*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.
BY WILLIE WONG
This article is written to let you know, God does not discriminate anybody, and wants everybody to repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ and be saved.
I want you to know that everything I write, teach, explain and proclaim are according to the texts of Scriptures, the Word of God, not for financial gain because it is free to all. I do not disseminate my words to replace the Word of God. Theologians are different, they enjoy to transmogrify the Holy Bible, and they routinely practice to pontificate their own theories for vain glory. Examples are John Calvin, Karl Barth, etc. I do not value the faulty opinions of men. For that reason I accept only Biblical Theology — theology based on the interpretations of the Holy Bible itself. I do not want to waste my life and time to expose the errors, faults, and mistakes of many theologians. Even the greatest theologian had some flaws and faults. I only want to preach the Truth in Christ Jesus.
In my lifetime I have discovered many writings and works of theologians are full of “imaginations and speculations.” To my surprise Martin Luther (1524) who lived about 500 years ago had the same opinion.
Jdg 4:20, “Stand at the door of the tent,” he told her. “If anybody comes and asks you if there is anyone here, say no.”
NOTE: Anybody in Hebrew is ‘îšwhich means any; whosoever; any person; some one; every one; – which occurs 2,184 times in the Old Testament.
Gen 19:12, “The men said to Lot, “Do you have anybody else here? Sons-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whoever you have in the city, bring them out of the place.”
You see the Bible interprets itself.
Mar 1:44, “and said to him, “See you say nothing to anybody, but go show yourself to the Kohen, and offer for your cleansing the things which Moshe commanded, for a testimony to them.”
NOTE: Anybody in Greek ismēdeiswhich means nobody; no one; – which occurs 91 times in the New Testament.
Luk 19:8, “But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated
anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
Zacchaeus serves as an example that faith brings fruits of repentance. Boy, you know how much Washington-Wall Street-Hollywood have cheated?
Do you know how much military-industrial-security complex have cheated?
Act 19:38, “If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges.”
It appears to me the old justice is better than so many countries which claim to be democratic.
Gal 1:9, “As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!” If anybody is preaching another gospel, let them be under God’s curse! Do you know politico-social gospel is a false gospel? Do you know prosperity gospel is a false gospel? Do you know so-called liberation gospel is a false gospel? Do you know that anybody who denies the divinity of Jesus Christ preaches a false gospel? Do you know anybody who preaches that good work deserves salvation is a false gospel? Do you know anybody who preaches a false gospel is under God’s curse?
1Th 4:12, “so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”
1Jo 2:1, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”
A believer who is dependent on anybody cannot win the respect of outsiders which means unbelievers.
Jesus Christ is the Savior for sinners, He is also the Mediator between God and men.
2Ti 3:7, “who will listen to anybody and can never arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
We listen to somebody so that we can arrive at a knowledge of the truth. You can listen to such men like Martin Luther, John Bunyan, Blaise Pascal.
Gen 13:16,“I will make your descendants as plentiful as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can count
the dust of the earth, then your descendants could also be counted.”
Note: Anyone in Hebrew is ‘îšwhich means any man; whosoever; anybody; each; everyone; – which occurs 2,184 times in the Old Testament
Lev 4:27, “Now if anyone of the common people sins
unintentionally by doing any of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, and becomes
guilty.”
If anyone sins unintentionally, he becomes guilty.
Lev 24:15, “You shall also speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘If anyone curses his God, then he will bear the responsibility for his sin.”
If anyone curse his God, he will bear the responsibility for his sin.
Num 35:30, “If anyone kills a person, the murderer
shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses, but no person shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.”
Deu 22:8,“When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, so that you will not bring guilt for bloodshed on your house if anyone
falls from it.”
When a company builds a structure or building that collapses, the government has responsibility to make the company liable and responsible.
Deu 32:39, “See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can save anyone from My hand.”
There is no one who can save anyone from the hand of God.
who goes out of the doors of your house outside will have his blood on his own head, and we will be innocent; but anyone who is with you in the house, his blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on him.”
Jos 23:7, “so that you will not associate with these nations, these which remain with you, or mention the name of their gods, or make anyone
swear by them, or serve them, or bow down to them.”
Do you know it is wrong even to mention the name of false gods?
Jdg 4:20, “And he said to her, “Stand in the doorway of the tent, and it shall be ifanyone
comes and inquires of you, and says, ‘Is there anyone here?’ that you shall say, ‘No.’”
You do not have obligation to give out information to unconcerned persons. You can protect your private data.
Jdg 18:7, “So the five men departed and came to Laish, and saw the people who were in it living in security, in the way of the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting; for there was no oppressive ruler
humiliating them for anything in the land, and they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings
dealings with anyone, and it was in the valley which
is near Beth-rehob. So they rebuilt the city and lived in it.”
Nowadays it is impossible for a people to have no dealings with anyone. The warmonger will find you.
Jdg 21:5, “Then the sons of Israel said, “Who is there among all the tribes of Israel who did not go up to the LORD in the assembly?” For they had taken a solemn oath concerning anyone who did not
go up to the LORD at Mizpah, saying, “He shall certainly be put to death.”
Do not lightly make a solemn oath because it has consequences.
1Sa 25:29, “Should anyone rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, then the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the LORD your God; but the lives of your enemies He will sling out
as from the hollow of a sling.”
I am not a Hebrew scholar. But I believe the above two statements are Hebrew idioms: the life be bound in the bundle of the living with the Lord; and the lives of enemies He will sling out as from the hollow of a sling.
1Sa 26:12, “So David took the spear and the jug of water that were at Saul’s head, and they left; and no one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone awaken, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.”
It is no big thing but the Lord can cause a deep sleep to fall on someone or someones.
left of the house of Saul, so that I could show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
1Ki 16:4, “Anyonebelonging to Baasha who dies in the city, the dogs will eat; and anyone belonging to him who dies in the field, the birds of the sky will eat.”
Anyone belonging to Baasha will die a horrible death whether in the city or in the field.
Ezr 7:25, “And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God which is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges so that they may judge all the people who are in the province beyond the Euphrates River, that is, all those who know the laws of your God; and you may teach anyone who is ignorant of them.”
The Word of God must be taught to all, especially those who are ignorant of them. For that reason I teach the Word of God absolutely free to all.
Job 21:22, “Can anyone teach God knowledge, In that He judges those on high?”
That is the problem of the age of science, people become presumptuous to think they know more than God–they want to teach God knowledge.
The answer is no. No one can teach God knowledge. For God knows everything and remembers everything. He is the God who created innumerable (countless) stars and gives names to each star and remembers it. There is no limitation on the knowledge of God just as there is no limitation on the power of God. God is both OMNISCIENT and OMNIPOTENT.
Job 36:5, “Behold, God is mighty but does not reject anyone; He is mighty in strength of understanding.”
The Mighty God does not reject anyone; so a well-known theologian was wrong in his teaching of predestination.
Psa 53:2, “God has looked down from Heaven upon the sons of mankind to see if there is anyone who
understands, who seeks after God.”
God is looking if you are seeking after God.
Eze 18:32, “For I take no pleasure in the death of
anyone who dies,” declares the Lord GOD. “Therefore, repent and live!”
God is not interested in your death, God wants everyone to repent and live.
Job 25:4, “How then can mankind be righteous with God? Or how can anyone who is born of woman be
pure?”
The answer is:
Gal 2:16, “nevertheless, knowing that a person is not
justified by 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 works of the Law; since by works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”
toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.”
Justified by His blood means because Jesus died for us, His righteousness becomes our righteousness, so that we are saved from the wrath of God through Him. 1Pe 1:2, “chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.” A lot of believers do not know that you need the Spirit of the Lord to prove you belong to the Lord. Without the Holy Spirit in you, you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
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.”
Even you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart, the proof of your salvation is still the Holy Spirit. Rom 8:16, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” Do you know the Spirit testifies with your spirit that you are a child of God?
Mat 5:40, “And if anyone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
Mat 11:27,“All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son determines to reveal Him.”
Except the Father, no one is higher than the Son. The Son has the power to determine to whom to reveal the Father.
Mat 13:19,“When anyone hears the Word of the Kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one sown with seed beside the road.”
The evil one who is the devil comes and snatches away the Word of the Kingdom which has been sown in the heart. This explains why some people simply reject the Word of God.
It does not cost you anything to be saved. But to come after Jesus (to be His disciple), you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus.
Mat 22:16, “And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and do not care what anyone thinks; for You are not partial to anyone.”
A preacher should imitate Jesus, teaching the way of God in truth, and do not care what anyone thinks.
Mat 23:9, “And do not call anyone on earth your father; for only One is your Father, He who is in Heaven.”
The Roman Catholic Church is guilty of so many fathers. We have only One Father who is in Heaven.
Mar 4:23, “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
The problem of the world is the fact people do not hear the Word of God. Or rather, they do not want to hear the Word of God.
with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants
to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.”
To follow Jesus means to deny oneself, take up one’s cross and follow Him.
Mar 9:35, “And sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
If anyone wants to be the leader, he shall be last of all and servant of all. The West has a big lie to call leaders and politicians “public servants.”
Mar 11:16, “and He would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple grounds.”
Today there are many preachers who merchandise the Gospel through the churches and many more who merchandise the God through the media and the Internet.
Mar 11:25, “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in Heaven will also forgive you for your offenses.”
Christians are to forgive anyone just as the Father forgives our offenses.
Luk 3:14, “And soldiers also were questioning him, saying, “What are we to do, we as well?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone, nor harass anyone, and be content with your wages.”
Not only soldiers, officials must not extort money from anyone. If all obey God, there could not be police brutality or corruption.
Luk 14:26, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.”
To be disciple of Jesus means to put Christ as first and supreme, more important than your own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, even your own life.
Jhn 2:25, “and because He did not need anyone to testify about mankind, for He Himself knew what was in mankind.”
Jesus knows all mankind, all our secrets and secrets of nations.
Jhn 5:22, “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son.”
Jesus is the Judge of the living and the dead.
Jhn 6:46, “Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father.”
Only Jesus Christ has seen the Father.
Jhn 7:17, “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is of God, or I am speaking from Myself.”
If you are willing to do the will of God, you will know about the teaching of God. Because people are unwilling, they make all kinds of excuse.
Jhn 8:51, “Truly, truly I say to you, if anyone follows
My Word, he will never see death.”
If anyone follows the Word of Jesus, he will never see death.
Jhn 9:32, “Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind.”
Since the beginning of time, only Jesus Christ has opened the eyes of a person born blind.
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.”
Jesus is the Door to God. Jesus is the Door to Salvation. Jesus is inviting you to come in, anyone means everyone is welcome. If you perish, it is all your fault. If you are saved, it is the gift of God.
and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him.”
If anyone loves Jesus, he will follow the Word of Jesus. It is not possible to love Jesus but rejects His Word.
Rom 8:9, “However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.”
It does not matter you are born white, have been baptized, participated in the Lord’s Supper, donated money to the church, belonged to a church, engaged in Christian work — if you do not have the Spirit of Christ, you do not belong to Christ. So the Spirit of Christ dwelling in you is the only proof that you have been saved.
Rom 13:8, “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law.”
Crystal Cathedral went bankrupt because it owed so much money. The Bible teaches to owe nothing to anyone. The one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law.
1Co 3:17, “If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.”
The temple of God is not a building. The temple of God is holy, and that is what believers are.
1Co 3:18, “Take care that no one deceives himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.”
If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. Do you know philosophers, scientists, theologians and politicians, the rich and powerful think they are wise in this age?
1Co 8:2, “If anyone thinks that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know.”
No one has known what he ought to know. What anyone ought to know is the knowledge of God, knowledge of the Gospel Truth, knowledge of the way of salvation …
1Co 8:3, “but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.”
People are so proud because they know the US president. If anyone loves God, he is known by God.
You maybe world leaders, are you known by God?
1Co 16:22, “If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha!”
Do you know many church members do not love the Lord. The worst are preachers who love money and do not love the Lord. Maranatha is Greek which means our Lord comes or will come!
2Co 5:17, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
A new creation means born again. If anyone is in Christ, this person has a new life, a new self.
Gal 1:9, “As we have said before, even now I say again: if anyone is preaching to you a gospel
contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!”
If anyone is preaching a false gospel, he is to be accursed. There was a famous black preacher who preached a politico-social gospel. Many blacks tried to cover up his sins, but he was an FBI certified immoral person. Even now they try to cover him up.
Gal 6:3, “For if anyone thinks that he is something
when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” This definition of self-deception by the Word of God is sharp and penetrating. How many think they are something when they are nothing? Do you think world leaders and politicians, theologians, scientists and philosophers, the rich and powerful are nothing?
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.”
God views anyone who does not provide for his own household is worse than an unbeliever.
1Ti 6:3-5, “If anyone advocates a different doctrine
and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming
to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a sick craving for controversial
questions and disputes about words, from which
come envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,
and constant friction between people of depraved
mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose
that godliness is a means of gain.”
I often wonder why there are so many preachers or pastors who use godliness as a means of gain? People who use godliness as a means of gain are of depraved mind and deprived of the truth.
Jas 1:26, “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his
own heart, this person’s religion is worthless.”
If a religious person does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
Jas 3:2, “For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone
does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect
man, able to rein in the whole body as well.”
A perfect man is the one who does not stumble in what he says.
Jas 5:13, “Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing
praises.”
Are you suffering? Pray. Are you cheerful? Sing.
1Pe 4:16, “but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.”
Do not be ashamed if you suffer as a Christian.
1Jo 2:15, “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.”
If anyone loves the world, he cannot love God.
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 and sister.”
The children of God practice righteousness and love his brother and sister. The difference between the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious.
2Jo 1:10, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your
house, and do not give him a greeting.”
Do not receive anyone who does not bring this teaching into your house and do not give him a greeting, a hello or hai.
Rev 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
Look, Jesus is standing at the door of your heart and knocks, if anyone hears His voice and opens the door, Jesus will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Jesus Christ.
Gen 21:6, “Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.”
Won’t you laugh with Sarah when God made a ninety years old woman to give birth to a child to her husband who was a man a hundred years old?
Gen 45:1, “Then Joseph could not control himself in front of everyone standing before him, and he shouted, “Have everyone leave me!” So there was no one with him when Joseph made himself known
to his brothers.”
After that many years of separation, Joseph could not control himself in front of everyone standing before him, so he wanted no one with him when he made himself known to his brothers.
Why? Because 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 intermittently in the midst of the hail,
which was very heavy, such as had not occurred in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. The hail struck everything that was in the field through all the land of Egypt, from people to animals; the hail also struck every plant of the field, and shattered
every tree of the field.”
Those who did not fear the Word of the Lord suffered greatly.
Exo 35:21, “And everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and
brought the LORD’S contribution for the work of the tent of meeting and for all its service, and for the holy garments.”
In the Old Testament, the Jews freely contributed for the Lord’s work in tent, all its service, and for the holy garments. In the New Testament, Christians whose heart stirred him to contribute for the Lord’s work in preaching the Gospel, but do not make the false preachers rich.
Num 24:9, “He crouches, he lies down like a lion, and like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, and cursed is
everyone who curses you.”
The Scriptures cited above describes Israel.
Recently the wicked Australia rescinds recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. This is to bring curse to Australia, and cursed is everyone who curses Israel.
for their fathers; everyone shall be put to death for his own sin alone.”
This is absolute truth: Everyone shall be put to death for his own sin alone.
Jdg 17:6, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
There is federal law that requires every bank in America to do financial reporting and sends monthly statements to its customers. Nowadays the rich and powerful do not obey the law. A certain American bank deliberately does not send monthly statements to its customers. Why? The bank charges $5 for each monthly statement requested. I had to pay $35 for January-July monthly statements which was compulsory and free before. The paid seven-month statements were received. However, the bank withholds sending all other free monthly statement of August, September and October, etc. This is how banks can rob and steal from their customers. In this way the customer cannot know for sure how much is the balance of his bank account. Without the monthly statement, the customer has no way of knowing whether the bank has deposited his Social Security income and pensions or not. The customer complaints to the authorities, but to no avail. In these days America becomes a lawless nation, the rich and powerful do what is right in their own eyes with immunity.
Psa 128:1, “A Song of Ascents. Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways.”
This is an absolute truth: Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways. How do you know Western leaders and politicians do not fear the Lord? They do not walk in the way of the Lord.
Ecc 9:3, “This is an evil in everything that is done
under the sun, that there is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of mankind are full of evil, and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterward they go to the dead.”
The hearts of the sons of mankind are full of evil, and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives.
Isa 1:23, “Your rulers are rebels and companions of thieves; everyone loves a bribe and chases after gifts. They do not obtain justice for the orphan, nor does the widow’s case come before them.”
How many leaders and politicians are rebels and companions of thieves? They love a bribe and chase after gifts. They do not practice justice.
Isa 2:12, “For the LORD of armies will have a day of reckoning against everyone who is arrogant and
haughty, and against everyone who is lifted up, that he may be brought low.”
The Lord of armies will have a day of reckoning. When? The Day the Lord Jesus returns to judge the world, the living and the dead.
Jer 6:13, “For from the least of them to the greatest of them, Everyone is greedy for gain, And from the prophet to the priest Everyone deals falsely.”
The Scripture cited above aptly describes the present world. Everyone is greedy for gain. Everyone deals falsely. You know I receive so many emails of frauds and phishings and scams in the name of rich and famous.
Jer 8:6, “I have listened and heard, They have spoken what is not right; No one repented of his wickedness, Saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turned to his own course, Like a horse charging into the battle.”
No Western leaders and politicians repented of their wickedness, like a horse charging into the battle.
Mat 5:28, “but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
This is an absolute truth made by the Lord. No man could pass the test of lust.
Mat 7:8, “For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”
This is an absolute promise.
Mat 7:21, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven will enter.”
There are many who calls “Lord, Lord,” but they do not the will of God.
ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation.’”
As we ask God to forgive our sins, so we must also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
Luk 16:16, “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John came; since that time the Gospel of the Kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.”
There is no easy going to the Kingdom of God; everyone is forcing his way into it.
Jhn 3:8, “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.”
Note: Everyone must be born of the Spirit to qualify for entrance into the Kingdom of God.
Jhn 3:15, “so that everyone who believes will have eternal life in Him.”
Everyone who believes will have eternal life in Christ.
Jhn 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”
This is the whole Gospel in one verse. It is clear that God wants everyone who believes in Jesus Christ will not perish. You do not need to worry about that some theologians who said God predetermines some people to go to Hell. God does not predetermine some people to go to Hell, God wants everyone who believes in Christ to have eternal life. The Word of God is clear and settles all questions.
Jhn 3:20, “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, so that his deeds will not be exposed.”
Everyone who does evil hates the light. You can turn away from evil and come to the Light.
Jhn 6:40, “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
We do not see Jesus now because He is seated at the right hand of the power of God in Heaven, but we believe in Him. This is the will of the Father that everyone who believes in Jesus Christ will have eternal life. You see those theologians who said God predicted some people to go to Hell are absolutely wrong. This is the will of the Father that everyone who believes in Jesus will have eternal life.
Jhn 6:45, “It is written in the Prophets: ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.”
Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Jesus Christ.
Jhn 8:34, “Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.”
This is an absolute truth. Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. President and prime minister, pimp and prostitute included.
Jhn 11:26, “and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Everyone who believes in Jesus will never die. Do you believe this? I do.
Jhn 18:37, “Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a King. For this purpose I have been born, and for this I have come into the world: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.”
Jesus is the King of the Jews. When Jesus returns to the earth, He will be the King of kings and Lord of lords. Everyone who is of the truth listens to the voice of Jesus. You do not listen to the voice of Jesus because you are not of the truth. So I do not have a quarrel with anyone who is not of the truth.
Why don’t you call on the name of the Lord to save you now?
Act 10:43, “All the prophets testify of Him, that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”
The prophets of the Old Testament testify of Jesus.
Through the name of Jesus Christ, everyone who believes in Him received forgiveness of sins. You do not need to go to a Catholic priest to receive forgiveness of sins. All Catholic priests are sinners too.
Rom 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
I am also not ashamed of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.
Rom 10:4, “For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
What we could not do in the Law, the Lord Jesus fulfilled the Law for believers. So Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Gal 3:8-14, “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.”
So then, those who are of faith are blessed with
Abraham, the believer.
For all who are of works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written: “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THE THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO DO THEM.”
Now, that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH.”
However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “THE PERSON WHO PERFORMS THEM WILL LIVE BY THEM.”
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A
TREE”— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through
faith.”
No one can keep the whole Law, so everyone is cursed. Jesus bears our sins on the cross so we can live by faith.
Gal 3:22, “But the Scripture has confined everyone
under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”
Confine in Greek is sygkleiōwhich means to conclude; include; shut up together; inclose; enclose; – which occurs times in the New Testament. The Scripture has included everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith is Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”
Christians are urged to do four things in this Scripture:
1) . Admonish the unruly.
2) . Encourage the fainthearted.
3) . Help the weak.
4) . Be patient with everyone.
2Ti 2:19, “Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows
those who are His;” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to keep away from wickedness.”
My website with the aid of Bing.com is invaded by crooks and criminals, parasites and undesirables. I used to worry there are so many fake Willie Wongs with false images. The Lord knows those who are His. Now the fake and phony Willie Wongs only upset me, they are leeches that you cannot get rid off. Whites, Blacks, Yellows, all races, males and females claim to be Willie Wongs, not to count those who try to link to Willie Wong. Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to keep away from wickedness. God will hold liars, deceivers, destroyers, falsifiers and those who make false statements accountable. This will be judgment, no joke.
Heb 2:9, “But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of His suffering death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.”
Jesus died for me, and for you, and tasted death for everyone so that whoever believes in Him may receive eternal life.
Jas 1:19, “You know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.”
Every Christian must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.
1Pe 3:15, “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone
who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect.”
Christians need to defend the Faith to everyone who asks. All my articles in my website can constitute the Christian Faith Library, I give away freely to all brothers and sisters in Christ.
1Jo 2:29, “If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness
also has been born of Him.”
Christians are persons who have been born of God and who practice righteousness.
1Jo 3:3, “And everyone who has this hope set on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”
Everyone who has this blessed hope set on Jesus purifies himself, just as He is pure.
1Jo 3:4, “Everyone who practices sin also practices
lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.”
Anyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness.
All those who invade my website practice lawlessness and they are lawless people.
1Jo 3:15, “Everyone who hates his brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.”
This truth many may not know. Hatred is a murder. Everyone who hates his brother or sister is a murderer. No murderer has eternal life.
1Jo 4:7, “Beloved, let’s love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”
An evil religion practices hatred by beheading Christians. Western bloc practices hatred by lying, killing and robbing many nations and peoples.
1Jo 5:1, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who
loves the Father loves the child born of Him.”
A Christian believes that Jesus is the Christ (His divinity) has been born of God. Too bad men like Emerson, Tolstoy, etc. did not believe in the divinity of Christ, and so they were not Christians.
since the foundation of the world in the Book of Life of the Lamb who has been slaughtered.”
The Dragon (Devil) gave his authority to the Beast,
him here refers to the Beast. Christians are those whose names have been written since the foundation of the world in the Book of Life of the Lamb.
Rev 22:15, “Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral persons, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices
lying.”
Outside the Holy City are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral persons, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying. This does not mean those outside have any access to the Holy City. They are not like the homeless people in Los Angeles. Outside the Holy City refers to Hell which has no access whatsoever. There are no animal dogs or animals in the Holy City. Here the dogs refer to homosexuals, etc. Who can argue against the tons of evidence that Western leaders and politicians, including the US, EU, UK, NATO, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, Japan, etc. and Western mass media who love and practice lying?
Rev 22:18, “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book.”
False preachers, false teachers, false prophets, theologians and philosophers are guilty of adding their imaginations and speculations to the Word of God.
Jdg 4:20, “Stand at the door of the tent,” he told her. “If anybody comes and asks you if there is anyone here, say no.”
Gen 19:12, “The men said to Lot, “Do you have anybody else here? Sons-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whoever you have in the city, bring them out of the place.”
The Bible explains itself.
Mar 1:44, “and said to him, “See you say nothing to anybody, but go show yourself to the Kohen, and offer for your cleansing the things which Moshe commanded, for a testimony to them.”
Note: Anybody in Greek ismēdeiswhich means nobody; no one; not even one; none; – which occurs 91 times in the New Testament.
Luk 19:8, “But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated
anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
Note: Anybody in Greek istis which means a certain one; some or any person; whomsoever; any one; – which occurs 542 times in the New Testament. If Zacchaeus had cheated anybody means anyone.
Act 19:38, “If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges.”
Gal 1:9, “As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!
Note: Anybody in Greek istis which means some or any person; whosoever; any one; some one; a certain one; somebody; – which occurs 542 times in the New Testament. Any person who is preaching a false gospel is under God’s curse.
1Th 4:12, “so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”
Christians are insiders, unbelievers are outsiders. For a Christian to win the respect of outsiders, he must be independent.
1Jo 2:1, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”
For the sinning Christian, we have an Advocate Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, with the Father.
Gen 20:16, “To Sarah he said, “Look, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you, and before everyone you are cleared.”
Pro 26:10, “Like an archer who wounds everybody is he who hires a passing fool or drunkard.”
Note: Everybody in Hebrew is kōlwhich means whoever; each and every; all; as many as; the whole; totality; – which occurs 5,417 times in the Old Testament.
Job 21:33, “The clods of the torrent valley are sweet to him; behind him everybody follows in procession, and before him goes a countless throng.”
Zec 8:10, “Before that time there was no compensation for man or animal, nor was there any relief from adversity for those who came and went, because I had pitted – each one – against everyone else.”
Jhn 3:26, “So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.”
Jhn 7:53, [The most ancient Greek manuscripts do not include John 7:53–8:11.] Then the meeting broke up, and everybody went home.”
Act 4:16, “What should we do with these men?” they asked each other. “We can’t deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it.”
Note: Everybody in Greek is paswhich means all; everyone; whoever; the whole; – which occurs 1,243 times in the New Testament. Every person in Jerusalem knows about the miracle.
Act 21:28, “yelling, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who preaches against our people everywhere and tells everybody to disobey the Jewish laws. He speaks against the Temple—and even defiles this holy place by bringing in Gentiles.”
Tit 3:15, “Everybody here sends greetings. Please give my greetings to the believers—all who love us. May God’s grace be with you all.”
Luk 12:41, “Peter said to him, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?”
Gen 4:14, “Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground; and I will be hidden from Your face, and I will be a wanderer and a drifter on the earth, and whosoever finds me will kill me.”
Note: Whosoever in Hebrew is kōlwhich means whoever; whatsoever; every thing; as many as; all; every one; – which occurs 5,417 times in the Old Testament.
Cain was afraid whoever finds him will kill him. Cain was not afraid to kill his brother Abel.
Exo 22:19, “Whosoever lies with a beast shall surely be put to death.”
Note: This is an absolute truth: whosoever has sex with a beast shall surely be put to death.
Exo 31:14, “You shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whosoever does any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.”
and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days: and whosoever touches her shall be unclean until the evening.”
This is a ceremonial law for the Jews.
Lev 17:14, “For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, ‘You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood; whosoever eats it shall be cut off.’”
This is an absolute truth for the Jews.
Lev 24:15, “Then you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Whosoever curses his God shall bear his sin.”
This is an absolute truth.
Num 19:13, “Whosoever touches the body of anyone who has died, and does not purify himself, defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person shall be cut off from Israel. He shall be unclean, because the water of purification was not sprinkled on him; his uncleanness is still on him.”
This is an absolute truth for the Jews.
Deu 18:12, “for whosoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you.”
What are those abominations?
Deu 18:10-11, “There shall not be found among you whosoever who makes his son or his daughter
pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.”
Jos 1:18, “Whosoever rebels against your command and does not heed your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage.”
This is an absolute truth for the Jews.
1Ch 11:6, “Now David said, “Whosoever attacks the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain.” And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and became chief.”
Whoever means no matter who. There is no discrimination.
2Ch 15:13, “and that whosoever would not seek Jehovah, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.”
This is an absolute truth for the Jews. Whosoever means whatever person, whether small or great, whether man or woman.
Ezr 7:26, “Whosoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether it be death, or banishment, or confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.”
This is an absolute truth even the judgment maybe not absolute.
Pro 6:29, “So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; whosoever touches her shall not be unpunished.”
Isa 59:8, “The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; they have
made themselves crooked paths; whosoever takes
that way shall not know peace.”
This can be said about the Western alliance, in particular the US, EU, NATO, UK, GANG-7 and Japan. They have made themselves crooked paths such as the Ukrainian conflict, whoever takes that way shall not know peace. Worse the Ukrainian nincompoop and puppet does not want peace.
Mat 10:33, “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in Heaven.”
Note: Whosoever in Greek is hostiswhich means whoever; who; any that; anyone who; whomsoever; as many as; no exact English equivalent; – which occurs 143 times in the New Testament. This is emphatic. No matter who you are, if you deny Jesus Christ before men, Jesus Christ will also deny you before the Father who is in Heaven. This is clear as the day, there is no misunderstanding about it.
Mat 5:32, “But I say to you that whosoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality
causes her to commit adultery; and whosoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.”
This is an absolute truth set by Jesus Christ. I talked to a white Christian lady that not a few black pastors committed adultery but their black churches covered up for them. The white Christian lady told me that white churches covered up for their white pastors who committed adultery too. No matter white or black pastors who committed adultery, they are no longer qualified to serve, they should voluntarily leave the ministry they dishonored. Or the churches should throw them out.
Mat 5:39, “But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whosoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.”
This is one of Jesus’ most famous teaching called Turn the other cheek.
Mat 10:42, “And whosoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
This is an absolute truth for Christians. Even giving one of little ones a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple shall get the reward.
Mat 12:32, “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whosoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.”
This is an absolute truth Jesus makes. Anyone who sins against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. For fame and fortune, a Harvard divinity school female teacher once declared that she found the wife of Jesus. I believe she had sinned against the Holy Spirit.
Mat 12:50, “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in Heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
Jesus made this absolute truth. Notice never say Father, for we have only One Father who is in Heaven; do not call anyone father. Catholics have many fathers. Mat 18:4, “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Funny thing about humility: if you think you are humble enough, you are just not humble at all.
Mat 23:12, “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.”
Western leaders and politicians are so arrogant and exalted that they sanction and sanction any country because they think they have money and power.
Mar 8:35, “For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the Gospel’s shall save it.”
Western leaders and politicians think they save their lives and countries because they dominate the world.
Whosoever loses his life for the sake of Jesus and the Gospel shall have it.
Mar 8:38, “For whosoever is ashamed of Me and My Words in this adulterous and sinful generation,
of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
This is an absolute truth. You are pitiful if you are ashamed of Jesus Christ. I am not ashamed of my Lord Jesus and His Words.
Luk 14:27, “And whosoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”
Jesus also made this absolute truth. No matter who wants to be Jesus’ disciple, he must bear his cross and follow Jesus.
Jhn 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
This one verse covers the whole Gospel. God loves you. God sent His only Son Jesus to die on the cross for sinners. Whoever includes you. No matter who believes in Jesus Christ will not perish but have everlasting life. So if you perish, it is only of your own fault.
Jhn 4:14, “but whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
Jesus proclaims absolute truth.
Jhn 11:26, “And whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Whoever lives and believes in Jesus shall never die. Do you believe this? Yes, I do.
Jhn 12:46, “I have come as Light into the world, that whosoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.”
Jesus is the Light of the world; whoever believes in Him should not abide in darkness. The fact Western leaders and politicians abide in darkness proves that they have not come to the Light.
Act 2:21, “And it shall be, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
It is true, whoever shall call on the name of the Lord Jesus shall be saved.
Rom 10:13, “for, whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Remember, whosoever includes you. If you call upon the name of the Lord Jesus, you shall be saved.
Jas 4:4, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Christians do not belong to the world. Whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
1Jo 2:23, “Whosoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.”
There are some religions that presume to believe in God but deny the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either.
1Jo 3:10, “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whosoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.”
Western leaders and politicians do not practice righteousness, therefore they are not of God. Not only that they practice lying, killing, and robbing many nations and peoples around the world. According to the Scripture, they are manifest the children of the devil.
1Jo 4:15, “Whosoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.”
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God has God. I do not quarrel with those who do not believe in the divinity of Christ, I just pity them.
Gen 4:15, “So the LORD said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him seven times as much.” And the LORD placed a mark on Cain, so that no one finding him would kill him.”
Whoever in Hebrew is kōlwhich means any one; every one; whosoever; all in the absolute sense; as many as; no matter who; – which occurs 5,417 times in the Old Testament.
Gen 9:6, “Whoever sheds human blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made mankind.”
God institutes the capital punishment. Whoever opposed death penalty opposes God. There are some European nations which abolish capital punishment, these nations claim to be Christian nations actually oppose God.
Hos 14:9, “Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; Whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, And the righteous will walk in them, But wrongdoers will stumble in them.”
The wise and discerning know the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous will walk in them. You are not wise if you do not walk in the ways of the Lord.
Mat 5:19, “Therefore, whoever nullifies one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Note: The heretics like to quote this Scripture to mislead the people. For example, Christians are never told to keep the Sabbath like the Jews do.
person must be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and the one who eats, does so with regard to the
Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and the one who does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat, and he gives thanks to God.”
divorces his wife, except for the reason of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
This is an ultimate truth that Christ forbids Christians to divorce. Whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. A divorced man is not qualified to be a pastor.
Mat 5:39, “But I say to you, do not show opposition
against an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other toward him also.”
This is the one and only Jesus’ famous teaching, “turn the other check.”
Mat 10:33, “But whoever denies Me before people, I will also deny him before My Father who is in Heaven.”
This is an ultimate truth: Whoever denies Jesus before people, Jesus will also deny him before the Father who is in Heaven.
ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he shall by no meanslose his reward.”
Whosoever gives one of these little one just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple shall receive his reward.
Mat 16:25, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
This is an absolute truth made by Jesus Christ: For whosoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for the sake of Jesus will find it.
Mat 23:12, “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”
This is also an absolute truth: Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
Rom 10:11, “For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE PUT
TO SHAME.”
The Scripture is always right and true: No matter who believes in God will not be put to shame.
Jas 2:10, “For whoever keeps the whole Law, yet stumbles in one point, has become guilty of all.”
For this reason, the Law cannot and does not save. There is no salvation in the Law. No one is able to keep the whole law. All mankind is guilty.
Jas 4:4, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
Whoever is a friend with the world is an adulteress. Whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
1Jo 2:5, “but whoever follows His Word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him.”
By following the Word of Jesus we know that we are in Him.
1Jo 2:23, “Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.”
This is an ultimate truth: Whoever denies the Son does not have the father. There are some religions which pretend to believe in God without the Son. They are lost forever. The one who confesses that Jesus Christ is the Son of God has the Father also.
1Jo 4:15, “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God.”
This is an ultimate truth: Whoever confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he is in God. So there are many religions that deny Jesus is the Son of God, they are without God and without hope — lost forever.
There are mistakes that even wise men cannot have a chance to learn from their mistakes. For example, you cannot learn from your mistake after you drink a glass of deadly poison.
You may erase some mistake you wrote with pencil. There are some fatal mistakes no one can erase.
Hitler did not make mistakes; what he did was deliberate. Europe did not make mistakes, Europeans deliberately colonized and exploited and looted their colonies to enrich their respective nations. You see how many magnificent palaces, mansions, and stately buildings; they could not have been built without robbing the wealth of many nations. The US has attacked, occupied and killed millions of innocent peoples around the world since the end of World War II. You never hear American leaders and politicians apologize and make reparations for all the evil deeds they have done from the inception of the nation.
God of the universe holds different views. God calls the good people the righteous, bad people the wicked.
Here is the Word of God about the righteous:
Gen 18:23, “Abraham approached and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
Gen 18:25, “Far be it from You to do such a thing, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the
righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth
deal justly?”
Guess what,Gen 18:32, “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.”
God destroyed Sodom because there were not even ten righteous persons there. Do you believe there are ten righteous persons in Washington, D.C., or New York, or London, or Paris, etc.?
The name of Nigeria has been discredited for years; the first country that invented using fake and empty millions to fish real money through Internet phishing and scam, no fool shall use it again to fool others? If the person claims below has the real money $1.5 million, it would be better donate to the Nigeria cholera breakout to save the victims of his own people. Crooks and criminals are so pathetic.
“I want to acknowledged you that we have finally succeeded in getting your package worth of $1.5 million out from Central Bank of Nigeria with the help of Mr. James George Attorney General of Federal High Court of Justice Federal Republic of Nigeria which act as your foreign Attorney representative here in Nigeria. So every necessary arrangement has been made successfully with the Agent Thomas Brocksopp for the delivery of your Consignment Box and every Documents guiding your delivery is well updated so you are advised to reconfirm your full delivery information to the Agent right now as he is currently at J F KENNEDY International Airport (JFK) with your Consignment Box, As he called me this morning to inform me that he misplaced your delivery address which he has due to CUSTOMS /FBI/ CIA and POLICE searching and scanning on the Box as if he is a terrorist there in your country but finally I thank God that they have confirmed that his movement is clear and legit with out any suspicious intentions to your country only to deliver this Consignment Box to you and the documents are updated as I earlier told you. So you are advice to reconfirm your full delivery information to the diplomat to enable him deliver your consignment box worth $1.5 Million United State Dollars and also contact him with below telephon number +1 (845) 248 -4124 CONTACT PERSON THOMAS BROCKSOPP Contact email: (thomasbrocksopp386@gmail.com) you give him full direction to get your Consignment Box delivered to you and hand you over your Consignment Box safe and sound, Furthermore you are advice to be very fast as the Agent Thomas Peter has no time to waste due to his flight ticket. (URGENT DELIVERY CALL DIPLOMAT THOMAS PETER +1 (315)3870315 FOR YOUR $1.5 MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS) So the Information you are required to reconfirm to the Agent is as Follow. (1)Your Full Name============= (2)Mobile Phone Number====== (3)Current Home Address======== (4)Fax Number================ (5)Country==================== (6)City====================== (7)Nearest Airport ============== SHIPMENT CODE GJK72DWQ PACKAGE REGISTERED CODE NO OVX950. SECURITY CODE EYTU/3055WEZ/263/ TRANSACTION CODE 7126/JLFS/7138/17305/ CERTIFICATE DEPOSIT CODE MCBS/PQLE/2-6/41”
3. The glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ is for anyone and everyone, for anybody and everybody, for whoever and whosoever, — this means including you.
This is not about taking chances, you have no chances to take. This is not the mistake you can laugh at yourself. There is no other way of doing things. This is the mistake you cannot recover from it. You cannot try again in a different way. There is no stepping stone. This is the fall you cannot get up again. This is not the choice that you can make it again. This is not the mistake you can erase. This is not a forgivable mistake. What mistake?
Mar 12:24, “Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.”
Mat 10:28, “And do not be afraid of 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.”
Jde 1:7, “as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example,suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”
Hell fire is eternal fire, suffering in Hell is also eternal.
Rom 5:9, “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.”
Jesus Christ is the only ONE WHO can save you and me from the wrath of God, from Hell eternal fire.
You have learned that Act 4:12, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other nameunder Heaven that has been given among mankindby which we must be saved.”
There is no other salvation, Jesus is the only Savior. There is no other name, only Jesus can save you and me.
Jhn 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”
Everyone means anyone, including you.
Jhn 6:37, “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”
Whoever means anyone, including you. If you come to Jesus, He will never kick you out.
So the decision is yours.
Someone was so wrong in saying, “England expects that every man will do his duty.” For more than 500 years, England has not done its duty to apologize to its colonial victims and make reparations. It took a Chinese Iron Gentleman to melt the British Iron Lady in order to get Hong Kong back to China. Since the Opium Wars, England and others have not returned the priceless Chinese national treasures they had looted and robbed from China.
Anyone and everyone means whoever. Whoever is whosoever and means anybody and everybody. Anybody and everybody includes you. The greatest mistake of any person is to miss the salvation of God.
Will you come now to repent of your sins and believe in the Son of God, the Savior of mankind to be your Lord and Savior? This is an opportunity once in a lifetime. This is the moment for you to decide. Every person saved is a Christian.
EUROPEAN Nations that foolishly recognize statehood of Palestine should take Palestinians in and give them aid of all kinds free. What is the use of recognizing the state of Palestine when Palestine does not have territory or sovereignty?
Ukraine nincompoop wants to use USA to fight against Russia. US must ditch Ukraine, EU and abolish NATO. EU alliance has proven meaningless. America must not guarantee security for any nation. International community, knowingly or unknowingly, is greatly mistaken. Gaza does not belong to Palestinians. Gaza belongs to Israeli. Palestinians are originally Arabs who invaded Palestine under British rule. It is good and right for Palestinians to relocate permanently in lands of Arabs to establish a Palestinian State of their own.
Hamas who killed hostages must be killed. Hamas who mistreated hostages must be punished.
Palestinians do not have homeland. Gaza, West Bank, Golan Heights, etc. belong to the Jews. It is good and right that Palestinians be resettled permanently in any Arab land to build a Palestinian State of their own.
Palestinians must be evacuated from the Jewish lands and resettle permanently in Arab lands to build their own Palestinian state. Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis are terrorists to be destroyed completely. That is the only way to peace.
The world intentionally believes in a lie. Palestinians are originally Arabs who surreptitiously moved to Israel without pay under the British colony called Palestine. Arabs bred like rabbits and called themselves Palestinians. It is most reasonable for Arabs to move to lands of Arabs. For Palestinians do not have claim or resettlement right in the Jewish land of Gaza, West Bank, etc. No one would object for Palestinians to build a Palestinian state in lands of Arabs, but Palestinians cannot build a Palestinian state in the Jewish land. Palestinians prefer to be called refugees in order to receive international aid every thing for free. Palestinians must move out or be removed from the Jewish land. TERRORISTS HAMAS, Hezbollah and Houthis MUST be destroyed completely.
Some fools believe and practice martial arts, boxing, violence, sports such as foot ball to save impoverished and backward nations. The truth is only hard work, being good farmers, herdsmen, fishermen, teachnicians, repairmen, engineers can save poor, undeveloped and backward nations.
There has been undeclared war in the southern border between Mexico and America, which has been neglected by previous American administrations. Mexico flagrantly serves as the open conduit for illegal migrants to enter California and crossing the river to enter Texas. The US must bomb Mexico City to warn them there can not be business as usual; in particular Mexico rejected American airplanes which carried deported illegal migrants to land. America must use its powerful military and National Guards to patrol the borders 24 hours. Fire and shoot at unlawful migrants who climb the wall; who try to destroy the wall; who do graffiti on the wall; who congregate within 100 feet of the wall; who cross the river; who cut the wire to deter the invasion. America declares to REJECT all asylum applicants for 100 years. No humanitarian aid shall be given to any unlawful migrants. In addition to American troops, state National guards must also be used to end the unlawful migrants invasion of America. They are despicable and deplorable peoples who fail in their countries and dream of entering America to live happily and doing nothing on welfare. Immigration Officers must raid Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Santa Ana, San Diego, Miami, etc. — dens of illegal aliens; the Welfare Department has their names and addressees.
Palestinians are also useless, shameless and worthless peoples to loot and rob international aid trucks. They are violent and unproductive. Leaders and politicians of Palestinian Authority lead them to the path of destruction by illegally occupying the Jewish lands. They do not want to go to the Arab lands to build their Palestinian state. They rather stay in Jewish lands in order to receive aid for nothing. No aid should enter to help Palestinians.
Hamas should be held responsible for killing hostages and be punished. The UN chief, Arab, Islamic, Black, EU nations speak and support terrorists should be gone. All UN high-paid officials should be replaced; and UN to be reformed in 100 days. It is a false peace. Gaza, West Bank, Golan Heights, Rafah, etc. are Jewish lands. UN, WHO, Arab-Muslim-Black nations and Palestinian Authority speaks and supports terrorists Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis without making any demand. Palestinians do not have homeland in Jewish lands. They must evacuate from Jewish lands and go to lands of Arab to build a Palestinian state. That would be true peace but they do not want peace.
China generously aided more than 100 nations, while their politicians and leaders practice corruption and looting of national treasures, their unproductive people sing and dance, drink alcohol and produce many children they cannot support.
CHINA is the most unusual nation on earth. The craftsmen or artisans of Tang, Sung, Yuan, Ming, Qing dynasties created untold and immense treasures for China. Western nations like Britain, US, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Japan (8-nation alliance) attacked, burned, robbed and stole and looted China national treasures at market value of more than US$100,000 trillion dollars. It is better to return them to China now, not wait until China makes demands by military force. Shame on Western nations who claim or pretend to be Christian. For the last 500 years, the manifest evils of the West are imperialism, colonialism and capitalism.
Today Chinese rescue workers respond to any natural disaster, the speed and service they built tents and houses unmatched by any nation. The American homeless people would rejoice just to have the Chinese tents. China must not waste its resources on the lazy people and unproductive peoples who eat and get fat, drink alcohol, sing and dance, have sex and produce many unwanted children they cannot support; like to play, enjoy games and sports but dislike hard work and discipline; cannot even produce food and basic necessities.
Xizang earthquake demonstrates what the Chinese government cares and does for its people. What does the U.S. government do for Californians in Los Angeles wildfires? The world must know the truth.
Japan intends to swallow up the United States Steel in order to control the American economy. This should be an eye-opener to the U.S. government that Japan is not a genuine ally. The US government made a big mistake in rearming Japan. Singapore and Malaysia are wise to establish a special economic zone. Many underdeveloped nations fool China in holding one-China policy. By doing so they think they deserve China’s economic and financial aid. India has conflict of interest in Bricks, it is better to withdraw and Indonesia is wise to join Bricks.
Leaders and politicians of Palestinians are evil and guilty because they lead Palestinians to the path of death and destruction through illegal occupation of the Jewish land and support of the terrorists. They give false hope to Palestinians in so-called “two-state solutions”. Palestinians are Arabs, no one would object to Palestinians building a Palestinian state in an Arab land. When Palestinians want to build a Palestinian state in the Jewish land, that is the cause of conflict. Palestinians speak and support terrorists Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis.Palestine leaders and politicians should evacuate all Palestinians from the land of the Jews and go to Arab lands to build a Palestinian state. That would be peace.
The Internet is a cesspool of corruption, fraud and iniquity. No nation polices and punishes their wrongdoings. Money making individuals and institutions would invade your computer to push their products even rejected. Many famous American universities and institutions are selling their fraudulent products for incurable problems. Many individuals and institutions claim to be Christian and shamelessly and aggressively ask for donations. Many sell famous works in public domain through subscriptions and purchases. Many distort and pervert the Word of God but ask for donations.
Any nation which restricts, bans, or interferes with China’s activities is illegal and unlawful. China can do anything within its sovereignty that does not violate the international law.
To appease the fury and wrath of South Koreans, the impeached Yoon and all those who blocked his arrest shall be executed once and for all. Maybe Yoon should experience the 4-horse treatment. South Korea is the nation the world should not be: all incompetent, chaotic and useless.
Henceforth beginning 2025 all undeveloped nations must work, discipline and be responsible to produce their own food and other necessities; all international aid will be terminated beginning November 2025. Undeveloped nations cannot do as usual in dancing, singing, drinking and sporting, have sex and produce many unwanted children they cannot support. They must work hard to support and save themselves. Based on the Biblical principle, 2Th 3:10, “For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.”
How can we be suspicious since we never ask for money, we only tell the truth absolutely free.
China has aided more than 100 nations costing hundreds of $ billions. Tell the truth, which nation has expressed act of gratitude? Won’t it better to spend on internal improvement or buying gold?
WHO IS WILLIE WONG?
I am a Christian by grace, a Chinese by grace, an American by nationality. I am neither a communist nor a capitalist. Above all I am a follower and servant of Jesus Christ. In English I am a Ruskinian, In Management I am a Koontzian. In Politics I am a Nixonian. In Philosophy I am Willie Wong Thought.
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WILLIE WONG AND HIS WORLDVIEW. THIS IS NOT A
COMPANY OR A BUSINESS. IT DOES NOT SEEK
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TRUTH AND WISDOM. IT PREACHES THE GOSPEL OF
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https://williewongthought.hpage.com
THE WEST (US, BRITAIN, CANADA, EU) BEING EVIL AND FOUND GUILTY OF SANCTIONING CHINA ALL BECAUSE THEY COVET XINJIANG AND XICHANG AND HONG KONG, USE TAIWAN AND SOUTH CHINA SEA TO ATTACK CHINA’S SOVEREIGNTY.
On the one hand, some White experts pretend to make good suggestions to improve China economy; they may fool many Chinese, I can see malice, envy and ill will through their awkward faces. On the other hand, Black leaders and politicians play coy and con China to support their development for nothing. China needs to stop all foreign aid for two reasons: China needs to pay down deficits and debts. China must not be fooled and must use its hard-earned meager resources wisely to do the following strategic projects:
China should have unswerving commitment only to itself. China should not waste money on useless and unworthy undeveloped countries. Not one nation is grateful. Deficits and debts are bad. China cannot save the world, China must save itself.
2. Make deserts green and reduce sand storms.
3. Repair the Great Walls. Build sea walls around Hainan Island, Shanghai, etc. to prevent climate change that sea water will rise.
4. Promote night markets in big cities and promote domestic travel to expand the economy. Deficits and debts are bad; fiscal surplus is good.
5. Execute crooks and criminals who defraud through Telecom and Internet of more than ONE million yuan. IT is not known who polices the rampant international crooks and criminals who defraud the public by famous American universities and institutions who sell high-priced fake drugs such as to cure knee pain and prevent knee surgery and ear ringing, etc. Sweep clean fraudulent commercials on TV and the Internet.
6. Execute crooks and criminals who defraud in foreign nations and do not bring them home. Faces and names of deceivers must be published on TV to shame them and their families.
7. Increase and strengthen the development and deployment of nuclear weapons for self-defence.
8. Streamline and reduce national and local government debts and deficits.
9. Train 5 million doctors, dentists, nurses, teachers, professors and MANAGERS, machinists in the next 5 years.
10. Assist the poor Chinese in the rural areas first.
11. Improve mechanized agriculture, and upgrade technology in every field.
12. Streamline management of central and local governments.
13. Enforce laws to reduce the number of criminal individuals and organizations in many areas.
14. Execute crooks and criminals who create rumors and conduct espionage that harm national security.
15. Reorganize personnel of CGTN and restructure its programs.
16. Protect the environment and punish severely individuals and organizations who dump industrial waste and toxic materials on lands, soils, water ways, lakes and rivers, and seas.
17. Remove all fraudulent commercials and fake advertisements from TV and Internet and punish the culprits severely. Violent gaming produces violent culture. Violent culture destroys any nation.
18. Make it easy for Overseas Chinese to come to China and make their investments.
19. Reward universities that earn and win NOBEL prizes.
20. Conduct ditching and dredging of lakes and rivers to prevent flooding before extreme weather.
21. Innovate and increase therapeutic and pharmaceutical capabilities to produce various vaccines and preventive medicines.
22. Regulate foreign hospitals and clinics in China to prohibit monopoly and prevent high costs of healthcare.
23. Bargain down whole sale price with foreign drug companies to import effective foreign drugs to benefit Chinese consumers.
24. Subsidize elderly apartment renting by 30%, if elderly live with their children, their monthly mortgage will reduce also by 30%.
25. Severely punish companies that manufacture fake or low quality products.
26. The world must condemn the phony currency called Bitcoin and China should not fall into the financial trap.
27. Execute individuals and organizations that rob ancient cemeteries or tombs to sell precious national treasures.
28. Regulate foreign hospitals and clinics in China to prohibit monopoly and prevent high costs of healthcare.
29. Bargain down whole sale price with foreign drug companies to import effective foreign drugs to benefit Chinese consumers.
30. The world must condemn the phony currency called Bitcoin and China should not fall into the financial trap.
31. Mandate providing access to elderly and invalid wheelchairs.
32. Execute individuals and organizations that rob ancient cemeteries or tombs to sell precious national treasures.
33. Prohibit anyone to smoke on TV or in movies. Reduce individual gun violence except in war movies.
34. Execute Hong Kong residents who commit treason or to be exiled permanently. Hong Kong is fortunate to have food, fuel and water, etc. provided by Mainland China. Hong Kong should start de-Biritishization by changing all English street names, for example Victoria Peak should be replaced by Deng Xiaoping Peak.
35. No one speaks Portuguese except Portugal and Brazil. Macao should not hamstring its residents, but replace Portuguese with the English language the sooner the better.
36. Increase, innovate, and modernize public and private toilet facilities.
37. Punish severely those who violate smoking and drinking on buildings, trains, ferries, and airplanes; the third violation deserves to be executed.
38. China needs to make Christmas a national holiday to facilitate the big Christmas business in China.
39. Execute leading organized criminals, attack every form of terror, and destroy vigorous lawlessness.
40. Penalize severely those who have licenses but do not know how to drive or violate traffic rules and regulations on purpose.
41. To deter and destroy corruption, China needs to execute any officer who commits corruption of more than CNY one million.
42. Execute anyone who counterfeits money and seize all his/her assets.
43. Rebuild the Old Summer Palace, Yuanmingyuan Park ( 圆明园) which was burned down and destroyed by aggressive and intrusive 8-nation-troops; and DEMAND them reparations now through diplomacy or later by military force.
44. Use force to liberate Taiwan and execute traitorous leaders of the People’s Progressive Party (民進黨) publicly.
How to solve global hunger and poverty? There are nations and peoples who deserve to suffer hunger and poverty. For example, Palestinians do not want to go to lands of Arab to build a Palestinian state of their own. They would rather be in the Jewish land and label as refugees so that they can receive international aid for free. There are undeveloped nations and peoples whose leaders and politicians are corrupt, and the peoples are lazy and unproductive; they eat and get fat, sing and dance, drink beer and have sex, produce many children they cannot support. They like the way of life so that they can beg and receive aid freely. These nations will remain poor and suffer hunger in worse situation a hundred years from 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. 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. Never again will China be oppressed. I am sure the militant Japan is deterred, and no nation on earth would dare to attack China again. 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 refrerendum. America is ruined by dark and evil forces.
Heroes of all races who sacrified 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 sacrified their lives in the war against Japanese aggression and atrocities must always be honored and remembered. The Chinse 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.
*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.
BY WILLIE WONG
What is ETERNAL? Can the temporary understand what is eternal? There is nothing eternal in this world.
What is eternal is everlasting. What is everlasting is eternal. Eternity is both eternal and everlasting.
On the day a typhoon was fiercely attacking Fujian, I was observing the sky in Shanghai. Below the blue sky there were a bunch of white clouds fleeting and flying across the sky; but the blue sky remained. This kept me thinking what is eternal. The things of the world like money, power, and sex are passing away like clouds. The truth, justice, and love are forever. The Bible says righteousness dwells in the Kingdom of Heaven. Do you know righteousness includes truth and justice?
2Co 4:18, “while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
THE ETERNAL GOD DETERMINES THERE ARE TWO ETERNALS, OR TWO ETERNITIES.
What is eternity? The best definition is whether derived directly or indirectly: “time without end” or “without end.”
Definition is important because it defines knowledge.
Deuteronomy 33:27. The eternal God — He who was before all worlds, and will be when time shall be no more; is thy refuge — Or, thy habitation, or mansion-house, (so the word signifies,) in whom thou art safe, and easy, and at rest, as a man in his own house. Every true Israelite is at home in God: the soul returns to him, and reposes in him. And they that make him their habitation shall have all the comforts and benefits of a habitation in him. And underneath are the everlasting arms — The almighty power and infinite goodness of God, which protects and comforts all that trust in him, in their greatest straits and distresses. He shall thrust out the enemy from before thee — He shall expel the Canaanites, and make room for you in their country. And shall say, Destroy them — That is, shall give you power, as well as authority, to root them out. For to say is to command, and what he commands he gives power to execute. And has he not commanded believers to destroy, in themselves, all sin; all evil tempers and corrupt inclinations, as well as all sinful words and actions; and will he not give them power so to do, if they apply to him for it?”
Rom 16:26, “but now has been disclosed, and through the Scriptures of the prophets, in accordance with the commandment of the Eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith.”
now] In the days of Messiah, and in Him as the Propitiation. Cp. Colossians 1:26. by the scriptures, &c.] Lit. by means of (the) prophetic scriptures. This Epistle, and e.g. Acts 13, are the best commentary on these words. The O. T., as the great prediction of Messiah and preparation for Him, was the text and the warrant of His Apostles wherever they went, and that for Gentiles as much as for Jews. When the Gentiles previously knew nothing of the O. T. the preaching would, of course, not take the O. T. as its starting-point; (see St Paul’s discourse at Athens;) but even in such cases it would bring forward the Prophecies as soon as possible, both as its credentials and its text.—We have heard this verse unintentionally illustrated by a distinguished Hindoo convert, of great intellectual power; who attributed his ultimate escape from the maze of Brahminic pantheism to the attentive study of the Messianic prophecies side by side with the Gospel history. the everlasting God] The Gr. word (aionios) rendered everlasting perhaps refers back to the “æons” or “ages” of Romans 16:25. Q. d., “The Gospel is now revealed and proclaimed according to the will of Him who appoints and adjusts all the developements of His providence, alike past, present and to come.” He who rules all duration knows when to keep silence and when to break it.—This adjective is nowhere else in the N. T. attached to the word God.—On the adjective, see further on Romans 2:7. to all nations] Lit. to (or perhaps better, for) all the nations. The special reference is, of course, to the Gentiles. for the obedience of faith] i.e. to invite that obedience which, in fact, faith implies; that trustful acceptance of the terms of Salvation which may be described, in one aspect, as “submission to the righteousness of God.” (See note on Romans 10:3.) The thought is not so much of the course of moral obedience to which faith leads, as of the element of submission in the act of faith. In this brief phrase the great Theme of the Epistle is heard for the last time.”
Isa 43:13, “Even from eternity I am He,and there is
Yea, before the day was – Before the first day, or before the beginning of time; from eternity. The Septuagint renders it correctly, Ἀπ ̓ ἀρχης Ap’ archēs, and the Vulgate (Ab initio), ‘From the beginning.’
And who shall let it? – Margin, as Hebrew, ‘Turn it back.’ The meaning is, ‘Who can hinder it?’ And the doctrine taught here is:
That God is from everlasting, for if he was before time, he must have been eternal.
That he is unchangeably the same – a doctrine which is, as it is here designed to be used, the only sure foundation for the security of his people – for who can trust a being who is fickle, changing, vacillating?
That he can deliver his people always, no matter what are their circumstances.
That he will accomplish all his plans; no matter whether to save his people, or to destroy his foes.
That no one – man or devil – can hinder him. How can the feeble arm of a creature resist God?
That opposition to him is as fruitless as it is wicked. If people wish for happiness, they must fall in with his plans, and aid in the furtherance of his designs.”
) Eternal Father.
Isa 9:6, “For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God,Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
unto us] the survivors of the judgment. Cf. “Immanuel,” “God with us.” the government] This word is found only here and in Isaiah 9:7, and is of uncertain interpretation, perhaps “princedom.” his name shall be called] The name of the Messiah consists of a series of honorific titles, pertaining to Him in His kingly capacity and expressing mainly the qualities displayed in His government. We may compare, with Guthe and others, the high-sounding titles assumed by Egyptian and Babylonian monarchs in their inscriptions, such as, “Giver of Life in perpetuity,” “Ever Living,” “Lord of Life,” “Lord of Eternity and Infinity” &c. Wonderful, Counseller] Since each of the other names is compounded of two words, these expressions are also to be taken together as forming a single designation—Wonder-Counseller. The construction is either construct followed by genitive—“a wonder of a Counseller” (cf. Genesis 16:12), or acc. governed by participle—“one who counsels wonderful things.” Cf. “wonderful in counsel” (of Jehovah) in ch. Isaiah 28:29. On counsel as the function of a king, see Micah 4:9. The mighty God] (’êl Gibbôr) either “God-like Hero” or Hero-God. The second is to be preferred, because the title is applied to Jehovah in ch. Isaiah 10:21 (cf. Deuteronomy 10:17; Jeremiah 32:18). These two titles ascribe to the Messiah the two fundamental virtues of a ruler, wisdom and strength (cf. ch. Isaiah 11:2), both in superhuman measure. The predicate of divinity (like that of eternity in the next name) is not to be understood in the absolute metaphysical sense; it means that the divine energy works through him and is displayed in his rule (cf. Isaiah 11:2 ff.; Mi. Isaiah 5:4; Zechariah 12:8). In the fulfilment the words receive a larger sense. The remaining two titles describe the character of the Messiah’s government, as (a) paternal, and (b) peaceful. The everlasting Father] lit. Father of Eternity. The translation “Father of booty” is grammatically unimpeachable (see ch. Isaiah 33:23; Genesis 49:27), but the ideas of fatherhood and booty form an unnatural association. “Father of Eternity” describes the king, not as “possessor of the attribute of eternity” but as one who continually acts as a father to his people. Prince of Peace] Cf. ch. Isaiah 2:2-4, Isaiah 11:4 ff.; Micah 5:5; Zechariah 9:10. 6, 7. The last and greatest cause of joy is the birth of the Messiah and his wonderful character and government. When Isaiah expected the event to take place, cannot be gathered from this prophecy. There is no reason for supposing that the reference is to a child already born; the perfect tense is used, as throughout the passage, from the ideal standpoint of the writer, which is within the Messianic age. The birth of the child is most naturally conceived as taking place in the age of miracle which succeeds the overthrow of the Assyrian; hence no part is assigned to him in effecting the national emancipation.”
3.) The King Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, the Only God.
1Ti 1:17, “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Now unto the King.—The wonderful chain of thoughts (1Timothy 1:12-16) which so well illustrate the great assertion of 1Timothy 1:15—“that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners”—St. Paul closes with a noble ascription of praise and thankfulness to the great God.
This doxology is addressed to no one Person of the ever blessed Trinity, but is—as has been said with great truth—“a grand testimony to the monotheism of St. Paul: the Godhead, the Trinity of his worship, is a sublime unity. To this Eternal, Incorruptible One be glory and honour unto the ages of the ages. Amen.”
Eternal.—More accurately rendered, (to the King) of the ages. The King of the Ages is the sovereign dispenser and disposer of the ages of the world. There is no reference at all here to the Gnostic æons.
Immortal (or incorruptible).—This epithet and the following one—“invisible”—are connected with “God,” not, with the preceding clause, “to the King of the Ages.” God is immortal, in contrast with the beings of earth, and—
Invisible, in contrast with the visible creation.
The only wise God.—The only God, the most ancient authorities omitting “wise.” “Only,” as in 1Timothy 6:15 : “the blessed and only potentate.” “The only God,” a contrast to the multitude of created spirits, angels, principalities, powers, &c. (See 1Corinthians 8:5-6.)
For ever and ever.—Literally, to the ages of the ages, to all eternity—a Hebraistic expression for a duration of time superlatively (infinitely) long.
4.) The Eternal Spirit.
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?”
how much more] Again we have the characteristic word—the key-note as it were—of the Epistle. the blood of Christ] which is typified by “the fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness” (Zechariah 13:1). who through the eternal Spirit] If this be the right rendering the reference must be to the fact that Christ was “quickened by the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18); that “God gave not the Spirit by measure unto Him” (John 3:34); that “the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him” (Luke 4:18); that He “by the Spirit of God” cast out devils (Matthew 12:28). For this view of the meaning see Pearson on the Creed, Art. iii., and it is represented by the reading “Holy” for Eternal in some cursive mss. and some versions. It may however be rendered “by an Eternal Spirit,” namely by His own Spirit—by that burning love which proceeded from His own Spirit—and not by a mere “ordinance of the flesh” (Hebrews 9:10). In the Levitic sacrifices involuntary victims bled; but Christ’s sacrifice was offered by the will of His own Eternal Spirit. without spot] Christ had that sinless perfection which was dimly foreshadowed by the unblemished victims which could alone be offered under the Levitic law (1 Peter 1:19). from dead works] See Hebrews 6:1. If sinful works are meant, they are represented as affixing a stain to the conscience; they pollute as the touching of a dead thing polluted ceremonially under the Old Law (Numbers 19:11-16). But all works are “dead” which are done without love. It is to be observed that the writer—true to the Alexandrian training which instilled an awful reverence respecting Divine things—attempts even less than St Paul to explain the modus operandi. He tells us that the Blood of Christ redeems and purifies us as the old sacrifices could not do. Sacrifices removed ceremonial defilement—they thus “purified the flesh:” but the Blood of Christ perfects and purifies the conscience (Hebrews 10:22) and so admits us into the Presence of God. The “how can this be?” belongs to the secret things which God has not revealed; we only know and believe that so it is. to serve the living God] Not to serve “dead works” or a mere material tabernacle, or fleshly ordinances, but to serve the Living God who can only be truly served by those who are “alive from the dead” (Romans 6:13).”
5.) The Eternal Covenant.
Heb 13:20, “Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of theeternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord.”
20. the God of peace. The phrase is frequent in St Paul (1 Thessalonians 5:23 : 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Romans 15:33; Romans 16:20; Php 4:9). that brought again from the dead] Among many allusions to the Ascension and Glorification of Christ this is the only direct allusion in the Epistle to His Resurrection (but comp. Hebrews 6:2, Hebrews 11:35). The verb ἀνήγαγεν may be “raised again” rather than “brought up,” though there may be a reminiscence of “the shepherd” (Moses) who “brought up” his people from the sea in Isaiah 63:11. through the blood of the everlasting covenant] Rather, “by virtue of (lit. “in”) the blood of an eternal covenant.” The expression finds its full explanation in Hebrews 9:15-18. Others connect it with “the Great Shepherd.” He became the Great Shepherd by means of His blood. So in Acts 20:28 we have “to shepherd the Church of God, which He purchased for Himself by means of His own blood.” A similar phrase occurs in Zechariah 9:11, “By (or “because of”) the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit.”
6.) Eternal Power.
Rom 1:20, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”
For, though there were parts of God’s being into which the eye could not penetrate, still they were easily to be inferred from the character of His visible creation, which bore throughout the stamp of Omnipotence and Divinity.
The invisible things of him.—His invisible attributes, afterwards explained as “His eternal power and Godhead.”
Are clearly seen . . . by the things that are made.—There is something of a play upon words here. “The unseen is seen—discerned by the eye of the mind—being inferred or perceived by the help of that which is made,” i.e., as we should say, by the phenomena of external nature.
Even His eternal power and Godhead.—A summary expression for those attributes which, apart from revelation, were embodied in the idea of God. Of these “power” is the most obvious. St. Paul does not go into the questions that have been raised in recent times as to the other qualities which are to be inferred as existing in the Author of nature; but he sums them up under a name that might be used as well by a Pagan philosopher as by a Christian—the attributes included in the one term “Godhead.” Divinity would be, perhaps, a more correct translation of the expression. What is meant is “divine nature,” rather than “divine personality.”
So that they are without excuse.—They could not plead ignorance.”
7.) Eternal Dominion.
1Ti 6:16, “who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal
Verse 16. – Light unapproachable for the light which no man can approach unto, A.V.; eternal for everlasting, A.V. Unapproachable (ἀπρόσιτον); only here in the New Testament, but found occasionally in. the later classics, corresponding to the more common ἄβατος. Whom no man hath seen, nor can see (comp. 1 Timothy 1:17 (where see note) and Exodus 33:20-23). The appearance of the “God of Israel” to Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, related in Exodus 34:9-11, was that of the Son in anticipation of the Incarnation. The invisibility of the essential Godhead is also predicated in our Lord’s saying, “God is a Spirit” (John 4:24). This whole passage is a magnificent embodiment of the attributes of the living God, supreme blessedness and almighty power, universal dominion, and unchangeable being, inscrutable majesty, radiant holiness, and glory inaccessible and unapproachable by his creatures, save through the mediation of his only begotten Son. 1 Timothy 6:16.”
8.) Eternal Gospel.
Rev 14:6, “And I saw another angel flying in midheaven with an eternal Gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people.”
The Angel with the Everlasting Gospel, Revelation 14:6-76. another angel] Different from the many mentioned before, perhaps especially distinguished from the one who appears in ch. 10, but see Revelation 14:17, Revelation 18:1, where such a reference is hardly possible. in the midst of heaven] See on Revelation 8:13. the everlasting gospel] Strictly speaking, these words have not the article, but neither has “[the] Gospel of God” in Romans 1:1. Even if, therefore, the grammatical usage of this Book were more regular than it is, it would be needless to translate “an eternal piece of good news,” in which, moreover, it would be hard to find a sense for the epithet. No doubt “gospel” is used in its constant N. T. sense; and the gospel is called “everlasting,” as declaring the eternal truth of God. The preaching of the Gospel here stands in the same relation to God’s Judgement as in St Matthew 24:14. But notice, that the name is applied to the whole truth of God, not to what was revealed by Christ only: for the substance of the angel’s message is pure natural theism.”
everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.
And they promptly reported all these instructions to Peter and his companions. And after that, Jesus Himself also sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.”
Heb 5:9, “And having been perfected, He became the source of Eternal Salvation for all those who obey Him.”
Hebrews 5:9. Καὶ τελειωθεὶς, and being made perfect) by sufferings, ch. Hebrews 2:10.—τοῖς ὑπακούουσιν αὐτῷ, to them that obey Him) 2 Corinthians 10:5. We must obey likewise through sufferings and death [as Christ obeyed the Father.—V. g.] and chiefly by faith, ch. Hebrews 11:8.—πᾶσιν, to all) Great power, ch. Hebrews 2:10-11; Hebrews 2:15.—αἴτιος σωτηρίας αἰωνίου, the author of eternal salvation) Dessen habe der liebe Herr Jesu Dank von uns in Ewigkeit. “For which the beloved Lord Jesus may have thanks from us in eternity.” E. Schmidius, piously. Moreover αἴτιος is a word extremely worthy of Him and (comp. 1 Samuel 22:22, αἴτιος ψυχῶν) one by which it is intimated, that Christ, being made perfect, pleads the cause of the brethren, from this circumstance, because it now evidently belongs to Him to accomplish [to make good] their salvation; for He is able: comp. δυνάμενον, who was able, Hebrews 5:7, ch. Hebrews 7:25 : and ought (it behoved Him) to do so, comp. ὤφειλε, He ought, ch. Hebrews 2:17. [Der für Etwas stehet, an der man sich halten kann. He stands for something to which one can cling.—V. g.] We must also observe the epithet, eternal salvation, which is opposed to the shortness of the days of Jesus’ flesh, and flows (is derived) from Hebrews 5:6, for ever. Concerning this salvation, look back to ch. Hebrews 2:10; Hebrews 2:14, etc. The eternity of salvation is mentioned, Isaiah 45:17. Ἰσραήλ σώζεται ὑπὸ Κυρὶου σωτηρίαν αἰώνιον, Israel is saved by the Lord with an eternal salvation.”
9.) Eternal Redemption.
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 time, having obtained
neither] “Nor yet.” by the blood of goats and calves] “by means of the blood of goats and calves,” (this is the order of the words in the best mss.). It is not meant that the sacrifices of the Old Covenant were useless, but only that when they were regarded as meritorious in themselves—apart from the faith, and the grace of God, by which they could be blessed to sincere and humble worshippers—they could neither purge the conscience, nor give access to God. When the Prophets speak of sacrifices with such stern disparagement they are only denouncing the superstition which regarded the mere opus operatum as sufficient apart from repentance and holiness (Hosea 6:6; Isaiah 1:10-17, &c.). by his own blood] His own blood was the offering by which He was admitted as our High Priest and Eternal Redeemer into the Holy of Holies of God’s immediate presence (Hebrews 13:20; Revelation 5:6). once] “once for all.” into the holy place] i.e. into the Holiest, as in Leviticus 16:3; Leviticus 16:9. eternal redemption] i.e. “the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7), and ransom from sinful lives (1 Peter 1:18-19) to the service of God (Revelation 5:9). It should always be borne in mind that the Scriptural metaphors of Ransom and Propitiation describe the Atonement by its blessed effects as regards man. All speculation as to its bearing on the counsels of God, all attempts to frame a scholastic scheme out of metaphors only intended to indicate a transcendent mystery, by its results for us have led to heresy and error. To whom was the ransom paid? The question is idle, because “ransom” is only a metaphor of our deliverance from slavery. For nearly a thousand years the Church was content with the most erroneous, and almost blasphemous notion that the ransom was paid by God to the devil, which led to still more grievous aberrations. Anselm who exploded this error substituted for it another—the hard forensic notion of indispensable satisfaction. Such terms, like those of “substitution,” “vicarious punishment,” “reconciliation of God to us” (for “of us to God”), have no sanction in Scripture, which only reveals what is necessary for man, and what man can understand, viz. that the love of God in Christ has provided for him a way of escape from ruin, and the forgiveness of sins. having obtained … for us] The “for us” is rightly supplied; but the middle voice of the verb shews that Christ in His love to us also regarded the redemption as dear to Himself.”
10.) Eternal Glory.
2Ti 2:10, “For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and
Therefore I endure all things for the elects’ sakes,…. There is a certain number of persons whom God has chosen in Christ from everlasting unto salvation, who shall certainly be saved; for these Jesus Christ suffered and died; and on their account is the Gospel sent, preached, and published to the world; for their sakes are ministers fitted and qualified for their work, and have their mission and commission to perform it, and suffer what they do in the execution of it; and since it was for the sake of such, whom God had loved and chosen, that the apostle endured all his reproaches, afflictions, and persecutions, he was the more cheerful under them; and the consideration of it was a support unto him:
that they may also obtain; as well as himself, and other chosen vessels of salvation, who were called by grace already; for the apostle is speaking of such of the elect, who were, as yet, in a state of nature:
the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory; salvation is only by Christ Jesus, and in him; and this is only for the elect of God; and it is published in the Gospel, that they might obtain it; and in all ages they do obtain it, or enjoy it: the thing itself is obtained by Christ for them, through his obedience, sufferings, and death; and it is published in the everlasting Gospel, that they might come to the knowledge of it; and in the effectual calling it is brought near by the Spirit of God, and applied unto them; and they have now both a meetness for it, and a right unto it, and shall fully enjoy it in heaven; for it has “eternal glory”, or “heavenly glory”, as the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions read, “annexed to it”; or rather the full enjoyment of it will consist in an eternal and heavenly glory, which will be put upon the saints, both in soul and body, and remain to all eternity.”
1Pe 5:10, “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and
Who hath called us unto his eternal glory.—The true reading is, who called you, not “us.” The moment of the call was that when St. Paul and the others first preached there. (See 1Peter 1:12; 1Peter 1:25, and Notes.) The God who now bestows all grace, by the giving of that grace calls us into glory.
The men of grace have found
Glory begun below.”
By Christ Jesus.—On the whole it seems best, with Tischendorf, to drop the name of Jesus out of the text: the title “Christ” will then stand between “the eternal glory,” which we possess “in Him” (not “by Christ Jesus,” as our version has it, but by virtue of our union with the Christ), and the immediate mention of suffering. In Him the two are drawn inseparably together.
Suffered a while.—The Greek says distinctly, “a little while,” as in 1Peter 1:6. All time is short in comparison of what comes after. The original looks as if St. Peter meant not only “after that ye have suffered,” but also “by the fact of your having suffered.”
Make you perfect.—Strictly these are futures, “shall (or, will) make you perfect” &c. This verb occurs again in 1Thessalonians 3:10, and elsewhere. It implies the reduction to order and fitness for work of what is disordered or broken. The others, which are all very similar in meaning, are heaped up after St. Peter’s manner. Bengel thus explains them: “Make you perfect, that there remain no defect in you. Stablish, that nothing shake you. Strengthen, that you may overcome all force brought against you.” The word for “to settle” means “to found,” to give a solid foundation. All this is to take place at the close of the short spell of suffering which is the means to it. St. Peter seems, therefore, to contemplate the passing off of the persecution before the end of the world; for these verbs could hardly be so naturally used to express our education in the world to come.”
Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father] This remarkable invocation corresponds both in form and place in the Epistle to that of 1 Thessalonians 3:11 (see note). But here Christ’s name comes first, a circumstance indicating the Divinity with which the writer invests it: “Where now are those who would lower the Son of God?” (Chrysostom). Comp. 2 Corinthians 13:14.—Again the Subjects are united by the singular number of the following verbs (comfort, &c., 2 Thessalonians 2:17). As in 1 Thessalonians 3:11, we prefer to render the particle of transition But (rather than Now) may our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father. On “Lord Jesus Christ,” see note to 1 Thessalonians 1:1. St Paul invokes our Lord Jesus Christ Himself as their stablisher, with God our Father, in contrast with the efforts on their own part to which he has exhorted his readers (2 Thessalonians 2:15); comp. the transition in 1 Thessalonians 5:22-23 (see note). St Paul prays with confidence for his emperilled brethren at Thessalonica, because of the grace which Christ and God had already bestowed both on them and him: Who loved us and gave us eternal comfort (or encouragement) and good hope. “God our Father, Who loved us and gave,” &c. There is the tenderest connection of thought in these words. God’s Fatherly love prompts His great gifts. See the words of Christ in Matthew 7:11; Luke 12:32 : “Your Father who is in heaven shall give (you) good things,” &c.; comp. John 3:16; 1 John 3:1; also Romans 5:8. While the Thessalonians are “beloved of God” (1 Thessalonians 1:4), they are also “beloved by the Lord” (2 Thessalonians 2:13); and this clause, though singular, may include Christ in its reference, He and the Father being one in love as in comfort (2 Thessalonians 2:17). In His love the Father had already given the readers gladness of heart in trouble (ch. 2 Thessalonians 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:6), such as the Apostle often acknowledges in his own case (e.g. in 2 Corinthians 1:4-6)—an “eternal comfort,” which the sorrows of time will never waste. To know that God loves us is in itself a comfort infinitely rich. “Consolation” (A.V.) represents the Greek noun corresponding to the verb “comfort” of 2 Thessalonians 2:17. It is comfort in its older sense of heartening, encouragement, rather than consolation: see note on “comfort,” 1 Thessalonians 3:2. A “good hope” is such a hope as it is good to have, that gives worth and joy to life. See note on “hope,” 1 Thessalonians 1:3. These kindred blessings flowing from the love of God, are given in grace—not out of merit, and as to the worthy; but in the way of bounty to the undeserving. See notes on “grace,” ch. 2 Thessalonians 1:12 and 1 Thessalonians 1:1.”
The eternal comfort and good hope of believers include the Kingdom of Heaven as described in Revelation Chapter 21.
12.) The Eternal Purpose.
Eph 3:11, “This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
(11) The eternal purpose.—Properly, the purpose of the ages; but the sense clearly is, of the purpose of God (see Ephesians 1:11), conceived before the ages of His dispensation, and fulfilled through them. Hence the rendering of our version is substantially correct.
Which he purposed.—It should be, which He wrought, or made, for the word is quite distinct from the substantive “purpose,” and is in itself ambiguous, capable of meaning either ordained or worked out. Either sense will suit the passage; but the latter perhaps better, since the idea is throughout of the completion and manifestation of the mystery of God’s purpose in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
13.) Eternal Life.
Mar 10:17, “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 so that I may inherit eternal life?”
17–31. The Rich Young Ruler 17. when he was gone forth] Literally, when He was going forth. He was just starting, it would seem, on His last journey towards Bethany. one] He was young (Matthew 19:22), of great wealth, and a ruler of a local synagogue (Luke 18:18). running] Running up to Him, apparently from behind, eager and breathless. Then he knelt before Him, as was usual before a venerated Rabbi. what shall I do] He had probably observed our Lord’s gracious reception of little children, and he desired to have part in the Kingdom promised to them. But his question betrays his fundamental error. Not by doing, but by being, was an entrance into it to be obtained.”
Jhn 10:28, “and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”
Luk 10:25, “And behold, a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
Even a lawyer did not know how to have eternal life. He thought by doing one get eternal life. He did not know, eternal life is a gift of God. No one deserves it. No matter how good you are you are not good enough. No matter what you do you cannot inherit the eternal life.
Jhn 3:15, “so that everyone who believes will have eternal life in Him.”
Jhn 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”
For] Explaining how God wills eternal life to every one that believeth. loved the world] The whole human race: see on John 1:10. This would be a revelation to the exclusive Pharisee, brought up to believe that God loved only the chosen people. The word for ‘love,’ agapân, is very frequent both in this Gospel and in the First Epistle, and may be considered characteristic of S. John. that he gave his only begotten] This would be likely to remind Nicodemus of the offering of Isaac. Comp. 1 John 4:9; Hebrews 11:17; Romans 8:32. See note on John 1:14. everlasting life] The Greek is the same as in the previous verse, and the translation should be the same, eternallife. ‘Eternal life’ is one of the phrases of which S. John is fond. It occurs 17 times in the Gospel (only eight in the Synoptics) and six times in the First Epistle. In neither Gospel nor Epistle is ‘eternal’ (aiônios) applied to anything but ‘life.’ On aiônios, which of itself does not necessarily mean ‘everlasting’ or ‘unending,’ see note on Matthew 25:46. 16–21. It is much disputed whether what follows is a continuation of Christ’s discourse, or the comment of the Evangelist upon it. The fact that terms characteristic of S. John’s theology are put into the mouth of Christ, e.g. ‘only-begotten’ and ‘the Light,’ cannot settle the question: the substance may still be our Lord’s, though the wording is S. John’s. It seems unlikely that S. John would give us no indication of the change from Christ’s words to his own, if the discourse with Nicodemus really came to a full stop in John 3:15. See on John 3:31-36.”
Jhn 4:14, “but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never be thirsty; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water
The water that I shall give him – Jesus here refers, without doubt, to his own teaching, his “grace,” his “spirit,” and to the benefits which come into the soul that embraces his gospel. It is a striking image, and especially in Eastern countries, where there are vast deserts, and often a great want of water. The soul by nature is like such a desert, or like a traveler wandering through such a desert. It is thirsting for happiness, and seeking it everywhere, and finds it not. It looks in all directions and tries all objects, but in vain. Nothing meets its desires. Though a sinner seeks for joy in wealth and pleasures, yet he is not satisfied. He still thirsts for more, and seeks still for happiness in some new enjoyment. To such a weary and unsatisfied sinner the grace of Christ is “as cold waters to a thirsty soul.”
Shall never thirst – He shall be “satisfied” with this, and will not have a sense of want, a distressing feeling that it is not adapted to him. He who drinks this will not wish to seek for happiness in other objects. “Satisfied” with the grace of Christ, he will not desire the pleasures and amusements of this world. And this will be forever – in this world and the world to come. “Whosoever” drinketh of this all who partake of the gospel – shall be “forever” satisfied with its pure and rich joys.
Shall be in him – The grace of Christ shall be in his heart; or the principles of religion shall abide with him.
A well of water – There shall be a constant supply, an unfailing fountain; or religion shall live constantly with him.
Springing up – This is a beautiful image, It shall bubble or spring up like a fountain. It is not like a stagnant pool – not like a deep well, but like an ever-living fountain, that flows at all seasons of the year, in heat and cold, and in all external circumstances of weather, whether foul or fair, wet or dry. So religion always lives; and, amid all changes of external circumstances – in heat and cold, hunger and thirst, prosperity and adversity, life, persecution, contempt, or death – it still lives on, and refreshes and cheers the soul.
Into everlasting life – It is not temporary, like the supply of our natural wants; it is not changing in its nature; it is not like a natural fountain or spring of water, to play a While and then die away, as all natural springs will at the end of the world. It is eternal in its nature and supply, and will continue to live on forever. We may learn here:
that the Christian has a never-failing source of consolation adapted to all times and circumstances.
that religion has its seat in the heart, and that it should constantly live there.
that it sheds its blessings on a world of sin, and is manifest by a continual life of piety, like a constant flowing spring.
4. that its end is everlasting life. It will continue forever; and “whosoever drinks of this shall never thirst, but his piety shall be in his heart a pure fountain “springing up to eternal joy.”
Jhn 5:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the one 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.”
He that heareth] We see from this that ‘whom He will’ (John 5:21) implies no arbitrary selection. It is each individual who decides for himself whether he will hear and believe. believeth on him that sent me] Omit ‘on;’ there is no preposition in the Greek. hath everlasting life] Or, hatheternallife: see on John 3:16. Note the tense; he hath it already, it is not a reward to be bestowed hereafter: see on John 3:36. shall not come into condemnation] Better, cometh not into judgment. is passed from death into life] Or, is passedover out ofdeathintolife (comp. John 13:1; 1 John 3:14). This is evidently equivalent to escaping judgment and attaining eternal life, clearly shewing that death is spiritual death, and the resurrection from it spiritual also. This cannot refer to the resurrection of the body.”
hath everlasting life] Or, eternallife (see on John 3:16). Note the tense; ‘hath’ not ‘shall have.’ Believers are already in possession of eternal life. Christians often think of eternal life as something yet to be won. It has been already given to them; the question is whether they will lose it again or not. The struggle is not to gain but to retain. Comp. John 17:3. he that believeth not] This may also mean he thatobeyethnot, and this is better, for it is not the same word as ‘he that believeth’ with the negative added. The same correction seems to be needed, Acts 14:2; Acts 19:9; Romans 11:30 (see margin). Comp. Hebrews 4:6; Hebrews 4:11; 1 Peter 4:17. shall not see] Not only has not beheld, but has no prospect of beholding. the wrath of God] This phrase occurs nowhere else in the Gospels. It is the necessary complement of the love of God. If there is love for those who believe, there must be wrath for those who refuse to believe. Comp. Matthew 3:7; Luke 3:7; Romans 1:18; Romans 9:22; Romans 12:19. abideth] Not ‘shall come to him:’ this is his portion already. He is under a ban until he believes, and he refuses to believe: therefore the ban remains. He, like the believer, not only will have but has his portion; it rests with him also, whether the portion continues his. He has to struggle, not to avert a sentence, but to be freed from it.”
Jhn 17:3, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ
3. And this is life eternal] More exactly, But the life eternal is this. ‘The life eternal’ means that which has just been mentioned; and ‘is this’ means ‘this is what it consists in:’ comp. John 3:19, John 15:12. that they might know] Literally, in order that they may recognise; comp. John 6:29, John 15:12; 1 John 3:11; 1 John 3:23; 1 John 5:3; 2 John 1:6. The eternal life is spoken of as already present (see on John 3:36, John 5:24, John 6:47; John 6:54); hence ‘may,’ not ‘might.’ Moreover it is the appropriation of the knowledge that is specially emphasized; hence ‘recognise’ rather than simply ‘know.’ Comp. Wis 15:3. thee the only true God] i.e. ‘Thee as the only true God.’ For ‘true’ see note on John 1:9 and comp. John 4:23, John 6:32, John 15:1 : ‘the only true God’ is directed against the many false, spurious gods of the heathen. This portion of the truth was what the Gentiles so signally failed to recognise. Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent] Better, Him whom Thou didst send—Jesus Christ; or, JesusasChrist. This portion of the truth the Jews failed to recognise. But the words are not without difficulty, even when, we insert the ‘as;’ and the run of the Greek words is rather against the insertion of ‘as.’ If ‘Christ’ were a predicate and not part of the proper name we should expect ‘Jesus, whom Thou didst send, as Christ.’ Probably in this verse we have the substance and not the exact words of Christ’s utterance. That He should use the name ‘Jesus’ here is perhaps improbable; that He should anticipate the use of ‘Jesus Christ’ as a proper name is very improbable; and the expression ‘the true God’ is not used elsewhere by Christ and is used by S. John (1 John 5:20), We conclude, therefore, that the wording here is the Evangelist’s, perhaps abbreviated from the actual words.”
Jhn 17:2, “just as You gave Him authority over all mankind, so that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life.”
2. As thou hast given him power] Better, Even asThougavestHimauthority. The authority was given once for all, and is the reason for the petition in John 17:1. Comp. John 5:27. all flesh] A Hebraism not used elsewhere in this Gospel. Comp. Matthew 24:22; Luke 3:6; Acts 2:17; Romans 3:20, &c. Fallen man, man in his frailty, is specially meant; but the Second Adam has dominion also over ‘all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field, the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea.’ Psalm 8:7-8. In the following texts ‘all flesh’ includes the brute creation; Genesis 6:19; Genesis 7:15-16; Genesis 7:21; Genesis 8:17; Genesis 9:11; Genesis 9:15-17; Psalm 136:25; Jeremiah 32:27; Jeremiah 45:5. Once more, therefore, Jewish enclusiveness is condemned. The Messiah is King of ‘all flesh,’ not of the Jews only. that he should give, &c.] Literally, in order that all that Thou hast given Him, He should give to them eternal life. ‘All that’ is neuter singular; ‘to them’ is masculine plural. Believers are given to Christ as a united whole; they earn eternal life as individuals. Comp. John 1:11, John 6:37.”
Rom 5:21, “so that, as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness to
21. that as sin, &c.] More lit. that as the sin reigned in death, so also may the grace reign through righteousness, &c.—“The sin reigned in death:”—i.e., death was the expression of its power. Cp. Romans 5:12-14 and notes.—“May grace reign:”—such is the exact rendering, which should be kept, though Gr. idiom makes E. V. (“might”) grammatically possible. St Paul is still thinking of the succession of future believers. through righteousness] i.e. “through the gift of righteousness,” (Romans 5:17,) Justification. Grace provides the Method of the justification of the ungodly; it gives them a position of acceptance in the eye of the sacred Law; constitutes them, for the purposes of that Law, righteous persons.—We do not for a moment here forget that a moral change is intended, and effected, in the subjects of grace; but the argument, up to this point, has in view not this yet, but the judicial acceptance which is the prior condition of it;—Justification, not yet Sanctification. unto eternal life] The final issue of the “reign of grace.” See Romans 6:22, Romans 8:32, and note on Romans 2:7. by Jesus Christ our Lord] Well do these holy words close that great section of the argument which specially explains the Way of Pardon. Jesus Christ is the one Cause and Means of Pardon, and therefore indeed also the “Lord” of those who through Him are accepted and glorified.”
Rom 6:22, “But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in
22. now] i.e. as things are, by Divine mercy. to God] The real Master of the justified. The figures, “Obedience,” “Righteousness,” “Rule of Doctrine,” &c., are now laid aside, that He to whom they refer may at last appear in the Divine simplicity of His ownership over the soul. ye have your fruit] The verb, by position, is emphatic. “You now have, what you then lacked, namely fruit; ‘your’ fruit, a real and happy profit and result from your new principle.” unto holiness] unto sanctification; see on Romans 6:19. The “fruit” amounted to, consisted in, a steady course of self-denial and conflict against sin. everlasting life] i.e. in this context, the bliss of the life to come; the “sight of the Lord” which is attained only by the path of “sanctification” (Hebrews 12:14); being, as it is, the issue and crown of the process.—Here, as in many other cases, note the varying reference of a single phrase. “Eternal life” is sometimes viewed as present (John 3:36; John 5:24😉 sometimes, and more often, as future (e.g. John 4:36). In the first case it is the grace of regeneration, in the second, the developement of this in the glory to come.”
Rom 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
For] The “for” refers to the last statement. The verse may be paraphrased, “For whereas the wages of sin is death, the gift of God is, as we have now said, eternal life.” wages] The Gr. is same word as Luke 3:14; 1 Corinthians 9:7; 2 Corinthians 11:8. It strictly denotes pay for military service; and the metaphor here therefore points not to slavery so much as to the warfare of Romans 6:13 (where see note on weapons). The word is full of pregnant truth. Death, in its most awful sense, is no more than the reward and result of sin; and sin is nothing less than a conflict against God. gift] The Gr. is same word as free gift, ch. Romans 5:15.—This word here is, so to speak, a paradox. We should have expected one which would have represented life eternal as the issue of holiness, to balance the truth that death is the issue of sin. And in respect of holiness being the necessary preliminary to the future bliss, this would have been entirely true. But St Paul here all the more forcibly presses the thought that salvation is a gift wholly apart from human merit. The eternal Design, the meritorious Sacrifice, the life-giving and love-imparting Spirit, all alike are a Gift absolutely free. The works of sin are the procuring cause of Death; the course of sanctification is not the procuring cause of Life Eternal, but only the training for the enjoyment of what is essentially a Divine gift “in Jesus Christ our Lord.” through] Lit., and better, in. The “life eternal” is to be found only “in Him,” by those who “come to Him.” His work is the one meritorious cause; and in His hands also is the actual gift. (John 17:2-3).”
14.) Eternal Inheritance
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 violations that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”
And for this cause he is the Mediator of the new testament: as Christ’s priesthood and service, his sacrifice and purifying, so the testamental covenant, and his administration of it, did incomparably exceed all those of Aaron’s; so that for what was spoken, Hebrews 9:14, even the effects of his sacrifice, the justification and sanctification of sinners, is he the great gospel High Priest, the mediating person between God and sinners, confirming and making effectual by his death God’s testamental covenant to them, which isfor the administration of it the very best and last, in which God bequeatheth pardon, reconciliation, righteousness, holiness, adoption, and heirship to an eternal inheritance to penitent, believing sinners. That by means of death; the death of Christ himself, God-man, the most excellent sacrifice, without which there could be no remission, Hebrews 9:22, nor the testament of God about it put in force; for which cause he was the Mediator of it, that they should value him so much the more for his death, fulfilling therein all his types, and reach that which was unattainable by these, both for their fathers and themselves. For the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament; for the satisfying the justice of God for the wrong their sins had done it, paying that price without which they could not be expiated, by which they were remissible, and to the duty qualified, actually forgiven, even the sins of those who were under the Mosaical administration of the covenant. Aaron, Samuel, David, and the saints, believers in that time, had their transgressions pardoned by virtue of the death of Christ to come, shadowed by these sacrifices typifying him and his death in their own times. What the death of beasts or birds could do for them, his did, delivering them from the guilt and punishment of their transgressions, under which otherwise they must have perished for ever: this Peter publisheth, Acts 15:11. This virtue of Christ’s death is not mentioned exclusive of New Testament sins being remitted by it; but if it did expiate those old ones, reaching so much backward, even to Aaron, it will much more expiate those under the New Testament to penitent, believing, praying sinners for it, as those Old Testament transgressors were. They which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance: such as on God’s call repent and believe on the Lord Jesus, that Angel of the covenant then revealed to them, and enter into covenant with him, Exodus 23:20-23; compare 1 Corinthians 10:3,4,9 Joh 5:45-47; such as by it have sins expiated, consciences purged, so as to have a title to and fitness by the work of the Spirit for the heavenly Canaan, Romans 4:16,24,25; may be put into the possession of that eternal inheritance made over to them by promise, and which the Spirit gave them an earnest of here, Hebrews 12:10,14,16; compare Ephesians 1:13,14 1 Peter 1:3,4. All this is confirmed to these by Christ’s death.”
15.) The Eternal Kingdom.
2Pe 1:11, “for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior
Verse 11. – For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly; rather, as in the Revised Version, for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance. The verb ἐπ῞ιχορηγηθήσεται looks back to ἐπιχορηγήσατε in verse 5, and “richly” to “abound” in verse 8. If we do our poor best in supplying the graces mentioned above, the entrance shall be richly supplied. St. Peter seems to imply that there will be degrees of glory hereafter proportioned to our faithfulness in the use of God’s gifts here. The adverb “richly” is fitly joined with the verb ἐπιχορηγεῖν, which signifies properly to provide the expenses for a chorus. The article defines the entrance as the great object of the Christian’s hope. Into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; rather, the eternal kingdom. Notice the exact correspondence of the Greek words here, τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν καὶ Σωτῆρος Ἰησοῦ Ξριστοῦ, with these in verse 2, τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν καὶ Σωτῆρος Ἰησοῦ Ξριστοῦ, as a strong argument in favour of the translation, “Our God and Saviour Jesus Christ,” in that verse. 2 Peter 1:11”
The cited above are benefits and blessings of believers in Christ Jesus. The below are the calamities and sufferings for unbelievers. There are two eternities for you to choose.
The Bad Eternal.
16.) Eternal Judgment.
Heb 6:2, “of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and about the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.”
2. of the doctrine of baptisms] Perhaps rather, “of ablutions” (Hebrews 9:10; Mark 7:3-4), both (1) from the use of the plural (which cannot be explained either physically of “triple immersion,” or spiritually of the baptisms of “water, spirit, blood”); and (2) because baptismos is never used of Christian baptism, but only baptisma. If, as we believe, the writer of this Epistle was Apollos, he, as an original adherent “of John’s baptism,” might feel all the more strongly that the doctrine of “ablutions” belonged, even in its highest forms, to the elements of Christianity. Perhaps he, like Josephus (Antt. xviii. 5, § 2), would have used the word baptismos, and not baptisma, even of John’s baptism. But the word probably implies the teaching which enable Christian catechumens to discriminate beween Jewish washings and Christian baptism. of laying on of hands] For ordination (Numbers 8:10-11; Acts 6:6; Acts 13:2-3; Acts 19:6, &c.), confirmation (Acts 8:17), healings (Mark 16:18), &c. Dr Mill observes that the order of doctrines here enumerated corresponds with the system of teaching respecting them in the Acts of the Apostles—Repentance, Faith, Baptism, Confirmation, Resurrection, Judgment. and of resurrection of the dead] These topics had been severally prominent in the early Apostolic teaching (Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19-21; Acts 26:20). Even the doctrine of the resurrection belonged to Judaism (Luke 20:37-38; Daniel 12:2; Acts 23:8). and of eternal judgment] The doctrine respecting that sentence (krima, “doom”), whether of the good or of the evil, which shall follow the judgment (krisis) in the future life. This was also known under the Old Covenant, Daniel 7:9-10.—The surprise with which we first read this passage only arises from our not realising the Author’s meaning, which is this,—your Christian maturity (τελείοτης, Hebrews 6:1) demands that you should rise far above your present vacillating condition. You would have no hankering after Judaism if you understood the more advanced teaching about the Melchisedek Priesthood—that is the Eternal Priesthood—of Christ which I am going to set before you. It is then needless that we should dwell together on the topics which form the training of neophytes and catechumens, the elements of religious teaching which even belonged to your old position as Jews; but let us enter upon topics which belong to the instruction of Christian manhood. The verse has its value for those who think that “Gospel” teaching consists exclusively in the iteration of threadbare shibboleths. We may observe that of these six elements of catechetical instruction two are spiritual qualities—repentance, faith; two are significant and symbolic acts—washings and laying on of hands; two are eschatological truths—resurrection and judgment.
17.) Eternal Fire.
Mat 18:8, “And if your hand or your foot is causing you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; it is better for you to enter life maimed or
Matthew 18:8. Εἰ δὲ, κ.τ.λ., but if, etc.) He who is not careful to avoid offence to himself, will cause offence to others, and vice versa.—χεὶρ, ποὺς, hand—foot) In the impulse of sinning, acting ill, going where we ought not, the hands or other members are urged on by the animal spirits rushing together into them: and there is great propriety in the expressions employed by our Lord: for the imperative ἔκκοψον (cut off), holds good with regard to the hand, in as far as it is thus affected, and so on with the rest.—ζωὴν, life) opposed to eternal fire.—κωλὸν, κ.τ.λ., lame, etc.) The godly, forsooth, in this world are lame, deaf, dumb, etc., both to themselves and others;[812] see Psalm 38:14. This must be taken of the time of mortification, not that of glorification; for those members which have been most mortified will shine the most in glory; see Galatians 6:17.—ΑἸΏΝΙΟΝ, eternal) The word, eternal, signifies sometimes in the Old Testament a finite eternity more clearly than it does in the New. [812] Comp. Revelation 3:17; 1 Corinthians 4:8-13.—ED.”
Mat 25:41, “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the
eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.”
6. And the angels which kept not their first estate] The two last words answer to a Greek term which may either mean “beginning,” i.e. their original constitution, the meaning adopted in the English version, or “sovereignty.” The latter sense may mean either that they rejected the sovereignty of God, or that they abandoned the position of power and dignity which He had assigned them. Looking to the fact that the term is used in the New Testament, as by Jewish writers, as describing a class of angels (the “principalities” of Ephesians 1:21; Ephesians 3:10; Ephesians 6:12; Colossians 1:16; Colossians 2:15), the latter explanation is probably the true one. On the nature of the sin referred to, see notes on 2 Peter 2:4. but left their own habitation] As this is named as the sin, not as the punishment, it seems to imply a descent from the region of heaven to that of earth, like that implied in the language of Genesis 6:2. he hath reserved in everlasting chains …] The words, like those of 2 Peter 2:4, seem to indicate a distinction between the angels who were thus punished, and the “demons” or “unclean spirits” with Satan at their head, who exercise a permitted power as the tempters, accusers, and destroyers of mankind, the “world-rulers of this darkness” of Ephesians 6:12, who even “in heavenly places” carry on their warfare against the souls of men. It is possible that St Jude recognised such a distinction. His language, like that of St Peter, follows the traditions of the Book of Enoch, which speaks of fallen angels as kept in their prison-house till the day of judgment (xxii. 4), and those which are represented by the Midrasch Ruth in the Book of Zohar, “After that the sons of God had begotten sons, God took them and brought them to the mount of darkness and bound them in chains of darkness which reach to the middle of the great abyss.” A fuller form of the Rabbinic legend relates that the angels Asa and Asael charged God with folly in having created man who so soon provoked Him, and that He answered that if they had been on earth they would have sinned as man had done. “And thereupon He allowed them to descend to earth, and they sinned with the daughters of men. And when they would have returned to Heaven they could not, for they were banished from their former habitation and brought into the dark mountains of the earth” (Nischmath Chaim in Nork’s Rabbinische Quellen und Parallelen). The resemblance between this tradition and that of the Zoroastrian legend of the fall of Ahriman and his angels, and again of the punishment of the Titans by Zeus in the mythology of Hesiod (Theogon. 729), shews the wide-spread currency of the belief referred to. How far this allusive reference to a tradition which the writers accepted stamps it with a Divine authority as an article of faith is a question the answer to which depends on external considerations as to the nature of the inspiration by which the writers who so referred were guided. The office of the interpreter is limited to stating what, as far as can be gathered, was actually in the thoughts of the writer.
46. The same Greek word (aiônios) is translated everlasting (punishment) and (life) eternal; also in each case the adjective in the Greek text follows the noun—the place of emphasis. The adjective aiônios (eternal) = of or belonging to (1) an aiôn or period, (a) past, (b) present, (c) future, or (2) to a succession of aiôns or periods. It does not, therefore, in itself=“unending.” But life eternal, which is “to know the true God and Jesus Christ” (John 17:3), can only be conceived of as unending and infinite; cp. “Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die” (Habakkuk 1:12). punishment] (Greek, kolasis), not “vengeance,” but punishment that checks or reforms.”
God is not willing any should perish because Hell is eternal punishment. There is no way out.
Mat 25:31-46, “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared
for you from the foundation of the world.For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.” Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?
And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite
You in, or naked, and clothe You? And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’
And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.’ Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’
Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me, either.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
20.) Eternal Damnation.
Mar 3:29, “but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal damnation”—
but he that shall blaspheme] The sin, against which these words are a terrible but merciful warning, is not so much an act, as a state of sin, on the part of one, who in defiance of light and knowledge, of set purpose rejects, and not only rejects but perseveres in rejecting, the warnings of conscience, and the Grace of the Holy Spirit, who blinded by religious bigotry rather than ascribe a good work to the Spirit of Good prefer to ascribe it to the Spirit of Evil, and thus wilfully put “bitter for sweet” and “sweet for bitter,” “darkness for light” and “light for darkness.” Such a state if persevered in and not repented of excludes from pardon, for it is the sin unto death spoken of in 1 John 5:16.”
Punished with everlasting destruction specifies the “vengeance” to be taken. But the word “destruction” does not stand absolutely and alone as a synonym for “annihilation.” This passage, in itself, gives us no reason to suppose that the lost will be “destroyed” in the ordinary sense of the word. They are to be “destroyed from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power”—i.e., cut off from it for ever. The “presence”—or, more literally here, ”the face—of the Lord,” as well as “the glory of His power,” is a metaphor from the courts of Oriental kings, where only honoured courtiers are admitted to spend their time in the immediate and familiar presence of the sovereign. Familiar contact with Christ hereafter, which will be accorded to all the saved, was God’s ideal intention for the lost as well, therefore it is a positive “destruction” to be banished from it. But to the Jews, who looked for a Messiah who should keep regal state, the punishment was peculiarly appropriate. The word is used besides in 1Corinthians 5:5; 1Thessalonians 5:3; 1Timothy 6:9. As for the word rendered “everlasting” (or eternal, for it is the same which is used, e.g., Hebrews 6:2), it would certainly convey to St. Paul’s readers the notion of incessant duration in time; it is, of course, only an adaptation to human language to speak of time at all in such a case, as we cannot tell what may take the place of time in the next dispensation; however, so far as the actual words go, there is nothing in these passages (Matthew 18:8; Matthew 25:41; Matthew 25:46; Mark 3:29; Hebrews 6:2; Jude 1:7) to suggest any future alteration in the state of the lost. In this, as in some other doctrines, there seem to be two distinct sets of passages, the logical reconciliation of which in our present state seems almost impossible.”
You have been confronted with the eternals, the good vs. the bad. God does not want you to be destroyed. You can make the right choice by repent of your sins and believe in the Lord Jesus as your God and Savior.
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 refrerendum. America is ruined by dark and evil forces.
Heroes of all races who sacrified 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 sacrified their lives in the war against Japanese aggression and atrocities must always be honored and remembered. The Chinse 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 Japanse aggression and atrocities of killing 35 million innocent Chinese without remorse or reparations. UN overappointed unqualified blacks and media have given too much covergage 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 orphanes. 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 reognized 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, Hezebolla, 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. Ukranians 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, overappointed 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, voordoism.
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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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.
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How can we be suspicious since we never ask for money, we only tell the truth absolutely free.
China has aided more than 100 nations costing hundreds of $ billions. Tell the truth, which nation has expressed act of gratitude? Won’t it better to spend on internal improvement or buying gold?
WHO IS WILLIE WONG?
I am a Christian by grace, a Chinese by grace, an American by nationality. I am neither a communist nor a capitalist. Above all I am a follower and servant of Jesus Christ. In English I am a Ruskinian, In Management I am a Koontzian. In Politics I am a Nixonian. In Philosophy I am Willie Wong Thought.
WILLIEWONGTHOUGHT IS A SYSTEM THINKING OF
WILLIE WONG AND HIS WORLDVIEW. THIS IS NOT A
COMPANY OR A BUSINESS. IT DOES NOT SEEK
CUSTOMERS OR PROFITS. IT DOES NOT BUY OR
SELL. ITDISSEMINATES KNOWLEDGE AND PROCLAIMS
TRUTH AND WISDOM. IT PREACHES THE GOSPEL OF
JESUS CHRIST ABSOLUTELY FREE. WE DO NOT WANT DONATION. WE ONLY WANT YOU TO KNOW THE TRUTH.
*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.
BY WILLIE WONG
THIS ARTICLE IS WRITTEN TO LET YOU KNOW THE “WHY” OF VARIOUS VITAL SUBJECT MATTERS IN THE LIGHT OF THE WORD OF GOD.
INTRODUCTION
Life is full of problems, so much travails, tribulations, troubles and tragedies. Even among believers, there are so many “whys” of what happenings in our lives that require explanations. I do not know whether the Word of God has all the answers to the perplexities and problems, troubles and tragedies of Christians lives. As I grow in grace, I have come to the answer of one of my most and greatest deprivations in private life. Just as I believe in the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ to save sinners from their sins with the forgiveness of sins, inheritance of the eternal life so I believe God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God. Christians must trust God’s faithfulness and obey the will of God. Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, then their eyes will be opened to see the mysteries of life.
It has been a popular belief that all life’s problems and perplexities in this world will be solved and answered in the life to come. We will know as we are known. There is one problem: in the life to come there will be new things. All things will become new. Old things will forever pass away, not to be remembered or recalled, including the old problems that troubled you. For instance, you are a saint suffering cancer in this life, both your sins and sufferings will not be remembered in the life to come. You will start a new life in the Kingdom of God without sin and without suffering. The Lord Jesus will make all things new. You cannot and will not bring the baggage of past life to the new life in the Kingdom of Heaven. So this article is written to let you know that in this life although mysterious to us, God causes all things to work together for good to those who love the Lord. The Word of God will answer as many ‘whys’ as the Lord pleases. You can also seek the counsel and comfort of the Holy Spirit for the rest of your problems and perplexities.
Someone said,“Wherefore all theology, when separated from Christ, is not only vain and confused, but is also mad, deceitful, and spurious; for, though the philosophers sometimes utter excellent sayings, yet they have nothing but what is short-lived, and even mixed up with wicked and erroneous sentiments.” It is surprising that a false teacher may say something right.
John Bunyan said, “The covetous man feareth not God. This also is plain from the word because it setteth covetousness and the fear of God in direct opposition. Men that fear God are said to hate covetousness, Exod. xviii. 21. Besides the covetous man is called an idolater and is said to have no part in the kingdom of Christ and of God, Col. iii. 5. And again; ‘The wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire and blesseth the covetous whom the Lord abhorreth,’ Psa. x. 3.”
John Wesley said, “The wicked will gnaw their tongues for anguish and pain; they will curse God and look upwards. There the dogs of hell, pride, malice, revenge, rage, horror, despair, continually devout them.”
(1). ANGER
Gen 4:6, “Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why is your face gloomy?”
If you are right, you have no need to be angry. If you are wrong, how can you be angry. Lots of people angry not because they are right, but because they are wrong. Cain killed his own brother Abel.
Why in Hebrew ismâwhich means to what end; because of what; by what means; for what reason; to what purpose; for what cause; on what account; upon what; – which occurs 750 times in the Old Testament.
Although I do not know who Hemas was but I agree with what he said, “Anger is foolish, fickle, and senseless. Now, of folly is begotten bitterness, and of bitterness, anger, and of anger, frenzy. This frenzy, the product of so many evils, ends in great and incurable sin.”
Have you met a hot tempered person who is useless, worthless, and does not know how to control himself?
Anger generates hate. An angry person is a most hateful person.
I wholeheartedly agree with Aristotle who said, “Anybody can become angry – that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way – that is not within everybody’s power and is not easy.”
I also agree with Confucius who said, “When anger rises, think of the consequences.”
Anger may ruin the person, ruin the person’s future.
Things you can help, go ahead to do it, and so there is no need to be angry at. Things you cannot help, it us useless to be angry at.
The following Scriptures tell what Christians to do with anger or wrath:
Jas 1:19-22, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
IF you are doers of the Word of God, you will be slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. No matter how a man gets angry, it does not get right with God. We therefor must lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness. In America you often hear young women overflow with wickedness of vulgar language and filthy words. The Word of God is able to save any souls. Be doer of the Word and not deceiving oneself by being hearer only.
Gen 18:13,“But the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I actually give birth to a child, when I am so old?”
Laughter is usually good, to make people healthier and happier. But do not laugh at the Word of God. Do not laugh at poor people. People who laugh at others with a sense of superiority is morally bad.
I agree with Epictetus who said, “Let not your laughter be loud, frequent, or unrestrained.”
William James said, “We don’t laugh because we’re happy, we are happy because we laugh.”
It was Benjamin Franklin who said, “Trouble
knocked at the door, but, hearing laughter, hurried away.”
It is true, laughter can hurry away some emotional troubles.
Pro 17:22, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”
A joyful heart is good medicine. Even modern medical science cannot deny the truth.
Lord Byron was right, “Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine.”
Henry Ward Beecher said, “Grim care, moroseness, and anxiety—all this rust of life ought to be scoured off by the oil of mirth. Mirth is God’s medicine.”
These are important rules to observe:
A. Never mock at God.
B. Do not mock at holy things.
C. Do not laugh at the Word of God.
D. Do not laugh at the handicapped and the blind and the poor.
E. Do not laugh at anyone with a sense of superiority.
F. Almost all children suffer the inferiority complex, it is bad enough for children to laugh at children; it is worse for adults to laugh at children.
Someone was very wrong to say, “The ultimate message of that book was that our lives are what we pay attention to; every time we make a decision in the moment about how we spend our attention, we’re making a much broader decision about our lives.”
The above is a classical example worldly wisdom and driven by self-centered idea. It is similar to the idea that “We are the master of our lives.” This is no laughing matter, discounting the profit motive. There are so many impostors who write books to make money to fool the world. Years ago Dr. Harold Ronning (Clinical Psychologist) and I had serious discussion. We reached the conclusion, “The ignorant support the livelihood and lifestyle of the smart.”
It reminds me of the following Scriptures:
Luk 12:18-21, “And he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and I will store all my grain and my goods there. And I will say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years to come; relax, eat, drink, and enjoy
yourself!” But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is demanded of you; and as for all that you have prepared, who will own it now?’ Such is the one who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich in relation to God.”
The rich man was very successful. He makes the decision for his life. Whether you are wise or a fool it does not profit me. I was young, now I am old. The longer I live the better I learn that the wisdom of the world leads people to death, doom and destruction.
1Co 3:19, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the sight of God. For it is written:
“He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE BY THEIR CRAFTINESS”.”
Western leaders and politicians are the people who think they are wisest by their own craftiness. Sooner or latter God is THE ONE WHO CATHES THEM.
(3) . Fear
Mar 4:38-41, “And yet Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who, then, is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”
Why in Greek is tiswhich means how come; wherefore; to what; to what end; for what purpose or reason; – which occurs 564 times in the New Testament. To fear is to be afraid.
Mat 10:28, “And do not be afraid of 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.”
Fear is universal, across all races and nationalities.
Nobody is exempt from fear. Mankind has many fears: fear of terrorists and criminals, fear of nuclear war, fear of losing home, fear of rape and robbery, fear of unemployment and poverty, fear of catastrophic disease, fear of high crime rate, fear of economic collapse, fear of inflation, fear of corruption and injustice, among the greatest fear is the fear of death. Jesus says, Do not be afraid to those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul. Aggressors, oppressors, suppressors, dictators, warmongers can only kill the body but are unable to kill the soul. The rich and powerful are most afraid of death because they have much to lose. Jesus wants us to fear God who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell. The body of the wicked after the resurrection will be immortal with feelings. They can feel the fire of Hell and the worm that will not die; the wicked will feel dying all the time but not dead, both soul and body suffering forever in Hell.
I agree with Plato who said, “We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”
It is ironic that children are afraid of the dark while the sinful and guilty adults are afraid of the light.
Someone was wrong who said, “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”
Have you not heard about hypochondria? The more knowledge a hypochondriac has about the symptoms of diseases, the more afraid he has the same symptoms of the disease. Don’t you find fear very weary and tiresome?
It was Aristotle who said, “He who has overcome his fears will truly be free.”
I was young but now I am old, I have never met a person who has no fear at all.
I agree with Ralph Waldo Emerson who said,
“Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world.”
I also agree with Edmund Burke for saying, “No power so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.”
It was nice of Franklin D. Roosevelt to say, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
I do not know exactly how many fears Roosevelt had.
Someone said, “Thinking will not overcome fear but action will.” I really do not know what action you take will overcome your fear of evil spirits, terrorists, cancers and tumors, corrupt government, and death.
Someone also said, “I can take the next thing that comes along.” Really, can you take the next thing that comes along if it is nuclear war, cancer or tumor, unemployment and poverty, abuse of power and injustice, homelessness, and death?
Voluminous knowledge of cancer will not make you fear less. Understanding of cobra will not lessen your fear of cobra. Fear is not a matter lack of understanding, fear is a matter lack of faith. For lack of faith, a man is menaced by all kinds of fear. Those who fear God do not need to fear anything else. Why?
Psa 23:4, “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.”
Money is included in self interest. I was young and now I am old, I have discovered very few are moved by the truth. It was Aeschylus who said, “There are times when fear is good. It must keep its watchful place at the heart’s controls.”
Mat 8:28-31, “And when He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men confronted Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way.
And they cried out, saying, “What business do You have with us, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” Now there was a herd of many pigs feeding at a distance from them.
And the demons begged Him, saying, “If You are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”
Demons and the devil know that they have been sentenced to Hell. The time to take place is when Jesus Christ returns to judge the world. So the demons feared to be tormented before the time.
I would say the fear of God is the beginning of morality. The fear of God makes you stop to do evil, and begin to do good and right. I am sure Western leaders and politicians do not fear God although most of them claim to be Christians.
Phl 3:12-14, “Not that I have already grasped it all or have already become perfect, but I press on if I may also take hold of that for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies
behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
It was Mark Twain who said, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.”
I honestly do not believe anyone who has absence of fear. I doubt also anyone who has mastery of fear without divine help.
Someone was so wrong to say, “There is no illusion greater than fear.”
Fear is no illusion. Even infants have fear. Children have fear. Parents have fear. Young people have fear. Old people have fear. The poor has fear. The rich has fear. The weak has fear. The powerful has fear. Fear covers all mankind.
The first thing the angel who brought the Gospel of Jesus to the world said, “Be not afraid!”
Luk 2:8-11, “And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: for there is born to you this day in the city of David the Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
For Christians, the Lord assures us, Luk 12:7, “But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not fear; you are more valuable than a great number of sparrows.”
This question is raised toward a young man and young woman: Do you know the number of hairs of the head? If you are a child of God, God counts even the hairs of your head.
Do you know anybody cares so much about you to count the number of your hairs? Does your husband count the hairs of your head? Does your wife do it?
(4). DECEPTION
Gen 29:25, “So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, “What is this that you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you deceived me?”
A wrong theologian said, “Mary was made Mother of God to obtain salvation for many.”
Even today many are fooled by the erroneous doctrine of Mariology or rather Mariolatry. Mary was never made Mother of God. God became Man through the womb of the virgin. Mary could not and cannot save anyone because Mary herself needed salvation. For Mary herself said, Luk 1:46-49,
And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has had regard for the humble state of His bond-servant; for behold, from now on all
generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name.”
Notice, Mary called herself God’s bond-servant, how can God’s bond-servant be Mother of God? Mary clearly called the Lord her God and Savior. A person who needs God and Savior is just like any other sinner, how can Mary save others? We know Jesus is our great God and Savior, Tit 2:13, “looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.”
Besides the Bible never calls Mary the Mother of God, always as the Mother of Jesus. Jhn 2:3-4, “When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “What business do you have with Me, woman? My hour
has not yet come.”
Mary was just the virgin chosen by God to bear the Son of God, she was a blessed woman.
The Roman Catholic Church, the apostate church, has misled and fooled millions of people.
It must be made clear to all:
A. Mary was never Mother of God, for God does not have a mother; God is Self-Existent Eternal Being, from everlasting to everlasting, before time and space, nothing and no one was before God.
B. Mary was a maid-servant of God, a maid-servant can never become Mother of God.
C. Mary was a sinner and she needs God and Savior.
D. Mary can never save anyone. Mary cannot obtain salvation for anyone including herself.
E. Mary was mother of Jesus which means Mary was the virgin chosen by God to bear the Son of God. God became Man in the person of Jesus Christ.
F. Doctrinal deception is the greatest lie which leads many astray, therefore any false gospel must be exposed and rejected. A lost soul is lost forever.
I wholeheartedly agree with Soren Kierkegaard who said, “Only one deception is possible in the infinite sense, self-deception.”
The most pitiful deception is self-deception. American and European (EU, NATO, UK, Canada, Australian, etc.) Japanese leaders and politicians suffer the worst kind of self-deception in doing many definitely evil deeds in the world by thinking they are doing good and right.
Jos 9:22, “Then Joshua called for them and spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,‘ when you are living within our land?
All deception makes false claim. Politics is the field where the practices of diplomacy is filled with deception. Leaders and politicians often make promises they do not intend to keep. False prophets falsely claim they speak for the Lord. False preachers claim they preach the Gospel. False brothers claim they are believers. Western leaders and politicians claim they are Christians.
The Japanese have three faces: the first face they show to the world to deceive them; the second face, they show to their friends and relatives to fool them; the third face is their true face, they never show to anyone — they deceive themselves. America indulges Japan because it is American running dog; arm them to be attack dog against China, never condemn them for not fulfilling their obligations as unconditional surrendered war crime nation and also does not stop them from dumping nuclear waste waters into the Pacific.
America and Europe commit the greatest deception in the last millennium. Europe in the last 500 years have deceived the world by its imperialism, colonialism, militarism and capitalism. The modern Europe today with fancy buildings and infrastructure ARE due to robbing and looting resources from its world-wide colonies. America was built on genocide of the natives of America the Red Indians and robbing their lands. Since the end of World War II America has become the sole superpower to engage in many unjust wars of conquest and bloody military interventions of many nations and peoples to this day.
Someone was partially right in saying, “Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don’t have brains enough to be honest.” Europe and America have practiced tricks and treachery for hundreds if not thousands of years. Even today they still deceive the peoples of the world in the name of democracy, human rights, freedom and justice. Yeah, they have no brains to be honest; they lie, kill, and rob many nations and peoples. They attack any country and people who wants to be independent, free from the domination of Western bloc. The West has done so much evil in the world that there is no reparation in time to redeem themselves. What is worst, the West thinks of themselves as good and decent, they do not need to repent of their evil deeds done in the past continuously to the present. All the problems in the world today can be traced directly to America, Europe and Japan. Except the pagan Japan, what is worst than anything is the claim of America and Europe to be Christian nations. The hypocrites have no shame worse than prostitutes and pimps. Western mass media are tools of their governments, with bad intent, they continuously and boldly manufacture fake news and spread lies and deceits beyond measure. The world is so bad that truth and justice disappear.
2Th 2:10-12, “and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not accept the love of the truth so as to be saved.
For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.”
It is most shocking that the Western bloc today does not love the truth but practice the deception of wickedness, believe what is false, and take pleasure in wickedness.
Western (American and European) leaders and politicians get so used to lie about the threat of Russia and the threat of China that they find it much easier to do it all the the time. They even believe if you tell a lie loud and long enough, people will believe it. They have told lies about Russia and China so long that they themselves enslaved by the falsehood that made them turn into the truth. Now they believe and practice whatever lies they tell are o.k. The arrogant people have no shame, they lead the people astray with lies and falsehoods. They become most daring in deceiving others. They weave a global network of tangled webs. Most people agree, only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose the deception in government. When the press and the government have adulterous liaison, the press and the government can freely and boldly deceive the world. There is no force in the world to stop them.
In the last days, it is dangerous and perilous. This is the truth, the Word of God.
2Ti 3:13, “But evil people and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
Beware of evil people and impostors.
The world is full of evil people and impostors so many of them that you are not alert of the people you think you know because you see them most of the time.
Rom 16:17-18, “Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and
hindrances contrary to the teaching which you
learned, and turn away from them. For such people
are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech
they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.”
Those who cause dissensions and hindrances
contrary to the teaching may be false theologians, false megachurch pastors, false TV evangelists and famous people. There are people in this world whose existence is to deceive people. I often wonder why the leaders and politicians of Western bloc exist in this world? I wonder why the existence of Washington, Wall Street, Hollywood, miliatry-industrial-security complex, UK, EU, NATO, G-7, Canada, Australia, Japan, etc.?
(5.) SADNESS
Gen 40:7, “So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were with him in confinement in his master’s house, “Why are your faces so sad today?”
A sad heart inside will produce a sad face outside.
It was Fyodor Dostoyevsky who said, “Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on Earth.”
I believe sorrow and sadness are always inevitable for almost everybody, the cause may be different. Do really great men must have great sadness on Earth? I think Abraham Lincoln was.
1Sa 1:8, “Then Elkanah her husband would say to her, “Hannah, why do you weep, and why do you not eat, and why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
Everyone has different kind of sadness. The sadness of Hannah was bareness. Unless you are a woman, you do not how a woman suffers for not able to having a child. Elkanah may be a good husband better to Hannah than ten sons, but she still needed a child anyway. Her maternal instinct cannot be satisfied by her husband.
Neh 2:2, “So the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, though you are not ill? This is nothing but sadness of heart.” Then I was very much afraid.”
Face is window of the heart. When a person has sadness of heart, his face shows it. God said to Cain,
Gen 4:7,“If you do well, will your face not be cheerful? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
Apparent, God expects mankind to do well and be cheerful.
Jesus says,Mat 6:16-18, “Now whenever you fast, do not make a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they distort their faces so that they will be noticed by people when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But as for you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that your fasting will not be noticed by people but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
Apparently, Jesus does not like people who make a gloomy face or distort their faces to be noticed of their religious practice like fasting. Jesus hates hypocrites.
Isa 53:3, “He was despised and forsaken of men, A Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.”
Prophet Isaiah depicted Jesus Christ on earth as a Man of Sorrows. I venture to think bearing the sins of the world made Jesus a Man of sorrow and acquainted with grief.
Mar 8:12, “Sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation!”
The Lord Jesus sighed deeply in His spirit because the people did not believe, only demand to see a miraculous sign.
Paul in his evangelistic efforts encountered similar experience: 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 the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
There are unbelievers who disbelieve even the miracles of God right before their eyes. If people harden their hearts, the evidence of power or miracles will not change their evil heart of unbelief.
entrusted to you, avoiding worldly, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called
“knowledge”— which some have professed
and thereby have gone astray gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you.”
The more philosophy and theology that I study, the more I realize their “worldly, empty chatter and the opposing arguments” which thereby lead people going astray from the Faith.
Gen 25:22, “But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is so, why am I in this condition?” So she went to inquire of the LORD.”
The right condition is to have a pure heart. Mat 5:8,
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
It is also important to be gentle and humble in heart like Jesus. Mat 11:29, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FINDREST FOR YOUR SOULS.” It is also important to love the Lord with all our heart.
Mat 22:37, “And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.”
It is equally important to keep and hold the Word of God with a good and virtuous heart.Luk 8:15, “But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the Word with a good and virtuous heart, and hold it firmly, and produce fruit with perseverance.”
It is vital we believe in our heart that God raised Jesus from the dead.
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.”
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.”
There are only two condition among mankind: those eyes of the heart have been enlightened and those who are blind in darkness and ignorance.
Eph 6:6, “not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.”
There are only two groups of people: the people-pleasers and the slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.
Col 3:12, “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
The right condition are those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
1Ti 1:5, “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith.”
There are quite a few so-called Christian websites on the Internet, their goal of instruction is to make as much money as possible.
2Ti 2:22, “Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
The right condition for young Christians are to flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness and call on the Lord from a pure heart.
Heb 3:12, “Take care, brothers and sisters, that there will not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.”
Why take care not have an evil, unbelieving heart? Those who have an evil, unbelieving heart will fall away from the living God.
Heb 4:12, “For the Word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
The living and active Word of God is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Heb 10:22, “Let’s approach God 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.”
The only way to approach God is to approach God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith. For more than a thousand years, Western nations approach God with insincere heart and full of pretense.
Heb 13:9, “Do not be misled by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.”
There are many churches and websites on the Internet which mislead people by varied and strange teachings. If you attend to sound doctrines, you will know how good it is for the heart to be strengthened by grace.
1Pe 1:22, “Since you have purified your souls in obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brothers and sisters, fervently love one another from
the heart.”
The normal condition of all Christians is to have purified souls in obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brothers and sisters, fervently love one another from the heart. Can you believe those aggressors, warmonger, oppressors, suppressors and dictators of the world have purified souls in obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brothers and sisters from the heart?
1Jo 3:20, “that if our heart condemns us, that God is greater than our heart, and He knows all things.”
How could it be possible for those who do so much evil in this world, their hearts do not condemn them?
It is possible. 1Ti 4:2, “speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.”
Do you notice those kill and rob other nations and peoples speak lies in hypocrisy, their own conscience is dead because seared with a hot iron.
1Jo 3:21, “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God.”
The heart of normal Christians does not condemn them, and they have confidence before God.
2Co 4:16, “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day.” Christians must not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day. This is the truth even many Christians do not know about:
Our inner person is being renewed day by day. We grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus.
(7.) TREATING OTHERS
Gen 43:6, “Then Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly, by telling the man whether you still had another brother?”
I agree with Isocrates who said, “Treat your parents the way you’d like to be treated by your children.”
Abraham Lincoln said, “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.”
Lincoln was fortunate to have a godly and good mother, unfortunately to have a bad wife.
I also agree with William Shakespeare who said, “It is a wise father that knows his own child.”
I often wonder can we say it is a wise son who knows his own father.
I wholeheartedly support Grace Kelly who said, “The role of women is to be a support for the family.”
My mother had done much more than that. It is deadly that a feminist wants to dictate the family.
I am actually surprised by what Ernest Hemingway who said something most correctly, “Before you act, listen. Before you react, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you criticize, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try.”
I want to say that “before you pray, forgive” can be traced to the words of Jesus.
Jesus says, Mat 7:12,“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
The statement and teaching of Jesus, In everything treat people the same way you want them to treat you, is regarded the Golden Rule by the West. But the West did not and has not followed the Golden Rule. Europe colonized and ruled the world since 500 years ago. America dominates the world since the end of World War II.
In my observations I found people who have wealth and power often treat others in a condescending way. Not to mention there are many psychopathic supervisors in American corporations. One of my encounters was a veteran who knew nothing promoted by another veteran who was unqualified supervisor. In defense contractor companies, you encounter a higher ratio of useless veterans.
It is no secret that in many American corporations, work place is an unhappy place. The root cause is the problem that many executives and supervisors are the people with wrong mental attitude. The worst happens to people who own houses. The employees become house slaves because if they are laid off they could not pay for their mortgages. So they are very afraid of losing their homes and and therefore they are subject to mental and verbal abuses by their psychopathic supervisors and suffer tremendously.
(8.) REPAYING EVIL FOR GOOD
Gen 44:4, “They had just left the city, and were not far away, 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?”
The demons and the devil have not been cast into Hell yet although they have been sentenced. When Jesus returns to judge the world, the devil and his agents will all be cast into Hell for eternal punishment. But the world is full of evil doers who are agent of the devil. People who have repaid evil for good are evil doers. In the last days, the world is dangerous and perilous because there are many lawless people who love themselves and love money.
Given an opportunity, you will be surprised what evil mankind would do. One white man told he quit the Army because of so many thefts. The soldiers just took home from the Army Depot whatever they liked to have such as expensive boots, raincoats, etc. I knew a head nurse of a county hospital who stole expensive instruments because she confided me. The employees of Los Angeles County Hospital even stole sheets that are used to make patient’s beds.
I agree with Albert Einstein who said, “Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.“ The sad thing about life in American corporations, from top down you face so many people suffering weakness of attitude and weakness of character. You wonder why Americans are not happy people.
It is much better to help someone who cannot repay you than to help someone who can repay you.
In my experiences, 90% of people are ungrateful. It is not mankind to repay evil for good. Ingratitude is the character of beasts and animals. I have found the way to do something for blind strangers who can never repay you. It is my custom to take any blind man across the street safely. Since they cannot see you, so they can never repay you.
I have known a certain race of people who think they are entitled and deserved to every kindness and goodness in the world by anyone. I also find the whites are most self-interest oriented and superficial people in the world. The West (America, EU, G-7, NATO, UK, CANADA, AUSTRALIA) and Japan rule and dominated the world today with injustice and evil deeds.
Tao is the matchless Chinese concept which can be translated as Way, I find the Tao of Laozi is not far from the Way of Jesus; although Laozi had never been benefited by the Glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ.
(9.) MOTIVE
Exo 1:18, “So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and let the boys live?”
The problem is most people do not have the wisdom to know the difference between the things they can change and the things they cannot change. Western leaders and politicians stick to their old attitude and mentality that the whites are superior and they are appointed by God to rule the world. When they are doing evil they think they are doing good to the world.
Heb 12:1-2, “Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the Originator and Perfecter of the 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.”
If we are looking only at Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness, we will see the light, and have the right motive, mentality and attitudes.
Someone said wrongly, “What makes life dreary is the want of motive.” I observe those evildoers, not one lacking motive, who have wicked motives are the most dreary and weary people on earth. Washington, Wall Street, Hollywood, military-industrial-security-complex are not people who lack motive. American, EU, NATO, UK, and Japanese leaders and politicians are not people who lack motive. In fact, the problems of the world are the malicious and malevolent motives of America, EU, UK, NATO, G-7, Canada, Australia, and Japan. They all have ONE common goal and ONE common motive are to rule and dominate the world.
Judas the traitor had one motive, it was to betray the Lord Jesus for money. How much?
Mat 27:3, “Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he fest remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.”
In view of present American dollar value, $200 is not much. Judas was so greedy that the value of $200 appealed to him that he was willing to sell Jesus for $200. With $200 you can buy the following item in America.
Many people want to be respectable in believing so-called science, so they are driven to reject the concept or idea of miracle. Moses having learned all the Egyptian knowledge, recognized something very unusual, Why the bush is not burning up?
Exo 7:9, “When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Work a miracle,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, so that it may turn into a serpent.’”
Pharaoh was very different from today scientists and philosophers and unbelievers, he demanded a miracle to prove God had spoken to Moses and Aaron. Miracle in Hebrew ismôp̄ēṯwhich means wonder; sign; portent; token; as special display of God’s power; splendid deed; proof; – which occurs 36 times in the Old Testament. Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines miracle as “an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs.” Webster is wrong because the miracle of God does not necessarily intervene in human affairs. For example, God created innumerable stars in Heavens and named each one of them. Not too long ago scientists thought they were only about 6,000 stars. Now scientists know stars are too many to count. No one knows exact how the stars of Heaven intervene in human affairs.
In the first miracle of Jesus, turning water into wine,
it did intervene in human affairs.Jhn 2:1-11, “On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “What business do you have with Me, woman? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He tells you, do it.” Now there were six stone waterpots standing there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing two or three measures each.Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” And they took it to him. Now when the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the groom, and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the guests are drunk, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.”This beginning of Hismiracles Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.” The first miracle of Jesus in Galilee revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.
In the first place, one must know what science is and what science is not. Everything that is invisible, supernatural, spiritual, and eternal is beyond the realm and sphere of science. When Jesus Christ through the Holy Bible declares, “God is Spirit.” Science is dumbfounded because science can neither confirm nor contradict the statement of truth because God or Spirit is above and beyond the field of science. Science cannot study God because God is not a subject. Science is the best human organized knowledge that must be verified in time and place. Science can never know whether the Self-Existent and Eternal Being from everlasting to everlasting exists or not.
There are two types of knowledge: human and divine. All human knowledge must be verified. Divine knowledge is revealed. For example, someone who would call himself a scientist said something, “The universe is big, its vast and complicated, and ridiculous.” The universe is big, its vast and complicated — it somewhat can be verified by humans. To say the universe is “ridiculous” is not and cannot be verified by anyone.
Those who question the existence of miracles are like those who question the existence of sunlight. The existence of miracles is self-evident because the existence of the Almighty God. By the same token the existence of sunlight is self-evident because of the existence of the sun. Those who reject the existence of miracles are not so much about miracles, they really want to deny the existence of the Almighty God. Because God is Spirit, the invisible, so it is convenient for unbelievers to deny the existence of God. It is not convenient for those who deny the existence of sunlight unless they are blind. If you believe in God, the existence of miracles is not a problem. For God by His nature and attributes performs miracles. It is not in the nature of philosopher or scientist to perform miracles, because they are not able. God is able to perform any miracle because nothing is impossible with God.
Some unbeliever said, “Miracles only happen if you believe in miracles.” Miracles do not happen just because you believe in miracles. You may believe terrorists will soon turn to kind people, but terrorists continue to kill without mercy.
God does miracles whether you believe it or not. To me every snow flake is unique, that is a miracle of design. I am awed by the stars in Heaven, which is more than a miracle to me. I am thankful that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him. This miracle happens in my life.
Act 2:22-24, “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a Man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God
performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know –this Man, delivered over by the
predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him from the dead, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.” By the third day God raised Jesus Christ from the dead may be the greatest of all miracles.
(11). Loneliness
Psa 25:16, “Turn to me and be gracious to me, For I am lonely and afflicted.”
This is the most common condition of most people in this miserable world: loneliness and suffering.
It was Judy Garland who said, “If I am a legend, then why am I so lonely?”
The answer because you are a legend that is why you are lonely. It is not easy to find someone of your taste, mentality and personality.
Jesus says, Jhn 14:16-20, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. After a little
while, the world no longer is going to see Me, but you are going to see Me;because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I in you.”
This is no secret, if you have the Spirit of truth in you, you will not feel lonely. Because our Redeemer lives, we will live forever. After a little while, Jesus is coming back soon. On that day we will know that Christ is in the Father, and we are in Christ, and Christ is in us.
Someone was so wrong to say, “Loneliness can be conquered only by those who can bear solitude.” You do not need to bear the cross alone, for Jesus says, Mat 28:20, “teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the world.” Christians are not by themselves. Christians have a why to live.
Psa 25:16, “Turn to me and be gracious to me, For I am lonely and afflicted.”
Probably you cannot find a human being who has not at one time or another been lonely and afflicted.
It is sad for unbelievers, as someone said, “We are
all sentenced to solitary confinement inside our own skins, for life.” Another person expressed the miserable life of an unbeliever, “We’re born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we’re not alone.”
My friend, you do not need to create the illusion for the moment that you are not alone.
I come to the garden alone, While the dew is still on the roses, And the voice I hear falling on my ear, The Son of God discloses…And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own, And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other, has ever, known! He speaks and the sound of His voice, Is so sweet the birds hush their singing, And the melody that he gave to me, Within my heart is ringing . . .
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other, has ever, known!
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other, has ever, known!
Words and Music by C. Austin Miles, 1912
It was the wonderful Helen Keller who said,
“I can see, and that is why I can be happy, in what you call the dark, but which to me is golden. I can see a God-made world, not a man-made world.”
(12.) WONDERFUL NAME
Jdg 13:18, “But the angel of the LORD said to him, “Why do you ask my name, for it is wonderful?”
Jesus Christ is what His names and titles declare He is. His names and titles cannot be claimed or used by anyone. Christ has many names and titles. The names and titles of Christ reflect His divine nature and attributes, power and glory. The name Jesus signifies His humanity, born of a virgin. Christ signifies His divinity, anointed by God, the Son of God. The name of Jesus Christ is high above all other names. Just as the names of Jesus Christ are, so is He. Jesus Christ is our Savior and the True God.
1. The Christ of God
Luk 9:20, “He said to them: But whom do you say that I AM? Peter answering said: The Christ of God.”
2. The Son of the Living God
Jhn 6:69 , “And we believe and are sure that You are that Christ, the Son of the living God.”
3. The Son of God
1 Jo 3:8, “He who commits sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God appeared so that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
4. 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.”
5. 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 handled, of the Word of Life.”
6. The Word became flesh
Jhn 1:14, “And the Word became flesh, and lived among us; and we saw His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
7. The Word
1 Jo 5:7 , “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these Three are One.”
8. Immanuel
Isa 7:14 , “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will conceive and bear a Son, and will call His name Immanuel.”
9. Wonderful
Isa 9:6 , “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace..”
10. Counselor
Isa 9:6, “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”
11. The Mighty God
Isa 9:6, “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”
12. The Everlasting Father
Isa 9:6, “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”
13. The Prince of Peace
Isa 9:6 , “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”
14. The Prince of princes
Dan 8:25 , “And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.”
15. Jesus of Nazareth
Act 10:38 , “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth 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.”
16. The Only Begotten of the Father
Jhn1:14 , “And the Word became flesh, and lived among us; and we saw His glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
17. The Savior of the world
Jhn 4:42 , “And said to the woman: Now we believe, not because of your saying; for we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ,the Savior of the world.”
18. The Lamb
Rev 17:14, “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are called and chosen and faithful.”
19. The Lamb of God
Jhn 1:29, “The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
20. The True God
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.”
To know Jesus Christ is to know the true God.
21. The Great God and our Savior
Tts 2:13, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.”
22. The Good Shepherd
Jhn 10:11 , “I am the Good Shepherd; the Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
23. That Great Shepherd
Hbr 13:20, “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.”
24. The Chief Shepherd
1 Pe 5:4 , “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”
25. The Shepherd and Guardian of our souls
1 Pe 2:25 , “For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”
26. The Image of God
2 Cr 4:4 , “In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the Image of God, should shine on them.”
27. The Image of the Invisible God
Col 1:15 , “Who is the Image of the Invisible God, the Firstborn of every creature.”
28. The First Born of every creature
Col 1:15, “Who is the Image of the Invisible God, the Firstborn of every creature.”
29. The Brightness of His Glory
Hbr 1:3 , “Who being the Brightness of His Glory, and the Express Image of His Person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
30. The Express Image of His Person
Hbr 1:3, “Who being the Brightness of His Glory, and the Express Image of His Person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down an the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
31. The Sun of Righteousness
Mal 4:2 , “But for you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.”
32. The Root and the Offspring of David
Rev 22:16 , “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright Morning Star.”
33. The Bright Morning Star
Rev 22:16 , “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David,the Bright Morning Star.”
34. The Hope of Israel
Act 28:20 , “For this reason, therefore, I requested to see you and to speak with you, for I am wearing this chain for the sake of the Hope of Israel.”
35. The Rose of Sharon
Sgs 2:1 , “I am the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valleys.”
36. The Lily of the Valleys
Sgs 2:1 , “I am the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valleys.”
37. Mediator between God and men
1 Ti 2:5 , “For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
38. Jesus the Christ
Mat 16:20 , “Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.”
39. Jesus Christ
Jhn 1:17, “For the Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
40. Advocate with the Father
1Jo 2:1 , “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.”
41. Jesus Christ the Righteous
1Jo 2:1 , “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.”
42. Jesus Christ the Same Yesterday, and Today, and Forever
Hbr 13:8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
43. Christ Jesus
Rom 3:24 , “Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”
44. Christ Jesus the Lord
2Cr 4:5 , “For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.”
45. Christ the King of Israel
Mar 15:32 , “Let Christ the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe! Those who were crucified with Him also reviled Him.”
46. Christ the Lord
Luk 2:11 , “For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
47. Christ as Lord in your hearts
1Pe 3:15 , “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”
48. Christ the Son of God
Luk 4:41 , “Demons also came out of many, shouting: You are Christ the Son of God! But rebuking them, He would not allow them to speak, because they knew Him to be the Christ.”
49. Christ the Power of God
1 Cr 1:24, “But to them who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the Power of God, and the Wisdom of God.”
50. Christ the Wisdom of God
1 Cr 1:24 , “But to them who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the Power of God, and the Wisdom of God.”
51. Christ our Passover
1Cr 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.”
52. Lord of lords
Rev 17:14 , “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”
53. King of kings
Rev 17:14 , “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”
54. The Lord’s Christ
Luk 2:26 , “And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”
55. Lord and Christ
Act 2:36 , “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for sure that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
56. Lord of all
Act 10:36 , “The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ – He is Lord of all.”
57. Lord of the Sabbath
Mat 12:8, “For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
58. Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
2Pe 1:11 , “For in this way the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.”
59. The Lord Jesus Christ
Act 16:31, “And they said: Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your house.”
60. The Lord of the harvest
Luk 10:2 , “And He was saying to them: The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
61. The Lord from Heaven
1 Cr 15:47, “The first man was of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from Heaven.”
62. The Lord of Glory
1 Cr 2:8 , “Which none of the princes of this world knew; for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory.”
63. The Lord
Luk 17:5 , “The apostles said to the Lord: Increase our faith!”
64. The Angel of the Lord
Gen 22:15, “And the Angel of the Lord called Abraham from heaven the second time.”
65. The Lord and the Teacher
Jhn 13:14 , “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
66. Glorious Lord Jesus Christ
Jam 2:1 , “My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.”
67. The Messenger of the Covenant
Mal 3:1 , “Behold, I will to send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the Messenger of the Covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming, says the Lord of hosts.”
68. The Messiah
Jhn 1:41 , “He found first his own brother Simon and said to him: We have found the Messiah (which translated means Christ).”
69. The Prophet of Nazareth
Mat 21:11, “And the multitude said: This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.”
70. That Spiritual Rock
1Cr 10:4 , “And all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from that Spiritual Rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.”
71. Master
Mat 23:10 , “Do not be called masters; for One is your Master, that is Christ.”
72. Master and Lord
Jhn 13:13 , “You call me Master and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am.”
73. The Head of the Church
Eph 5:23 , “For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the Head of the Church, His body, of which He is the Savior.”
74. Teacher coming from God
Jhn 3:2 , “This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him: Rabbi, we know that You are a Teacher coming from God; for no one can do these miracles that You do, unless God is with Him.”
75. God Manifested in the flesh
1Ti 3:16 , “Without controversy, great is the Mystery of Godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up into glory.”
76. God Blessed Forever
Rom 9:5, “Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.”
77. The Son of Man
Luk 6:5, “And He was saying to them: The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
78. Man of Sorrows
Isa 53:3 , “He was despised and rejected of men; a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.”
79. The Mystery of Godliness
1Ti 3:16 , “Without controversy, great is the Mystery of Godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up into glory.”
80. Alpha and Omega
Rev 1:8, “I AM Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, says the Lord, Who Is, and Who Was, and Who Is To come, the Almighty.”
81. The Beginning and the Ending
Rev 1:8, “I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, says the Lord, Who Is, and Who Was, and Who Is To come, the Almighty.”
82. Who Is, Who Was, and Who Is To Come
Rev 1:8, “I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, says the Lord, Who Is, and Who Was, and Who Is To come, the Almighty.”
83. The First and the Last
Rev 1:17 , “When I saw Him (Christ), I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying: Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.”
84. The Blessed and Only Sovereign God
1Ti 6:15 , “Which He (Christ) will manifest in His own time, He who is the Blessed and Only Sovereign God, the King of kings and Lord of lords.”
85. His Anointed
Psa 2:2 , “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His Anointed, saying:”
86. The Bridegroom
Mat 9:15 , “And Jesus said to them: Can the attendants of the Bridegroom mourn as long as the Bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the Bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they will fast.”
87. The Way
Jhn 14:6, “Jesus said to him: I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”
88. The Truth
Jhn 14:6, “Jesus said to him: I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”
89. The Life
Jhn 14:6, “Jesus said to him: I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”
90. The True Vine
Jhn 15:1 , “I am the True Vine, and my Father is the husbandman.”
91. The Bread of God
Jhn 6:33, “For the Bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
92. The Living Bread
Jhn 6:51 , “I am the Living Bread which came down from Heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”
93. The True Bread from Heaven
Jhn 6:32 , “Jesus then said to them: Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the True Bread from Heaven.”
94. The Holy and Righteous One
Act 3:14 , “But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you.”
95. The Branch of the Lord
Isa 4:2 , “In that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and the adornment of the survivors of Israel.”
96. The Prince of life
Act 3:15, “And killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.”
97. The Light of the world
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.”
98. KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS
Rev 19:16, “And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
(12). SPEAKING AGAINST GOD
Num 21:5, “and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!”
The most stupid people are those who speak against God. If you speak against the rich and powerful people, you know the consequences. They can hire a mobster to kill you. If you slander someone, he can sue you. If you speak against the king, the king can cut off your head. If in America, you say you want to overthrow the government or kill the president, you will be immediately arrested. If you speak against God, God can kill you in a trillion ways. Once upon a time, there was a king called Herod. Act 12:21-23,
“On an appointed day, after putting on his royalapparel, Herod took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them. The people
repeatedly cried out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.”
Rostrum, according to Merriam Webster Dictionary,
an ancient Roman platform for public orators. An enemy of God was eaten by worms and died.
I think Dante Gabriel Rossetti is interesting when he said, “The worst moment for the atheist is when he is really thankful, and has nobody to thank.”
I agree with Oswald Chambers who said, “The real attitude of sin in the heart towards God is that of being without God; it is pride, the worship of myself, that is the great atheistic fact in human life.”
I have never met an arrogant unbeliever who is not self-centered.
All the fools in the world, none like the fool who speaks against God. It is much worse than an egg hitting the rock, or worse than kicking against the goads or thorns. How funny to speak against God, to shout at God, like an ameba shouting against a mastodon. There was a king who did not speak against God. He was only arrogant and did not give God the glory. Do you know what happened to him?
Act 12:21-23, “On an appointed day, after putting on his royal apparel, Herod took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them. The people repeatedly cried out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.” If the Bible at that time said the king Herod was infected by viruses and died, the whole world would be shocked.
I adore Johann Wolfgang Goethe who said,
“The greatest act of faith takes place when a man finally decides that he is not God.”
I do not know who was Robert A. Laidlaw but I agree with what he said, “God exist whether or not men may choose to believe in Him. The reason why many people do not believe in God is not so much that it is intellectually impossible to believe in God, but because belief in God forces that thoughtful person to face the fact that he is accountable to such a God.”
An atheist was so wrong to say, “All thinking men are atheists.” Thinking has consequences. It is convenient to think there is no God so that you can do anything as you please.
An American leader was so ignorant and arrogant in saying something most outrageously wrong, “God speaks through me.” Even the prophets of old dared not say that, they only said, “Thus, says the Lord.” God only speaks through Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ speaks, God speaks. The Word of Jesus Christ is the Word of God. According to what he said about Apostle Peter guarding the gate of Heaven, I do not believe he is saved and has the Holy Spirit in him.
Psa 82:5, “They do not know nor do they understand; They walk around in darkness; all the foundations of
the earth are shaken.”
(13.) TROUBLE
Jdg 11:7, “But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and drive me from my father’s house? So why have you come to me now when you are in trouble?”
The world is full of troubles and tragedies no matter who you are and where you are. Even philosophers become kings there will be no end to the troubles of nations. In the last days, Jesus says,
“There will be ]signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves,
people fainting from fear and the expectation of the things that are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
If you watch TV news, everyday they report the “distress among nations, in perplexity.” Today every nation is in distress. I believe the “roaring of the sea and the waves” means tsunamis. Many fear troubles because fainting from fear and the expectation of the things that are coming upon the world. So many Western leaders and politicians are nincompoops who are adding fuel to fire and bringing the world to disaster. But for Christians it is time we straighten up and lift up our heads, because our redemption is drawing near. Jesus is coming back again soon.
What is meant is for this life, if you encounter great trouble, don’t give up, keep going. If you are already in Hell, there is no place for you to go but Hell.
The evil doers are most responsible for all the troubles in the world, but you do not know which one to kick in the pants. Someone seems to give a good advice, “Do not trouble trouble until trouble troubles you.” The problem in life is, even you do not trouble trouble, trouble will trouble you. I was doing the hard way to work through college, and not troubling anyone. But one day black students incited a riot intending to shut down the college, then my trouble began. Fortunately, there was President Richard Nixon who came to rescue, to prevent injustice. I learn there are many things that a citizen cannot do, but the righteous government with power can do.
Someone said, “Wisdom makes a slow defense against trouble, though a sure one in the end.” It is not true, wisdom does not make a defense against trouble. Patience may do, like the patience of Job. The Word of God is sure a relief and strengthening. The indwelling Holy Spirit who is the Comforter.
Jhn 14:16-19,“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. After a little while, the world no longer is going to see Me, but you are going to see Me; because I live, you also will live.”
Where wisdom cannot help, the truth does. After a little while, we will see the Lord. Because the Lord lives, we also will live forever.
Jhn 14:26-27, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you. Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.”
Above all, the peace of Christ is to insure the hearts of Christians not be troubled, nor fearful.
Psa 34:19, “The afflictions of the righteous are many, But the LORD rescues him from them all.”
God never says there is no affliction for the righteous. Instead, the afflictions of the righteous are many, but the Lord rescues him from them all.
Affliction in Hebrew is raʿwhich means trouble; evil; wickedness; mischief; adversity; something bad; ill; harm; something sad; misery; something unpleasant; injury; distress; calamity; wrong; wretchedness; what is unpleasing; – which occurs 666 times in the Old Testament. Afflictions cover all the troubles and tragedies in this life.
The man talked like mankind can solve all the problems in the world. The discord caused by the West has lasted to this day. Many religions lead people astray from the truth. Who can have faith that Western leaders and politicians will stop lying and killing and robbing other nations and peoples? The despair created by the West only increases in distress of many nations. I think the person hoped only may we.
I agree with Adrian Rogers although I do not know who she was who said, “Scriptural hope is not wishful thinking. It’s rock-solid assurance!”
I agree with Andrew Murray wholeheartedly who said, “In heaven and earth, pride, self exaltation, is the gate and the birth, and the curse, of hell.”
Psa 42:5, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation.”
Hope in God when there is no hope anywhere.
(15.) NEGLIGENCE CAUSES GREAT DAMAGES
Ezr 4:22, “And beware of being negligent in carrying out this matter; why should there be great damage, to the detriment of the kings?”
American leaders and politicians do not seem to know that they being negligent in carrying this matter of nation management, America suffers great damages in economy, finance, trade, diplomacy, defence, environment, climate change, technology, human rights, justice, etc.
Though not a single event like the others, this was a mammoth industrial scale disaster played out one nuclear detonation at a time, over a twelve-year period. The full human impact of the approximately 200 above ground nuclear weapons tests conducted in the western USA, at the Nevada Proving Grounds, may never be known. What is known is that the detonation of nuclear weapons, in the atmosphere, accounted for a total yield of 153.8 megatons of TNT explosive and large amounts of radioactive fall out over a huge portion of the United States (and the world).
Between 16 July 1945 and 23 September 1992, the United States maintained a program of vigorous nuclear testing. Until November 1962, the vast majority of the U.S. tests were atmospheric (that is, above-ground). After the acceptance of the Partial Test Ban Treaty all testing was regulated underground, in order to prevent the dispersion of nuclear fallout. The U.S. program of atmospheric nuclear testing exposed a huge portion of the US population to the hazards of fallout. Estimating exact numbers, and the exact consequences, of people exposed has been medically very difficult.
A 1979 study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that – “A significant excess of leukemia deaths occurred in children up to 14 years of age living in Utah between 1959 and 1967. This excess was concentrated in the cohort of children born between 1951 and 1958, and was most pronounced in those residing in counties receiving high fallout.”
In a report by the National Cancer Institute, released in 1997, it was determined that ninety atmospheric tests at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) deposited high levels of radioactive iodine-131 across a large portion of the contiguous United States, especially in the years 1952, 1953, 1955, and 1957—doses large enough, they determined, to produce 10,000 to 75,000 cases of thyroid cancer.
Radioactive fallout from Cold War nuclear weapons tests across the globe probably caused at least 15,000 cancer deaths in U.S. residents born after 1951, according to data from an unreleased federal study. Certainly a large percentage of the radioactive fall out that Americans were exposed to came from US above ground nuclear weapons testing.
The study, coupled with findings from previous government investigations, suggests that 20,000 non-fatal cancers — and possibly many more — also can be tied to fallout from aboveground weapons tests. The study shows that fallout from scores of U.S. trials at the Nevada Test Site spread substantial amounts of radioactivity across broad swaths of the country. When fallout from all tests, domestic and foreign, is taken together, no U.S. resident born after 1951 escaped exposure.”
“The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) started tracking Earth’s heat around 139 years ago. Recently, the numbers revealed something disturbing. Although the last few decades saw a steady rise in the planet’s temperature, the last five years (2014–18) were the hottest on record.
The warmer climate spawns nasty weather and makes seasonal patterns unpredictable. Storms and summers are more intense. Snowfall disappears or falls in weird places. For this reason, 2018 lashed out with devastating wildfires, heat waves, excessive rain, and hurricanes. NOAA recorded 14 weather-related events in the United States alone that claimed 247 lives and $91 billion in damages.[2]
The heat waves that boiled America, Europe, and Australia were particularly worrying. They broke temperature records, which is not good news considering that higher numbers have been predicted for the next few years. The reason for the seemingly unstoppable rise in global heat? That old gremlin—greenhouse gas emissions.
Alaska is the fastest-warming state in America, but in 2019, this fact brought tragic consequences. Temperatures suddenly spiked, and before anyone knew it, one of Alaska’s hottest springs was upon them. A record-breaking melt followed and thinned the waterways long before anyone suspected it.[3]
On March 28, 1979, 35 years ago this year, America’s worst nuclear power disaster occurred when Unit 2 of the Three-Mile Island nuclear reactor experienced a partial meltdown. Although little radiation was released, the disaster, which prompted the evacuation of pregnant women and pre-school age children from a 5-mile radius around the plant, eroded the public’s faith in nuclear power. Tighter government regulations coupled with anti-nuclear safety concerns effectively ended U.S. nuclear reactor construction.
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Prince William Sound, Alaska
One of the America’s worst environmental disasters occurred March 24, 1989, when the Exxon Valdez oil tanker struck Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound Alaska. In the days that followed, more than 10 million gallons of crude oil poured into the Pacific Ocean, eventually covering more than 11,000 square miles of water and polluting 1,300 miles of shoreline. Salmon, sea otters, seals, seabirds and other sea life, communities and industries along the coast suffered. The remote location of the spill made clean up efforts especially challenging. After 25 years, groups such as the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council are still working to repair the damage created by the disaster. Congress passed the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 among other new laws tightening regulations for oil tankers and advancing preparedness for future disasters.
“In southern California about 35,000 oil wells have been abandoned by the companies that produced them because they’ve sucked the oil dry or simply abandoned them because the price of oil in recent times has made their operation unprofitable; therefore, many employees of these companies have been laid off. These wells are considered toxic waste sites because the hydrocarbons left in them may contaminate ground water, and the toxic and flammable fumes leaking from them can waft into businesses, homes or schools. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, also leaks from many of these wells, exacerbating climate change.”
“Also, in 1973, in nearby Bridgeton, Missouri, 47,000 tons of nuclear waste was illegally dumped in the West Lake landfill. Eventually, in 1990, this area became an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund site. Moreover, in recent years, an uncontrolled, underground fire has been moving toward this landfill, a potential calamity since the fire could burn the radioactive waste, sending toxic particles airborne, contaminating other local areas, including, perhaps, the nearby Missouri River. Republic Services, which owns the West Lake landfill, claims that the toxic waste is maintained in “a safe and managed state.”
“Nevertheless, the nuclear power industry in the U.S. took a big hit in the public relations department, a downturn from which it has never recovered. Since the Three Mile Island disaster, few nuclear power plants have been built in the U.S. and some of those operating have been removed. Moreover, since the nuclear emergencies at the Chernobyl Meltdown in 1986 and at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in March 2011, nuclear power around the world is now seen as a potentially dangerous means of generating power. Concerns about nuclear proliferation and terrorism have increased the controversy as well.”
“Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have hoped to reduce the size of this dead zone to about 2,000 square miles, but this hasn’t happened. The use of chemical fertilizers to produce corn and soy beans is the biggest problem in this regard, so unless American farmers grow considerably less and/or convert to organic farming, the Mississippi Delta Dead Zone will probably get larger in the coming years and decades.”
(16.) STARING
Gen 42:1, “Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?”
Why are you staring at one another means while are you not taking the right action? Why don’t you do what you must do? Why are you doing nothing when you must take action in the face of crisis?
Have you ever thought that eyes can also speak, not only the mouth? What Jacob said to his children was the fact in the face of crisis of famine, what was the use of them starring at each other and not doing anything to solve the problem?
I believe eyes are the windows of the soul, so you can learn about someone by staring into his/her eyes while he or she is expressing himself/herself. However, it is impolite to star at a beautiful woman or a handsome man you do not know.
Once a while it is good to stand and stare at the stars above and wonder and think by yourself.
Luk 22:56, “And a slave woman, seeing him as he sat in the firelight, and staring at him, said, “This man was with Him as well.”
Staring can be used to identify a person. A slave woman starred at Peter to identify him was with Jesus as well.
Act 3:12, “But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why are you staring at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk?”
When Peter in the name of Jesus Christ cured a man unable to walk from birth, naturally people were amazed and staring at Peter and John wondering who they were. Staring at some event wonderful is a natural response. Once I saw a young woman in America walking so gracefully beautiful, I could not help staring at her but I told her the fact and she was delighted. Now I am old, guess what, I have never seen such graceful and beautiful walking ever since.
Your eyes automatically shun ugly things. Staring at the sun may blind your eyes.
Act 1:9-11, “And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were watching, and a cloud took Him up, out of their sight. And as they
were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, then behold, two men in white clothing stood
beside them, and they said, “Men of Galilee, why do
you stand staring into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into Heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into Heaven.”
I believe we should do more stand staring into the sky because Jesus is coming again soon.
(17). FIGHTING
Exo 2:13, “Now 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?”
The most terrible fight involves the traitors. Taiwanese traitors relying on American might and Japanese military want to fight again China. It would be good and right to eliminate those traitors the sooner the better.
American and European (EU, UK, NATO, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, etc.) and Japanese leaders and politicians are mad dogs that are biting many peace-loving nations and peoples. The quarrels between American, European, and Japanese bloc with Russia and China, etc. are not misunderstanding. The Western blog wants to continuously dominate the world while Russia, China and others do not want to be dominated and interfered in internal affairs by the West. The conflict will cease immediately if the West gives up aggression, oppression, sanction, suppression and domination.
The history of White Europeans are the history of imperialism, colonialism, militarism and capitalism for the last 500 years. The history of America is the history of genocide of the natives of America the Red Indians and the robbery of their lands. Since the end of World War II America has engaged in numerous unjust wars to conquer nations and peoples and blood military interventions to this day.
Many uninformed or misinformed do not understand the Ukrainian conflict. It was the Ukrainian nincompoop president who wanted to join NATO and EU in order to encircle and threaten Russia. America, EU, UK, NATO, etc. want to eliminate Russia as they toppled the Soviet Union. One must be a fool to have no geographical knowledge and do not understand geopolitics of the situation and cannot read map.
Knowing the West, no one can be optimistic about peace in the world. I believe no one, except God, can stop the West because they have the military might and resources to support aggression and war of conquest. And they have will to dominate the world will not change. I see the world will come to an end and be destroyed by nuclear war. It is not going to be long the world will come to end.
But the American, EU, UK, NATO, and Japanese leaders and politicians are not wise, the West really believes they can win a nuclear war against Russia and China. The object of America and Europe and Japan is to eliminate Russia and China although they dare not say so. This is the most troublesome, troubling, and troublous specter looming large in the horizon. Someone said, “Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind.”
Christians are not afraid of the world coming to an end because Jesus Christ is coming to reign with the saints for eternity. The end of the world is the beginning of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Tyranny and oppression have come to America, and yet most Americans are not aware of it. A warmonger said, “Today we did what we had to do.” No, absolutely not. America did not have to attack and conquer other nations. America was not appointed by God to rule the world. I figure there are less than 1,000 individuals from the White House, Pentagon, State Department and Congress will determine the fate of America whether to wage war against Russia and China or not. The views of 326 million American citizens would not be asked or ignored totally. There will be no glorious triumph, there will be mutual annihilation and the destruction of the whole world.
I know only President Richard Nixon who sought a just and lasting peace for the world.
Someone made sensible statement, “Today we must abandon competition and secure cooperation.” It was not China’s doing, but American leaders and politicians deliberately target China as the competitor. Out of envy and fear, American leaders and politicians fear that China will soon surpass America to be the number one in the world. So American leaders and politicians do everything possible to curb, control and check the peaceful rise of China. They intend to destroy China without the courage to admit it. China has no intention to replace America, the world dictator. But that is not enough for America. America will not leave China alone. China cannot ignore America with most vicious increasing sanctions all the time. Strange and abnormal phenomenon of the century!!! The arrogance is a billion times ignorance. The questions are: China does not want to do anything with America. China never did and does not do anything to harm America. Why can’t America leave China alone? Let America busy minding its own business.
(18). QUARREL
Exo 17:2, “So the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water so that we may drink!” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?”
Quarrel in Hebrew isrîḇwhich means to chide; strive with words; contend; debate; make complaint;
The quarrels between parents have detrimental effect on their children, the negative effect on the mental health of their children. The high decibels in human voices and noises of some music actually harm the peace and quiet of home atmosphere.
Someone made a questionable statement in saying, “
I am quite sure, that if we open a quarrel between the past and the present, we shall find that we have lost the future.” Western nations had a guilty past, they committed genocide against the natives, they robbed and looted their colonies, they created a world order which makes them dominating the world to the present. If they do not make amends and compensations for their past and present, Western nations will definitely do not have the future. The future will not accept aggression, warmongering, exploitation, oppression, suppression, and domination. There will be no future for America, UK, Europe, Canada, Australia, and Japan.
You lust and do not have, so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.
(15). VIOLATING THE COMMAND OF THE LORD
Num 14:41, “But Moses said, “Why then are you violating the command of the LORD, when doing so will not succeed?”
Rom 2:8, “but to those who are self-serving and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, He will give wrath and indignation.”
The characteristics of those who violate the command of the Lord, invariably they are also self-serving and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness.
Violating the command of the Lord is more serious than violation of truth.
Historically, the violations of human rights, civil rights, justice, freedom, and sovereignty of many nations and peoples by the West in the last 500 years are also the violating of the command of the Lord. The most shocking thing is the fact that Western leaders and politicians do not have the slightest idea or intention of making reparations and compensations to those colonies they had violated violently.
Mat 22:35-40, “One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
These first and second greatest commandments summarize the duty and responsibility of all Christians of all generations. In comparison, you find out the West is not practicing Christianity although they adamantly claim to be Christians. It is important to know not all who claimed to be Christians are true Christians; not all who claimed to be preachers are true preachers.
It is futile to look into the Scriptures and count how many commandments the Lord has given. It is my conviction that no honest Christians can say they have fulfilled the commandment of loving the Lord with all the heart and with all the soul and with all the mind. Everyone is failing and coming short of something. I know my heart and my mind; I hardly know how to love the Lord with all my soul.
Jhn 13:34-35, “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.”
Mind you, Jesus says this is a new commandment, that Christians love one another. This commandment faces a great divide among races. History has attested even this new commandment that Christians fail and come short. Jesus wants all people to know that we Christians are disciples of Jesus: if Christians have love for one another. In addition to racial divide, there are also denominational divide, doctrinal divide, and ceremonial divide, etc. The love of Christ should bind all Christians into one Body.
Act 15:5, “But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to keep the Law of Moses.”
“Them” refers to Gentile Christians.
Gal 2:14, “But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the Gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
There was a long debate in Jerusalem, to make a long story short, Act 15:13-19-29, “After they stopped speaking, James responded, saying, “Brothers, listen to me…..
Therefore, it is my judgment that we do not cause trouble for those from the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols, from acts of sexual immorality, from what has been strangled, and from blood. For from ancient generations Moses has those who preach him in every city, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.
Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,and they this letter with them: “The apostles and the brothers who are elders, to the brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles: Greetings.
Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have confused you by their teaching, upsetting your souls,
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, from blood, from things strangled, and from acts of sexual immorality; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”
Gentile Christians will do well to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from acts of sexual immorality. These are the essentials; and the Holy Spirit lays no greater burden .
The Lord has only three commandments: (1). Love God. (2). Love your neighbor. (3). Love Christian brothers and sisters.
It is futile to lay extra burden that the Holy Spirit does not.
(16). SELF-EXALTATION
Num 16:3, “They assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You have gone far enough! For all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”
In Jesus time, there was one single group of people called Pharisees who were the most disgusting.
Luk 18:9-14, “Now 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 began praying this in
regard to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, crooked, 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 raise his eyes toward Heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’
“I tell you, this man went to his house justified
rather than the other one; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
We do not know why, Western leaders and politicians are the most arrogant and self-exalted people in the world today.
Someone said very well, “Self-approval is a dangerous state of mind.” You do not know how dangerous the world is until you realize that self-approval is the state of mind of all Western leaders and politicians. They are like the Pharisee who regards himself not like other people. They regard themselves as superior, and so they want to destroy Russia and China and continuously dominate the world.
Jer 48:29, “We have heard of the pride of Moab—he is very proud—Of his haughtiness, his pride, his arrogance, and his self-exaltation.”
I do not know anything about Moab. But I do know about America, Europe, UK, Canada, Australia, and Japan. They suffer incurable pride — of their haughtiness, their pride, their arrogance, and their self-exaltation. They also rule the world but they are blind guides.Mat 23:24, “You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.”
The West tries to make the nincompoop Ukrainian president a hero. Poor thing the Ukrainians do not realize all their troubles are due to the false and wrong leadership of this one man. What is worse, circumstances does not reveal man to himself, does not reveal man to Ukrainians.
Job 9:20-21, “Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me; though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse. I am blameless, yet I do not know myself; I despise my life.”
Job 25:4, “How then can mankind be righteous with God? Or how can anyone who is born of woman be pure?”
Job 35:7, “If you are righteous, what do you give to Him, or what does He receive from your hand?”
Christians know fully well they confront three big enemies: Self, Satan and the world. The self is sinful. Satan is diabolical. The world is filthy and corrupt.
How to deal with the old self?
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.”
Eph 3:16, “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self.”
Eph 4:22, “that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit.”
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 more we have righteousness, holiness, and the truth the more we are godlike. Aristotle was right, “The greatest victory is over self.”
How to do with Satan?
Do not fear the devil. Jas 4:7, “Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
I wonder if John Locke knew about the following Scriptures:
1Jo 2:15, “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. 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 world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever. Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.”
Brothers and sisters, this is the last hour, be ready for the second coming of the Lord.
God hates all evil things, and God’s Word says,
Rom 2:8, “But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.”
Clearly, those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.
Can anyone honestly say the leaders and politicians of America, EU, UK, NATO, G-7, CANADA, AUGUSTRALIA, FRANCE, GERMANY, Japan, etc. are not self-seeking and who reject the truth and not follow evil?
Does anyone know when God’s wrath and anger will fall upon those countries and peoples? I believe CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC is in fact a judgement of God which already kills millions of people, already more than 1 million Americans.
(17). STANDING UP
Jos 7:10, “So the LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face?”
The truth is: Democrats and Republicans never serve the national interest, they invariably serve party interest and the interest of Wall Street, Hollywood, military-industrial-security complex, banking, insurance, and big business and big money.
American leaders and politicians never vest national and constitutional sovereignty in American citizens. They are leading Americans astray and they are doing everything possible to commit American suicide. They spend and spend so that America has the greatest national debt exceeding $30 trillions and largest annual budget deficits. They betray the American national interest. They and their allies become very rich. The allies of American leaders and politicians are big business and big money. They have no money to prevent and cure COVID-19 PANDEMIC, they have trillions of dollar to wage war and conduct bloody military interventions, or fuel the fire by sending arms, weapons, military equipment so that they can continuously rule and dominate the world. America is never standing up for justice and righteousness. In fact, American leaders and politicians are violating the rights of many nations and people by lying, killing, and robbing. The biggest lie is the nation under God. America has never been under God.
I agree with Dietrich Bonhoeffer who said, “Things do exist that
World leaders and politicians do not stand up for peace and social justice, they just say so to fool the world. President Richard Nixon was the only American president who sought a just and lasting peace for the world. Unworthy kings and politicians like to use God to justify themselves.
I wish all American leaders and politicians would listen to Thomas Jefferson and act accordingly. The
problem is the fact that banking institutions rule America along with the Washington, Wall Street, Hollywood, military-industrial-security complex. Nobody, in fact, nobody in America is standing up to big business and big money.
The government and Western media fool the people with propaganda of democracy, human rights, civil rights, freedom, equality, and justice. Most Americans do not know that the enemies which will destroy America are not the enemies outside but the enemies inside.
Sadly, I do not see any individual or institution in America that stands like a rock in matters of principle. I see clearly vested interests and special interests stand firm like a rock to dominate the America politics and life in general. These parties and organizations and individuals make the national interest impossible.
Someone was so wrong to say, “It is possible for someone who does not know Jesus to be saved.” It is for me to stand up for the truth. Jesus Christ says,
Jhn 14:6, “Jesus said to him, “I AM the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” The poor unbeliever believed in other way, other truth, and other life. Jesus clearly says,
Jhn 8:23-24, “And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I AM from above. You are of this world; I AM not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I AM He, you will die in your sins.”
Not to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior of the world, you will die in your sins.
It is terrible to believe in a lie and regret and suffer for eternity in Hell.
It is outrageous to credit the Words of Jesus to someone else.
Mar 3:25, “If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” Luk 11:17, “But He knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls.”
Christian unity is in Christ according to the Faith. Denominations divide Christians. Please read my article Faith and the Faith,
Eph 4:13-16, “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. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by
waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ, 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.”
Christian unity is not organic but the unity of the Faith. The Faith is based on the knowledge of the Son of God, the Head of the Body of Christ, the Church. There are individuals who are not according to the proper working, they are the anti-christs, false prophets, false teachers and false brothers.
Therefore Christians must contend earnestly for the Faith.
Jde 1:3, “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the Faith that was once for all time
handed down to the saints.”
So many impostors in the capacity of theologians, false prophets, and false preachers are distorting the Christian Faith and proclaim a false gospel.
Christians are soldiers of the Lord, we must put on the whole armor of God to stand against the enemies.
Eph 6:10-19, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 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 on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore,
having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and
having strapped on your feet the preparation of theGospel of peace; 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.
And take the helmet of salvation and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints,
and pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel.”
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a mystery. I had opportunity to preach the Gospel to an old who would not believe. His wife came later and accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.
(18.) WRONG HONOR
1Sa 2:29, “Why are you showing contempt for My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded for My dwelling, and why are you honoring your sons above Me, by making yourselves fat with the choicest of every offering of My people Israel?’”
Don’t you know you cannot honor anyone including your sons above God?
I think Eli was very strange
1Sa 2:22-25, “Now Eli was very old; and he heard about everything that his sons were doing to all Israel, and that they slept with the women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting. So he said to them, “Why are you doing such things as these, the evil things that I hear from all these people? No, my sons; for the report is not good which I hear the LORD’S people circulating. If one person sins against another, God will mediate for him; but if a person sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for the LORD desired to put them to death.”
Eli did not punish his evil sons. A man of God came
to Eli and said to him:
1Sa 2:29-35, ‘Why are you showing contempt for My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded for My dwelling, and why are you honoring your sons above Me, by making yourselves fat with the choicest of every offering of My people Israel?’
“Therefore the LORD God of Israel declares, ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father was to walk before Me forever’; but now the LORD declares, ‘Far be it from Me—for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be insignificant.
‘Behold, the days are coming when I will eliminate your strength and the strength of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house.
‘And you will look at the distress of My dwelling, in spite of all the good that I do for Israel; and there will never be an old man in your house.
‘Yet I will not cut off every man of yours from My altar, so that your eyes will fail from weeping and your soul grieve, and all the increase of your house will die in the prime of life.
‘And this will be the sign to you which will come in regard to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas: on the same day both of them will die.
‘But I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and My soul; and I will build him an enduring house, and he will walk before My anointed always.”
When Eli heard about God’s judgment for his house, because his sons were bringing a curse on themselves and Eli did not rebuke them. Eli said in a nonchalantly, “He is the Lord; let Him do what seems good to Him.” Of course, the Lord knows and does what seems good to Him. Poor Eli did not even beg for mercy.
It is a great tragedy to honor whom we should not honor. It is even a greater tragedy to honor any man above God. For Jesus says, Mat 10:37, “The one who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and the one who loves son or daughter more
than Me is not worthy of Me.”
How many parents without disciple ruin the lives of their children.
Psa 139:7-18, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
If I take up the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will take hold of me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,”
Even darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.
For You created my innermost parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to You, because I am awesomely and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You When I was made in secret, And skillfully formed in the depths of the earth;
Your eyes have seen my formless substance; And in Your book were written All the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts for me, God! How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.”
commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the world.”
It is also a great tragedy that some preachers in America are making themselves fat in preaching. Preachers who make themselves fat are not honoring the Lord.
(19). HARDENING OF THE HEART
1Sa 6:6, “Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He had severely dealt with them, did they not let the people go, and they left?”
No, hardness of heart is worse than the softness of head. There is hope for softness of head if the person is willing to know the truth. The hardness of heart is the person who rejects the truth. There is no remedy for people whose heart is hardened in standing against the truth. Western leaders and politicians do not want to know the truth, they practice against the truth.
It is terrible to close your eyes to the things of injustice in this world; it is worse that you close your heart to the suffering of humanity around you.
The Western leaders and politicians give a loud impression that they have no heart for what is true, right, just and noble.
When you brain has a quarrel with your heart, follow your heart. When your heart has a quarrel with the Word of God, follow the Word of God. Your heart can be wrong, bu the Word of God can never be wrong.
The wicked and evildoers wish there is no God. If there is no God, then there is no judgment of God. If there is no judgment of God, then there is no Hell.
Well, this is wishful thinking of the wicked, evildoers and unbelievers. The truth, God was, God is, and God is to come forever and ever. There is also a Hell which God has prepared for the devil and his followers.
(20). DISOBEDIENCE
1Sa 15:19, “Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Instead, you loudly rushed upon the spoils and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD!”
No reason whatsoever can justify a man not obeying the voice of the Lord.
The first lesson for children is to learn obedience. Parents who have disobedient children fail their lives miserably. The sin of Adam and Eve was not eating the forbidden fruit, it was disobedience.
It may contain a grain of truth if it applies to a corrupt government. It is absolutely wrong if it applies to the voice of the Lord. I would rather be a slave of the Lord than a price of a wicked kingdom. In any case, disobedience is never the true foundation of liberty.
For Jesus says, Jhn 8:31-32, “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My Word, then you are truly My disciples;
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Truth is the foundation of liberty. To know the truth is to continue in the Word of Jesus, and the truth will set you free.
Jhn 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you really will
Act 15:29, “that you abstain from things sacrificed to
idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from acts of sexual immorality; if you keep yourselves
free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”
Jesus also says,
Jhn 8:34, “Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.”
EU, NATO, UK, G-7, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, and Japan are political slaves of America. But everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. They may think they are strong and free, but Washington, Wall Street, Hollywood, military-industrial-security complex are actually slaves of sins, sin of greed, sin of greed for power, sin of self-glorification, sin of aggression.
Mark Twain had strong words, “Each man must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, which course is patriotic and which isn’t. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide against your conviction is to be an unqualified and excusable traitor, both to yourself and to your country, let men label you as they may.”
Too bad, you do not find world leaders and politicians who have such character and convictions.
It is necessary to listen to Woodrow Wilson who was once the president of the United States, which sounds like a confession:
Let me share with you my observations, that power is increasingly dictatorial and tyrannical in America, do you see it and do you feel it?
Someone said, “The key of joy is disobedience.” Maybe the man was talking about the unjust things in the world. But for Christians, the greatest joy is to do the will of God.
Heb 10:9, “then He said, “BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second.”
In the first Advent, Jesus Christ came to do the will of the Father. Phl 2:8, “And being found in appearance as a Man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross.”
In following His steps, we Christians must trust and obey God. This is the Christian way of life.
Act 6:7, “The Word of God kept 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.”
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 entrusted.”
To be obedient to the Faith is to be obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which we are entrusted. The faith is the form of teaching entrusted from Jesus Christ and the Apostles as written in the New Testament.
2Co 2:9, “For to this end I also wrote, so that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.”
Christians are obedient in all things written in the Holy Bible.
1Pe 1:14-15, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior.”
Christians are God’s obedient children, and like the Holy One, be holy ourselves also in all our behavior.
(21). MURDER
Gen 4:8, “Cain talked to his brother Abel; and it happened that when they were in the field Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.”
killed him.”
Now the question has been raised, Why Cain killed his own brother?
The Word of God has the answer:
1Jo 3:12, “not as Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And for what reason did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil, but his brother’s were righteous.”
History repeats itself again and again.
Why does the Western bloc target Russia and China?
Because the deeds of the Western bloc are evil, they want to continuously rule and dominate the world. America is an evil empire, the Western bloc is an extension of America. Unless America and the Western bloc repent of their sins and change, there is no hope to have peace in the world.
Murder in Hebrew isrāṣaḥwhich means to slay; kill; assassinate; put to death; act the homicide; – which occurs 47 times in the Old Testament.
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.”
Gen 5:1, “This is the book of the generations of Adam. On the day when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God.”
This is the main reason:
Gen 9:6, “Whoever sheds human blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made mankind.”
This is God’s decree of death penalty or capital punishment which no country may abolish. To oppose capital punishment is to oppose God.
1Sa 19:5,“For he took his life in his hand and struck the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a great victory for all Israel; you saw it and rejoiced. Why then would you sin against innocent blood by putting David to death for no reason?”
Murder is sinning against innocent blood, putting people to death for no reason.
“It’s a fact, not an analysis, not even an opinion – the « free and open international order» promoted since 1945 by the United States has cost the lives of 20 to 30 million people throughout the world. No President, whoever he may be, has managed to slow the rhythm of this killing machine.”
Murder is a sin against humanity. Cain was the first murderer humanly speaking. There are many negative things about murder, for one you end the life of a human being. Jesus says, Jhn 8:44,
“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie,
he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Jhn 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.”
The thief includes the devil who comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
Sadly but truly, Western nations have come only to steal and kill and destroy in the last 500 years. Europe, America, UK, Australia, France, Germany, Canada, New Zealand, Japan had committed genocides, stealing from their colonies, and also looting and robbing of China’s national treasures since the infamous Opium Wars to the present; AND committed many unjust wars and bloody military operations of destruction of many nations and peoples.
Someone was awfully wrong and perverted in saying, “Murder is born of love.”
Hos 4:2, “There is oath-taking, denial, murder, stealing, and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.”
Because of guns easily available, America can be singled out as the most violent society in the world; not only police kill people, crooks and criminals use guns to kill innocent daily, bloodshed follows bloodshed. Every day is the day of infamy. Thanks
to American leaders and politicians who are held hostage by gun lobbyists, there is no gun control or gun outlaw in America.
Mat 5:21, “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MURDER,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to the court.’”
Years ago a Black man killed his white wife and a white man in Los Angeles, but because of the Black jury and a dream team, the black man was acquitted. There is nothing more desperate to its citizens than the fact a country does not serve justice. Or there is no justice in a country. The criminal justice system does not serve justice, it only makes lawyers and court officials, and so-called victims of damages very rich like the recent case in Minneapolis.
1Sa 25:36-39, “Then Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he was having a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal’s heart was cheerful within him, for he was very drunk; so she did not tell him anything at all until the morning light.
But in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him so that he became like a stone.
About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal and he died. When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has pleaded the cause of the shame inflicted on me by the hand of Nabal, and has kept back His servant from evil. The LORD has also returned the evildoing of Nabal on his own head.” Then David sent a proposal to Abigail, to take her as his wife.”
David thank God for keeping him back from evil of killing Nabal. Remember, killing a man is evil. Had it not for the grace of God, I could have fallen into the Abyss. Under certain circumstances, ordinary persons may be prompted to commit murder. I have never committed murder. If someone is going to rape my mother, my wife, or my sister — that would force me to commit murder. David thanked God for keeping him from evil. The Lord teaches us to pray,
Mat 6:13, “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
You do not know how much evil is lurking in your life. You do not know how much evil is lurking in the shadows, in the air, and in the hearts of men. May God deliver us from evil.
Christians don’t care what man says much less what animal says. We only care what God says. What man says does not consequences, what God says has consequences for time and eternity.
(22). FALSE WORDS
1Sa 24:9, “And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David is seeking to harm you’?”
But today is so confusing because the mainstream Western media habitually and constantly spread false news, misinformation, disinformation and outrageous lies that people are hard to discern.
You wonder how could the leaders and politicians and Western mass media daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly speak and publish false words, and how false words infect their souls?
The Bible says, 2Pe 2:3, “and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”
Invariably you will find greedy people are full of false words. If you watch the TV commercials, they are nothing but false words to exploit you. Unbelieving writers also in their greed exploit the uninformed with false words and false ideas to enrich themselves.
(23). SETTING UP A TRAP
1Sa 28:9, “But the woman said to him, “Behold, you know what Saul has done, that he has eliminated the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why are you then setting a trap for my life, to bring about my death?”
To set a trap in Hebrew isnāqašwhich means to lay a snare; to strike at; to take aim at; – which occurs 5 times in the Old Testament.
Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines a trap as something by which one is caught or stopped unawares.
“Trapping is one of the oldest ways of to capture a prey. There’s a variety of purposes why we trap animals –it can be for food, for fur trade, wildlife management or conservation or pest control. But whatever it is, it’s hard to stop a dedicated hunter in setting up hunting traps. But what are the types of hunting traps that you can use to catch your targeted animal? How effective is this trap? So if you’re looking for answers then we got you covered. Check out this list of hunting traps for the stealthy hunters below.”
1. Steel-Jaw Leghold Traps
2. “Padded” Leghold Traps
3. Snare Traps
4. Conibear Traps
5. Deadfall Traps
6. Tension Traps
7. Bird Traps
I can assure you Satan and evildoers have more traps you may not be aware of.
Jos 23:13, “Know with certainty that the LORD your God will not continue to drive these nations out from before you; but they will be a snare and a trap to you, and a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the LORD your God has given you.”
Joshua warned the sons of Israel with the Scripture cited above. Snare is synonymous snare.
1Sa 18:21, “For Saul thought, “I will give her to him so that she may become a trap for him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David, “For a second time you may become my son-in-law, today.”
In history women have been used as a trap for men.
Mar 12:13, “Then they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Him in order to trap Him in a statement.”
During Jesus’ earthly life, His enemies the Pharisees and Herodians often trapped Him in a statement although they never succeeded.
Luk 21:34, “But be on your guard, so that your hearts will not be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that this day will not come on you suddenly, like a trap.”
Jesus warned His disciples to be on their guard, dissipation and drunkenness can weigh down your hearts and the worries of life will come on you suddenly like a trap.
(24). THE WORD OF THE LORD
2Sa 12:9, “Why have you despised the Word of the LORD, by doing evil in His sight? You have struck and killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, you have taken his wife as your wife, and you have slaughtered him with the sword of the sons of Ammon.”
To despise the Word of the Lord is to despise the Lord. This is a most aggravating sin.
There are some nine phases in the process we participate concerning the Word of the Lord. The Word of the Lord is the Word of God.
one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one sown with seed beside the road.”
Luk 5:1, “Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the Word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret.”
Luk 10:39, “And she had a sister called Mary, who was also seated at the Lord’s feet, and was
listening to His Word.”
Hear and listen mean the same thing.
B. Understand the Word of God.
Mat 13:23, “But the one sown with seed on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much.”
Just hear and listen to the Word of God is not enough, it is important to understand the Word of God. Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you.
C. Believe the Word of God.
Believe and accept mean the same thing.
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.”
Jhn 5:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the one 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.”
Act 15:7, “After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, Brothers, 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.”
D. Do the Word of God.
Do, follow, obey and bear fruit mean the same thing.
Luk 8:21, “But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the
Word of God and do it.”
Luk 11:28, “But He said, “On the contrary, blessed blessed are those who hear the word of God and follow it.”
Jhn 14:24,“The one who does not love Me does not follow My Words; and the Word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.”
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.”
1Jo 2:5, “but whoever follows His Word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him.”
Mar 4:20, “And those are the ones sown with seed on the good soil; and they hear the Word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundred times as much.”
E. Remember the Word of God
Jhn 15:20, “Remember the Word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they followed My Word, they will follow yours also.
F. Speak the Word of God
Speak, preach, testify, and proclaim mean the same thing.
where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the Word of God with boldness.”
Act 8:4, “Therefore, those who had been scattered went through places preaching the Word.”
Act 15:35, “But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the Word of the Lord, with many others also.”
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.”
Act 14:3, “Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the Word of His grace, granting granting that signs and wonders be performed by their hands.”
Act 13:5, “When they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the Word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John as their helper.”
G. Rejoice and glorify the Word of God
Act 13:48, “When the Gentiles heard this, they began they began rejoicing and glorifying the Word of theLord; and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed.”
H. Hold firmly the Word of God.
Hold firm and keep mean the same thing.
Tit 1:9, “Holding firmly the faithful Word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.”
Rev 3:10, “Because you have kept My Word of perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of the testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who live on
the earth.”
I. Teach the Word of God
Heb 5:12, “You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s Word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.”
1Ti 6:2, “Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are brothers or sisters, but must serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are
believers and beloved. Teach and preach these principles.”
Not all believers can be teachers.
(25). FASTING
2Sa 12:23, “But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I am going to him, but he will not return to me.”
The Scriptures explain what is fast:
Isa 58:5, “Is it a fast like this that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it for bowing one’s head like a reed and for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the LORD?”
Joe 1:14, “Consecrate a fast, Proclaim a solemn assembly; Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land To the house of the LORD your God, And cry out to the LORD.”
2Ch 20:3, “Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the LORD; and he proclaimed a period of fasting throughout Judah.”
Neh 1:4, “Now when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of Heaven.
Est 4:3, “In each and every province where the command and decree of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and mourning rites; and many had sackcloth and ashes spread out as a bed.”
Psa 35:13, “But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled my soul with fasting, but my prayer kept returning to me.”
Dan 6:18, “Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.”
Joe 2:12, “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”
Jesus advises on fasting:
Mat 6:16-18, “Now whenever you fast, do not make a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they distort their faces so that they will be noticed by people when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But as for you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by people but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
Act 14:23, “When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”
In the early Church, when they did something gravely important, they practiced praying and fasting.
The single problem that plagues many who practice fasting is the implication they are more devout and spiritually superior to the ordinary believers.
When the stomach is full, the spiritual sense is low. Fasting does not set the soul free. Fasting does not purify oneself. Fasting is not food for the soul. The Word of God is food for the soul. The goal of fasting is not inner unity. Col 3:14, “In addition to all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” FASTING does not clean both body and soul.
Num 8:7, “Thus you shall do to them, for their cleansing: sprinkle purifying water on them, and let them use a razor over their whole body and wash their clothes, and they will be clean.” Lev 15:13,“When the man with the discharge has been cured of it, he is to count seven days for his cleansing, wash his clothes, and bathe his body in fresh water; he will be clean.” With respect to the purification of soul,
sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(26). CASTING OUT THE EVIL SPIRIT
Mar 9:28-29, “Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?” Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.”
miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs
or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out.”
Indeed God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hand of Paul, probably without precedent in the history of the world. As God was performing miracles by the hands of Moses and Prophets of old, so God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul. All miracles are not ordinary, God is able to do extraordinary miracles because nothing is impossible with God. Here the devil manufactured the idea that relics of saints may have healing capacity. For this the Roman Catholic Church has created many superstitions.
“It is strongly believed that relics can heal the sick, offer protection from harm, death and aliments, as these objects have been given the divine blessings of God, allowing the particular Saint to aid and watch over the faithful masses.”
Christians reject Catholic relics as superstitious items, without power to heal the sick or protection from harm. It is important to know that evil spirits can cause diseases, but not all diseases are caused by evil spirits. For example, COVID-19 has devastated the world, but the CORANAVIRUS is not caused by evil spirits. I believe the current Pandemic plague is the judgment of God for the world to repent.
1Co 12:4-11,“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the Word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the Word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;
to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.”
I speak clearly that I do not have the gifts of miracles, I cannot heal the sick or cast out the evil spirits. I have never spoken in tongues. If after having read all the articles I have written in this website, you think I may have the Word of wisdom or the Word of knowledge, it is all through the Spirit.
Recently due to kindness of my wife, a certain family took advantage by placing their autism son at our home for several days during COVID-19 lockdown. The young man is a 6 footer, probably 200 lbs. When he sat down on our sofa was like a elephant dropped its buttock. I was sure the sofa would be damaged or destroyed not too long. He suddenly had strange grin in his face, made loud animal noise, and showed aggressive,disruptive or abrupt behavior. You could not predict when he was going to jump up and walked fast to the balcony. My wife cooked meals for him, and he was a big eater. The worst thing happened was the young man return evil for good by violently attacking the hands of my wife. He wanted to attack my hand too, I refused. Observing and watching him convinced me not only he suffered autism, probably he had an evil spirit. I was praying God to deliver us from trouble of evil, finally his mother came to take him home at late night. We were relieved not hearing his strange loud voice or seeing his sight, and worrying what evil he might have done.
What the devil can do is tremendous, but not omnipotent. Jesus said, Jhn 13:2, “And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him.”
The devil is able to enter into the heart of a man without his consent. But don’t worry, if you belong to the Lord, you have the Spirit of the Lord living in you. The devil dares not to enter the heart of a Christian where the Holy Spirit dwells; because the evil spirit is afraid of the Holy Spirit.
No. The only defense against evil spirits or the devil is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Luk 8:2, “and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons
had gone out.”
Someone was wrong to say that evil spirits vanish at the dawn of day.
Mar 5:2-20, “When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean
spirit met Him. He lived among the tombs; and no one was able to bind him anymore, not even with a chain, because he had often been bound with
shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces; and no one was strong enough to subdue him. Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and cutting himself with stones. Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him; and shouting with a loud voice, he said, “What business do You have with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!” For He had already been saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” And He was asking him, “What is your name?” And he said to Him, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” And he begged Him earnestly not to send them out of the region. Now there was a large herd of pigs feeding nearby on the mountain. And the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us into the pigs so that we may enter them.”
Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the pigs; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea. Their herdsmen ran away and reported it in the city and in the countryside. And the people came to see what it was that had happened. And then they came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had previously had the “legion”; and they became frightened. Those who had seen it described to them how it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the pigs. And they began to beg Him to leave their region. And as He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was begging Him that he might accompany Him.
And He did not let him, but He said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great
things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.”
So, do not be ignorant or superstitious. Evil spirits and the devil only fear the power of God, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Evil spirits do no vanish at the dawn of day. The vanish only by the power of God.
(27). CURSING
2Sa 16:9, “Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Now let me go over and cut off his head.”
A dead dog can curse the king, because cursing is an ability even of the dog.
Sadly and truly, the profane cursing and swearing is practiced prevalently in America, in public buildings, at school, at work, at Police Station, on TV and movie, among the youth and adults. I am particularly pissed off by the vulgarity of young women.
Someone was very wrong, because there is no cursing which is done in a nice and benevolent and affectionate way. Cursing is like a verbal diarrhea.
his father or his mother shall certainly be put to death.”
Lev 24:15, “You shall also speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘If anyone curses his God, then he will bear the responsibility for his sin.”
Jesus says, Luk 6:28, “bless those who curse you, pray for those who are abusive to you.”
The present world is under a curse. Rev 22:3, “There will no longer be
any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him.”
In the Kingdom of Heaven, there will no longer any curse.
(28). RUN WIHTOUT REWARD
2Sa 18:22, “However, Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said once more to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why would you run, my son, since you will have no messenger’s reward for going?”
NATO exists to be an attack dog of the United States. NATO has no reason to exists, it exists only to support American evil empire. The funny thing is the fact that EU leaders and politicians do not realize it.
To run and to walk are two different things. Those who can run can also walk. Those who can walk may not be able to run. It is a useful self-knowledge to know what you can and cannot do.
The best qualities in action are done without expectation of rewards. The worst qualities in action are done in expectation of rewards but do no deserve any.
Mat 5:10, “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Christian, have you been persecuted for the sake of righteousness?
Mat 19:12,“For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by people; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves
eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. The one who is able to accept this, let him accept it.”
I have not met any ones who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Mar 10:29-30, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or
mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the Gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.”
There are many things Christians can do for Jesus’ sake and for the Gospel’s sake.
Psa 127:1-2, “A Song of Ascents, of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds a house, They who build it labor in vain; Unless the LORD guards a city, The watchman stays awake in vain.
It is futile for you to rise up early, To stay up late, To eat the bread of painful labor; This is how He gives to His beloved sleep.”
If you build something for the world, you build in vain. You may eat the bread of painful labor and still cannot sleep.
Rom 9:15-16, “For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOMEVER I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL SHOW COMPASSION TO WHOMEVER I SHOW
COMPASSION.” So then, it does not depend on the person who wants it nor the one who runs, but on God who has mercy.”
This is the gist of the truth, it does not depend on the person who wants it nor the one who runs, but on God who has mercy. You may build and labor in vain. You may want something desperately, but is beyond your reach. You may run all you can, but you cannot achieve it.
Phl 2:16, “holding firmly the Word of life, so that on the day of Christ I can take pride because I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.”
For Christians, more than anything, are to hold firm the Word of life, so that on the day of Christ we can take pride because we did not run in vain nor labor in vain. The day of Christ is when Jesus Christ returns to the earth.
(29). WRONG SILENCE
2Sa 19:10, “However, Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now then, why are you silent about bringing the king back?”
There are things silent are good. There are things we must not silent because we must take the initiative to act and speak.
Silence is stupidity when action is required. There are times to be silent when silence is wisdom. There are times to be loud and clear, when action is required. When you see a house is on fire, you must not be silent. You must shout fire! When a boy falls into the lake and drowning, you must not be silent. You must shout help! When you confront injustice, you must not be silent. To be silent in the face of injustice is to be an accomplice. Silence is the sleep of death when action is required.
I disagree with the silence of thought. The thinking process must be continuous although you do not have to speak your thoughts. Thought is speaking to yourself.
Deu 15:9, “Be careful that there is no mean-spirited thought in your heart, such as, ‘The seventh year, the year of release of debts, is near,’ and your eye is malicious toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing; then he may cry out to the Lord against you, and it will be a sin in you.”
Christians beware and be careful that there is no mean-spirited thought in our heart, and our eyes is not malicious toward our poor brother.
Act 8:20, “But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could acquire the gift of God with money!”
It is a wrong thought that one could acquire the gift of God with money!
It is a wrong thought to acquire the salvation of God with money!
It is a wrong thought to acquire the favor of God with money.
Money cannot buy anything spiritual, heavenly, and godly.
2Co 10:5, “We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
Every Christian though must be taken captive to the obedience of Christ.
Luk 19:35-40, “And they brought it to Jesus, and they threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.
Now as He was going, they were spreading their cloaks on the road.
And 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,
shouting: “BLESSED IS the King, THE ONE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Peace in Heaven and glory in the highest!”
And yet some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!”
Jesus replied, “I tell you, if these stop speaking, the stones will cry out!”
When Jesus is coming with great power and glory, I shall be among those who praise God joyfully with a loud voice, shouting:
“BLESSED IS the King, THE ONE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Peace in Heaven and glory in the highest!”
Although 70% of Americans say it again and again that the country is going the wrong direction, but American leaders and politicians are not paying attention. Do you know why? Because the United States Constitution is not vested its sovereignty in the hands of American citizens. If the US CONSTITUTION IS VESTED THE NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY IN THE HANDS of American citizens, 51% of American citizens can change the government and change the direction of government at once through the National Referendum.
(30). OLD AGE IS A BURDEN
2Sa 19:35, “I am now eighty years old. Can I distinguish between good and bad? Or can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Or can I still hear the voice of men and women singing? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?
Old age has disadvantage. Those who say, Old age is golden are trying to cover up something. I was young and now I am old. I am familiar with all the disadvantages of old age.
I was young, now I am old. When I was young, I saw an old woman coming down the airplane through the movable airplane stairs gasping for air. It dawned on me traveling is not for the old age. So I worked hard for two years and saved $10,000 and quit my job and I was beginning to assess the world’s most advanced countries of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, England, France and Germany. I never regretted to see the world when I was young, when I could walk 10,000 miles and not feeling tired or weary. The study and research opened my eye that I developed A Theory of Good Society. Please read my article
Thank God to help me master the English language while I was young, to acquire a comprehensive Bible knowledge, to lay a firm foundation on Biblical Theology, and obtained my advanced degree from one of the top American universities. Now I am old, studying and critiquing worldly philosophies and theologies in the light of the Holy Bible, and engaging in the ministry of the Word. Thank God, my website has reached more than 3 million readers a month. I will continue writing and explaining the Word of God as the Holy Spirit enables me till God calls me home and I depart from this world. The enemies of truth used many tricks to attack my website and create many problems for me. But God is my Rock, I am doing the will of God. So I am convinced the Lord will accomplish His will in me.
(31). ALL COVERED UP
1Ki 14:6, “So when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet coming in the doorway, he said, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam; why do you make yourself unrecognizable? Nevertheless, I am sent to you with a harsh message.”
Muslim costumes of Hijab, Niqab and Burga should be banned all over the world, because all covered persons even though terrorists are unrecognizable. I recall one black youth all covered on TV who pushed an Asian elderly man with great force from behind, the old man dropped face down and died later. All terrorists should be shot at the scene without due process of the law.
Muslim terrorists are so afraid to face the world so when they commit terrorist acts and do evil deeds they had to cover up their faces, heads and bodies so that people will not be able to recognize them. I will never forget watching on TV a young black coward terrorist who had himself completely covered up and then he pushed an old Asian man from the back with so great force that the old man fell on his face and died later. All covered-up terrorists or kidnappers should be shot at the scene without due process of the law or appeal.
Gen 37:26, “And Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood?”
Those who kill always want to cover up the blood of the victims. You may ask, What profit is it from American and Europeans leaders to add fuel to fire and perpetuate many wars of aggression and oppression? Great profits.
Based on the SIPRI report, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 10 biggest weapons companies. Arms were defined as sales to military customers, either for procurement or for export, but do not include sales of general purpose items, such as oil or computer equipment. We looked at sales figures for two years through 2011, among other metrics. Here are the 10 companies that profit the most from war:
10. United Technologies (UTX) — aircraft, electronics, engines Arm sales: $11.6 billion, total sales: $58.2 billion Gross profit: $5.3 billion, total workforce: 199,900 United Technologies makes a wide range of arms — notably military helicopters, including the Black Hawk helicopter for the U.S. Army and the Seahawk helicopter for the U.S. Navy. The company was the biggest employer in the top 10 though arms sales accounted for just 20% of revenue. UTX also produces elevators, escalators, air-conditioners and refrigerators. International sales comprised 60% of the company’s revenue in 2012.
9. L-3 Communications (LLL) — electronics Arm sales: $12.5 billion, total sales: $15.2 billion Gross profit: $956 million, total workforce: 61,000 Some 83% of L-3 Communications sales in 2011 came from arms sales, but this was down from what it sold the prior year. The company has four business segments: electronic systems; aircraft modernization and maintenance; national security solutions; and command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Among many products manufactured, the company has become a major provider of unmanned aircraft systems.
8. Finmeccanica — aircraft, artillery, engines, electronics, vehicles and missiles Arms sales, $14.6 billion, total sales: $24.1 billion Gross profit: $ -3.2 billion, total workforce: 70,470 Italian company Finmeccanica makes a wide range of arms, including helicopters and security electronics. Nearly 60% of the company’s sales in 2011 were in arms. Finmeccanica lost $3.2 billion in 2011. The Italian company is currently fending off allegation that it paid bribes to win an approximately $750 million contract to provide 12 military helicopters to the Indian government in 2010. The then-head of the company, Giuseppe Orsi, was arrested in February but has denied wrongdoing. Other executives, including the head of the company’s helicopter unit, have been replaced, and the company has delayed the release of recent financial results.
7. EADS — aircraft, electronics, missiles and space Arm sales: $16.4 billion, total sales: $68.3 billion Gross profit: $1.4 billion, total workforce: 133,120 The European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS), based in the Netherlands, had sales in 2011 roughly in line with the prior year. Arms sales comprised just 24% of the company’s revenue. EADS and BAE Systems unsuccessfully attempted to merge for $45 billion in 2012, which would have created the world’s largest aerospace company. The deal collapsed in October after German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed concerns about the merger.
6. Northrop Grumman (NOC) — aircraft, electronics, missiles, ships, space Arm sales: $21.4 billion, total sales: $26.4 billion Gross profit: $2.1 billion, total workforce: 72,500 Northrop Grumman’s 2011 arms sales comprised about 81% of total sales even after a sharp decline in arms sales year over year. The company attributed the decline to reduced government spending on defense projects. Nevertheless, the company was more profitable than in the prior year.
5. Raytheon (RTN) — electronics, missiles Arm sales: $22.5 billion, total sales: $24.9 billion Gross profit: $1.9 billion, total workforce: 71,000 Raytheon, based in Waltham, Mass., is one of the largest defense contractors in the U.S. The company makes the Tomahawk Cruise Missile, among others. Arms sales comprised about 90% of the company’s sales in 2011 though they as a total they were lower than in the prior year. The slide hasn’t let up. Total sales in 2012 fell 1.5%, and Raytheon is expecting sales to fall 3% in 2013, a projection which doesn’t take into account the effects of mandated budget cuts. The company can rely on overseas customers to somewhat offset weak sales at home. As of January, approximately 40% of the company’s backlog was booked overseas. The company expects approximately a 5% increase in international sales in 2013.
4. General Dynamics (GD) — artillery, electronics, vehicles, small arms, ships Arm sales: $23.8 billion, total sales: $32.7 billion Gross profit: $2.5 billion, total workforce: 95,100 With 18,000 transactions in 2011, General Dynamics was the third-largest contractor to the U.S. government. Of those contracts, approximately $12.9 billion worth went to the Navy, while an additional $4.6 billion went to the Army. The company’s arms sales in 2011 comprised 73% of total sales. Arms sales in 2011 were slightly below 2010 levels. The company makes a host of products, including electric boats, tracked and wheeled military vehicles, and battle tanks. The company announced layoffs in early March, blaming mandated federal budget cuts.
3. BAE Systems — aircraft, artillery, electronics, vehicles, missiles, ships Arm sales: $29.2 billion, total sales: $30.7 billion Gross profit: $2.3 billion, total workforce: 93,500 BAE Systems was the largest non-U.S. company based on arms sales. Arms sales represented 95% of the company’s total sales in 2011 even though they were lower as a total of overall sales compared to the prior year. The products BAE sells include the L-ROD Bar Armor System that shields defense vehicles and the Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer that provides sophisticated simulation training for military pilots. In 2013, the company said its growth would likely come from outside the U.S. and Great Britain — its home market. BAE noted that its outlook for those two countries was “constrained,” likely due to the diminished presence in international conflicts and government budget cuts.
2. Boeing (BA) — aircraft, electronics, missiles, space Arm sales: $31.8 billion, total sales: $68.7 billion Gross profit: $4 billion, total workforce: 171,700 Boeing was the second-largest U.S. government contractor in 2011, with about $21.5 billion worth of goods contracted. The Chicago-based company makes a wide range of arms, including strategic missile systems, laser and electro-optical systems and global positioning systems. Despite all these technologies, just 46% of the company’s total sales of $68.7 billion in 2011 came from arms. Boeing is the largest commercial airplane manufacturer in the world, making planes such as the 747, 757 and recently, the 787 Dreamliner. The company is also known for its space technology — Boeing had $1 billion worth of contracts with NASA in 2011.
1. Lockheed Martin (LMT) — aircraft, electronics, missiles, space Arm sales:$36.3 billion, total sales: $46.5 billion Gross profit: $2.7 billion, total workforce, 123,000 Lockheed Martin notched $36.3 billion in sales in 2011, slightly higher than the $35.7 billion the company sold in 2010. The arms sales comprised 78% of the company’s total 2011 sales. Lockheed makes a wide range of products, including aircraft, missiles, unmanned systems and radar systems. The company and its employees have been concerned about the effects of the “fiscal cliff” and sequestration, the latter of which includes significant cuts to the U.S. Department of Defense. In the fall of 2012, the company planned on issuing layoff notices to all employees before backing down at the White House’s request.
Psa 49:5, “Why should I fear in days of adversity, When the injustice of those who betray me surrounds me.”
Epictetus was half right, if you do not have the Holy Spirit living in you, it is in vain to turn inward where you do not have inner resources.
“Every difficulty in life presents us with an opportunity to turn inward and to invoke our own inner resources. The trails we endure can and should introduce us to our strengths. Prudent people look beyond the incident itself and seek to form the habit of putting it to good use. On the occasion of an accidental event, don’t just react in a haphazard fashion: remember to turn inward and ask what resources you have for dealing with it. Dig deeply. You possess strengths you might not realize you have. Find the right one. Use it.”
I do not know who James E. Faust was, but he said something of value, “If there were no night, we would not appreciate the day, nor could we see the stars and the vastness of the heavens. We must partake of the bitter with the sweet. There is a divine purpose in the adversities we encounter every day. They prepare, they purge, they purify, and thus they bless. “
I agree with Lucius Annaeus Seneca half, “The bravest sight in the world is to see a great man struggling against adversity.”
The bravest sight in the world is to see any man or woman struggling against adversity.
I agree with Victor Hugo who said, “Adversity makes men, and prosperity makes monsters.”
There is a nation who is blessed with prosperity, but there are many monsters.
Horace was right, “Adversity reveals genius, prosperity conceals it.”
You have never met a genius who has not suffered adversity.
Someone said something true, “Adversity is the first path to truth.”
Those who discover truths pay a price. Those who discover great truths pay dearly.
Golda Meir knew what she was talking about, “
You’ll never find a better sparring partner than adversity.”
Benjamin Disraeli knew well what he was talking about, “There is no education like adversity.”
Moses spent first 40 years to study Egyptian knowledge at the palace. Act 7:22, “Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was proficient in speaking and action. God trained Moses another 40 years in the desert to be a shepherd. Moses spent the last 40 years in the wilderness leading the children of Israel to the Promised Land.
I agree with Henry Fielding who said, “Adversity is the trial of principle. Without it a man hardly knows whether he is honest or not.”
Horace Mann knew something when he said, “Much that we call evil is really good in disguises; and we should not quarrel rashly with adversities not yet understood, nor overlook the mercies often bound up in them.”
Not many Christians know this, when Francis Bacon said, “Prosperity is the blessing of the Old Testament; adversity is the blessing of the New. “
When I was a struggling youth, the following words of Henry Fielding inspired me: “He that can heroically endure adversity will bear prosperity with equal greatness of soul; for the mind that cannot be dejected by the former is not likely to be transported with the later. “
I agree with Charles F. Stanley although I do not know who he was, “Adversity is always unexpected and unwelcomed. It is an intruder and a thief. But in the hands of God, adversity becomes the means through which HIS Supernatural Power is demonstrated.”
I wholeheartedly agree with Socrates who said,
“Remember that there is nothing stable in human affairs; therefore avoid undue elation in prosperity, or undue depression in adversity.”
I agree with Richard M. Nixon who said, “Defeat doesn’t finish a man, quit does. A man is not finished when he’s defeated. He’s finished when he quits.”
The life of Richard Nixon proves he was no quitter. President Nixon also said, “Only if you have been in the deepest valley, can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain.”
Let us agree with William Shakespeare who said, “Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, for wise men say it is the wisest course.”
Heb 13:3, “Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them who suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.”
As long as we are in the mortal body, we will suffer adversity.
(33). THE WAY OF THE WICKED
Jer 12:1, “Righteous are You, LORD, when I plead my case with You; nevertheless 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?”
These are hard questions: Why has the way of the wicked prospered? Why are all those who deal in treachery at ease?
Proverbs 16:4, “The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil.”
The Lord has made the wicked for the day of evil.
Exo 9:27, “Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time; the Lord is the righteous one, and I and my people are the the wicked ones.”
The Pharaoh of Egypt confessed that he had sinned. He and his people were the wicked ones. Western leaders have sinned for more than 500 years, none of them confessed their sin; on the contrary, they think themselves righteous so that they sanction other nations and peoples.
1Sa 2:9, “He watches over the feet of His godly ones, But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; For not by might shall a person prevail.”
The wicked ones today are the loudest, they control mainstream media and spread lies and fakes news. They also control the world order and everything.
The days are coming when the wicked ones are silenced in darkness in Hell.
1Sa 24:13, “As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you.”
2Ch 6:23, “then hear from Heaven and take action and judge Your servants, punishing the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous by repaying him according to his
righteousness.”
God is the living and righteous God, one thing is sure is the fact that God will take action and judge the wicked. We do not when in each case. God does as He pleases. When God punishes the wicked one by bringing his way on his own head. I think many wicked ones go their way because they think God does not take action. So the righteous cry and moan, How long O Lord? How long?
Psa 94:3, “How long, LORD, shall the wicked— How long shall the wicked triumph?
If you look at the history of the world, the wicked triumph. Western aggressors, imperialists, colonialists and wicked supremacists triumph in the world for the last 500 years to this day.
righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”
Psa 9:17, “The wicked will return to Sheol, All the nations who forget God.”
The wicked will go to Hell, and all the nations who forget God. The nations who forget God are the Western nations and America which claim to be Christian nations.
Psa 1:5, “Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
Psa 34:21, “Evil will bring death to the wicked, And those who hate the righteous will suffer for their guilt.”
Psa 37:20, “But the wicked will perish; And the enemies of the LORD will be like the glory of the pastures, They vanish—like smoke they vanish away.
Psa 7:9, “Please let the evil of the wicked come to
an end, but establish the righteous; for the
righteous God puts hearts and minds to the test.”
To summarize, What would happen to the wicked?
1. The Lord has made the wicked for the day of evil.
2. The wicked ones shall be silenced in darkness.
3. God will take action to punish the wicked.
4. The way of the wicked will perish.
5. The wicked will cast down to Hell.
6. The evil of the wicked will come to an end.
7. The eyes of the wicked will fail.
8. The wicked person writhes in pain all his days.
9. The light of the wicked goes out.
10. The wicked will not stand in the judgment.
11. The sorrows of the wicked are many.
12. Evil will bring death to the wicked.
13. The arms of the wicked will be broken.
14. The wicked will perish.
15. The descendants of the wicked will be eliminated.
16. The future of the wicked will be eliminated.
17. God will destroy all the wicked.
18. God thwarts the way of the wicked.
19. The name of the wicked will rot.
20. What the wicked fears will come upon him.
21. The years of the wicked will be shortened.
22. The wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
23. The wicked are filled with trouble.
24. There is no peace for the wicked.
25. The violence of the wicked will sweep them away.
26. The wicked are filled with trouble.
27.There will be no future for the evil person.
28. The wicked stumble in time of disaster.
29. The wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.
30. The righteous will crush the wicked underfoot.
(34). WHY DO YOU STAND LOOKING IN THE SKY?
Act 1:11, “and they said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into Heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into Heaven.”
This is not fake news or disinformation or misinformation. This is the true news: the greatest event to take place in the whole universe is the second coming of Jesus Christ to judge the world and reign with the saints for ever and ever.
If you do not know before, there is no excuse you do not know now. All the signs point to the second coming of Christ, COVID-19 PANDEMIC is one sign among many fulfilled to warn you and the world that the second coming of Jesus Christ is near.
The judgment of God is most serious, and Hell is eternal. It is hoped you will repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the world.
You can do it now, for today is the day of salvation.
The leader of Ukraine is corrupt and evil. Ukranians 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 refrerendum. America is ruined by dark and evil forces.
Heroes of all races who sacrified 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 sacrified their lives in the war against Japanese aggression and atrocities must always be honored and remembered. The Chinse 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 Japanse aggression and atrocities of killing 35 million innocent Chinese without remorse or reparations. UN overappointed unqualified blacks and media have given too much covergage 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 orphanes. 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 reognized 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, Hezebolla, 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. Ukranians 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, overappointed 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, voordoism.
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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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. 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. Never again will China be oppressed. I am sure the militant Japan is deterred, and no nation on earth would dare to attack China again. 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 refrerendum. America is ruined by dark and evil forces.
Heroes of all races who sacrified 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 sacrified their lives in the war against Japanese aggression and atrocities must always be honored and remembered. The Chinse 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.
*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.
BY WILLIE WONG
Only sinners need to be saved. There are poor and pitiful people who do not even know they are sinners. You are a sinner. I am a sinner. We are all sinners who have come short the glory of God. The wages of sin is death, eternal death, death in Hell. So we all need to be saved.
I. WHAT IS SIN
The fall of mankind is recorded as follows:
Gen 3:1-7, “Now the serpent was more cunning than any animal of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”
The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’”
The serpent said to the woman, “You certainly will not die! For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will become like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves waist coverings.”
Rom 5:12, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned—”
Adam and Eve committed the original sin. The sin of Adam and Eve was not so much eating the forbidden fruit, it was disobedience. The first sin mankind committed was disobedience.
Rom 5:18-19, “So then, as through one offense the result was condemnation to all mankind, so also through one act of righteousness the result was justification of life to all mankind. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.”
Adam and Eve committed one offense, and the offense was disobedience. Disobedience to the commandment of God is sin. Sin is disobedience to the Word of God. Practically all sins are actually and fundamentally disobedience to God. Disobedience in Greek isparakoēwhich means inattention; hearing amiss; unwillingness to obey; defiance; rebellion; insubordination; – which occurs 3 times in the New Testament. Sin is condemnation to all mankind, that young American female was no exception who challenged me to prove her sin.
Rom 11:32, “For God has shut up all in disobedience, so that He may show mercy to all.”
To shut up in Greek is sygkleiōwhich means to conclude; enclose; shut up together; enclose; shut up completely; subject without means of escape; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. God has subjected that all mankind has committed disobedience.
Eph 2:2, “in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.”
The reason the state of the world is so bad because world leaders and politicians walk according to the course of the world, according to the prince of the power of the air, and the evil spirit that is now working in the sons and daughters of disobedience. The most tragic of all is that Western leaders and politicians think they are doing good in the world.
Col 3:6, “For it is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.”
I believe COVID-19, strong winds and rains, are the wrath of God coming upon the sinful mankind.
Everyone who follows the same example of disobedience will fall. Even the sole superpower cannot escape the wrath of God.
Jhn 8:44 ,“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Note: Devil in Greek is diaboloswhich means a calumniator, false accuser, slanderer; the prince of demons; the author of evil; – it occurs 40 times in the New Testament. Murderer in Greek is anthrōpoktonoswhich means a killer, manslayer, one who commits murder; – it occurs 3 times in the New Testament. Lie in Greek is pseudoswhich means conscious and intentional falsehood, a false statement or action, whatever is not what it seems to be; perverse, impious, deceitful precept; whatever is not what it professes to be; – it occurs 11 times in the New Testament. Western leaders and politicians and Western mainstream media use lies and falsehoods as a weapon against Russia and China.
The liars and killers and evildoers may escape the International Criminal Court, but surely they will not escape the judgment of God. The Judgment Day is at hand.
The Bible defines sin as follows:
(A). Whatever is not of faith is sin.
Rom 14:23,“But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not of faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin.”
Note: Faith is Greek is pistiswhich means a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and obedience born of faith and joined with it; the conviction that God exists by Himself and is the creator and ruler of the universe, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Jesus Christ; a strong conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior of the world, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the Kingdom of God; – it occurs about 244 times in the New Testament. This Scriptural definition covers many sins. Fundamentally, a man lives in his own way, not by faith according to the Word of God, is sin. To go your own way, and not to do the Will of God, is sin. Consulting astrologers is not of faith, therefore it is sin. Anything or everything that contradicts faith is sin. No one who has faith in Christ would consult idols, astrologers, fortunetellers, etc. or believe in false teachings. The fact you do not believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God is a sin.
Unbelief is sin. The fact you do not believe in God and His Son Jesus Christ, you have committed sin. Even murder can be forgiven (such as the thief on the cross), but the sin of unbelief can never be forgiven.
Jhn 16:9 , “Concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me (Christ).”
Note: Christ is the Messiah who was sent from God to save mankind, it is sin if you do not believe in Him.
Question: Where is unbelief located?
In an evil heart.
Hbr 3:12, “Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God.”
Note: Evil in Greek is ponēros which means bad in general, wicked, of a bad nature or condition; – it occurs 76 times in the New Testament. Unbelief is evil; a heart of unbelief is an evil heart.
(B). Not doing the right thing is sin.
Jam 4:17,“Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.”
Note: This is the sin of omission. Doing wrong is sin, the sin of commission. For example, American economic and financial crisis was brought about by corrupt politicians, bureaucrats, executives of Wall Street, banks, and firms doing the wrong things, mainly greed, corrupt practices, fraud, and waste.
Your duty is doing the right thing. Your responsibility is the right thing. Failure to do what is right is sin. Excessive executive compensation is not doing the right thing, therefore it is sin to exploit and defraud the people. Giving tax cuts to the rich is wickedness, it is sin. To engage in a war of aggression is not doing the right thing, it is sin.
(C). Sin is lawlessness.
1Jo 3:4,“Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.”
Note: Lawlessness in Greek is anomiawhich means contempt and violation of law. It is iniquity or wickedness to add poison to drug or food. It is lawlessness to pollute the environment by dumping sewage, industrial or chemical waste. It is lawlessness to sell fake products and make false advertisements. Sin practices lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness. Anarchy is lawlessness. The worst of all, many corrupt lawmakers, politicians, dictators, judges, prosecutors, lawyers, business executives, law enforcement officials, doctors and hospital owners, etc. practice lawlessness. All crooks and criminals and terrorists practice lawlessness.
(D). All unrighteousness is sin.
1Jo 5:17, “All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.”
Note: Unrighteousness in Greek is adikiawhich means injustice, a deed violating law and justice, iniquity, misdeed, wrongdoing. It is unrighteousness for Western leaders and politicians to falsely accuse China of genocide and abuses of human rights in Xinjiang. All unrighteousness is sin. To the contrary, China has done a great job in winning over terrorism, and the people of Xinjiang are enjoying a good life of peace and harmony and prosperity.
To give tax cuts and subsidies to the rich corporations and individuals and to bail out rich banks and firms are acts of unrighteousness. To overcharge and fraudulently charge patients by doctors, hospitals and medical suppliers are deeds of unrighteousness. To blackmail and falsely accuse people are injustice. For anyone to practice fraud and waste is unrighteousness.
(E). Sin is the transgression of the law.
Hbr 2:2 ,“For if the Word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty.”
Note: Transgression in Greek is parabasiswhich means a disregarding, violating, the breach or breaking of a law; – it occurs 7 times in the New Testament. Sin is the transgression of the law; sin is the violation of the law. The nature of violation of the law is disobedience.
Of some 6,500 swindling spams (not advertising) I have received through e-mails and messages since the Christmas season of 2011, most of them are Africans and Muslims, most are women black and white, some Muslims call themselves doctors, some Muslims call themselves princes, a few call themselves princesses, one calls himself a prince with an English name, most are Nigerian con artists, some whites, many women who want to sell their bodies, few men want to sell sex, one Chinese, one crook from Taiwan who offered phony partnership, one used the name of the United Nations Office to beg for money (the beggar has an English name), a Microsoft Award of Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand Great British Pound (£950,000.00) from the Event Manager Dr. Christopher Baker, Australian National Lottery Department cash prize of $1,000,000 even though you never play the lottery with a winning ticket number, various investment scams and phony business proposals, phony winning of lottery without buying, one who calls himself a pastor in Sweden, and two who claimed to be pastors want to do business with me by selling my products (writings) although I preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ for free, most shamelessly call their intended victims dearest, all demand urgent attention. Their methods of deception vary: some appeal in the name of charity, some sheer begging, most use baits, a few even use the name of God in vain – they are all liars and swindlers. These shameless, lawless, artless, senseless, wicked and conscienceless people have only one in common; they con people for money, money, and money. Some women solicit sex for money. Deviousness and shamelessness characterize all scam artists and swindlers. These swindlers are so shameless, low, degenerate and depraved that they even ask their intended victims to trust them. They are everything what a human being should not be; the scums of the earth. They lie and lie and lie because they are the children of the father of lies, the children of darkness.
The crux of fraud through spams is that crooks and criminals fraudulently offer you money as bait, but their intent is to defraud lots of money from you. Using money as a bait to get money is a satanic trick, because what these con artists offer you are empty false promises, what they will get from you is real money. So wise up, do not fall into the trap. The best thing is to mark their e-mails as “spam” and delete them without even reading because they are not worth wasting your time. The origins of these crooks and criminals reflect the true color and character of their countries and cultures.
(E). Rebellion is as the sin of divination.
1Sa 15:23 , “For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the Word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.”
Note: Rebellion in Hebrew is mĕriywhich means contumacy, insubordination; – it occurs about 23 times in the Old Testament. Here means rebellion against God, not nation. Divination in Hebrew is qecemwhich means witchcraft which occurs 11 times in the Old Testament. It seems there are many who claim to be Christians and do not know Chinese Fengshui is a kind of divination which the Bible condemns. I knew a female colleague who was so into Fengshui because she wanted to get rich. Presumption in Hebrew is patsarwhich means insolence, arrogance, display pushing, making blunt; – it occurs 7 times in the Old Testament. Saul had rejected the Word of the Lord, and the Lord also rejected him from being king.
The Bible gives more explanations on sin:
Lev 5:17,“If any one sins, doing any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, though he does not know it, yet he is guilty and shall bear his iniquity.”
Note: Clearly, sin is doing any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done. That which is commanded by the Lord not to be done is sin.
Lev 6:2 ,“If any one sins and commits a breach of faith against the Lord by deceiving his neighbor in a matter of deposit or security, or through robbery, or if he has oppressed his neighbor”
Note: Breach of faith in Hebrew is ma`alwhich means unfaithful or treacherous act, trespass, treachery; – it occurs 29 times in the Old Testament. To deceive in Hebrew is kachashwhich means to lie, belie, deal falsely, act deceptively; – it occurs 22 times in the Old Testament. Little do people know that deceiving one’s neighbor in a matter of deposit or security commits a breach of faith against the Lord. Wall Street bankers, mortgage and insurance executives, etc. deceived and robbed the public by creating the American economic and financial crisis committed a breach of faith against the Lord. They may escape the kangaroo court of man, but they cannot escape the judgment of God.
Lev 19:17, “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason with your neighbor, lest you bear sin because of him.”
Note: Hatred is a sin. Hate in Hebrew in sane’which occurs about 146 times in the Old Testament. In this verse sin in Hebrew is chet’which means fault, guilt for sin, penalty of sin; – it occurs about 33 times in the Old Testament.
Recently, blacks and whites commit crime of hatred against Asian Americans without cause or reason. I witnessed on TV a black young man pushed an old Asian American from behind so hard that he fell to the ground and died later. I also watched on TV a big black man trampled and stamped on the small Asian woman’s head and body without cause and reason, while another big black man watching behind the glass door of another store and started closing the glass door. I watched the blacks robbed an Asian store, etc. I had also watched the two most violent black riots and looting and killings in the history of Los Angeles or America.
Lev 24:15 , “And say to the people of Israel: Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin.”
Note: Curse in Hebrew is qalal which means to make despicable, treat with contempt, bring contempt or dishonor, despise; – it occurs about 82 times in the Old Testament. Cursing God is a sin. Sin in this verse is used as the same word in Lev 19:17. It does not mean the sin of hating your brother is the same sin of cursing God. The sin of cursing God is much greater than the sin of hating your brother.
Deu 9:18 , “Then I lay prostrate before the Lord as before, forty days and forty nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all the sin which you had committed, in doing what was evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.”
Note: Sin in this Scripture is the same sin used in Gen 4:7 . Sin is doing what is evil in the sight of the Lord. Western nations and mass media try to make homosexuality and same-sex marriage acceptable and respectable, but in the sight of God, homosexuality or same-sex marriage is evil.
Evil is in Hebrew is ra`which means wicked, bad, disagreeable, malignant, unpleasant; – it occurs about 663 times in the Old Testament.
Deu 20:18 , “That they may not teach you to do according to all their abominable practices which they have done in the service of their gods, and so to sin against the Lord your God.”
Note: Abominable in Hebrew is tow`ebahwhich means disgusting, impure and illicit, wicked, unethical; – it occurs about 117 times in the Old Testament. Homosexuality was one of the abominable practices of ancient peoples which they had done in the service of their gods. Homosexuality is an abominable practice in the sight of God and it sins against the Lord your God.
2Pe 2:14 , “They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have a heart trained in greed. Accursed children!”
Note: Sin is insatiable that explains greed, lust, obsession with power, and many evil things in the world. There is no better description of those Wall Street operatives who created the economic and financial crisis; they have a heart trained in greed. Wall Street has a language so cryptic that even an educated person might not understand, and a system so sophisticated that only insiders understand and you are not even aware when you are defrauded. Only the trained insiders know the facts. The pages and pages of fraudulent billings manufactured by corrupt doctors and hospitals tell the shocking fact that sin is insatiable. Greed is insatiable–a bottomless pit.
The evil trinity of Washington, Wall Street and Hollywood demonstrates the wrong way of life and the path to death and destruction. The love of money, power and sex drives people mad and blinds their eyes, and deadens their conscience.
There is absolutely no evidence that China or Russia wants to destroy the United States of America. There is plenty of evidence that the United States wants to destroy China and Russia without cause. Worse, there are plenty of facts and proofs that America is committing suicide. Arnold Joseph Toynbee said, “Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder. ” The land of Abraham Lincoln, who advocated a government of the people, by the people and for the people has been led astray in recent years at an alarming speed and turned into a government of special interests, by special interests and for special interests. The Bible says, “ Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. ” (Pro 14:34) I am an American; I do not want my country to be destroyed.
The New Testament lists many types of sin:
Jesus says, Mat 15:18-19, “But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and those things defile the person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, acts of adultery, other immoral sexual acts, thefts, false testimonies, and slanderous statements.”
I knew a head nurse who often stole expensive instruments from the hospital. A man told me he quitted the Army because he could not stand watching soldiers stealing.
Jhn 3:5, “Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.”
1Co 6:8-10, “On the contrary, you yourselves do wrong and defraud. And this to your brothers and sisters! Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor
the greedy, nor those habitually drunk, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the Kingdom of God.”
Many do not know habitually drunk people will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Many drunkards drive and kill people. In America there are many white and black supervisors who are verbal abusers.
Rom 1:29-32, “people having been filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, and evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent,arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unfeeling, and unmerciful; and though they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.”
There are no people like Western leaders, politicians, and Western mainstream media who are evil, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossips, slanders, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, without understanding, untrustworthy, unfeeling, and unmerciful.
Rev 22:15, “Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral persons, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.”
Today there are no persons like Western leaders and politicians and Western mainstream media who love and practice lying.
Billy Graham was right is this, “Self-centered indulgence, pride and a lack of shame over sin are now emblems of the American lifestyle.“
By now every honest person must admit he/she is a sinner. Just use the Ten Commandments to test yourself. All have sinned, and all will die.
Any violation of the Ten Commandment is sin.
I agree with John Bunyan who said, “One leak will sink a ship: and one sin will destroy a sinner.”
I also agree with Desiderius Erasmus who said, “Great eagerness in the pursuit of wealth, pleasure, or honor, cannot exist without sin. “
II. DIE IN SINS
Jesus says, Jhn 8:24, “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins.”
You do not have to be guilty of murder or worst, unless you believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world, you will die in your sins.
Think about warmongers and terrorists!
Rom 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
All have sinned, and all mankind always falls short of the glory of God.
Rom 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Sin has wages. Sin has consequences. The wages of sin is death.
1Co 15:21, “For since by a man death came, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.”
By Adam death came to all mankind.
1Co 15:22, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.”
In Adam all mankind dies, no matter at what age. Methuselah lived 969 years and died.
An atheist was wrong when he said, “Death is the solution to all problems. No man – no problem.”
Death is the beginning of eternal suffering for the wicked in Hell.
William Ross Wallace said something sad but true, “Every man dies – not every man really lives.”
Some philosopher was wrong who said, “After your death, you will be what you were before your birth.” The Bible says, Heb 9:27, “And just as it is destined for people to die once, and after this comes judgment.” After death, then comes judgment. This is the destiny of every person. It is true, death will not miss anyone. God will judge you for every thought, every word, and every deed you have done in this life. No one can lie to God, for God has the records. God can even play back to refresh your mind about your every thought, every word and every deed you committed in this world. No one can escape the judgment of God. I recall there was a black man in Los Angeles who killed his wife and a white man, because he had the dream team of lawyers, he was acquitted. No one will be acquitted in the judgment of God. Just as there will be no lawyers, there will be also no jury. John Maynard has well said, “In the long run, we are all dead.”
1Ti 6:7, “For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it, either.”
The rich and powerful in the world are most afraid of death because they have a lot of things, money, properties, valuables, fancy cars, fashionable clothes, etc.
III. NO OTHER NAME
Act 3:6-9, “But Peter said, “I do not have silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!” And grasping him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk; and he entered the Temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God.”
Act 4:10, “let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the Name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this Name this man stands here before you in good health.”
The Jews mistakenly crucified Jesus Christ, but God raised Him from the dead. Peter healed a beggar at the Temple who was unable to walk from birth. Peter made sure the people of Israel know that by the Name of Jesus Christ this man stands here before the people in good health.
Act 4:12, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under Heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.”
Salvation is only in Jesus Christ. For there is no other name under Heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved. You can only be saved by the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus declares to the whole world, Jhn 14:6, “Jesus said to him, “I AM the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”
There is no other way to God. This is the Truth. To believe in Jesus Christ is to have life, eternal life.
A former American president was so wrong about entering Heave. He said he will say to Peter that he tried to be a good man. The former American president was wrong that Peter is not the person who keeps the gate of Heaven. No one is good enough to enter Heaven by his own good deeds. To qualify to enter the Kingdom of Heaven you must have the Spirit of Christ living in you, and your name must be written in the Book of Life. If you are not saved by grace through Jesus Christ on earth, when you die you go to Hell, not Heaven. It is not Peter, Mary, Angel, Apostle, Prophet, etc. who can save you.
Luk 24:47, “and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”
The Gospel of Truth is preached all over the world in the name of Jesus Christ. Repentance for forgiveness of sins are proclaimed in the name of Jesus Christ to all the nations.
Act 4:12, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under Heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.”
It is hoped you do not miss this greatest message: There is salvation in no one else. ONLY Jesus Christ can save you. ONLY the name of Jesus Christ under Heaven that has been given among mankind by WHICH we must be saved!
IV. SALVATION OF GOD
The way of salvation is not the way of man. The way of salvation is the way of God. The way of salvation involves Redemption, Reconciliation, Justification, Regeneration, Sanctification, and Glorification.
From Abraham to Old Testament prophets, they all waited for the salvation of God.
Luk 2:25-38, “And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he
took Him in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
“Now, Lord, You are letting Your bond-servant depart in peace, according to Your Word;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation, Which You have prepared in the presence of all the peoples: A light for revelation for the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. And Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and as a sign to be opposed—
and a sword will pierce your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the
age of eighty-four. She did not leave the Temple grounds, serving night and day with fasts and prayers. And at that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak about Him to all those who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”
Salvation was not an initiative of mankind. Mankind cannot save itself. When Jesus was born, hope was born that sinners may be saved and receive the eternal life. When the Messiah came, redemption began.
Psa 3:8, “Salvation belongs to the LORD; May Your blessing be upon Your people! Selah”
I agree with Charles Spurgeon who said, “ You will find all true theology summed up in these two short sentences: Salvation is all of the grace of God. Damnation is all of the will of man.”
Although I do not know Max Lucado, I agree with what he said: “The purpose of the Bible is simply to proclaim God’s plan to save His children. It asserts that man is lost and needs to be saved. And it communicates the message that Jesus is the God in the flesh sent to save His children.”
I agree with A. W. Tozer who said, “Jesus is not one of many ways to approach God, nor is He the best of several ways; He is the only way.”
“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.”
Truth is offensive and exclusive. No other religions can save mankind from sins, death, and Hell.
I do not know David Jeremiah, but I agree with what he said, “Saving us is the greatest and most concrete demonstration of God’s love, the definitive display of His grace throughout time and eternity.”
Martin Luther was wonderful to have said, “Is it not wonderful news to believe that salvation lies outside ourselves?” Salvation of God not only lies outside ourselves, outside the church, outside Mary, outside the Apostles, outside the angels, outside science and philosophy.
Rom 3:24, “being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”
What is the redemption which is in Christ Jesus?
V. REDEMPTION
Rom 5:8-9, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.”
The true meaning of Redemption is simply this:
Christ died for us.
Eph 1:7, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace.”
In Christ we have redemption through His blood. Salvation is free, but redemption is very costly. Redemption in Greek is apolytrōsiswhich means deliverance; liberation procured by the payment of a ransom (Strong’s Concordance); letting one go free on receiving the price; deliverance effected through the death of Christ from the retributive wrath of a holy God and the merited penalty of sin (Strong’s Concordance); the act of exchanging something; – which occurs 10 times in the New Testament.
Mar 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Ransom in Greek is lytronwhich means the price for redeeming; the penalty for sins; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament.
Redemption comes through the cross and the crucifixion of Christ. Jesus Christ shed His blood to pay a ransom for sinners. Some had it wrong, the ransom was not paid to the devil; the ransom was paid to God. For the wages of sin is death.
1Pe 2:24, “and He Himself brought our sins in His body up on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds you were healed.”
Oh, how the Redeemer suffered for our sins! Jesus Christ Himself brought our sins in His body up on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; and His wounds we were healed.
1Pe 3:18, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the Righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.”
To accomplish redemption, Christ also suffered once for our sins, the Righteous for the unrighteous, and by His blood brought us to God. Christ was put to death in the body and rose again the third day by the power of God for our justification. So on the cross, Christ cried out, Jhn 19:30, “Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished! And He bowed His bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”
In Redemption, Christ substituted for us, the Righteous for the unrighteous. Nothing can substitute for Christ.
I agree with John Wycliffe who said, “Trust wholly in Christ; rely altogether on His sufferings; beware of seeking to be justified in any other way than by His righteousness. Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ is sufficient for salvation. There must be atonement made for sin according to the righteousness of God. The person to make this atonement must be God and man. “
VI. RECONCILIATION
Rom 5:10-11, “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. And not only this, but we also celebrate in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”
Since Jesus paid His blood as a ransom and sacrificed His life for our sins, we are reconciled to God. We are saved by His life, to be given the right to become the children of God. To reconcile in Greek is
katallassōwhich means to return into favor with; to become friendly again; – which occurs 6 times in the New Testament.
Col 1:20-23, “and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in Heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And although you were previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds, yet He
has now reconciled you in His body of flesh through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—
if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not shifting 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.”
Through reconciliation, Jesus Christ made right of everything and made peace with God on our behalf.
Eph 2:16-19, “and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility.
And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for
through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household.”
Christians of all generations are fellow citizens with the saints, and they are of God’s household because they are children of God.
VII. JUSTIFICATION
Rom 4:25, “He who was delivered over because of our wrongdoings, and was raised because of our justification.”
Jesus Christ was delivered to be crucified by godless men. Justification in Greek isdikaiōsiswhich means abjuring to be righteous; the act of God declaring men free from guilt and acceptable to Him (Strong’s Concordance); acquittal for Christ’s sake; vindication; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Because of our wrongdoings or sins that Jesus Christ died for us. Jesus was the Righteous for the unrighteous. Jesus Christ died for our sins, and He was raised by the power of God for our justification.
Act 2:22-24, “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, the Man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which
God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—this Man, delivered
over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge
of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised
Him from the dead, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.”
Jesus Christ performed miracles and wonders and signs as attested by God. Jesus Christ dies on the cross for sinners by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God. God raised Jesus Christ from the dead for our justification.
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 offense, resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the gracious gift arose from many offenses, resulting in justification.”
The justification of believers is the gracious gift of God.
Rom 5:18, “So then, as through one offense the result was condemnation to all mankind, so also through one act of righteousness the result was justification of life to all mankind.”
Because of the righteous act of Jesus Christ in obedience even to death on the cross, God offers justification of life to all mankind who believes in the name of Jesus Christ.
So justification is not what you can do it for yourself, it is what Jesus Christ has done for you and me on the cross so that we may be justified before God.
Rom 4:5-6, “And to the one who does not work but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works.”
If you study theologies, you will discover theologians tend to make explanations of theology abstruse, arduous, rigorous, and onerous to understand. The Word of God is plain and clear. Justification means God counts the one who does not work but believes in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior as righteous. God counts the faith of believers as righteousness as if they had never committed sin. That is why the Gospel is good news.
VIII. REGENERATION
Tit 3:5, “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.”
No man can on the basis of his deeds of righteousness can bring about regeneration. Jesus Christ saves believers in accordance with the mercy of God, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit. It is only through the washing of our sins by the blood of Jesus and the renewing by the Holy Spirit that believers receive the new life.
Regeneration is the new birth, to be born again.
Jhn 3:3, “Jesus responded and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
You cannot make yourself “born again.” No one and nothing can make you “born again.” What is born of flesh is flesh, what is born of the Spirit is Spirit.
Regeneration is a part of the salvation of God.
1Pe 1:23, “for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring Word of God.”
The Word of God says that you repent and believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Savior of the world. You accept the Word of Truth and the Holy Spirit enters into your heart and renews and gives you a new life. That is regeneration. The Word of God and the Holy Spirit make the believer born again. Regeneration is an instant process just like a baby is born.
IX. SANCTIFICATION
Many are confused with the doctrine of sanctification. It is hoped this explanation will put you at peace and give you rest.
Every Christian or saved person his/her position is once and forever perfectly sanctified in Christ. Act 26:18, “to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me” Every saved Christian God has opened their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they already received forgiveness of sins and an inheritance of eternal life in Heaven among those who have been sanctified by faith in Christ. This is done once and for all. To be sanctified by faith in Christ means 1Co 6:11, “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” Christians have been washed by the blood of Jesus and sanctified and justified in the name of Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
Heb 9:22, “And almost all things are cleansed with blood, according to the Law, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Christians obtained the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus.
Heb 10:10, “By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.”
Christians have been sanctified through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross once for all time. The salvation is accomplished forever.
Heb 10:14, “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”
By one offering Jesus Christ has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. The position of Christians in Christ is perfect sanctification for all time.
But the condition of Christians in this stained world is not perfect. Although the position of Christians in Christ is perfect, their condition in the world is not. For that reason, Rom 6:19, “I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented the parts of your body as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your body’s parts as slaves to righteousness, resulting in resulting in sanctification.”
So Christians daily need to be sanctified by the Word of God, by confession of sins and prayer, and by presenting our body as slaves to righteousness.
1Th 4:3, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality.”
2Th 2:13, “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”
It is impossible for Christians to have perfection in this world, 1Co 13:10, “but when the Perfect comes, the partial will be done away with.”
Heb 12:23, “to the general assembly and Church of the firstborn who are enrolled in Heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect.”
Christians will be made perfect in Heaven.
Even Apostle Paul was not perfect when he was on earth. No Christians can compare themselves with Paul. Apostle Paul set an example for all Christians to copy: Phl 3:12-16, “Not that I have already grasped it all or have already become perfect, but I press on if I may also take hold of that for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, all who are mature, let’s have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that to you as well;
however, let’s keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.”
Position sanctification is completed once and for all, but condition sanctification is on-going as long as a Christian lives on this world. Over the years I may have offended some by keeping that same standard, the Word of God.
X. GLORIFICATION
1Co 2:7, “But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glorification.”
Glorification or glory in Greek isdoxawhich means honor; praise; dignity; splendor; brightness; magnificence; excellence; preeminence; exalted state; distinction; – which occurs 168 times in the New Testament.
In the ages past there was a secret and hidden wisdom of God, God decreed before the ages that the children of God, that is believers in Jesus Christ will have ultimate glorification. Glorification is the last and ultimate process of salvation of God. Glorification involves at least the three major events: the second coming of Jesus Christ, the redemption of the Christian body, and the saints reign with Christ is the eternal Kingdom of Heaven.
1. Glorification involves the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Mat 24:30, “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory.”
The second coming of Jesus Christ will be the greatest event in the universe, it will be a visible event in the sky with power and great glory. In comparison you see the military parades of some nations with some power and glory. But those can never compare to the second coming of Jesus Christ with power and great glory. For one, the event will be universal, peoples of all nations can see the Son of God on the cloud of the sky. The tribes of the earth means the peoples of the world will mourn. Why? Because they know the judgment of God will fall on them and there is no escape.
Luk 21:27, “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
No one yet knows how to describe the power and great glory of the second coming of Jesus Christ. It will be the greatest parade in the universe.
Mar 8:38, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My Words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
No one has seen yet “the glory of God.”
Mat 17:2, “As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light.”
The face of Jesus shines like the sun.
Act 7:55, “But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into Heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.”
In the New Testament, it is written that Stephen saw the glory of God.
Rev 21:11, “having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very valuable stone, like a stone of crystal-clear jasper.” The Holy City is having the glory of God, her brilliance is like a very valuable stone.
Rev 21:23, “And the city has no need of the sun or or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.”
Imagine the Square City of 1,400 miles long, wide, and high has no need of the sun or the moon to shine on it. The glory of God illuminates the Holy City.
2Th 1:7-18, “and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us, when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels
in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God, and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”
One aspect of the power of the second coming of Jesus Christ is the fact the Lord Jesus will appear from Heaven with His mighty and holy angels in flaming fire. Our God is a consuming fire. Jesus will appear from Heaven in flaming fire, the fire that consumes His enemies.
1Th 3:13, “so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.”
The Bible tells us that holy and mighty angels and saints will accompany Jesus Christ at His second coming. We do not know exactly how many holy and mighty angels and His saints. I presume they will be so numerous that is without number.
2Th 1:10, “when He comes to be glorified among His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—because our testimony to you was believed.”
By the grace of God, I will be one among His saints to glorify Jesus Christ on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed.
2Pe 1:16-18, “For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such a declaration as this was made to Him by theMajestic Glory: “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased”— and we ourselves heard this declaration made from Heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.” Peter, John, James saw the glory of God when Jesus transfigured on the holy mountain.
2. Glorification involves Redemption of our body.
Rom 8:23, “And not only that, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, the redemption of our body.”
The redemption of our body only happens to those who have been saved, sanctified in Christ. The redemption of our body is as great and wonderful as the redemption of our soul.
Heb 10:22, “let’s approach God 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.”
Christians need to approach God with a sincere heart, clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed.
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 through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
Only those who have the Spirit of Christ dwells in them now on earth will have the redemption of the body when Jesus returns.
1Co 15:39-44, “All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of mankind, another flesh of animals, another flesh of birds, and another of fish.
There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 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.”
Human body is a natural body, characterized by perishableness, dishonor, and weakness. Dishonor is manifested by urination and defecation. It is fair to say a female body characterized by menstruation is even more difficult. The human body functions through many organs and systems. Human systems such as respiratory system, circulatory system, digestive system, reproductive system, nervous system, and muscular system. Each organ and system is liable to have a number of diseases.
The ABC of diseases are appalling, just mention a few:
The unfortunate diseases of patients are the great fortunes of corrupt doctors, dentists, hospital owners, drug and insurance companies, labs and medical supplies. The good news is the truth that the days are coming when Christians will be free of all diseases and sicknesses, hurt and pain. Because a spiritual body is imperishable, without dishonor and weakness, glorious, powerful and immortal.
The good news is in the Kingdom of Heaven the fact that medicine, medical establishment, hospital, clinic, doctor, dentist, surgeon, radiologist, anesthesiologist, pharmacy, drug, test, treatment, medical supply, medical equipment, medical insurance, medical vocabulary and knowledge, etc., etc. will all disappear for good and for ever. The beauty and truth is the fact that children of God will never get sick, or have an accident, and they will never die.
3. Glorification involves Eternal Reign with Christ.
Exo 15:18, “The LORD shall reign forever and ever.”
The fact that the Lord will reign forever and ever is the predetermined plan of God for long ages past.
The Kingdom of Heaven is unprecedented and eternal in nature.
Mat 25:34, “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
The Kingdom that God prepared for His children was from the foundation of the world.
Rev 20:6, “Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.”
The Millennium Reign of Christ with the saints will begin as the Lord returns to the earth. Satan will be bound for a thousand years, so no evil will upset the Millennium of peace.
1Co 15:25, “For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.”
After the thousand years, the eternal Kingdom of Heaven will commence.
Rev 11:15, “Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”
Rev 11:17, “saying, We give You thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the One who is and who was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign.”
Rev 22:5, “And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illuminate them; and they will reign forever and ever.”
In the Kingdom of Heaven God will uphold justice and righteousness, love and joy, truth and holiness, peace and wisdom forever and ever.
Someone wrongly said, “God does not give us everything we want,…”
1Co 2:9, “but just as it is written: “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND WHICH HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HUMAN HEART, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPAREDFOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”
Although I am not rich, I have seen not a few treasures and palaces in the world although I do not own them. But nothing can compare with that God has prepared for those who love Him. Jesus says,
Jhn 14:1-3, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
“In My Father’s home there are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
I pity an old Chinese pastor who said that Heaven is not a place but a state of mind. My heart is never troubled about my mansion in our Father’s home. In fact I rejoice and believe the Holy City, New Jerusalem, is the greatest masterpiece of my God and Savior.
Imagine!
Rev 21:10-27, “So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from God.
It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal. The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. There were three gates on each side—east, north, south, and west. The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles. Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (according to the human standard used by the angel). The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”
Just mention one thing, the glory of God illuminates the Holy City. Have you ever seen the glory of God? This 1,400 thousand miles long, wide and high Holy City is the greatest thing Jesus Christ has prepared, and it will last for eternity and will never require repair or refurbish or remodel. In the Holy City, nothing evil or bad will happen. You walk on the street of gold will not have an accident. A son of God who flies like an angel will not fall or drop dead. For they will not die anymore. They will not get sick or having any physical problem. Their bodies are spiritual, glorious, immortal. They do not need to eat or drink. But they may have the fruit of life and drink the water of life. The eternal life is for every child of God to experience and explore new things for eternity. Have you ever thought of exploring the New Heavens?
Above all, God will dwell with His children. Where Jesus Christ is, there we will be also. No human imagination can enter the human heart!
Rev 21:5, “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.”
This is the beginning of eternity. Christians or children of God or those whose names are written in the Book of Life, will experience and explore new things for eternity.
IN CONCLUSION
There is nothing like the salvation of God is offered freely to all mankind. No matter who you are, you cannot escape trouble and tragedy in this life. Trouble and tragedy includes loneliness, anxiety, meaninglessness, inadequacy, despair and disappointment, ……. death. You have no ability to broaden and expand your life by simply dismissing the problems of existence. Buddha taught a life without desire or passion. Lao Tzi advocated the seeking of the way. Confucius taught the need for orderliness. No matter what, life does not offer a choice that you wish or suits your need. Trouble and tragedy will find you. False belief or superstition can only bring harm. There is no absolute perfection that man can aspire to, with or without love there will be disappointment and despair and desperation. Virtue although good is not a savior. Like it or not, firestorm, rainstorm, snowstorm and windstorm will fall upon every life. There is no escape, no refuge.
None in the world or of the world offers salvation.
When there is life there is hope. Now is the day of salvation, you may repent and believe in Jesus Christ.
Luk 15:10, “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” If you repent, there will be joy in the presence of the angels of God.
Heb 2:2-3, “For if the Word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every violation and act of disobedience received a just punishment, how will escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard.”
Now God has provided so great a salvation in Jesus Christ, how can you escape if you neglect to repent and believe in Jesus Christ?
COME NOW AND ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR.
To receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior is to receive the eternal life.
The world is worried about American unilateralism, including America’s world dictatorship and world domination.
A RESPONSE TO POMPEO’s POMPOUS SPEECH AT THE NIXON LIBRARY.
1. Pompeo is a warmonger, and a true betrayer of the peace policy of President Richard Nixon.
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 former 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. Who are responsible for making America the most hated nation on earth. Why Japanese citizens do not want America to have military bases in Japan? Why Koreans do not want American military bases in Korea? Why Germany said No to America?
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 opposes American hegemony, only followed by 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 and terrorism in Hong Kong is a shining scene, but chaos and terrorism 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, Canada, Australia, 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 for 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. Do Americans want an Imperial America or a respected Republic?
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 and Australian 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 and Australian politicians about the so-called China virus, China threat, etc.
8. With boldness I predicted 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 and distressed with the wrong national policies, black lies, special interests that dominate America, incompetent leadership and dismal failures of the incumbent. What nations want to follow America except Japan, Australia, etc. which have their ulterior motive?
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.
10. The West has enjoyed power and wealth for the last 500 years. The whole world knows that Western democracy and freedom are big lies. What the United States and its allies are most afraid of is soon China will become the world number one economy and the Chinese citizens continuously enjoy so many rights and privileges, the world will naturally think the American model of government is a dismal failure, and that the Chinese model of government is the apparent great success that the whole world can see before their eyes. Consequently, the new world order has peacefully overthrown the Western supremacy and begun a new age where each nation big or small may decide which model they want to adopt and which system of government they feel comfortable to live under. The days of Western aggression and domination are over!!!
They were not “immigration raids” in Los Angeles, they were and they are ”unlawful migration raids.” You see there are evil forces conspiring to destroy America from within. They are flying foreign flags. California governor and Los Angeles mayor are on the wrong side of history. I have lived through two most horrible Los Angeles black riots. Unlawful migrants are not immigrants.
Children born to illegal aliens although in America are not American citizens. Latino, Mexican, Black illegal aliens must be deported without further delay. Protesters and labor unions are not patriotic Americans. Enforecement of the law is not repression. Unlawful migrants are criminals who do not have any right, do not deserve any humanitarian aid. The only right is to deport 45 million illegal aliens already in America right away. To hire or hide illegal aliens are felony. Most of them are on welfare; their names and addresses can be checked on the Welfare Department.
There is no hope for the world because what should be done is not done:
1.For all war crimes and terrorist acts, Putin failed to annihilate Ukraine and execute its nincompoop and left Ukraine desolate and never be rebuilt. NATO & EU be aslo abolished.
2.The chiefs of UN & WHO and all high-paid officials must be replaced, be reformed in a year.
3.Terrorists Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis must be destroyed FOR GOOD.
4.The nuclear facilities of Iran must be demolished for good. Do not give a breathing space. Aim at total annihilation so that Iran cannot retaliate.
5.Palestinians must be evacuated from Jewish lands and resettle in Arab lands to build a Palestinian state and make living on their own.
6. Undeveloped nations and peoples who do nothing to help themselves must be left to gut and rot.
7.The USA must give up its empire, world domination.
World media portrays Palestinians as victims in struggle. The world believes in a lie! The truth is the fact Palestinians were Arabs who surreptitiously moved into Palestine without pay during the British colonial rule. They bred like rabbits and occupied the Jewish lands. The Palestinian authority is not a state, and misleads the Palestinians to a path of destruction. Palestinians are irrational, bad, irresponsible, unmotivated and useless people. They would rather be classified as refugees so that they can get everything free through international aid, they would not go to Arab lands to build its own Palestinian state and make a life of their own.
Any country who shares destiny with corrupt countries will certainly come to RUIN!!!
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 refrerendum. America is ruined by dark and evil forces.
Heroes of all races who sacrified 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 sacrified their lives in the war against Japanese aggression and atrocities must always be honored and remembered. The Chinse 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 Japanse aggression and atrocities of killing 35 million innocent Chinese without remorse or reparations. UN overappointed unqualified blacks and media have given too much covergage 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 orphanes. 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 reognized 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, Hezebolla, 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. Ukranians 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, overappointed 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, voordoism.
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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If terrorists Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis are destroyed, and Palestinians expatriated and resettled in Arab lands, the conflict of Palestine and Israel will be no more. If Iran nuclear facilities are destroyed, Iran will be no more threat to the world. If the Ukrainian nincompoop is executed for his war crime, corruption and abuse of power, the Ukraine and Russia conflict will be gone. If the traitorous leaders of People Progressive Party are executed, Taiwan will reunify with China at once.
What the heck, won’t it wonderful if all nations and peoples seek peace and justice? The Bible gives one reason why not, 1Jo 5:19, “We know that we are of God, andthat the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”
Evil is like fire will destroy the nation and peoples. When preferential treatment is given to a certain race, all races suffer discrimination. Rejection of unqualified and undisciplined black employees and discharge because poor performance are not racial discrimination. Affirmative Action is illegal and unconstitutional, it must be completely eliminated. Diversify has gone too far, it must be abandoned. Harvard is the richest university in the world; universities are not for education, they are for money and ideology. Student loans cannot default or be forgiven, they must get jobs to pay back. Universities can have academic freedom, and freedom of speech but no federal funding. There are too many parasites who live on government funds; no subsidy of any business or contracts. Illegal aliens are unlawful criminals, they have no civil right, human right and do not deserve humanitarian aid. They cannot be on welfare. They deserve only to be deported without payment. All races must compete on an equal footing. How is there any hope for the ugliest, darkest, laziest and useless people who only eat and drink and produce many children they cannot support? Why EU and NATO support the evil and corrupt Ukraine nincompoop and prolong the war? America aids support evil.
1Jo 2:17-18, “The world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever. Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.”
“As an American by nationality” I have to do my best to warn my fellow Americans:
1. America is committing suicide by failing to deport 45 million illegal aliens already residing in America, most of them are on welfare; failing to deter and prevent hordes of unlawful migrants to enter the United States. America needs to punish Mexico who is the conduit for illegal migrants to enter America. Unlawful migrants are criminals who do not have any right, civil or humanitarian.
2. America is committing suicide WITH large budget deficits of 1.9 trillion (2025) and national debt of 36.2 trillion (2025). Wealth and power are in the hands of leaders and politicians, the two parties, courts, the military, bureaucrats, and vested interests. Watch out the global demonstrators who oppose federal cuts, but endorse debt and deficits, waste and fraud in the government.
3. America is committing suicide by media promoting the wrong cultural values, lewdness, violence and unwholesome behavior; over representing and over employing blacks. Jobs must be earned, they cannot be given. If a journalist by accident received classified information, he should not and would not publish it because he/she is patriotic. If classified information is published, the journalist is a traitor.
4. America is committing suicide by not making the American English the only official language in America.
5. America is committing suicide by unnecessarily making Russia and China enemies and rivals.
6. America is committing suicide by failing to disregard pathetic EU (including Britain, Australia, Canada); dismiss NATO & QUAD; and discard Ukraine, Phillippines, Türkiye, Japan, South Korea, South Africa and Taiwan.
7. America is committing suicide by being an empire to dominate the world instead of seeking a just and lasting peace for the world as President Richard Nixon did.
8. America is committing suicide by letting the U.S. Health Care the most costly in the world, by letting doctors, dentists, hospital owners, drug and insurance companies, hospital and medical suppliers to defraud and overcharge patients with indemnity.
9. America is committing suicide by having a diet which produces an increasing large population of overweight people.
10. IRS can cut its employees 2/3 by simple change of policy and procedure. Henceforth, there will be no deductions, exemptions, expenses, number of dependents for individual taxpayers or business corporations. They will not have to pay for CPA or tax consultant.
$50,000 income and Under $50,000 is tax free.
$60,000 to $1 million pay 5%.
$1 million $100,000 to $10 million pay 10%.
$10 million $100,000 to $20 million pay 20%.
$20 million $100,000 to $40 million pay 40%.
$40 million $100,000 to $50 million pay 50%.
$50 million $100,000 to $1 billion pay 80%.
$1 billion $100,000 and above pay 90%.
11. America is committing suicide by using tariffs as weapons.
12. It is in the self-interest of America to help Israel to destroy terrorists Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthis. All Palestinians must be evacuated from Gaza, etc. the Jewish landand relocate permanently in Arab lands to build their Palestinian state. The aim of Israel is not to defeat Hamas, but to destroy Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthis. Hamas should never be allowed to return to Gaza; all Palestinians must be instructed by Palestinian Authority, UN, WHO, ALL ARAB-ISLAMIC-BLACK nations to evacuate from Jewish land and settle in Arab lands to build their Palestinian state.
If China space program can create space vehicles loaded with nuclear weapons, on earth by a press of button, can target and annihilate any hostile nations and peoples in less than half an hour — then China is free indeed — no nation can threaten China anymore. Then China can deal with corruption, organized crime, abuse of power, fraud, fake news, and dirty toilets effectively. There are dark and evil forces inside China who want to destroy China. They are the organized criminals who must be executed. China must beware of all foreign countries who pay lip service to “one China” policy, actually they are coy about seeking “financial support” from China on everything so that their leaders can practice “official corruption”; and their peoples can sing and dance, play games and golf, eat and drink beer, enjoy sex and produce many children they cannot support. Any nation who shares destiny with these useless countries will come to ruin!!!
“As a Chinese by race”, I am doing my best in sincerity to suggest strategy to the land of my ancestors:
1. China’s modernization can succeed by demanding manufacturers to produce only quality products; by protecting the environment and by increasing the standard of living for the people including people on wheel chair. China construction machinery is a good example of China’s modernization. The stupidity is to program robots to engage in fighting like boxing.
2. China’s modernization can succeed by stopping all foreign aid to help the China’s poor first, by reducing debt and deficits to do the following strategic projects:
3. China needs to use AI in all technologies including manufacturing, industry, transportation, navigation, logistics, agriculture, and modernizing toilet facilities.
4. China needs to train 5 million doctors, dentists, nurses, teachers, professors, scientists, and technicians in the next 5 years.
5. China needs to eliminate corruption, organized crime, harmful fake news,counterfeit money, fraud by execution of the culprits.
6. China needs to repair the Great Wall, conquer the deserts, dust storms, natural and man-made disasters.
7. Chinese TV and movies need to promote cultural values, morality, responsibility and integrity.
8. China’s troops should never be sent under UN’s peace-keeping force to countries habitually having conflicts and civil wars –to die for nothing.
9. Talking is useless: China needs to liberate Taiwan now by force, and execute traitorous leaders of People’s Progressive Party in public.
10. China needs to rebuild Yuan Ming Garden which was burned down and looted by the allied 8-nation troops. They must pay compensation through diplomacy now or by military force later.
11. Pay for all costs and reward financially women who give births.
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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. 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. Never again will China be oppressed. I am sure the militant Japan is deterred, and no nation on earth would dare to attack China again. 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 refrerendum. America is ruined by dark and evil forces.
Heroes of all races who sacrified 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 sacrified their lives in the war against Japanese aggression and atrocities must always be honored and remembered. The Chinse 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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Neither let us commit fornication … – The case referred to here was that of the licentious contact with the daughters of Moab, referred to in
And fell in one day – Were slain for their sin by the plague that prevailed.
Three and twenty thousand – The Hebrew text in Numbers 25:9, is twenty-four thousand. In order to reconcile these statements, it may be observed that perhaps 23,000 fell directly by the plague, and 1,000 were slain by Phinehas and his companions (Grotius); or it may be that the number was between 23,000 and 24,000, and it might be expressed in round numbers by either – Macknight. At all events, Paul has not exceeded the truth. There were at least 23,000 that fell, though there might have been more. The probable supposition is, that the 23,000 fell immediately by the hand of God in the plague, and the other thousand by the judges; and as Paul’s design was particularly to mention the proofs of the immediate divine displeasure, he refers only to those who fell by that, in illustration of his subject – There was a particular reason for this caution in respect to licentiousness:
(1) It was common among all idolaters; and Paul in cautioning them against idolatry, would naturally warn them of this danger.
(2) it was common at Corinth. It was the prevalent vice there. To “Corinthianize” was a term synonymous among the ancients with licentiousness.
(3) so common was this at Corinth, that, as we have seen (see the introduction), not less than 1,000 prostitutes were supported in a single temple there; and the city was visited by vast multitudes of foreigners, among other reasons on account of its facilities for this sin. Christians, therefore, were in a special manner exposed to it; and hence, the anxiety of the apostle to warn them against it.”
I had been warned by people that they did not like the way I preached against sexual sins. Since I do not get pay for doing it, why should I do it anyway? A sleepless night of deliberation forced me to do it.
Eze 33:7, “Now as for you, son of man, I have appointed you as a
watchman for the house of Israel; so you will hear a message from My mouth and give them a warning from Me.”
Eze 3:18-19, “When I say to the wicked, ‘You will certainly die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way so that he may live, that wicked person shall die for wrongdoing, but his blood I will require from your hand. However if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die for wrongdoing, but you have saved yourself.”
The Word of God says not only I clear myself from the responsibility, I have saved myself.
Verse 18. – Thou givest him not warning, etc. The word, as in the parallels already referral to, is characteristic of Ezekiel, almost indeed, peculiar to him. Psalm 19:11 may be noted as another instance of its use. When the watchman saw danger coming, he was to blow the trumpet (Ezekiel 33:3-6). The prophet was to speak his warnings. Thou shalt surely die; literally, dying thou shalt die. Were the words of Genesis 2:17 in the prophet’s mind? To save his life; literally, for his life, or that he may live. Shall die in his iniquity. Do the words refer only to physical death coming as the punishment of iniquity? or do they point onward further to the judgment that follows death, the loss of the inheritance of eternal life which belongs to those whose names are written in the book of life? Looking to the tremendous responsibility implied in the words, we can hardly, I think, in spite of the questions which have been raised as to the belief of the Hebrews in the immortality of the soul, hesitate to accept the latter meaning. Ezekiel anticipates the teaching of Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 13:8, if, indeed, that meaning was not already familiar to him in Exodus 32:32, 33. For “in” his iniquity we may, perhaps, read “because of.” The negligence of the watchman does not avail to procure a full pardon for the evil doer. The degree in which it may extenuate his guilt depends on conditions known to God, but not to us. In any case, as in our Lord’s words (Luke 12:47, 48), a man’s knowledge and opportunities are the measure of his responsibility. But the unfaithful watchman has his responsibility. It is as though the blood of the sinner had been shed. His guilt may be described in the same words as that of Cain (Genesis 9:5). Compare St. Paul’s words in Acts 18:6 and Acts 20:26 as echoes of Ezekiel’s thought. Ezekiel 3:18.”
America claims to be a Christian nation, many pastors and preachers do not preach against sexual immorality. There was a Black preacher who preached a false gospel and he was certified by FBI as an immoral person. The Blacks covered up the sin of their preachers. A White Christian lady told me white churches do the same. America has become a defiled land. Why they are not doing it? They lose members of the congregation by doing it. The churches who do not preach against sexual sins prosper, their silence constitutes a license. It is sad that peole who sing in the choir and participate in youth ministry commit sexual immorality. Many church members claim ignorance of what is fornication or what is adultery. If you read through this article, you no longer can claim ignorance. Fornication is sexual intercourse committed by unmarried persons. Adultery is sexual intercourse committed by married persons with persons who are not their spouses. Jesus adds that anyone who marries or has sex with a divorced person has committed adultery. Mat 5:32, “but I
say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” In America, millions of young people commit fornication at their campuses or their homes. Parents become concerned only when the girl gets pregnant. Men who commits sexual immorality do not get pregnant. Consequently millions of abortions had been done, only God knows. A white young woman confessed that she had sex with her brother so that they do not need to pay. So campuses and homes have become brothels, the only difference is the fact they do not need to pay.
“Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. I AM the LORD your God. So do not act like the people in Egypt, where you used to live, or like the people of Canaan, where I am taking you. You must not imitate their way of life. You must obey all my regulations and be careful to obey my decrees, for I am the LORD your God. If you obey my decrees and my regulations, you will find life through them. I AM the LORD.
“You must never have sexual relations with a close relative, for I AM the LORD.
“Do not violate your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; you must not have sexual relations with her.
“Do not have sexual relations with any of your father’s wives, for this would violate your father.
“Do not have sexual relations with your sister or half sister, whether she is your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she was born into your household or someone else’s.
“Do not have sexual relations with your granddaughter, whether she is your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, for this would violate yourself. “Do not have sexual relations with your stepsister, the daughter of any of your father’s wives, for she is your sister.
“Do not have sexual relations with your father’s sister, for she is your father’s close relative.
“Do not have sexual relations with your mother’s sister, for she is your mother’s close relative.
“Do not violate your uncle, your father’s brother, by having sexual relations with his wife, for she is your aunt.
“Do not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law; she is your son’s wife, so you must not have sexual relations with her.
“Do not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife, for this would violate your brother.
“Do not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter. And do not take her granddaughter, whether her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter, and have sexual relations with her. They are close relatives, and this would be a wicked act.
“While your wife is living, do not marry her sister and have sexual relations with her, for they would be rivals.
“Do not have sexual relations with a woman during her period of menstrual impurity.
“Do not defile yourself by having sexual intercourse with your neighbor’s wife.
“Do not permit any of your children to be offered as a sacrifice to Molech, for you must not bring shame on the name of your God. I AM the LORD.
“Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin.
“A man must not defile himself by having sex with an animal. And a woman must not offer herself to a male animal to have intercourse with it. This is a perverse act.
“Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, for the people I am driving out before you have defiled themselves in all these ways.
Because the entire land has become defiled, I am punishing the people who live there. I will cause the land to vomit them out.
You must obey all My decrees and regulations. You must not commit any of these detestable sins. This applies both to native-born Israelites and to the foreigners living among you.
“All these detestable activities are practiced by the people of the land where I am taking you, and this is how the land has become defiled.
So do not defile the land and give it a reason to vomit you out, as it will vomit out the people who live there now.
Whoever commits any of these detestable sins will be cut off from the community of Israel.
So obey my instructions, and do not defile yourselves by committing any of these detestable practices that were committed by the people who lived in the land before you. I AM the LORD your God.”
1. Purity in those connected through the relationship of parent and child. The first Pentad: Kinship of the first degree, Leviticus 18:6-10. The second Pentad: Kinship of the second degree, Leviticus 18:11-15. SECTION III. CHAPTER 18. MORAL UNCLEANNESS AND ITS PUNISHMENT. This being the subject of the three following chapters (chapters 18-20), they naturally form a sequence to chapters 11-17, which have dealt with ceremonial uncleanness and its purification. It is a remarkable thing that, except by implication in connection with the sin offerings and the trespass offerings and the ceremonies of the Day of Atonement, there has not yet been a single moral precept, as such, in the Book of Leviticus, and there has been very little recognition of sin as distinct from pollution. All has been ceremonial. But the ceremonial is typical of the moral, and from the consideration of ceremonial uncleanness and its remedy, we now proceed to the consideration of moral uncleanness and its penalty. It is to be noticed too that, while the ensuing laws are commanded as the positive injunction of God (verses 2, 30), which of itself is sufficient to give them their authority and force, they are still founded, like the ceremonial prohibitions, upon the feelings of repugnance implanted in the mind of man. To enter into the marriage relation with near relatives is abhorrent to a sentiment in mankind so widely spread that it may be deemed to have been originally universal, and the same abhorrence is entertained towards other foul sins of lust. Ugliness, which creates disgust by its ugliness, symbolizes sin; immorality, which inspires abhorrence by its immoral character, proves itself thereby to be sin. The section deals first with sin in the marriage relation, next with sexual impurities connected with marriage, then with other cases of immorality, and lastly with the penalties inflicted on these sins in their character of crimes. Verses 1-5 form an introduction to the Hebrew code of prohibited degrees of marriage and of forbidden sins of lust. The formal and solemn declaration, I am the Lord your God, is made three times in these five verses. This places before the people the two thoughts: 1. That the Lord is holy, and they ought to be like him in holiness; 2. That the Lord has commanded holiness, and they ought to obey him by being holy. Because the Lord is their God, and they are his people, they are, negatively, to refrain from the vicious habits and lax customs prevalent in the land of Egypt wherein they dwelt, and in the land of Canaan whither they were going, the sensuality of which is indirectly condemned by the injunctions which command purity in contrast to their doings; and, positively, they are to keep God’s statutes, and his judgments, as laid down in the following code, which if a man do, he shall live in them. The latter clause is of special importance, because it is repeated in the same connection by Ezekiel (Ezekiel 20:11, 13, 21), and in the Levitical confession in the Book of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 9:29), and is quoted by St. Paul in a controversial sense (Romans 10:5; Galatians 3:12). Its full meaning is that by obedience to God’s commands man attains to a state of existence which alone deserves to be called true life – “the life which connects him with Jehovah through his obedience” (Clark). And this involves the further truth that disobedience results in death. Accordingly, St. Paul uses the text as being the testimony of the Law with regard to itself, that salvation by it is of works in contrast with faith. (Cf. Luke 10:28.) We have no evidence to tell us what were the doings of the land of Canaan in respect to the marriage relation, but this chapter is enough to show that the utmost laxity prevailed in it, and we may be sure that their religious rites, like those of Midian (Numbers 25), were penetrated with the spirit of licentiousness. With regard to the doings of the land of Egypt, we have fuller information. We know that among the Egyptians marriage with sisters and half-sisters was not only permissible, but that its propriety was justified by their religious beliefs, and practiced in the royal family (Died. Sic., 1:27; Die. Cass., 42). Other abominations condemned in this chapter (verse 23) also, as we know, existed there (Herod., 2:46), and if queens could be what in later times Cleopatra was, we may imagine the general dissoluteness of the people. Among Persians, Medes, Indians, Ethiopians and Assyrians, marriage with mothers and daughters was allowed, and from the time of Cambyses, marriage with a sister was regarded as lawful (Herod., 3:31). The Athenians and Spartans permitted marriage with half-sisters. All these concessions to lust, and ether unclean acts with which the heathen world was full (verse 22; Romans 1:27), were fallings away from the law of purity implanted in the heart of man and now renewed for the Hebrew people. Leviticus 18:1.”
It must be said that all God’s “decrees and regulations” written above not only apply to the Jews, the people of Israel, they also apply to the New Testment Christians, ALL BELIEVERS.
Mat 15:19, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, acts of adultery, other immoral sexual acts, thefts, false testimonies,
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,…. Of God, of Christ, of the Spirit, of fellow creatures, and of all sorts of wickedness. The thoughts of sin are evil, are to be hated, forsaken, and for which men are accountable to God. All wicked imaginations, carnal reasonings, lustful desires, and malicious contrivances, are here included; which take their rise from, and are devised, and forged, in the corrupt heart of man.
Murders; inveterate hatred of men’s persons, malice prepense, schemes to take away life, all angry and wrathful words, and actual effusion of man’s blood.
Adulteries; uncleanness committed between married persons, both in thought, and deed:
fornications; unlawful copulations of persons in a single state:
thefts; taking away from others by force or fraud, what is their right and property:
false witness: swearing falsely, or exhibiting a false testimony to the hurt of his neighbour, either his name, person, or estate:
blasphemies; evil speakings of God or men. To which Mark adds “covetousness”; a greedy and insatiable desire after the things of the world, or the neighbour’s goods: “wickedness”; doing hurt and mischief to fellow creatures: “deceit”; in words and actions, in trade and conversation: “lasciviousness”; all manner of uncleanness, and unnatural lusts: “an evil eye”; of envy and covetousness: the vitiosity, or corruption of nature, is, by the Jews (h), called “the evil eye”: “pride”; in heart and life, in dress and gesture; and “foolishness”; expressed in talk and conduct.”
1Co 5:9-11, “I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous,
or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.”
“But now.” In this Epistle. This shows that he had written a former letter.
I have written to you. – Above. I have designed to give this injunction that you are to be entirely separated from one who is a professor of religion and who is guilty of these things.
Not to keep company – To be wholly separated and withdrawn from such a person. Not to associate with him in any manner.
If any man that is called a brother – Any professing Christian; any member of the church.
Or an idolater – This must mean those persons who, while they professed Christianity, still attended the idol feasts, and worshipped there. Perhaps a few such may have been found who had adopted the Christian profession hypocritically.
Or a railer – A reproachful man; a man of coarse, harsh, and bitter words; a man whose characteristic it was to abuse others; to vilify their character, and wound their feelings. It is needless to say how much this is contrary to the spirit of Christianity, and to the example of the Master, “who when he was reviled, reviled not again.”
Or a drunkard – Perhaps there might have been some then in the church, as there are now, who were addicted to this vice. It has been the source of incalculable evils to the church; and the apostle, therefore, solemnly enjoins on Christians to have no fellowship with a man who is intemperate.
With such an one no not to eat – To have no contact or fellowship with him of any kind; not to do anything that would seem to acknowledge him as a brother; with such an one not even to eat at the same table. A similar course is enjoined by John; 2 John 1:10-11. This refers to the contact of common life, and not particularly to the communion. The true Christian was wholly to disown such a person, and not to do anything that would seem to imply that he regarded him as a Christian brother. It will be seen here that the rule was much more strict in regard to one who professed to be a Christian than to those who were known and acknowledged pagans. The reasons may have been:
(1) The necessity of keeping the church pure, and of not doing anything that would seem to imply that Christians were the patrons and friends of the intemperate and the wicked.
(2) in respect to the pagan, there could be no danger of its being supposed that Christians regarded them as brethren, or showed to them any more than the ordinary civilities of life; but in regard to those who professed to be Christians, but who were drunkards, or licentious, if a man was on terms of intimacy with them, it would seem as if he acknowledged them as brethren and recognized them as Christians.
(3) this entire separation and withdrawing from all communion was necessary in these times to save the church from scandal, and from the injurious reports which were circulated. The pagan accused Christians of all manner of crime and abominations. These reports were greatly injurious to the church. But it was evident that currency and plausibility would be given to them if it was known that Christians were on terms of intimacy and good fellowship with pagans and intemperate persons. Hence, it became necessary to withdraw wholly from them to withhold even the ordinary courtesies of life; and to draw a line of total and entire separation. Whether this rule in its utmost strictness is demanded now, since the nature of Christianity is known, and since religion cannot be in “so much” danger from such reports, may be made a question. I am inclined to the opinion that the ordinary civilities of life may be shown to such persons; though certainly nothing that would seem to recognize them as Christians. But as neighbors and relatives; as those who may be in distress and want, we are assuredly not forbidden to show toward them the offices of kindness and compassion. Whitby and some others, however, understand this of the communion of the Lord’s Supper and of that only.”
2Pe 2:14, “having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having hearts trained in greed, accursed children.”
Having eyes full of adultery – Margin, as in the Greek, “an adulteress;” that is, gazing with desire after such persons. The word “full” is designed to denote that the corrupt passion referred to had wholly seized and occupied their minds. The eye was, as it were, full of this passion; it saw nothing else but some occasion for its indulgence; it expressed nothing else but the desire. The reference here is to the sacred festival mentioned in the previous verse; and the meaning is, that they celebrated that festival with licentious feelings, giving free indulgence to their corrupt desires by gazing on the females who were assembled with them. In the passion here referred to, the “eye” is usually the first offender, the inlet to corrupt desires, and the medium by which they are expressed. Compare the notes at Matthew 5:28. The wanton glance is a principal occasion of exciting the sin; and there is much often in dress, and mien, and gesture, to charm the eye and to deepen the debasing passion.
And that cannot cease from sin – They cannot look on the females who may be present without sinning. Compare Matthew 5:28. There are many men in whom the presence of the most virtuous woman only excites impure and corrupt desires. The expression here does not mean that they have no natural ability to cease from sin, or that they are impelled to it by any physical necessity, but only that they are so corrupt and unprincipled that they certainly will sin always.
Beguiling unstable souls – Those who are not strong in Christian principle, or who are naturally fluctuating and irresolute. The word rendered beguiling means to bait, to entrap, and would be applicable to the methods practiced in hunting. Here it means that it was one of their arts to place specious allurements before those who were known not to have settled principles or firmness, in order to allure them to sin. Compare 2 Timothy 3:6.
An heart they have exercised with covetous practices – Skilled in the arts which covetous men adopt in order to cheat others out of their property. A leading purpose which influenced these men was to obtain money. One of the most certain ways for dishonest men to do this is to make use of the religious principle; to corrupt and control the conscience; to make others believe that they are eminently holy, or that they are the special favorites of heaven; and when they can do this, they have the purses of others at command. For the religious principle is the most powerful of all principles; and he who can control that, can control all that a man possesses. The idea here is that these persons had made this their study, and had learned the ways in which men could be induced to part with their money under religious pretences. We should always be on our guard when professedly religious teachers propose to have much to do with money matters. While we should always be ready to aid every good cause, yet we should remember that unprincipled and indolent men often assume the mask of religion that they may practice their arts on the credulity of others, and that their real aim is to obtain their property, not to save their souls.
Cursed children – This is a Hebraism, meaning literally, “children of the curse,” that is, persons devoted to the curse, or who will certainly be destroyed.”
To my bitter experience, I have found people in banking and finance industires are evidently “having hearts trained in greed.” The Bible clearly says that greedy people will be cast into Hell.
Why should I write about such an unpopular subject? In fact I have one motive,Jas 5:19-20, “My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you strays from the truth and someone turns him back,let him know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” American way of life — the unmarried have sexual intercouse like the married — is straying from the truth, I would be so happy if my writing will turn him or her back. It will be worth it.
James 5:19-20. Brethren — As if he had said, I have now warned you of those things to which you are most liable. And in all these respects watch, not only over yourselves, but every one over his brother also. Labour, in particular, to recover those that are fallen. For if any of you do err from the truth — From the right way in which he ought to walk, if he be seduced by any means from the doctrine and practice of the gospel; andone — Any one; convert him — Be a means of bringing him back into that way from which he had wandered; let him know — Who has been enabled to effect so good a work; that he who converteth a sinner from the error of his way — From the false doctrine and bad practice to which he had turned aside, shall produce a much happier effect than any miraculous cure of the body; for he shall save a precious immortal soul from spiritual and eternal death, and shall hide a multitude of sins — Namely, the sins of the persons thus converted, which shall no more, how many soever they are, be remembered to his condemnation. “The covering of sin is a phrase which often occurs in the Old Testament, and always signifies the pardoning of sin. Nor has it any other meaning here. For surely it cannot be the apostle’s intention to tell us, that the turning of a sinner from the error of his way will conceal from the eye of God’s justice a multitude of sins committed by the person who does this charitable office, if he continueth in them. Such a person needs himself to be turned from the error of his way, in order that his own soul may be saved from death. St. Peter has a similar expression, (1 Peter 4:8,) love covereth a multitude of sins; not, however, in the person who is possessed of love, but in the person who is the object of his love.” — Macknight.
1Co 6:9-10, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, norhomosexuals,
nor thieves, nor the greedy, northose habitually drunk, nor verbal abusers,
1 Corinthians 6:9-11. Know ye not — With all your boasted knowledge; that the unrighteous — That is, not only the unjust, but those destitute of true righteousness and holiness, comprehending the various classes of sinners afterward mentioned, the term unrighteous here including them all: shall not inherit the kingdom of God — Namely, the kingdom of eternal glory. And can you contentedly sacrifice this great and glorious hope which the gospel gives you, for the sake of those pleasures of sin which are but for a short season? Be not deceived — By a vain imagination that the Christian name and privileges will save you, while you continue in the practice of your vices. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, &c. — Idolatry is here placed between fornication and adultery, because these things generally accompanied it. Indeed, among the heathen idolatry was not only a great crime in itself, but was the parent of many other crimes. For the heathen were encouraged in the commission of fornication, adultery, sodomy, drunkenness, theft, &c., by the example of their gods. Nor effeminate — Who live in an easy, indolent way, taking up no cross, enduring no hardship. But how is this, that these good-natured, harmless people are ranked with idolaters and sodomites, those infamous degraders of human nature? We may learn hence, that we are never secure from the greatest sins, till we guard against those which are thought to be the least; nor indeed till we think no sin is little, since every one is a step toward hell. And such were some of you — Namely, in some kind or other; but ye are washed — Delivered from the guilt and power of those gross abominations. Ye are sanctified — Renewed in the spirit of your minds, dedicated to, and employed in the service of God; conformed, at least in a measure, to his image, and possessed of his divine nature, and this not before, but in consequence of your being justified. Or, Ye are regenerated and purified, as well as discharged, from the condemnation to which ye were justly obnoxious. See the nature of justification explained in the notes on Romans 3:21-22; and its fruits, on Romans 5:1-5. In the name of the Lord Jesus — Through his merits, or his sacrifice and intercession; and by the Spirit of our God — Creating you anew, and inspiring you with all those blessed graces which are the genuine fruits of his divine influences, Galatians 5:22-23. You ought therefore, as if he had said, to maintain the most grateful sense of these important blessings which God hath conferred upon you, to stand at the utmost distance from sin, and to be tender of the peace and honour of a society which God hath founded by his extraordinary interposition, and into which he hath been pleased in so wonderful a manner to bring even you, who were in a most infamous and deplorable state.”
Gal 5:19-21, “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice
Galatians 5:19-21. Now the works of the flesh — By which that inward corrupt principle is discovered; are manifest — Are plain and undeniable. He says works, in the plural, because those of the flesh are distinct from, and often inconsistent with each other. But the fruit of the Spirit is mentioned in the singular, (Galatians 5:22,) the graces thereof being all consistent, and connected together. Which are these — He enumerates those works of the flesh to which the Galatians were most inclined, and those parts of the fruit of the Spirit of which they stood in the greatest need; adultery — A crime to be considered in the first rank of enormities, as being the most prejudicial to society, destroying conjugal happiness, introducing confusion and ruin into families, alienating the affection of parents from their children, causing them to neglect their education; fornication — Which, how light soever heathen may make it, is in the sight of God a very grievous offence; uncleanness — Of every kind and degree; lasciviousness — All immodesty, as the indulging of wanton thoughts, and reading lascivious books. The Greek word means any thing, inward or outward, that is contrary to chastity; idolatry — The worshipping of idols; this sin is justly reckoned among the works of the flesh, because the worship paid to many of the gods consisted in the most impure fleshly gratifications; witchcraft — Or sorcery, as Macknight renders φαρμακεια, observing, that the expression “being placed immediately after idolatry, means those arts of incantation and charming, and all the pretended communications with invisible and malignant powers, whereby the heathen priests promoted the reverence and worship of their idol gods, and enriched themselves. In this sense the word is used concerning Babylon, (Revelation 18:23,) εν τη φαρμακεια σου, By thy sorcery were all nations deceived; that is, by a variety of wicked arts and cheats, the nations were deluded to support Babylon in her idolatries and corruptions. Hatred — Or enmities, as εχθραι signifies; variance — Ερεις, strifes; emulations — Transports of ill-placed and ill-proportioned zeal; wrath — Θυμοι, resentments; εριθειαι, contentions, as the word appears here to signify; seditions — Or divisions, in domestic or civil matters; heresies — Parties formed in religious communities; who, instead of maintaining true candor and benevolence, renounce and condemn each other. Envyings — Frequently manifesting themselves against the prosperity and success of others; murders — Which are often the effect of such evil dispositions and practices as those above mentioned; and, to complete the catalogue, all kinds of irregular self-indulgence, and particularly drunkenness — Which renders a man worse than a beast; and those disorderly and gluttonous revellings — Or luxurious entertainments, by which the rational powers are, in a great measure, extinguished, or, at least, rendered incapable of performing their offices in a proper manner. Some of the works here mentioned are wrought principally, if not entirely, in the mind, and yet they are called works of the flesh. Hence it is clear that the apostle does not, by the flesh, mean the body, or sensual appetites and inclinations only, but the corruption of human nature, as it spreads through all the powers of the soul, as well as the members of the body; of which I tell you before — Before the event; I forewarn you; as I have told you also in time past — When I was present with you; that they who do such things — Who are guilty of such evil practices; shall not inherit the kingdom of God — Whatever zeal they may pretend for the externals of religion, in any of the forms of it. Awful declaration!.”
Someone was so wrong, “Finally, we can safely assume that there will be sex in eternity because God created sex in Eden before humanity’s fall into a life of constant sin terminated by death. Thus, in Eden Restored we can rest assured that God will not remove our sexual nature; rather, He will redeem it. In the new heaven and new earth, sex will no longer be for the purpose of procreation. Nor will it involve sexual intercourse, for “at the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven” (Matthew 22:30). In heaven we will experience a kind of spiritual intercourse that eludes our understanding on earth. In paradise, romance subverted will become romance sublime. It will be agape-driven rather than animal-driven. For in Eden Restored, we will fly full and free, unfettered by the stain of selfishness and sin.”
Watch out the false prophets and false preachers and false teachers as if the Word of God needs their approval. They have private interpretation of the Word of God to suit their private passions.
Luk 20:34-36, “Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and the women are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; for they cannot even die anymore, for they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.”
Verses 34-36. – And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: neither can they die any more. How different are the few rare pictures which our Master draws of the heaven-life to those painted by the great founders and teachers of other world-wide religions! In his world beyond the grave, while he tells us of a continuing existence, of varied and ever-increasing activity, in contradistinction to the Nirvana of Buddha, in these pictures of Jesus the sensual paradise of Mohammed, for instance, finds no place. Marriage is, according to our Lord’s teaching, but a temporary expedient to preserve the human race, to which death would soon put an end. But in the world to come there will be no death and no marriage. We may assume from his words here that the difference between the sexes will have ceased to exist. They are equal unto the angels. Equal with the angels in being immortal; no death; no marriage. Jesus in this place asserts that angels have a body, but are exempt from any difference of sex. The angels are here introduced because our Lord was speaking with Sadducees, who (Acts 23:8) denied the existence of these glorious beings. He wished to set the seal of his teaching on the deeply interesting question of the existence of angels. Luke 20:34.”
It is an exercise of futility if you are willing to hear how some so-called theologians pontificate their theories about sex in eternity. Remember, it is not Augustine or anybody else that matters. Jesus Christ has the ultimate authority because He is the Word of God. I am so indignant and infuriated that there are people who would follow false prophets, false preachers, and false teachers in opposition to the clear teaching of the Holy Bible.
Jesus says,Mar 10:6, “But from the beginning of creation,
God CREATED THEM MALE AND FEMALE.”
Christians do no believe in Black Liberation movements. Christians do not accept the concept or affirm the lifestyles of LGBTQ. It is the Word of God that matters ultimately in any doctrine or the Christian faith.
Rev 12:10, “Then I heard a loud voice in Heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night.”
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven – The great enemy was expelled; the cause of God and truth was triumphant; and the conquering hosts united in celebrating the victory. This representation of a song, consequent on victory, is in accordance with the usual representations in the Bible. See the song of Moses at the Red Sea, Exodus 15; the song of Deborah, Judges 5; the song of David when the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, 2 Samuel 22; and Isaiah 12:25. On no occasion could such a song be more appropriate than on the complete routing and discomfiture of Satan and his rebellious hosts. Viewed in reference to the time here symbolized, this would relate to the certain triumph of the church and of truth on the earth; in reference to the language, there is an allusion to the joy and triumph of the heavenly hosts when Satan and his apostate legions were expelled.
Now is come salvation – That is, complete deliverance from the power of Satan.
And strength – That is, now is the mighty power of God manifested in casting down and subduing the great enemy of the church.
And the kingdom of our God – The reign of our God. See the notes on Matthew 3:2. That is now established among people, and God will henceforward rule. This refers to the certain ultimate triumph of his cause in the world.
And the power of his Christ – His anointed; that is, the kingdom of Christ as the Messiah, or as anointed and set apart to rule over the world. See the notes on Matthew 1:1.
For the accuser of our brethren is cast down – The phrase “our brethren” shows by whom this song is celebrated. It is sung in heaven; but it is by those who belonged to the redeemed church, and whose brethren were still suffering persecution and trial on the earth. It shows the tenderness of the tie which unites all the redeemed as brethren, whether on earth or in heaven; and it shows the interest which they “who have passed the flood” have in the trials, the sorrows, and the triumphs of those who are still upon the earth. We have here another appellation given to the great enemy – “accuser of the brethren.” The word used here – κατήγορος katēgoros, in later editions of the New Testament κατήγωρ katēgōr – means properly “an accuser,” one who blames another, or charges another with crime. The word occurs in John 8:10; Acts 23:30, Acts 23:35; Acts 24:8; Acts 25:16, Acts 25:18; Revelation 12:10, in all which places it is rendered “accuser” or “accusers,” though only in the latter place applied to Satan. The verb frequently occurs, Matthew 12:10; Matthew 27:12; Mark 3:2; Mark 15:3, et al.
The description of Satan as an accuser accords with the opinion of the ancient Hebrews in regard to his character. Thus he is represented in Job 1:9-11; Job 2:4-5; Zechariah 3:1-2; 1 Chronicles 21:1. The phrase “of the brethren” refers to Christians, or to the people of God; and the meaning here is, that one of the characteristics of Satan – a characteristic so well known as to make it proper to designate him by it – is that he is an accuser of the righteous; that he is employed in bringing against them charges affecting their character and destroying their influence. The propriety of this appellation cannot be doubted. It is, as it has always been, one of the characteristics of Satan – one of the means by which he keeps up his influence in the world – to bring accusations against the people of God. Thus, under his suggestions, and by his agents, they are charged with hypocrisy; with insincerity; with being influenced by bad motives; with pursuing sinister designs under the cloak of religion; with secret vices and crimes. Thus it was that the martyrs were accused; thus it is that unfounded accusations are often brought against ministers of the gospel, palsying their power and diminishing their influence, or that when a professed Christian falls the church is made to suffer by an effort to cast suspicion on all who bear the Christian name. Perhaps the most skillful thing that Satan does, and the thing by which he most contributes to diminish the influence of the church, is in thus causing “accusations” to be brought against the people of God.
Is cast down – The period here referred to was, doubtless, the time when the church was about to be established and to flourish in the world, and when accusations would be brought against Christians by various classes of calumniators and informers. It is well known that in the early ages of Christianity crimes of the most horrid nature were charged on Christians, and that it was by these slanders that the effort was made to prevent the extension of the Christian church.
Which accused them before our God – See the notes on Job 1:9-10. The meaning is, that he accused them, as it were, in the very presence of God.
Day and night – He never ceased bringing these accusations, and sought by the perseverance and constancy with which they were urged to convince the world that there was no sincerity in the church and no reality in religion.”
Num 5:16-28. “Then the priest shall bring her forward and have her stand before the LORD, and the priest shall take holy water in an earthenware container; and he shall take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it in the water. ‘The priest shall then have the woman stand before the LORD and let down the hair of the woman’s head, and place the grain offering of reminder [fn]in her hands, that is, the grain offering of jealousy; and in the hand of the priest is to be the water of bitterness that brings a curse. ‘And the priest shall have her take an oath and shall say to the woman, “If no man has had sexual relations with you and if you have not gone astray into uncleanness, as you are under the authority of your husband, be immune to this water of bitterness that brings a curse; if, however, you have gone astray, though
under the authority of your husband, and if you have defiled yourself and a man other than your husband has had sexual intercourse with you”
(then the priest shall have the woman swear with the oath of the curse, and the priest shall say to the woman), “may the LORD make you a curse and an oath among your people by the LORD’S making your thigh shriveled and your belly swollen; and this water that brings a curse shall go into your stomach, to make your belly swell up and your thigh shrivel.” And the woman shall say, “Amen, Amen.” ‘The priest shall then write these curses on a scroll, and he shall wash them off into the water of bitterness.‘Then he shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that brings a curse, so that the water which brings a curse will go into her and cause bitterness. ‘And the priest shall take the grain offering of jealousy from the woman’s hand, and he shall wave the grain offering before the LORD and bring it to the altar; and the priest shall take a handful of the grain offering as its reminder offering and offer it up in smoke on the altar, and afterward he shall make the woman drink the water. ‘When he has made her drink the water, then it will come about, if she has defiled herself and has been unfaithful to her husband, that the water which brings a curse will go into her [fn]and cause bitterness, and her belly will swell up and her thigh will [fn]shrivel, and the woman will become a curse among her people. ‘But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, she will be immune and conceive children.”
The priest was to bring her near to the altar at which he stood, and place her before Jehovah, who had declared Himself to be present at the altar, and then to take holy water, probably water out of the basin before the sanctuary, which served for holy purposes (Exodus 30:18), in an earthen vessel, and put dust in it from the floor of the dwelling. He was then to loosen the hair of the woman who was standing before Jehovah, and place the jealousy-offering in her hands, and holding the water in his own hand, to pronounce a solemn oath of purification before her, which she had to appropriate to herself by a confirmatory Amen, Amen. The water, which the priest had prepared for the woman to drink, was taken from the sanctuary, and the dust to be put into it from the floor of the dwelling, to impregnate this drink with the power of the Holy Spirit that dwelt in the sanctuary. The dust was strewed upon the water, not to indicate that man was formed from dust and must return to dust again, but as an allusion to the fact, that dust was eaten by the serpent (Genesis 3:14) as the curse of sin, and therefore as the symbol of a state deserving a curse, a state of the deepest humiliation and disgrace (Micah 7:17; Isaiah 49:23; Psalm 72:9). On the very same ground, an earthen vessel was chosen; that is to say, one quite worthless in comparison with the copper one. The loosening of the hair of the head (see Leviticus 13:45), in other cases a sign of mourning, is to be regarded here as a removal or loosening of the female head-dress, and a symbol of the loss of the proper ornament of female morality and conjugal fidelity. During the administration of the oath, the offering was placed in her hands, that she might bring the fruit of her own conduct before God, and give it up to His holy judgment. The priest, as the representative of God, held the vessel in his hand, with the water in it, which was called the “water of bitterness, the curse-bringing,” inasmuch as, if the crime imputed to her was well-founded, it would bring upon the woman bitter suffering as the curse of God.”
5:11-31 This law would make the women of Israel watch against giving cause for suspicion. On the other hand, it would hinder the cruel treatment such suspicions might occasion. It would also hinder the guilty from escaping, and the innocent from coming under just suspicion. When no proof could be brought, the wife was called on to make this solemn appeal to a heart-searching God. No woman, if she were guilty, could say Amen to the adjuration, and drink the water after it, unless she disbelieved the truth of God, or defied his justice. The water is called the bitter water, because it caused the curse. Thus sin is called an evil and a bitter thing. Let all that meddle with forbidden pleasures, know that they will be bitterness in the latter end. From the whole learn, 1. Secret sins are known to God, and sometimes are strangely brought to light in this life; and that there is a day coming when God will, by Christ, judge the secrets of men according to the gospel, Ro 2:16. 2 In particular, Whoremongers and adulterers God will surely judge. Though we have not now the waters of jealousy, yet we have God’s word, which ought to be as great a terror. Sensual lusts will end in bitterness. 3. God will manifest the innocency of the innocent. The same providence is for good to some, and for hurt to others. And it will answer the purposes which God intends.”
As far as I know, there has never been a precedent cited above and practiced in the New Testament.
Act 15:29, “that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from acts of sexual immorality; if youkeep
yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”
(29) From meats offered to idols.—The specific term takes the place of the more general word which St. James had used. The change, if the two words were not used, as is possible, as altogether equivalent, may be thought of as favouring the Gentiles by narrowing the prohibition to a single point.
Fare ye well.—The closing salutation was, like the opening, a Greek and not a Hebrew one. It meets us again in Acts 23:30. Both were naturally used in a letter addressed to Greeks, and intended to be read by them and by Hellenistic Jews. It does not occur, however, in any of the Epistles of the New Testament.
It is natural to ask, at the close of the great encyclical letter, in what relation it really stood to the life of the Apostolic Church. As a concordat between the contending parties it was framed, as has been said, with a sagacity that may well be looked on as inspired. But obviously it was not, and from the nature of the case could not be, more than that. The time had not come for proclaiming to the Church of Jerusalem the full width of St. Paul’s teaching (Galatians 2:2), and accordingly, though something may be read between the lines, the decree seems to treat the precepts of Noah as perpetually binding, places moral and positive obligations on the same footing, and leaves the ground on which they are “necessary” an open question. St. Paul, who had accepted it as a satisfactory settlement of the matter in debate, never refers to it, even when he is discussing the chief point with which the decree dealt (1 Corinthians 8-10). In his narrative of what passed on this occasion (Galatians 2:1-10) there is no mention of it. The private conference with the three great “pillars” of the Church was for him more than the decree of the synod, and he felt himself able to discuss the whole question again on different grounds, and with a more distinct reference to spiritual and ethical principles. It was wrong to eat things sacrificed to idols, not because the act of so eating in itself brought defilement, but because it might involve a participation in the sin of idolatry in the consciousness of the eater, or wound the conscience of the weaker brother who saw him eat. It was natural that those who lacked his largeness of view should become slaves to the letter of the rules long after the grounds on which they rested had ceased to exist, and so we find that the prohibition of blood was re-enforced in the so-called Apostolic Canons (c. 62), and in the fourth century by the Council of Gangra (c. 2), and in the seventh by that at Constantinople, known as in Trullo (c. 67), and continues to be the binding rule of the Greek Church still. In Africa and in Europe, however, truer views prevailed (August, cont. Faust. xxxii. 13), and not even the most devout believer in the inspiration of the Apostles, or in the authority of primitive antiquity. would venture to urge that the two last precepts of the four here enjoined were in any degree binding. Hooker (Eccl. Pol. iv., xi., § 5) rightly refers to this decree as a crucial instance proving that commands might be divine and yet given only for a season, binding as long as the conditions to which they applied continued, but no longer. It would almost seem, indeed, as if St. Paul felt that the terms of the decree had the effect of placing the sin of impurity on the same level with that of eating things sacrificed to idols, and things strangled, and blood, and so tended to keep men from seeing it in its true hatefulness. Those who claimed a right, which in the abstract St. Paul could not deny, to eat of things strangled or offered to idols, thought themselves free to fall back into the old license of the heathen world, and he needed far stronger motives than the canons of the council to restrain them (1Corinthians 5:9-10; 1Corinthians 6:15-20, and found those motives in the truths that they had been bought with a price, that the will of God was their sanctification, and that their bodies were His temple.”
1Th 4:3, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality.”
Abstain in Greek isapechōwhich means to hold oneself from; to keep oneself from; to hold back, keep off, prevent (Strong’s Concordance); to refrain deliberately; to hold back; — which occurs 19 times in the New Testament.
2. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, &c.] The connection will be clearer if we render thus: For this is God’s will—it is your sanctification—that you abstain from fornication, &c. It was not some counsel or wish of his own that he pressed on the Thessalonians under the authority of Christ; it was nothing less than God’s holy will: the primary ground of this charge. At the same time it was their sanctification. God’s will and their consecration to Him are the double reason for their leading a chaste life; and these two reasons are one, the latter springing out of the former. God had chosen them to be His own (comp. ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:4). And He willed that their sanctification should be realised and carried into effect in the important particular about to be stated. This will of God was proclaimed in His “call,” by which the Thessalonians had been summoned to a pure and holy life (ch. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; comp. 1 Thessalonians 2:12). In all endeavours after purity it is our best support to know that God wishes and means ms to be holy; that His almighty help is at the back of our weak resolves, Who both “puts into our minds good desires” and “brings the same to good effect.” “Sanctification” is the act or process of making holy: then, in the second instance, it comes to denote the result of this process, the state of one who is made holy,—as in Romans 6:22, “You have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end eternal life;” similarly in Hebrews 12:14, “Follow after sanctification.” It is synonymous with consecration, i.e. devotion to God,—but to God as the Holy One. Holy is the single word which by itself denotes the Divine character, as it is revealed to us in its moral transcendence, in the awfulness and glory of its absolute perfection, raised infinitely above all that is earthly and sinful (see 1 Samuel 2:2, Psalms 99, Psalm 111:9, Isaiah 57:15, &c). Now it is the character of God—“thy Maker … and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel”—that constitutes His right to the consecration of those to whom He is revealed. Our “sanctification” is the acknowledgement of God’s claim upon us as the Holy One Who made us. This involves our assimilation to His nature. In Him, first the character, then the claim: in us, first the claim admitted, then the character impressed. In short, Sanctification is fulfilment of the supreme command, “Be ye holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16; Leviticus 11:44; Leviticus 19:2; Leviticus 20:7).—See, further, notes on 1 Thessalonians 4:7, and ch. 1 Thessalonians 5:23; also on ch. 1 Thessalonians 2:10, for the difference between the two Greek words for holy used in this Ep. St Paul makes chastity a part of holiness. He finds a new motive and powerful safeguard for virtue in the fact of the redemption of the body. Our physical frame belongs to God; it is a sharer in Christ’s resurrection, and in the new life received through Him. “Know you not,” he asks, “that your bodies are limbs of Christ,—a temple of the Holy Ghost, which you have from God? Therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:15-20). This is bodily sanctification. And faith in Christ effectually subdues impure and sensual passion. The foul and heathenish vice of fornication was so prevalent in Greek cities and so little condemned by public opinion—it was even fostered by some forms of pagan religion—that abstinence from it on the part of the Thessalonians was a sign of devotion to a Holy God. But their purity was imperilled from the condition of society around them, and in many cases from former unchaste habits. The temptations to licentiousness assailing the first generation of Christians were fearfully strong; and all the Epistles contain urgent warnings upon this subject. The sense of purity had to be re-created in men gathered out of the midst of pagan corruption.”
The purpose of abstaing from sexual immorality is sanctification which is the will of God for every believer.
2Th 2:13, “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”
13. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you] Comp. ch. 2 Thessalonians 1:3, and notes. The strain of the opening thanksgiving of the two Epistles is here blended. For while this clause repeats the first words of 2Th, the sentence that follows echoes 1 Thessalonians 1:4. Here the subject, we, bears emphasis: “we, with this sad prospect of apostasy and delusion in view.” Those who see deeply into the evil of the world, its immense power and untold possibilities, turn with the greater satisfaction to that which “speaks better things.” brethren beloved by the Lord (R.V.) is parallel to “beloved by God” (1 Thessalonians 1:4 : see note). “The Lord” is surely Christ, as distinguished from “God” in the adjoining clauses. The Church assailed by persecution, and appalled by the thought of Antichrist, finds in the love of Christ her refuge (comp. Romans 8:35; Romans 8:39). To the same Divine Protector the Apostle commits his “brethren,” so dear to him (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17; ch. 2 Thessalonians 3:3; 2 Thessalonians 3:5). He recalls in this expression the blessing pronounced on Benjamin, his own tribe, in Deuteronomy 33:12 : “The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him; He covereth him all the day long, and he dwelleth between His shoulders.” The two phrases correspond precisely in the Greek. because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation] Better, in that God chose you; see note on ch. 2 Thessalonians 1:3. These words are partly borrowed from Deuteronomy 7:6-7; Deuteronomy 10:15; Deuteronomy 26:18 : “Thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God. He hath chosen you to be a peculiar people unto Himself … He set His love upon yon;” &c. The Apostle’s thanksgivings in the First Epistle centred in the fact of the “election” of the Thessalonian believers in Christ. (See note on election, 1 Thessalonians 1:4; and context.) To this his grateful thoughts now revert. God deals with them far otherwise than He will do with those to whom He “sends effectual delusion … that they may be judged” (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12): He “chose you for salvation … not for wrath” (1 Thessalonians 5:9). How safe and high above fear are “God’s elect” (Romans 8:33-39)! “From the beginning” points to the time when the Gospel first visited the Thessalonians; so the “election” of 1 Thessalonians 1:4 is associated with the “coming of our gospel to you” (1 Thessalonians 1:5; 1 Thessalonians 1:9). Then it was that, practically and in human view, God chose this people—i.e. selected them for His own out of the world in which they moved. In later Epistles this “beginning” is traced back, on its Divine side, to “the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4, &c.), and shown to be a part of that which was absolutely “from the beginning” (comp. 1 John 1:1). There is an absolute beginning of salvation, hidden in the nature and eternal counsels of God; this is its relative, historical and manifest beginning (comp. Php 4:15; Acts 15:7). And this choice is “unto salvation,” in the utmost sense of the word, extended in 2 Thessalonians 2:14 to “the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ;” comp. 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (see note). This salvation rests on God’s election; at the same time it has its human conditions: salvation (experienced) in sanctification of spirit and faith in the truth. God chooses none to salvation apart from these qualifications; the end implies the way. It is believing and sanctified men who wear “for a helmet the hope of salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:8). Comp. 1 Peter 1:2 : “Elect … in sanctification of spirit” (or the Spirit). “Chosen unto salvation” stands in contrast with “son of perdition” and “the perishing” (2 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:10); “sanctification of spirit” and “belief in truth” on the part of God’s elect, with the “pleasure in unrighteousness” and “belief in the lie” that mark the dupes of Antichrist. These are the moral preconditions of final salvation and perdition respectively. St Paul writes sanctification of spirit, without the definite article. No doubt “spirit” may grammatically denote “the (Holy) Spirit,” but the Apostle can scarcely have so intended here. For (1) the intimate connection of this phrase with “belief of truth” inclines us to read the two (Greek) genitives alike—“truth” being the object of “faith,” and “spirit” of “sanctification.” (2) “Your spirit” is the primary object of the sanctification prayed for in 1 Thessalonians 5:23. That memorable prayer is probably in the mind both of writer and readers. (3) “Sanctification of spirit,” understood as an inward state of the Thessalonians, is a condition of “salvation” the opposite of the disposition described in 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 as marking “those who perish” at the coming of Antichrist. For this reason sanctification is put first; but it depends in turn upon faith,—“belief in the truth.” See Acts 26:18; Ephesians 1:13. The normal order therefore is that of 1 Timothy 2:15, “in faith and sanctification.”—For sanctification, see note to 1 Thessalonians 4:3. Lit., belief of truth. The Apostle is not stating what the truth is that saves, but that it is truth which saves, and faith in it as truth. A truth-accepting faith is the root of salvation, while the disposition to “believe the lie” is the root of perdition (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). “Sanctify them in the truth,” prayed Jesus for His disciples; “Thy word is truth” (John 17:17). The trustful acceptance of the truth revealed by Christ brings with it the consecration of our spirit to God. In such faith and consecration our salvation lies. Section IV. Words of Comfort and Prayer Ch. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 to 2 Thessalonians 3:5Passing from the last Section, we breathe a sigh of relief, and gladly join in thanksgiving for those who will “prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36). Under the solemn feelings awakened by his contemplation of the image of Antichrist, the Apostle turns to his readers, blending thanksgiving with exhortation and renewed prayer on their account. (1) He renders thanks to God Who had chosen and called them to salvation, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; (2) he urges them to be steadfast, 2 Thessalonians 2:15; (3) he prays that God’s love may be their comfort, 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17. In turn he (4) requests their prayers for himself, ch. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2; (5) he assures them of God’s faithfulness, and of his own confidence in them, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; and (6) prays once more for Divine guidance on their behalf, 2 Thessalonians 2:5.”
Now you have learned God’s will is to abstain from sexual immorality, to be sanctified by the Holy Spirit and faith in the truth. You do well.
To receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior is to receive the eternal life.
The leader of Ukraine is corrupt and evil. Ukranians are stupid to follow the path of destruction. He was the one who instigated war with Russia. Now he asks for guarantee of its security. 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 refrerendum. America is ruined by dark and evil forces.
Heroes of all races who sacrified 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 sacrified their lives in the war against Japanese aggression and atrocities must always be honored and remembered. The Chinse 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 Japanse aggression and atrocities of killing 35 million innocent Chinese without remorse or reparations. UN overappointed unqualified blacks and media have given too much covergage 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 orphanes. 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 reognized 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, Hezebolla, 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. Ukranians 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, overappointed 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, voordoism.
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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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. 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. Never again will China be oppressed. I am sure the militant Japan is deterred, and no nation on earth would dare to attack China again. 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 refrerendum. America is ruined by dark and evil forces.
Heroes of all races who sacrified 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 sacrified their lives in the war against Japanese aggression and atrocities must always be honored and remembered. The Chinse 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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“The worst famine caused by drought was in northern China in 1876-79, when between 9 and 13 million people are estimated to have died after the rains failed for three consecutive years. At around the same time (1876-78), approximately 5 million Indians died when the monsoon failed in successive years.”
Jer 19:15, “This is what the LORD of armies, the God of Israel says: ‘Behold, I am going to bring on this city and all its towns the entire disaster that I have declared against it, because they have stiffened their necks so as not to listen to My words.’”
Jer 25:32, “This is what the LORD of armies says: “Behold, evil is going out from nation to nation, And a great storm is being stirred up from the remotest parts of the earth.”
Jer 29:17, “this is what the LORD of armies says: ‘Behold, I am sending upon them the sword, famine, and plague; and I will make them like rotten figs that cannot be eaten due to rottenness.”
Jer 31:35, “This is what the LORD says, He who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— The LORD of armies is His name:”
According to:
https://water.fandom.com/wiki/Tsunami
“A tsunami is a series of waves created when a body of water, such as an ocean, is rapidly displaced. Earthquakes, mass movements above or below water, volcanic eruptions and other underwater explosions, landslides, underwater earthquakes, large meteoroid or asteroid impacts and testing with nuclear weapons at sea all have the potential to generate a tsunami. The effects of a tsunami can range from unnoticeable to devastating.”
A tsunami with a record run-up height of 1720 feet occurred in Lituya Bay, Alaska
On the night of July 9, 1958, anearthquake along the Fairweather Fault in the Alaska Panhandle loosened about 40 million cubic yards (30.6 million cubic meters) of rock high above the northeastern shore of Lituya Bay. This mass of rock plunged from an altitude of approximately 3000 feet (914 meters) down into the waters of Gilbert Inlet (see map below). The impact force of the rockfall generated a local tsunami that crashed against the southwest shoreline of Gilbert Inlet.
The wave hit with such power that it swept completely over the spur of land that separates Gilbert Inlet from the main body of Lituya Bay. The wave then continued down the entire length of Lituya Bay, over La Chaussee Spit and into the Gulf of Alaska. The force of the wave removed all trees and vegetation from elevations as high as 1720 feet (524 meters) above sea level. Millions of trees were uprooted and swept away by the wave. This is the highest runup ever recorded for a tsunami.”
Jer 49:5, ““Behold, I am going to bring terror upon you,” Declares the Lord GOD of armies, “From all directions around you; And you will be driven away one after another, With no one to gather the fugitives together.”
Jer 50:25, “The LORD has opened His armory And has brought out the weapons of His indignation, For it is a work of the Lord GOD of armies in the land of the Chaldeans.”
No one has seen the armory of God and the weapons of His indignation.
Jer 51:14, “The LORD of armies has sworn by Himself: “I will certainly fill you with a population like locusts, And they will cry out with shouts of victory over you.”
“According toKeith Cressman, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization’s senior locust forecasting officer, (yes, that’s a job), enormous swarms of locusts can eat the same amount of food in one day as everyone in New York and California combined. Scientists in India claim that even a modest locust swarm can eat as much food as 35,000 people and travel an impressive 200 km in one day. Because of these realities, locusts in large numbers are able to eat farmers’ crops quickly, leaving little for helpless humans to harvest, live on, and sell.”
Mal 4:1, “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of armies, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branches.”
White and black supremacists are the most arrogant people in the world, they will be chaff.
Rev 19:14, “And the armies which are in Heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.”
I believe the word “armies” should be translated the military. The American and European military are no match with the military of Heaven. Jesus Christ is the Commander-in-Chief of the Heavenly Military.
The Lord is Righteous, that is why the Lord is a Warrior. God is at war with unrighteousness. God will punish the wrongdoing of the unrighteous.
Isa 26:21, “For behold, the LORD is about to come out from His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their wrongdoing; and the earth will reveal her bloodshed and will no longer cover her slain.”
Jer 12:12, “On all the bare heights in the wilderness destroyers have come, for the sword of the Lord is devouring from one end of the land even to the other; there is no peace for anyone.”
Jer 33:11, “the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the groom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say, “Give thanks to the LORD of armies, for the LORD is good, for His mercy is everlasting,” as they bring a thanksgiving offering into the house of the LORD. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were at first,’ says the LORD.”
Hos 12:5, “And the LORD, the God of armies, The LORD is His name.”
1Pe 3:12, “FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER, BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST EVILDOERS.”
Hag 2:6, “For this is what the LORD of armies says: ‘Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the Heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land.”
Zec 7:9, “This is what the LORD of armies has said: ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother.”
Because the power of the Lord is unlimited, He IS WHO HE IS, to rule and control the universe.
1Co 7:25, “Now concerning virgins, I have no command of the Lord, but I am offering direction as one who by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy.”
Thanks God, the Lord is not only righteous, the Lord is trustworthy. It is good to trust the Lord.
2Co 3:17, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
God is the Spirit, so He is not restricted by time and space, and anything else.
1Ki 8:60, “so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no one else.”
The Lord is the only God, there is no one else.
Psa 10:16, “The LORD is King forever and ever; Nations have perished from His land.”
The Lord is King means He has authority, and His authority is absolute and supreme. A righteous man rarely becomes a national or world leader. Being righteous without authority does not go far.
Psa 25:8, “The LORD is good and upright; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.” Psa 92:15, “To declare that the LORD is just; He is my rock, and there is no malice in Him.”
The Lord is just means God is fair. There is no malice in God.
Psa 100:5, “For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting and His faithfulness is to all generations.”
The Lord is good and so evil does not have sovereignty. The conflict of good and evil is under the control and power of God.
Psa 103:8, “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in mercy.”
Psa 113:4, “The LORD is high above all nations; His glory is above the Heavens.”
The Lord is high above all nations means the Lord has absolutely sovereignty over all nations. His glory is above the Heavens means the Lord rules the universe.
Psa 135:5, “For I know that the LORD is great And that our Lord is above all gods.”
Smallness and powerlessness do not have a chance. The Lord is our great God and Savior.
Psa 138:6, “For the LORD is exalted, Yet He looks after the lowly, But He knows the haughty from afar.”
The Lord is exalted and so He administer justice.
Isa 30:18, “Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.”
The righteous God is also gracious and compassionate. The Lord is a God of justice.
Jer 10:10, “But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. The earth quakes at His wrath, and the nations cannot endure His indignation.”
1Th 4:6, “and that no one violate the rights and take advantage of his brother or sister in the matter, because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you previously and solemnly warned you.”
The righteous and great God is the avenger of their evil deeds, those who violate the rights and take advantage of the weak. In a capitalistic society, the rich and powerful (for example, banks, doctors, and hospitals, etc.) often violate the rights and take advantage of those who are weak and helpless.
2Th 3:3, “But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”
Psa 11:7, “For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; the upright will see His face.”
Because the Lord is righteous and He loves righteousness, so God treats the righteous differently from the wicked.
Gen 18:23, “Abraham approached and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?”
God is able to sweep away wicked nations and wicked peoples. God does not deal with the wicked the same He deals with the righteous. God makes a distinction, not discrimination. The Righteous God could not spare Sodom and Gomorrah because even at the plea of Abraham, there could not be found ten righteous men.
1Co 8:6, “yet for us there is only One God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and One Lord, Jesus Christ,by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.”
This Scripture summarized Biblical Theology. Christianity believes there is only One God, the Father, who is the Creator of all things; children of God exist for God. The Bible teaches there is only One Lord, Jesus Christ, by Whom are all things, and we Christians exist through Jesus Christ.
The word “for” has several meanings. For can be used as a function word to indicate purpose: Children of God exist for God. For can be used as a function word to indicate an intended goal: Children of God exist for the glory of God. For is also used because of: Children of God exist because of God.
Psa 62:5, “My soul, wait in silence for God alone, For my hope is from Him.”
My soul waits in silence for God alone, because my hope is from Him.
Act 22:3,“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the Law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.”
Saul was zealous for God in persecuting Christians but not in accordance with knowledge. Islamic terrorists are zealous for God because they want to have sex with many virgins in Paradise.
Rom 6:13, “and do not go on presenting the parts of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and your body’s parts as instruments of righteousness for God.”
Prostitutes sell their bodies as instruments of unrighteousness for money and for their pimps. Christians present themselves to God, and their bodies as instruments of righteousness for God.
2Co 9:7, “Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
This is the principle of Christian giving: each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Some churches in America require members to pledge 10% of their income, or they will not receive them.
Gal 2:19, “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live for God.”
Christians are not under the Law, so that they might live for God.
1Th 4:7, “For God has not called us for impurity, but in sanctification.”
God has not called Christians for impurity as some religion does, but in sanctification.
1Th 5:9, “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The false teacher John Calvin taught that God has destined some people for wrath. The Bible makes it clear that everyone can obtain salvation only through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Heb 6:18, “so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to hold firmly to the hope set before us.”
Heb 13:4, “Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.”
Jas 1:13, “No one is to say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.”
God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. It is Satan who tempts people.
Heb 13:16, “And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
God is pleased with such sacrifices as doing good and sharing.
1Pe 2:16, “Act as free people, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-servants of God.”
Christians are free people, but free people do not use freedom as a covering for evil. Western powers use freedom of navigation as a cover to spy and violate the territorial waters of China and Russia.
1Pe 2:19, “For this finds favor, if for the sake ofconscience toward God a person endures grief when suffering unjustly.”
It finds favor with God, if the sake of conscience toward God, a Christian endures grief when suffering unjustly.
1Pe 3:17, “For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.”
If God should will it so, it is better that you suffer for doing what is right than for doing what is wrong. So be alert, there are those who suffer for doing what is right.
1Pe 4:2, “so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human lusts, but for the will of God.”
The peoples of the world live in the flesh for human lusts that is money, power, and sex. Blessed are Christians who live for the will of God.
1Jo 2:2, “and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
The irresponsible false teacher John Calvin clearly denied the Word of God by teaching that Jesus Christ died for the elect only. The Bible makes it clear Jesus Christ Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
You do not need to trust any theologian, but you must trust the Word of God.
1Jo 3:8, “the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.”
Sin originates from the devil. The one who practices sin is of the devil. Those who lie, kill, and rob are children of the devil. The devil has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. The Chinese have a false belief:
道高一尺, 魔高一丈.
The way of good is one chi (尺 chi=foot) , the way of evil is one zhang (丈 zhang=10 feet). The translation is: The good way is one foot high, the evil way is ten feet tall. The Chinese unit of length; where 10 chi (尺) equals 1 zhang (丈). In other words, the Chinese wrongly believe the way of the devil is higher than the way of God. The Son of God, Jesus Christ appeared to destroy the works of the devil.
Rev 18:5, “for her sins have piled up as high as Heaven, and God has remembered her offenses.”
God has remembered the offenses of a certain nation for her sins have piled up as high as Heaven.
The word “from” has the meanings to indicate the origin or source; of 1Co 8:6:
1Jo 4:7, “Beloved, let’s love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”
Those who lie, kill, and rob do not know God. For love is from God.
Mat 3:7, “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You
offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”
Offspring of vipers better flee from the wrath to come now!
Mat 6:13, “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’
Christians pray, God deliver us from evil.
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.”
Christians are to learn from Christ.
Mat 13:49, “So it will be at the end of the world: the angels will come forth and remove the wicked from among the righteous.”
Although the wicked rule the world now, at the end of the world, the angels will come forth and remove the wicked from among the righteous.
Mat 25:34, “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
God has prepared the Kingdom for His children from the foundation of the world.
Mar 1:11, “and a voice came from the Heavens: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
The divinity of Jesus Christ was confirmed by a Voice came from the Heavens.
Jhn 6:46, “Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father.”
JESUS Christ was the ONE who is from God.
Rom 1:17, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH.”
False theologians and teachers do not know that in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.
Rom 1:18, “For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.”
Do you know who are the ungodly and unrighteous people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness?
Rom 8:35, “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?”
Nothing will separate Christians from the love of Christ.
Rom 14:23, “But the one who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.”
1Co 1:30, “But it is due to Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us Wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.”
Jesus Christ is our Wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
1Co 11:12, “For as the woman originated from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God.”
1Ti 1:5, “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith.”
The Christian love is from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith. Western leaders and politicians prove themselves lack of a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.
2Ti 3:13, “But evil people and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
The state of the world is not getting better, but from bad to worse.
Jas 3:17, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy, and good fruits, impartial, free of hypocrisy.”
This Scripture defines what is the wisdom from above.
The word “by” has the meanings of through or through the medium of; according to; inconformity with; etc. of 1Co 8:6:
1Pe 2:15, “For such is the will of God, that by doing right you silence the ignorance of foolish people.”
Act 18:28, “for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.”
Jesus is the Christ is powerfully demonstrated by the Scriptures.
Rom 1:4, “who was declared the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Jesus Christ our Lord was declared the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead.
Rom 3:24, “being justified as a gift by His gracethrough the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”
Believers are justified as a gift by the grace of God through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. There is no redemption outside of Jesus.
Rom 5:1, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Christians having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom 5:9, “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.”
Christians having now been justified by the precious blood of Jesus, we shall be saved also from the wrath of God through Jesus Christ.
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.”
Christians are bound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Rom 15:16, “to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the Gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”
Christians are sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
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.’
Christians live by faith in the Son of God.
Gal 5:16, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”
Christians walk by the Spirit and will not carry out the desires of the flesh.
Lastly, “through” has the meanings by way of; by means of; because of; etc. of 1Co 8:6:
Mat 7:13, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.”
Jesus says the way of salvation is through the narrow gate. The world of the people go by broad way that leads to destruction.
Jhn 1:17, “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
This Scripture summarizes the difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Law of Moses represents the Old Testament, the Law does not save anyone. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Savior of the world, this is the truth. Sinners can be saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Jhn 3:17, “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.”
God did not want to judge the world, for God so loved the world that the world might be saved through Jesus Christ.
Act 10:43, “All the prophets testify of Him, that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”
All the Old Testament prophets testify of Jesus Christ that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.
Rom 2:16, “on the day when, according to my Gospel, God will judge the secrets of mankind through Christ Jesus.”
Jesus Christ is the Judge of the living and the dead, who will judge the secrets of mankind.
Rom 3:22, “but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction.”
God says there is no distinction. The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe. The false teacher John Calvin contradicted the Word of God by saying God saves the elect only. All those who believe in Jesus Christ will be saved.
Rom 3:24, “being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”
The redemption accomplished by Jesus Christ is able to justify all who believe in Jesus’ name as a gift of the grace of God.
Rom 5:1, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Christians having been justified by faith, we also have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom 5:21, “so that, as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Just as sin reigned in death, so also through Jesus Christ grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life.
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.”
The Spirit of the Lord dwells in believers will also transform our mortal bodies into glorious, spiritual and immortal bodies when Jesus returns.
2Co 1:5, “For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.”
Christ will give Christians abundant comfort.
2Co 8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”
Christians through the poverty of Christ might become rich.
Gal 1:12, “For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.”
In fact, the Gospel, the whole Christian Faith, is not from man, but received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Phl 4:13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
Christians can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens us.
2Th 2:13, “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”
God has chosen His children from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. People who have no faith in the truth will never obtain salvation of God.
Heb 10:10, “By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.”
By the will of God, believers have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ on the cross once for all time. It is finished.
1Pe 1:23, “for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring Word of God.”
Christians have been born again through the living and enduring Word of God.
Jde 1:25, “to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority before all time and now and forever. Amen.”
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority to the only God our Savior, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
The great but unlucky Chinese leader Sun Yet Sen’s borrowing from Lincoln’s government of the people, by the people, and for the people — had a hard time of translating into Chinese. The Chinese language is disadvantaged without the powerful equivalents, “of”, “by” and “for”.
II. SOME GODLY MEN ARE RIGHTEOUS
Gen 6:9, “These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.”
God is the measurement of everything. God set up the standard of righteousness or morality. God decides who is righteous or who is not, for God knows everyone and the secrets of everyone. God has records that register every evil thought, word, and deed of every man and woman in this world. God can play back for whatever a man or woman thought, said, and did and when and where so that no one can deny the evidence. Righteous in Hebrew is ṣadîqwhich means just; lawful; law-abiding; upright; right; correct; right in law; acting in accord with divine and moral law; virtuous; – which occurs 206 times in the Old Testament.
Self-righteous is useless in the sight of God.
It is most remarkable that Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Blameless in Hebrew is tāmîmwhich means without blemish; perfect; sound; without spot; upright; sincere; wholesome; having integrity; in accord with truth and fact; undefiled; – which occurs 91 times in the Old Testament.
The reason Noah was righteous and blameless was Noah walked with God. No one who is crooked and wicked can walk with God. The reason that world leaders and politicians walk in the darkness because they have rejected the Light. They walk in the futility of their minds. Although they think they are smart, yet they do not walk as wise people. They lie, kill, destroy, and rob; and do not practice the truth.
Gen 7:1, “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 generation.”
God saved the household of Noah, for he was alone that God had seen to be righteous before Him in this generation. A Catholic theologian mistook the Ark to be the symbol of the church. The Catholic church, and any church cannot save anyone. Christ is the Ark, if you enter by faith you are saved in Christ. The flood represents the judgment of God. Jesus says, Mar 16:16,“The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but the one who has not believed will be condemned.”
Gen 15:6, “Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.”
Note: The Hebrew word for reckon is chashab which means to think, plan, esteem, consider, make a judgment, count, value, regard, take to be; – it occurs 124 times in the Old Testament. Abraham believed in God and God counted him as righteousness. To be justified is to be counted by God as righteousness. So a man is justified by faith in God. That was the old dispensation. Under the new dispensation, you believe in God and you must also believe in Christ in order to be justified. To be justified is to be counted as righteousness by God in Christ. All who believe in God as Abraham believed will also be justified.
Gen 18:19, “For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”
In my opinion, Abraham was the most magnificent man in the history of the world and no wonder he holds a title “a friend of God.” Jas 2:23, “and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,’ and he was called a friend of God.”
Once I was the instrument to bring the famous Dr. Harold Koontz to speak to our Management Club of a corporation. A supervisor told me he wanted to be a friend of Dr. Koontz. I told him frankly Dr. Koontz does not need any friend. A stupid theologian who had no fear of God in his heart suggested that every Christian to be a friend of God. It is already a great honor for me to be a slave of God, how dare I to become a friend of my God, the Holy ONE? No where in the Bible suggests a believer to become a friend of God. In history only Abraham was called a friend of God. Have you not read about Moses and the burning bush?
Act 7:30-33, “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 saw it, he was astonished at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came:
‘I AM THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS, THE GOD OF OF ABRAHAM, AND ISAAC, AND JACOB.’ Moses shook with fear and did not dare to look closely. “But the LORD said to him, ‘REMOVE YOUR SANDALS FROM YOUR FEET, FOR THE PLACE ON WHICH YOU ARE STANDING IS HOLY GROUND.”
Eze 18:5,“But if a man is righteous and practices justice and righteousness.”
The Word of God defines a righteous man: a righteous man practices justice and righteousness.
Pro 15:29, “The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer
of the righteous.”
The Lord is far from the wicked, and the wicked are far from God. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD.
1Co 8:6, “yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.”
It is wonderful the Bible tells us, there is only ONE GOD, the Father, and we exist for Him. There is ONE LORD, Jesus Christ, and we exist trough Him. Through the Scriptures cited we have learned the meanings “of” “for” and “through.”
2Co 6:15-18,”Or what harmony does Christ have with Belial, or what does a believer share with an unbeliever? Or what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I WILL DWELL AMONG THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
“Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord. Come out from a Satanic church and separate from those false brothers. “AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. “And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.”
2Ti 4:8, “in the future there is reserved 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.”
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.”
The eternal God is expressed as Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty.
Rev 4:8, “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.”
Day and night is an expression which means all the time, because there is no night in the Holy City. There is heavenly calendar, we do not know yet how it counts the time toward eternity.
III. THE MEANING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Amo 5:15, “Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the gate! Perhaps the LORD God of armies Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”
I personally think “righteousness” is an abstract concept, while “justice” is something concrete. Justice is righteousness in action. For example, the terrorist who killed many was caught, he was found guilty and executed. When the terrorist is executed, we say justice is served. It is righteousness for a terrorist to be punished with death penalty.
Theodore Rooseveltsaid, “Justice consists not in being neutral between right and wrong, but in finding out the right and upholding it, wherever found, against the wrong.”
There is no neutrality between right and wrong. Justice is always against the wrong. Those who are for the wrong are unrighteous. Justice is not action in accordance with the requirement of some law. Cain was wrong in killing Abel even though there was no law existent at that time. God determines what is right and wrong. For that reason God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are the basis of all human and civil and criminal laws. The law brings the knowledge of sin or wrong doing. The only way to get justice is to do the commandment of God. Whatever God says is right. When God says some act is wrong, it is wrong. When God says some act is right, it is right. There are no wise rulers in the world to determine what is justice. God is just, and never be impartial. God is the measure of everything. Man by nature is corrupt and sinful can never be impartial. The criminal justice system of America, not only it does not deter crime, but encourages crooks and criminals and enriches lawyers, judges, law enforcement and the court.
There are no distributive justice, procedural justice, and retributive justice.
There are many who confuse justice with equality. Equality means equal treatment under law, equal opportunity, and equal right. Equality does not mean equal abilities, means and resources. An uneducated black janitor cannot make equal income with an educated white professional. To do so is not equality, but injustice. When an uneducated black janitor makes equal wages with an uneducated white janitor, that is equality and justice. Unequal qualifications can never make equal wages. A yellow carpenter cannot make equal income with a white surgeon because the qualifications of a surgeon are not equal with the qualifications of a carpenter, race has nothing to do with the qualifications. The popular call for equal income for all is stupid, wrong and unjust. Equal job for equal pay is equality and justice. A poor man and rich man are never equal, race has nothing to do with it. A rich man who can afford it lives in a nice neighborhood. A poor man who cannot afford it lives in a bad neighborhood. That is equality and justice. For a poor man to live in a nice neighborhood paid by the government is inequality and injustice. The illegal migrants do not have the right to enter the rich countries so that they can live on welfare happily hereafter. The backward and unproductive nations cannot expect to live in luxury. It is equality and justice for everyone to get what they earn. You cannot get something for nothing. There are peoples such as unproductive illegal migrants, etc. who think they are entitled to something, and want to get something for nothing.
There is no such a thing called racial equality. There is no intra-racial equality. For example, within a race there are tall and short people, big and small people, smart and stupid people, etc. If a job that requires a big and strong person, small persons would not do. Of course there is no inter-racial equality, because there are more varieties among the races. If a black man is the fastest, he is likely to join track and field. A big girl is disadvantageous to join the Gymnastics. However, racial equality is possible if it means simply race is not considered or taken into account when it applies to college, employment, etc. For example, a black man told me he got into a reputable American medical school with just GPA of 2.0 and there are many Chinese students with GPA of 4.0 cannot get into a medical school. This is not racial equality, it is sheer racial discrimination. For example, Angela Merkelisthe most outstanding female German Chancellor in history. For her historical example makes the future female German Chancellors possible, and gender is not considered anymore. In many Asian nations, there is still no gender equality.
When a white and a black are not treated equally under the law, it is inequality and injustice. For example, when using so-called due process of law, a white man committed a rape is acquitted, while a black man who committed a rape is found guilty. Or when a rich man committed a rape is acquitted, while a poor man who committed a rape is found guilty. If you are innocent, no law, no procedure, no prosecutor, no jury, no court can convict you. If you are guilty of crime, no law, no procedure, no prosecutor, no jury, no court can acquit you. This is justice. This is equality.
According to https://www.rainn.org/articles/what-expect-criminal-justice-system
“Out of every 1000 instances of rape, only 13 cases get referred to a prosecutor, and only 7 cases will lead to a felony conviction.1 No matter the final outcome, reporting increases the likelihood that the perpetrator will face consequences.”
This is only one examples of gross injustice of American criminal justice system. In addition, the city or town should never pay for the defense of a crook or criminal. A poor city or town can be bankrupted by a crowd of crooks and criminals. That is only one aspect how the American criminal justice system encourages crooks and criminals and enriches defense lawyers, etc. I oppose the jury system. The American jury system should be abolished and replaced by three independent judges. The verdict of the majority judges stand. Of course there is appeal, and also judges can be condemned for partiality and injustice. Justice implies evenhandedness.
There is no such a thing called distributive justice although it is a legitimate concern that all members of society should have a “fair share” of the benefits and resources available. Many mistake and misunderstand Equity and Equality. Equity means everyone should be on the equal footing to receive fairly to one’s contributions to a society. When a Filipino accountant of equal qualifications receives less pay than a white account that is not equity, it is inequality or injustice. It is not equality when everyone gets the same amount of wages regardless of their qualifications. As in America the executives pay the same tax rate as their secretaries, that is inequality and injustice. The rich should pay a higher rate of income than the poor. If the corporate policy is twelve holidays with pay, it is equality and justice that the lowest pay employees receive the same benefits as the highest pay executives.
There is no such a thing called procedural justice whether criminal or civil. A white rapist will be sentenced the same as a black rapist. Of course the judge will take into account of the variety of behavior. A black rapist who committed bodily harm in addition to rape to a victim will receive longer sentence than white rapist who did not commit any addition violence.
What evidence is admitted applies to all criminals and victims. An evidence is an evidence even though it is not obtained by legal means. Rules and regulations apply to all equally and fairly. Defense lawyers under no circumstances can present fake evidence. A defense lawyer or prosecutor who presents fake evidence shall be censored and punished by law. A judge who admitted a fake evidence shall be censored and punished by law. No one can manipulate the legal process to benefit their side.
There is no such a thing called retributive justice. Even death penalty is not retributive justice because the penalty cannot bring back the person murdered. Justice is to punish the wrong doer according to their crime, not revenge. Punishment must fit the crime. Stealing a chicken is not the same as the fraudulent and predatory practices which involve millions of dollars as many doctors and hospitals do. The killing of a dog is not the same as the murder of a man. The rape of an adult is not the same as the rape of a child. A terrorist cannot be treated as a common criminal. There is nothing wrong to consider punishment as a deterrence. Punishment that does not deter crime is a failure in criminal justice system.
Deu 25:1-2, “If there is a dispute between people and they go to court, and the judges decide their case, and they declare the righteous innocent and pronounce the wicked guilty, then it shall be if the wicked person deserves to be beaten, the judge shall then make him lie down and have him beaten in his presence with the number of lashes according to his wrongful act.”
One measure that can completely change the American criminal justice system is the beating of the wicked person with the number of lashes according to his wrongful act and saving taxpayers billions of dollars annually. Right now crooks and criminals have no fear of the punishment in America. For example, if a rapist deserves 50 lashes, I am confident after the 50 lashes in addition to imprisonment, the criminal will learn his lesson and not to repeat the crime in the future. Death penalty was instituted by God,
Gen 9:6,“Whoever sheds human blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made mankind.”
Too bad some nations that claim to be Christian have abolished death penalty in violation of the law of God.
“THE ECONOMIC COSTS OF THE U.S. CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
Tara O’Neill Hayes Executive Summary
· The United States spends nearly $300 billion annually to police communities and incarcerate 2.2 million people.
· The societal costs of incarceration—lost earnings, adverse health effects, and the damage to the families of the incarcerated—are estimated at up to three times the direct costs, bringing the total burden of our criminal justice system to $1.2 trillion.
· The outcomes of this expense are only a marginal reduction in crime, reduced earnings for the convicted, and a high likelihood of formerly incarcerated individuals returning to prison.
· The value citizens place on the small increases in deterrence is difficult to quantify, but as a matter of logic it must be substantial to merit incurring the measured costs.”
History proves that God rarely delivers instant justice.
Except the case of Korah:
Num 16:20-50, “Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, so that I may consume them instantly.”
But they fell on their faces and said, “God, the God of the spirits of humanity, when one person sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?” Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Get away from the areas around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.’”
Then Moses arose and went to Dathan and Abiram, with the elders of Israel following him, and he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Get away now from the tents of these wicked men, and do not touch anything that belongs to them, or you will be swept away in all their sin!” So they moved away from the areas around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the entrances of their tents, along with their wives, their sons, and their little ones. Then Moses said, “By this you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all
these deeds; for it is not my doing. “If these men die the death of all
mankind, or if they suffer the fate of all mankind, then the LORD has not sent me. “But if the LORD brings about an entirely new thing and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them with everything that is theirs, and they descend alive into Sheol, then you will know that these men have been disrespectful to the LORD.” And as he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open; and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their households, and all the people who belonged to Korah with all their possessions. So they and all
that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. Then all Israel who were around them fled at their outcry, for they said, “The earth might swallow us!” Fire also came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense. Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Tell Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, that he shall pick up the censers from the midst of the burned area, because they are holy; and you are to scatter the burning coals further away.
“As for the censers of these men who have sinned at the cost of their own lives, have them made into hammered sheets as plating for the altar, since they did present them before the LORD and they are holy; and they shall serve as a sign to the sons of Israel.”
So the priest Eleazar took the bronze censers which the men who were burned had offered, and they hammered them out as plating for the altar, as a reminder to the sons of Israel so that no layman, anyone who was not of the descendants of Aaron, would approach to burn incense before the LORD; then he would not become like Korah and his group—just as the LORD had spoken to him through Moses. But on the next day all the congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You are the ones who have caused the death of the LORD’S people!” It came about, however, when the congregation had assembled against Moses and Aaron, that they turned toward the tent of meeting, and behold, the cloud covered it and the glory of the LORD appeared.
Then Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting, and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Get away from among this congregation so that I may consume them instantly.” Then they fell on their faces.
And Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put fire in it from the altar, and place incense on it; then bring it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from the LORD, the plague has begun!” Then Aaron took it just as Moses had spoken, and he ran into the midst of the assembly; and behold, the plague had begun among the people. So he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. And he took his stand between the dead and the living, so that the plague was brought to a halt. But those who died by the plague were 14,700 in number, besides those who died on account of Korah. Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting, for the plague had been brought to a halt.”
God is just and never shows partiality or favoritism. All people must follow in the “paths of justice.”
IV. THE TWO GROUPS
God determines the two groups of people without discrimination: the children of God and the children of the devil; the righteous and the unrighteous. Although the Righteous God makes the determination, individuals may have a choice.
1. Children of God.
Jhn 1:12, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”
No matter who, each and everyone who receives Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior, God gives them the right to become children of God, to those who believe in the name of Jesus.
Rom 8:16-17, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children,
heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”
The proof that you are a child of must be testified by the Holy Spirit with our spirit. Being children of God, we are also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. If Christians indeed suffer with Christ, we may also be glorified with Christ when He returns.
Rom 8:21, “that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”
What the children of God are now no different from the people of the world. The day is coming when Christians shall be set free from slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
Eph 5:8, “for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light.”
Children of God were once darkness, but now we are light in the Lord; so we must walk as children of light.
Phl 2:15, “so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.”
We live now in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, so children of God must prove themselves to be blameless and innocent, among people of the world the children of God appear as lights in the world.
1Jo 3:2, “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”
Now the outward appearance of the children of God does not appear as yet what will be. When Jesus Christ comes in power and glory, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
1Jo 5:2, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and follow His commandments.”
You can know for sure, those who love God and follow His commandments also love the children of God.
3Jo 1:4, “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”
The children of God are also walking in the truth
Mat 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”
In Heaven, all the children (sons and daughters) of God are called sons of God, because there will be no gender, like angels.
Luk 6:35, “But love your enemies and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil people.”
Sons of the Most High are children of God.
Luk 16:8, “And his master complimented the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this world are more shrews in relation to their own kind than the sons of light.”
Don’t you see the sons of this world such as people of Washington, Wall Street, and Hollywood and the military-industrial-security complex are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light, the children of God? These people own and rule the world.
Jhn 12:36, “While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus proclaimed, and He went away and hid Himself from them.”
Jesus is the Light of the world, believe in Jesus so that you may become sons of Light. Sons of Light are children of God.
Rom 8:14, “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God.”
Sons and daughters of God are led by the Spirit of God. The children of the devil do not have the Holy Spirit in them.
Rom 8:19, “For the eagerly awaiting creation waits for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God.”
The sons and daughters of God are waiting for the second coming of Jesus Christ so that they may have the redemption of the body.
Rom 9:26, “AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, ‘YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,’ THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF THE LIVING GOD.”
Children of God are also called sons of the Living God.
Gal 3:26, “For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Through faith in Christ Jesus all believers become sons and daughters of God.
1Th 5:5, “for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness.”
Children of God are also sons of light and sons of day. Remember, there will be no night in Heaven.
2. Children of the devil.
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 and sister.”
To identify the children of God and the children of the devil is an obvious matter. The children of the devil practice sin and they do not practice righteousness. The children of God practice righteousness and love his brother and sister (which means members of the household of God).
Eph 2:3, “Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest.”
Children of the devil are by nature children of wrath. The wrath of God is upon them.
2Pe 2:14, “having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having hearts trained in greed, accursed children.”
Do you know any group who are having hearts trained in greed than Washington, Wall Street, and Hollywood executives, the military-industrial-security complex? The children of the devil are accursed children.
Mat 13:38, “and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the Kingdom; and the weeds are the sons of the evil one.”
The sons of the Kingdom are children of God. The sons of the evil one are children of the devil.
Eph 2:2, “in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.”
The sons of disobedience are children of the devil who walk according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, and of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
Eph 5:6, “See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”
The wrath of God comes upon the children of the devil.
V. WHAT IS JUSTICE
The concept of righteousness is related closely to justice. A man who is righteous practices justice.
Gen 18:19, “For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”
By doing righteousness and justice is the way of the Lord. It is most significantly that God put righteousness and justice on the same level. Righteousness and justice and like two legs and they go together. The way of the Lord is doing righteousness and justice. The way of the Lord is righteousness and justice. A man cannot be doing righteousness and not doing justice. A man who is doing justice must also be doing righteousness. It is God who chose Abraham, but Abraham may command his children and his household to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice. God will bring upon Abraham what He has promised, at the same time Abraham and his children must keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice.
Righteousness in Hebrew is ṣᵊḏāqâwhich means righteousness of God’s attribute; truthfulness; ethically right; rightness; rectitude; morally virtue; morally right; uprightness; – which occurs 159 times in the Old Testament. Justice in Hebrew is mišpāṭwhich means judgment; right cause; right manner; order; execution of judgment; proper fitting; just discretion; right measure; using laws fairly; correctness; – which occurs 424 times in the Old Testament. We need understanding and wisdom to know the difference between righteousness and justice. Righteousness is keeping what is right in thinking, justice is keeping what is right in doing. So justice is doing righteousness or justice is righteousness in action.
Gen 42:22, “Reuben answered them, saying, “Did I not tell you, ‘Do not sin against the boy‘; and you would not listen? Now justice for his blood is required.”
Ruben was telling his brothers not to sin against Joseph. Now Joseph is the Prime Minister of Egypt, so Ruben thought justice for Joseph’s blood is required. You did something unrighteous in the past, justice would catch up with you for the blood required.
Exo 23:2, “You shall not follow the crowd in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to join together with a crowd in order to pervert justice.”
To follow the crowd in doing evil is to pervert justice. So do not think the majority of people are for justice.
Deu 16:19, “You shall not distort justice, you shall not show partiality; and you shall not accept a bribe, because a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and distorts the words of the righteous.”
Distort in Hebrew isnāṭâwhich means to stretch out; bend down; pervert; turn aside; hold out; thrust aside; thrust away; let down; overthrow; cause to yield; bring down; defeat; – which occurs 216 times in the Old Testament. God hates the wicked who pervert justice.
Thousands of years have passed. To show partiality is to distort justice. For that reason, Affirmative Action must be abolished because it distorts justice. Whenever a group is shown special treatment, all other groups suffer injustice. Bribery is a means to corrupt the officials, and a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and distorts the words of the righteous.
Deu 33:21, “Then he selected the choicest part for himself, for there the ruler’s portion was reserved; And he came with the leaders of the people; He executed the justice of the LORD, And His ordinances with Israel.”
The leaders of the people and the ruler must execute the justice of the Lord according to His ordinances.
Ordinances in Hebrew is mišpāṭwhich means lawful
order; legal custom; judgment; authoritative decree; a law set forth by divine order; – which occurs 424 times in the Old Testament.
1Sa 8:3, “His sons, however, did not walk in his ways but turned aside after dishonest gain, and they took bribes and perverted justice.” Sons of Samuel did not walk in his ways, they turned aside after dishonest gain, and they took bribes and perverted justice. It is always the way: people who turn aside after dishonest gain will take bribes and pervert justice.
2Sa 8:15, “So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered justice and righteousness for all his people.”
David was good king. It seems the Scripture is saying, a good king administers justice and righteousness for all his people. In certain countries, the rich can get justice and righteousness because they can afford high-priced lawyers. Do you know any country which is administering justice and righteousness for all its citizens? Justice is not possible to be administered without righteousness, and righteousness is not possible without justice.
1Ki 3:11, “And God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself a long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the lives of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice.”
Justice is not something easy to understand. According to the Word of God, man needs discernment to understand justice.
Discernment in Hebrew is bîn which means to understand; consider; perceive; regard; know with the mind; distinguish; have discernment, insight, and understanding; to be able to grasp and understand; – which occurs 171 times in the Old Testament.
1Ki 3:28, “When all Israel heard about the judgment which the king had handed down, they feared the king, because they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.”
This was King Solomon’s most famous case that won him world fame, the fear of his subjects, and they saw the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice. To administer justice one needs the wisdom of God. Interestingly, whether a man has wisdom of God or not people can see.
1Ki 10:9,“Blessed be the LORD your God who delighted in you to put you on the throne of Israel; because the LORD loves Israel forever, He made you king, to do justice and righteousness.”
The job of a king is to do justice and righteousness. Do you know any government in the world which is to do justice and righteousness? Many world leaders and politicians the first thing they do is to enrich themselves and their supporters or special interest, and to get national debt as high as they could so that they can build strong military defense and expand their influence and interest in the world.
1Ch 18:14, “So David reigned over all Israel; and he administered justice and righteousness for all his people.”
King David was the greatest King of Israel, because he was a righteous king. David reigned over all Israel; and he administered justice and righteousness for all his people. Justice and righteousness go together, just like a man walks with two legs. It is not possible to have justice without righteousness; it is also not possible to have righteousness without justice. Any good government must administer justice and righteousness. For all the people: justice and righteousness must be for all the people. In America if you are rich and powerful, you can get justice; for the rest is a mockery of justice. When justice is administered for a few, all suffer injustice.
2Ch 9:8, “Blessed be the LORD your God who delighted in you, setting you on His throne as king for the LORD your God; because your God loved Israel, establishing them forever, He made you king over them, to carry out justice and righteousness.”
Because God loved Israel, God delighted in king David to carry out justice and righteousness. God also likes any government that carries out justice and righteousness.
Job 8:3, “Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert what is right?”
To pervert justice is to pervert what is right.
Job 19:7, “Behold, I cry, ‘Violence!’ but I get no answer; I shout for help, but there is no justice.”
Where can you get help in this world. There is no justice anywhere in this world.
Job 29:14, “I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a headband.”
Justice is like a robe and a headband.
Job 32:9, “The abundant in years may not be wise, Nor may elders understand justice.”
How bad can it be when the old are not wise, nor elders understand justice?
Job 34:12,“God certainly will not act wickedly, And the Almighty will not pervert justice.”
To act wickedly is to pervert justice.
Job 35:2, “Do you think this is in accordance with justice? Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?”
God’s righteousness requires all things done in accordance with justice.
Job 36:6,“He does not keep the wicked alive, But gives justice to the afflicted.”
A corrupt and crook criminal justice system keeps the wicked alive; God gives justice to the afflicted.
Psa 33:5, “He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.”
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord because He loves righteousness and justice.
Psa 37:28, “For the LORD loves justice And does not abandon His godly ones; They are protected forever, But the descendants of the wicked will be eliminated.”
Because the Lord loves justice, His godly ones are protected forever; but the descendants of the wicked will be eliminated.
Psa 37:30, “The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, And his tongue speaks justice.”
Psa 89:14, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before You.”
The foundation of God’s throne are righteousness and justice; mercy and truth go before God.
Psa 97:2, “Clouds and thick darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.”
Psa 106:3, “How blessed are those who maintain justice, who practice righteousness at all times!”
How blessed are those who maintain justice! Those who maintain justice, practice righteousness at all times.
Psa 111:7, “The works of His hands are truth and justice; all His precepts are trustworthy.”
Psa 119:121, “Ayin I have done justice and righteousness; Do not leave me to my oppressors.”
“the Hebrew letter Ayin (ע‛) – a letter which cannot well be represented in the English alphabet, as there is, in fact, no letter in our language exactly corresponding with it. It would be best represented probably by what are called “breathings” in Greek.”
Oppressors do not do justice and righteousness.
Pro 1:3, “To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice, and integrity.”
Wise behavior includes righteousness, justice, and integrity. There is no wise behavior in the world because there are no righteousness, justice, and integrity anywhere in the world.
Pro 2:8, “Guarding the paths of justice, And He watches over the way of His godly ones.”
The Lord guards the paths of justice, and He watches over the way of His godly ones.
VI. HOW DOES GOD JUSTIFY MEN
From Paul to Luther, and all Christians of all generations, view of justification is by faith alone. Faith is the trust in the mercy of God through Christ, and justification is the declaring righteous of those who believe in Christ, which is followed by a practice of righteousness and justice.
Justification passively means not coming into judgment.
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: The Greek word for judgment is krisiswhich means sentence of condemnation, condemnation and punishment; – it occurs 48 times in the New Testament. Jesus defines justification as not coming into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Those who believe in Christ will not come into judgment but receive eternal life. To be justified is not coming into judgment. Those who have been justified will not be condemned or come into judgment. To be justified is a part of the process to be saved. To be saved is to have eternal life and have passed out of death into life.
Justification has active and passive meanings: Actively God counts a person (believer) as righteousness. Passively God does not impute iniquity to a man (believer). There is no way a man can justify himself actively or passively.
In fact sinful men could never be righteous before the Holy and Mighty God. If God is only Righteous, then there is no hope for mankind. But God is also Compassionate, the Lord gives grace to the needy.
Justification actively denotes “the act of pronouncing righteous, justification, acquittal;” its precise meaning is determined by that of the verb dikaioo, “to justify” which means “to count as righteous”, it is used 8 times in Galatians. In Rom 4:25 the phrase “for our justification,” or “because of our justification” means all that was necessary on God’s part for our “justification” had been effected and completed in the death of Christ. On this account or for this reason He was raised from the dead. The propitiation being perfect and complete, His resurrection was the confirmation. InRom 5:18 ,“justification of life” means “justification which results in life.” That God “justifies” the believing sinner on the ground of Christ’s substitutionary death, involves His free gift of life.
Rom 4:8, “BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.”
God will not take into account the past sins of the man who repents and believes in Jesus Christ, the Redeemer and Savior of the world. Because Jesus Christ died for the sins of all who come to Him for forgiveness of sins.
Gen 18:24-26, “Suppose there are fifty righteous people within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” So the LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the entire place on their account.”
Gen 18:28, “Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking lacking five, will You destroy the entire city because of five?” And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”
Gen 18:29-33, “And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose forty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it on account of the forty.” Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak; suppose thirty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” And he said, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the twenty.” 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.”
Sadly, there were not even ten righteous. How Abraham pleaded was most moving. God was most compassionate. God finally had to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.
Exo 9:27, “Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time; the LORD is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones.”
Even Pharaoh had to confess that the Lord is the righteous one, and Pharaoh and his people are the wicked ones.
Exo 23:7, “Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent or the righteous, for I will not acquit the guilty.”
The Lord will not acquit the guilty. A corrupt and crooked criminal justice system acquits the guilty.
Deu 4:8, “Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole Law which I am setting before you today?”
There is no great nation on earth that has statues and judgments as righteous as the whole Mosaic Law. However, no man can justify by the work of the Law. Deu 16:18, “You shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your towns which the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.”
The job of judges and officers is to judge the people with righteous judgment.
Deu 16:19, “You shall not distort justice, you shall not show partiality; and you shall not accept a bribe, because a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and distorts the words of the righteous.”
Judges and officers shall not distort justice and show partiality. They shall not accept a bribed, because a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and distorts the words of the righteous. A judge and officer who distorts justice by accepting a bride should be executed for public to know the importance of justice.
Deu 25:1, “If there is a dispute between people and they go to court, and the judges decide their case, and they declare the righteous innocent and pronounce the wicked guilty.”
The judges decide and declare the righteous innocent and pronounce the wicked guilty. However, in American, if you have a dream team of lawyers, you can get the guilty acquitted.
Deu 32:4, “The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; the God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and Just is He.”
God is the Rock of justice. His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; the God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and Just is He.
Jdg 5:11, “At the sound of those who distribute water among the watering places, there they will recount the righteous deeds of the LORD, the righteous deeds for His peasantry in Israel. Then the people of the LORD went down to the gates.”
Some of the righteous deeds of the Lord are written in the Holy Scriptures. No one knows all the righteous deeds of the Lord, maybe not even the angels. It is good that the righteous recount the righteous deeds of the Lord.
1Sa 12:7, “Now then, take your stand, so that I may enter into judgment with you before the LORD concerning all the righteous acts of the LORD that He did for you and your fathers.”
I think it is good if some Jewish historian would undertake a great project of systematic gathering and compiling all the righteous act of the Lord that He did for patriarch Abraham and all children of Israel.
1Sa 24:17, “And he said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt maliciously with you.”
King Saul admitted that David was more righteous than he; for David had dealt well with Saul, while Saul had dealt maliciously with David. Over the years, Europeans, Americans and Japanese have dealt maliciously with China with oppression and injustice. Just the wickedness and malice and brutalities of Japanese toward the Chinese in the 14 years of war of aggression alone, only God can have the undeniable records. Sooner or later, God will eliminate the wicked from the earth.
1Ki 8:32,“then hear in Heaven and act and judge Your servants, condemning the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, and acquitting the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.”
The wicked are wrong thinking God does not hear and does not act. The LORD condemns the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, and acquitting the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.
2Ch 6:23, “then hear from Heaven and take action and judge Your servants, punishing the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous by repaying him according to his righteousness.”
God will hear from Heaven and take action. The action of God is to punish the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous by repaying him according to righteousness.
Ezr 9:15, “LORD God of Israel, You are righteous, for we have been left an escaped remnant, as it is this day; behold, we are before You in our guilt, for no one can stand before You because of this.”
Even the rebellious Israelites must admit the Lord God of Israel is righteous. Every man and woman stands before God in our guilt, for no one can stand before God because of sins.
Neh 9:8, “You found his heart faithful before You, and made a covenant with him to give him the land of the Canaanite, of the Hittite and the Amorite, of the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite—To give it to his descendants. And You have fulfilled Your promise, Because You are righteous.”
The Lord found the heart of Abraham faithful, to give him the land of the Canaanite, etc. and to his descendants. Now Palestinians, Arabs and Hamas want to rob the Jewish land. See how the Righteous God is going to deal with the enemies of Israel.
Neh 9:33,“However, You are righteous in everything that has happened to us; for You have dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly.”
Christians can say the same: God is righteous in everything that has happened to us; for God has dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly.
Job 4:17, “Can mankind be righteous before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?”
Now is the most important question of all honest men: Can mankind be righteous before God. Can a man be pure before his Maker.
The answer is absolutely no. No one is righteous before God. No man is pure before his Maker. God will condemn us, He will declare mankind guilty. A righteous man is full of shame, and conscious of his sins. A man who is born of a woman cannot be righteous before God. Man is righteous only in his own eyes. But there is a way: the way of salvation.
Job 25:4, “How then can mankind be righteous with God? Or how can anyone who is born of woman be pure?”
Scientists and philosophers cannot find the answer.
Psa 1:5, “Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.”
No one can stand in the judgment of God.
The Greek word for justify isdikaioōwhich means to render righteous, count as righteous, declare or pronounce one to be just or righteous; – it occurs 40 times in the New Testament. By rising from the dead Jesus had fulfilled the righteousness of God and through the righteousness of Christ a believer is justified or counted righteous before God as if he had never sinned. The deeds of man no matter how good cannot be counted as righteousness before God.
The justification of believers in Jesus Christ has nothing to do with Council of Trent, explanations of theologians or opinions of any man. It is not so much the development of the doctrine, it is the revelation of Jesus Christ. It is not Pauline, Petrine, Johannine and Jacobean doctrine. It is a Biblical doctrine of Christianity. The critical point of justification is before God; not before men, not before human court, not before any institution or organization.
Here are the main features of justification:
A. By His grace
Rom 3:24, “ being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” Grace means undeserved divine favor. No human being is deserved the grace of God. So justification is only possible because God gives grace as a gift. God gives grace as a gift through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. Redemption in Greek is exagorazōwhich means to ransom, buy off, buy up, of Christ freeing the elect from the dominion of the Mosaic Law at the price of His vicarious death; – it occurs 4 times in the New Testament. To be cursed is to be under a curse, which is liable to the appointed penalty of being cursed. Those who sin are under the curse of the law. A believer is saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ who died for sinners. By the substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross (redemption) a believer is redeemed and saved from condemnation.
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.”
Rom 5:17, “For if by the offense of the one, death reigned through the one, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”
Gal 2:21, “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
B. Not by works
Act 13:39, “and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.”
The Believer is freed from all things, including freed from the Law of Moses.
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.”
Rom 3:20, “because by the works of the Law none of mankind will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes knowledge of sin.”
Rom 3:21, “But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets.”
Rom 3:28, “For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.”
The Bible maintains that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. It is indisputable that justification is apart from works of the Law.
Gal 2:16, “nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by 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 works of the Law; since by 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 ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH.”
Rom 4:6, “just as David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works.”
The good news is the fact that God credits righteousness to all who believe in His Son Jesus Christ apart from works.
Gal 5:4, “You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by the Law; you have fallen from grace.”
If a person is seeking to be justified by the Law, he has fallen from grace.
C. By faith
Rom 3:28, “For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.”
The Bible maintains a person is justified by faith, apart from works of the Law.
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.”
Justified by faith means through the righteousness of faith in Jesus Christ.
Gal 2:16, “nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by 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 works of the Law; since by works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”
Justified by faith in Christ means through faith in Christ Jesus a person is justified before God.
Gal 3:11, “Now, that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH.”
It is evident no one is justified by the Law before God; so all must be justified by 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.”
By faith, through faith means on the basis of faith.
D. Through faith in Christ Jesus
Rom 3:22, “but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction.”
There is no distinction whether you are president or pimp, prime minister or prostitute, Jewish or Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, the righteousness of God is obtained only through faith in Jesus Christ.
Rom 8:3,“For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh.”
The Law could not save sinners, and could not justify sinners before God. God sent His own Son Jesus Christ as an offering for sin, in order to justify believers before God.
Rom 10:4, “For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
Christ is the end of the law means Christ has fulfilled the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. What we could not fulfill in the Law, the Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled for all believers.
1Co 6:11, “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”
Believers who are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ through faith will have the Spirit of God dwelling in him.
Gal 2:16, “nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by 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 works of the Law; since by works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”
No flesh means no human being can be justified by works of the Law. Jesus Christ in completing His redemption has fulfilled works of the Law. Now through faith, not works, a person who believes in Christ Jesus is justified by faith.
Rom 3:24, “ being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” Redemption in Greek is apolytrōsiswhich means a releasing effected by payment of ransom, liberation procured by the payment of a ransom, deliverance; – it occurs only 10 times in the New Testament. Redemption is deliverance effected through the death of Christ on the cross for sinners from the retributive wrath of the Holy God and the penalty of sin. The redemption is only in Christ because Jesus died on the cross for sinners. Justification is a gift by God’s grace through the work of Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. Redemption means to offset or compensate for our sins, Jesus Christ died on the cross for us; the Righteous for the unrighteous, the Sinless for the sinful, in order to pay the ransom so that we may obtain the forgiveness of sins; and to receive the righteousness of God as a gift to be justified before God. To be justified before God means God counts believers as if they have never sinned and by grace receive the righteousness of God in Christ.
Rom 4:25, “He who was delivered over because of our wrongdoings, and was raised because of our justification.”
To be justified through Christ means Jesus was crucified for our wrongdoings, and He was raised from the dead by the power of God for our justification.
Rom 5:9, “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of Godthrough Him.”
To be justified through Christ means to be justified by His blood. Jesus Christ paid by His blood to obtain the righteousness of God for all believers.
Rom 5:17, “For if by the offense of the one, death reigned through the one, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”
For a sinner to be justified before God, it is Jesus Christ who matters. Through Jesus Christ means by way of Jesus Christ, by means of Jesus Christ, because of Jesus Christ the grace of God and the gift of righteousness is given to all who believe in Jesus Christ.
1Co 1:30, “But it is due to Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.”
To be justified through Christ means Jesus who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption. Jesus is everything God requires.
2Co 5:21, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Justified through Christ means God made Christ who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become righteousness of God in Christ.
The blessings of Justification:
A. Will be saved.
Mar 16:16, “The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but the one who has not believed will be condemned.”
Jhn 5:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the one 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.”
To be saved is to have passed out of death into life and has eternal life. The redemption of our bodies will take place when Jesus Christ returns to the earth.
B. No condemnation
Rom 8:1, “Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
C. Become children of God
Jhn 1:12, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”
D. Would be made heirs
Tit 3:7, “so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
E. God will glorify
Rom 8:30, “ and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”
IN CONCLUSION
You have learned God is Righteous. In history God has chosen some people so that God may show His grace and mercy on them. You have learned the meaning of righteousness. God divides the peoples of the world into two groups: the children of God and the children of the devil. No sinful man can be justified before God. If God is only Righteous, there will be no hope for mankind. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ: God is also gracious and merciful. God so loved the world that He sent His only Son Jesus Christ from Heaven down to the earth to save sinners.
To justify men before God, God provided a plan of salvation. God made Jesus Christ the Sinless to be sin in our behalf. That means the Righteous Jesus to be a sin offering for all mankind so that the righteousness of God may be obtained by grace through faith in Jesus Christ to all who repent and believe in His name. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. By the power of God Jesus Christ rose from the dead for our justification. So now, not by work of the Law, not by good deed, not by merit even the chief sinner may be saved by grace and receive the eternal life to become heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven.
You know you cannot save yourself. No flesh, no human, can be justified before God by his good deeds or merit. God loves you and wants to give you the gift of righteousness freely. All you need to do is repent of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
The leader of Ukraine is corrupt and evil. Ukranians are stupid to follow the path of destruction. He was the one who instigated war with Russia. Now he asks for guarantee of its security. 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 refrerendum. America is ruined by dark and evil forces.
Heroes of all races who sacrified 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 sacrified their lives in the war against Japanese aggression and atrocities must always be honored and remembered. The Chinse 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 Japanse aggression and atrocities of killing 35 million innocent Chinese without remorse or reparations. UN overappointed unqualified blacks and media have given too much covergage 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 orphanes. 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 reognized 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, Hezebolla, 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. Ukranians 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, overappointed 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, voordoism.
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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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 were worse than wild beasts and deserve ten atomic bombs in recompense. Even today Japanese government and leaders do not 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 refrerendum. America is ruined by dark and evil forces.
Heroes of all races who sacrified 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 sacrified their lives in the war against Japanese aggression and atrocities must always be honored and remembered. The Chinse 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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*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.
BY WILLIE WONG
This article is written for you to know if you fear God, you have nothing to fear although the world is full of fears.
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.”
God changed the name of Abram to Abraham.
Even Abraham had many fears, but Abraham believed in God; and the Word of the Lord came to Abraham in a vision. Nowadays Christians are fortunate to have access to the Holy Scriptures, they do not need to have a vision.
Gen 26:24, “And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said,
“I am the God of your father Abraham;
Do not fear, for I am with you.
I will bless you and multiply your descendants,
For the sake of My servant Abraham.”
Gen 32:11,“Save me, please, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, that he will come and attack me and the mothers with the children.”
difficulties in her labor, the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for you have another son!”
In an unpleasant world, there are many fears.
1.) Fear of evil.
Evil generally speaking is something abstract, something undesirable or unpleasant; something very bad. When it happens, everyone knows what it is! The Lord teaches Christians to pray; “Deliver us from evil.”
Mat 6:13, “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
(13) Lead us not into temptation.—The Greek word includes the two thoughts which are represented in English by “trials,” i.e., sufferings which test or try, and “temptations,” allurements on the side of pleasure which tend to lead us into evil. Of these the former is the dominant meaning in the language of the New Testament, and is that of which we must think here. (Comp. Matthew 26:41.) We are taught not to think of the temptation in which lust meets opportunity as that into which God leads us (James 1:13-14); there is therefore something that shocks us in the thought of asking Him not to lead us into it. But trials of another kind, persecution, spiritual conflicts, agony of body or of spirit, these may come to us as a test or as a discipline. Should we shrink from these? An ideal stoicism, a perfected faith, would say, “No, let us accept them, and leave the issue in our Father’s hands.” But those who are conscious of their weakness cannot shake off the thought that they might fail in the conflict, and the cry of that conscious weakness is therefore, “Lead us not into such trials,” even as our Lord prayed, “If it be possible, let this cup pass away from me” (Matthew 26:39). And the answer to the prayer may come either directly in actual exemption from the trial, or in “the way to escape” (1Corinthians 10:13), or in strength to bear it. It is hardly possible to read the prayer without thinking of the recent experience of “temptation” through which our Lord had passed. The memory of that trial in all its terrible aspects was still present with Him, and in His tender love for His disciples He bade them pray that they might not be led into anything so awful.
Deliver us from evil.—The Greek may grammatically be either neuter or masculine, “evil” in the abstract, or the “evil one” as equivalent to the “devil.” The whole weight of the usage of New Testament language is in favour of the latter meaning. In our Lord’s own teaching we have the “evil one” in Matthew 13:19; Matthew 13:38; John 17:15 (probably); in St. Paul’s (Ephesians 6:16; 2Thessalonians 3:3), in St. John’s (1John 2:13-14; 1John 3:12; 1John 5:18-19) this is obviously the only possible interpretation. Romans 12:9, and possibly John 17:15, are the only instances of the other. Added to this, there is the thought just adverted to, which leads us to connect our Lord’s words with His own experience. The prayer against temptation would not have been complete without reference to the Tempter whose presence was felt in it. We may lawfully pray to be spared the trial. If it comes, there is yet room for the prayer, “Deliver us from the power of him who is our enemy and Thine.”
For thine is the kingdom. . . .—The whole clause is wanting in the best MSS. and in the earlier versions, and is left unnoticed by the early Fathers, who comment on the rest of the Prayer. Most recent editors have accordingly omitted it, as probably an addition made at first (after the pattern of most Jewish prayers) for the liturgical use of the Prayer, and then interpolated by transcribers to make the text of the discourse harmonise with the liturgies.”
“Evil is a term used to describe something that brings about harmful, painful, and unpleasant effects. It is understood to be of three kinds: Moral evil, natural evil, and metaphysical evil. Moral evil is evil human beings volitionally and intentionally originate, and its examples are their cruel, vicious, and unjust thoughts and actions, such as murder. Natural evil is evil which occurs independently of human thoughts and actions, but which still causes pain and suffering, and it refers to earthquakes, volcanos, storms, droughts, disease-causing bacilli, and so on. “Metaphysical evil,” a term coined by Gottfried Leibniz (1646-1716), refers to the finite and limited condition of the created spatio-temporal world, thus being usually understood not to be evil in and of itself.”
Only God knows in 14 years of Japanese aggression against China how much evil Japanese had done to the Chinese. We know the Nanjing Massacre was evil. We know thousands and thousands of young women were made Comfort Women by Japanese troops were evil. We KNOW millions and millions of Chinese were made slave workers. We know the sudden attack of Pearl Harbor was evil. We also know in the last 500 years the peoples of White race are sill doing evil. It is not surprising that gun culture produces many incidents of violence. Terrible and traumatic events will continue to happen in a violent America. But Christians have nothing to fear.
2.) Fear of unemployment.
In America, fear of unemployment is big and real. Because the cost of living is high, when you are unemployed what can you do. When you have no employment, you have no income. When you have no income, you have no money. How can you live in America with the highest cost of living when you have no money?
· Unemployment imposes costs on a society that are more than just financial.
· Unemployed individuals not only lose income but also face challenges to their physical and mental health.
· There are societal costs of high unemployment.
· Governmental costs go beyond the payment of benefits and include the loss of the production of workers which reduces the gross domestic product (GDP).
· Unemployment affects not only the individual but also spouses, partners, and children. Costs to the Individual
There’s often an immediate impact on an individual’s standard of living when they lose their job. The average savings rate in the U.S. had been drifting down toward zero and sometimes below before the Great Recession. There are anecdotal reports that the average person is only a few weeks away from serious financial trouble without a paying job.3”
There are people who are called house slaves. They are young people who have bought a house through borrowing from the bank. They must pay monthly mortgage. If they lose employment, they cannot afford to pay mortgage. If they cannot afford to pay mortgage, they will lose their house. That is why the couple must both work, to insure against unemployment. Maybe a single wage can keep them going for some months. For that reason they are called house slaves in relation to almost all corporations have psychopathic supervisors. These psychopathic supervisors acted like they were the owners of the corporation, they treated their subordinates harshly and humiliated them. The house slaves are very afraid to lose their jobs, because losing their jobs are tantamount to losing their homes. For that reason the house slaves are willing to bear any burden, endure any hardship and humiliation in order to keep their jobs. The cost of unemployment is very high in America, only the rich is free from it. Do you want to see the homeless people in Los Angeles? Just take a walk in Downtown at your own risk. You may be surprised Christians are citizens of Heaven, we are pilgrims on earth.
Almost all wicked people I met I met them at work. If I do not need to make a living, I would have never met them.
Phl 3:20, “For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Php 3:20-21. For our conversation is in heaven — We that are true Christians are of a very different spirit, and act in a quite different manner. The original expression, πολιτευμα, rendered conversation, is a word of a very extensive meaning, implying our citizenship, our thoughts, our affections, are already in heaven; or we think, speak, and act, converse with our fellow-creatures, and conduct ourselves in all our intercourse with them, as citizens of the New Jerusalem, and as being only strangers and pilgrims upon earth. We therefore endeavour to promote the interests of that glorious society to which we belong, to learn its manners, secure a title to its privileges, and behave in a way suitable to, and worthy of our relation to it; from whence also we look for the Saviour — To come and carry us thither according to his promise, (John 14:3,) namely, our spirits, at the dissolution of this earthly tabernacle; yea, and afterward to transform our vile body, το σωμα της ταπεινωσεως, the body of our humiliation; which, in consequence of the fall of our first parents, sinks us so low, is subject to, and encompassed with, so many infirmities, is such a clog to our souls, and so greatly hinders our progress in the work of faith and labour of love: this body we expect he will transform into the most perfect state and the most beauteous form, when it will be purer than the unspotted firmament, brighter than the lustre of the stars, and, which exceeds all parallel, which comprehends all perfection, like unto his glorious body — Of which an image was given in his transfiguration, yea like that wonderfully glorious body which he wears in his heavenly kingdom, and on his triumphant throne. So that here, as Romans 8:23, the redemption of the body from corruption, by a glorious resurrection, is represented as the especial privilege of the righteous. According to that mighty working — That energy of power; whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself — To show himself to the whole intelligent creation of God completely victorious over all his enemies, even over death and the grave, the last of them.”
3.) FEAR OF OLD AGE.
The fear of old age includes the fear of getting old.
The people who are most afraid of old age are the beautiful Hollywood actresses. Obviously, old age will take beauty away. What is an actress without beauty? It seems yesterday I was young: I studied ten thousand books and walked 10,000 miles. Today I am old. I am restricted by activities used to be easy and simple. I pray without ceasing: Heavenly Father, have mercy on me! Heavenly Father, have pity on me! Heavenly Father, have compassion on me! God save me, your old servant! An old servant is engaged in the ministry of life. Old age brings many problems: diseases and disabilities. There are a thousand and one things to kill you. To die is easy; to live is hard. The most
common disability is unable to walk. I cannot thank God enough for giving me a good wife. Without my wife I would have been dead long ago.
“The biggest challenge to older adults can often be their health. To monitor these old-age problems, it’s best to get regular checkups and monitor your body for changes. Depending on the health concern, possible solutions to these problems can include a healthy diet, exercise, and/or medications. Some of these health concerns include:
Heart disease
Diabetes
Hearing loss
Cataracts
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Heart attack and/or stroke
Extra susceptibility to sexually transmitted diseases
Muscle weakness
Fatigue
Loss of balance, which can result in falls
Malnutrition
Oral health issues, such as dry mouth and gum disease
And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age,…. Being now one hundred and forty years of age, for as he was an hundred years old when Isaac was born, and Isaac was forty years of age when he married Rebekah, which was at this time, Abraham must be of the age mentioned, see Genesis 21:5,
and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things; with all kind of blessings, with temporal and spiritual blessings; the former seems chiefly designed here, because of what follows; God had blessed him, as Aben Ezra observes, with long life, and riches, and honour, and children, things desirable by men.”
4.) FEAR OF LOSS.
There are many kinds of loss. Loss of spouse is unbearable. Business owners are afraid of loss and bankruptcy. Most people are afraid of fire, fire may burn down their homes and possessions. My mother told me when they had a fire, my grand father was paralyzed that he could do nothing to rescue.
Types of loss are various and many. How can a mother acquit herself of guilt because of her phone call caused her daughter to have a driving accident and died? Some Chinese adults told me personally they lost the prime time of their lives not studying at universities due to Cultural Revolution. Some loss not only has monetary measurement, it has a psychological dimension. Sense of loss is a strange phenomenon because it is personally and individually defined. Probably the greatest loss is the loss of a spouse. Some women deplore of not being able to sleep alone. Loss of home or business is very serious and unbearable. Bankruptcy is a personal shame to many. Moral failure is not only a loss of reputation. The Chinese has a saying, Once a slip becomes a regret for a thousand years.
Mat 16:26, “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”
For what is a man profited … – To gain the whole world means to possess it as our own – all its riches, its honors, and its pleasures.
“To lose his own soul” means to be cast away, to be shut out from heaven, to be sent to hell. Two things are implied by Christ in these questions:
1. That they who are striving to gain the world, and are unwilling to give it up for the sake of religion, will lose their souls; and,
2. That if the soul is lost, nothing can be given in exchange for it, or that it can never afterward be saved. There is no redemption in hell.”
Many still do not know, if you gain the whole world, but you end up in Hell, that is the greatest loss, the greatest failure. As John Chrysostom said, “The pains of hell are not the greatest part of hell; the loss of Heaven is the weightiest woe of hell.”
Why? Hell is eternal.
5.) FEAR OF GUN VIOLENCE.
Americans have good reason to be afraid of gun violence. There is no safe place in America. How many innocent people including children were gunned down. For that reason, opening door becomes a very sensitive matter. Almost every home has a peephole, to peep through who is knocking at the door. An English man told me he had 3 locks. A white old lady who lived in the richest city of Orange County told me she had 9 doors! Imagine to get familiar with 9 keys, or if there is a fire you may be burned to death! Thanks to the two useless parties and the Congress and Administration and the Supreme Court who are held hostage by gun lobby, America does not have gun control. What is proper is to ban all weapons and guns of death, ban National Riffle Association, ban manufacturing and selling of all sorts of guns. This would not happen until you have correct leaders and correct government.
In an average year, gun violence in America kills 40,000 people, wounds twice as many, and has an economic consequence to our nation of $557 billion.
Without a doubt, the human cost of gun violence—the people who are taken from us and the survivors whose lives are forever altered—is the most devastating. In addition to this human impact, examining the serious economic consequences of gun violence offers a wider lens for understanding just how extensive and expensive this crisis is.
This staggering $557 billion figure is five times the nation’s budget for the Department of Education, which funds preschool through college for millions of Americans.1 If shooting tragedies were prevented from occurring in the first place, the vast funds spent in the aftermath of gun violence could be directed toward beneficial and productive investments such as educating the next generation.
This $557 billion problem represents the lifetime costs associated with gun violence, including three types of costs: immediate costs starting at the scene of a shooting, such as police investigations and medical treatment; subsequent costs, such as treatment, long-term physical and mental health care, earnings lost to disability or death, and criminal justice costs; and cost estimates of quality of life lost over a victim’s life span for pain and suffering of victims and their families.
As survivors, families, communities, employers, and taxpayers, we all pay for the enormous costs associated with this violence, whether we own a gun or not. The daily toll is staggering:
Taxpayers, survivors, families, and employers pay an average of $7.79 million daily in health care costs, including immediate and long-term medical and mental health care, plus patient transportation/ambulance costs related to gun violence, and lose an estimated $147.32 million per day related to work missed due to injury or death.
American taxpayers pay $30.16 million every day in police and criminal justice costs for investigation, prosecution, and incarceration.
· Employers lose an average of $1.47 million on a daily basis in productivity, revenue, and costs required to recruit and train replacements for victims of gun violence.
· Society loses $1.34 billion daily in quality-of-life costs from the suffering and lost well-being of gun violence victims and their families.
The large variation in rates of gun deaths and injuries in the 50 states and Washington, DC, translates into substantial differences in the economic burden from this violence.
Compiling this information is vital so that policymakers and constituents can understand how resources are currently being spent and to provide direction for a different tomorrow. The average annual cost for overall gun violence in the United States is $1,698 for every resident in the country. However, in states with stronger gun laws, the economic toll of gun violence is less than half this amount, whereas in states where gun laws are weaker and gun injuries and fatalities are higher, gun violence costs residents double or more this amount per person.”
When it comes to individual cases, the dollar costs will be totally skewed. Say to a parent who lost his child, would he/she exchange their child for $10 billions? I say they would prefer to have their child back than $10 billions. A Korean family lost their son during the Los Angeles Riot. They moved from Seoul to Los Angeles thinking it was for a better future.
Recent school shooting in Wisconsin is an example why people fear gun violence. There is no safe place anywhere in America. I sympathize with the Governor Tony Evers who said he was praying for the families and loved ones whose lives were “so senselessly taken” and called the shooting a “gut-wrenching tragedy.”“As a father, a grandfather, and as governor, it is unthinkable that a kid or an educator might wake up and go to school one morning and never come home. This should never happen, and I will never accept this as a foregone reality or stop working to change it.” I sympathize but sorry to say the Governor is wrong. Can state laws be higher than federal laws? American Gun violence is a national problem, a cultural problem and a political problem. The two parties, the Congress, the Administration, and the Supreme Court are held hostage by the powerful gun lobby. America should have a New Constitution which bans all weapons and guns of death, outlaw National Riffle Association, prohibit manufacture and sale of guns by civilians. As a nation, America must nullify and crucify gun culture. When will that happen? Until the Kingdom comes!
6.) FEAR OF NUCLEAR WAR.
I used to fear the nuclear war. I am no more because the Scriptures say:
2Pe 3:7, “But by His Word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people.”
2Pe 3:12, “looking for and hastening the coming of the Day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!”
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God,…. The same with the day of the Lord, 2 Peter 3:10, and so the Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions here read; and it intends the day of Christ’s second coming to judgment, and so is a proof of the deity of Christ; and is called “the day of God”, in distinction from man’s day, or human judgment, 1 Corinthians 4:3, which is often fallacious; whereas the judgment of God is according to truth; and because in that day Christ will appear most clearly to be truly and properly God, by the manifest display of his omniscience, omnipotence, and other glorious perfections of his; and because it will be, as the day of God is, a thousand years; and also the day in which God will finish all his works, as on the seventh day the works of creation, on this the works of Providence; when all his purposes, promises, and threatenings, relating to the final state of all persons and things, will be fulfilled, and every work be brought to light, and into judgment, and everything will stand in a clear light; for the day will declare it, either respecting God, or men; and there will be a display, as of his grace and mercy, to his church and people; for it will be the day of his open espousals to them, and of the gladness of his heart; so of his wrath and anger towards the wicked: for this great and dreadful day of the Lord shall burn like an oven, and destroy the wicked, root and branch: and it will be the day of Christ’s glorious appearing, and of his kingdom, in which he will reign, before his ancients, gloriously; and when it is ended, God, Father, Son and Spirit, will be all in all: now “the coming” of this day saints should be “looking for” by faith; believing that it certainly will come, since the patriarchs, prophets, Christ himself, the angels of heaven, and the apostles of the Lamb, have all declared and asserted the coming of this day; and they should look for it, and love it, as with the strongest affection for it, and most vehement desire of it, since they will then appear with Christ in glory; and they should look out, and keep looking out for it, as what will be quickly; and though it is not as soon as they desire and expect, yet should still look wistly for it, and with patience and cheerfulness wait for it: yea, they should be “hasting unto” it, or “hastening” it; for though the day is fixed for the coming of Christ, nor can it be altered, as his coming will not be longer, it cannot be sooner, yet it becomes the saints to pray earnestly for it, that it may be quickly, and for the accomplishment of all things that go before it, prepare for it, and lead unto it; such as the conversion of the Jews, and the bringing in of the fulness of the Gentiles; and by putting him in mind of, and pleading with him, his promises concerning these things, and giving him no rest till they are accomplished; there seems to be some reference to the prayers of the Jews for the Messiah’s coming, which they desire may be “in haste”; which will show that they are in haste for the coming of this day; and all which things God will hasten, though it will be in his own time: and moreover, saints should be hasting to it by their readiness for it, having their loins girt, and their lights burning, and their lamps trimmed, and they waiting for their Lord’s coming, and going forth in acts of faith and love, and in the duties of religion, to meet him, and not slumber and sleep:
wherein; in which day, as in 2 Peter 3:10; or by which; by which coming of Christ, or of the day of God,
the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; at whose coming and presence, and from whose face the heavens and earth shall flee away, just as the earth shook, and the heavens dropped, and Sinai itself moved, when God appeared upon it; see Revelation 20:11. This is a repetition of what is said in 2 Peter 3:10, exciting attention to the exhortation given.”
According to https://www.amazon.ca/Nuclear-War-Scenario-Annie-Jacobsen/dp/1911709593
“Nuclear war begins with a blip on a radar screen. This is a minute-by-minute account of what comes next. It has to be read to be believed. There is only one scenario other than an asteroid strike that could end the world as we know it in a matter of hours: nuclear war. Until now, no one outside official circles has known exactly what would happen if a rogue state launched a nuclear missile at the Pentagon. Second by second and minute by minute, these are the real-life protocols that choreograph the end of civilization as we know it. Decisions that affect hundreds of millions of lives need to be made within six minutes, based on partial information, in the knowledge that once launched, nothing is capable of holding the destruction. Based on dozens of new interviews with military and civilian experts who have built the weapons, been privy to the response plans, and taken responsibility for crucial decisions, this is the only account of what a nuclear exchange would look like. Nuclear War is at once a compulsive non-fiction thriller and a powerful argument that we must rid ourselves of these world-ending weapons for ever.”
Yes, nuclear war is coming; there are less than 12 persons who will determine the fate of the world. True Christians have no fear, if you die, today you will be in the Paradise of God. Jesus told the converted robber,
Luk 23:43, “And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
7.) Fear of poverty.
There are many factors or reasons which may cause poverty. One thing is clear: nobody wants poverty.
Most people fear of poverty because the cost of living is high in America. Do you want to see the most undesirable homeless people in America? You can pay a visit to Downtown Los Angeles at your own risk.
Poverty not only deprives you the necessities of life, it gives you something you do not want — the degradation.
“Why is there so much more poverty in the United States than in its Western counterparts? Several differences between the United States and the other nations stand out (Brady, 2009; Russell, 2011). First, other Western nations have higher minimum wages and stronger labor unions than the United States has, and these lead to incomes that help push people above poverty. Second, these other nations spend a much greater proportion of their gross domestic product on social expenditures (income support and social services such as child-care subsidies and housing allowances) than does the United States. As sociologist John Iceland (Iceland, 2006) notes, “Such countries often invest heavily in both universal benefits, such as maternity leave, child care, and medical care, and in promoting work among [poor] families…The United States, in comparison with other advanced nations, lacks national health insurance, provides less publicly supported housing, and spends less on job training and job creation.” Block and colleagues agree: “These other countries all take a more comprehensive government approach to combating poverty, and they assume that it is caused by economic and structural factors rather than bad behavior” (Block et, al., 2006).
The experience of the United Kingdom provides a striking contrast between the effectiveness of the expansive approach used in other wealthy democracies and the inadequacy of the American approach. In 1994, about 30 percent of British children lived in poverty; by 2009, that figure had fallen by more than half to 12 percent. Meanwhile, the US 2009 child poverty rate, was almost 21 percent.
Britain used three strategies to reduce its child poverty rate and to help poor children and their families in other ways. First, it induced more poor parents to work through a series of new measures, including a national minimum wage higher than its US counterpart and various tax savings for low-income workers. Because of these measures, the percentage of single parents who worked rose from 45 percent in 1997 to 57 percent in 2008. Second, Britain increased child welfare benefits regardless of whether a parent worked. Third, it increased paid maternity leave from four months to nine months, implemented two weeks of paid paternity leave, established universal preschool (which both helps children’s cognitive abilities and makes it easier for parents to afford to work), increased child-care aid, and made it possible for parents of young children to adjust their working hours to their parental responsibilities (Waldfogel, 2010). While the British child poverty rate fell dramatically because of these strategies, the US child poverty rate stagnated.
In short, the United States has so much more poverty than other democracies in part because it spends so much less than they do on helping the poor. The United States certainly has the wealth to follow their example, but it has chosen not to do so, and a high poverty rate is the unfortunate result. As the Nobel laureate economist Paul Krugman (2006, p. A25) summarizes this lesson, “Government truly can be a force for good. Decades of propaganda have conditioned many Americans to assume that government is always incompetent…But the [British experience has] shown that a government that seriously tries to reduce poverty can achieve a lot.”
Pro 10:15, “The rich person’s wealth is his fortress,
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,…. What a fortified city is to persons in time of war, that is a rich man’s wealth to him; by it he can defend himself from the injuries of others, and support himself and family in times of public calamity; for money is a defence, and answers all things, Ecclesiastes 7:12. Or his wealth is so in his own apprehension and conceit; he puts his trust and confidence in it, and thinks himself safe and secure by it; when he is trusting to uncertain riches, which will fail him; these may fly away from him in life, and leave him exposed to distress and danger; and, however, will not secure him at death from the wrath of God and everlasting destruction. Or he is lifted up with his riches, is in high spirits, and despises others; thinking himself safe, as in a strong castle, and fears nothing, distresses, diseases, or death;
the destruction of the poor is their poverty: or their poverty is their consternation, as the word (h) signifies, it frightens them; they, knowing their circumstances, are afraid of everybody and of every thing; not being able to defend themselves against their enemies, or support themselves in times of public calamity, as war, famine, or pestilence.”
Poverty ruins the poor. The poor have no choice.
I had been poor, so I knew what poverty is. Try to work your way through college in America, earning the minimum wage of $1.25 and you were responsible to pay for everything and did everything yourself and at the same time went to college.
8.) Fear of catastrophic disease.
The fear of cancer is also called Carcinophobia. The single factor that most Americans are so afraid of catastrophic diseases is the cost.
“Nothing kills more Americans than heart disease and stroke. More than 944,800 Americans die of heart disease or stroke every year—that’s more than 1 in 3 deaths.3 These diseases take an economic toll, as well, costing our health care system $254 billion per year and causing $168 billion in lost productivity on the job.4 Costs from cardiovascular diseases are projected to hit roughly $2 trillion by 2050.5”
When I was very poor working my way in college, I could not afford even one doctor when I was sick. I worked at a hospital and discovered a great injustice. A young black woman was having an abortion, and all paid by Medicaid. The American healthcare worked like an organized crime. Three doctors were assigned to take care of her. A doctor got pay by doing nothing or said hello to her. When one doctor changed the dressing, another doctor did the same. The system made sure three doctors were paid.
Recently, a health insurance executive was gunned down in New York. Strange thing happened that many donated money for the defense of the killer. Why? Many Americans know the current healthcare system is a terrorism. The doctors, hospitals, drug and insurance companies make so much, and many Americans went bankrupt because the highest healthcare cost in the world! The two parties, the Congress, the Administration, the Supreme Court are held hostage by rich and powerful healthcare lobby. We need a national healthcare insurance scheme that everybody can afford, but that is not going to happen until the Kingdom comes!
9.) Fear of betrayal.
Jesus Christ knew before the fact who would betray him. I was stupid that I did not know before the fact that three persons in my life would betray me. It is written, Psa 41:9, “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.”
The terrible thing about treason, your enemies could not betray you, only your close friends can. There are three traitors I encountered in my whole life.
Isa 21:2, “I see a terrifying vision: I see the betrayer betraying, the destroyer destroying. Go ahead, you Elamites and Medes, attack and lay siege. I will make an end to all the groaning Babylon caused.”
Isa 24:16, “From the ends of the earth we hear songs of praise, of glory to the Righteous One. But I say, “I waste away, I waste away. Woe is me! For the traitors have betrayed, with betrayal the traitors have betrayed.”
Jhn 2:24-25, “But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, because He knew all people, and because He did not need anyone to testify about mankind, for He Himself knew what was in mankind.”
For our parts, we do not know all people, and we do not know what is in mankind. We do not know who will betray us.
Jhn 13:18,“I am not speaking about all of you. I know the ones whom I have chosen; but this is happening so that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.”
Mat 26:49, “Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Greetings (rejoice), Rabbi!” And he kissed Him [in a deliberate act of betrayal].”
Hail, Master – The word translated “hail,” here, means to “rejoice,” to have joy, and also to have “cause” of joy.
It thus expresses the “joy” which one friend has when he meets another, especially after an absence. It was used by the Jews and Greeks as a mode of salutation among friends. It would here seem to express the “joy” of Judas at finding his Master and again being “with him.”
Master – In the original, “Rabbi.” See the notes at Matthew 23:7.
Kissed him – Gave him the common salutation of friends when meeting after absence. This mode of salutation was more common among Eastern nations than with us.”
“Are you lonely? Loneliness is steadily rising in the United States, which has created a loneliness epidemic. Two thousand eighteen loneliness statistics show that 30% of older adults reported loneliness.Survey data from 2019 shows that 58% of Americans often felt like no one in their life knew them well. In 2020, young women in the US were most likely to report losing touch with friends. Most Americans are seeking more friendships and connectedness than ever.”
“THURSDAY, Feb. 1, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Americans are terribly lonely, a new poll reveals.
Among U.S. adults, about one in three said they feel lonely at least once a week. Worse, one in 10 Americans say they feel lonely every day, results show.
Younger people are more likely to experience loneliness, which is defined as a lack of meaningful or close relationships or sense of belonging, according to the American Psychiatric Association’s latest Healthy Minds Monthly Poll.
About 30% of respondents ages 18 to 34 said they feel lonely every day or several times a week.
The poll “confirms loneliness is widespread, especially in young people,” said APA President Dr. Petros Levounis.
“Doctors and other clinicians can make a major difference in their patients’ well-being and physical health when they ask about loneliness and how to mitigate its effects,” Levounis added in an APA news release. “Helping people feel less lonely is straightforward and deeply gratifying.”
The poll, which was conducted online from Jan. 10 to Jan. 12 among 2,200 adults, also found that:
Single adults are nearly twice as likely as married adults to feel lonely on a weekly basis, 39% versus 22%
About 50% of respondents ease their loneliness with distractions like TV, podcasts or social media
Another 41% said they go for a walk to feel less lonely, while 38% said they reach out to family or friends
Overall, 13% said they use drugs or alcohol to east their loneliness, with adults 18 to 34 more likely to use substances than those 45 to 64 (21% versus 8%).
Respondents’ highest sense of community and belonging comes from being among family (65%), friends (53%) or neighbors (20%).
The least helpful places to feel less lonely were online communities and discussion forums (3%), sports and recreational teams (4%), and gym or fitness classes (5%).”
“The number of unmarried men and women increased during the same time. In 2022, 37% of men and 31% of women had never been married. In 1990, 30% of men and 23% of women had never been married.
The shift is larger among Black and Hispanic people. In 1990, 43% of Black men had never been married. In 2022, it was 52%. During that period, the percent of Black women who were never married increased from 37% to 49%. For Hispanic women, it increased from 27% to 39%; the percent of Hispanic men who were never married increased from 37% to 46%.
In 1980, white men and women made up 80% of the US population and were the most likely demographic to be married.
According to heharrispoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Singles-in-America-Survey-January-2023-.pdf
“Top Highlights SINGLES IN AMERICA SURVEY • 117.6 million Americans or 46% of those aged 18 and over are single, according to the U.S. Census Bureau statistics • A quarter of Americans, including 35% of Gen Z, say “I am not looking for a relationship” • Eight in 10 Americans say that “you don’t need to get married to have a happy and fulfilling life,” with half of singles explicitly saying that they prefer to be alone, and that “singlehood is the most meaningful, authentic, and fulfilling way of life” • Almost seven in 10 (68%) believe that in our society, the stigma of being single is gradually diminishing, as half say “I’m noticing that more and more people in my circle are deliberately choosing to be single” • Single Americans enjoy having more time to focus on their passions, growth, and career, with 86% saying they love “having more time to pursue my interests and passions.” Many like the freedom to design a fulfilling lifestyle and financial autonomy, with 82% stating that they enjoy “not worrying about a partner’s debt or financial obligations” • Being single appears to help Americans navigate their finances, as seven in 10 say that “being single taught me how to work with my money really well” and a similar percentage say “I feel financially empowered and more in control by being single” • Three-quarters of Americans say that it can be more affordable to be in a relationship (e.g., splitting rent, bills, etc.), with eight in 10 singles saying they’d like to see the government offer more tax brakes for single people. Eight in 10 Americans believe that finding the right partner is harder than finding the right job •Six in 10 singles say that “dating is becoming an unaffordable luxury” • Inflation is impacting dating choices, as seven in 10 are choosing an activity, such as hiking, instead of going out to eat or drink, 55% are open to hosting a first date at home, and 44% are open to going on a virtual date • 41% of men say they wouldn’t be open to splitting the check due to rising inflation.”
Fear of failure is also called Atychiphobia. If you ask students who take college entrance exams, if you ask students who take final exams, if you ask applicants who go for an interview, if you ask applicants who take a professional licensing exams, all have something in common, they worry about failing.
At a top American university, I said it was lucky we had final exams for two weeks. If we had final exams for three weeks, we all would have died of anxiety.
In addition to emotional and behavioral symptoms, people with a fear of failure may also experience physical symptoms including rapid heart rate, chest tightness, trembling, dizziness, lightheadedness, sweating, and digestive problems.”
Psa 78:33, “So he ended their lives in failure, their years in terror.”
Do you want not to end your life in failure?
Jesus says, Jhn 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.”
(10) The thief cometh not, but for to steal.—Comp. Notes on John 10:1; John 10:8. The description of the thief is opposed to that of the shepherd, who constantly goes in and out and finds pasture. His visits are but rare, and when he comes it is but for his own selfish purposes, and for the ruin of the flock. Each detail of his cruel work is dwelt upon, to bring out in all the baseness of its extent the corresponding spiritual truth.
I am come that they might have life.—More exactly, I came that they might have life. The pronoun should be emphasised. I came, as opposed to the thief. He does not further dwell upon the shepherd, but passes on to the thought of Himself, and thereby prepares the way for the thought of Himself as the Good Shepherd in the following verse. The object of His coming is the direct opposite of that of the thief, who comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. He came once for all, that in Him the sheep may have life. (Comp. John 6:50-51.) The Sinaitic MS. inserts the word “eternal” here—“that they might have life eternal.” The word is probably not part of the original text, and the thought is rather of the present spiritual life which every believer now hath, and which will issue in eternal life. But comp. Note on John 10:28.
And that they might have it more abundantly.—Better, and that they might have it abundantly. The word “more” is an insertion of the English version without any authority, and it weakens the sense. It is not that a greater is compared with a less abundance, but that the abundance of life which results through Christ’s coming is contrasted with the spiritual wants and death which He came to remove. This life is through Him given to men abundantly, overflowingly. We are reminded of the Shepherd-King’s Psalm singing of the “green pastures,” and “waters of rest,” and “prepared table,” and “overflowing cup”; and carrying all this into the region of the spiritual life we come again to the opening words of this Gospel, “And of His fulness did we all receive, and grace for grace” . . . “grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:16-17).”
12.) Fear of the unknown.
Fear of the unknown is also called Xenophobia.
No one is able to know about his/her future. Tomorrow is unknown. Even the richest and most powerful man cannot be sure of his future. Whoever thought Assad of Syria would flee to Russia? The wisest scientist does not what would happen tomorrow.
“Perhaps the earliest direct written reference to FOTU as the fundamental fear came from Lovecraft in 1927: “The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown” (as cited in Joshi & Schultz, 2001; p. 255). The quote remains relevant, with colloquialisms referencing not knowing as the worst part of distressing situations. FOTU tautologically does not require a priori learning; indeed, the first thing that could be feared would be “the perceived absence of information at any level of consciousness” (Carleton, 2016; p. 31). All other fears appear to require learning involving the perceived presence of perceived or recalled information (Bandura, 1965, Bandura, 1971, Mowrer, 1947, Muris et al., 2002, Pinker, 1997; Powell et al., 2012, Skinner, 1953).”
Why all mankind fear death? Because death is the greatest unknown.
13.) Fear of darkness.
Fear of darkness is also called Nyctophobia. Children are more afraid of the dark or the night than adults.
Gen 1:4, “God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.”
Darkness is by nature not good.
Exo 10:21, “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Reach out with your hand toward the sky, so that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness which may be felt.”
The worst kind of darkness is the kind which may be felt. I never had such experience.
Spiritual darkness is worse than physical darkness.
Verses 29-31. – “For thou, Jehovah, art my Lamp; And Jehovah will make my darkness light. For by thee do I run upon a troop; In my God I leap over a wall. God – his way is perfect; The word of Jehovah is purified. He is a Shield to all that trust in him.”Lamp. The lamp burning in the house is the proof of life and activity present there; and thus the extinguishing of the lamp means ruin and desolation (Job 21:17). So David is called “the lamp of Israel” (2 Samuel 21:17), because the active life of the nation centred in him. In a still higher sense the life and being of his people centres in God, and without him the soul is waste and void, like the universe before God said, “Let there be light.” I run. To the warrior in old time speed was as important as strength, and thus Homer constantly calls Achilles “fleet of foot.” It was his fleetness which gave Asahel a high place among the mighties (2 Samuel 2:18), and to this quality David now refers. The troop signifies a light armed band of marauders, whom with God’s aid David could overtake, and stop in their course of rapine. The wall means fortifications like those of Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:7). Sieges were tedious affairs in old time, but David had captured that city with a rapidity so great that the metaphor in the text is most appropriate. Purified; or, refined. This does not mean that it is proved by experience and found true, but that it is absolutely good and perfect like refined gold (see Psalm 12:6). 2 Samuel 22:29.”
28. For thou dost light my lamp, Jehovah my God maketh my darkness bright. The burning lamp is a natural metaphor for the continuance of life and prosperity, derived, it is said, from the Oriental practice of keeping a light constantly burning in the tent or house, which symbolised the maintenance of the life and prosperity of the family. Cp. Job 18:6; Proverbs 13:9. The second line of the verse indicates that the figure here refers to the preservation of David’s own life, rather than to the permanence of his dynasty, as in Psalm 132:17; 1 Kings 11:36; 1 Kings 15:4. The text of 2 Sam. has “For thou art my lamp, O Lord.” Cp. Psalm 27:1. 28–30. These general principles of God’s dealing with men are confirmed by David’s own experience.”
At least there are three kinds of darkness, physical darkness, mental darkness, and spiritual darkness. Physical darkness is easy to solve. Mental darkness is harder referring to people who do not have wisdom. Spiritual darkness is the worst, all who do have the knowledge of God, all who do not know Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Light of the world.
14.) Fear of fire.
The fear of fire is also called Pyrophobia.
My mother when her house was on fire, her father was debilitating and paralyzed that he did not do anything.
The first vision of Moses had something to do with fire.
Exo 3:2, “Then 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 being consumed.”
This was how God led the people 22Israel through the wilderness.
Exo 13:21-22, “And 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, so 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 the presence of the people.”
Exo 24:17, “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.”
But the Lord God is not a fire God, to worship fire as God is wrong.
2Pe 3:6-7, “through which the world at that time was destroyed by 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 people.”
When I told this Scriptures to a 12-year old girl, she was terrified that she cried. I had preached this Biblical truth many times, not one adult ever cried.
2Pe 3:12-13, “looking for and hastening the coming of the Day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new Heavens and a new Earth, in which righteousness dwells.”
(12) Hasting unto.—There is no “unto” in the Greek. The margin is probably right, hasting the coming—i.e., hastening Christ’s coming by holy lives, by helping to make the Gospel known to all nations (Matthew 24:14), so as to “accomplish the number of the elect,” and by praying “Thy kingdom come.” (Comp. 2Timothy 4:8; Revelation 22:20.) The thought is singularly parallel to St. Peter’s speech in Solomon’s Porch (Acts 3:19-21, where see Notes); and as the thought is striking and unusual—perhaps nowhere else in the New Testament distinctly—this coincidence may fairly be admitted as a note of genuineness.”
(14) Nevertheless we, according to his promise.—“Nevertheless” is too strong, and the emphasis is on “new,” not on “we.” But new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, we look for, according to His promise. (Comp. Revelation 21:1.) On the repetition of “look for,” three times in three verses, see above on 2Peter 2:7. The promise of the new heavens and new earth is given in Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22. There are two words for “new” in Greek; one looks forward, “young” as opposed to “aged;” the other looks back, “fresh” as opposed to “worn out.” It is the latter word that is used. here and in Revelation 21:1-2. Both are used in Matthew 9:17, but the distinction is not marked in our version—“They put new wine into fresh wine-skins.”
Wherein dwelleth righteousness.—Comp. Isaiah 65:25; Revelation 21:27. Righteousness has its home there; is not a wanderer and changeful guest, as on earth, therefore by righteousness must ye make yourselves worthy of entering therein.
With this whole verse compare 1 Peter 1, where (2Peter 3:4) a similar thought is expressed with equal beauty, and where (2Peter 3:13) a similar conclusion is drawn from it. (See next verse.)
The coming of the day of God.—A phrase which occurs here only. It is doubly remarkable: (1) “coming,” in the special sense indicated by the particular word used in the Greek, is elsewhere used of Christ Himself, not of the day; (2) “the day of God” is a very unusual expression.
Wherein.—Rather, by reason of which, either “the day” or “the coming” being meant.
Shall melt.—“Melt” is here correct, being quite a different word from that rendered “melt” in 2Peter 3:10, which is the same as that here translated “be dissolved.” In the so-called Second Epistle of Clement (chap. 16) we have a somewhat similar passage—“The day of judgment cometh even now as a burning oven (Malachi 4:1), and [the powers] of the heavens shall melt, and all the earth as lead melting on the fire.”
15.) Fear of crime.
Fear of crime is also called Scelerophobia. Most Americans are afraid of criminals who have guns to commit robbery, rape, or crime in general. Almost every crime in America is a violent crime.
Act 18:14, “But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of some crime or vicious, unscrupulous act, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you.”
Fear of crimes entails fear of gun violence. Fear of gun violence involves fear of criminals. Fear of crime is actually fear of criminals. Laws that do not deter criminals are useless. Justice that does not deter criminals is useless. There is a fierce and false religion that practices beheading Christians.
Fear of ghosts may be called Phasmophobia or Spectrophobia. Ghosts and demons are the same to the Chinese. You may think it is nothing. Even the disciples were afraid of ghosts. Mat 14:26, “When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.”
Ghost in Greek is phantasmawhich means
an apparition, spectre (Strong’s Concordance); demon; spirit; — which occurs 2 times in the New Testament.
And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea,…. It being now morning, and perhaps might have moon light; and besides, there is always more light upon the water than land; they were able to discern something like a man, walking upon the surface of the sea, but had not light enough to distinguish what, or who it was; and, moreover, had no thought of Christ, or expectation of seeing him; and the appearance of a man walking upon the waters being so unusual, and astonishing,
they were troubled, saying it is a spirit: a nocturnal apparition, a demon in human form. The Jews, especially the sect of the Pharisees, had a notion, from whom the disciples might have their’s, of spirits, apparitions, and demons, being to be seen in the night; hence that rule (u),
“it is forbidden a man to salute his friend in the night, for we are careful, lest , “it should be a demon”.”
They say a great many things of one “Lilith”, that has its name from “the night”, a she demon, that used to appear in the night, with an human face, and carry off young children, and kill them. Some such frightful notions had possessed the minds of the disciples:
and they cried out for fear, as persons in the utmost consternation, in the greatest danger, and in want of help: the fear of spirits arises from the uncommonness of their appearance; from their superiority to men in power and strength; from the enmity there is between men and evil spirits; and from a general notion of their doing hurt and mischief: hence, demons are, by the Jews, called “hurtful”, or “hurting”, all their study being to do hurt to men; and the same word is here used in Munster’s Hebrew Gospel: add to all this, that the fear of the disciples might be increased, through a vulgar notion among seafaring men, that such sights are ominous, and portend evil to sailors; and they might the more easily be induced to give credit to this, and fear, since they were already in such imminent danger.”
Gen 25:8, “Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.”
Give up the ghost in Hebrew is gāvaʿwhich means to expire and die; to breathe out one’s life; — which occurs 24 times in the Old Testament.
Verses 8-10. – Then Abraham gave up the ghost (literally, breathed out, a the breath of life), and died in a good old age, – literally, in a flood hoary age, i.e. “with a crown of righteousness upon his hoary head” (Hughes) – an old man, and full of years. Literally, and satiated, i.e. satisfied not merely with life and all its blessings, but with living. The three clauses give an elevated conception of the patriarch s life as that of one who had tasted all the sweets and realized all the ends of a mundane existence, and who accordingly was ripe and ready for transition to a higher sphere. And was gathered to his people. An expression similar to “going to his fathers” (Genesis 15:15, q.v.), and to “being gathered to one’s fathers” (Judges 2:10). “The phrase is constantly distinguished from departing this life and being buried, denotes the reunion in Sheol with friends who have gone before, and therefore presupposes faith in the personal continuance of a man after death” (Keil). Abraham died in the hope of a better country, even an heavenly (Hebrews 11:13-16). And his sons Isaac and Ishmael – Isaac as the heir takes precedence; but Ishmael, rather than the sons of Keturah, is associated with him at his father’s funeral; probably because he was not so distant as they from Hebron (Lunge), or because he was the subject of a special blessing, which they were not (Keil, Murphy); or perhaps simply Ishmael and Isaac united as the eldest sons to perform the last rites to a parent they revered (Kalisch). “Funerals of parents are reconciliations of children (Genesis 35:29), and differences of contending religionists are often softened at the side of a grave” (Wordsworth) – buried him (vide on Genesis 23:19) in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre (vide on Genesis 23:3-20); the field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth (a repetition which augments the importance of the statement that Abraham did not sleep in a borrowed tomb): there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife. Genesis 25:8.”
The more superstitious a person is, the more he/she is afraid of ghosts. Many Chinese believe that a person who dies turns into a ghost or demon.
17.) Fear of pain.
Fear of pain is also called Agliophobia. Even children know what pain is because they experience toothache and colic. Kidney stone pain makes you feeling you are going to die. Once I had kidney stone pain attack, the doctor gave me a shot with mild dosage. It was so painful that I told the doctor if he did not give me another shot, I shall fall down and die. I asked a young mother who experienced both kidney stone pain and labor pain, which was worse. She said kidney stone pain.
“You should call, even if you are not sure that it is a heart attack.The most common symptoms in men and women are:
· Chest discomfort. It is often in center or left side of the chest. It usually lasts more than a few minutes. It may go away and come back. It can feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain. It also can feel like heartburn or indigestion.
· Shortness of breath. Sometimes this is your only symptom. You may get it before or during the chest discomfort. It can happen when you are resting or doing a little bit of physical activity.
· Discomfort in the upper body. You may feel pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, shoulders, neck, jaw, or upper part of the stomach.
You may also have other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and lightheadedness. You may break out in a cold sweat. Sometimes women will have different symptoms then men. For example, they are more likely to feel tired for no reason.
The most common cause of heart attacks is coronary artery disease (CAD). With CAD, there is a buildup of cholesterol and other material, called plaque, on their inner walls or the arteries. This is atherosclerosis. It can build up for years. Eventually an area of plaque can rupture (break open). A blood clot can form around the plaque and block the artery.
A less common cause of heart attack is a severe spasm (tightening) of a coronary artery. The spasm cuts off blood flow through the artery.”
According to https://www4.bing.com/search?q=Clinical+description+of+a+stroke
“Symptoms of stroke include:
· Trouble speaking and understanding what others are saying. A person having a stroke may be confused, slur words or may not be able to understand speech.
· Numbness, weakness or paralysis in the face, arm or leg. This often affects just one side of the body. …
· Problems seeing in one or both eyes. …
· Headache. …
· Trouble walking. …”
Pro 14:13, “Even in laughter the heart may be in pain,
And the end of joy may be grief.”
In this world, your sinful body is your liability. In America you are the victims of the terrorism committed by doctors, hospitals, drug and insurance companies. Even saints must suffer until the Kingdom of Heaven comes when there will be no pain, no itch, no suffering, no death.
Rev 21:4, “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.”
Revelation 21:4-5. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes — Though here their tears have flowed plentifully, not one shall ever be found on the face of any of them; and there shall be no more death — This is a full proof that this whole description belongs to eternity and not to time. Neither shall sorrow, or crying, or pain be any more — Under the former heavens, and upon the former earth, there were death and sorrow, crying and pain; all which occasioned many tears. But now pain and sorrow are fled away, and the saints have everlasting life and joy; for the former things — All the mournful scenes, which were on earth so familiar to their eyes; are passed away — To return no more for ever. And he that sat upon the throne said — Not to St. John only; Behold, I make all things new — From the first mention of him that sat upon the throne, (Revelation 5:1) this is the first speech which is expressly ascribed to him. He is the author of this second, as he was of the first creation; and he commands these things to be written for the edification, support, and consolation of his people, with a full assurance of their certainty and importance. And he — The same person; saith to me, Write — Namely, as follows: These words are true and faithful — This includes all that went before. The apostle seems again to have ceased writing, being overcome with ecstasy and the voice of him that spake.”
If you want to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, you must repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as your Lord and Savior.
18.) Fear of future.
Fear of future is also called Chronophobia. In particular to those who have no hope, the fear of what is to come is persistent. Unbelievers have no hope, and no future.
Luk 21:26, “people fainting from fear and the expectation of the things that are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
Men’s hearts failing them – This is an expression denoting the highest terror. The word rendered “failing” commonly denotes to “die,” and here it means that the terror would be so great that people would faint and be ready to die in view of the approaching calamities. And if this was true in respect to the judgments about to come upon Judea, how much more so will it be in the day of judgment, when the wicked will be arraigned before the Son of God, and when they shall have before them the prospect of the awful sufferings of hell – the pains and woes which shall continue forever! It will be no wonder, then, if they call on the rocks and mountains to hide them from the face of God, and if their hearts sink within them at the prospect of eternal suffering.”
19.) Fear of worms.
Fear of worms is also called Scoleciphobia. By nature more girls are afraid of worms than boys. People who are afraid of worms may be due to their unhygienic conditions. There are people who are afraid of worms simply because of their appearance and motion.
Act 12:23, “And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.”
“With over one million species, the bilateral symmetry of their elongated bodies makes them easy to identify. They can live on land and in the sea, moving along any surface with a slimy substance that comes from their skin. Worms are hermaphrodites, but they need a partner to reproduce.
Though the worm may seem harmless, many species have ways to hurt their predators with stinging or the release of poison.
There are too many species to list, but here is just a small sample of the different types of worms:
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. This is repeated again, not only to assure the truth of the thing, but to raise the attention of the mind unto it, and fix an awful impression upon it: the Persic version renders it, “from whence thou shall never find redemption”: there is no redemption from hell, as Origen and others have thought.”
20.) Fear of thunders and lightnings.
Fear of thunder and lightning is also called Brontophobia, Tonitrophobia, Ceraunophobia.
“Have you ever been caught in a severe storm? It can make one feel alone and helpless. It can bring home the reality of mortality. Martin Luther experienced this when he was caught in a thunderstorm as he journeyed back to Erfurt after visiting his family in Mansfeld, a short distance away. The lightning struck so close to Luther that it may have knocked him down and injured his leg. To whom did he turn for help in this imminent danger? “Help me, St. Anne, I will become a monk.” Luther uttered these words on Wednesday, July 2, 1505. They were to change his life forever.”
Even Martin Luther was afraid of thunders and lightnings. Once there was a great thunder and lightning in my balcony, I was so afraid that I might be electrocuted.
Pharaoh was also afraid of thunder and hail that he said,Exo 9:28, “Plead with the LORD, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail; and I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.”
Exo 19:16, “So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud over the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.”
I do not know anybody who would not tremble of thunder and lightning flashes.
Psa 77:18, “The voice of thy thunder was in the Heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.”
21.) Fear of blood.
The fear of blood is also called Homophobia. That is why I cannot be a doctor. When I see blood gushing, I do not faint but I do not feel good and cannot function normally. I cannot use a surgical knife on a patient because I would feel pain first. There is only One Blood which is precious, and there is nothing to fear. Soap cannot cleanse you from all sin. Detergent cannot cleanse you from your sins. Nothing can cleanse you from your sins.
Rev 1:5, “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the Firstborn of the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood—”
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.”
But if we walk in the light,…. Are persons enlightened by the Spirit of God, so as to have a true sight and sense of sin, to know Christ, and the way of salvation by him; and are children of the light, and are going on and increasing in spiritual light and knowledge; walk on in Christ, the light, by faith, and in the light and truth of the Gospel, and as becomes it, and as children of light; and as such who are called out of darkness into marvellous light:
as he is in the light; according to the light which he has given, who is light itself, is in it, and dwells in it. This “as” denotes not equality, but likeness: when this is the case, then it is a clear point, that
we have fellowship one with another; not with the saints, with the apostles, and other Christians, but with God: “we have mutual communion”, as the Arabic version renders it; God with us, and we with him. Some copies read, “with him”, as in 1 John 1:6; and such a reading the sense requires; and agreeably to this the Ethiopic version renders it, “and we are partakers among ourselves with him”; that is, we all jointly and mutually appear to be like him, and partake of his nature, and have communion with him; and not only so, but with his Son Jesus Christ, as appears from our having a share in the cleansing efficacy of his blood:
and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin: there is a pollution on human nature, which is original, natural, universal, and internal, and is such that nothing can remove but the blood of Christ; not ceremonial ablutions and sacrifices, nor moral duties, nor evangelical performances, or submission to Gospel ordinances, and particularly baptism, which is not the putting away the faith of the flesh; nor even the graces of the Spirit, no, not faith, no otherwise than as it has to do with this blood; for this cleansing is not to be understood of sanctification, for that more properly belongs to the Spirit of God, and besides, does not cleanse from all sin; for notwithstanding this, sin is in the saints: but either of the atonement of sin, by the sacrifice of Christ, and so of a complete justification from it by his blood, which is put for both his active and passive obedience, the one being finished in the other; or rather of the pardon of sin, procured by the blood of Christ, and the application of that blood to the conscience, which purges it from dead works, and which has a continued virtue in it for that purpose. Christ’s blood, being applied by the Spirit of God, has been always cleansing from sin; it had this virtue in it, and was of this use, even before it was actually shed, to the Old Testament saints; whence Christ is said to be the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world; and it has the same efficacy now as when first shed, and will have to the end of the world; and being sprinkled upon the conscience, by the Spirit of God, it takes away the sins of believers, and cleanses from them, as fast as the corruption of nature rises, or sins appear; and removes them out of their sight, and speaks peace to their souls; and which is owing, as to the dignity of Christ’s person and the value of his sacrifice, so to his continual intercession, advocacy, and mediation; and which reaches to all sin, original and actual, secret and open sins; sins of heart, thought, lip, and life; sins of omission and commission, greater or lesser sins, committed against light and knowledge, grace and mercy, law and Gospel, all but the sin against the Holy Ghost; and in this Christ was the antitype of the scape goat, of which the Jews say (g), that
“it atoned for all the transgressions of the law, whether small or great, sins of presumption, or of ignorance, known, or not known, which were against an affirmative or negative command, which deserved cutting off (by the hand of God), or death by the sanhedrim.”
the Arabic and Ethiopic versions render it, “from all our sins”; and this must be ascribed to the greatness of his person, as the Son of God; wherefore the emphasis lies on these words, “his Son”: the Son of God, who is equal with God, and is truly and properly God: as it must be the blood of man that must, according to the law, be shed, to atone for and expiate sin, and cleanse from it, and that of an innocent man, who is holy, harmless, and without sin; so it must not be the blood of a mere man, though ever so holy, but the blood of one that is God as well as man; see Acts 20:28. The divine nature of the Son of God, being in union with the human nature, put virtue into his blood to produce such an effect, which still continues, and will, as long as there is any occlusion for it.”
22.) Fear of death.
Fear of death is also called Thanatophobia. Fear of s death is the fear of all fears. Chinese people are superstitious, it is neither auspicious nor propitious to talk about death. When I was a professor at a Chinese university, I noticed the custom of the local people. A poor man who died had little music. A more important and richer person died had big and loud music. In Israel, the days of weeping and mourning depend on the importance of an individual.Deu 34:8, “So the sons of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab for thirty days; then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end.”
I do not know any culture that explains the reason why people die. All cultures assume man is mortal.
Rom 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Only Christianity explains the wages of sin is death.
Rom 7:5, “For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were brought to light by the Law, were at work in the parts of our body to bear fruit for death.”
Heb 2:14-15, “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,and free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”
Hebrews 2:14-15. Forasmuch then as the children — Believers, who are Christ’s spiritual seed; are partakers of flesh and blood — Of human nature with all its infirmities; he also took part of the same — See on Php 2:8; that through his own death, he might destroy the tyranny of him that had — By God’s permission; the power of death — The power of bringing death on all mankind by tempting our first parents to sin. Hence he is called a murderer from the beginning, and a liar, and the father of it, John 8:41. It is observable that the power of death, ascribed to the devil, is called κρατος, and not εξουσια, because he had no right to it. It was a power usurped by guile. And all the baneful effects of this power Christ at the resurrection will remove, as far as they relate to the righteous. The word καταργηση, rendered that he might destroy, properly signifies, that he might render ineffectual. “Since the Son of God is said to have partaken of the flesh and blood of the children in the same manner that they themselves partake of these, namely, by being born of a woman; and since he was born into the world in that manner, to render him capable of dying, that through his death in the flesh he might frustrate the malicious contrivance of the devil, who first introduced death into the world; we are thereby taught that he is the seed of the woman, which at the fall was promised to bruise the head of the serpent; and that the serpent who deceived Eve was not a natural serpent, but the devil, who, because he assumed the form of a serpent on that occasion, is called (Revelation 20:2) the great dragon, or serpent; and that old serpent, the devil. See on 2 Corinthians 11:3. The intention of the devil, in seducing our first parents, was to destroy them, and thereby put an end to the human species. This malicious design the Son of God rendered ineffectual, by assuming our nature, and in that nature dying as a sacrifice for sin.” — Macknight. And — By his death making atonement for their sins, and procuring for them pardon and holiness; that is, both justification and sanctification, both a title to heaven and a meetness for it, and also an earnest of it by the Holy Spirit in their hearts, he delivers them — Even all who are made God’s children by faith in him; who — Before they received this deliverance; were all their life-time, through tormenting fear of death, subject to bondage — In a slavish uncomfortable state of mind. And every man fears death, more or less, who is not savingly acquainted with, and united to Christ; who is not justified through faith in his blood, and regenerated by the influence of his Spirit, and therefore is not begotten again to a lively hope of a heavenly inheritance. Death is unwelcome to him if he knows what death is. But he delivers all true believers from this bondage.”
Fear of death is probably the fear of all fears. Everyone fears death, some may not say so.
Many people are so afraid of death that they through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
Fear of death can subject a person to slavery all his life. Jesus Christ who is life and resurrection can deliver believers from this bondage.
1Co 15:26, “The last enemy that will be abolished is death.”
Rev 1:17-18, “When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I AM the first and the last,and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I AM alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.“
Jesus Christ, the Lord of life, has the keys of death and of Hell. He is the only One who died and rose again from death by the power of God. Only the Lord of life can save you and give you eternal life.
Job 19:25, “Yet as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last, He will take His stand on the earth.”
Job 19:25. For I know, &c. — Job proceeds now to assign the reason of his confidence in the goodness of his cause, and of his willingness to have the matter depending between him and his friends published and submitted to any trial. I know that my Redeemer liveth — I have no knowledge, nor confidence, nor hope of being restored to the prosperities of this life; yet this one thing I know, which is much more comfortable and considerable, and therein I rejoice, though I be now a dying man, and in a desperate condition for this life; I know that I have a living and powerful Redeemer to plead my cause, and vindicate my person from all severe and unjust censures, and to give sentence for me: a Redeemer, whom I call mine, because I have a particular interest in him, and he hath a particular care of me. Hebrew, ידעתי גאלי חי, jadangti goali chai, I know my living Redeemer; that is, My Redeemer is living, is now living, and I know him: I am acquainted, truly, experimentally, and savingly acquainted with him, because he hath revealed himself to me, and hath given me an understanding to know him. Remember, reader, this knowledge of him, this acquaintance with him, is absolutely necessary to thy salvation. But what Redeemer, and what deliverance, does Job speak of in this and the two following verses? Answer: Some late interpreters understand this passage metaphorically, of God’s delivering Job out of his afflictions and troubles, and restoring him to his former splendour and happiness in this world; it being, they say, a usual thing in Scripture, to call eminent dangers and calamities death, and great and glorious deliverances a quickening or resurrection. But most interpreters, both ancient and modern, understand it of Christ, and of his resurrection, and of Job’s resurrection to life by his power and goodness. And this seems most probable, for many reasons: 1st, Because a proper and literal interpretation of any passage of Scripture is always to be preferred before the metaphorical, where it suits with the text and with other passages. 2d, Because the Hebrew word, גאל, goel, here used, although sometimes used of God, absolutely or essentially considered, yet most properly agrees to Jesus Christ: for this word is primarily spoken of the next kinsman, whose office it was to redeem, by a price paid, the sold or mortgaged estate of his deceased kinsman, Leviticus 25:25; and to revenge his death, Numbers 35:12, and to maintain his name and honour by raising up a seed to him, Deuteronomy 25:5. All which most fitly agrees to Christ, who is our nearest kinsman and brother, as having taken our nature upon him, Hebrews 2:11; who hath redeemed that everlasting inheritance which our first parents had utterly lost, by the price of his own blood; and hath revenged the death of mankind upon the contriver of it, the devil, by destroying him and his kingdom; and hath taken a course to preserve our name, and honour, and persons, to eternity. 3d, Because Job was so far from having a firm confidence, such as is here expressed, that he had not the least degree of hope of any such temporal restoration as that which his friends promised him, as we have often observed in his former discourses, as Job 16:22; Job 17:12-13. And, therefore, that hope which every righteous man hath in his death, and which Job often professes that he had, must necessarily have been fixed on his happiness in a future life. 4th, Because this is a more lofty and spiritual strain than any in Job’s former discourses; which generally savour of dejection and diffidence, and either declare or increase his grief; whereas, this puts him into another and much better temper. And, therefore, it is well observed, that after he uttered these expressions we meet not with any such impatient or despairing passages as we had before, which shows that he was now inspired with new life and comfort. 5th, Because this well agrees with several other passages in this book; wherein Job declares that, although he had no hope as to this life, and the comforts thereof, yet he had a hope beyond death, which made him profess, Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him, Job 13:15. Trust in him for what? Surely, for comfort and happiness. Where? Not in this life, for that he supposes to be lost; therefore it must have been in the next life. And this was one reason why he so vehemently desired death, because he knew it would bring him unto God, and unto true felicity. And this his hope and confidence in God, and in his favour to him, Job opposes to those foul and false aspersions which his friends had cast upon him, as if he had forsaken God, and cast off all fear of him, and hope in him. But it is objected, How is it credible, that Job, in those ancient times, and in that dark state of the church, should know these great mysteries of Christ’s incarnation, and of the resurrection and life to come? Answer, 1st, The mystery of the Messiah’s incarnation was revealed to Adam by that first and noted promise, that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head, Genesis 3:15; which, being the only foundation of his hopes, for the recovery and salvation of himself and of all his posterity, he would doubtless carefully and diligently explain, as need required, to those that descended from him. 2d, That the ancient patriarchs and prophets were generally acquainted with these doctrines is undeniably evident, from Hebrews 11. and 1 Peter 1:9-12. 3d, Particularly Abraham, from whom Job is supposed to have descended, had the promise made to him, that Christ should come out of his loins, Genesis 12:3; and is said to have seen Christ’s day, and to have rejoiced to see it, John 8:56; and had his hopes and desires fixed upon a divine and heavenly city and country, Hebrews 11:10; Hebrews 11:16. And as Abraham knew and believed these things himself, so it is manifest that he taught them to his children and servants, Genesis 18:19, and to his kindred and others, as he had occasion; and, therefore, it cannot seem strange that Job professes his faith and hope in these things. That my Redeemer liveth — I am a dying man, and my hopes as to this life are dying, but he liveth, and that for ever; and, therefore, though I die, yet he both can and will make me to live again in due time, though not in this world, yet in the other, which is much better. And, though I am now highly censured and condemned by my friends as a great dissembler and secret sinner, whom God’s hand hath found out; yet there is a day coming wherein my cause shall be pleaded, and my name and honour vindicated from all these reproaches, and my integrity brought to light. And that he shall stand in the latter day — In the days of the Messiah, or of the gospel, which are often called the latter or last days, or times, as Isaiah 2:2; Hosea 3:5; Joel 2:28; compared with Acts 2:17; 1 Timothy 4:1; and 2 Timothy 3:1; Hebrews 1:1. Or at the day of the general resurrection and judgment, which, as those holy patriarchs well knew, and firmly believed, was to be at the end of the world; for this was the time when Job’s resurrection, of which he here speaks, was to take place. So that, in these words, Job may either be considered as professing his faith in the incarnation of the Messiah; that, as certainly as he then lived, as God was in existence, and had been from eternity, he should, in due time, be made man, and stand in human nature upon the earth: or, that he should rise out of the dust, and stand up the first-fruits of them that sleep, by his resurrection. Or he may refer to the day of general resurrection and final judgment, which, as those holy patriarchs well knew and firmly believed, was to be at the end of the world; and which is often termed the last day: see John 6:39-54; John 11:24; John 12:48; 1 Peter 1:5. Then shall Christ appear and stand upon the earth, or dust, as עפר, gnaphar, properly means; namely, the dust in which his saints and members lie or sleep, whom he will raise up out of it. And therefore he is fitly said to stand upon the dust, or the grave, or death; because then he will subdue and put that, among other enemies, under his feet, as it is expressed 1 Corinthians 15:25 : or, as the Hebrew, ואחרון על עפר יקום, vaacharon gnal gnaphar jakum, may properly be rendered, The last, or he, the last, shall arise, or stand up against the dust, and fight with it, and rescue the bodies of the saints, which are held in it as prisoners, from its dominion and territories.”
The days are coming when Jesus Christ shall return in glory and power.
Rom 6:9, “knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.”
1Jo 2:17, “The world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever.”
No one can intend to live forever.
The saints will live forever in the Kingdom of Heaven.
You can have eternal life and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven if you repent of your sins and believe in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
In summary, if you fear and know God, you have nothing to fear. Psa 56:9, “Then my enemies will turn back on the day when I call; this I know,
that God is for me.”
Psa 56:11, “in God I trust, I am not afraid. What can mere men do to me?”
In God have I put my trust,…. See Gill on Psalm 56:4;I will not be afraid what man can do unto me; the same with flesh in Psalm 56:4, and is opposed to God, in whom he trusted; and it suggests that he was not, and would not, be afraid of the greatest of men, as well as of the meanest; See Gill on Psalm 56:4; Arama distinguishes between “flesh” and “man”; the former, he says, means the Philistines, and the latter Saul and his army.”
Verse 18. – The Lord for and the Lord, A.V. and T.R.; will for shall, A.V.; save for preserve, A.V.; the glory for glory, A.V. Deliver me… save me (see preceding note). The language here is also very like that of the Lord’s Prayer: Ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ σοῦ γὰρ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία… καὶ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας Ἀμήν (Matthew 6:13). Every evil work. Alford goes altogether astray in his remarks on this passage. Interpreted by the Lord’s Prayer, and by its own internal evidence, the meaning clearly is, “The Lord, who stood by me at my trial, will continue to be my Saviour. He will deliver me from every evil design of mine enemies, and from all the wiles and assaults of the devil, in short, from the whole power of evil, and will bring me safe into his own kingdom of light and righteousness.” There is a strong contrast, as Bengel pithily observes, between “the evil work” and “his heavenly kingdom.” A triumphant martyrdom is as true a deliverance as escape from death. Compare our Lord’s promise, “There shall not an hair of your head perish” (Luke 21:18 compared with ver. 16). St. Paul’s confidence simply is that the Lord would, in his own good time and way, transfer him from this present evil world, and from the powers of darkness, into his eternal kingdom of light and righteousness. 2 Timothy 4:18”
A person’s goodness or badness, cleverness or stupidity, has direct relationship with his/her thought or thinking. To all oppressors, masochists and murderers, I want them to remind the Word of Jesus, Mar 9:48,
“where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT EXTINGUISHED.”
No matter what you had done or what you had achieved, if you ended up in Hell, that is the greatest failure. This is written to let you know, repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you may have your sins forgiven, and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.
To receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior is to receive the eternal life.
The leader of Ukraine is corrupt and evil. Ukranians are stupid to follow the path of destruction. He was the one who instigated war with Russia. Now he asks for guarantee of its security. 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 refrerendum. America is ruined by dark and evil forces.
Heroes of all races who sacrified 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 sacrified their lives in the war against Japanese aggression and atrocities must always be honored and remembered. The Chinse 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 Japanse aggression and atrocities of killing 35 million innocent Chinese without remorse or reparations. UN overappointed unqualified blacks and media have given too much covergage 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 orphanes. 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 reognized 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, Hezebolla, 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. Ukranians 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, overappointed 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, voordoism.
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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*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.
BY WILLIE WONG
This is the voice of an old dying American in the wilderness who does not seek money or power.
– JEFFREY SACHS
America’s history of interference abroad is well-documented, but did other countries not have a motive too? Other likely suspects could feasibly include Ukraine, but also Russia itself — chaotic, irrational behaviour is not an uncommon characteristic of Putin’s Russia. Besides, was it not a slight stretch of the imagination to claim that the US would order the destruction of a piece of public infrastructure that partly belongs to a NATO ally?
Sachs dismissed these questions as as “absurd” and declared that those who didn’t believe America would act against allies in pursuit of its own interests “don’t really know the US.” He believes that decades of antagonistic relations with Russia culminated in the Nord Stream attack, which American foreign policymakers have long viewed as a threat.
According to Sachs, the America neoconservative view of Russia and the war has now become mainstream. Where Europe’s acquisition of cheap Russian gas was once viewed as ‘trade’, it is now seen as a dependency. That said, the small detail of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine may have played a part in that.”
This article is written to let you know that God has the first grace which is the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ to all mankind whereas all lost sinners may be saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. All sinners required to do is to repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ. God also has the second grace to those who have been saved, that is the children of God, whereas God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God. All the saints required to do is to trust our Heavenly Father and obey the will of God. Next to the Gospel, this truth that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him is the greatest. But there are many who are children of God who do not know this most precious truth in Christ.
INTRODUCTION
Rom 8:28, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those wholove God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Cause here in Greek is synergeōwhich means to work with; help with; work together; cooperate; serve as an occasion of; bring on; produce; bring about; create; result in; synergize; – which occurs 5 times in the New Testament. The wonder of all wonders is that God works all things with them for good to those who love God.
Jas 2:22, “You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected.”
The Word of God illustrates how faith works together with works. The Christian faith is not dead. Faith works with works to make faith perfected.
I agree with the philosophy of Abraham Lincoln although in this instance he did not identify God who caused all things when he said, “There are no accidents in my philosophy. Every effect must have its cause. The past is the cause of the present, and the present will be the cause of the future. All these are links in the endless chain stretching from the finite to the infinite.”
Abraham Lincoln was defective because the present will not be the cause of the future. The future does not depend on the present. At the present, the wicked rule the world. Psa 37:38, “But wrongdoers will altogether be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be eliminated.” How the future of the wicked will be eliminated? The devil and the wicked ones will suffer in Hell for eternity. In the Kingdom of Heaven, there will be no wicked or wrongdoers.
Psa 37:37, “Observe the blameless person, and look at the upright; for the person of peace will have a future.”
A person of peace is a son of God. Of course, the children of God will have a blessed future.
There is no future for warmongers, imperialists, militarists, the military-industrial-security complex.
Pro 24:20, “For there will be no future for the evil person; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.”
There will be no future for the evil person. The wicked will suffer in Hell in total darkness forever. There is no hope for their future. No one can predict the future. No magic can tell the future.
Some philosopher was so wrong to say, “Only the knowledge that comes from inside is the real Knowledge.” No one’s inside has the real knowledge. The real knowledge comes by revelation.
Ecc 3:15, “What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.”
This is true as long as the world exists. It will not be true in new Heavens and new Earth. For the Lord of the universe plans and controls the future. God knows what the future holds. Everything God plans will come to pass, for God does whatever He wishes.
The future is in control of the Lord of the universe.
Rom 9:23-25, “And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon objects of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, namely us, whom He also called, not only from among Jews, but also from among Gentiles, as He also says in Hosea: “I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, ‘MY PEOPLE,’AND HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, ‘BELOVED.’”
God has prepared beforehand for glory, not only for the Jews but also for Gentile believers. They will be the children of God, the objects of mercy. It will be a glorious future for the children of God.
Mat 26:64, “Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of Heaven.”
The most important event to take place in the future in the whole universe is the second coming of Jesus Christ with glory and power on the clouds of Heaven.
Eph 4:4, “For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.”
Christians have been called to one glorious hope for the future. Listen, arrogant Western leaders and politicians, you have no hope for the future.
Heb 2:5, “And furthermore, it is not angels who will control the future world we are talking about.”
This is the truth that not many know about: It is not angels who will control the future world we are talking about.
Rom 8:23, “And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as His adopted children, including the new bodies He has promised us.”
I groan when Citibank defrauded me and violated my right by failing to send me the consecutive monthly statement of my bank account and there is no recourse and no justice in America. But Christians have a foretaste of future glory, our bodies will be released from sin and suffering. God will give us our full rights as His adopted children. All the rights so-called in America are phony and good for nothing. The worst is there is no justice in America.
Eph 2:7, “So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all He has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.”
In all future ages Christians will have the incredible wealth without abuse by CITIBANK or any bank of His grace and kindness toward all God’s children as we are united with Christ Jesus.
Isa 48:6, “You have heard; look at all this. And you, will you not declare it? I proclaim to you new things from this time, hidden things which youhave not known.”
The prophet proclaims to us new things, hidden things which we have not known. In the future there will be new things, hidden things which we have not known. Jesus Christ will make all things news.
Rev 21:5, “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.”
Jesus Christ who sits on the throne because He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords who says, “Behold, I am making all things news.” The future will not be like the present for Jesus Christ has made all things new. The world and everything in it will pass away. The Lord Jesus will unfold the new world for all His followers. “All things new” are beyond human comprehension and understanding. Now, get some concept about what is new.
1Co 2:9, “but just as it is written: “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND WHICH HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HUMAN HEART, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”
New things are so numerous, including THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND WHICH HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HUMAN HEART. Oh, vow, it is beyond human imagination. You know, although I am poor, I have seen the largest blue diamond in the world, the largest diamond scepter in the world, the most precious royal crown jewels, the priceless antiques in the world, the most luxurious palaces, the most beautiful places, etc. Of course, my ear has also heard about many things. My heart can also fancy many things. As a boy I used to be able to fancy the beauty of the paradise out of this world as I made up the story to my younger brothers and sisters.
The good thing about the new things that God has prepared for His children is the fact we do not have to learn it or fail in the learning. For example, Christians in the Kingdom of Heaven will automatically be able to speak and understand the language of angels, and fly around like angels without fall or injury. I may offend people by saying there are many nasty languages of the world. There are not many who can speak English elegantly and beautifully. I believe there will be one universal language in the Kingdom of Heaven. Probably the level of your knowledge commensurate with your rank in the Kingdom of Heaven. There would be no ignoramus or illiterate in Heaven.
Do you want to know the future? Do you want to know new things in the future? You can find them only in the Book of Revelation.
But one must be careful because God is not the author of evil or evil things. Evil comes from the evil one just as wickedness comes from the wicked. There are many evil things in the world. For examples, American Civil War was not caused by God, but God let it happen anyway. World War I and World War II were not caused by God, but God permitted them to happen anyway. God has directive and permissive will.
Diseases were caused by the sin of Adam and consequent divine curse. Not all diseases are caused by God, but God may let them happen anyway. Not all natural disasters are caused by God, but God may let them happen anyway. It is a great folly to blame God for anything. God is true and every man a liar. God is holy, Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent. God controls whatever comes to pass. God’s sovereignty covers the whole universe and every sphere of activity, active or passive, animate and inanimate. Why does the compassionate God let evil happen in this world is beyond human understanding. God is Righteous and above reproach. Just as the clay cannot challenge the potter, so the creature cannot question the Creator. The finite cannot fathom the Infinite. The mystery of evil is another subject, we will not dwell on it here.
“first cause, in philosophy, the self-created being (i.e., God) to which every chain of causes must ultimately go back. The term was used by Greek thinkers and became an underlying assumption in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Many philosophers and theologians in this tradition have formulated an argument for the existence of God by claiming that the world that man observes with his senses must have been brought into being by God as the first cause. The classic Christian formulation of this argument came from the medieval theologian St. Thomas Aquinas, who was influenced by the thought of the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle. Aquinas argued that the observable order of causation is not self-explanatory. It can only be accounted for by the existence of a first cause; this first cause, however, must not be considered simply as the first in a series of continuing causes, but rather as first cause in the sense of being the cause for the whole series of observable causes.
The 18th-century German philosopher Immanuel Kant rejected the argument from causality because, according to one of his central theses, causality cannot legitimately be applied beyond the realm of possible experience to a transcendent cause.
Protestantism generally has rejected the validity of the first-cause argument; nevertheless, for most Christians it remains an article of faith that God is the first cause of all that exists. The person who conceives of God in this way is apt to look upon the observable world as contingent—i.e., as something that could not exist by itself.”
the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Rev 21:6, “Then He said to me, “It is done. I AM the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give water to the one who thirsts from the
spring of the Water of Life, without cost.”
Rev 22:13, “I AM the Alpha and the Omega, the first
and the last, the beginning and the end.”
It is necessary to explain God is not just the First Cause, before time and space. God is everything, God is all and in all; there is no other.
Eph 4:6, “one God and Father of all who is over all
and through all and in all.”
This is the greatest mystery about our God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. Not all understands the meaning though all and in all, including me.
“Speaking on the preeminent existence of a first cause, or first mover of things, Aristotle said, in his Metaphysics, that nature and the planets and all life forms are discoverable by a total and principle cause of these elements, and beauty and goodness: “..For it is not likely either that fire or earth or any such element should be the reason why things manifest goodness and beauty both in their being and in their coming to be, or that those thinkers should have supposed it was; nor again could it be right to entrust so great a matter to spontaneity and chance…” Thus the Genesis scripture, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”, represents the most logically concise first-cause of the organisms and objects which occupy the material world — the beauty of sprouting flowers, and of wildlife — each one of them spoken into being by the winds of God’s mouth before time itself existed, and prior to being plucked up from the roots to do His will.
That the material universe could have been created and fashioned by an immaterial God should not be so outlandish and unfashionable in our information-driven world. It is impossible for the space-time continuum to divide itself, much as it is inconceivable that matter would create itself; matter is only acted upon by natural agents — at the directive of a designing intellect creating a universe with the ultimate aim of having an intelligent, observant human race — an earlier proposal by Brandon Carter that mathematical physicist and cosmologist Frank Tipler further defined as the “Strong Anthropic Principle”. In response to atheism’s objection to the intelligent design of the universe on the grounds of quantum physics, Tipler also stated that the quantum vacuum itself cannot explain “nothing” having created everything, since the vacuum itself is not “nothing”.”
Isa 45:22, “Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I AM God, and there is no other.”
In God there is salvation. There is no other god.
Jer 32:27, “Behold, I AM the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?”
God is the Lord, the God of all mankind.
Dan 9:14, “So the LORD has kept the disaster in store and brought it on us; for the Lord our God is righteous with respect to all His deeds which He has done, but we have not obeyed His voice.”
This is a fundamental concept that God is righteous and just. The Lord our God is righteous with respect to all His deeds which He has done. On the contrary, European and American leaders and politicians are unrighteous with respect to all their deeds which they have done; Europe respectively more than 500 years; America more than 300 years.
Not only important to know God is, it is equally important to know God is not.
Num 23:19,“God is not a man, that He would lie, Nor a son of man, that He would change His mind; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”
Luk 20:38, “Now He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to Him.”
God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. I thing not many understand the meaning of “all live to Him.” I believe God controls the existence of all living things, He can put an end to anyone or anything.
1Co 14:33, “for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints.”
The confusion in the world is created by mankind.
1Sa 16:7, “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
The view of God is unlike the view of man. Most Americans look at appearance, if you drive a luxurious car, wear expensive clothes, and live in a mansion — people will bow and respect you.
Ecc 3:14, “I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it. And God has so
worked, that people will fear Him.”
Not only God is eternal, everything God does will remain forever. The world and everything human will pass away.
The Word of God wonderfully tells us GOD IS:
Deu 4:24, “For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”
God is a consuming fire. Fire is not God. The consuming fire of God will consume the wicked.
Deu 4:31, “For the LORD your God is a compassionate God; He will not abandon you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.”
God is a compassionate God, His salvation is open to all sinners who repent and believe in Jesus Christ.
Deu 10:17, “For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who does not show partiality, nor take a bribe.”
Our God is the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who is holy and righteous. God does not show partiality, does not practice racial discrimination, nor take a bride.
Deu 20:4, “for the LORD your God is the One who is going with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”
The Lord our God is the One who is going with His children.
Deu 31:6, “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or in dread of them, for the LORD your God is the One who is going with you. He will not desert you or abandon you.”
The Lord our God will not desert His children or abandon them.
Deu 33:27, “The eternal God is a hiding place, And underneath are the everlasting arms; And He drove out the enemy from you, And said, ‘Destroy!’
The eternal God is a hiding place for His children, and His everlasting arms protect them.
2Sa 22:33, “God is my strong fortress; and He sets the blameless on His way.”
God is the strong fortress of His children.
Ezr 8:22, “For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, “The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who abandon Him.”
The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all who seek him. If you want to seek God, He will not reject you.
Job 33:12, “Behold, let me respond to you, you are not right in this, for God is greater than
mankind.”
God is greater than mankind, greater than the arrogant American and European leaders.
Job 36:5, “Behold, God is mighty but does not reject anyone; He is mighty in strength of understanding.”
So a stupid theologian who said God predestined a certain group of people to go to Hell is a totally wrong doctrine. God does not reject anyone who repents and believes in Jesus Christ.
Job 36:22, “Behold, God is exalted in His power; Who is a teacher like Him?”
I always become uneasy when I see a man in power exalted himself, because power belongs to God.
Job 36:26, “Behold, God is exalted, and we do not know Him; the number of His years is unsearchable.”
The years of God is unsearchable because no one can count eternity.
Job 37:22, “From the north comes golden splendor; Around God is awesome majesty.”
It is bad to call king your majesty. God is the only One who has awesome majesty.
Psa 7:11, “God is the righteous judge, and a God who shows indignation every day.”
God is the righteous judge, and God will show his indignation to those who practice injustice.
Psa 46:1, “For the music director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah, set to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, A very ready help in trouble.”
This Scripture has proven true to me again and again. God is my refuge and strength, a very ready help in trouble.
Psa 47:7, “For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with a psalm of wisdom.”
Psa 54:4, “Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is the sustainer of my soul.”
God is the King of all the earth; God is my Helper.
2Co 9:8, “And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an
abundance for every good deed.”
How does God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him?
The answer is: God is able, always having sufficiency in everything.
According to /cn.bing.com/search?q=cause+and+effect+definition&qs=AS&pq=cause+and+effect
“What does the definition of cause and effect mean?
The principle of or relationship between cause and effect. The relationship between an action or event and the effect that it produces. Also called causation. A
causal agency, force, or quality. The principle that nothing can exist or happen without a cause. The
agency of a cause; the action or power of a cause, in producing its effect.”
Think about when you woke up today. In all likelihood, you were probably woken up by the sound of an alarm clock. The loud sound of the alarm was the cause. Without the alarm, you probably would have overslept. In this scenario, the alarm had the effect of you waking up at a certain time. This is what we mean by cause and effect.”
Sometimes when you read a factual text, there are elements of opinion or bias embedded in the argument. This is when it helps to recognize statements of cause and effect, explanations, and problems with each of these. As we discovered with the kitchen example, cause is not always easy to determine, and explanations can also be specifically personal.
A logical fallacy is a flaw in reasoning, almost like a trick your mind plays on you to convince you of something you want to see a certain way. When you are reading a text written by an accomplished author, it is easy to make assumptions about what the author seems to be saying.
One fallacy that addresses cause and effect is called post hoc ergo propter hoc, a Latin phrase that means: after this, therefore resulting from it. Another way to think of this reasoning is that we are assuming that event A caused event B simply because B occurred after A.
An example would be to say that, because you fell off your skateboard and hurt your ankle just after you ate a snack, the apple you ate caused you to take a tumble.
Caused by an Apple?
Of course, this is not sound reasoning; it is almost certain that the two events are unrelated except as one happened before the other in time. Unfortunately, authors, trying to convince you of a certain point of view, will often use this false view of cause and effect to make their point.”
I agree wholeheartedly with the remarkable Louis Pasteur who made a series of statements,
Aristotle’s very ancient metaphysics often centered on the four causes of being. They are the material, formal, efficient, and final cause. According to Aristotle, the material cause of a being is its physical properties or makeup. The formal cause is the structure or direction of a being.Also Know, what is cause and effect in philosophy? Cause and effect is one of the three philosophical relations that afford us less than certain knowledge, the other two being identity and situation. But causation itself must be a relation rather than a quality of an object, as there is no one property common to all causes or to all effects.
Beside above, what is an example of causation?
Causality examples For example, there is a correlation between ice cream sales and the temperature, as you can see in the chart below . Causal relationship is something that can be used by any company. However, we can’t say that ice cream sales cause hot weather (this would be a causation).”
I think Aristotle was wrong because God is the first cause and the final cause, the Cause of everything.
Gen 1:1, “In the beginning God created the Heavens
and the earth.”
Before time and space exist, God exists. God is Self-Existent Eternally.
Jhn 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
In the beginning, before the creation, God was the Word.
Heb 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.”
Jesus Christ is our great God who is the same yesterday and today, and forever.
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.”
In considering cause, or causes of things, it is flawed not to consider the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. The final cause is inherently wrong, for no one lives long enough to know the final cause of anything. Only the Lord God is the Alpha and the Omega.
Exo 23:8, “You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subvertsthe
cause of the just.”
Cause here in Hebrew isdāḇārwhich means the matter; thing; case; affair; charge; reason; legal ground; principle; – which occurs 1,445 times in the Old Testament.
Deu 28:7, “The LORD will cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated by you; they will go out against you one way and will flee at your presence seven ways.”
Cause here in Hebrew isnāṯanwhich means to bring; put; grant; permit; appoint; assign; make; constitute; apply; ordain; perform; render; set; place; – which occurs 2,015 times in the Old Testament.
1Sa 24:15, “May the LORD therefore be judge and decide between you and me; and may He see and plead my cause and save me from your hand.”
Here cause in Hebrew is rîḇwhich means strife; dispute; controversy; contention; case at law; – which occurs 61 times in the Old Testament.
But we are more interested in the word “cause” as a verb. For God causes all things to work together for good.
Rom 16:17, “Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, keep your eye on those who cause
dissensions and hindrances contrary to the
teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.”
Cause in Greek is poieōwhich means to do; make; work; show; perform; bring forth; commit; produce; be author of a thing; create; shoot out; – which occurs 576 times in the New Testament. There are people who are expert in causing conflicts and dissensions. Brothers and sisters must keep their eyes on them. There are few who make peace, but there are plenty who cause and create conflicts. Ukrainian crisis is a case in point. NATO is the culprit as the American war machine for expansion into the Russian neighborhood to threaten Russia, and the Ukrainian president is the nincompoop who seeks deadly to join NATO and EU. But the Western media is expert in distortion and disinformation to play out in the world as if Ukraine is the victim and Russia is the villain. America is the malignant hegemon and demon behind the Western bloc doing everything possible to strangle and smear Russia. The world does not know it is the monopolistic Western bloc that is the real villain in the whole crisis.
II. THE FIRST CAUSE
An unbelieving secularist said something very wrong, “Who or what caused and moved God?”
The man had no knowledge of God, like an egg striking at the Rock. The world in its wisdom does not know God.
The Word of God has an answer for this fool:
Psa 115:3, “But our God is in the Heavens; He does whatever He pleases.”
Please in Hebrew isḥāp̄ēṣwhich means to like; delight; desire; will; move; take pleasure; would do; incline; – which occurs 75 times in the Old Testament. God does whatever He likes. God does whatever He would do. Whatever is a big universe, it includes everything. Whatever the LORD speaks, we must do.
Whatever the Lord commands you, you shall be careful to do. Whatever the LORD says to me, I shall speak it. God is unique and invincible, who can make Him turn? He does whatever He likes. Mary had the best advice for anyone,Jhn 2:5, “Whatever He tells you, do it.” This can sum up the Christian duty, 1Co 10:31, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God.”Col 3:17, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” There is nothing impossible with God. There is no one and nothing can stop God from doing what He pleases. In particular, obscurantists do not know this truth about God.
The law of divine oneness is the MVP of the universal laws, in that it’s the one upon which all the others build. “This law states that we are all connected through creation,” Wilder says. “Every single atom inside of you is connected in some way, shape, or form to the rest of the universe you move through.”
1Sa 16:7, “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
America looks at the outward appearance. The world looks at the outward appearance. But the Lord looks at the heart.
Ecc 3:14, “I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it. And God has so
worked, that people will fear Him.”
Do you know anything that man does will remain forever?
Do you know anything that man does will not require improvement?
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 unsearchable.”
Act 17:24, “The God who made the world and everything that is in it, since He is Lord of HEAVEN and earth, does not dwell in temples made by
hands.”
1Co 2:14, “But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
A mocker philosopher cannot understand spiritual things. Gal 6:7, “Do not be deceived, God is not
mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap.”
Jas 1:20, “for a man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness of God.”
There are people who are angry with God, but a man’s anger does not make himself righteous or justify himself.
Rom 2:3, “But do you suppose this, you foolish person who passes judgment on those who practice such things, and yet does them as well, that you will escape the judgment of God?”
This is to remind American and European leaders and politicians who rule the world today, they will not escape the judgment of God. This is to warn the American military-industrial (including banking)-security complex who rules America today, they will not escape the judgment of God.
Rom 9:16, “So then, it does not depend on the person who wants it nor the one who runs, but on God who has mercy.”
God, have mercy on me! But when an obscurantist is already in Hell, it is no use to pray for God’s mercy!
2Pe 3:3, “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts.”
There are quite a few mockers who were theologians and philosophers, but they were already dead.
1Ki 18:17, “When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is this you, the cause of disaster to Israel?”
Truth must be proclaimed:
America, NATO, EU (including UK, CANADA, AUSTRALIA) and Japan are the causes of disaster to the world.
America, the West, and Japan are unmitigated disaster to the world. The wolves of Wall Street, the warmongers of Washington, the wanton defilers and debauchery of Hollywood are the causes of disaster and destruction to the world. The tragic thing is they think, speak and act as if they were debonair dynamo who are promoting democracy and human rights. Recently Russia discovered American lab in Ukraine developing biological and chemical military weapons. In fact, America has similar biological labs in more than 300 places around the world. Of course they denied them all. God records all the lies spoken by all peoples. God is going to call America, EU, NATO, UK, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, and Japanese leaders to account for the evil of their deeds for so many years.
Causes of guilt are boldly and bloodily mistaken as causes of glory. Fish eyes are regarded as precious pearls. They cause confusion and chaos in the world for a long, long time. They cause terrors in the world, millions of refugees can rise up to testify against them. Because they dominate and dictate the world, so the International Court of Justice is like a play toy to them. But they will not escape of the Heavenly Supreme Court of Justice. Be assured, the evil persons will not go unpunished.
Someone was so wrong to say, “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” Yourself does not begin anything but yourself. Here is a practical example how I use the Word of God to test the wisdom of the world. An obscure and unbelieving theologian said, “The Bible is not the Word of God; but it contains the Word of God.” Whatever is contrary to the Bible is falsehood. Whatever is in accordance with the Bible is truth. The Holy Bible is the Word of God, not just containing the Word of God.
Psa 111:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who follow His commandments
have a good understanding; His praise endures
forever.”
Pro 1:7, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and
instruction.”
Pro 9:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.
Self, sin, and Satan are the causes of sorrows, sufferings, and slaughters to the world.
III. GOD CAUSES
Gen 20:13, “and it came about, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘This is the kindness which you will show to me: everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”
Abraham had a beautiful wife called Sarah, he knew in this wicked world, people may kill him in order to get his wife. A good thing can be a cause of danger.
Gen 20:11-12, “Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely there is no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife. Besides, she actually is my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.” In addition, Abraham knew that God caused him to wander from his father’s house.
Eze 26:21, “I will cause you sudden terrors and you will no longer exist; though you will be sought, you will never be found again,” declares the Lord GOD.”
Cause here in Hebrew isnāṯanwhich means to give; put; deliver; bring; set up; appoint; send; make; deliver; – which occurs 2,015 times in the Old Testament.
God is able to cause anyone sudden terrors so that they will no longer exist. There are so many sudden terrors which are deemed natural disasters. God can use flood, wind, rain, plague, earthquake, tsunami, etc. to make the wicked no longer exist. There is no power stronger than God causes all things in the universe. God’s sovereignty rules over all things.
Exo 14:25, “He caused their chariot wheels to swerve, and He made them drive with difficulty; so the Egyptians each said, “Let me flee from Israel, for the LORD is fighting for them against the Egyptians.”
God caused the Egyptian chariot wheels to swerve and He made them drive with difficulty. God not only controls mankind, He also controls inanimate objects lie chariot wheels. No matter how fast you drive, God can cause your wheels to swerve.
Psa 78:13, “He divided the sea and caused them to pass through, and He made the waters stand up
like a heap.”
God divided the Red Sea and caused the children of Israel to pass through dry land. God made the waters to stand up like a heap. This is to indicate that the Creator also controls the nature He created.
Psa 105:29, “He turned their waters into blood, And caused their fish to die.”
God struck the water that was in the Nile and turned into blood, and caused their fish to die.
Psa 107:29, “He caused the storm to be still, So that the waves of the sea were hushed.”
This was actually demonstrated by Jesus Christ.
Luk 8:23-25, “But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger. They came up to Jesus and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. And He said to them, “Where is your faith?” But they were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?”
What language did the wind and the surging waves speak? No matter what, the winds and the water obeyed the commands of Jesus Christ.
remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate.”
God has caused His wonders in my life to be remembered. Every time I happened to look at a crocodile on TV, I remember His wonder to spare me from eaten by a crocodile.
Num 23:19,“God is not a man, that He would lie, Nor a son of man, that He would change His mind; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”
I have learned many precious truths from the Word of God. Among them is the truth that God causes all things to work together for the good of all those who love Him. God makes it good. The story is not ended as long as there are children of God in this world.
Mat 5:45, “so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in Heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
God causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends His rain on the righteous and and the unrighteous so that they know God is compassionate.
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.”
One of God’s great wonder is to cause us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
All the Scriptures cited above give us an idea that God causes things to happen, His wonders to perform. The following Scriptures tell us what bad things men can cause.
Rom 16:17, “Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.”
Cause here in Greek is poieō which means to do; make; perform; commit; work; bring forth; produce; form; carry out; construct; render – which occurs 576 times in the New Testament. Weak and feeble mankind may be, but the wicked and evildoers can cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching Christians have learned. The Western bloc led by the United States causes all unjust and unholy wars since the end of World War II and dominates the world. They manufactured the Iraq war with the lie of Iraq possessing weapons of mass destruction. They also created the Ukrainian crisis. European imperialists and colonialists have dominated the world for the last 500 years to the present.
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 no hindrance to the Gospel of Christ.”
Christians would rather endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the Gospel of Christ.
separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.”
Wrongdoings or sins have caused a separation between men and God. Even when Christians sins, God will not hear our prayers.
Heb 11:16, “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.”
My friend I was looking for a better country since 1975. I have discovered there is no better country that is earthly. There is a better country which is a Heavenly one. God is not ashamed because He has prepared a City for those who love Him. Do you want to know the Holy City, New Jerusalem? You can find it in Revelation Chapter 21.
IV. ALL THINGS
1Ch 29:14, “But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given to You.”
All good things come from God. Christians give back to God what God has given them. All bad things come from Satan, Self, and Sin.
Job 42:2, “I know that You can do all things, And that no plan is impossible for You.”
The God of the Holy Bible can do all things, and that no human plan can stop God.
Psa 57:2, “I will cry to God Most High, To God who accomplishes all things for me.”
To accomplish in Hebrew isgāmarwhich means to perform; perfect; complete; finish; succeed; achieve; – which occurs 5 times in the Old Testament.
How do you figure out a son of poor missionaries who worked his way through minimum wage can attend one of the top American universities and obtained his Bachelor and Master degrees without owing anyone one penny, and the university official asked him to go on for Ph.D. and would take care of everything? How do you gather a website of one-man operations with no ads and with no financial support from anyone but with plenty of enemies of truth under constant attack can reach more than 3 million readers a month? I often cry to God Most High, to God who accomplishes all things for me.
Psa 119:91, “They stand this day by Your ordinances, For all things are Your servants.”
This is the most incredible truth, all things are God’s servants.
Gen 19:24-25, “Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah from the LORD out of Heaven, and He overthrew those cities, and all the surrounding area, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.”
The Lord rained brimstone and fire out of Heaven to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.
“Sodom and Gomorrah sites have been discovered along the shore of the Dead Sea east of Jerusalem. One can still pick up sulfur pellets which are the remnants of what the Bible calls brimstone. The brimstone or sulfur pellets are composed of 99% pure sulfur. Such pure concentrations of sulfur have not been found anywhere else in the world.”
Exo 10:19, “So the LORD shifted the wind to a very strong west wind, which picked up the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea; not one locust was left in all the territory of Egypt.”
The wind, locusts, and Red Sea are God’s servants.
Exo 3:2, “Then 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 being consumed.”
Blazing fire and the burning bush are God’s servants.
Exo 14:21-22, “Then Moses reached out with 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, and the waters were divided. So 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 and on their left.”
The Red Sea, wind, and dry land are God’s servants.
Dan 3:17-27, “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will rescue us from your hand, O king.
And he ordered certain valiant warriors who were in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in order to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. Then these men were tied up in their trousers, their coats, their caps, and their other clothes, and were thrown into the middle of the furnace of blazing fire. For this reason, because the king’s command was harsh and the furnace had been made extremely hot, the flame of the fire killed those
men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abed-nego. But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell into the middle of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up quickly; he said to his counselors, “Was it not three men that we threw bound into the middle of the fire?” They replied to the king, “Absolutely, O king.” He responded, “Look! I see four men untied and walking about in the middle of the fire unharmed, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!” Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the Most High God, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came out of the middle of the fire. The satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men, nor was the hair of their heads singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had even the smell of fire touched them.”
The furnace of blazing fire, the hair, trousers are God’s servants.
Dan 6:16-27, “Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and thrown into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “Your God whom you continually
serve will Himself rescue you.”
Then the king got up at dawn, at the break of day, and went in a hurry to the lions’ den. And when he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king began speaking and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you continually serve, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
“My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, since I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime.”
The king then gave orders, and they brought those men who had maliciously accused Daniel, and they threw them, their children, and their wives into the lions’ den; and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
Then Darius the king wrote to all the peoples, nations, and populations of all languages who were living in all the land: “May your peace be great!
“I issue a decree that in all the realm of my kingdom people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; For He is the living God and enduring forever, And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, And His dominion will be forever.
“He rescues, saves, and performs signs and miracles In Heaven and on earth, He who has also rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”
Even king Darius could not expect that lions are God’s servants. God causes all things to work together for good including God rescues, saves, and performs signs and miracles in Heaven and on earth.
Things you never think of could be God’s servants. The whole universe is under God’s control. Never before in history, God rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.
It was Heraclitus who said, “All things flow, nothing abides. You cannot step into the same river twice, for the waters are continually flowing on. Nothing is permanent except change.”
But God does not change.
Heb 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.”
Jesus Christ, our great God and Savior, does not change. He is the same yesterday and today, and forever.
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 unsearchable.”
The Creator of the universe doe not become weary or tired.
Rom 9:16, “So then, it does not depend on the person who wants it nor the one who runs, but on God who has mercy.”
It does not depend on you who may want it or run for it, it depends on God who has mercy.
Psa 73:1, “A Psalm of Asaph. God certainly is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart!”
For this reason, Palestinians, Arabs, and Hamas get out the Jewish land as soon as possible, lest the God of Israel be angry.
Ecc 12:14, “For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”
The world may not know the state secrets of America, EU, UK, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, and Japan, etc. God will bring every hidden act to judgment.
Mar 10:18, “But Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.”
Jesus is God and so He is good.
3Jo 1:11, “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does what is good is of God; the one who does what is evil has not
seen God.”
The one who does what is good is of God; the one who does what is evil is of the devil.
For human even one thing is difficult. To illustrate as an example, there are millions Ukrainian refugees already wandering in some countries. We would like to adopt a Ukrainian girl between 6-12 years old without hereditary disease and preferably of Christian background, an orphan or the parents who are willing to let us adopt her. It is such a difficult task even it is only one task. First is the knowledge or information problem. The orphan or parents do not know we are in a most desirable condition and have excellent abilities to give the girl a bright future. On our part we do not know where the candidate would be how to find and connect with the right girl or right parents. There is the human missing link. We neither have the power nor the resources to carry out such a plan.
With this I also think of another problem of finding your right mate in the world. You do not know whom and where is the right girl who will be willing to marry you and the right girl does not know where in the world the right man would be willing to marry her. It is sure not an easy thing for two to meet. At the same time you already met many girls you do not wish to marry, and at the same time the girl have met many men she did not want to marry to.
No one is wise enough to know a previous cause.
Someone who is so self-righteous and stupid to say, Who or what caused and moved God? An ignoramus does not have the knowledge of God, and like an egg striking at the Rock.
To answer the unbeliever,
Man is unable to work all things together due to:
A. Ignorance and stupidity.
B. Inability and incapacity.
C. Weakness and mortality.
D. Too much hindrance or obstacles.
E. Deficiency and inadequacy.
F. Missing linkage or circumstance.
G. Beyond human power.
Mankind err in many things:
A. Wrong priority – not knowing what is important
B. Wrong plan – according to foolish plan
C. Wrong timing – cannot coordinate things
D. Wrong means – round vs square
E. Wrong act – misdirected efforts
F. Wrong motive – sought the wrong thing
1Ch 29:11-16, “Yours, LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the Heavens and on the earth; Yours is the dominion, LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name. But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given to You.
For we are strangers before You, and temporary residents, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope.
LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build You a house for Your holy name, it is from Your hand, and everything is Yours.”
It was David who made the above prayers. For sure, God rules over all, all things come from God and everything is God’s. So it is not impossible for God to cause all things work together.
For Christians to know that God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love God, it is necessary to know the truth that we belong to Christ:
1Co 3:21-23, “So then, no one is to be boasting in people. For all things belong to you, whether Paul
whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.”
It is most important to know that all things belong to Christians, the children of God. All things include things present and things to come. The ultimate cause is that Christians belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
V. GOD IS OMNISCIENT
God is omniscient means God’s ability to know absolutely everything and everyone.
Luk 16:15, “And He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of people, but God knows your hearts; because that which is highly esteemed among people is detestable in the sight of God.”
There is a Chinese saying, “You know the man, you know his face, but you do not know his heart.” But God know your hearts, my heart and their hearts.
God knows all things, God knows everything. God knows you and I. God knows everybody. God is the Mighty One who has no problem, no difficulty.
It was Abraham Lincoln who said, “I go to assume a task more difficult than that which devolved upon Washington. Unless the great God, who assisted him, shall be with me and aid me, I must fail; but if the same omniscient mind and almighty arm that directed and protected him shall guide and support me, I shall not fail – I shall succeed.”
Jos 22:22, “The Mighty One, God, the LORD, the Mighty One, God, the LORD! He knows, and may Israel itself know.”
Job 28:20, “Where then does wisdom come from? And where is this place of understanding?”
Job 28:23,“God understands its way, And He knows its place.”
Psa 44:21, “Would God not find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.”
God is able to find out everything, He knows even the secrets of the heart.
2Ti 2:19, “Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God
stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His;” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to keep away from wickedness.”
I used to think people who have the same names may be a problem. The Lord knows those who are His. It would not be the problem of the wrong person who answers the call.
1Jo 3:20, “that if our heart condemns us, that God is greater than our heart, and He knows all things.”
Only God who knows all things is able to cause all things to work together for good of those who love Him.
Jhn 4:10, “Jesus replied to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who is saying to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
If you knew because you do not know.
Jhn 13:3, “Jesus, knowing that the Father had handed all things over to Him, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God.”
There are people who still do not know that the Father had handed all things over to the Son Jesus Christ.
Jhn 18:4, “Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, came out into the open and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”
Only Jesus knows all things.
Jhn 19:28, “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things
had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture would be fulfilled, said, “I am thirsty.”
Man is not sue of his accomplishments. Only Jesus knows all things He had already been accomplished.
Phl 3:8, “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.”
When you compare the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord with everything else, you realize they are nothing but garbage.
VI. GOD IS ALMIGHTY
Mat 3:9, “and do not assume that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’; for I tell you that God is able, from these stones, to raise up children for Abraham.”
God is able, from these stones, to raise up children for Abraham. There is nothing impossible with God.
2Co 9:8, “And God is able to make all grace overflow
to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.”
God is Almighty means God is able and always having sufficiency in everything.
Heb 11:19, “He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.”
Probably the most difficult for humans to do would be to raise people from the dead. God is able to raise people even from the dead.
Ecc 7:13, “Consider the work of God, For who is able to straighten what He has bent?”
The devil and mankind have bent many things in the world. God is able to straighten what He has bent.
Dan 2:47, “The king responded to Daniel and said, “Your God truly is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of secrets, since you have been able to reveal this secret.”
God is able to reveal secrets, all secrets.
Dan 3:17, “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire;
and He will rescue us from your hand, O king.”
Yes, God was able to rescue three young men from the furnace of blazing fire as never before. For fire is also a servant of God.
Dan 3:29,“Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or population of any language that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses made a rubbish heap, because there is no other god who is able to save in this way.”
There is no other god who is able to save Shadrach, Meschach, and Abed-nego from the furnace of blazing fire.
Act 5:39, “but ifthe source is God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”
When the Scripture says that God causes all things work together for good, it means the source is God. The Creator is able to use all created things.
Act 20:32, “And now I entrust you to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
God and His Word is able to build Christians up and to give Christians the inheritance among those who are sanctified.
Heb 4:12, “For the Word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
The Word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Heb 7:25, “Therefore He is also able to save forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
God causes all things to work together for good because God is all-knowing and all-powerful. Our great God and Savior always live forever and knows all things and is able to save Christians to the end.
together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?”
Just as faith is working together with the works of believers, so God causes all things to work together for good of those who love Him.
Eph 4:16, “from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
To illustrate how God causes all things to work together, the Church, the Body of Christ, is a good example. The Body of Christ, joined and knit together, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the Body for the edifying of itself in love.
Phl 2:2, “Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.”
Christians who have the same attitude that Jesus Christ had, agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together for the advancement of the Gospel with one mind and purpose.
With one mind and purpose God causes all things to work together for our good.
Neh 4:6, “So we rebuilt the wall until the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had the will to keep working.”
Under the leadership of Nehemiah, the people rebuilt the wall until the entire wall was joined together, for the people had the will to keep working.
It is the will of God to cause all things working together for the good of those who love God.
In the things of mankind, we need collaboration to work together. In the things of God, God does not need human cooperation or collaboration, because the all-knowing and all-powerful God has the will to cause all things to work together for good. God does whatever He pleases. It takes a whole orchestra to play a symphony. The Triune-God created the whole universe AND mankind without help.
For mankind, Henry Ford had a formula for success:
“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.”
“Wow. Take a moment to let that sink in — a Harvard professor of biochemistry just stated that the mechanism of evolution (natural selection acting on random mutations) couldn’t have happened without the precise combination of the three major elements in the physical universe (hydrogen, oxygen and carbon). To make a helpful analogy, this is like saying it is impossible to crack open a safe without the correct combination, where the real work of methodically taking items (or, ordering them in this case) begins. So plant and animal life would not exist today without the proper ordering of the three major elements, which we apparently don’t have a clue as to how they all came together in a form perfect enough to give rise to intelligent life.
Another enigma in science is how and why amino acids came to exist, and no answer is sufficient to explain how all twenty of them perform a unique function — which all consists of those same elements, carbon and hydrogen — but how they combined to form long, complex chains (also known as proteins). And according to Britannica, proteins dictate many vital functions in our bodies: Hemoglobin proteins in blood transport oxygen to nourish organs and other structures in the body; enzymes, which speed up chemical reactions, are formed out of protein molecules; so are the antibodies in the immune system made up of proteins, which help expel pathogens from the body.
I think we know the answer, and people just don’t want to talk about it — God. God did this. As Paul the Apostle has said, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:20, NIV).”
“There are a million more examples of harmony in nature, but these are easy to understand and practical. Here are some helpful details about each example that might trigger some great ideas:
The Solar System
The solar system is a perfect example of harmony in nature. All the planets orbit the Sun in perfect timing, rhythm, and order to create a balance that supports life for human beings on Earth.
If the Sun or Moon suddenly changed their course or pattern, it would cause great disruption on our planet.
Planetary motion is very reliable and predictable. It can be calculated and measured hundreds of years in advance. The planets follow a steady and harmonious path.
The planets revolve in perfect harmony around the Sun to create the solar system as we know it.”
2Co 6:1, “And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain—”
Christians work together with the Lord so that we do not receive the grace of God in vain. To work with the Lord is to obey and trust the Lord. To work with the Lord is to follow His steps. Phl 1:29, “For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer on His behalf.” Christians not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer on His behalf. In addition to working with the Lord, Christians are also to work together with each other.
Phl 2:2, “Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.”
Christians have fellowship in the Spirit, agreeing wholehearted with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose for the furtherance of the Gospel.
During the pandemic, on the principle of working together China was able to build a 1,000-bed hospital in 7 days. The Creator of the Universe can much more command and control to cause all things work together to accomplish His will.
VIII. FOR GOOD
The Word of God has good news for saved Christians just as the Gospel has good news for lost sinners that they may not know and have never heard before. This is the wonderful truth in Christ: Christians can rest assured that no matter whatever happens in their lives on earth, God causes all things to work together for their good. This truth is very powerfully validated by the Word of God. Rom 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able
to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God has promised good things for the good of those who love Him.
Here are some practical examples:
With Joseph, slavery was just a step to the highest office in Egypt.
With the mother-in-law of Ruth, Mara was eventually turned into Naomi in the end.
With Stephen, martyrdom was the path of glory.
With Paul, all sufferings were for the furtherance of the Gospel.
My brothers and sisters, it is my hope that you will grasp and appropriate this most comforting truth in Christ for your life and pilgrimage on earth.
Gen 50:20, “As for you, you meant evil against me,
but God meant it for good in order to bring about thispresent result, to keep many people alive.”
It is good and right for you to study carefully the historical life (Genesis Chapters 30-50) of Joseph. May God open your eyes so you can see the brothers of Joseph meant evil against him, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this good outcome of happy ending. God caused all things to work together for good to Joseph and all his family.
God can set His face for harm to the wicked, at the same time God can set His eyes for good to those who love Him. God has promised good things concerning His children. Don’t worry, God will cause all things to work together for good to you in the end. The Lord can ordain to foil the good plan of the wicked, in order for the Lord to bring disaster on the enemy.
I agree with Socrates who said, “Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best what is good for us.” Don’t be arrogant, no one really knows what is good for us.
Do you know most people in the world do not know what is right and do not understand what is good.
Job 34:4, “Let us choose for ourselves what is right; Let us understand among ourselves what is good.”
The longer I live, the more I am sure of the Lord’s promise. 1Ch 16:34, “Give thanks to the LORD,
for He is good; for His faithfulness is everlasting.”
Psa 73:28, “But as for me, the nearness of God is good for me; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, so that I may tell of all Your works.”
Psa 107:9, “For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And He has filled the hungry soul with what is good.”
When God has satisfied your thirsty soul, and He has filled your hungry soul with what is good, then you will say:Psa 107:1, “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His mercy is everlasting.”
I agree with Francis Bacon who said, “Of all virtues and dignities of the mind, goodness is the greatest, being the character of the Deity; and without it, man is a busy, mischievous, wretched thing.” It is the pure goodness of God who causes all things to work together for our good.
I agree with Albert Einstein who said, “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” However, if Einstein were alive today, I would ask him what would or could he do since European and American supremacists have done so much evil in the world today? What could he do against the sole superpower and her military and political alliances in oppressing and sanctioning so many nations?
I also agree with Edmund Burke who said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” I would also ask Edmund Burke, What could good men do to the triumph of evil by America since the end of World War II? This is not an old illusion.
Someone was wrong to say, “All good from God, all evil from man.” Actually, all evil originated from the devil; and many men become his agents.
A famous philosopher was wrong who said, “There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance.”
Do you know the evil trinity of Washington, Wall Street and Hollywood are very well educated and trained people from American IV League universities and the military-industrial-security complex are very knowledgeable people and greedy to make money?
Someone was so wrong to say, “Good and evil are the same thing.” It is like light and darkness are no different to the blind. God promised to cause all things to work together for good to those who love Him. I agree with Marcus Tullius Cicero who said,
“The function of wisdom is to discriminate between good and evil.”
As the psalmist says, 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.” My Heavenly Father promises to take care of me all the days of my life. My life is not run by causal determinism. God determines my life and causes all things to work together for my good.
I also agree with Seneca who said, “There is no easy way from the earth to the stars.”
I have never been to my Heavenly Father’s home which is high above in the highest Heavens. But there is no worry. Jesus is the Way to God. Jesus will lead me Home.
Rev 7:17, “for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
CONCLUSION
I do not know whether you have learned this Biblical truth that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him.
If you are not saved, then you are not a child of God, and so you will not be benefited by the promise of God. If you repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior, then not only you will receive the forgiveness of sins and inherit the eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven; you may also receive the promise that God will cause all things to work together for your good as long as you live. God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God is never an accident.
A philosopher was so wrong when he said, “What is evil to one at one time, becomes good at another time to somebody else.” No one can transmute evil into good. Only God can turn evil of man into good. The good God causes to His children is always good.
Someone was so wrong to say, “Live life for the moment because everything else is uncertain.”
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.”
There is nothing uncertain about the Christian life.
live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf.”
Christians live for Christ who died and rose on their behalf.
1Pe 2:24, “and He Himself brought our sins in His body up on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds you were healed.”
Christians live for righteousness. So you know those American and European leaders and politicians lie because they live for unrighteousness such as wars, sanctions, oppressions, interventions, suppression, exploitation, and destruction.
Plato was right when he said, “the good has no friendship with evil.”
2Co 6:14-15, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?”
Believers do not yoke together with unbelievers. Righteousness has no fellowship with lawlessness. Light has no communion with darkness. Christ has no accord with Belial. A believer has no part with an unbeliever.
1Jo 1:6-7, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 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.”
Christians have fellowship with God and 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.
Num 6:25, “The LORD cause His face to shine on you, and be gracious to you.”
1Co 1:4-8, “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, just as the testimony
concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you
are not lacking in any gift, as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also
confirm you to the end, blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The grace of God has been given to you to know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him. The end of the world is at hand. For Jesus Christ is coming again soon.
Would you repent of your sins and believe Jesus Christ, the Son of God, your Lord and Savior?
You can do it right now. Come before it is too late!
The leader of Ukraine is corrupt and evil. Ekranians are stupid to follow the path of destruction. He was the one who instigated war with Russia. Now he asks for guarantee of its security. 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 refrerendum. America is ruined by dark and evil forces.
Heroes of all races who sacrified 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 sacrified their lives in the war against Japanese aggression and atrocities must always be honored and remembered. The Chinse 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 Japanse aggression and atrocities of killing 35 million innocent Chinese without remorse or reparations. UN overappointed unqualified blacks and media have given too much covergage 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 orphanes. 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 reognized 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, Hezebolla, 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. Ukranians 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, overappointed 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, voordoism.
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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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 were worse than wild beasts and deserve ten atomic bombs in recompense. Even today Japanese government and leaders do not 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 refrerendum. America is ruined by dark and evil forces.
Heroes of all races who sacrified 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 sacrified their lives in the war against Japanese aggression and atrocities must always be honored and remembered. The Chinse 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.
<span style=”display:inline-block;width:160px;height:30px;text-align:center;border:#000 1px dotted;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;background-color:#FFFFFF;”><strong style=”display:block;padding:0px;margin:0px;”></strong><a href=”http://www.submitexpress.com/” title=”SEO Company Los Angeles” style=”font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;”>SEO Company Los Angeles</a></span>
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. 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. Never again will China be oppressed. I am sure the militant Japan is deterred, and no nation on earth would dare to attack China again. 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 refrerendum. America is ruined by dark and evil forces.
Heroes of all races who sacrified 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 sacrified their lives in the war against Japanese aggression and atrocities must always be honored and remembered. The Chinse 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.
This article is written to let you know we have many things to learn: above all the Word of God, the Way of God, and the Will of God.
“teach” AND “me” occurs 65 times in 28 verses in the NASB20, including 18 exact phrases shown first.
A person may not be aware of the flaws and defects of his/her character or personality. To be taught is to learn. Why do we need to be taught? Because we are stupid. The poor know they are poor. The wicked do not know they are wicked. The ignorant do not know they are foolish. Fools do not know they are stupid. The useless people do not know they are good for nothing, they only know eating and drinking. Even believers, children of God need to be taught many things: Above all, we need to know the Word of God, to follow the Way of God, and to do the Will of God.
Job 6:24, “Teach me, and I will be silent; and show me how I have done wrong.”
To sin is to have done wrong. Many do not know they have sinned. IN fact, the Bible says all have sinned. First you have to know you have sinned, second you will seek salvation. Only sinners need the Savior. Jesus is the Savior of mankind.
Job 34:32, “Teach me what I do not see; If I have done wrong,I will not do it again’?”
Sinners do not see well; do not have correct perspective. Sinners need to have the sight of God, for sins have blinded the mind of people.
Psa 25:4, “Make me know Your ways, LORD; Teach me Your paths.”
Sinners do not know the ways of the Lord, they need to be taught the paths of the Lord. God’s ways are not the ways of mankind.
Psa 25:5, “Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day.”
Sinners do not know the truth and need to be taught, for God is our salvation.
Psa 27:11, “Teach me Your way, LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.”
Children of God are eager to know the way of the Lord and be led on a level path.
Psa 86:11, “Teach me Your way, LORD;I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.”
Children of God want to know the way of the Lord so that they will walk in the truth of God and fear His name.
Psa 119:12, “Blessed are You, LORD;teach me Your statutes.”
Deu 4:40,“So you shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I am giving you today, so that it may go well for you and for your children after you, and that you may live long on the land which the LORD your God is giving you for all time.”
Psa 119:33, “Teach me, the way of Your statutes, LORD, and I shall comply with it to the end.”
Children of God shall comply with the statutes of the Lord to the end.
Psa 119:66, “Teach me good discernment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments.”
The children of God believe in God’s commandments and so they also want to learn good discernment and knowledge. You know in this age of deception, how important it is to have good discernment and knowledge. Most people are confused and cannot differentiate between right and wrong, good and evil, important and unimportant, true and false.
offerings of my mouth, LORD, and teach me Your judgments.”
Children of God want to praise the Lord and learn the judgments of the Lord. Judgment tells you what is yes is yes, what is no is no. “Deal with Your servant according to Your graciousness, and teach me Your statutes.”
Had it not for the grace and graciousness of the Lord, we would have all perished. Children of God need to be taught in many ways and many things. “Make Your face shine upon Your servant,and teach me
Your statutes.”
We have light when the face of the Lord shines upon us.
Psa 143:8, “Let me hear Your faithfulness in the morning, for I trust in You;teach me the way in which I should walk; for to You I lift up my soul.”
Children of God need to be taught the way in which we should walk; for to God we lift up our souls. The people of the world do not know how to live, be they world leaders or politicians.
Psa 143:10, “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God;let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
As cited by the Scriptures above, believers or the children of God have to be taught many things. We need to learn the Word of God, the Way of God, and do the Will of God. The most important is to do the will of God. Each child of God needs to find OUT the will of God in his/her life and do it. Blessed is the one who does the will of God.
Deu 4:10, “Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when the LORD said to me, ‘Assemble the people to Me, that I may have them hear My Words so that they may learn to fear Me
all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.”
Christian parents have duties and responsibilities to teach their children the Words of God, the most important is how to get to Heaven. In fact, it is the greatest responsibility of local pastors to teach their members how to get to Heaven.
Psa 34:11, “Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.”
Jer 31:34, “They will not teach again, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their wrongdoing, and their sin I will no longer remember.”
The knowledge of the Lord is the most important. Everything else you know does not matter. There are people who pride themselves in knowing from Anthropology to Zoology. What does it matter if you do not know how to get to Heaven? To know God is to know the salvation of God, you will receive forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ.
It is a pity and tragedy that many people are unteachable. Christians learn all their lives; they are special people taught by God.
Isa 54:13, “All your sons will be taught by the LORD; And the well-being of your sons will be great.”
The saddest thing is the fact individuals, organizations, societies and nations do not learn wisdom. As Children of God, to be taught by God involves at least learning the Word of God, the Way of God, and the Will of God.
Sanctification and Love
1Th 4:1-12, “Finally then, brothers and sisters, we request and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel even more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how
to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no one violate the rights and take advantage of his brother or sister in the matter, because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you previously and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us
for impurity, but in sanctification. Therefore, the one who rejects this is not rejecting man, but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.
Now as to the love of the brothers and sisters, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you practice it toward all the brothers and sisters who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to excel even more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we instructed you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.”
Isa 54:13, “All your sons will be taught by the LORD; And the well-being of your sons will be great.”
1Co 2:13-15, “We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual
thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and hecannot
understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.But the one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is discerned by no one.”
1Th 4:9-12, “Now as to the love of the brothers and sisters, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;for indeed you practice it toward all the brothers and sisters who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to excel even more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet
life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we instructed you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.”
2Th 2:15, “So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold on to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by
letter from us.”
People are stupid because of many reasons:
A). Stupid because of wrong or erroneous thinking.
Stupid thinking includes simplistic thinking, evil thinking, careless thinking, self-conceited thinking, wicked thinking, mistaken thinking, immature thinking, worthless thinking, etc. Be careful how you think.
Mankind is unlimitedly stupid in thought, word, and deed.
I. TAUGHT BY HUMAN WISDOM
Act 7:22-25, “Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was proficient in speaking and action. But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his countrymen, the sons of Israel. And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended
and took vengeance for the oppressed man by fatally striking the Egyptian. And he thought that his brothers understood that God was granting them
deliverance through him; but they did not understand.”
Moses was educated in the all the wisdom of the Egyptians. Many times you did a good thing but people do not understand.
Current definitions of “Wisdom” for ancient Egypt often suffer from the influence of categories developed for the Hebrew Bible. Applying emic categories leads instead to a focus on instructions, which have a clear Egyptian term (sbꜣy.t). They are typically stylized as the teaching of a son by his father and authorized by the indication of name and title of the teacher. Often a prologue indicates the setting of the teaching more closely. Some historical development can be recognized, but at the same time, there are also contemporary compositions with different outlooks and social settings. For some periods, the older “classical” texts exist together with more recent ones, and the question of their respective role has still to be studied in more detail. The older compositions often have a casuistic structure of maxims recommending behavior in certain situations, while the younger ones are more loosely organized. The main aim of the texts is to teach how to have success in life.”
The early America was built great through education. Both Harvard and Yale were founded by Christians.
According to The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated: Feb 2, 2024 • Article HistoryHarvard University
university, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
John Harvard
Harvard University, oldest institution of higher learning in the United States (founded 1636) and one of the eight Ivy League schools, widely regarded for their high academic standards, selectivity in admissions, and social prestige. The main university campus lies along the Charles River in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a few miles west of downtown Boston. Harvard’s total enrollment is about 23,000.
Harvard’s history began when a college was established at New Towne, which was later renamed Cambridge for the English alma mater of some of the leading colonists. Classes began in the summer of 1638 with one master in a single frame house and a “college yard.” Harvard was named for a Puritan minister, John Harvard, who left the college his books and half of his estate.
Yale has grown and evolved for 300-plus years, passing many milestones and forging traditions along the way.
The university traces its roots to the 1640s, when colonial clergymen led an effort to establish a local college in the tradition of European liberal education. In 1701 the Connecticut legislature adopted a charter “to erect a Collegiate School.” The school officially became Yale College in 1718, when it was renamed in honor of Welsh merchant Elihu Yale, who had donated the proceeds from the sale of nine bales of goods together with 417 books and a portrait of King George I.”
Now universities have become a big business. American universities have lost its lustre and goal.
All undeveloped nations have one thing in common: their people are uneducated, unskilled, and unproductive.
Education is the path for individuals or nations to improve its fate.
15 BENEFITS OF EDUCATION THAT CAN IMPACT YOUR FUTURE
“While everyone might have a different definition of education, its importance remains undisputed. By receiving a systematic education, people gain knowledge and develop skills and character traits crucial for a certain standard of life.
Most people agree on the importance of education, but only a fraction of that is truly aware of the impact of education on our lives. Receiving an education has a significant impact not only on our quality of life but on our physical and psychological well-being. Below you will find 15 different benefits of education that can impact your life in the future.
1. Creating More Employment Opportunities
“Finding a job” is probably one of the most common reasons people choose to pursue a college degree, as we are all well aware of the difficulties of landing a good job. In most cases, tens of candidates are applying for the same position, and a college degree can help set you apart from others. In addition, a college education will create more employment opportunities as you will be qualified for more than low-paying and entry-level jobs.
2. Leading to Career Advancement
If you have already joined the workforce and love your job, you might think you don’t need to pursue a college or university education. We are here to tell you that a college degree can have other benefits than just landing you a job. By receiving higher education, you gain the knowledge and skills that will give you a competitive edge and allow you to advance your career in a chosen field.
3. Securing a Better Income
As previously mentioned, a college education can be grounds for career advancement. Advancement in your field comes in the form of a new job title and greater responsibilities—consequently, a higher salary and added benefits. You will also qualify for higher-paying entry-level jobs by getting a higher education degree. As a result, a higher wage can grant you financial stability and improve your quality of life.
4. Developing Critical-Thinking Skills
Higher education equips you with the knowledge and essential skills necessary to join the workforce. One of the most vital skills you will develop when pursuing a college degree is the ability to think critically. Critical thinking skills are an advantage and sometimes even a requirement to succeed in your career. By developing critical-thinking skills, you can improve your work’s quality, solve problems, and prevent possible issues that might arise.
5. Improving Self-Discipline
The amount of work that one has to put in to get a college degree is sometimes precisely what improves one’s self-discipline. When pursuing higher education, you have assignments that you must deliver on time and tests you must study for—all of which require self-discipline. Improved self-discipline will, in turn, help you in your future career by making you a reliable and hardworking team member.
6. Developing Cognitive And Communication Skills
Learning how to communicate with others is a highly valuable skill in the job market and one that will significantly contribute to your career success. Pursuing a university or college degree is a great way to further develop your cognitive and communication skills. During your studies, you will constantly be in contact and collaborate with colleagues and professors, giving you insight into a typical work environment.
7. Promoting Equality And Empowerment
One of the most important benefits of education is probably the promotion of equality and empowerment within society. Higher education can make people more open-minded in accepting others’ ideas and opinions regardless of race, gender, age, etc. In addition, education empowers people through expert knowledge and valuable skills and gives them the mental capacity to make decisions and create a life of their own independently.
8. Providing a Prosperous And Healthy Life
The list of highest-paying careers contains mostly professions that require a higher education degree. This is why one must pursue a college education to land a well-paying job. A high-paying job career has many benefits, including a comfortable life for you and your family, the respect and admiration of your family and friends, etc. Being financially secure will also contribute to your and your family’s overall happiness and quality of life.
9. Instilling a Sense of Accomplishment
There are still advantages to a college or university degree, even if we were to take out the “landing a job” benefit. Another great benefit of pursuing a degree is the sense of accomplishment you gain when you obtain your degree. Feeling like you accomplished something important will, in turn, make you more confident in pursuing other things you want in life and getting them.
10. Spreading Awareness
Nowadays, technological advancement has made it possible for people to easily connect and communicate with virtually anyone anywhere in the world. This, of course, includes students in colleges and universities. Getting a college education will, directly and indirectly, expose students to different cultures around the world, thus increasing cultural awareness.
11. Enhancing Productivity
Getting a college degree is a lot of hard work, requiring self-discipline and good time-management skills. Pursuing and obtaining a college degree will improve these skills and qualities in a person. Such essential attributes and skills will make you a valuable employee and asset for the companies you work for as they help enhance your overall productivity.
12. Offering the Opportunity to Socialize And Network
Another way a college education will prepare you for your future career is through socializing and networking. When pursuing a college degree, you are surrounded by other students who will soon enter the same job market as you. Socializing or creating a network with them early on will be a great advantage when pursuing a career or seeking career advancement.
13. Pursuing a Passion
Pursuing a college or university degree in a field you are passionate about is a great way to land a fulfilling career. A college education will allow you to turn your passion into a stable job and income you need to live comfortably. In addition, the specialized knowledge you gain during your studies will help you plunge deeper into the things you love.
14. Opening Your Horizons
Pursuing higher education is a great way to open your horizons regarding knowledge, understanding, or experience. Whether it is the specialized knowledge and understanding you gain, the different things you experience, or the relationships you form, a college education will expose you to things you can’t find elsewhere.
15. Contributing to the Community
Lastly, all the benefits of education mentioned above will make you a better member of society. By receiving higher education and landing a fulfilling and high-paying job, you can then turn your energy into giving back to the community and helping others. Educated people are aware of the role an individual must play in society for it to function well, so they do their part accordingly.
I agree with the 15 points cited above. Although the human wisdom is limited. Human wisdom is fallible.
“Wisdom is one of those qualities that is difficult to define—because it encompasses so much—but which people generally recognize when they encounter it. And it is encountered most obviously in the realm of decision-making.
Psychologists tend to agree that wisdom involves an integration of knowledge, experience, and deep understanding, as well as a tolerance for the uncertainties of life. There’s an awareness of how things play out over time, and it confers a sense of balance.
What Is Wisdom?
Wise people generally share an optimism that life’s problems can be solved and experience a certain amount of calm in facing difficult decisions. Intelligence may be necessary for wisdom, but it definitely isn’t sufficient; an ability to see the big picture, a sense of proportion, intellectual humility, and considerable introspection also contribute to its development.
Wisdom can be acquired only through experience, but by itself, experience does not automatically confer wisdom. Researchers are continuing to probe the social, emotional, and cognitive processes that transmute experience into wisdom.
How do researchers define wisdom?
Numerous theories are emerging to try to measure and model wisdom. A leading theory, developed by psychologists Paul Baltes and others, defines wisdom as “expert knowledge in the fundamental pragmatics of life that permits exceptional insight, judgment, and advice about complex and uncertain matters.” That encompasses five key components: rich procedural knowledge, rich factual knowledge, an understanding of different life contexts, an awareness of the relativism of values and priorities, and the ability to recognize and manage uncertainty. These criteria are measured by introducing hypothetical scenarios and assessing what participants would consider or do in those situations.
But there are other theories of wisdom as well. Sociologist Monika Ardelt believes that individuals develop wisdom as personality characteristics encompassing reflection, compassion, and the pursuit of truth. Psychologist Robert Sternberg understands wisdom as balance between oneself and others so that actions are directed at the common good.
What are the components of wisdom?
Wisdom encompasses cognitive components, such as knowledge and experience, reflective components, or the ability to examine situations and oneself, and prosocial components, meaning benevolence and compassion. Wisdom is also connected to abilities such as perspective-taking, open-mindedness, and intellectual humility.”
I do not know what a Christian university is like because I had never attended one. I attended a top American university which was altogether secular. One professor in fact deliberately made fun and mocked at the Bible. I knew the professor was misquoting the Bible, at that time my Bible knowledge was not good enough to give him a correct answer. However, my faith in the Word of God was firm and so the mocking did not affect me at all. However, I was grateful to study Advanced Management Theory under Dr. Professor Harold Koontz who became my personal friend. I also appreciated a few outstanding professors in their fields of expertise. I know secular education means godless education.
“Whether religious affiliates are less likely to pursue education or are less likely to excel in school is a complicated subject in the sociology of religion. On one hand, participation in congregational religious
expression develops critical social skills that enables participates to function well in other public engagements, including the classroom. Religion also provides members with an identity, a sense of
belonging, and positive values, all of which contribute
beneficially to multiple measures of psycho-social well-being as well as educational performance. On the other hand, in countries such as the United States we have witnessed a conservative backlash against
the so-called corrupting influence of secular education, including attacks against particular classroom subjects such as evolution. Some
fundamentalist groups choose to insulate their children from secularizing influences through privatized religious colleges. Evaluating the influence of religion on educational trajectories hence requires
a nuanced appreciation of both the positive and negative drivers of religious practice on educational outcomes.”
“Secular Christianity” is a contradiction in terms. It is a figment of imagination of unworthy theologians. Do not waste your time and effort in studying them. secularism
“Secularism, any movement in society directed away from otherworldliness to life on earth.
In the Middle Ages in Europe there was a strong tendency for religious persons to despise human affairs and to meditate on God and the afterlife. As a reaction to this medieval tendency, secularism, at the time of the Renaissance, exhibited itself in the development of humanism, when people began to show more interest in human cultural achievements and the possibilities of their fulfillment in this world.
Christianity: Eschatological expectations and secularization
The movement toward secularism has been in progress during the entire course of modern history and has often been viewed as being anti-Christian and antireligious. In the latter half of the 20th century, however, some theologians began advocating secularChristianity. They suggested that Christianity should not be concerned only with the sacred and the otherworldly but that people should find in the world the opportunity to promote Christian values. These theologians maintained that the real meaning of the message of Jesus can be discovered and fulfilled in the everyday affairs of secular living.
Christianity by nature is Heavenly, it could never be secular. Just like it is impossible to have black snow. For Jesus Christ Himself declares, Jhn 8:23-30, “And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I AM
from above; you are of this world, I AM not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I AM, you will
die in your sins.”
Then they were saying to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, “What have I even been saying to you from the beginning? I have many things to say and to judge regarding you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I say to the world.” They did not realize that He was speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said,
“When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM, and I do nothing on My own, but I say these things as the Father instructed Me.
And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” As He said these things, many came to believe in Him.”
“I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE WHO HAVE UNDERSTANDING, I WILL CONFOUND.”
Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this world? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world?
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of the message
preached to save those who believe. 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 the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
II. WHAT FAMOUS PEOPLE SAY
https://www.azquotes.com
Aesop said, “Better be wise by the misfortunes of others than by your own.”
Marcus Tullius Cicero said, “The wise are instructed by reason, average minds by experience, the stupid by necessity and the brute by instinct.”
Confucius said, “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
Francis Bacon said, “Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom.”
Helen Rowland said, “A wise woman puts a grain of sugar into everything she says to a man, and takes a grain of salt with everything he says to her.”
Gautama Buddha said, “Do not give your attention to what others do or fail to do; give it to what you do or fail to do.”
Confucius said, “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.”
Confucius said, “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”
Albert Einstein said, “A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it.”
Henry Ford said, “Chop your own wood and it will warm you twice.”
Isaac Asimov said, “The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.”
The Word of God is the only basis of the Christian Faith. The Holy Scriptures or the Holy Bible is the sole Authority of faith and conduct of Christians of all generations. The Word of God is absolute, inspired, supreme, ultimate and eternal. No human science or wisdom matters. The Word of God matters above everything.
Act 2:22-24, “Men of Israel, listen to these Words: Jesus the Nazarene, a Man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which
God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him from the dead, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.”
number of the disciples continued toincreasegreatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priestswere becomingobedient to the faith.”
The primary mission of the Church of Jesus Christ is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As the Word of God is spreading, the number of believers will be increasing. Those who believe naturally become obedient to the faith.
Act 13:7, “who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the Word of God.”
where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the Word of God with boldness.”
The filling of the Holy Spirit is not to speak in tongues as the Pentecostal church insists, but to speak the Word of God with boldness and power.
Luk 11:28, “But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the Word of God and follow it.”
Rom 9:6-8, “But it is not as though the Word of God has failed. For they are notall Israel who are descended from Israel;nor are they all children
because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE NAMED.” That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.”
Jhn 10:26, “But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep. My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”
In the early days I was disappointed when people rejected the salvation of God. Later I have learned there are people who are not the sheep of Jesus.
hidden because of shame, not walking in trickery nor distorting the Word of God, but by the open proclamation of the truth commending
ourselves to every person’s conscience in the sight of God. 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 will not see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants on account of Jesus.”
It is sad but true there are people who are distorting the Word of God, who are perishing, the unbelieving whom the god of this world has blinded their minds; and there are evangelists, pastors and preachers who preach themselves, and make church members their own disciples.
2Ti 3:16-17, “All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.”
The Word of God declares, Rom 3:23-26, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God
displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in God’s merciful restraint
He let the sins previously committed go unpunished; for the demonstration, that is, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
This is the most important message to mankind: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Do you know any business that does not practice greed? Do you know any leader or politician who does not practice wickedness? Greed and wickedness will send billions of peoples to Hell. By the grace of God I have lived to be of advanced age who has met millions of peoples in this world. I can attest the Word of God is true: All have sinned, including me. But I am a saved sinner by the grace of God through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. No matter who you are, you can also be saved throufgh a propitation in the precious blood of Jesus Christ, if only you repent of your sins and have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, your Savior. And Jesus says.
Mat 24:35, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will not pass away.”
Jde 1:17-21, “But you, beloved, ought to remember the Words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded,devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building
yourselves up on your most holy faith,praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.”
B). THE WAY OF GOD
Mar 12:14, “They came and said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and do not care what anyone thinks; for You are not partial to anyone, but You teach the way of God in truth. Is it permissible to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?”
Way in Greek is hodos which means metaph. a course of conduct; a way (i.e. manner) of thinking, feeling, deciding; a usual manner of behaving or doing; — which occurs 101 times in the New Testament.
Jesus Christ sets an example for all teachers of the Word of God. (a). Be truthful. (b). Do not care what anyone thinks. (c). Not partial to anyone. (d). Teach the way of God in truth.
Luk 20:21, “And the spies questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You are not partial to anyone, but You teach the way of God on the basis of truth.”
Act 18:26, “and he began speaking boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God more accurately to him.” Apollos was being fervent in spirit, he was accurately speaking and teaching things about Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; so Priscilla and Aquila explained the way of God more accurately to him. Those who know better must explain to those who knew less accurately.
Jhn 8:23-24, “And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I AM from above; you are of this world, I AM not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.”
Mar 12:14, “They came and said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and do not care what anyone thinks; for You are not partial to anyone, but You teach the way of God in truth. Is it permissible to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?”
The Word of God is sure, Heb 2:2-4, “For if the Word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every violation and act of disobedience received a just punishment, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.”
Hell is the place once you enter there is no way out.
Zec 1:4,“Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, ‘This is what the LORD of armies says: “Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.”’ But they did not listen or pay attention to Me,” declares the LORD.”
The wicked have evil ways and evil deeds.
2Co 5:17, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
Eph 4:22, “that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit.”
Col 3:9, “Do not lie to one another, since you stripped off the old self with its evil practices.”
The ways of the world are evil practices.
The ways of God are contrary to the ways of the wicked. The ways of the wicked are obstinate ways, evil ways, wicked ways, destructive ways, violent ways, wrong ways, crooked ways, unjust ways, the ways of darkness, devious ways, unstable ways, pervert ways, wayward ways, unjust ways, abominable ways, defiled ways, senseless ways,
By the grace of God I have lived to be advanced in age, and I have met millions of people. I discover most of the troubles and tragedies of people are self-afflicted or self-inflicted as it is written below:
Jer 4:18, “Your ways and your deeds have brought these things upon you.This is your evil. How bitter! How it has touched your heart!”
Psa 1:6, “For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.”
The more accurately you know the Word of God, the more accurately you know the Way of God. The way of God is the way of salvation.
As it is written,
Eph 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Act 4:12, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other
name under Heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.”
There is no other salvation, and there is no other Savior.
for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day.”
Those who are saved are the children of God. The children of God want to be taught the truth of God and want to be led or guided into all truth.
Gen 18:19, “For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”
The way of the Lord is by doing righteousness and justice. No nation on earth is doing that.
Deu 5:33, “You shall walk entirely in the Way which the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and that it may be well for you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you will possess.”
The Way of the Lord promises life and being well.
Deu 13:5, “But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken falsely against the LORD your God
who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to drive you from the way in which the LORD your God
commanded you to walk. So you shall eliminate the evil from among you.”
Under the Mosaic Law that prophet or that dreamer who has spoken falsely against the Lord shall be put to death. Anyone who speaks against the Way of the Lord is evil.
Mat 5:12,“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in Heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
The Way of God is not the way of Cain, the way of the ungodly, and the way of the wicked.
Let me inform you the way of EU, NATO, US –is also not the Way of God. I often wonder why people deliberately choose the wicked way.
Heb 13:7, “Remember those who led you,who spoke the Word of God to you; and considering the result of theirway of life, imitate their faith.”
The Way of God is the Christian way of life.
Deu 8:6, “Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.”
To walk in the ways of the Lord is to fear Him.
Deu 10:12,“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of 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.”
Deu 11:22, “For if you are careful to keep all of this commandment which I am commanding you to do, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His
ways and cling to Him.”
To walk in all God’s ways is to cling to Him.
Deu 26:17, “Today you have declared the LORD to be your God, and that you will walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments, and His ordinances, and listen to His voice.”
To walk in God’s ways is to keep His statutes, His commandments, and His ordinances, and listen to His voice.
Deu 32:4, “The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and just is He.”
God is the Rock, His work is perfect, all His ways are just without injustice, righteous and just is He.
Qbstinate ways, dishonest gain, acting wickedly, doing what is wrong, evil ways, wicked ways, the ways of the house of Ahab, ways of destruction, ways of the violent, crooked ways, ways of darkness, devious ways, unstable ways, pervert ways, devious ways, wayward ways, aborminable ways, shameful ways, corrupt ways — are not the Ways of God.
these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them.For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous will walk in them, but
wrongdoers will stumble in them.”
2Co 13:11, “Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, mend your ways, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”
Rev 15:3, “And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God, the Almighty;Righteous and true are Your ways,King of the nations!”
Luk 20:21, “And the spies questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You are not partial to anyone, but You teach the way of God on the basis of truth.”
The good test whether it is the way of God is whether it is on the basis of truth.
The more you understand the Word of the Lord, the more you understand the Way of the Lord, the more you will know the Will of God.
C). THE WILL OF GOD
Mar 3:35, “For whoever does the will of God, this is My brother, and sister, and mother.”
Will in Greek is thelēma which means desire; pleasure; what God wishes to be done by us; decree; — which occurs 62 times in the New Testament.
Jesus elevates those who do the will of God as His brother, and sister, and mother.
Rom 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is,
that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
If you want to know the Will of God, you cannot be conformed to this world. You must be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you MAY prove what is the Will of God; the Will of God is good and acceptable and perfect.
When peoples of a certain culture encounter intractable and insurmountable troubles and tragedies, they have a tendency to say, “It is the will of Heaven!” Do you know the will of God must be good and acceptable and perfect?
Co 7:9-10, “I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but
that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. 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.” The sorrow of believers is according to the Will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation. Unbelievers and the wicked do not want to repent of their sins.
Col 4:12, “Epaphras, who is one of your own, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings, always striving earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the Will of God.”
1Th 4:3-7, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how
to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no one violate the rights and take advantage of his brother or sister in the matter,
because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you previously and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in sanctification.”
To avoid confusion, there are two Wills of God: the general will and the special will. The general Will of God covers every Christian of all generations, such as your sanctification, abstain from sexual immorality, possess your own vessel in sanctification and honor; for God has not called us for impurity, but in sanctification.
The following is also the general Will of God:
1Th 5:18-23, “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit, do not utterly reject prophecies,
but examine everything; hold firmly to that which is good, abstain from every form of evil. 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 ourLord Jesus Christ.”
Heb 10:36-37, “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.”
Whether to do the general Will or special Will of God, Christians have need of endurance to receive what was promised.
Eph 6:6, “not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.”
Act 20:35, “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this way 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.’”
Rom 14:17, “for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking,
but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
Rom 14:18, “For the one who serves Christ in this way is acceptable to
God and approved by other people.”
Rom 14:19, “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.”
Eph 4:22, “that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid
yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit.”
This is also the general Will of God:
1Pe 2:15-17, “For such is the will of God, that by doing right you silence the ignorance of foolish people. Act as free people, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-servants of God.Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.”
It is important not to confuse the general will of God with the special will of God. The special will of God is tailored to individual, what God wants you to do in your own life. With regard to the special will of God, may I use some Bible characters to illustrate.
A). Joseph
Gen 50:18-20, “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 keep many people alive.”
In retrospect, Joseph can say to his brothers, “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.”
This reminds me,
Rom 8:28, “And weknow that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
This Scripture is a wonderful comfort to know that God causes all things to work together for good as the events of the life of Joseph clearly illustrate and prove beyond any doubt.
B). Naomi
As it is written, Rth 1:20-22, “But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went
away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?” So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the land of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.”
Little did Naomi realize of the sweet ending,
Rth 4:13-15, “So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he had relations with her. And the LORDenabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the
LORD who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel. May he also be to you one who restores life and sustains your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves
you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”
Where can you find a daughter-in-low who is better to you than seven sons?
C). Apostle Paul
Act 8:1-4, “Now Saul approved of putting Stephen to death.And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and he would drag away men and women and put them in prison. Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
Act 13:9-50, “But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, stared at him, Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia; but John left them and returned to Jerusalem.Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said,
“Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:
As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people repeatedly begged to have these things spoken to them the next Sabbath.Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking to them and urging them to continue in the grace of God. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming. Paul and Barnabas
spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first. Since you repudiate it and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.
But the Jews incited the devout women of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their region.”
1Co 15:9-11, “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.”
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 reserved 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.”
The three persons cited above have done the Will of God in their lives victoriously. It is hoped now you know the difference between the General Will of God and the Special Will of God for individuals.
“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil.”
Jhn 5:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the one 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.”
Believers do not come into judgment because Jesus died for their sins, and they have passed out of death into life.
Rom 2:5, “But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.”
Judgment day is the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God.
2Co 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through
the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.”
1Ti 5:24-25, “The sins of some people are quite evident,going before them to judgment; for others, their sins followafter.Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.”
Heb 9:27-28, “And just as it is destined for people to die once, and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”
For unbelievers, judgment comes after death.
Heb 10:27-31, “but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. Anyone who has ignored the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified,
and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Above all, this compelling reason:
2Pe 3:9, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.”Oh God, I need to be taught the Word of God, Way of God, and the Will of God all my lifeIV. TAUGHT BY THE SPIRIT
To be taught by God, and to be taught by the Spirit, are one and the same. To be taught by the Spirit is to be taught by God. Jesus Christ did not want to leave His followers orphans and so He sent the Promise of God, the Spirit of Truth, to be with Christians always.
As it is written,
Jhn 14:16-26, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; the Helper is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.After a little while, the world no longer is going to see Me, but you are going to see Me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are
in Me, and I in you. The one who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him.”
Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, what has happened that You are going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus
answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will follow My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him. The one who does not love Me does not follow My Words; and the Word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me. These things I havespoken to you while remaining with you.But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you.”
After Jesus returned to the Father, and after the New Testament was completed, it is the Spirit of Truth WHO will teach Christians all things.
To be guided into all truths is to be TAUGHT BY THE SPIRIT.
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world
cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. After a little while, the world no longer is going to see Me, but you are going to see Me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I in you. The one who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him. Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, what has happened that You are going to reveal Yourself
to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him,
“If anyone loves Me, he will follow My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him. The one who
does not love Me does not follow My Words; and the Word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me. These things I havespoken to you while remaining with you.But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind
you of all that I said to you. Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful. You heard that I said to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I AM going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in
regard to Me, but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let’s go from here.”
Jhn 16:12-15, “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot
bear them at the present time. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take from Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; this is why I said that He takes from Mine and will disclose it to you.”
Sinners do not have the Spirit of truth. Only the children of God will be guided into all the truth. Those who are devoid of the Spirit will not know the truth as it is in Christ Jesus.
What does the Spirit teach?
Rom 8:1-17, “Therefore there isnow no condemnation at all
for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 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. For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 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.However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
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. So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—for if you are living in accord with the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you
will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself
testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”
The only proof that you are saved is to have the Holy Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that you are children of God.
V. LEARN FROM JESUS
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.”
Eph 4:17-21, “So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, that you are to no longer walk just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds,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; and they, having become callous, have given themselves up to indecent
behavior for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus.”
To learn from Jesus is to learn Christ, to be taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus. You are no longer to walk just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of their ignorance, because of the hardness of their heart; and they are callous, have given themselves up to indecent behavior for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
A). Learn from God and come to Jesus.
Jhn 6:45,“It is written in the Prophets: ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.”
It is impossible to learn from the Father and not come to Jesus Christ.
Mat 11:28, “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
All who are weary and burdened, you can find rest in Jesus Christ which the world cannot give.
B). Learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Eph 5:5-10, “For this you know with certainty, that no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, which amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God. See that no one deceives you with
empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” Therefore do not become partners with them; for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”
C). Learn to fear the Lord.
Deu 4:10, “Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when the LORD said to me, ‘Assemble the people to Me, that I may have them hear My words so that they may learn to fear Me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’”
Deu 14:23,“You shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the LORDyour God always.”
Deu 17:19, “And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, so that he will learn to fear the LORD his God, by carefully following
all the Words of this Law and these statutes.”
Deu 31:12-13, “Assemble the people, the men, the women, the children, and the stranger who is in your town, so that they may hear and learn and fear the LORD your God, and be careful to follow all the words of this Law.
And their children, who have not known, will hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live on the land which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess.”
D). Learn the Lord’s righteous judgments.
Psa 119:7, “I will give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments.”
E). Learn the Lord’s statutes.
Deu 5:1, “Now Moses summoned all Israel and said to them:“Listen, Israel, to the statutes and ordinances which I am speaking today for you to hear, so that you may learn them and be careful to do them.”
Psa 119:71, “It is good for me that I was afflicted,
So that I may learn Your statutes.”
F). Learn the Lord’s commandments.
Psa 119:73, “YodhYour hands made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, so that I may learn Your commandments.”
G). Learn righteousness.
Isa 26:9-10, “At night my soul longs for You, indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently; for when the earth experiences Your judgments, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. Though the wicked person is shown compassion,he does not learn righteousness;he deals unjustly
in the land of uprightness, and does not perceive the majesty of the LORD.”
Act 13:10, “and said, “You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you
son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not stop making crooked the straight ways of the Lord?”
Act 17:31, “because He has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all people by raising Him from the dead.”
I often wished that the wicked would be punished on earth now. I wished the wicked would be dead. I was guilty for not knowing the Word of God and the Will of God. Now I submit myself patiently to the Will of God. For God has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness through Jesus Christ whom He has appointed, the Judge of the living and the dead, whom having furnished proof to all people by raising Him for the dead. Just as God has set a day for the second coming of Jesus Christ, so God has set a day for the judgment of the world in righteousness. Suffering saints must wait patiently.
H). Learn to do good.
Isa 1:17, “Learn to do good; seek justice, rebukethe oppressor, obtain
justice for the orphan, plead for the widow’s case.”
I). Learn from correction.
Pro 15:5, “Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise.”
J). Learn not to exceed what is written.
1Co 4:6, “Now these things, brothers and sisters, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos your account, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become
arrogant in behalf of one against the other.”
K). Learn and all may be exhorted.
1Co 14:31, “For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted.”
L). Learn to show proper respect for own family.
1Ti 5:4, “but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show proper respect for their own family and to give back
compensation to their parents; for this is acceptable
in the sight of God.”
M). Learn to engage in good deeds.
Tit 3:14, “Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unproductive.”
Christians learn to engage in good deeds all their lives.
Unbelievers need to be taught the salvation of God first. Without salvation, there cannot be any edification or instruction. The most important thing on earth is to learn how to avoid getting into Hell.
Believers are children of God and need to be taught by the Word of God, the Way of God, and the Will of God. It is the Spirit of Truth who guides the children of God into all truths. Above all, Christians need to be taught obedient to the Faith, the truth in Jesus Christ.
Mar 4:1-2, “Again Jesus began to teach beside the sea [of Galilee]. And a very large crowd gathered around Him, so He got into a boat [anchoring it a short distance out] on the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the shore.And He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said to them.”
The teaching of Jesus is plainly presented in the New Testament, without secret code or hidden message.
Jhn 7:16-18, “Jesus answered them by saying, “My teaching is not My own, but His who sent Me. If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know whether the teaching is of God or whether I speak on My own accord and by My own authority. He who speaks on his own accord seeks glory and
honor for himself. But He who seeks the glory and the honor of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness or deception in Him.”
The teachings of the Apostles are the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Gal 1:11-12, “For I want you to know, believers, that the Gospel which was preached by me is not man’s Gospel [it is not a human invention, patterned after any human concept].For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a [direct] revelation of Jesus Christ.”
2Ti 3:10-12, “Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
2Ti 4:14-17, “Alexander the copper smith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Be on guard against him yourself too,
for he vigorously opposed our teaching. At my first
defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and
that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth.”
Tit 1:9-11, “holding firmly the faithful Word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it. For there are many rebellious people, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for thesake of dishonest gain.”
2Jo 1:9-10, “Anyone who goes too far and does not remain in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your
house, and do not give him a greeting.”
Eph 4:21-25, “if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Therefore, ridding yourselves of falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE OF YOU WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, because we are parts of one another.”
1Th 4:9, “Now as to the love of the brothers and sisters, you have no
need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.”
Christians are taught by God to love one another.
You do not know how lucky I was to be taught by Dr. Prof. Harold Koontz in Advanced Management and Theory. Once in a elevator, came a young mother and son. I quickly (I have the habit of guessing the age of children) told the boy he was five years old. That was right, the boy was happy; the mother was happy too. You do not know to have the knowledge of God is the happiest thing in the world.
On the Internet there are many business organizations who claim or pretend to be “Christian” or “Evangelical”. They exist to make money or merchandise the Gospel or Bible Knowledge for money. Some of them outrageously charge a high fee or so-called “subscription” for Bible study or access to the Word of God. Most of them ask for donation like beggars ask for alms. I want you to know that my website https://williewongthought.hpage.com
is dedicated to proclaim the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ absolutely free. Any unbeliever or anyone may have free access to it. As of to date (6/20/2025) I have written 189 articles (including the present one) all free to Christians everywhere. Knowledge is power.
For that reason, the American mega corporation wanted to cooperate with me, index my articles and sell them. I turned it down because the preaching of the Gospel cannot have money motive.
Jas 1:23-25, “For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an active doer, this person will be blessed in what he does.”
No matter who you are and where you are, you can come now to repent and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Will you do it now? Tomorrow may be too late!
Strangest thing: UN, WHO, EU, NATO, ARAB-ISLAMIC-Black nations all work for the terrorists Hamas — the historical greatest distortion. Hamas and Palestinians do not have homeland in Israel. The sooner they realize it the better. Who is stopping Palestinians to establish a Palestinian state in an Arab land? Arabs go to Arab’s land is most reasonable. Palestinians and Arabs are unworthy. Hamas, Hezebollah and Houthis are wicked terrorists deserved to be destroyed for good.
The whole world believes in a lie.
What AFRICA needs most is SELF-SUFFICIENCY in everything; not useless general elections, not modernization, not deluded democracy, not new corruption replacing old corruption, not fat people who sing and dance and drink beer and produce children they cannot support, not foreign aid of any kind to deal with natural disasters and man-made disasters. African nations and citizens need a NEW CONSTITUTION with majority (51%) through National Referendum to instantly remove unwanted leaders or politicians, to execute the junta of any military coups d’etatfor any reason, and to change government or direction. Nations and peoples who habitually are corrupt, unmotivated, unproductive, with abilities to eat and drink beer, to sing and dance, to have sex and produce children they cannot support; unable to solve their own problems and perennial in shortages of money and basic necessities; — who have no reason to exist should not receive any humanitarian aid.
Palestinians in Gaza died because they refused to evacuate. After Israel made repeated and urgent orders for Gaza to evacuate. Hamas uses Palestinian children for protection. UN and WHO use schools and hospitals to protect terrorists. Only Egypt has taken less than 100 injured Palestinians. Not one Arab nation demonstrates its sincerity to take in Palestinians (Arabs) from Gaza. As Israel forces advance on grounds, Hamas buried tons of explosives and bombs in Gaza. The world must help Israel to eliminate the wicked Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists once and for all. America must destroy any nation that attacks Israel, including Iran.
The UN is a useless organization. What it should do, it does not. What it should not do, it does. In truth, Palestinians have no “legitimate right” in the Promised land. God gave the Promised Land to Abraham and his descendants some 4,000 years ago. During the British colonial rule, Palestinians and Hamas were Arabs who surreptitiously moved into the Promised Land (so-called Palestine) unlawfully. Hamas dared to make first the barbaric attack of Israel. Hamas made the first barbaric attack, killed more than 1,400 Jews, took hundreds of hostages, illegally occupied the Jewish land — are these not war crimes?Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis are known terrorists. UN is using all its resources to help the terrorists. They and Arab nations want to cease fire now, because they are afraid with one stroke Israel can wipe out Hamas and Hezbollah and illegal occupants. Whatever strategy Israel uses to destroy Hamas and Hezbollah and expel illegal Palestinians effectively is a good strategy. Peoples of Arab and Muslim nations protest for Palestinians, yet no Arab or Muslim nation wants to welcome or take in any Palestinians. Israel has no option but to destroy Hamas and Hezbollah and expel all Palestinians from the Jewish Land. The territories occupied by Palestinians and Hamas are the Jewish land. There is no Palestinian land in the Jewish land. It is high time that Israel gets rid of all Palestinians, Hamas, Arabs from the Jewish land. No aid should be given to Palestine or Palestinians. The “legitimate aspirations” of Palestinians are to get out the Jewish Land at once to establish a Palestinian state in Arab land or there will be conflict and no peace. Syria is not wise to provide weapons for Hamas. Israel is surrounded by enemies. A stupid question: Where do Palestinians go? Palestinians are Arabs, Arabs go to the lands of Arabs. After all have been said, it is awakening and eye-opening: Arab countries do not want Palestinian Arabs. Their doors are closed. All Arab nations and peoples in protests support the Palestinians; but most strangely no Arab nation would indeed welcome or take in Palestinians (Arabs). Why should there be any reason for Israel to let Palestinians (Arabs) and Hamas live in the Jewish land? Arab nations and peoples who protest for Palestinians should indeed take Palestinians in. Palestinians may go to the Red Sea. Watch will their god open the Red Sea so that Palestinians may walk through dry land?
UN and WHO use all their resources to support and aid terrorists.
Jesus Christ is coming again!
The world must finally wake up to the dark evil forces and face an aggressive, belligerent, irrational, hegemonic and bad-faith superpower who seeks its monopoly on global power and is the greatest source of instability, chaos, inflation, injustice, trouble and conflict in the world — which is seeking to contain Russia and China, and strategically crush them at all costs. The West has wronged China since the infamous Opium Wars to the present. Not only there will be no peace, these hostile activities and militant mind-set will inevitably leads to a coming nuclear war to destroy the whole world.
America’s history of interference abroad is well-documented, but did other countries not have a motive too? Other likely suspects could feasibly include Ukraine, but also Russia itself — chaotic, irrational behaviour is not an uncommon characteristic of Putin’s Russia. Besides, was it not a slight stretch of the imagination to claim that the US would order the destruction of a piece of public infrastructure that partly belongs to a NATO ally?
Sachs dismissed these questions as as “absurd” and declared that those who didn’t believe America would act against allies in pursuit of its own interests “don’t really know the US.” He believes that decades of antagonistic relations with Russia culminated in the Nord Stream attack, which American foreign policymakers have long viewed as a threat.
According to Sachs, the America neoconservative view of Russia and the war has now become mainstream. Where Europe’s acquisition of cheap Russian gas was once viewed as ‘trade’, it is now seen as a dependency. That said, the small detail of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine may have played a part in that.”
The only way to have WORLD PEACE is to abolish NATO, G-7 and EU; abandon American imperialism, capitalism, hegemony,warmongering and sanctions; and leave corrupt Ukraine desolate and unsupported economically, financially and militarily.The Ukraine war criminal eyes victory is an illusion and delusion; the reality is Ukraine destroyed and desolate.
The Philippines has taken the WRONG side of America, China must act accordingly. AID to such a useless nation would be a big WASTE!!!
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The fake claim and biggest black lie is black Jews. Abraham was not a Negro, the twelve tribes of Israel were not Negroes. David was not a Negro. Jesus was born a Jew, not a Negro. There are no black Jews. Merriam Webster defines Negro as a person of Black African ancestry. The Biblical Jews are neither black nor African.
The two-state proposal is not the two-state solution. For God gave the Promised Land to Abraham and his descendants some 4,000 years ago. The Chosen People rebelled against God and they were scattered all over the world. During the British colonial rule, the Holy Land was known as Palestine, illegal Arabs moved in to occupy the Holy Land without payment. The illegal Arabs were latter known as Palestinians. Palestinians, Arabs and Hamas have no claim to the Holy Land and no resettlement right in the Holy Land. They do not own one inch of the Jewish land, they now illegally occupied the Promised Land; Palestinians, Arabs and Hamas must at once leave the Jewish land for good. The leaders of the United Kingdom could tell them so. Palestinians could never establish a Palestinian state in the Holy Land. The United Nations or any agency has no authority to give the Jewish land to Palestinians, Arabs and Hamas. Jerusalem is forever the capital of the great King David. It is high time for Palestinians, Arabs and Hamas to get out of the Holy Land in peace; or they will be evicted by force. God will fight for Jerusalem, for God is the Protector of Israel. Palestine only existed in British colonial rule, so Palestinians are not free in Israel; they must be expelled from Jerusalem and the Jewish land, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. They are free to go to Arab nations. Palestinians and Hamas must withdraw from the Jewish land that God gave to Abraham and his descendants without delay. Any strategy to bargain away the Jewish land is wrong.
This article is written to let you know we have many things to learn: above all the Word of God, the Way of God, and the Will of God.
“teach” AND “me” occurs 65 times in 28 verses in the NASB20, including 18 exact phrases shown first.
A person may not be aware of the flaws and defects of his/her character or personality. To be taught is to learn. Why do we need to be taught? Because we are stupid. The poor know they are poor. The wicked do not know they are wicked. The ignorant do not know they are foolish. Fools do not know they are stupid. The useless people do not know they are good for nothing, they only know eating and drinking. Even believers, children of God need to be taught many things: Above all, we need to know the Word of God, to follow the Way of God, and to do the Will of God.
Job 6:24, “Teach me, and I will be silent; and show me how I have done wrong.”
To sin is to have done wrong. Many do not know they have sinned. IN fact, the Bible says all have sinned. First you have to know you have sinned, second you will seek salvation. Only sinners need the Savior. Jesus is the Savior of mankind.
Job 34:32, “Teach me what I do not see; If I have done wrong,I will not do it again’?”
Sinners do not see well; do not have correct perspective. Sinners need to have the sight of God, for sins have blinded the mind of people.
Psa 25:4, “Make me know Your ways, LORD; Teach me Your paths.”
Sinners do not know the ways of the Lord, they need to be taught the paths of the Lord. God’s ways are not the ways of mankind.
Psa 25:5, “Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day.”
Sinners do not know the truth and need to be taught, for God is our salvation.
Psa 27:11, “Teach me Your way, LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.”
Children of God are eager to know the way of the Lord and be led on a level path.
Psa 86:11, “Teach me Your way, LORD;I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.”
Children of God want to know the way of the Lord so that they will walk in the truth of God and fear His name.
Psa 119:12, “Blessed are You, LORD;teach me Your statutes.”
Deu 4:40,“So you shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I am giving you today, so that it may go well for you and for your children after you, and that you may live long on the land which the LORD your God is giving you for all time.”
Psa 119:33, “Teach me, the way of Your statutes, LORD, and I shall comply with it to the end.”
Children of God shall comply with the statutes of the Lord to the end.
Psa 119:66, “Teach me good discernment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments.”
The children of God believe in God’s commandments and so they also want to learn good discernment and knowledge. You know in this age of deception, how important it is to have good discernment and knowledge. Most people are confused and cannot differentiate between right and wrong, good and evil, important and unimportant, true and false.
offerings of my mouth, LORD, and teach me Your judgments.”
Children of God want to praise the Lord and learn the judgments of the Lord. Judgment tells you what is yes is yes, what is no is no. “Deal with Your servant according to Your graciousness, and teach me Your statutes.”
Had it not for the grace and graciousness of the Lord, we would have all perished. Children of God need to be taught in many ways and many things. “Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes.”
We have light when the face of the Lord shines upon us.
Psa 143:8, “Let me hear Your faithfulness in the morning, for I trust in You;teach me the way in which I should walk; for to You I lift up my soul.”
Children of God need to be taught the way in which we should walk; for to God we lift up our souls. The people of the world do not know how to live, be they world leaders or politicians.
Psa 143:10, “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God;let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
As cited by the Scriptures above, believers or the children of God have to be taught many things. We need to learn the Word of God, the Way of God, and do the Will of God. The most important is to do the will of God. Each child of God needs to find OUT the will of God in his/her life and do it. Blessed is the one who does the will of God.
Deu 4:10, “Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when the LORD said to me, ‘Assemble the people to Me, that I may have them hear My Words so that they may learn to fear Me
all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.”
Christian parents have duties and responsibilities to teach their children the Words of God, the most important is how to get to Heaven. In fact, it is the greatest responsibility of local pastors to teach their members how to get to Heaven.
Psa 34:11, “Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.”
Jer 31:34, “They will not teach again, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their wrongdoing, and their sin I will no longer remember.”
The knowledge of the Lord is the most important. Everything else you know does not matter. There are people who pride themselves in knowing from Anthropology to Zoology. What does it matter if you do not know how to get to Heaven? To know God is to know the salvation of God, you will receive forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ.
It is a pity and tragedy that many people are unteachable. Christians learn all their lives; they are special people taught by God.
Isa 54:13, “All your sons will be taught by the LORD; And the well-being of your sons will be great.”
The saddest thing is the fact individuals, organizations, societies and nations do not learn wisdom. As Children of God, to be taught by God involves at least learning the Word of God, the Way of God, and the Will of God.
Sanctification and Love
1Th 4:1-12, “Finally then, brothers and sisters, we request and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel even more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how
to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no one violate the rights and take advantage of his brother or sister in the matter, because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you previously and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us
for impurity, but in sanctification. Therefore, the one who rejects this is not rejecting man, but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.
Now as to the love of the brothers and sisters, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you practice it toward all the brothers and sisters who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to excel even more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we instructed you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.”
Isa 54:13, “All your sons will be taught by the LORD; And the well-being of your sons will be great.”
1Co 2:13-15, “We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. But the one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is discerned by no one.”
1Th 4:9-12, “Now as to the love of the brothers and sisters, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you practice it toward all the brothers and sisters who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to excel even more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we instructed you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.”
2Th 2:15, “So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold on to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.”
People are stupid because of many reasons:
A). Stupid because of wrong or erroneous thinking.
Stupid thinking includes simplistic thinking, evil thinking, careless thinking, self-conceited thinking, wicked thinking, mistaken thinking, immature thinking, worthless thinking, etc. Be careful how you think.
Mankind is unlimitedly stupid in thought, word, and deed.
I. TAUGHT BY HUMAN WISDOM
Act 7:22-25, “Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was proficient in speaking and action. But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his countrymen, the sons of Israel. And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended
and took vengeance for the oppressed man by fatally striking the Egyptian. And he thought that his brothers understood that God was granting them
deliverance through him; but they did not understand.”
Moses was educated in the all the wisdom of the Egyptians. Many times you did a good thing but people do not understand.
According to The Oxford Handbook of Wisdom and the Bible
Current definitions of “Wisdom” for ancient Egypt often suffer from the influence of categories developed for the Hebrew Bible. Applying emic categories leads instead to a focus on instructions, which have a clear Egyptian term (sbꜣy.t). They are typically stylized as the teaching of a son by his father and authorized by the indication of name and title of the teacher. Often a prologue indicates the setting of the teaching more closely. Some historical development can be recognized, but at the same time, there are also contemporary compositions with different outlooks and social settings. For some periods, the older “classical” texts exist together with more recent ones, and the question of their respective role has still to be studied in more detail. The older compositions often have a casuistic structure of maxims recommending behavior in certain situations, while the younger ones are more loosely organized. The main aim of the texts is to teach how to have success in life.”
The early America was built great through education. Both Harvard and Yale were founded by Christians.
According to The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated: Feb 2, 2024 • Article HistoryHarvard University
university, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
John Harvard
Harvard University, oldest institution of higher learning in the United States (founded 1636) and one of the eight Ivy League schools, widely regarded for their high academic standards, selectivity in admissions, and social prestige. The main university campus lies along the Charles River in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a few miles west of downtown Boston. Harvard’s total enrollment is about 23,000.
Harvard’s history began when a college was established at New Towne, which was later renamed Cambridge for the English alma mater of some of the leading colonists. Classes began in the summer of 1638 with one master in a single frame house and a “college yard.” Harvard was named for a Puritan minister, John Harvard, who left the college his books and half of his estate.
Yale has grown and evolved for 300-plus years, passing many milestones and forging traditions along the way.
The university traces its roots to the 1640s, when colonial clergymen led an effort to establish a local college in the tradition of European liberal education. In 1701 the Connecticut legislature adopted a charter “to erect a Collegiate School.” The school officially became Yale College in 1718, when it was renamed in honor of Welsh merchant Elihu Yale, who had donated the proceeds from the sale of nine bales of goods together with 417 books and a portrait of King George I.”
Now universities have become a big business. American universities have lost its lustre and goal.
All undeveloped nations have one thing in common: their people are uneducated, unskilled, and unproductive.
Education is the path for individuals or nations to improve its fate.
15 BENEFITS OF EDUCATION THAT CAN IMPACT YOUR FUTURE
“While everyone might have a different definition of education, its importance remains undisputed. By receiving a systematic education, people gain knowledge and develop skills and character traits crucial for a certain standard of life.
Most people agree on the importance of education, but only a fraction of that is truly aware of the impact of education on our lives. Receiving an education has a significant impact not only on our quality of life but on our physical and psychological well-being. Below you will find 15 different benefits of education that can impact your life in the future.
1. Creating More Employment Opportunities
“Finding a job” is probably one of the most common reasons people choose to pursue a college degree, as we are all well aware of the difficulties of landing a good job. In most cases, tens of candidates are applying for the same position, and a college degree can help set you apart from others. In addition, a college education will create more employment opportunities as you will be qualified for more than low-paying and entry-level jobs.
2. Leading to Career Advancement
If you have already joined the workforce and love your job, you might think you don’t need to pursue a college or university education. We are here to tell you that a college degree can have other benefits than just landing you a job. By receiving higher education, you gain the knowledge and skills that will give you a competitive edge and allow you to advance your career in a chosen field.
3. Securing a Better Income
As previously mentioned, a college education can be grounds for career advancement. Advancement in your field comes in the form of a new job title and greater responsibilities—consequently, a higher salary and added benefits. You will also qualify for higher-paying entry-level jobs by getting a higher education degree. As a result, a higher wage can grant you financial stability and improve your quality of life.
4. Developing Critical-Thinking Skills
Higher education equips you with the knowledge and essential skills necessary to join the workforce. One of the most vital skills you will develop when pursuing a college degree is the ability to think critically. Critical thinking skills are an advantage and sometimes even a requirement to succeed in your career. By developing critical-thinking skills, you can improve your work’s quality, solve problems, and prevent possible issues that might arise.
5. Improving Self-Discipline
The amount of work that one has to put in to get a college degree is sometimes precisely what improves one’s self-discipline. When pursuing higher education, you have assignments that you must deliver on time and tests you must study for—all of which require self-discipline. Improved self-discipline will, in turn, help you in your future career by making you a reliable and hardworking team member.
6. Developing Cognitive And Communication Skills
Learning how to communicate with others is a highly valuable skill in the job market and one that will significantly contribute to your career success. Pursuing a university or college degree is a great way to further develop your cognitive and communication skills. During your studies, you will constantly be in contact and collaborate with colleagues and professors, giving you insight into a typical work environment.
7. Promoting Equality And Empowerment
One of the most important benefits of education is probably the promotion of equality and empowerment within society. Higher education can make people more open-minded in accepting others’ ideas and opinions regardless of race, gender, age, etc. In addition, education empowers people through expert knowledge and valuable skills and gives them the mental capacity to make decisions and create a life of their own independently.
8. Providing a Prosperous And Healthy Life
The list of highest-paying careers contains mostly professions that require a higher education degree. This is why one must pursue a college education to land a well-paying job. A high-paying job career has many benefits, including a comfortable life for you and your family, the respect and admiration of your family and friends, etc. Being financially secure will also contribute to your and your family’s overall happiness and quality of life.
9. Instilling a Sense of Accomplishment
There are still advantages to a college or university degree, even if we were to take out the “landing a job” benefit. Another great benefit of pursuing a degree is the sense of accomplishment you gain when you obtain your degree. Feeling like you accomplished something important will, in turn, make you more confident in pursuing other things you want in life and getting them.
10. Spreading Awareness
Nowadays, technological advancement has made it possible for people to easily connect and communicate with virtually anyone anywhere in the world. This, of course, includes students in colleges and universities. Getting a college education will, directly and indirectly, expose students to different cultures around the world, thus increasing cultural awareness.
11. Enhancing Productivity
Getting a college degree is a lot of hard work, requiring self-discipline and good time-management skills. Pursuing and obtaining a college degree will improve these skills and qualities in a person. Such essential attributes and skills will make you a valuable employee and asset for the companies you work for as they help enhance your overall productivity.
12. Offering the Opportunity to Socialize And Network
Another way a college education will prepare you for your future career is through socializing and networking. When pursuing a college degree, you are surrounded by other students who will soon enter the same job market as you. Socializing or creating a network with them early on will be a great advantage when pursuing a career or seeking career advancement.
13. Pursuing a Passion
Pursuing a college or university degree in a field you are passionate about is a great way to land a fulfilling career. A college education will allow you to turn your passion into a stable job and income you need to live comfortably. In addition, the specialized knowledge you gain during your studies will help you plunge deeper into the things you love.
14. Opening Your Horizons
Pursuing higher education is a great way to open your horizons regarding knowledge, understanding, or experience. Whether it is the specialized knowledge and understanding you gain, the different things you experience, or the relationships you form, a college education will expose you to things you can’t find elsewhere.
15. Contributing to the Community
Lastly, all the benefits of education mentioned above will make you a better member of society. By receiving higher education and landing a fulfilling and high-paying job, you can then turn your energy into giving back to the community and helping others. Educated people are aware of the role an individual must play in society for it to function well, so they do their part accordingly.
I agree with the 15 points cited above. Although the human wisdom is limited. Human wisdom is fallible.
“Wisdom is one of those qualities that is difficult to define—because it encompasses so much—but which people generally recognize when they encounter it. And it is encountered most obviously in the realm of decision-making.
Psychologists tend to agree that wisdom involves an integration of knowledge, experience, and deep understanding, as well as a tolerance for the uncertainties of life. There’s an awareness of how things play out over time, and it confers a sense of balance.
What Is Wisdom?
Wise people generally share an optimism that life’s problems can be solved and experience a certain amount of calm in facing difficult decisions. Intelligence may be necessary for wisdom, but it definitely isn’t sufficient; an ability to see the big picture, a sense of proportion, intellectual humility, and considerable introspection also contribute to its development.
Wisdom can be acquired only through experience, but by itself, experience does not automatically confer wisdom. Researchers are continuing to probe the social, emotional, and cognitive processes that transmute experience into wisdom.
How do researchers define wisdom?
Numerous theories are emerging to try to measure and model wisdom. A leading theory, developed by psychologists Paul Baltes and others, defines wisdom as “expert knowledge in the fundamental pragmatics of life that permits exceptional insight, judgment, and advice about complex and uncertain matters.” That encompasses five key components: rich procedural knowledge, rich factual knowledge, an understanding of different life contexts, an awareness of the relativism of values and priorities, and the ability to recognize and manage uncertainty. These criteria are measured by introducing hypothetical scenarios and assessing what participants would consider or do in those situations.
But there are other theories of wisdom as well. Sociologist Monika Ardelt believes that individuals develop wisdom as personality characteristics encompassing reflection, compassion, and the pursuit of truth. Psychologist Robert Sternberg understands wisdom as balance between oneself and others so that actions are directed at the common good.
What are the components of wisdom?
Wisdom encompasses cognitive components, such as knowledge and experience, reflective components, or the ability to examine situations and oneself, and prosocial components, meaning benevolence and compassion. Wisdom is also connected to abilities such as perspective-taking, open-mindedness, and intellectual humility.”
I do not know what a Christian university is like because I had never attended one. I attended a top American university which was altogether secular. One professor in fact deliberately made fun and mocked at the Bible. I knew the professor was misquoting the Bible, at that time my Bible knowledge was not good enough to give him a correct answer. However, my faith in the Word of God was firm and so the mocking did not affect me at all. However, I was grateful to study Advanced Management Theory under Dr. Professor Harold Koontz who became my personal friend. I also appreciated a few outstanding professors in their fields of expertise. I know secular education means godless education.
“Whether religious affiliates are less likely to pursue education or are less likely to excel in school is a complicated subject in the sociology of religion. On one hand, participation in congregational religious
expression develops critical social skills that enables participates to function well in other public engagements, including the classroom. Religion also provides members with an identity, a sense of
belonging, and positive values, all of which contribute
beneficially to multiple measures of psycho-social well-being as well as educational performance. On the other hand, in countries such as the United States we have witnessed a conservative backlash against
the so-called corrupting influence of secular education, including attacks against particular classroom subjects such as evolution. Some
fundamentalist groups choose to insulate their children from secularizing influences through privatized religious colleges. Evaluating the influence of religion on educational trajectories hence requires
a nuanced appreciation of both the positive and negative drivers of religious practice on educational outcomes.”
“Secular Christianity” is a contradiction in terms. It is a figment of imagination of unworthy theologians. Do not waste your time and effort in studying them. secularism
“Secularism, any movement in society directed away from otherworldliness to life on earth.
In the Middle Ages in Europe there was a strong tendency for religious persons to despise human affairs and to meditate on God and the afterlife. As a reaction to this medieval tendency, secularism, at the time of the Renaissance, exhibited itself in the development of humanism, when people began to show more interest in human cultural achievements and the possibilities of their fulfillment in this world.
Christianity: Eschatological expectations and secularization
The movement toward secularism has been in progress during the entire course of modern history and has often been viewed as being anti-Christian and antireligious. In the latter half of the 20th century, however, some theologians began advocating secularChristianity. They suggested that Christianity should not be concerned only with the sacred and the otherworldly but that people should find in the world the opportunity to promote Christian values. These theologians maintained that the real meaning of the message of Jesus can be discovered and fulfilled in the everyday affairs of secular living.
Christianity by nature is Heavenly, it could never be secular. Just like it is impossible to have black snow. For Jesus Christ Himself declares, Jhn 8:23-30, “And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I AM
from above; you are of this world, I AM not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I AM, you will
die in your sins.”
Then they were saying to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, “What have I even been saying to you from the beginning? I have many things to say and to judge regarding you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I say to the world.” They did not realize that He was speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said,
“When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM, and I do nothing on My own, but I say these things as the Father instructed Me.
And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” As He said these things, many came to believe in Him.”
“I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE WHO HAVE UNDERSTANDING, I WILL CONFOUND.”
Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this world? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world?
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of the message
preached to save those who believe. 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 the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
II. WHAT FAMOUS PEOPLE SAY
https://www.azquotes.com
Aesop said, “Better be wise by the misfortunes of others than by your own.”
Marcus Tullius Cicero said, “The wise are instructed by reason, average minds by experience, the stupid by necessity and the brute by instinct.”
Confucius said, “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
Francis Bacon said, “Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom.”
Helen Rowland said, “A wise woman puts a grain of sugar into everything she says to a man, and takes a grain of salt with everything he says to her.”
Gautama Buddha said, “Do not give your attention to what others do or fail to do; give it to what you do or fail to do.”
Confucius said, “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.”
Confucius said, “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”
Albert Einstein said, “A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it.”
Henry Ford said, “Chop your own wood and it will warm you twice.”
Isaac Asimov said, “The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.”
The Word of God is the only basis of the Christian Faith. The Holy Scriptures or the Holy Bible is the sole Authority of faith and conduct of Christians of all generations. The Word of God is absolute, inspired, supreme, ultimate and eternal. No human science or wisdom matters. The Word of God matters above everything.
Act 2:22-24, “Men of Israel, listen to these Words: Jesus the Nazarene, a Man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which
God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him from the dead, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.”
number of the disciples continued toincreasegreatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priestswere becomingobedient to the faith.”
The primary mission of the Church of Jesus Christ is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As the Word of God is spreading, the number of believers will be increasing. Those who believe naturally become obedient to the faith.
Act 13:7, “who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the Word of God.”
where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the Word of God with boldness.”
The filling of the Holy Spirit is not to speak in tongues as the Pentecostal church insists, but to speak the Word of God with boldness and power.
Luk 11:28, “But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the Word of God and follow it.”
Rom 9:6-8, “But it is not as though the Word of God has failed. For they are notall Israel who are descended from Israel;nor are they all children
because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE NAMED.” That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.”
Jhn 10:26, “But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep. My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”
In the early days I was disappointed when people rejected the salvation of God. Later I have learned there are people who are not the sheep of Jesus.
hidden because of shame, not walking in trickery nor distorting the Word of God, but by the open proclamation of the truth commending
ourselves to every person’s conscience in the sight of God. 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 will not see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants on account of Jesus.”
It is sad but true there are people who are distorting the Word of God, who are perishing, the unbelieving whom the god of this world has blinded their minds; and there are evangelists, pastors and preachers who preach themselves, and make church members their own disciples.
2Ti 3:16-17, “All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.”
The Word of God declares, Rom 3:23-26, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God
displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in God’s merciful restraint
He let the sins previously committed go unpunished; for the demonstration, that is, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
This is the most important message to mankind: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Do you know any business that does not practice greed? Do you know any leader or politician who does not practice wickedness? Greed and wickedness will send billions of peoples to Hell. By the grace of God I have lived to be of advanced age who has met millions of peoples in this world. I can attest the Word of God is true: All have sinned, including me. But I am a saved sinner by the grace of God through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. No matter who you are, you can also be saved throufgh a propitation in the precious blood of Jesus Christ, if only you repent of your sins and have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, your Savior. And Jesus says.
Mat 24:35, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will not pass away.”
Jde 1:17-21, “But you, beloved, ought to remember the Words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded,devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building
yourselves up on your most holy faith,praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.”
B). THE WAY OF GOD
Mar 12:14, “They came and said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and do not care what anyone thinks; for You are not partial to anyone, but You teach the way of God in truth. Is it permissible to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?”
Way in Greek is hodos which means metaph. a course of conduct; a way (i.e. manner) of thinking, feeling, deciding; a usual manner of behaving or doing; — which occurs 101 times in the New Testament.
Jesus Christ sets an example for all teachers of the Word of God. (a). Be truthful. (b). Do not care what anyone thinks. (c). Not partial to anyone. (d). Teach the way of God in truth.
Luk 20:21, “And the spies questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You are not partial to anyone, but You teach the way of God on the basis of truth.”
Act 18:26, “and he began speaking boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God more accurately to him.” Apollos was being fervent in spirit, he was accurately speaking and teaching things about Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; so Priscilla and Aquila explained the way of God more accurately to him. Those who know better must explain to those who knew less accurately.
Jhn 8:23-24, “And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I AM from above; you are of this world, I AM not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.”
Mar 12:14, “They came and said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and do not care what anyone thinks; for You are not partial to anyone, but You teach the way of God in truth. Is it permissible to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?”
The Word of God is sure, Heb 2:2-4, “For if the Word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every violation and act of disobedience received a just punishment, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.”
Hell is the place once you enter there is no way out.
Zec 1:4,“Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, ‘This is what the LORD of armies says: “Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.”’ But they did not listen or pay attention to Me,” declares the LORD.”
The wicked have evil ways and evil deeds.
2Co 5:17, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
Eph 4:22, “that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit.”
Col 3:9, “Do not lie to one another, since you stripped off the old self with its evil practices.”
The ways of the world are evil practices.
The ways of God are contrary to the ways of the wicked. The ways of the wicked are obstinate ways, evil ways, wicked ways, destructive ways, violent ways, wrong ways, crooked ways, unjust ways, the ways of darkness, devious ways, unstable ways, pervert ways, wayward ways, unjust ways, abominable ways, defiled ways, senseless ways,
By the grace of God I have lived to be advanced in age, and I have met millions of people. I discover most of the troubles and tragedies of people are self-afflicted or self-inflicted as it is written below:
Jer 4:18, “Your ways and your deeds have brought these things upon you.This is your evil. How bitter! How it has touched your heart!”
Psa 1:6, “For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.”
The more accurately you know the Word of God, the more accurately you know the Way of God. The way of God is the way of salvation.
As it is written,
Eph 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Act 4:12, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other
name under Heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.”
There is no other salvation, and there is no other Savior.
for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day.”
Those who are saved are the children of God. The children of God want to be taught the truth of God and want to be led or guided into all truth.
Gen 18:19, “For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”
The way of the Lord is by doing righteousness and justice. No nation on earth is doing that.
Deu 5:33, “You shall walk entirely in the Way which the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and that it may be well for you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you will possess.”
The Way of the Lord promises life and being well.
Deu 13:5, “But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken falsely against the LORD your God
who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to drive you from the way in which the LORD your God
commanded you to walk. So you shall eliminate the evil from among you.”
Under the Mosaic Law that prophet or that dreamer who has spoken falsely against the Lord shall be put to death. Anyone who speaks against the Way of the Lord is evil.
Mat 5:12,“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in Heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
The Way of God is not the way of Cain, the way of the ungodly, and the way of the wicked.
Let me inform you the way of EU, NATO, US –is also not the Way of God. I often wonder why people deliberately choose the wicked way.
Heb 13:7, “Remember those who led you,who spoke the Word of God to you; and considering the result of theirway of life, imitate their faith.”
The Way of God is the Christian way of life.
Deu 8:6, “Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.”
To walk in the ways of the Lord is to fear Him.
Deu 10:12,“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of 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.”
Deu 11:22, “For if you are careful to keep all of this commandment which I am commanding you to do, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His
ways and cling to Him.”
To walk in all God’s ways is to cling to Him.
Deu 26:17, “Today you have declared the LORD to be your God, and that you will walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments, and His ordinances, and listen to His voice.”
To walk in God’s ways is to keep His statutes, His commandments, and His ordinances, and listen to His voice.
Deu 32:4, “The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and just is He.”
God is the Rock, His work is perfect, all His ways are just without injustice, righteous and just is He.
Qbstinate ways, dishonest gain, acting wickedly, doing what is wrong, evil ways, wicked ways, the ways of the house of Ahab, ways of destruction, ways of the violent, crooked ways, ways of darkness, devious ways, unstable ways, pervert ways, devious ways, wayward ways, aborminable ways, shameful ways, corrupt ways — are not the Ways of God.
these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them.For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous will walk in them, but
wrongdoers will stumble in them.”
2Co 13:11, “Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, mend your ways, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”
Rev 15:3, “And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God, the Almighty;Righteous and true are Your ways,King of the nations!”
Luk 20:21, “And the spies questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You are not partial to anyone, but You teach the way of God on the basis of truth.”
The good test whether it is the way of God is whether it is on the basis of truth.
The more you understand the Word of the Lord, the more you understand the Way of the Lord, the more you will know the Will of God.
C). THE WILL OF GOD
Mar 3:35, “For whoever does the will of God, this is My brother, and sister, and mother.”
Will in Greek is thelēma which means desire; pleasure; what God wishes to be done by us; decree; — which occurs 62 times in the New Testament.
Jesus elevates those who do the will of God as His brother, and sister, and mother.
Rom 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is,
that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
If you want to know the Will of God, you cannot be conformed to this world. You must be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you MAY prove what is the Will of God; the Will of God is good and acceptable and perfect.
When peoples of a certain culture encounter intractable and insurmountable troubles and tragedies, they have a tendency to say, “It is the will of Heaven!” Do you know the will of God must be good and acceptable and perfect?
Co 7:9-10, “I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but
that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. 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.” The sorrow of believers is according to the Will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation. Unbelievers and the wicked do not want to repent of their sins.
Col 4:12, “Epaphras, who is one of your own, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings, always striving earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the Will of God.”
1Th 4:3-7, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how
to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no one violate the rights and take advantage of his brother or sister in the matter,
because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you previously and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in sanctification.”
To avoid confusion, there are two Wills of God: the general will and the special will. The general Will of God covers every Christian of all generations, such as your sanctification, abstain from sexual immorality, possess your own vessel in sanctification and honor; for God has not called us for impurity, but in sanctification.
The following is also the general Will of God:
1Th 5:18-23, “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit, do not utterly reject prophecies,
but examine everything; hold firmly to that which is good, abstain from every form of evil. 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 ourLord Jesus Christ.”
Heb 10:36-37, “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE,HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME,
AND WILL NOT DELAY.”
Whether to do the general Will or special Will of God, Christians have need of endurance to receive what was promised.
Eph 6:6, “not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.”
Act 20:35, “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this way 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.’”
Rom 14:17, “for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking,
but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
Rom 14:18, “For the one who serves Christ in this way is acceptable to
God and approved by other people.”
Rom 14:19, “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.”
Eph 4:22, “that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid
yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit.”
This is also the general Will of God:
1Pe 2:15-17, “For such is the will of God, that by doing right you silence the ignorance of foolish people. Act as free people, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-servants of God.Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.”
It is important not to confuse the general will of God with the special will of God. The special will of God is tailored to individual, what God wants you to do in your own life. With regard to the special will of God, may I use some Bible characters to illustrate.
A). Joseph
Gen 50:18-20, “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 keep many people alive.”
In retrospect, Joseph can say to his brothers, “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.”
This reminds me,
Rom 8:28, “And weknow that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
This Scripture is a wonderful comfort to know that God causes all things to work together for good as the events of the life of Joseph clearly illustrate and prove beyond any doubt.
B). Naomi
As it is written, Rth 1:20-22, “But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went
away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?” So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the land of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.”
Little did Naomi realize of the sweet ending,
Rth 4:13-15, “So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he had relations with her. And the LORDenabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the
LORD who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel. May he also be to you one who restores life and sustains your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves
you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”
Where can you find a daughter-in-low who is better to you than seven sons?
C). Apostle Paul
Act 8:1-4, “Now Saul approved of putting Stephen to death.And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and he would drag away men and women and put them in prison. Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
Act 13:9-50, “But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, stared at him, Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia; but John left them and returned to Jerusalem.Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said,
“Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:
As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people repeatedly begged to have these things spoken to them the next Sabbath.Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking to them and urging them to continue in the grace of God. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming. Paul and Barnabas
spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first. Since you repudiate it and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.
But the Jews incited the devout women of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their region.”
1Co 15:9-11, “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.”
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 reserved 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.”
The three persons cited above have done the Will of God in their lives victoriously. It is hoped now you know the difference between the General Will of God and the Special Will of God for individuals.
“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil.”
Jhn 5:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the one 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.”
Believers do not come into judgment because Jesus died for their sins, and they have passed out of death into life.
Rom 2:5, “But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.”
Judgment day is the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God.
2Co 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through
the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.”
1Ti 5:24-25, “The sins of some people are quite evident,going before them to judgment; for others, their sins followafter.Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.”
Heb 9:27-28, “And just as it is destined for people to die once, and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”
For unbelievers, judgment comes after death.
Heb 10:27-31, “but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. Anyone who has ignored the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified,
and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Above all, this compelling reason:
2Pe 3:9, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.”Oh God, I need to be taught the Word of God, Way of God, and the Will of God all my lifeIV. TAUGHT BY THE SPIRIT
To be taught by God, and to be taught by the Spirit, are one and the same. To be taught by the Spirit is to be taught by God. Jesus Christ did not want to leave His followers orphans and so He sent the Promise of God, the Spirit of Truth, to be with Christians always.
As it is written,
Jhn 14:16-26, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; the Helper is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.After a little while, the world no longer is going to see Me, but you are going to see Me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are
in Me, and I in you. The one who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him.”
Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, what has happened that You are going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus
answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will follow My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him. The one who does not love Me does not follow My Words; and the Word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me. These things I havespoken to you while remaining with you.But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you.”
After Jesus returned to the Father, and after the New Testament was completed, it is the Spirit of Truth WHO will teach Christians all things.
To be guided into all truths is to be TAUGHT BY THE SPIRIT.
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world
cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. After a little while, the world no longer is going to see Me, but you are going to see Me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I in you. The one who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him. Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, what has happened that You are going to reveal Yourself
to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him,
“If anyone loves Me, he will follow My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him. The one who
does not love Me does not follow My Words; and the Word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me. These things I havespoken to you while remaining with you.But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind
you of all that I said to you. Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful. You heard that I said to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I AM going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in
regard to Me, but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let’s go from here.”
Jhn 16:12-15, “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot
bear them at the present time. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take from Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; this is why I said that He takes from Mine and will disclose it to you.”
Sinners do not have the Spirit of truth. Only the children of God will be guided into all the truth. Those who are devoid of the Spirit will not know the truth as it is in Christ Jesus.
What does the Spirit teach?
Rom 8:1-17, “Therefore there isnow no condemnation at all
for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 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. For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 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.However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
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. So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—for if you are living in accord with the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you
will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself
testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”
The only proof that you are saved is to have the Holy Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that you are children of God.
V. LEARN FROM JESUS
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.”
Eph 4:17-21, “So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, that you are to no longer walk just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds,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; and they, having become callous, have given themselves up to indecent
behavior for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus.”
To learn from Jesus is to learn Christ, to be taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus. You are no longer to walk just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of their ignorance, because of the hardness of their heart; and they are callous, have given themselves up to indecent behavior for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
A). Learn from God and come to Jesus.
Jhn 6:45,“It is written in the Prophets: ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.”
It is impossible to learn from the Father and not come to Jesus Christ.
Mat 11:28, “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
All who are weary and burdened, you can find rest in Jesus Christ which the world cannot give.
B). Learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Eph 5:5-10, “For this you know with certainty, that no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, which amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God. See that no one deceives you with
empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” Therefore do not become partners with them; for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”
C). Learn to fear the Lord.
Deu 4:10, “Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when the LORD said to me, ‘Assemble the people to Me, that I may have them hear My words so that they may learn to fear Me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’”
Deu 14:23,“You shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the LORDyour God always.”
Deu 17:19, “And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, so that he will learn to fear the LORD his God, by carefully following
all the Words of this Law and these statutes.”
Deu 31:12-13, “Assemble the people, the men, the women, the children, and the stranger who is in your town, so that they may hear and learn and fear the LORD your God, and be careful to follow all the words of this Law.
And their children, who have not known, will hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live on the land which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess.”
D). Learn the Lord’s righteous judgments.
Psa 119:7, “I will give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments.”
E). Learn the Lord’s statutes.
Deu 5:1, “Now Moses summoned all Israel and said to them:“Listen, Israel, to the statutes and ordinances which I am speaking today for you to hear, so that you may learn them and be careful to do them.”
Psa 119:71, “It is good for me that I was afflicted,
So that I may learn Your statutes.”
F). Learn the Lord’s commandments.
Psa 119:73, “YodhYour hands made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, so that I may learn Your commandments.”
G). Learn righteousness.
Isa 26:9-10, “At night my soul longs for You, indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently; for when the earth experiences Your judgments, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. Though the wicked person is shown compassion,he does not learn righteousness;he deals unjustly
in the land of uprightness, and does not perceive the majesty of the LORD.”
Act 13:10, “and said, “You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you
son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not stop making crooked the straight ways of the Lord?”
Act 17:31, “because He has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all people by raising Him from the dead.”
I often wished that the wicked would be punished on earth now. I wished the wicked would be dead. I was guilty for not knowing the Word of God and the Will of God. Now I submit myself patiently to the Will of God. For God has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness through Jesus Christ whom He has appointed, the Judge of the living and the dead, whom having furnished proof to all people by raising Him for the dead. Just as God has set a day for the second coming of Jesus Christ, so God has set a day for the judgment of the world in righteousness. Suffering saints must wait patiently.
H). Learn to do good.
Isa 1:17, “Learn to do good; seek justice, rebukethe oppressor, obtain
justice for the orphan, plead for the widow’s case.”
I). Learn from correction.
Pro 15:5, “Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise.”
J). Learn not to exceed what is written.
1Co 4:6, “Now these things, brothers and sisters, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos your account, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become
arrogant in behalf of one against the other.”
K). Learn and all may be exhorted.
1Co 14:31, “For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted.”
L). Learn to show proper respect for own family.
1Ti 5:4, “but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show proper respect for their own family and to give back
compensation to their parents; for this is acceptable
in the sight of God.”
M). Learn to engage in good deeds.
Tit 3:14, “Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unproductive.”
Christians learn to engage in good deeds all their lives.
Unbelievers need to be taught the salvation of God first. Without salvation, there cannot be any edification or instruction. The most important thing on earth is to learn how to avoid getting into Hell.
Believers are children of God and need to be taught by the Word of God, the Way of God, and the Will of God. It is the Spirit of Truth who guides the children of God into all truths. Above all, Christians need to be taught obedient to the Faith, the truth in Jesus Christ.
Mar 4:1-2, “Again Jesus began to teach beside the sea [of Galilee]. And a very large crowd gathered around Him, so He got into a boat [anchoring it a short distance out] on the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the shore.And He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said to them.”
The teaching of Jesus is plainly presented in the New Testament, without secret code or hidden message.
Jhn 7:16-18, “Jesus answered them by saying, “My teaching is not My own, but His who sent Me. If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know whether the teaching is of God or whether I speak on My own accord and by My own authority. He who speaks on his own accord seeks glory and
honor for himself. But He who seeks the glory and the honor of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness or deception in Him.”
The teachings of the Apostles are the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Gal 1:11-12, “For I want you to know, believers, that the Gospel which was preached by me is not man’s Gospel [it is not a human invention, patterned after any human concept].For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a [direct] revelation of Jesus Christ.”
2Ti 3:10-12, “Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
2Ti 4:14-17, “Alexander the copper smith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Be on guard against him yourself too,
for he vigorously opposed our teaching. At my first
defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and
that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth.”
Tit 1:9-11, “holding firmly the faithful Word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it. For there are many rebellious people, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for thesake of dishonest gain.”
2Jo 1:9-10, “Anyone who goes too far and does not remain in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your
house, and do not give him a greeting.”
Eph 4:21-25, “if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Therefore, ridding yourselves of falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE OF YOU WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, because we are parts of one another.”
1Th 4:9, “Now as to the love of the brothers and sisters, you have no
need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.”
Christians are taught by God to love one another.
You do not know how lucky I was to be taught by Dr. Prof. Harold Koontz in Advanced Management and Theory. Once in a elevator, came a young mother and son. I quickly (I have the habit of guessing the age of children) told the boy he was five years old. That was right, the boy was happy; the mother was happy too. You do not know to have the knowledge of God is the happiest thing in the world.
On the Internet there are many business organizations who claim or pretend to be “Christian” or “Evangelical”. They exist to make money or merchandise the Gospel or Bible Knowledge for money. Some of them outrageously charge a high fee or so-called “subscription” for Bible study or access to the Word of God. Most of them ask for donation like beggars ask for alms. I want you to know that my website https://williewongthought.hpage.com
is dedicated to proclaim the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ absolutely free. Any unbeliever or anyone may have free access to it. As of to date (6/20/2025) I have written 189 articles (including the present one) all free to Christians everywhere. Knowledge is power.
For that reason, the American mega corporation wanted to cooperate with me, index my articles and sell them. I turned it down because the preaching of the Gospel cannot have money motive.
Jas 1:23-25, “For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he
has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an active doer, this person will be blessed in what he does.”
No matter who you are and where you are, you can come now to repent and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Will you do it now? Tomorrow may be too late!
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 refrerendum. America is ruined by dark and evil forces.
Heroes of all races who sacrified 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 sacrified their lives in the war against Japanese aggression and atrocities must always be honored and remembered. The Chinse 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 Japanse aggression and atrocities of killing 35 million innocent Chinese without remorse or reparations. UN overappointed unqualified blacks and media have given too much covergage 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 orphanes. 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 reognized 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, Hezebolla, 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. Ukranians 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, overappointed 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, voordoism.
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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Deu 8:6, “Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.”
To walk in the ways of the Lord is to fear Him.
Deu 10:12,“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of 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.”
Deu 11:22, “For if you are careful to keep all of this commandment which I am commanding you to do, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His
ways and cling to Him.”
To walk in all God’s ways is to cling to Him.
Deu 26:17, “Today you have declared the LORD to be your God, and that you will walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments, and His ordinances, and listen to His voice.”
To walk in God’s ways is to keep His statutes, His commandments, and His ordinances, and listen to His voice.
Deu 32:4, “The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and just is He.”
God is the Rock, His work is perfect, all His ways are just without injustice, righteous and just is He.
Qbstinate ways, dishonest gain, acting wickedly, doing what is wrong, evil ways, wicked ways, the ways of the house of Ahab, ways of destruction, ways of the violent, crooked ways, ways of darkness, devious ways, unstable ways, pervert ways, devious ways, wayward ways, aborminable ways, shameful ways, corrupt ways — are not the Ways of God.
these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them.For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous will walk in them, but
wrongdoers will stumble in them.”
2Co 13:11, “Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, mend your ways, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”
Rev 15:3, “And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God, the Almighty;Righteous and true are Your ways,King of the nations!”
Luk 20:21, “And the spies questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You are not partial to anyone, but You teach the way of God on the basis of truth.”
The good test whether it is the way of God is whether it is on the basis of truth.
The more you understand the Word of the Lord, the more you understand the Way of the Lord, the more you will know the Will of God.
C). THE WILL OF GOD
Mar 3:35, “For whoever does the will of God, this is My brother, and sister, and mother.”
Will in Greek is thelēma which means desire; pleasure; what God wishes to be done by us; decree; — which occurs 62 times in the New Testament.
Jesus elevates those who do the will of God as His brother, and sister, and mother.
Rom 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is,
that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
If you want to know the Will of God, you cannot be conformed to this world. You must be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you MAY prove what is the Will of God; the Will of God is good and acceptable and perfect.
When peoples of a certain culture encounter intractable and insurmountable troubles and tragedies, they have a tendency to say, “It is the will of Heaven!” Do you know the will of God must be good and acceptable and perfect?
Co 7:9-10, “I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but
that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. 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.” The sorrow of believers is according to the Will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation. Unbelievers and the wicked do not want to repent of their sins.
Col 4:12, “Epaphras, who is one of your own, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings, always striving earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the Will of God.”
1Th 4:3-7, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how
to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no one violate the rights and take advantage of his brother or sister in the matter,
because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you previously and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in sanctification.”
To avoid confusion, there are two Wills of God: the general will and the special will. The general Will of God covers every Christian of all generations, such as your sanctification, abstain from sexual immorality, possess your own vessel in sanctification and honor; for God has not called us for impurity, but in sanctification.
The following is also the general Will of God:
1Th 5:18-23, “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit, do not utterly reject prophecies,
but examine everything; hold firmly to that which is good, abstain from every form of evil. 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 ourLord Jesus Christ.”
Heb 10:36-37, “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE,HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME,
AND WILL NOT DELAY.”
Whether to do the general Will or special Will of God, Christians have need of endurance to receive what was promised.
Eph 6:6, “not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.”
Act 20:35, “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this way 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.’”
Rom 14:17, “for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking,
but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
Rom 14:18, “For the one who serves Christ in this way is acceptable to
God and approved by other people.”
Rom 14:19, “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.”
Eph 4:22, “that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid
yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit.”
This is also the general Will of God:
1Pe 2:15-17, “For such is the will of God, that by doing right you silence the ignorance of foolish people. Act as free people, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-servants of God.Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.”
It is important not to confuse the general will of God with the special will of God. The special will of God is tailored to individual, what God wants you to do in your own life. With regard to the special will of God, may I use some Bible characters to illustrate.
A). Joseph
Gen 50:18-20, “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 keep many people alive.”
In retrospect, Joseph can say to his brothers, “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.”
This reminds me,
Rom 8:28, “And weknow that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
This Scripture is a wonderful comfort to know that God causes all things to work together for good as the events of the life of Joseph clearly illustrate and prove beyond any doubt.
B). Naomi
As it is written, Rth 1:20-22, “But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went
away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?” So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the land of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.”
Little did Naomi realize of the sweet ending,
Rth 4:13-15, “So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he had relations with her. And the LORDenabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the
LORD who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel. May he also be to you one who restores life and sustains your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves
you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”
Where can you find a daughter-in-low who is better to you than seven sons?
C). Apostle Paul
Act 8:1-4, “Now Saul approved of putting Stephen to death.And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and he would drag away men and women and put them in prison. Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
Act 13:9-50, “But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, stared at him, Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia; but John left them and returned to Jerusalem.Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said,
“Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:
As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people repeatedly begged to have these things spoken to them the next Sabbath.Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking to them and urging them to continue in the grace of God. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming. Paul and Barnabas
spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first. Since you repudiate it and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.
But the Jews incited the devout women of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their region.”
1Co 15:9-11, “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.”
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 reserved 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.”
The three persons cited above have done the Will of God in their lives victoriously. It is hoped now you know the difference between the General Will of God and the Special Will of God for individuals.
“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil.”
Jhn 5:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the one 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.”
Believers do not come into judgment because Jesus died for their sins, and they have passed out of death into life.
Rom 2:5, “But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.”
Judgment day is the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God.
2Co 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through
the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.”
1Ti 5:24-25, “The sins of some people are quite evident,going before them to judgment; for others, their sins followafter.Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.”
Heb 9:27-28, “And just as it is destined for people to die once, and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”
For unbelievers, judgment comes after death.
Heb 10:27-31, “but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. Anyone who has ignored the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified,
and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Above all, this compelling reason:
2Pe 3:9, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.”Oh God, I need to be taught the Word of God, Way of God, and the Will of God all my lifeIV. TAUGHT BY THE SPIRIT
To be taught by God, and to be taught by the Spirit, are one and the same. To be taught by the Spirit is to be taught by God. Jesus Christ did not want to leave His followers orphans and so He sent the Promise of God, the Spirit of Truth, to be with Christians always.
As it is written,
Jhn 14:16-26, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; the Helper is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.After a little while, the world no longer is going to see Me, but you are going to see Me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are
in Me, and I in you. The one who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him.”
Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, what has happened that You are going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus
answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will follow My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him. The one who does not love Me does not follow My Words; and the Word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me. These things I havespoken to you while remaining with you.But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you.”
After Jesus returned to the Father, and after the New Testament was completed, it is the Spirit of Truth WHO will teach Christians all things.
To be guided into all truths is to be TAUGHT BY THE SPIRIT.
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world
cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. After a little while, the world no longer is going to see Me, but you are going to see Me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I in you. The one who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him. Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, what has happened that You are going to reveal Yourself
to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him,
“If anyone loves Me, he will follow My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him. The one who
does not love Me does not follow My Words; and the Word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me. These things I havespoken to you while remaining with you.But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind
you of all that I said to you. Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful. You heard that I said to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I AM going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in
regard to Me, but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let’s go from here.”
Jhn 16:12-15, “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot
bear them at the present time. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take from Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; this is why I said that He takes from Mine and will disclose it to you.”
Sinners do not have the Spirit of truth. Only the children of God will be guided into all the truth. Those who are devoid of the Spirit will not know the truth as it is in Christ Jesus.
What does the Spirit teach?
Rom 8:1-17, “Therefore there isnow no condemnation at all
for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 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. For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 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.However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
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. So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—for if you are living in accord with the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you
will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself
testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”
The only proof that you are saved is to have the Holy Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that you are children of God.
V. LEARN FROM JESUS
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.”
Eph 4:17-21, “So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, that you are to no longer walk just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds,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; and they, having become callous, have given themselves up to indecent
behavior for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus.”
To learn from Jesus is to learn Christ, to be taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus. You are no longer to walk just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of their ignorance, because of the hardness of their heart; and they are callous, have given themselves up to indecent behavior for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
A). Learn from God and come to Jesus.
Jhn 6:45,“It is written in the Prophets: ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.”
It is impossible to learn from the Father and not come to Jesus Christ.
Mat 11:28, “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
All who are weary and burdened, you can find rest in Jesus Christ which the world cannot give.
B). Learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Eph 5:5-10, “For this you know with certainty, that no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, which amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God. See that no one deceives you with
empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” Therefore do not become partners with them; for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”
C). Learn to fear the Lord.
Deu 4:10, “Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when the LORD said to me, ‘Assemble the people to Me, that I may have them hear My words so that they may learn to fear Me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’”
Deu 14:23,“You shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the LORDyour God always.”
Deu 17:19, “And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, so that he will learn to fear the LORD his God, by carefully following
all the Words of this Law and these statutes.”
Deu 31:12-13, “Assemble the people, the men, the women, the children, and the stranger who is in your town, so that they may hear and learn and fear the LORD your God, and be careful to follow all the words of this Law.
And their children, who have not known, will hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live on the land which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess.”
D). Learn the Lord’s righteous judgments.
Psa 119:7, “I will give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments.”
E). Learn the Lord’s statutes.
Deu 5:1, “Now Moses summoned all Israel and said to them:“Listen, Israel, to the statutes and ordinances which I am speaking today for you to hear, so that you may learn them and be careful to do them.”
Psa 119:71, “It is good for me that I was afflicted,
So that I may learn Your statutes.”
F). Learn the Lord’s commandments.
Psa 119:73, “YodhYour hands made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, so that I may learn Your commandments.”
G). Learn righteousness.
Isa 26:9-10, “At night my soul longs for You, indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently; for when the earth experiences Your judgments, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. Though the wicked person is shown compassion,he does not learn righteousness;he deals unjustly
in the land of uprightness, and does not perceive the majesty of the LORD.”
Act 13:10, “and said, “You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you
son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not stop making crooked the straight ways of the Lord?”
Act 17:31, “because He has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all people by raising Him from the dead.”
I often wished that the wicked would be punished on earth now. I wished the wicked would be dead. I was guilty for not knowing the Word of God and the Will of God. Now I submit myself patiently to the Will of God. For God has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness through Jesus Christ whom He has appointed, the Judge of the living and the dead, whom having furnished proof to all people by raising Him for the dead. Just as God has set a day for the second coming of Jesus Christ, so God has set a day for the judgment of the world in righteousness. Suffering saints must wait patiently.
H). Learn to do good.
Isa 1:17, “Learn to do good; seek justice, rebukethe oppressor, obtain
justice for the orphan, plead for the widow’s case.”
I). Learn from correction.
Pro 15:5, “Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise.”
J). Learn not to exceed what is written.
1Co 4:6, “Now these things, brothers and sisters, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos your account, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become
arrogant in behalf of one against the other.”
K). Learn and all may be exhorted.
1Co 14:31, “For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted.”
L). Learn to show proper respect for own family.
1Ti 5:4, “but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show proper respect for their own family and to give back
compensation to their parents; for this is acceptable
in the sight of God.”
M). Learn to engage in good deeds.
Tit 3:14, “Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unproductive.”
Christians learn to engage in good deeds all their lives.
Unbelievers need to be taught the salvation of God first. Without salvation, there cannot be any edification or instruction. The most important thing on earth is to learn how to avoid getting into Hell.
Believers are children of God and need to be taught by the Word of God, the Way of God, and the Will of God. It is the Spirit of Truth who guides the children of God into all truths. Above all, Christians need to be taught obedient to the Faith, the truth in Jesus Christ.
Mar 4:1-2, “Again Jesus began to teach beside the sea [of Galilee]. And a very large crowd gathered around Him, so He got into a boat [anchoring it a short distance out] on the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the shore.And He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said to them.”
The teaching of Jesus is plainly presented in the New Testament, without secret code or hidden message.
Jhn 7:16-18, “Jesus answered them by saying, “My teaching is not My own, but His who sent Me. If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know whether the teaching is of God or whether I speak on My own accord and by My own authority. He who speaks on his own accord seeks glory and
honor for himself. But He who seeks the glory and the honor of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness or deception in Him.”
The teachings of the Apostles are the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Gal 1:11-12, “For I want you to know, believers, that the Gospel which was preached by me is not man’s Gospel [it is not a human invention, patterned after any human concept].For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a [direct] revelation of Jesus Christ.”
2Ti 3:10-12, “Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
2Ti 4:14-17, “Alexander the copper smith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Be on guard against him yourself too,
for he vigorously opposed our teaching. At my first
defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and
that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth.”
Tit 1:9-11, “holding firmly the faithful Word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it. For there are many rebellious people, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for thesake of dishonest gain.”
2Jo 1:9-10, “Anyone who goes too far and does not remain in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your
house, and do not give him a greeting.”
Eph 4:21-25, “if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Therefore, ridding yourselves of falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE OF YOU WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, because we are parts of one another.”
1Th 4:9, “Now as to the love of the brothers and sisters, you have no
need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.”
Christians are taught by God to love one another.
You do not know how lucky I was to be taught by Dr. Prof. Harold Koontz in Advanced Management and Theory. Once in a elevator, came a young mother and son. I quickly (I have the habit of guessing the age of children) told the boy he was five years old. That was right, the boy was happy; the mother was happy too. You do not know to have the knowledge of God is the happiest thing in the world.
On the Internet there are many business organizations who claim or pretend to be “Christian” or “Evangelical”. They exist to make money or merchandise the Gospel or Bible Knowledge for money. Some of them outrageously charge a high fee or so-called “subscription” for Bible study or access to the Word of God. Most of them ask for donation like beggars ask for alms. I want you to know that my website https://williewongthought.hpage.com
is dedicated to proclaim the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ absolutely free. Any unbeliever or anyone may have free access to it. As of to date (6/20/2025) I have written 189 articles (including the present one) all free to Christians everywhere. Knowledge is power.
For that reason, the American mega corporation wanted to cooperate with me, index my articles and sell them. I turned it down because the preaching of the Gospel cannot have money motive.
Jas 1:23-25, “For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he
has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an active doer, this person will be blessed in what he does.”
No matter who you are and where you are, you can come now to repent and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Will you do it now? Tomorrow may be too late!
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.
*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.
BY WILLIE WONG
1.) Mat 22:29, “But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, since you do not understand the Scriptures nor the power of God.”
Scientists and scholars are mistken often because they do not understand the Scriptures nor the power of God. There are countless mistakes simply because people do not understand the Scriptures nor the power of God.
Ye do err, not knowing … – They had taken a wrong view of the doctrine of the resurrection.
It was not taught that people would marry there. The “Scriptures,” here, mean the books of the Old Testament. By appealing to them, Jesus showed that the doctrine of the future state was there, and that the Sadducees should have believed it as it was, and not have added the absurd doctrine to it that people must live there as they do here. The way in which the enemies of the truth often attempt to make a doctrine of the Bible ridiculous is by adding to it, and then calling it absurd. The reason why the Saviour produced a passage from the books of Moses Matthew 22:32 was that they had also appealed to his writings, Matthew 22:24. Other places of the Old Testament, in fact, asserted the doctrine more clearly Daniel 12:2; Isaiah 26:19, but he wished to meet them on their own ground. None of those scriptures asserted that people would live there as they do here, and therefore their reasoning was false.
Nor the power of God – They probably denied, as many have done since, that God could gather the scattered dust of the dead and remould it into a body. On this ground they affirmed that the doctrine could not be true – opposing reason to revelation, and supposing that infinite power could not reorganize a body that it had at first organized, and raise a body from its own dust which it had at first raised from nothing.”
2.) Luk 22:69, “But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
By the power of God, Jesus rose from the dead and ascended the highest Heaven and sits at the right hand of the power of God.
(69) Hereafter shall the Son of man sit.—Literally, From this time forth shall the Son of Man be sitting. In St. Luke’s shorter record the immediate sequence of this confession upon an apparent refusal to answer seems hardly consistent. The narrative of St. Matthew shows that the change of purpose or of action was caused by the solemn adjuration of the high priest, which no longer left Him the alternative of silence. The form of the answer, too, is somewhat altered. Not “ye shall see,” but simply “shall be sitting,” as though the dominant thought in St. Luke’s mind in reporting the words was that even in the agony and death that were so soon to come on Him, our Lord found Himself glorified (John 12:23). The Cross was-His Throne, and while hanging on it, He was in spirit sitting at the right hand of the Father.”
3.) Rom 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
(16) The Apostle will not be ashamed of his mission, even in the metropolis of the world. He cannot be ashamed of a scheme so beneficent and so grand. The gospel that he preaches is that mighty agency which God Himself has set in motion, and the object of which is the salvation of all who put their faith in it, to whatever nation or race they may belong. He has, perhaps, in his mind the reception he had met with in other highly civilised cities. (Comp. Acts 17:32.) He had himself once found a “stumbling-block” in the humiliation of the Cross; now, so far from being ashamed of it, it is just that of which he is most proud. The preaching of the Cross is the cardinal point of the whole gospel.
Of Christ.—These words are wanting in the oldest MSS., and should be omitted.
Power of God.—A powerful agency put forth by God Himself—the lever, as it were, by which He would move the world.
Unto salvation.—The object of this gospel is salvation—to open the blessings of the Messianic kingdom to mankind.
To the Jew first.—Here again we have another exhaustive division of mankind. “Greek” is intended to cover all who are not “Jews.” Before the Apostle was making, what may be called, the secular classification of men, here he makes the religious classification. From his exceptional privileges the Jew was literally placed in a class alone.
It is not quite certain that the word “first” ought not to be omitted. In any case the sense is the same. St. Paul certainly assigns a prerogative position to the Jews. They have an “advantage” (Romans 3:1-2). To them belong the special privileges of the first dispensation (Romans 9:4-5). They are the original stock of the olive tree, in comparison with which the Gentiles are only as wild branches grafted in (Romans 11:17et seq.). It was only right that the salvation promised to their forefathers should be offered first to them, as it is also said expressly in the Fourth Gospel, that “salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22).
First.—A difficult question of textual criticism is raised here. The word is not found in the Vatican MS. in a citation by Tertullian (circ. 200 A.D.), and in the Græco-Latin Codex Boernerianus at Dresden. In all other MSS. and versions it appears. The evidence for the omission is thus small in quantity, though good in quality; and though it shows, in any case, a considerable diffusion in Egypt and Africa as far back as the second century, internal considerations do not tell strongly either way, but it seems a degree more probable that the word was accidentally dropped in some early copy. Of recent editions, it is bracketed by Lachmann, and placed in the margin by Tregelles and Vaughan.”
4.) 1Co 1:18, “For the Word of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
There are two groups of people: the unbelieving who are perishing; and the believing who are being saved. The Word of the Cross is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Verses 18-25. – The nature of true Christian preaching. Verse 18. – For the preaching of the cross; rather, the word of the cross. To them that are perishing; rather, to the perishing; to all those who are now walking in the paths that lead to destruction (2 Corinthians 2:15). To them it was foolishness, because it requires spiritual discernment (1 Corinthians 2:14); and, on the other hand, human wisdom is foolishness with God (1 Corinthians 3:19). Foolishness. It shows the heroic character of the faith of St. Paul that he deliberately preached the doctrine of the cross because he felt that therein lay the conversion and salvation of the world, although he was well aware that he could preach no truth so certain at first to revolt the unregenerate hearts of his hearers. To the Jews “the cross” was the tree of shame and horror; and a crucified person was “accursed of God” (Deuteronomy 21:23; Galatians 3:13). To the Greeks the cross was the gibbet of a slave’s infamy and a murderer’s punishment. There was not a single association connected with it except those of shame and agony. The thought of “a crucified Messiah” seemed to the Jews a revolting folly; the worship of a crucified malefactor seemed to the Greeks “an execrable superstition” (Tacitus, ‘Ann.,’ 15:44; Pliny, ‘Epp.’ 10:97); yet so little did St. Paul seek for popularity or immediate success, that this was the very doctrine which he put in the forefront, even at a city so refined and so voluptuous as Corinth. And the result proved his inspired wisdom. That very cross became the recognized badge of Christianity, and when three centuries had elapsed it was woven in gold upon the banners and set in jewels on the diadems of the Roman empire. For had not Christ prophesied, And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me”? Unto us which are being saved; who are on the way of salvation. The same present participle is used in Luke 13:23; Acts 2:47; 2 Corinthians 2:15; Revelation 21:24. It is the power of God. Because the cross is at the heart of that gospel which is “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Romans 1:16; Romans 8:3), though many were tempted to be ashamed of it. It could never be a carnal weapon of warfare, and yet was mighty for every purpose (1 Corinthians 1:18.”
5.) 1Co 2:5, “so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of mankind, but on the power of God.”
Philosophers use human reason to challege the Christian faith. But the Christian Faith does not rest on the wisdom of mankind, but on the power of God.
That your faith – That is, that your belief of the divine origin of the Christian religion.
Should not stand – Greek, “should not be;” that is, should not rest upon this; or be sustained by this. God intended to furnish you a firm and solid demonstration that the religion which you embraced was from Him; and this could not be if its preaching had been attended with the graces of eloquence, or the abstractions of refined metaphysical reasoning. It would then appear to rest upon human wisdom.
In the power of God – In the evidence of divine power accompanying the preaching of the gospel. The power of God would attend the exhibition of truth everywhere; and would be a demonstration that would be irresistible that the religion was not originated by man, but was from heaven. That power was seen in changing the heart; in overcoming the strong propensities of our nature to sin; in subduing the soul; and making the sinner a new creature in Christ Jesus. Every Christian has thus, in his own experience, furnished demonstration that the religion which he loves is from God, and not from man. man could not subdue these sins; and man could not so entirely transform the soul. And although the unlearned Christian may not be able to investigate all the evidences of religion; although he cannot meet all the objections of cunning and subtle infidels, although he may be greatly perplexed and embarrassed by them, yet he may have the fullest proof that he loves God, that he is different from what he once was; and that all this has been accomplished by the religion of the cross.
The blind man that was made to see by the Saviour John 10, might have been wholly unable to tell how his eyes were opened, and unable to meet all the cavils of those who might doubt it, or all the subtle and cunning objections of physiologists, but of one thing he certainly could not doubt, that “whereas he was blind, he then saw;” John 10:25. A man may have no doubt that the sun shines, that the wind blows, that the tides rise, that the blood flows in his veins, that the flowers bloom, and that this could not be except it was from God, while he may have no power to explain these facts; and no power to meet the objections and cavils of those who might choose to embarrass him. So people may know that their hearts are changed; and it is on this ground that no small part of the Christian world, as in everything else, depend for the most satisfactory evidence of their religion. On this ground humble and unlearned Christians have been often willing to go to the stake as martyrs – just as a humble and unlearned patriot is willing to die for his country. He loves it; and he is willing to die for it. A Christian loves his God and Saviour; and is willing to die for his sake.”
6.) 1Co 1:24, “but to those who are the called, both
But unto them which are called – To all true Christians. See the note at 1 Corinthians 1:9.
Both Jews and Greeks – Whether originally of Jewish or Gentile extraction, they have here a common, similar view of the crucified Saviour.
Christ the power of God – Christ appears to them as the power of God; or it is through him that the power of salvation is communicated to them. See the note at 1 Corinthians 1:18.
And the wisdom of God – The way in which God evinces his wisdom in the salvation of people. They see the plan to be wise. They see that it is adapted to the end. They see it to be suited to procure pardon, and sanctification, and eternal life. It is God’s wise plan for the salvation of people; and it is seen by those who are Christians, to be adapted to this end. They see that there is a beauty in his character; an excellency in his doctrines; and an efficacy in his atonement, to secure their salvation. – We may remark on this verse:
(1) That when people become Christians, their hearts are changed. The views of Christians are here represented as diametrically opposite to those of other people. To one class, Christ is a stumbling-block; to others, folly; to Christians he is full of beauty. But those views of the Christian, can be obtained only by a change of heart. And the change from regarding an object or being as foolishness to regarding it as full of beauty, must be a radical and a mighty change.
(2) all Christians have similar views of the Saviour. It matters not whether they were Jew or Greek; it matters not whether they were born in a northern or southern clime – “whether an Indian or an African sun has burned upon them;” whether they speak the same or different languages; whether they were born amidst the same or different denominations of Christians; whether in the same or different countries; or whether they are people in the same or different Christian communities, they have the same views of the Saviour. They see him to be the power and the wisdom of God. They are united in him, and therefore united to each other; and should regard themselves as belonging to the same family, and as bound to the same eternal home.
(3) there is real efficacy in the plan of salvation. It is a scheme of power. It is adapted to the end, and is admirably suited to accomplish the great effects which God designs to accomplish. It is not a scheme intended to show its own imbecility, and the need of another and an independent agent to accomplish the work. All the effects which the Holy Spirit produces on the soul, are such, and only such, as the truth of the gospel is adapted to produce in the mind. The gospel is God’s plan of putting forth power to save people. It seizes upon great elements in human nature; and is adapted to enlist them in the service of God. It is just suited to man as a being capable of reasoning and susceptible of emotion; as a being who maybe influenced by hope and fear; who may be excited and impelled to duty by conscience, and who may be roused from a state of lethargy and sin by the prospect of eternal life, and the apprehension of eternal death. “As such” it should always be preached – as a system “wise,” and “adapted” to the great end in view, as a system most powerful and “mighty to the pulling down of strong holds.”
7.) 2Co 13:4, “For indeed He was crucified because
of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God.
For we too are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.”
4. For though he was crucified through weakness] Chrysostom observes that these words were a great difficulty to the weaker sort. But he explains them by John 11:3-4; Php 2:27; 1 Timothy 5:23, where the word in the original is the same as, or cognate to, that employed here. There is another reading here, which by omitting ‘though,’ or rather ‘if,’ in the original, strengthens the Apostle’s statement. There need be no difficulty. Our Lord assumed our human nature with all its infirmities (Hebrews 2:10-18; Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 5:2-3; see also ch. 2 Corinthians 8:9, and Php 2:7-8), although they were the result of sin. He bore all those infirmities, death itself included. And then He shook them all off for ever when He rose again ‘by the power of God.’ Cf. Romans 1:4; 1 Corinthians 1:24. For we also are weak in him] In this present life the Apostles of Christ were like their Master. Upborne by the power of God within, they had nevertheless to bear the load of human infirmity, to ‘take up their Cross and follow Him.’ See notes on ch. 2 Corinthians 4:10-12, and cf. Galatians 6:17. And not only so, but the words ‘in Him’ shew that it was a necessary part of their union with Him that they should be partakers of His tribulation, before they were translated into the fulness of His glory. See 2 Thessalonians 1:4-7; 1 Peter 1:5-7; 1 Peter 5:10. we shall live with him] Not, as the following words shew, hereafter, but in the Apostle’s ministry to the Corinthians. Cf. 2 Corinthians 13:3. Also Romans 1:16; John 14:19; 1 Corinthians 1:18, and ch. 2 Corinthians 10:4-6, and note on ch. 2 Corinthians 4:14. The Gospel was a power which enabled men to change their lives, in that it was a ministering to them of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Compare ch. 2 Corinthians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 2 Corinthians 3:8-9 with Romans 8:9-10 and Php 1:19.”
(8) Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord.—Seeing, then—remembering, then, that God gave you and me (notice the beautiful courtesy of the old martyr waiting for death, death the human guerdon of his fearless life, coupling, as he has been doing, his sorrow-stricken, dispirited friend with himself, whom no danger, no failure had ever affected)—remembering, then, the spirit of power, love, and self-control given to us, do not thou be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord. This “testimony” of which Timothy was not to be ashamed, of course includes the sufferings and the shame of Christ. In these, before mocking, scornful men, must Timothy, as an example to the flock, rather glory; but “the testimony” signifies much more than what relates only to the Passion story. The Christian, instead of being ashamed of his “profession,” must before the world show fearlessly that its hopes and its promises are his most precious treasure.
Nor of me his prisoner.—Nor must Timothy either then, or in days to come, be afraid of confessing before men that he had been the disciple and friend of the prisoner St. Paul, who had paid so dearly for the courage of his opinions. Nor Timothy, nor any Christian must shrink from openly espousing the unpopular cause of the Crucified, or from publicly declaring their sympathy with its hated martyrs.
But be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel.—More accurately rendered, but rathersuffer afflictions for the gospel. But, on the contrary, instead of injuring the good cause by faint-hearted conduct, should Timothy rather be ready to suffer, if need be, with St. Paul, ready to bear some shame with him, ready to incur, perhaps, sore danger for the gospel’s sake; and then St. Paul, emphasising his words, and strengthening with a new strength his argument and his exhortation, adds, “in accordance with the power of God”—yes, join with me in suffering, if needs be, for the gospel. Mighty and pitiful was God’s power towards us: great, surely, in proportion should be our readiness to suffer in return, if He asks this—as He is now doing from you and me—at our hands.
According to the power of God.—What power of God? has been asked. Not according to the power we get from God, but according to the power which God has displayed towards us in our calling and in our marvellous salvation. In other words, God, with great power, has succoured us; surely we may be confident that He will never leave us, never desert us, but in the hour of our sorest trouble incurred for Him will help us, and will bring us safely through it. So Chrysostom, who, while asserting that suffering will be borne, but not in our strength but in God’s, says, “Consider how thou hast been saved, and how thou hast been called;” inferring that He who has done so great things for man, in his calling and in his salvation, will never let him want for strength.”
9.) 1Pe 1:4-5, “to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in Heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
1 Peter 1:5. Who are kept — Who, though now surrounded with many apparent dangers, are not left defenceless, but are guarded, kept as in a garrison, as the word φρουρουμενους signifies; by the power of God — Which worketh all in all; or secured from all real harm, under the observation of his all-seeing eye, and the protection of his almighty hand; through faith — Through the continued exercise of that faith, by which alone salvation is both received and retained. The clause is very emphatical: “It represents,” says Macknight, “believers as attacked by evil spirits and wicked men, their enemies, but defended against those attacks by the power of God, through the influence of their faith, (1 John 5:4,) just as those who remain in an impregnable fortress are secured from the attacks of their enemies by its ramparts and walls.” Ready — Ετοιμην, prepared, to be revealed — In all its glory; in the last time — The time of Christ’s second coming; the grand period, in which all the mysteries of divine providence shall beautifully and gloriously terminate. Some have thought that by the salvation here spoken of, the apostle meant the preservation from the destruction brought on the Jewish nation by the Romans, which preservation the disciples of Christ “obtained, by observing the signs mentioned in their Master’s prophecy concerning that event. For, when they saw these signs take place, they fled from Jerusalem to places of safety, agreeably to their Master’s order, Matthew 24:16. But what is said, 1 Peter 1:9-12, concerning this salvation; that it is a salvation, not of the body, but of the soul, to be bestowed as the reward of faith; that the prophets, who foretold this salvation, searched diligently among what people, and at what time, the means of procuring it were accomplished; that it was revealed to the prophets that these means were to be accomplished, not among them, but among us; and that these things were to be preached by the apostles as actually come to pass: I say, the above- mentioned particulars concerning the salvation to be revealed in the last time, do not agree to the deliverance of the Christians from the destruction of Jerusalem, but are applicable only to the salvation of believers in general from eternal death, by a resurrection to an immortal life in heaven, at the time of Christ’s coming, when this salvation is to be revealed; and that time is called the last time, because it will be the concluding scene of God’s dispensations relating to our world.” — Macknight.”
10.) 2Co 6:7, “in the Word of truth, and in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left.”
By the word of truth – That is, by making known the truths of the gospel. It was his object to make known the simple truth. He did not corrupt it by false mixtures of philosophy and human wisdom, but communicated it as it had been revealed to him. The object of the appointment of the Christian ministry is to make known the truth, and when that is done it cannot but be that they will commend their office and work to the favorable regards of people.
By the power of God – By the divine power which attended the preaching of the gospel. Most of the ancient commentators explain this of the power of working miracles – Bloomfield. But it probably includes all the displays of divine power which attended the propagation of the gospel, whether in the working of miracles, or in the conversion of people. If it be asked how Paul used this power so as to give no offence in the work of the ministry, it may be replied, that the miraculous endowments bestowed upon the apostles, the power of speaking foreign languages, etc., seem to have been bestowed upon them to be employed in the same way as were their natural faculties; see the notes on 1 Corinthians 14:32. The idea here is, that they used the great powers entrusted to them by God, not as impostors would have done, for the purposes of gain and ambition, or for vain display, but solely for the furtherance of the true religion, and the salvation of people. They thus showed that they were sent from God, as well by the nature of the powers with which they were entrusted, as by the manner in which they used them.
By the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left – Interpreters bare varied much in the exposition of this passage; and many have run into utter wildness. Grotius says, that it refers to the manner in which the ancient soldiers were armed. They bore a spear in their right hand, and a shield in the left. With the former they attacked their foes, with the later they made defense. Some have supposed that it refers to the fact that they were taught to use the sword with the left hand as well as with the right. The simple idea is, that they were completely armed. To be armed on the right hand and on the left is to be well armed, or entirely equipped. They went forth to conflict. They met persecution, opposition, and slander. As the soldier went well armed to battle, so did they. But the armor with which they met their foes, and which constituted their entire panoply, was a holy life. With that they met all the assaults of their enemies; with that all slander and persecution. That was their defense, and by that they hoped and expected to achieve their conquests. They had no swords, and spears, and helmets, and shields; no carnal weapons of offence and defense; but they expected to meet all their assaults, and to gain all their victories, by an upright and holy life.”
11.) Luk 1:35, “The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;
for that reason also the holy Child will be called the Son of God.”
The Virgin Birth is so supernatural only it can be explained by the Holy Spirit and the power of the Most High.
And the angel answered and said unto her,…. The angel gave her an account of the manner in which what he had said should be effected, as well as observed some things for the strengthening of her faith,
The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee. The words, “upon thee”, are left out in the Syriac and Persic versions; but are retained in others, and in all copies: the formation of Christ’s human nature, though common to all the three persons, yet is particularly, and most properly ascribed to the Spirit; not to the first person, the Father, lest it should be thought that he is only the Father of him, as man; nor to the second person, the Son, since it is to him that the human nature is personally united; but to the third person, the Spirit, who is the sanctifier; and who separated, and sanctified it, the first moment of its conception, and preserved it from the taint of original sin. His coming upon the virgin must be understood in consistence with his omnipresence, and immensity; and cannot design any local motion, but an effectual operation in forming the human nature of her flesh and substance; and not in the ordinary manner in which he is concerned in the formation of all men, Job 33:4 but in an extraordinary way, not to be conceived of, and explained. The phrase most plainly answers to , in frequent use with the Jews (x), as expressive of coition,
And the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee. By “the power of the Highest” is not meant the Lord Jesus Christ, who is sometimes called the power of God; but rather the Holy Ghost, as before, who is styled the finger of God, and power from on high, Luke 11:20 unless it should be thought that the perfection of divine power common to all the three persons is intended: and so points out the means by which the wondrous thing should be performed, even by the power of God; and which should not only be employed in forming the human nature of Christ, but in protecting the virgin from any suspicion and charge of sin, and defending her innocence and virtue, by moving upon Joseph to take her to wife. In the word, “overshadow”, some think there is an allusion to the Spirit of God moving upon the face of the waters, in Genesis 1:2 when, he brooded upon them, as the word may be rendered; and which is the sense of it, according to the Jewish writers (y) as a hen, or any other bird broods on its eggs to exclude its young: and others have thought the allusion may be to , (z), “the nuptial covering”: which was a veil, or canopy, like a tent, supported on four staves, under which the bridegroom and bride were betrothed; or, as Dr. Lightfoot thinks, it is a modest phrase alluding to the conjugal embraces, signified by a man’s spreading the skirt of his garment over the woman, which Ruth desired of Boaz, Ruth 3:9 though the Jewish writers say (a), that phrase is expressive of the act of marriage, or taking to wife. The phrase of being “overshadowed”, or “covered with the spirit of prophecy”, as the virgin also was, is used by the Targumist, on 1 Chronicles 2:55.
therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. The human nature of Christ is here called a “thing”; for it was not a person; it never subsisted of itself, but was taken at once into union with the person of the Son of God, otherwise there would be two persons in Christ, whereas he is God, and man, in one person; and it is said to be “holy”, being free from that original pollution and sin, in which all that descend from Adam, by ordinary generation, are conceived, and brought forth; and is, moreover, said to be born of a virgin, “of thee”, or “out of thee”. Christ’s flesh was formed out of the Virgin’s; he took flesh of her; his body did not descend from heaven, or pass through her, as water through a pipe, as some heretics of old said: nor did his human nature, either as to soul or body, pre-exist his incarnation; but in the fulness of time he was made of a woman, and took a true body of her, and a reasonable soul, into union with his divine person; and “therefore should be called the Son of God”: not that he was now to become the “the Son of God”; he was so before his incarnation, and even from all eternity; but he was now to be manifested as such in human nature: nor does the angel predict, that he should, for this reason, be called the Son of God; for he never was, on this account, so called, either by himself, or others: nor is the particle, “therefore”, causal, but consequential: the angel is not giving a reason why Christ should be the Son of God, but why he should be owned, and acknowledged, as such by his people: who would infer, and conclude from his wonderful conception and birth, that he is the “Emmanuel”, God with us, the child that was to be born, and the Son given, whose name should be Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, &c. Isaiah 7:14. Moreover, the word, “also”, is not to be overlooked; and the sense is, that seeing that human nature, which should be born of the virgin, would be united to the Son of God, it likewise should bear the same name, being in personal union with him, who was so from all eternity.”
12.) Act 2:24, “But God raised Him from the dead, putting an end
to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.”
Whom God hath raised up – This was the main point, in this part of his argument, which Peter wished to establish. He could not but admit that the Messiah had been in an ignominious manner put to death. But he now shows them that God had also raised him up; had thus given his attestation to his doctrine; and had sent down his Spirit according to the promise which the Lord Jesus made before his death.
Having loosed the pains of death – The word “loosed,” λύσας lusas, is opposed to bind, and is properly applied to a cord, or to anything which is bound. See Matthew 21:2; Mark 1:7. Hence, it means to free or to liberate, Luke 13:16; 1 Corinthians 7:27. It is used in this sense here; though the idea of untying or loosing a band is retained, because the word translated “pains” often means “a cord or band.”
The pains of death – ὠδῖνας τοῦ θάνατου ōdinas tou thanatou. The word translated “pains” denotes properly “the extreme sufferings of parturition, and then any severe or excruciating pangs.” Hence, it is applied also to death, as being a state of extreme suffering. A very frequent meaning of the Hebrew word of which this is the translation is cord or band. This, perhaps, was the original idea of the word; and the Hebrews expressed any extreme agony under the idea of bands or cords closely drawn, binding and constricting the limbs, and producing severe pain. Thus, death was represented under this image of a band that confined people, that pressed closely on them, that prevented escape, and produced severe suffering. For this use of the word חבל chebel, see Psalm 119:61; Isaiah 66:7; Jeremiah 22:23; Hosea 13:13. It is applied to death, Psalm 18:5, “The snares of death prevented me”; corresponding to the word “sorrows” in the previous part of the verse; Psalm 116:3, “The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell (Hades or Sheol, the cords or pains that were binding me down to the grave) gat held on me.”
We are not to infer from this that our Lord suffered anything after death. It means simply that he could not be held by the grave, but that God loosed the bonds which had held him there; that he now set him free who had been encompassed by these pains or bonds until they had brought him down to the grave. Pain, mighty pain, will encompass us all like the constrictions and bindings of a cord which we cannot loose, and will fasten our limbs and bodies in the grave. Those bands begin to be thrown around us in early life, and they are drawn closer and closer, until we lie panting under the stricture on a bed of pain, and then are still and immovable in the grave – subdued in a manner not a little resembling the mortal agonies of the tiger in the convolutions of the boa constrictor, or like Laocoon and his sons in the folds of the serpents from the Island of Tenedos.
It was not possible – This does not refer to any natural impossibility, or to any inherent efficacy or power in the body of Jesus itself, but simply means that “in the circumstances of the case such an event could not be.” Why it could not be he proceeds at once to show. It could not be consistently with the promises of the Scriptures. Jesus was the “Prince of life” Acts 3:15; he had life in himself John 1:4; John 5:26; he had power to lay down his life and to take it again Judges 10:18; and it was indispensable that he should rise. He came, also, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is, the devil Hebrews 2:14; and as it was his purpose to gain this victory, he could not be defeated in it by being confined to the grave.”
Just as the Scripture says, Rom 1:4, “who was declared the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
4. declared] Better, defined, marked out by sure signs. Same word as Hebrews 4:7 (“He limiteth a certain day”). His Resurrection shewed Him to be none other than the Son. The same Greek word is used in e.g. Acts 10:42; Acts 17:31; and rendered there “ordained;” perhaps rightly so. But obviously its meaning will slightly vary as connected with the Sonship or with the Judgeship of Christ. the Son of God] Cp. Acts 13:32-33, for a close parallel; one of the many between St Paul’s Discourses and Epistles. The Sonship of the Redeemer, the truth proclaimed at His baptism (Matthew 3:17), is enforced and illustrated through the N. T. In this Epistle see especially cch. Romans 5:10, Romans 8:3; Romans 8:29; Romans 8:32. with power] Lit. in power. Cp. 1 Corinthians 15:43. Power attended and characterized His Resurrection, both as cause and as effect. The practical reference here is to the fulness of the proof of the fact. The true Resurrection was not such as that imagined by e.g. Schleiermacher; the creeping forth of a half-slain Man from his grave. It was miracle and triumph. according to the Spirit of holiness] This phrase presents two questions: (1) what is “the Spirit of Holiness”? (2) what is meant by “according to”? We take them in order. A. “The Spirit of Holiness” must mean either the Holy Paraclete, or the sacred Human Spirit of Christ, or His Deity regarded as (what it is, John 4:24,) Spirit. The reference here seems to be to the Paraclete; for (1) in this Epistle He is very frequently referred to, in a way which makes an initial reference here highly probable; (2) the expression “Holy Spirit” is so closely akin to “Spirit of Holiness” that any reference of the words other than that to the Paraclete would need special evidence; and such evidence can hardly be found in St Paul. (See 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 9:14; for the nearest approaches to it in N. T.) B. The words “according to” may refer to the Paraclete, either (1) as the Agent in the Incarnation (Luke 1:35), or (2) as concerned in the Resurrection (see Romans 8:11 for a very partial parallel), or (3) as the Inspirer of the Prophets. Of these possibilities (1) is most unlikely, for the Sonship of Christ here in question is plainly the Eternal Sonship (see Romans 9:5), not that of the Incarnation; (2) accords better with Scripture usage; but (3) far more so, in view of the frequent mention of the Holy Spirit as the Inspirer. See Acts 20:23; 1 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 3:7; Hebrews 9:8; Hebrews 10:15, (and cp. 1 Peter 1:11); for places where “the Spirit” is evidently the Holy Spirit as the Author of Prophecy. The present passage will thus mean: “He was declared to be the Son of God, with power, (even as the Holy Ghost foretold,) in consequence of the resurrection.” by the resurrection] Lit. out of, from; i.e. in consequence, as a result, of. The same construction and meaning occur e.g. 2 Corinthians 13:4, where lit. “He was crucified out of weakness; He liveth out of the power of God; we shall live out of, &c.” The grand result of the resurrection here stated is that His prophesied character and dignity were, by the resurrection, made unmistakably clear.”
13.) Rev 20:6, “Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they
will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.”
Blessed – That is, his condition is to be regarded as a happy or a favored one. This is designed apparently to support and encourage those who, in the time of John, suffered persecution, or who might suffer persecution afterward.
And holy – That is, no one will be thus honored who has not an established character for holiness. Holy principles will then reign, and none will be exalted to that honor who have not a character for eminent sanctity.
That hath part in the first resurrection – That participated in it; that is, who is associated with those who are thus raised up.
On such the second death hath no power – The “second death” is properly the death which the wicked will experience in the world of woe. See Revelation 20:14. The meaning here is, that all who are here referred to as having part in the first resurrection will be secure against that. It will be one of the blessed privileges of heaven that there will be absolute security against death in any and every form; and when we think of what death is here, and still more when we think of “the bitter pains of the second death,” we may well call that state “blessed” in which there will be eternal exemption from either.
But they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him – notes at Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10.
Section b. – Condition of the world in the period referred to in Revelation 20:4-6.
I. It is well known that this passage is the principal one which is relied on by those who advocate the doctrine of the literal reign of Christ on the earth for a thousand years, or who hold what are called the doctrines of the “second advent.” The points which are maintained by those who advocate these views are substantially:
(a) that at that period Christ will descend from heaven to reign personally upon the earth;
(b) that he will have a central place of power and authority, probably Jerusalem;
(c) that the righteous dead will then be raised, in such bodies as are to be immortal;
(d) that they will be his attendants, and will participate with him in the government of the world;
(e) that this will continue during the period of a thousand years;
(f) that the world will be subdued and converted during this period, not by moral means, but by “a new dispensation” – by the power of the Son of God; and,
(g) that at the close of this period all the remaining dead will be raised, the judgment will take place, and the affairs of the earth will be consummated.
continued…”
14.) 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.”
Now the God of hope,…. This character is taken from the latter part of Romans 15:12, and is occasioned by it, “in him shall the Gentiles trust”, or “hope”; and is proper to God as he is the author and giver of this grace; for naturally men are without it; that which is a good hope is the gift of God, and through his grace, and is wrought in the heart in regeneration; for to this are the children of God begotten again. Moreover, God is the object of it; not wealth and riches, nor works of righteousness, but Jehovah, Father, Son, and Spirit, particularly Christ, is called the believer’s hope; that is, the object of it, in whom the Gentiles hope and trust. Likewise, it is God that encourages to the exercise of it by the proclamations of his grace, and mercy, and plenteous redemption; by the discoveries of his love, and views of interest in him; and by bringing to mind the past experiences of his goodness: he preserves and maintains this grace useful and lively, firm and steadfast, at least in being, which sometimes seems almost perished and gone; he increases it, and causes his people to abound in the exercise of it, and continues it even unto death. The Ethiopic version reads, “the God of our promises”, which are what hope has respect unto, and builds upon:
fill you with all joy and peace in believing. This is a petition to the God of hope. The apostle has recourse again to prayer, knowing that all his exhortations would be useless, without the grace of God accompanying them: and it is observable, that he prays for the same things mentioned in the above prophecies and promises, as joy, peace, and hope; for though God has promised ever so great things concerning his people, he will be inquired of by them to do them for them. One part of this petition is, that God would “fill them with all joy”; not with every kind of joy; not with worldly joy, or with the joy of hypocrites, who rejoice in sin, or in their own boastings, which is evil; but with spiritual joy, joy in God as a covenant God and Father; in Christ, in his person, righteousness, and salvation; and in the Holy Ghost, the author of it, whose fruit it is; and in the Gospel, doctrines, blessings, and promises of it; and in the view and hope of the heavenly glory, amidst various afflictions and tribulations: and it designs an abundance of it, even a fulness thereof; though the petition implies, that as yet it is not full; it is frequently interrupted and broke in upon by the corruption of nature, and falls into sin, by the temptations of Satan, through divine desertions, and various trials and exercises; yet it supposes it may be increased, as by the renewed discoveries of the love of God, of interest in Christ, and through the gracious influences of the Spirit; and even made full and complete, though not in this, yet in the other world: another branch of the petition is, that God would fill with “peace”, with a sense of their peace with him, made by the blood of Christ; with a conscience peace in their own breasts, arising from a view of their justification by the righteousness of Christ, and from the sprinklings of his blood upon them; and also with peace one among another, which was much wanting, and the apostle was very desirous of: and all this he asks, that it might come to them “in believing”; in the way of faith, and the exercise of that grace; for joy comes this way; faith and joy go together; where one is, the other is also; and as the one increases, so does the other; a believing view of interest in Christ is attended with joy unspeakable, and full of glory: and so peace comes in at the door of faith: there is no true peace till a soul is brought to believe in Christ; and that is promoted and increased by repeated acts of faith on Christ, or by a constant living by faith on him; see Isaiah 26:3. The end for which this petition is made is,
that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost. By hope is meant that grace which God is the author, object, and promoter of; and the Syriac version reads it, “in his hope”, or “the hope of him”; of enjoying him, of meeting with him, and having communion with him in his house and ordinances; of having fresh supplies of grace from him, and of being favoured with all the blessings of grace laid up in an everlasting covenant, and at last with eternal life and glory: to “abound” herein, is to be in the free and frequent exercise of this grace, being encouraged by the grace of God, and an enlarged experience of it, and supported by faith, the substance of things hoped for: and this “through the power of the Holy Ghost”; not by might or power of man, but by that same divine power which first began the good work, and must fulfil it; which at first implanted the grace of hope, and must perform the work of that, as of faith. The same power is requisite to cause grace to abound, or saints to abound in the exercise of it, as was to the first production of it. The Vulgate Latin reads, “that ye may abound in hope, and in the power of the Holy Ghost”; but there is no copulative in the Greek text.”
You can be blessed and holy if you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Will you do it now?
To receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior is to 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.
1.) Mat 22:29, “But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, since you do not understand the Scriptures nor the power of God.”
Scientists and scholars are mistken often because they do not understand the Scriptures nor the power of God. There are countless mistakes simply because people do not understand the Scriptures nor the power of God.
Ye do err, not knowing … – They had taken a wrong view of the doctrine of the resurrection.
It was not taught that people would marry there. The “Scriptures,” here, mean the books of the Old Testament. By appealing to them, Jesus showed that the doctrine of the future state was there, and that the Sadducees should have believed it as it was, and not have added the absurd doctrine to it that people must live there as they do here. The way in which the enemies of the truth often attempt to make a doctrine of the Bible ridiculous is by adding to it, and then calling it absurd. The reason why the Saviour produced a passage from the books of Moses Matthew 22:32 was that they had also appealed to his writings, Matthew 22:24. Other places of the Old Testament, in fact, asserted the doctrine more clearly Daniel 12:2; Isaiah 26:19, but he wished to meet them on their own ground. None of those scriptures asserted that people would live there as they do here, and therefore their reasoning was false.
Nor the power of God – They probably denied, as many have done since, that God could gather the scattered dust of the dead and remould it into a body. On this ground they affirmed that the doctrine could not be true – opposing reason to revelation, and supposing that infinite power could not reorganize a body that it had at first organized, and raise a body from its own dust which it had at first raised from nothing.”
2.) Luk 22:69, “But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
By the power of God, Jesus rose from the dead and ascended the highest Heaven and sits at the right hand of the power of God.
(69) Hereafter shall the Son of man sit.—Literally, From this time forth shall the Son of Man be sitting. In St. Luke’s shorter record the immediate sequence of this confession upon an apparent refusal to answer seems hardly consistent. The narrative of St. Matthew shows that the change of purpose or of action was caused by the solemn adjuration of the high priest, which no longer left Him the alternative of silence. The form of the answer, too, is somewhat altered. Not “ye shall see,” but simply “shall be sitting,” as though the dominant thought in St. Luke’s mind in reporting the words was that even in the agony and death that were so soon to come on Him, our Lord found Himself glorified (John 12:23). The Cross was-His Throne, and while hanging on it, He was in spirit sitting at the right hand of the Father.”
3.) Rom 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
(16) The Apostle will not be ashamed of his mission, even in the metropolis of the world. He cannot be ashamed of a scheme so beneficent and so grand. The gospel that he preaches is that mighty agency which God Himself has set in motion, and the object of which is the salvation of all who put their faith in it, to whatever nation or race they may belong. He has, perhaps, in his mind the reception he had met with in other highly civilised cities. (Comp. Acts 17:32.) He had himself once found a “stumbling-block” in the humiliation of the Cross; now, so far from being ashamed of it, it is just that of which he is most proud. The preaching of the Cross is the cardinal point of the whole gospel.
Of Christ.—These words are wanting in the oldest MSS., and should be omitted.
Power of God.—A powerful agency put forth by God Himself—the lever, as it were, by which He would move the world.
Unto salvation.—The object of this gospel is salvation—to open the blessings of the Messianic kingdom to mankind.
To the Jew first.—Here again we have another exhaustive division of mankind. “Greek” is intended to cover all who are not “Jews.” Before the Apostle was making, what may be called, the secular classification of men, here he makes the religious classification. From his exceptional privileges the Jew was literally placed in a class alone.
It is not quite certain that the word “first” ought not to be omitted. In any case the sense is the same. St. Paul certainly assigns a prerogative position to the Jews. They have an “advantage” (Romans 3:1-2). To them belong the special privileges of the first dispensation (Romans 9:4-5). They are the original stock of the olive tree, in comparison with which the Gentiles are only as wild branches grafted in (Romans 11:17et seq.). It was only right that the salvation promised to their forefathers should be offered first to them, as it is also said expressly in the Fourth Gospel, that “salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22).
First.—A difficult question of textual criticism is raised here. The word is not found in the Vatican MS. in a citation by Tertullian (circ. 200 A.D.), and in the Græco-Latin Codex Boernerianus at Dresden. In all other MSS. and versions it appears. The evidence for the omission is thus small in quantity, though good in quality; and though it shows, in any case, a considerable diffusion in Egypt and Africa as far back as the second century, internal considerations do not tell strongly either way, but it seems a degree more probable that the word was accidentally dropped in some early copy. Of recent editions, it is bracketed by Lachmann, and placed in the margin by Tregelles and Vaughan.”
4.) 1Co 1:18, “For the Word of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
There are two groups of people: the unbelieving who are perishing; and the believing who are being saved. The Word of the Cross is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Verses 18-25. – The nature of true Christian preaching. Verse 18. – For the preaching of the cross; rather, the word of the cross. To them that are perishing; rather, to the perishing; to all those who are now walking in the paths that lead to destruction (2 Corinthians 2:15). To them it was foolishness, because it requires spiritual discernment (1 Corinthians 2:14); and, on the other hand, human wisdom is foolishness with God (1 Corinthians 3:19). Foolishness. It shows the heroic character of the faith of St. Paul that he deliberately preached the doctrine of the cross because he felt that therein lay the conversion and salvation of the world, although he was well aware that he could preach no truth so certain at first to revolt the unregenerate hearts of his hearers. To the Jews “the cross” was the tree of shame and horror; and a crucified person was “accursed of God” (Deuteronomy 21:23; Galatians 3:13). To the Greeks the cross was the gibbet of a slave’s infamy and a murderer’s punishment. There was not a single association connected with it except those of shame and agony. The thought of “a crucified Messiah” seemed to the Jews a revolting folly; the worship of a crucified malefactor seemed to the Greeks “an execrable superstition” (Tacitus, ‘Ann.,’ 15:44; Pliny, ‘Epp.’ 10:97); yet so little did St. Paul seek for popularity or immediate success, that this was the very doctrine which he put in the forefront, even at a city so refined and so voluptuous as Corinth. And the result proved his inspired wisdom. That very cross became the recognized badge of Christianity, and when three centuries had elapsed it was woven in gold upon the banners and set in jewels on the diadems of the Roman empire. For had not Christ prophesied, And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me”? Unto us which are being saved; who are on the way of salvation. The same present participle is used in Luke 13:23; Acts 2:47; 2 Corinthians 2:15; Revelation 21:24. It is the power of God. Because the cross is at the heart of that gospel which is “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Romans 1:16; Romans 8:3), though many were tempted to be ashamed of it. It could never be a carnal weapon of warfare, and yet was mighty for every purpose (1 Corinthians 1:18.”
5.) 1Co 2:5, “so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of mankind, but on the power of God.”
Philosophers use human reason to challege the Christian faith. But the Christian Faith does not rest on the wisdom of mankind, but on the power of God.
That your faith – That is, that your belief of the divine origin of the Christian religion.
Should not stand – Greek, “should not be;” that is, should not rest upon this; or be sustained by this. God intended to furnish you a firm and solid demonstration that the religion which you embraced was from Him; and this could not be if its preaching had been attended with the graces of eloquence, or the abstractions of refined metaphysical reasoning. It would then appear to rest upon human wisdom.
In the power of God – In the evidence of divine power accompanying the preaching of the gospel. The power of God would attend the exhibition of truth everywhere; and would be a demonstration that would be irresistible that the religion was not originated by man, but was from heaven. That power was seen in changing the heart; in overcoming the strong propensities of our nature to sin; in subduing the soul; and making the sinner a new creature in Christ Jesus. Every Christian has thus, in his own experience, furnished demonstration that the religion which he loves is from God, and not from man. man could not subdue these sins; and man could not so entirely transform the soul. And although the unlearned Christian may not be able to investigate all the evidences of religion; although he cannot meet all the objections of cunning and subtle infidels, although he may be greatly perplexed and embarrassed by them, yet he may have the fullest proof that he loves God, that he is different from what he once was; and that all this has been accomplished by the religion of the cross.
The blind man that was made to see by the Saviour John 10, might have been wholly unable to tell how his eyes were opened, and unable to meet all the cavils of those who might doubt it, or all the subtle and cunning objections of physiologists, but of one thing he certainly could not doubt, that “whereas he was blind, he then saw;” John 10:25. A man may have no doubt that the sun shines, that the wind blows, that the tides rise, that the blood flows in his veins, that the flowers bloom, and that this could not be except it was from God, while he may have no power to explain these facts; and no power to meet the objections and cavils of those who might choose to embarrass him. So people may know that their hearts are changed; and it is on this ground that no small part of the Christian world, as in everything else, depend for the most satisfactory evidence of their religion. On this ground humble and unlearned Christians have been often willing to go to the stake as martyrs – just as a humble and unlearned patriot is willing to die for his country. He loves it; and he is willing to die for it. A Christian loves his God and Saviour; and is willing to die for his sake.”
6.) 1Co 1:24, “but to those who are the called, both
But unto them which are called – To all true Christians. See the note at 1 Corinthians 1:9.
Both Jews and Greeks – Whether originally of Jewish or Gentile extraction, they have here a common, similar view of the crucified Saviour.
Christ the power of God – Christ appears to them as the power of God; or it is through him that the power of salvation is communicated to them. See the note at 1 Corinthians 1:18.
And the wisdom of God – The way in which God evinces his wisdom in the salvation of people. They see the plan to be wise. They see that it is adapted to the end. They see it to be suited to procure pardon, and sanctification, and eternal life. It is God’s wise plan for the salvation of people; and it is seen by those who are Christians, to be adapted to this end. They see that there is a beauty in his character; an excellency in his doctrines; and an efficacy in his atonement, to secure their salvation. – We may remark on this verse:
(1) That when people become Christians, their hearts are changed. The views of Christians are here represented as diametrically opposite to those of other people. To one class, Christ is a stumbling-block; to others, folly; to Christians he is full of beauty. But those views of the Christian, can be obtained only by a change of heart. And the change from regarding an object or being as foolishness to regarding it as full of beauty, must be a radical and a mighty change.
(2) all Christians have similar views of the Saviour. It matters not whether they were Jew or Greek; it matters not whether they were born in a northern or southern clime – “whether an Indian or an African sun has burned upon them;” whether they speak the same or different languages; whether they were born amidst the same or different denominations of Christians; whether in the same or different countries; or whether they are people in the same or different Christian communities, they have the same views of the Saviour. They see him to be the power and the wisdom of God. They are united in him, and therefore united to each other; and should regard themselves as belonging to the same family, and as bound to the same eternal home.
(3) there is real efficacy in the plan of salvation. It is a scheme of power. It is adapted to the end, and is admirably suited to accomplish the great effects which God designs to accomplish. It is not a scheme intended to show its own imbecility, and the need of another and an independent agent to accomplish the work. All the effects which the Holy Spirit produces on the soul, are such, and only such, as the truth of the gospel is adapted to produce in the mind. The gospel is God’s plan of putting forth power to save people. It seizes upon great elements in human nature; and is adapted to enlist them in the service of God. It is just suited to man as a being capable of reasoning and susceptible of emotion; as a being who maybe influenced by hope and fear; who may be excited and impelled to duty by conscience, and who may be roused from a state of lethargy and sin by the prospect of eternal life, and the apprehension of eternal death. “As such” it should always be preached – as a system “wise,” and “adapted” to the great end in view, as a system most powerful and “mighty to the pulling down of strong holds.”
7.) 2Co 13:4, “For indeed He was crucified because
of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God.
For we too are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.”
4. For though he was crucified through weakness] Chrysostom observes that these words were a great difficulty to the weaker sort. But he explains them by John 11:3-4; Php 2:27; 1 Timothy 5:23, where the word in the original is the same as, or cognate to, that employed here. There is another reading here, which by omitting ‘though,’ or rather ‘if,’ in the original, strengthens the Apostle’s statement. There need be no difficulty. Our Lord assumed our human nature with all its infirmities (Hebrews 2:10-18; Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 5:2-3; see also ch. 2 Corinthians 8:9, and Php 2:7-8), although they were the result of sin. He bore all those infirmities, death itself included. And then He shook them all off for ever when He rose again ‘by the power of God.’ Cf. Romans 1:4; 1 Corinthians 1:24. For we also are weak in him] In this present life the Apostles of Christ were like their Master. Upborne by the power of God within, they had nevertheless to bear the load of human infirmity, to ‘take up their Cross and follow Him.’ See notes on ch. 2 Corinthians 4:10-12, and cf. Galatians 6:17. And not only so, but the words ‘in Him’ shew that it was a necessary part of their union with Him that they should be partakers of His tribulation, before they were translated into the fulness of His glory. See 2 Thessalonians 1:4-7; 1 Peter 1:5-7; 1 Peter 5:10. we shall live with him] Not, as the following words shew, hereafter, but in the Apostle’s ministry to the Corinthians. Cf. 2 Corinthians 13:3. Also Romans 1:16; John 14:19; 1 Corinthians 1:18, and ch. 2 Corinthians 10:4-6, and note on ch. 2 Corinthians 4:14. The Gospel was a power which enabled men to change their lives, in that it was a ministering to them of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Compare ch. 2 Corinthians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 2 Corinthians 3:8-9 with Romans 8:9-10 and Php 1:19.”
(8) Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord.—Seeing, then—remembering, then, that God gave you and me (notice the beautiful courtesy of the old martyr waiting for death, death the human guerdon of his fearless life, coupling, as he has been doing, his sorrow-stricken, dispirited friend with himself, whom no danger, no failure had ever affected)—remembering, then, the spirit of power, love, and self-control given to us, do not thou be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord. This “testimony” of which Timothy was not to be ashamed, of course includes the sufferings and the shame of Christ. In these, before mocking, scornful men, must Timothy, as an example to the flock, rather glory; but “the testimony” signifies much more than what relates only to the Passion story. The Christian, instead of being ashamed of his “profession,” must before the world show fearlessly that its hopes and its promises are his most precious treasure.
Nor of me his prisoner.—Nor must Timothy either then, or in days to come, be afraid of confessing before men that he had been the disciple and friend of the prisoner St. Paul, who had paid so dearly for the courage of his opinions. Nor Timothy, nor any Christian must shrink from openly espousing the unpopular cause of the Crucified, or from publicly declaring their sympathy with its hated martyrs.
But be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel.—More accurately rendered, but rathersuffer afflictions for the gospel. But, on the contrary, instead of injuring the good cause by faint-hearted conduct, should Timothy rather be ready to suffer, if need be, with St. Paul, ready to bear some shame with him, ready to incur, perhaps, sore danger for the gospel’s sake; and then St. Paul, emphasising his words, and strengthening with a new strength his argument and his exhortation, adds, “in accordance with the power of God”—yes, join with me in suffering, if needs be, for the gospel. Mighty and pitiful was God’s power towards us: great, surely, in proportion should be our readiness to suffer in return, if He asks this—as He is now doing from you and me—at our hands.
According to the power of God.—What power of God? has been asked. Not according to the power we get from God, but according to the power which God has displayed towards us in our calling and in our marvellous salvation. In other words, God, with great power, has succoured us; surely we may be confident that He will never leave us, never desert us, but in the hour of our sorest trouble incurred for Him will help us, and will bring us safely through it. So Chrysostom, who, while asserting that suffering will be borne, but not in our strength but in God’s, says, “Consider how thou hast been saved, and how thou hast been called;” inferring that He who has done so great things for man, in his calling and in his salvation, will never let him want for strength.”
9.) 1Pe 1:4-5, “to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in Heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
1 Peter 1:5. Who are kept — Who, though now surrounded with many apparent dangers, are not left defenceless, but are guarded, kept as in a garrison, as the word φρουρουμενους signifies; by the power of God — Which worketh all in all; or secured from all real harm, under the observation of his all-seeing eye, and the protection of his almighty hand; through faith — Through the continued exercise of that faith, by which alone salvation is both received and retained. The clause is very emphatical: “It represents,” says Macknight, “believers as attacked by evil spirits and wicked men, their enemies, but defended against those attacks by the power of God, through the influence of their faith, (1 John 5:4,) just as those who remain in an impregnable fortress are secured from the attacks of their enemies by its ramparts and walls.” Ready — Ετοιμην, prepared, to be revealed — In all its glory; in the last time — The time of Christ’s second coming; the grand period, in which all the mysteries of divine providence shall beautifully and gloriously terminate. Some have thought that by the salvation here spoken of, the apostle meant the preservation from the destruction brought on the Jewish nation by the Romans, which preservation the disciples of Christ “obtained, by observing the signs mentioned in their Master’s prophecy concerning that event. For, when they saw these signs take place, they fled from Jerusalem to places of safety, agreeably to their Master’s order, Matthew 24:16. But what is said, 1 Peter 1:9-12, concerning this salvation; that it is a salvation, not of the body, but of the soul, to be bestowed as the reward of faith; that the prophets, who foretold this salvation, searched diligently among what people, and at what time, the means of procuring it were accomplished; that it was revealed to the prophets that these means were to be accomplished, not among them, but among us; and that these things were to be preached by the apostles as actually come to pass: I say, the above- mentioned particulars concerning the salvation to be revealed in the last time, do not agree to the deliverance of the Christians from the destruction of Jerusalem, but are applicable only to the salvation of believers in general from eternal death, by a resurrection to an immortal life in heaven, at the time of Christ’s coming, when this salvation is to be revealed; and that time is called the last time, because it will be the concluding scene of God’s dispensations relating to our world.” — Macknight.”
10.) 2Co 6:7, “in the Word of truth, and in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left.”
By the word of truth – That is, by making known the truths of the gospel. It was his object to make known the simple truth. He did not corrupt it by false mixtures of philosophy and human wisdom, but communicated it as it had been revealed to him. The object of the appointment of the Christian ministry is to make known the truth, and when that is done it cannot but be that they will commend their office and work to the favorable regards of people.
By the power of God – By the divine power which attended the preaching of the gospel. Most of the ancient commentators explain this of the power of working miracles – Bloomfield. But it probably includes all the displays of divine power which attended the propagation of the gospel, whether in the working of miracles, or in the conversion of people. If it be asked how Paul used this power so as to give no offence in the work of the ministry, it may be replied, that the miraculous endowments bestowed upon the apostles, the power of speaking foreign languages, etc., seem to have been bestowed upon them to be employed in the same way as were their natural faculties; see the notes on 1 Corinthians 14:32. The idea here is, that they used the great powers entrusted to them by God, not as impostors would have done, for the purposes of gain and ambition, or for vain display, but solely for the furtherance of the true religion, and the salvation of people. They thus showed that they were sent from God, as well by the nature of the powers with which they were entrusted, as by the manner in which they used them.
By the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left – Interpreters bare varied much in the exposition of this passage; and many have run into utter wildness. Grotius says, that it refers to the manner in which the ancient soldiers were armed. They bore a spear in their right hand, and a shield in the left. With the former they attacked their foes, with the later they made defense. Some have supposed that it refers to the fact that they were taught to use the sword with the left hand as well as with the right. The simple idea is, that they were completely armed. To be armed on the right hand and on the left is to be well armed, or entirely equipped. They went forth to conflict. They met persecution, opposition, and slander. As the soldier went well armed to battle, so did they. But the armor with which they met their foes, and which constituted their entire panoply, was a holy life. With that they met all the assaults of their enemies; with that all slander and persecution. That was their defense, and by that they hoped and expected to achieve their conquests. They had no swords, and spears, and helmets, and shields; no carnal weapons of offence and defense; but they expected to meet all their assaults, and to gain all their victories, by an upright and holy life.”
11.) Luk 1:35, “The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;
for that reason also the holy Child will be called the Son of God.”
The Virgin Birth is so supernatural only it can be explained by the Holy Spirit and the power of the Most High.
And the angel answered and said unto her,…. The angel gave her an account of the manner in which what he had said should be effected, as well as observed some things for the strengthening of her faith,
The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee. The words, “upon thee”, are left out in the Syriac and Persic versions; but are retained in others, and in all copies: the formation of Christ’s human nature, though common to all the three persons, yet is particularly, and most properly ascribed to the Spirit; not to the first person, the Father, lest it should be thought that he is only the Father of him, as man; nor to the second person, the Son, since it is to him that the human nature is personally united; but to the third person, the Spirit, who is the sanctifier; and who separated, and sanctified it, the first moment of its conception, and preserved it from the taint of original sin. His coming upon the virgin must be understood in consistence with his omnipresence, and immensity; and cannot design any local motion, but an effectual operation in forming the human nature of her flesh and substance; and not in the ordinary manner in which he is concerned in the formation of all men, Job 33:4 but in an extraordinary way, not to be conceived of, and explained. The phrase most plainly answers to , in frequent use with the Jews (x), as expressive of coition,
And the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee. By “the power of the Highest” is not meant the Lord Jesus Christ, who is sometimes called the power of God; but rather the Holy Ghost, as before, who is styled the finger of God, and power from on high, Luke 11:20 unless it should be thought that the perfection of divine power common to all the three persons is intended: and so points out the means by which the wondrous thing should be performed, even by the power of God; and which should not only be employed in forming the human nature of Christ, but in protecting the virgin from any suspicion and charge of sin, and defending her innocence and virtue, by moving upon Joseph to take her to wife. In the word, “overshadow”, some think there is an allusion to the Spirit of God moving upon the face of the waters, in Genesis 1:2 when, he brooded upon them, as the word may be rendered; and which is the sense of it, according to the Jewish writers (y) as a hen, or any other bird broods on its eggs to exclude its young: and others have thought the allusion may be to , (z), “the nuptial covering”: which was a veil, or canopy, like a tent, supported on four staves, under which the bridegroom and bride were betrothed; or, as Dr. Lightfoot thinks, it is a modest phrase alluding to the conjugal embraces, signified by a man’s spreading the skirt of his garment over the woman, which Ruth desired of Boaz, Ruth 3:9 though the Jewish writers say (a), that phrase is expressive of the act of marriage, or taking to wife. The phrase of being “overshadowed”, or “covered with the spirit of prophecy”, as the virgin also was, is used by the Targumist, on 1 Chronicles 2:55.
therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. The human nature of Christ is here called a “thing”; for it was not a person; it never subsisted of itself, but was taken at once into union with the person of the Son of God, otherwise there would be two persons in Christ, whereas he is God, and man, in one person; and it is said to be “holy”, being free from that original pollution and sin, in which all that descend from Adam, by ordinary generation, are conceived, and brought forth; and is, moreover, said to be born of a virgin, “of thee”, or “out of thee”. Christ’s flesh was formed out of the Virgin’s; he took flesh of her; his body did not descend from heaven, or pass through her, as water through a pipe, as some heretics of old said: nor did his human nature, either as to soul or body, pre-exist his incarnation; but in the fulness of time he was made of a woman, and took a true body of her, and a reasonable soul, into union with his divine person; and “therefore should be called the Son of God”: not that he was now to become the “the Son of God”; he was so before his incarnation, and even from all eternity; but he was now to be manifested as such in human nature: nor does the angel predict, that he should, for this reason, be called the Son of God; for he never was, on this account, so called, either by himself, or others: nor is the particle, “therefore”, causal, but consequential: the angel is not giving a reason why Christ should be the Son of God, but why he should be owned, and acknowledged, as such by his people: who would infer, and conclude from his wonderful conception and birth, that he is the “Emmanuel”, God with us, the child that was to be born, and the Son given, whose name should be Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, &c. Isaiah 7:14. Moreover, the word, “also”, is not to be overlooked; and the sense is, that seeing that human nature, which should be born of the virgin, would be united to the Son of God, it likewise should bear the same name, being in personal union with him, who was so from all eternity.”
12.) Act 2:24, “But God raised Him from the dead, putting an end
to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.”
Whom God hath raised up – This was the main point, in this part of his argument, which Peter wished to establish. He could not but admit that the Messiah had been in an ignominious manner put to death. But he now shows them that God had also raised him up; had thus given his attestation to his doctrine; and had sent down his Spirit according to the promise which the Lord Jesus made before his death.
Having loosed the pains of death – The word “loosed,” λύσας lusas, is opposed to bind, and is properly applied to a cord, or to anything which is bound. See Matthew 21:2; Mark 1:7. Hence, it means to free or to liberate, Luke 13:16; 1 Corinthians 7:27. It is used in this sense here; though the idea of untying or loosing a band is retained, because the word translated “pains” often means “a cord or band.”
The pains of death – ὠδῖνας τοῦ θάνατου ōdinas tou thanatou. The word translated “pains” denotes properly “the extreme sufferings of parturition, and then any severe or excruciating pangs.” Hence, it is applied also to death, as being a state of extreme suffering. A very frequent meaning of the Hebrew word of which this is the translation is cord or band. This, perhaps, was the original idea of the word; and the Hebrews expressed any extreme agony under the idea of bands or cords closely drawn, binding and constricting the limbs, and producing severe pain. Thus, death was represented under this image of a band that confined people, that pressed closely on them, that prevented escape, and produced severe suffering. For this use of the word חבל chebel, see Psalm 119:61; Isaiah 66:7; Jeremiah 22:23; Hosea 13:13. It is applied to death, Psalm 18:5, “The snares of death prevented me”; corresponding to the word “sorrows” in the previous part of the verse; Psalm 116:3, “The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell (Hades or Sheol, the cords or pains that were binding me down to the grave) gat held on me.”
We are not to infer from this that our Lord suffered anything after death. It means simply that he could not be held by the grave, but that God loosed the bonds which had held him there; that he now set him free who had been encompassed by these pains or bonds until they had brought him down to the grave. Pain, mighty pain, will encompass us all like the constrictions and bindings of a cord which we cannot loose, and will fasten our limbs and bodies in the grave. Those bands begin to be thrown around us in early life, and they are drawn closer and closer, until we lie panting under the stricture on a bed of pain, and then are still and immovable in the grave – subdued in a manner not a little resembling the mortal agonies of the tiger in the convolutions of the boa constrictor, or like Laocoon and his sons in the folds of the serpents from the Island of Tenedos.
It was not possible – This does not refer to any natural impossibility, or to any inherent efficacy or power in the body of Jesus itself, but simply means that “in the circumstances of the case such an event could not be.” Why it could not be he proceeds at once to show. It could not be consistently with the promises of the Scriptures. Jesus was the “Prince of life” Acts 3:15; he had life in himself John 1:4; John 5:26; he had power to lay down his life and to take it again Judges 10:18; and it was indispensable that he should rise. He came, also, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is, the devil Hebrews 2:14; and as it was his purpose to gain this victory, he could not be defeated in it by being confined to the grave.”
Just as the Scripture says, Rom 1:4, “who was declared the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
4. declared] Better, defined, marked out by sure signs. Same word as Hebrews 4:7 (“He limiteth a certain day”). His Resurrection shewed Him to be none other than the Son. The same Greek word is used in e.g. Acts 10:42; Acts 17:31; and rendered there “ordained;” perhaps rightly so. But obviously its meaning will slightly vary as connected with the Sonship or with the Judgeship of Christ. the Son of God] Cp. Acts 13:32-33, for a close parallel; one of the many between St Paul’s Discourses and Epistles. The Sonship of the Redeemer, the truth proclaimed at His baptism (Matthew 3:17), is enforced and illustrated through the N. T. In this Epistle see especially cch. Romans 5:10, Romans 8:3; Romans 8:29; Romans 8:32. with power] Lit. in power. Cp. 1 Corinthians 15:43. Power attended and characterized His Resurrection, both as cause and as effect. The practical reference here is to the fulness of the proof of the fact. The true Resurrection was not such as that imagined by e.g. Schleiermacher; the creeping forth of a half-slain Man from his grave. It was miracle and triumph. according to the Spirit of holiness] This phrase presents two questions: (1) what is “the Spirit of Holiness”? (2) what is meant by “according to”? We take them in order. A. “The Spirit of Holiness” must mean either the Holy Paraclete, or the sacred Human Spirit of Christ, or His Deity regarded as (what it is, John 4:24,) Spirit. The reference here seems to be to the Paraclete; for (1) in this Epistle He is very frequently referred to, in a way which makes an initial reference here highly probable; (2) the expression “Holy Spirit” is so closely akin to “Spirit of Holiness” that any reference of the words other than that to the Paraclete would need special evidence; and such evidence can hardly be found in St Paul. (See 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 9:14; for the nearest approaches to it in N. T.) B. The words “according to” may refer to the Paraclete, either (1) as the Agent in the Incarnation (Luke 1:35), or (2) as concerned in the Resurrection (see Romans 8:11 for a very partial parallel), or (3) as the Inspirer of the Prophets. Of these possibilities (1) is most unlikely, for the Sonship of Christ here in question is plainly the Eternal Sonship (see Romans 9:5), not that of the Incarnation; (2) accords better with Scripture usage; but (3) far more so, in view of the frequent mention of the Holy Spirit as the Inspirer. See Acts 20:23; 1 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 3:7; Hebrews 9:8; Hebrews 10:15, (and cp. 1 Peter 1:11); for places where “the Spirit” is evidently the Holy Spirit as the Author of Prophecy. The present passage will thus mean: “He was declared to be the Son of God, with power, (even as the Holy Ghost foretold,) in consequence of the resurrection.” by the resurrection] Lit. out of, from; i.e. in consequence, as a result, of. The same construction and meaning occur e.g. 2 Corinthians 13:4, where lit. “He was crucified out of weakness; He liveth out of the power of God; we shall live out of, &c.” The grand result of the resurrection here stated is that His prophesied character and dignity were, by the resurrection, made unmistakably clear.”
13.) Rev 20:6, “Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they
will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.”
Blessed – That is, his condition is to be regarded as a happy or a favored one. This is designed apparently to support and encourage those who, in the time of John, suffered persecution, or who might suffer persecution afterward.
And holy – That is, no one will be thus honored who has not an established character for holiness. Holy principles will then reign, and none will be exalted to that honor who have not a character for eminent sanctity.
That hath part in the first resurrection – That participated in it; that is, who is associated with those who are thus raised up.
On such the second death hath no power – The “second death” is properly the death which the wicked will experience in the world of woe. See Revelation 20:14. The meaning here is, that all who are here referred to as having part in the first resurrection will be secure against that. It will be one of the blessed privileges of heaven that there will be absolute security against death in any and every form; and when we think of what death is here, and still more when we think of “the bitter pains of the second death,” we may well call that state “blessed” in which there will be eternal exemption from either.
But they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him – notes at Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10.
Section b. – Condition of the world in the period referred to in Revelation 20:4-6.
I. It is well known that this passage is the principal one which is relied on by those who advocate the doctrine of the literal reign of Christ on the earth for a thousand years, or who hold what are called the doctrines of the “second advent.” The points which are maintained by those who advocate these views are substantially:
(a) that at that period Christ will descend from heaven to reign personally upon the earth;
(b) that he will have a central place of power and authority, probably Jerusalem;
(c) that the righteous dead will then be raised, in such bodies as are to be immortal;
(d) that they will be his attendants, and will participate with him in the government of the world;
(e) that this will continue during the period of a thousand years;
(f) that the world will be subdued and converted during this period, not by moral means, but by “a new dispensation” – by the power of the Son of God; and,
(g) that at the close of this period all the remaining dead will be raised, the judgment will take place, and the affairs of the earth will be consummated.
continued…”
14.) 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.”
Now the God of hope,…. This character is taken from the latter part of Romans 15:12, and is occasioned by it, “in him shall the Gentiles trust”, or “hope”; and is proper to God as he is the author and giver of this grace; for naturally men are without it; that which is a good hope is the gift of God, and through his grace, and is wrought in the heart in regeneration; for to this are the children of God begotten again. Moreover, God is the object of it; not wealth and riches, nor works of righteousness, but Jehovah, Father, Son, and Spirit, particularly Christ, is called the believer’s hope; that is, the object of it, in whom the Gentiles hope and trust. Likewise, it is God that encourages to the exercise of it by the proclamations of his grace, and mercy, and plenteous redemption; by the discoveries of his love, and views of interest in him; and by bringing to mind the past experiences of his goodness: he preserves and maintains this grace useful and lively, firm and steadfast, at least in being, which sometimes seems almost perished and gone; he increases it, and causes his people to abound in the exercise of it, and continues it even unto death. The Ethiopic version reads, “the God of our promises”, which are what hope has respect unto, and builds upon:
fill you with all joy and peace in believing. This is a petition to the God of hope. The apostle has recourse again to prayer, knowing that all his exhortations would be useless, without the grace of God accompanying them: and it is observable, that he prays for the same things mentioned in the above prophecies and promises, as joy, peace, and hope; for though God has promised ever so great things concerning his people, he will be inquired of by them to do them for them. One part of this petition is, that God would “fill them with all joy”; not with every kind of joy; not with worldly joy, or with the joy of hypocrites, who rejoice in sin, or in their own boastings, which is evil; but with spiritual joy, joy in God as a covenant God and Father; in Christ, in his person, righteousness, and salvation; and in the Holy Ghost, the author of it, whose fruit it is; and in the Gospel, doctrines, blessings, and promises of it; and in the view and hope of the heavenly glory, amidst various afflictions and tribulations: and it designs an abundance of it, even a fulness thereof; though the petition implies, that as yet it is not full; it is frequently interrupted and broke in upon by the corruption of nature, and falls into sin, by the temptations of Satan, through divine desertions, and various trials and exercises; yet it supposes it may be increased, as by the renewed discoveries of the love of God, of interest in Christ, and through the gracious influences of the Spirit; and even made full and complete, though not in this, yet in the other world: another branch of the petition is, that God would fill with “peace”, with a sense of their peace with him, made by the blood of Christ; with a conscience peace in their own breasts, arising from a view of their justification by the righteousness of Christ, and from the sprinklings of his blood upon them; and also with peace one among another, which was much wanting, and the apostle was very desirous of: and all this he asks, that it might come to them “in believing”; in the way of faith, and the exercise of that grace; for joy comes this way; faith and joy go together; where one is, the other is also; and as the one increases, so does the other; a believing view of interest in Christ is attended with joy unspeakable, and full of glory: and so peace comes in at the door of faith: there is no true peace till a soul is brought to believe in Christ; and that is promoted and increased by repeated acts of faith on Christ, or by a constant living by faith on him; see Isaiah 26:3. The end for which this petition is made is,
that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost. By hope is meant that grace which God is the author, object, and promoter of; and the Syriac version reads it, “in his hope”, or “the hope of him”; of enjoying him, of meeting with him, and having communion with him in his house and ordinances; of having fresh supplies of grace from him, and of being favoured with all the blessings of grace laid up in an everlasting covenant, and at last with eternal life and glory: to “abound” herein, is to be in the free and frequent exercise of this grace, being encouraged by the grace of God, and an enlarged experience of it, and supported by faith, the substance of things hoped for: and this “through the power of the Holy Ghost”; not by might or power of man, but by that same divine power which first began the good work, and must fulfil it; which at first implanted the grace of hope, and must perform the work of that, as of faith. The same power is requisite to cause grace to abound, or saints to abound in the exercise of it, as was to the first production of it. The Vulgate Latin reads, “that ye may abound in hope, and in the power of the Holy Ghost”; but there is no copulative in the Greek text.”
You can be blessed and holy if you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Will you do it now?
To receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior is to receive the eternal life.
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 refrerendum. America is ruined by dark and evil forces.
Heroes of all races who sacrified 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 sacrified their lives in the war against Japanese aggression and atrocities must always be honored and remembered. The Chinse 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 Japanse aggression and atrocities of killing 35 million innocent Chinese without remorse or reparations. UN overappointed unqualified blacks and media have given too much covergage 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 orphanes. 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 reognized 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, Hezebolla, 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. Ukranians 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, overappointed 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, voordoism.
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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