will return to establish the Kingdom of Heaven to reign with the saints forever and ever.
2Ti 2:11 , “ It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him.”
Rom 6:8 , “Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.”
2Co 13:4 , “ For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you. ”
1Th 5:10 , “ who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. ”
Note: Jesus is with us while we are awake on earth. When we are asleep (die in Christ), we will be with the Lord in Paradise.
1Th 5:13 , “ and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. ”
Note: While we are alive, Jesus Christ is with us. The Lord also wants us to live in peace with one another. Christians must not be divided.
(4.) Live through Christ
Jhn 1:3 , “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. ”
1Jo 4:9 , “By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.”
Note: Manifest in Greek is phaneroō which means to show; to be made known; to appear; to make visible; to render apparent; to make evident or certain; – which occurs 57 times in the New Testament. It is the love of God that Jesus Christ came into the world to die for sinners on the cross. Through in Greek is dia which means by, with, for sake of; for the cause of; because; by the means of; by reason of; on account of; for the reason of; thereby; by way of; by means of; – which occurs 512 times in the New Testament. Jesus saved us so that we might live through Him.
Rom 8:11 , “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. ”
Note: In our mortal bodies Christ lives in us through the Spirit of Christ who dwells in us.
2Co 1:5 , “For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. ”
Note: Although the sufferings of Christ in this world are ours in abundance, so also our comfort in abundant through Christ.
2Co 3:4 , “Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. ”
Note: We have confidence through Christ toward God.
Why do we have confidence toward God?
Rom 5:1 , “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ .”
Note: We have confidence toward God because we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Mediator between God and men.
2Co 5:17-18 , “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”
Note: God reconciled believers to Himself through Christ. The old things passed away, behold, new things have come from God.
Heb 13:20-21 , “Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the Great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. ”
Note: The Great Shepherd through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus Christ our Lord, equips children of God in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight. To live in Christ, to live for Christ, to live with Christ and to live through Christ is to be equipped in every good thing to do God’s will, working is us that which is pleasing in the sight of God, and to the glory of God forever and ever. Amen.
1Co 8:6 , “yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. ”
Note: For Christians there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things. We exist or live for God. There is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things. We exist or live through Jesus Christ.
VI. How to Testify for Christ.
Many church members think to testify for Christ you testify with words. More important Christians testify Jesus Christ with their lives.
Jhn 13:35 , “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Note: If Christians have love for one another, by this all men will know we are the disciples of Jesus Christ. Loving for one another is the hallmark of Christians.
Jhn 15:8 , “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. ”
Note: Prove in Greek is ginomai which means to become; to begin to be; to be made; to come into being; to be established; to show oneself; to verify; to make it clear; – which occurs 536 times in the New Testament. Christians bear much fruit, by this God the Father is glorified, and to make it clear they are the disciples of Jesus Christ. If the proof of pudding is in the eating, a believer is proved to be a disciple of Jesus Christ by bearing much fruit. A good tree bears good fruit.
Jhn 8:31 , “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine .”
Note: If we continue in the Word of Jesus, then we are truly disciples of Jesus. A disciple does what the Master says.
Jhn 14:23 , “ Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. ”
Note: If anyone loves Jesus, he will keep the Word of Jesus. God loves those who keep the Word of Jesus. God will be with them.
Act 4:13 , “Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. ”
Note: Observe in Greek is theōreō which means to see; behold; look on; perceive; consider; to be a spectator; look at; take a view of; discern; find out; take note; to watch carefully; – which occurs 53 times in the New Testament. The world is watching carefully what Christians do, not only what they say. Confidence in Greek is parrēsia which means boldness; freedom in speaking; free and fearless confidence; cheerful courage; all out-spokenness; certitude; a feeling of having no doubt; – which occurs 32 times in the New Testament. Psa 71:5 , “ For You are my hope; O Lord GOD, You are my confidence from my youth. ” Uneducated in Greek is agrammatos which means unlearned; illiterate; unlettered; without learning; having no formal schooling; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. Untrained in Greek is idiōtēs which means ignorant; rude in speech; unlearned; unskilled in any art; – which occurs 7 times in the New Testament. The word idiot is derived from the Greek word. It is interesting that the Jewish rulers and elders and scribes and the high priest understood that Peter and John were uneducated and untrained men. They may lack formal schooling and unsophisticated, but John wrote the Gospel of John which is a masterpiece in Greek. I consider the Gospel of John the greatest book in the Holy Bible, of course Apostle John was inspired by the Holy Spirit. Amaze in Greek is thaumazō which means to have admiration; marvel; wonder; showing great surprise; – which occurs 45 times in the New Testament. Recognize in Greek is epiginōskō which means to take knowledge of; perceive; acknowledge; understand; to know well; denote; signify; – which occurs 48 times in the New Testament. The Jewish religious establishment understood and recognized that Peter and John had been with Jesus, they had been associated with Jesus, they had been under Jesus. Anyone who has been with Jesus would be understood and recognized by the world.
Many think to testify or witness for the Lord is through the word only. We have shown above the importance of testifying through the deed.
Who should testify?
Jhn 15:26-27 , “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning. ”
Note: Jesus Christ sent the Holy Spirit, that is the Spirit of Truth, to the disciples from the Father, who testifies about Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the sole Representative of Christ on earth, not the pope an impostor. The Spirit of the Lord dwells in the Church, the Body of Christ, and in believers. 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. ” Disciples would testify also, because they had been with Jesus from the beginning. The twelve special disciples were the Apostles. Mat 10:1 , “ Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. ” Mat 11:1 , “ When Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and preach in their cities. ”
Luk 6:13, “And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles: ”
Note: Jesus chose twelve disciples and formally names them Apostles. Disciple in Greek is mathētēs which means a follower, pupil, learner, one who follows one’s teaching; adherent; – which occurs 261 times in the New Testament. Apostle in Greek is apostolos which means messenger; he that is sent; constant companion; delegate; an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ; specifically the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ; – which occurs 80 times in the New Testament. Judas lost his position, Jesus called Paul to be an apostle.
Luk 10:1, “Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. ”
Note: In addition to the original twelve disciples, who were appointed Apostles, Jesus also appointed seventy other disciples, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where Jesus Himself was going to come to preach the Gospel and heal the sick.
Luk 6:17, “Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place; and there was a large crowd of His disciples, and a great throng of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon.”
Luk 19:37, “As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen .”
Note: Large crowds of believers and followers were also called disciples.
Jhn 4:1-2 , “Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were).”
Note: Soon Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John, although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His twelve disciples were.
Jhn 6:66 , “As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. ”
Note: Even in the ministry of Jesus, many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. It is nothing a surprise if some believers backslide and turn away from the truth.
Mat 28:16-20 , “But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. 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.”
Note: After the Resurrection and just before the Ascension, the Eleven disciples (Judas committed suicide) proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. There Jesus gave His great commission. Authority in Greek is exousia which means power, right, command; jurisdiction, privilege, force, ability and strength, divine authority over all; rule; the power to control; might; the power of authority and right; – which occurs 102 times in the New Testament. All authority has been given to Jesus Christ in Heaven and on earth. So everything and everybody is subjected to Jesus Christ in Heaven and on earth – the whole universe. All disciples from the twelve to the present, must go therefore and make disciples of all the nations. Make disciple in Greek is mathēteuō to teach; instruct; to be disciple; to become a disciple; to enroll as a student; to follow instructions; – which occurs 8 times in the New Testament. When you win a believer or follower of Jesus Christ, you make him disciple of Jesus Christ. It is most shocking to see there are megachurch preachers or TV evangelists who try to make people their disciples. John the Baptist said, Jhn 3:30 , “He must increase, but I must decrease. ” False preachers try to increase themselves at the expense of Jesus. Nation in Greek is ethnos which means the human family, Gentiles, peoples; people group; race; – which occurs 162 times in the New Testament. Baptism is conducted in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus validates the doctrine of Trinity, the Holy Father, the Holy Son, and the Holy Spirit – the One True God, there is no other. The Roman Catholic Church which is the apostate church committed the blasphemy by adding the Holy Mother. Mary was not and is not the Holy Mother. Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit to give birth to Jesus. God is Self-Existent and Eternal, He cannot have a mother. And lo and behold, the Lord Jesus is with all believers always, even to the end of the world. Jesus is coming again at the end of the world.
Act 6:7 , “ 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. ”
Note: By spreading the Word of God, the number of the disciples continued to increase from Jerusalem to the end of the world. Many Jewish priests were becoming obedient to the faith. A Jew can be converted to become a Christian. A Christian cannot become a Jew. An atheist can be converted to become a Christian, a Christian can never become an atheist. A homosexual can be converted to become a Christian, a Christian can never become a homosexual. A Muslim can be converted to become a Christian, a Christian can never become a Muslim. An evolutionist can be converted to become a Christian, a Christian cannot become an evolutionist. A warmonger can be converted to become a Christian, a Christian can never become a warmonger. A terrorist can be converted to become a Christian, a Christian can never become a terrorist, etc.
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. ”
Note: Historically, disciples of Jesus Christ were first called Christians in Antioch to this day. Antioch was then the capital of Syria.
What to testify ?
Luk 24:45-48, “ Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. ”
Note: Mind in Greek is nous which means understanding; the faculties of perceiving and understanding and those of feeling, judging, determining ; the capacity for spiritual truth; – which occurs 24 times in the New Testament. Jesus opened their minds so that they can understand the Scriptures. Secular academics, unbelieving scientists and theologians and philosophers do not believe and cannot understand the Scriptures because 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. ” The Apostles, disciples of past and present, are witnesses of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the Gospel of repentance and forgiveness of sins.
Jhn 10:25 , “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. ”
Note: Testify the works that Jesus did. 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. ” The primary work of Jesus was to come into the world to save sinners, the secondary work was to heal the sick and perform miracles to the glory of God.
Jhn 1:29, “ The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! ”
Jhn 1:34 , “I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
Note: John the Baptist testified that Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He also testified that Jesus is 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 Gentiles .”
Note: The Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, Jews and Gentiles.
1Jo 4:14 , “ We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. ”
Note: The Apostles testified that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world.
Act 1:22, “ beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
Note: The Apostles and disciples testified of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Act 8:25 , “ So, when they had solemnly testified and spoken the Word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were preaching the Gospel to many villages of the Samaritans. ”
Note: Solemnly testify in Greek is diamartyromai which means to testify earnestly; to seriously affirm; to give serious testimony; to attest earnestly; – which occurs 28 times in the New Testament. Preaching the Gospel is no joking matter. It is a matter of life or death: to believe it you live, to reject it you die. The Apostles solemnly testified and spoke the Word of the Lord, and they were preaching the Gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
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 Apostles testified of the Risen Christ, who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. Whoever believes in Jesus Christ receives forgiveness of sins.
Act 14:21, “ After they had preached the Gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.”
Note: The disciples obeyed Jesus Christ to preach the Gospel to all nations.
1Co 15:1-11, “ 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. For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”
Note: Paul made known the Gospel of first importance is that Christ died for our sins and rose again from the dead. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
1Jo 1:1-3 , “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us—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. ”
Note: The Apostles testified and proclaimed what was from the beginning, what they had heard, what they had seen with their eyes, what they had looked at and touched with their hands the Word of Life, so that we (all believers and followers) too may have the eternal life and have fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true historical Jesus.
How to testify?
Luk 24:49 , “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
Note: Endue in Greek is endyō which means to put on; to clothe with; to have on; to invest with; to provide; endow; – which occurs 32 times in the New Testament. The Apostles and disciples cannot witness for Christ until they receive power from on high. Just visit many dead churches today where the occupational pastors put the congregation to sleep. Some churches have money, but they don’t have power. A preacher filled with the power of the Holy Spirit can reach many souls. At the Pentecost, Apostle Peter preached and those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
1Co 12:27-28 , “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the Church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. ”
Note: The Church is the Body of Christ, and Christ is the Head of the Church, not the pope, an impostor. All disciples and believers and followers of Jesus Christ of all generations are individually members of the Church, not a local church. God has appointed the hierarchy of the Church, first Apostles. But Peter is not the keeper of the Heavenly gate.
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: A preacher ought to know how to conduct himself in the Household of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. Many false preachers think they are exempt from judgment, they can do anything they please.
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: Those who preach the Gospel must conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ. Crystal Cathedral was the center of prosperity gospel which is false gospel, at first attracted many who wanted to get rich, finally it went bankrupt and was sold to the Roman Catholic Church for many millions of dollars. The ministry of its founder was discredited. Prosperity gospel is a version of capitalistic gospel which appears fashionable in America. There have been quite a few prosperity gospel preachers who fell from grace and disgraced themselves and even went to jail. Gamaliel advised, “ for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.” But the Church that Jesus Christ builds, the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
Tit 2:10 , “not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect. ”
Note: Adorn in Greek is kosmeō which means to embellish with honor; to garnish; to put in order; to honor; to gain honor; to ornament; to enhance; to make more attractive; – which occurs 12 times in the New Testament. All believers, disciples and followers of Jesus Christ stop stealing, but in showing good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect. By good behavior we can honor the Gospel.
1Pe 3:1-2 , “In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. ”
Note: Christians win souls not by word alone, it is just as important to win people by good behavior. Wives submissive to their husbands may win them with their chase and respectful behavior.
Gal 2:20 , “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. ”
Note: To have Christ lives in you is a powerful testimony for Christ.
1Ti 6:12 , “Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ”
Note: Christians make good confession by fighting the good fight of faith and taking hold of the eternal life. To witness for Christ may require suffering for Christ and suffering with Christ.
1. Suffer for Christ.
Phl 1:29 , “ For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.”
Note: Most Christians may not know this truth. Grant in Greek is charizomai which means to do a favor to; to freely give; to bestow; to show oneself gracious, kind, and benevolent; to permit as a favor; to allow; – which occurs 27 times in the New Testament. God has granted graciously salvation to those who believe for Christ’s sake, not only to believe Him, but also to suffer for Christ’s sake. Suffer in Greek is to paschō which means to bear pain; to undergo evils; to experience hardship or trouble; – which occurs 41 times in the New Testament. Why? God grants that those who suffer with Christ will glory with Him.
Mar 8:31 , “And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. ”
Note: Jesus the Son of God suffered many things, rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and died on the cross. After three days Jesus rose again from the dead.
Heb 5:8 , “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. ”
Note: The Son of God learned obedience from the things which He suffered. Learn in Greek is manthanō which means to understand; to increase one’s knowledge; to be imbued with the knowledge of Christ; – which occurs 26 times in the New Testament. Jesus Christ does not need to increase His knowledge for He knows everything. For Christians to suffer for Christ will be imbued with the knowledge of Christ. Obedience in Greek is hypakoē which means obeying; submission; compliance; – which occurs 15 times in the New Testament. Why did Christ learn obedience through sufferings? The answer is found in the following Scriptures:
Phl 2:8-11 , “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. ” To the glory of God the Father.
2. Suffer with Christ.
2Th 1:5, “This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. ”
Note: Experiences of suffering with Christ may indicate of God’s righteous judgment so that we will be considered worthy of the Kingdom of God.
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: To contend earnestly for the faith is not easy, it may entail persecution and suffering. But don’t lose heart.
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: By faith Christians will overcome the world and have victory in Jesus Christ.
In conclusion
To live a Christian life is to live in Christ, for Christ, with Christ and through Christ. To live in Christ means you have the new life born of the Spirit. To live for Christ means you follow Christ and imitate Him willingly to serve Christ and suffer for Him. To live with Christ means you hold fast to the faith and the presence of Christ is with you day by day. To live through Christ means Christ enables you to testify for Him and do the good deeds and do the will of God.
You cannot live a Christian life. First you have to become a Christian. To become a Christian you need to repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Let the Holy Spirit into your heart to give you a new life. That is to be born again.
Do you want to receive a new life in Christ? You can do it right now.
*Our mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ absolutely free. We do not want donation. We only want you to know the truth.
This article is written to let you know there have been some good and great people who practiced righteousness and justice; but this kind of people are disappearing …
Heb 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.”
The following is a list of the people outside the Bible, who are dead and yet they speak, who had been great inspiration and influence on my life. The people are not listed in the order of importance, I do not have the wisdom to know the order of importance.
Bing.com ignorantly and probably deliberately confuses the great Martin Luther with a black preacher of a false gospel who adopted the name of the great preacher, and mixes them together like fish eyes with the great pearl. The black false preacher was a certified immoral man by the F.B.I.
I ventured to say that outside the Holy Bible, Martin Luther is the greatest man ever lived. Now I am old, and I have not changed my mind. In my opinion Martin Luther is the greatest man ever lived outside the Holy Bible. It means not to compare Martin Luther with any Bible characters. He was the man who dared single-handedly challenged the powerful Roman Catholic Church for its false doctrines and wrong teachings and the man who shook up the mighty Roman Empire. Martin Luther did not establish a new church or a new religion, he brought the apostate church and the world back to the Holy Bible. Here is a man who absolutely believes in Sola Scriptura (in English by Scripture alone). The Christian doctrine that holds the Holy Scriptures are the sole infallible and inerrant source of authority for Christian faith and practice. Do not confuse Martin Luther with someone who debased himself in adopting the name of Martin Luther; who preached a false gospel; the man who certified by FBI as an immoral man cannot compare himself with Martin Luther, just like do not confuse a fish eye with a pearl of great price. In April 1521, Luther appeared before Emperor Chrales V to defend what he had taught and written: “Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me!”
These powerful words still ring a bell in my heart and soul. There are people paid to defame Martin Luther and distort the history of Reformation. The Roman Catholic Church is such an apostate church straying from the truth so much that it can be called another religion.
Quotes of Martin Luther: (do not confuse the black false preacher adopting his name).
The Pilgrim’s Progress (1678) is a masterpiece worthwhile to study, the most characteristic expression of the Christian QUOTES OF JOHN BUNYAN: “In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart..”
Lived: May 1909 – Feb 1984 (aged 75) – Management for Nixon awarded professor, the king of management.Dr. KOONTZ was a world class professor at UCLA, and world-known Chancellor of International Academy of Management for many consecutive years.
On March 13, 1981 Dr. Koontz wrote a letter of recommendation for me, “I have known Mr. Wong well for some eight years, having first come to know him when he was a student in my graduate class in Advanced Management Theory. I am glad to say that in this class of forty highly intelligent and motivated M.B.A. and Ph.D. students, Mr. Wong received the highest grade in this class.”
Dr. Koontz told me personally that he wrote twice to President Nixon and did not get a reply. I showed Dr. Koontz the two letters that President Nixon wrote me personally and officially.
In 1972 before President Nixon took the journey of peace to China, on February 4 President Nixon wrote me a letter shown below. Nixon arrived in China on February 21, 1972, some 50 years ago. I was an original proponent of the strategy to open up with China. Nixon’s trip to China changed the relationship between America and China, changed China, changed America, and changed the world for the better.
The following is a personal letter from President Richard Nixon dated February 4, 1972.
RESPONSE TO POMPEO’s POMPOUS SPEECH AT THE NIXON LIBRARY.
1.YES. “U.S. engagement with China is a dismal failure,” not because President Nixon’s grand China policy was a failure; but because all the successors of President Nixon did not and do not follow his step in seeking a “just and lasting peace” for the world. All Nixon’s successors, both Democratic and Republican presidents, and American politicians of both parties have relentlessly and persistently sought “absolute military supremacy in order to have world dictatorship and domination.” The American president and politicians, without doubt, want to continuously dictate and dominate the world. They threaten other nations with their strongest military power and largest nuclear weapons. That was not Nixon’s policy. They maintain and reinforce America as the sole evil empire in the world, no more a Republic. What the former presidents and current president have been doing since Nixon are an open book, although they may shamelessly lie, misrepresent and distort history. For they are expert in deception. The current president is a demagogue, proven shameless liar, and a warmonger. He is a disgrace to the Republican Party, to America, to all patriotic Americans. There is no need to provide all the facts and evidence of his evil deeds and schemes, they will be voluminous and encyclopedic. All you have to do is to watch the news on TV. American mass media are deliberately making so much fake and false news and they are hostile and biased against China, Russia, etc. There is no doubt, American president and politicians are leading America to the wrong path and to the path of self-destruction. They are oppressing peoples of Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Venezuela, etc., and they can rise up to testify to the American war atrocities, injustice, and brutality. Millions of refugees can also rise up to testify against the American evil empire which has been established by American presidents and politicians since Nixon.
2.The United Nations, the members of the United Nations, most reputable international institutions, and all nations of the world oppressed by the Axis of Evil led by America (excluding Japan, Australia, Canada, UK, EU, NATO, etc.) can testify what the American government has done since Nixon. They can also testify what China has done since Nixon. The only nation on earth which has lifted up 750 million Chinese from poverty is China. The poor and backward country has become the second largest economy in the world by hard work and thrift. In comparison, the population of poor Americans has increased a great deal since Nixon. The Nixon era was the golden age of American history. In the last 40 years China has achieved most spectacular successes in all fields and fronts than any nation on earth. China has aided more than 100 nations without strings attached. Out of envy and jealousy, American presidents and politicians as well as European politicians target and treat China as an enemy. Why the whole world is worried about American unilateralism, including American European and Asian allies? Now America stands alone in the world in spite of its military might.
3.Since Nixon’s trip to China, American presidents and politicians have attacked and engaged in numerous unjust wars and bloody military interventions to this day. Since Nixon, China has not attacked or occupied one single nation. On the contrary China has aided more than 100 nations in many ways, and most recently in helping many nations to fight against the CORONAVIRUS pandemic which the Pompous Pompeo and other politicians falsely accused China of inventing and spreading of the COVID-19. These malicious accusers have been discredited and denied by large group of impeccable international scientists and specialists. Why to call on nations to induce change in the Chinese government when Beijing’s actions never threaten Americans and our prosperity? China has never threatened the security and prosperity of any nation or its people. In fact, China trade has contributed greatly and tremendously to American prosperity. Why Chinese tourists are most welcome by all capitalistic nations? American farmers, retail business and others can testify to the benefit of China trade. China has changed for the better is the truth no honest man can deny. Ask most Americans has America changed for the worse since Nixon? This is a well-known fact for the whole world to see. Can America change from an evil empire back to a respectable Republic?
4.American model of democracy has failed so miserably that a great number of Americans express their disapproval and disappointment in protests and demonstrations across the nation since the public murder of a black suspect by a white policeman televised life on TV. Ask yourself if American democracy is good and right, why so many Americans protest and demonstrate in demanding justice, equality and true freedom? Why does the American income disparity become the largest gap in the world? When one percent of population rules over the ninety nine percent, do you call it democracy and freedom? When presidents and politicians incur the largest deficits and debts in the world, is that demonstrating America succeeding? How can there be unrest on American streets in so many cities across America if the American democracy is a glorious success? Why does the Homeland Security powers turn against Americans? Why chaos in Hong Kong is a shining scene, but chaos in America is not. Why do most Americans think China has done well to protect its people from CORONAVIRUS pandemic, while most Americans do not believe their government has done a good job in protecting Americans?
5. Be honest, and study history. You will find out Western powers, Great Britain, Japan, and the United States have wronged China too many times since the infamous Opium Wars. Strangest phenomenon is the recent facts, that America, United Kingdom, Australia, Taiwan, etc. have planned and funded some young Chinese traitors and terrorists to create riots and terrorism in Hong Kong. Those Chinese terrorists killed, burned, looted, bombed, robbed, smashed doors and windows of public and private properties, created obstacles in public transportation, attacked and wounded police force, caused chaos, lawlessness, fear and unrest among Hong Kong residents and businesses for more than a year; the former U.S. presidents and current president and American and European politicians called those riots in Hong Kong a fight for freedom and cheered and applauded those anarchists and criminals. Now that China has enacted a national security law to protect Hong Kong and its sovereignty, the evil legacy of British empire which never practiced democracy or freedom in its colonies, America, and others hypocritically say that Hong Kong is losing democracy and freedom. America, UK, Australia, EU, Canada, etc. have violated the sovereignty of China and interfered in China’s internal affairs without shame or reason. In comparison with the recent demonstrations and protests conducted by Americans across the country after a black man was killed in public on TV by a white policeman and with Hong Kong riots; the City of Portland is a case in point. The mayor was among the crowds hit by tear gas. The federal agents are armed well like the military. The current president calls those American protesters “thugs”, “terrorists”, “anarchists”, etc. Well are they not American freedom fighters all over the country? When terrorists did evil in Hong Kong Western politicians called them freedom fighters. When Americans protest and demonstrate against injustice and government corruption they are called thugs, terrorists and anarchists. This double standard and duplicity would even embarrass the devil.
6. The United States is the only nation which is having military bases all over the world to target China and Russia with the largest quantity of weapons of mass destruction. America is daily conducting military exercises and operations in China’s and Russian air space and territorial waters threatening the peace and stability of the world, how is that they call it China threat and Russia threat? No China plane or warship ever get close to American east and west coast. The increasing provocative and oppressive military, diplomatic, trade, economic, financial, technological, etc. actions against China and Russia, etc. loom large in the horizon that an all out nuclear war is preparing and leading by the United States. Can any honest, conscientious, and patriotic American say such American engagement is good to America and good to the world? Do you see American president and politicians are committing suicide by leading America and the world to the brink of total destruction? Who has the truth and standing in the truth? Let the God of Righteousness be the Judge, and let Americans have the right to form their own opinion without fear or retaliation.
7. Jesus says, Mat 12:36, “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the Day of Judgment.” The Day of Judgment is coming. How can European and American imperialists and colonialists and Japanese militarists give an accounting for what they have done to the world in the last 500 years or more in terms of genocide, massacre, mass slaughter, slave labor, sex slavery, robbery, burning, torture, looting, oppression, exploitation, occupation, etc. The Judge of the Living and Dead may ask American and European politicians about the so-called China virus, China threat, etc.
8. With boldness I predict the incumbent will lose big in the November presidential election, not because his opponent is good (I will not vote for Biden), but because the great majority of American voters are disgusted with the wrong policies, black lies, incompetent leadership and dismal failures of the incumbent.
9. Let the oppressed nations and impoverished peoples of the world rise up to form a New World Order. A New World Order where the days of white supremacy rule are numbered and over. A New Word Order where unilateralism is discarded, where imperialism is dead and buried, where lies are on the run, and where multilateralism and justice will govern the world, and where nations and peoples will work together for the common good, for peace, progress and prosperity.
Willie Wong, 7/24/2020
So, I introduced myself as follows:
I am a Christian by grace, a Chinese by race, an American by nationality. In Management I am a Koontzian, in Politics I am a Nixonian, in English I am a Ruskinian, and in philosophy I am Willie Wong Thought.
I have two most precious letters from President Nixon, one is shown in this article. Dr. Koontz told me personally that he wrote to President Nixon twice and never received a reply. I asked Dr. Koontz what he wrote to the President about. Dr. Koontz said that he gave full support to the President. I said to Dr. Koontz there were hundreds of millions of Americans who supported Nixon and the President could not have time to thank everyone of them. The faculty, professors and students of Xian Jiaotung University asked me what did I write to the Presidents (besides Nixon) about, I told them I wrote to some American presidents about the most important matters.
In memory of President Nixon, I wrote the following:
FOURTEEN WAYS TO SAVE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
8. DENG XIAOPING
Lived: August 22, 1904 – February 19, 1997 (age 92)
The paramount leader of China.
“It does not matter whether it is red cat or black cat, what matters is the cat catches rats.”
“Man’s only true happiness is to live in hope of something to be won by him, in reverence of something to be worshiped by him, and in love of something to be cherished by him, and cherished forever.”
“When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.”ns.”
Lived: (February 27, 1807, U.S.— March 24, 1882)fulumbers,
Life is but an empty dream! soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;her than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting, field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,e not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,— act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o’erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;in.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
Things I have learned from Longfellow:Over tars I
(1.)And things are not what they seem.
(2.) Life is real! Life is earnest!
(3.) Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
(4.) Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
(5.) Be a hero in the strife!
(6.) Act,— act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o’erhead!
(7.) Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
(8.) Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
I labor and wait for the second coming of Jesus Christ.
11. Helen Keller
Lived: June 27, 1880 – June 1, 1968
Now I venture to say outside the Holy Bible, Helen Keller is the greatest woman ever lived. She did not have the physical beauty of Marilyn Monroe, but Helen Keller is the most beautiful woman in heart and soul. It was the most beautiful heart and soul who can say something so
noble and notable like the following:
The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart. –
Helen Keller was an American author who was blind and deaf. Helen Keller represents an excellent and extraordinary accomplishment in the face of disabilities and difficulties. It is the highest human spirit that soars above human frailties and failures and overcoming them. When I think of Helen Keller I also think of millions of American single women who could not support themselves, and deliberately have sex with many men who do not love them and who do not want to support the woman they had sex with and the children they produced. What a contrast? What excuse for healthy single women without handicap of any kind unable to support themselves and cause their daughters going through the vicious cycle of generations on welfare! The life of Helen Keller itself demonstrates the greatest possibility of human achievement. I never find anything I disagree with Helen Keller.
Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. president, the greatest American president who preserved the Union during the civil war, brought about the emancipation of the slaves and delivered the Gettysburg Address.
It was reported that Lincoln received his formal education — an estimated total of 18 months — a few days or weeks at a time. Lincoln was truly a self-made man. But Lincoln had the treasure of the Holy Bible, Robinson Crusoe, Pilgrim’s Progress and Aesop’s Fables — which I also had in childhood. At the university I took the course of American Presidency, and had read the four volumes of Abraham Lincoln by Carl Sandburg. It is not difficult to say that Abraham Lincoln is the greatest American president in history. But where is Lincoln today in America???
I believe Abraham Lincoln made himself immortal in history by his character, expressed in words and deeds.
Quotes of Abraham Lincoln:
“You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.”k back.”
“As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy.end of World War II, American leaders try to ensla
When she pleaded the case of Israel like a grand mother, she could make you cry.”
Israel And Without Palestineinians who are actually Arabs.
2. For Israel to exchange land for peace is basically unjust and wrong. There cannot be two states in the Promised Land.
3. There are neighboring nations so called around the State of Israel which did not exist before. There are Arabs, and so-called Palestinians are also Arabs. It would be logical and proper for those Palestinians to join the Arab nations; they will not have assimilation problem, just like water mixes with water, oil with oil.
4. Israel is different from all other nations in the world. Israel is God’s holy nation since Abraham, set apart, it cannot be mixed with other races or nationalities or religions.
5. Palestinians cannot claim reparations or compensations because they had de facto occupied the Promised Land for a long time. Just like Hong Kong belongs to China from the beginning. The evil empire of Britain abused, oppressed, and attacked China to loot China’s national treasures and robbed Hong Kong.
6. The British Empire also took India as a colony, and illegally and unilaterally made the colony look bigger and larger through making the Indian map by carving out large territories of China into the British colony of India. The conflict of India and China today was caused by the evil deeds of British Empire and a legacy of injustice. The United Kingdom has never done anything for justice to come out to explain the fact to the Indian government and clean up the geopolitical mess once and for all.
7. For the same reason, just and lasting peace can only be achieved, not by Palestinians robbing the part and parcel of the Promised Land, for Jerusalem is the eternal Capital of King David by authority of God. The God of Abraham will fight for Jerusalem. Palestine is also a toxic legacy of the evil British Empire. It is good and right for the leaders of the United Kingdom to come out and speak the truth. Britain created Palestine, and illegal Arabs moved in to occupy the Promised Land. Palestinians did not pay anything for free occupation of the Land of Jews for hundreds of years. Since the re-establishment of the State of Israel, Palestinians have neither legal right nor entitlement. It is useless and waste of time to claim what does not belong to you.
8. I wish Palestinians well, not violating justice and equity, but by peaceful joining other Arab states of their choice. The sooner Palestinians, Arabs and Hamas get out of the Jewish land the better for them and for the world.02
“One cannot avoid a certain feeling of disgust, when one observes the actions of man displayed on the great stage of the world. Wisdom is manifested by individuals here and there; but the web of human history as a whole appears to be woven from folly and childish vanity, often, too, from puerile wickedness and love of destruction: with the result that at the end one is puzzled to know what idea to form of our species which prides itself so much on its advantages.”
John Wycliffe was an English theologian and philosopher. He was more known as a Biblical translator, an influential opponent to the Roman Catholicism. Wycliffe was rightly called, “The Morning Star of the Reformation.” A great truth grabbed the man who believed the Bible should be available to the people in their common tongue. He translated the Latin Vulgate into common English. He was persecuted for his stand against Papal authority. His body was exhumed and burned along with many of his writings. Wycliffe set himself up against the most powerful organization on earth — the Roman Catholic Church — because that organization was wrong. No organization can be above the Word of God. Wycliffe suffered his first stroke and died in his second stroke. It is wrong to link the faith of Wycliffe with the British Empire.
Everyone described and cited above have flaws and failures, they were all human after all. I have deliberately overlooked them. Nonetheless they had lived and done and said something so and they do inspire and influence people even today. SOME of them were my personal friends and they were very dear to me even to this day. I do this simply in memory of them. You may do the same by providing the list of your people and share with the world. I do not want to provide a list of historical people whom I despise and detest most. Just forget and ignore them you will live happier. If there is not one drop of tear in your eyes after you have honestly and heartily read this article, then I have failed. Why? Great truths can move people to tears. It is very bad and sad that the world represented by the Internet considers John Calvin as a great theologian. I am telling you John Calvin is a false teacher who teaches wrongly that God predestines certain groups of people going to Heaven, and certain groups of people going to Hell. No, anyone who comes to Christ may be saved. Jesus Christ Himself says, Jhn 6:37, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” Believe and follow Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the world. Do not follow a false teacher however popular he may be????? Calvinism is contrary to Christianity.
Western democracy, all forms of government, totalitarian, authoritarian, etc. Only make the world worse. The only hope for the world is the second coming of Jesus Christ to set up the Kingdom of Heaven, to rule as King of kings and Lord of lords forever and ever.
If you are an unbeliever or the wicked, the second coming of Jesus Christ is your judgment day, your day of doom. But you can escape the judgment to come by now repentance of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and so you may be saved and your sins may be forgiven to receive the eternal life, and become an heir to the Kingdom of Heaven.
You can do it now. Believe and be saved.Lord Jesus, come!
