The Buddha said, "I teach one thing and one only: dukkha and the end of dukkha."
The Apostle Paul said, "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2 KJV)."
Monday, December 6, 2010
Saturday, December 4, 2010
How Dukkha Came Into the World - Bible's Version
The Bible tells us that "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth Genesis 1:1 NASB)." "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day (Genesis 1:31 KJV)."
It was very good. Everything were component/conditioned things but there was no dukkha.
Now in the middle of the Garden of Eden was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17). Now Man already had the knowledge of good because everything that God created was very good (Genesis 1:31), but he did not have the knowledge of dukkha. Now there was a great saleman in the Garden, who would persuade Man to know dukkha.
"Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, 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 of the tree 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 surely will not die! “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:1-5 NASB)"
It is true that God has the knowledge of good and evil, but because He is unborn 不生, unoriginated 不有(非緣起), uncreated 非造作, unformed (un-fabricated) 無爲(之維度), He is not affected by it. But Man, being a conditioned / component being, cannot handle dukkha without being affected. But the serpent packaged dukkha as something nice to have. It is a wonderful to have the knowledge of good and evil. The emphasis is now on "knowledge", a special knowledge that God has, but selfishly withheld from Man. So Man wanted the "knowledge" and through him, now all men have this "knowledge". When imperfection comes, perfection will go away. It is not possible to be perfect and imperfect at the same time. Life is now dukkha.
"Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned (Romans 5:12 NASB)." "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23 KJV)." "For the wages of sin is death; (Romans 6:23 KJV)"
Now that sin had entered the world (i.e. all the conditioned / component / created things), everything is dukkha. Nothing is perfect.
But God, the unborn 不生, unoriginated 不有(非緣起), uncreated 非造作, unformed (un-fabricated) 無爲(之維度), is the only Being that is able to save because He is the Unchanging One. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8 NASB)."
Every serious religion or philosophy is aware that salvation can only come outside time and space, from eternity. Even Buddha knew this:
"There is an un-born, un-become, un-made, un-fabricated. If there were not that un-born, un-become, un-made, un-fabricated, there would not be the case that emancipation from the born, become, made, fabricated would be discerned. But precisely because there is an un-born, un-become, un-made, un-fabricated, emancipation from the born, become, made, fabricated is discerned. (Udana VIII.3; Nibbana Sutta; ‘Total Unbinding’).
"比丘們，不生、不有(非緣起)、非造作、無爲(之維度)實有。若無不生、不有、非造作、無爲(之維度)，則不能辨知從生、有、造作、有爲的解脫。
然而，正因爲不生、不有、非造作、無爲(之維度)實有，才得以辨知從生、有、造作、有爲的解脫。(自說經) 8:3"
"For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:15 NLT)." "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23 KJV)."
How does God saves us? "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NASB)" Jesus, "who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, (Galatians 1:4 NASB)" "Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. (Philippians 2:6-8 NLT)" "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10 KJV)"
It was very good. Everything were component/conditioned things but there was no dukkha.
Now in the middle of the Garden of Eden was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17). Now Man already had the knowledge of good because everything that God created was very good (Genesis 1:31), but he did not have the knowledge of dukkha. Now there was a great saleman in the Garden, who would persuade Man to know dukkha.
"Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, 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 of the tree 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 surely will not die! “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:1-5 NASB)"
It is true that God has the knowledge of good and evil, but because He is unborn 不生, unoriginated 不有(非緣起), uncreated 非造作, unformed (un-fabricated) 無爲(之維度), He is not affected by it. But Man, being a conditioned / component being, cannot handle dukkha without being affected. But the serpent packaged dukkha as something nice to have. It is a wonderful to have the knowledge of good and evil. The emphasis is now on "knowledge", a special knowledge that God has, but selfishly withheld from Man. So Man wanted the "knowledge" and through him, now all men have this "knowledge". When imperfection comes, perfection will go away. It is not possible to be perfect and imperfect at the same time. Life is now dukkha.
"Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned (Romans 5:12 NASB)." "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23 KJV)." "For the wages of sin is death; (Romans 6:23 KJV)"
Now that sin had entered the world (i.e. all the conditioned / component / created things), everything is dukkha. Nothing is perfect.
But God, the unborn 不生, unoriginated 不有(非緣起), uncreated 非造作, unformed (un-fabricated) 無爲(之維度), is the only Being that is able to save because He is the Unchanging One. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8 NASB)."
Every serious religion or philosophy is aware that salvation can only come outside time and space, from eternity. Even Buddha knew this:
"There is an un-born, un-become, un-made, un-fabricated. If there were not that un-born, un-become, un-made, un-fabricated, there would not be the case that emancipation from the born, become, made, fabricated would be discerned. But precisely because there is an un-born, un-become, un-made, un-fabricated, emancipation from the born, become, made, fabricated is discerned. (Udana VIII.3; Nibbana Sutta; ‘Total Unbinding’).
"比丘們，不生、不有(非緣起)、非造作、無爲(之維度)實有。若無不生、不有、非造作、無爲(之維度)，則不能辨知從生、有、造作、有爲的解脫。
然而，正因爲不生、不有、非造作、無爲(之維度)實有，才得以辨知從生、有、造作、有爲的解脫。(自說經) 8:3"
"For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:15 NLT)." "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23 KJV)."
How does God saves us? "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NASB)" Jesus, "who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, (Galatians 1:4 NASB)" "Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. (Philippians 2:6-8 NLT)" "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10 KJV)"
Friday, December 3, 2010
Buddha's Four Noble Truth in the Light of the Bible
The primary teaching of Buddha is to address a problem that lies at the heart of human existence - suffering (dukkha 苦). "Life is dukkha." Buddha seeked to answer this question, "Why does dukkha exist?"
The answer Buddha gave was the Four Noble Truths (四諦). The First Noble Truth is the axiom (a self-evident truth that requires no proof) that Buddha expect you to accept without question - dukkha exists. The Second Noble Truth reveals the cause of dukkha - tanha (thirst/cravings/desire/集). The Third Noble Truth prescribes the cure - nirvana (cessation 滅). The Fourth Noble Truth tells you how to achieve nirvana - by following the eight-fold paths (道).
Dukkha is self-evident. The Apostle Paul wrote, "For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now (Romans 8:22 NASB)." But is the cause of dukkha tanha (craving)? Is tanha the cause of dukkha or did dukkha cause tanha to become bad? A desire (tanha) can be good. The Bible tells us that there are good things to be desired. "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things (Philippians 4:8 NASB)." But the problem is that we do not always do what is good. In fact, we like to do what is bad. "For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. (Romans 7:15 NASB) but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. (Romans 7:23 NASB)" So is it sin that cause dukkha and bad tanha? Let us now look at the alternative cause of dukkha as presented in the Bible.
The Bible explicitly tells us that suffering is caused by God's curse on the whole creation because of Man's sin of disobedience. "Then to Adam He said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; and you will eat the plants of the field; by the sweat of your face you will eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return." (Genesis 3:17-19 NASB)" and "Against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse. (Romans 8:20 NLT)" So dukkha is caused by sin.
Sin has a moral and judicial dimension. All who sinned must be punished. "For the wages of sin is death, (Romans 6:23 NASB)" All human beings since Adam had died. This is the effect of sin. But the same God also provide for the deliverance from sin, death and dukkha. So how does God reconcile mercy with justice?
God does so by taking the punishment of sin on our behalf. Apostle Paul wrote, "I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. (1 Corinthians 15:3-6 NLT)" "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)" Sin cause dukkha and death for all men, "but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 NASB)"
While the First Noble Truth may be a self-evident fact, the Bible disagrees with Buddha on the Second Noble Truth and the cause of dukkha. Dukkha is not caused by desire or craving, but by sin. The different analysis lead to different solutions. Is this different path to the same goal? No. The goal is different. The assumption behind the solution is different. If one is true, the other must be false.
The answer Buddha gave was the Four Noble Truths (四諦). The First Noble Truth is the axiom (a self-evident truth that requires no proof) that Buddha expect you to accept without question - dukkha exists. The Second Noble Truth reveals the cause of dukkha - tanha (thirst/cravings/desire/集). The Third Noble Truth prescribes the cure - nirvana (cessation 滅). The Fourth Noble Truth tells you how to achieve nirvana - by following the eight-fold paths (道).
Dukkha is self-evident. The Apostle Paul wrote, "For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now (Romans 8:22 NASB)." But is the cause of dukkha tanha (craving)? Is tanha the cause of dukkha or did dukkha cause tanha to become bad? A desire (tanha) can be good. The Bible tells us that there are good things to be desired. "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things (Philippians 4:8 NASB)." But the problem is that we do not always do what is good. In fact, we like to do what is bad. "For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. (Romans 7:15 NASB) but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. (Romans 7:23 NASB)" So is it sin that cause dukkha and bad tanha? Let us now look at the alternative cause of dukkha as presented in the Bible.
The Bible explicitly tells us that suffering is caused by God's curse on the whole creation because of Man's sin of disobedience. "Then to Adam He said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; and you will eat the plants of the field; by the sweat of your face you will eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return." (Genesis 3:17-19 NASB)" and "Against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse. (Romans 8:20 NLT)" So dukkha is caused by sin.
Sin has a moral and judicial dimension. All who sinned must be punished. "For the wages of sin is death, (Romans 6:23 NASB)" All human beings since Adam had died. This is the effect of sin. But the same God also provide for the deliverance from sin, death and dukkha. So how does God reconcile mercy with justice?
God does so by taking the punishment of sin on our behalf. Apostle Paul wrote, "I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. (1 Corinthians 15:3-6 NLT)" "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)" Sin cause dukkha and death for all men, "but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 NASB)"
While the First Noble Truth may be a self-evident fact, the Bible disagrees with Buddha on the Second Noble Truth and the cause of dukkha. Dukkha is not caused by desire or craving, but by sin. The different analysis lead to different solutions. Is this different path to the same goal? No. The goal is different. The assumption behind the solution is different. If one is true, the other must be false.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Tangible things, Invisible God
God is glorified when we trust Him.
We first trust Him for our salvation. This gives us the certainty of we will go after our death.
"For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. (2 Timothy 1:12 KJV)"
Then we trust Him to keep us from the moment of our belief till our death.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 KJV)"
We usually have very little problem with our salvation. Death seem so far away to both young and old, and nobody knows what happen next. For anything after death, you have no choice but to believe. So we say we believe.
We have a lot of problem with our daily life with God, because things are tangible and God is invisible. Tangible things means tangible choices. It becomes very difficult to trust the invisible God with tangible things. We have choices now. Faith in God becomes very difficult. Now we cannot just say we believe. We have to live it. We have to do it. We have to bear the consequences.
It is in our daily walk that we glorify God. We dare to trust our tangible things to an invisble God.
We first trust Him for our salvation. This gives us the certainty of we will go after our death.
"For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. (2 Timothy 1:12 KJV)"
Then we trust Him to keep us from the moment of our belief till our death.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 KJV)"
We usually have very little problem with our salvation. Death seem so far away to both young and old, and nobody knows what happen next. For anything after death, you have no choice but to believe. So we say we believe.
We have a lot of problem with our daily life with God, because things are tangible and God is invisible. Tangible things means tangible choices. It becomes very difficult to trust the invisible God with tangible things. We have choices now. Faith in God becomes very difficult. Now we cannot just say we believe. We have to live it. We have to do it. We have to bear the consequences.
It is in our daily walk that we glorify God. We dare to trust our tangible things to an invisble God.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
God's Mercies Confuses Sinners and Christians
Everybody thinks that God ought to be like Justice Pao (包青天), rewarding the good and punishing the evil. This is because that everybody thinks that he is good and his neighbour evil. But "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23 KJV)". And God, being merciful and patient, "maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust (Matthew 5:45 KJV)". "If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. (Psalm 130:3-4 KJV)"
Now that confuses sinners and Christians, especially those who hardly read God's Word. Sinners find that bad may be rewarded and good punished. Christians find that prayers according to God's will are not always answered because our "iniquities have separated between you and your God (Isaiah 59:2 KJV)," but God, who is "kind unto the unthankful and to the evil (Luke 6:35 KJV)", will sometimes answer our prayers, even though we do not fully confess and repent of our sins.
"The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. (Isaiah 57:1 KJV)"
Then all the women present and all the men who knew that their wives had burned incense to idols—a great crowd of all the Judeans living in northern Egypt and southern Egypt—answered Jeremiah, "We will not listen to your messages from the Lord! We will do whatever we want. We will burn incense and pour out liquid offerings to the Queen of Heaven just as much as we like—just as we, and our ancestors, and our kings and officials have always done in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For in those days we had plenty to eat, and we were well off and had no troubles! But ever since we quit burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and stopped worshiping her with liquid offerings, we have been in great trouble and have been dying from war and famine."
"Besides," the women added, "do you suppose that we were burning incense and pouring out liquid offerings to the Queen of Heaven, and making cakes marked with her image, without our husbands knowing it and helping us? Of course not!"
Jeremiah 44:15-19 NLT
Now that confuses sinners and Christians, especially those who hardly read God's Word. Sinners find that bad may be rewarded and good punished. Christians find that prayers according to God's will are not always answered because our "iniquities have separated between you and your God (Isaiah 59:2 KJV)," but God, who is "kind unto the unthankful and to the evil (Luke 6:35 KJV)", will sometimes answer our prayers, even though we do not fully confess and repent of our sins.
"The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. (Isaiah 57:1 KJV)"
Then all the women present and all the men who knew that their wives had burned incense to idols—a great crowd of all the Judeans living in northern Egypt and southern Egypt—answered Jeremiah, "We will not listen to your messages from the Lord! We will do whatever we want. We will burn incense and pour out liquid offerings to the Queen of Heaven just as much as we like—just as we, and our ancestors, and our kings and officials have always done in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For in those days we had plenty to eat, and we were well off and had no troubles! But ever since we quit burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and stopped worshiping her with liquid offerings, we have been in great trouble and have been dying from war and famine."
"Besides," the women added, "do you suppose that we were burning incense and pouring out liquid offerings to the Queen of Heaven, and making cakes marked with her image, without our husbands knowing it and helping us? Of course not!"
Jeremiah 44:15-19 NLT
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Eid al-Adha (Hari Raya Haji)
Today is Eid al-Adha or Hari Raya Haji in Malay. Eid al-Adha is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God before God intervened to provide him with a ram to sacrifice instead. We can find this event recorded in the Bible in Genesis 22:1-14.
Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you." So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance. Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you." Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." And he said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together.
Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, "In the mount of the LORD it will be provided." (Genesis 22:9-14 NASB)
God had called Abraham to embark on a three day journey (Genesis 22:4) to Mount Moriah to sacrifice his son. For three days, Abraham had reckoned his son Isaac as dead. Likewise, our Lord Jesus was dead for three days before He was resurrected on the third day.
It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, "Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted." Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead. (Hebrews 11:17-19 NLT)
Sometimes we expect God to perform miracles as in this case, when Abraham was thinking that God will resurrect Isaac. Instead, God provided a ram.
The following commentary on Genesis 22 is taken from Matthew Henry:
It was not God's intention that Isaac should actually be sacrificed, yet nobler blood than that of animals, in due time, was to be shed for sin, even the blood of the only begotten Son of God. But in the mean while God would not in any case have human sacrifices used. Another sacrifice is provided. Reference must be had to the promised Messiah, the blessed Seed. Christ was sacrificed in our stead, as this ram instead of Isaac, and his death was our discharge. And observe, that the temple, the place of sacrifice, was afterwards built upon this same mount Moriah; and Calvary, where Christ was crucified, was near. A new name was given to that place, for the encouragement of all believers, to the end of the world, cheerfully to trust in God, and obey him. Jehovah-jireh, the Lord will provide; probably alluding to what Abraham had said, God will provide himself a lamb. The Lord will always have his eye upon his people, in their straits and distresses, that he may give them seasonable help. (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 22:11-14)
For completeness, let us also have a version of the events from the Koran recorded in Surat Aş-Şāffāt (Those who set the Ranks) 37:99-109:
099 He said: "I will go to my Lord! He will surely guide me!
100 "O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)!"
101 So We gave him the good news of a boy ready to suffer and forbear.
102 Then, when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: "O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: Now see what is thy view!" (The son) said: "O my father! Do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, if Allah so wills one practising Patience and Constancy!"
103 So when they had both submitted their wills (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice),
104 We called out to him "O Abraham!
105 "Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!" - thus indeed do We reward those who do right.
106 For this was obviously a trial-
107 And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice:
108 And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times:
109 "Peace and salutation to Abraham!"
Surah 37:99-109 Yusuf Ali Translation
Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you." So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance. Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you." Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." And he said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together.
Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, "In the mount of the LORD it will be provided." (Genesis 22:9-14 NASB)
God had called Abraham to embark on a three day journey (Genesis 22:4) to Mount Moriah to sacrifice his son. For three days, Abraham had reckoned his son Isaac as dead. Likewise, our Lord Jesus was dead for three days before He was resurrected on the third day.
It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, "Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted." Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead. (Hebrews 11:17-19 NLT)
Sometimes we expect God to perform miracles as in this case, when Abraham was thinking that God will resurrect Isaac. Instead, God provided a ram.
The following commentary on Genesis 22 is taken from Matthew Henry:
It was not God's intention that Isaac should actually be sacrificed, yet nobler blood than that of animals, in due time, was to be shed for sin, even the blood of the only begotten Son of God. But in the mean while God would not in any case have human sacrifices used. Another sacrifice is provided. Reference must be had to the promised Messiah, the blessed Seed. Christ was sacrificed in our stead, as this ram instead of Isaac, and his death was our discharge. And observe, that the temple, the place of sacrifice, was afterwards built upon this same mount Moriah; and Calvary, where Christ was crucified, was near. A new name was given to that place, for the encouragement of all believers, to the end of the world, cheerfully to trust in God, and obey him. Jehovah-jireh, the Lord will provide; probably alluding to what Abraham had said, God will provide himself a lamb. The Lord will always have his eye upon his people, in their straits and distresses, that he may give them seasonable help. (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 22:11-14)
For completeness, let us also have a version of the events from the Koran recorded in Surat Aş-Şāffāt (Those who set the Ranks) 37:99-109:
099 He said: "I will go to my Lord! He will surely guide me!
100 "O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)!"
101 So We gave him the good news of a boy ready to suffer and forbear.
102 Then, when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: "O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: Now see what is thy view!" (The son) said: "O my father! Do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, if Allah so wills one practising Patience and Constancy!"
103 So when they had both submitted their wills (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice),
104 We called out to him "O Abraham!
105 "Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!" - thus indeed do We reward those who do right.
106 For this was obviously a trial-
107 And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice:
108 And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times:
109 "Peace and salutation to Abraham!"
Surah 37:99-109 Yusuf Ali Translation
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Glory of God in His Providence
And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever (Exodus 14:13 KJV).
The purpose of our life is to see the glory of God in the wonderful salvation He has ordained / provided for us. We see how God provide for us in unexpected ways. We can prove that all things work for our good (Romans 8:28) and glorify God.
When Abraham was called upon to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22), Abraham had faith that Isaac will be sacrificed but will not die (Hebrews 11:19). But Abraham had no idea how that could be done. He was probably expecting a miracle. God provided a ram to replace Isaac, signifying the greater provision that He will made by providing Christ as our substitute.
The Anthropic Principle says that the universe exist so that we can observe it. "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. Romans 1:20 NASB" We observe the universe and see the Glory of God in its design. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Psalm 19:1 KJV"
We also can observe God's work in our own life and see God's wonderful provision for us. We exist to glorify God (Isaiah 43:7, Isaiah 43:21, Ephesians 1:5-6).
The purpose of our life is to see the glory of God in the wonderful salvation He has ordained / provided for us. We see how God provide for us in unexpected ways. We can prove that all things work for our good (Romans 8:28) and glorify God.
When Abraham was called upon to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22), Abraham had faith that Isaac will be sacrificed but will not die (Hebrews 11:19). But Abraham had no idea how that could be done. He was probably expecting a miracle. God provided a ram to replace Isaac, signifying the greater provision that He will made by providing Christ as our substitute.
The Anthropic Principle says that the universe exist so that we can observe it. "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. Romans 1:20 NASB" We observe the universe and see the Glory of God in its design. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Psalm 19:1 KJV"
We also can observe God's work in our own life and see God's wonderful provision for us. We exist to glorify God (Isaiah 43:7, Isaiah 43:21, Ephesians 1:5-6).
Friday, November 12, 2010
Sun Yat Sen 孫中山 and John Sung 宋尚節
Today is the birthday of Sun Yat Sen (孫中山).
Sun Yat-sen (12 November 1866 – 12 March 1925) was a Chinese revolutionary and political leader. He became a Christian wanted to revolutionise China. Instead of using the Gospel to transform the Chinese, he came up with his idea of revolution on based on the Three Principles (三民主義): Nationalism (民族主義), Democracy (民權主義), and People's Livelihood (民生主義). He came up with a constitution with five separate branches: the executive, legislative, judicial, the censorate, and the civil service system. The first three branches were like that of the American Constituion. The latter two were traditional branches of the Chinese government and functioned as a check on the first three. His political party, which eventually became Kuomintang (KMT 国民党), ruled China after the successful Northern Expedition (北伐) in 1928. After that, Kuomintang declined and eventually retreated to Taiwan. In 2004, it lost the presidential election to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). China was not transformed, but became Communist in 1949.
John Sung (29 September 1901 – 18 August 1944) one of the most fruitful servants of God in the 20th century. John Sung did not come out with any revolutionary ideas to transform China. He just preached the Gospel. He started his ministry when he was 28 and it went on until his death just a month before his 43rd birthday. In his 15 years of ministry, there were 100,000 recorded conversions and millions of others revived through his ministry. He used to preach three times a day and one sermon could go on for 2 hours. John Sung’s messages were focused on the need for repentance and he preached against sin. He took the issue of sin very seriously and often invited his audience to repent to a list of specific sins that he read out. He spoke out against sin and hypocrisy, even at the ministers and pastoral staffs who were with him at the meetings.
When the Communists took over in 1949, there were roughly 800,000 Protestant Christians in China. In 1954, the Three Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM 中国基督教三自爱国运动委员会) was formed as the official church in China. Christians abandon the TSPM and establish house churches (家庭教會、地下教會、地下天國). During the decade from 1966 to 1976, Christians in China were persecuted by the Red Guards. By 1977 an open door policy pursued by Deng Xiao-ping. Since then, Protestant churches, with or without buildings, have been opening or re-opening. The number of Christians have risen to a total estimated at anywhere between 50 to 100 million.
Today, many of the house church Christians could some how trace their spiritual lineage back to John Sung. China is transformed by the simple Gospel, which change the lives of individual Chinese. The grand ideas of Communism and Sun's Three Principles which focused on society and politics could not change the hearts of the individual. It only serves to glorify those who espouse the ideologies.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. The world cannot be changed by social revolutions and men's ideologies. It can only be changed one by one, individually, by the Good News (Gospel) of Jesus Christ, to the Glory of God.
Sun Yat-sen (12 November 1866 – 12 March 1925) was a Chinese revolutionary and political leader. He became a Christian wanted to revolutionise China. Instead of using the Gospel to transform the Chinese, he came up with his idea of revolution on based on the Three Principles (三民主義): Nationalism (民族主義), Democracy (民權主義), and People's Livelihood (民生主義). He came up with a constitution with five separate branches: the executive, legislative, judicial, the censorate, and the civil service system. The first three branches were like that of the American Constituion. The latter two were traditional branches of the Chinese government and functioned as a check on the first three. His political party, which eventually became Kuomintang (KMT 国民党), ruled China after the successful Northern Expedition (北伐) in 1928. After that, Kuomintang declined and eventually retreated to Taiwan. In 2004, it lost the presidential election to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). China was not transformed, but became Communist in 1949.
John Sung (29 September 1901 – 18 August 1944) one of the most fruitful servants of God in the 20th century. John Sung did not come out with any revolutionary ideas to transform China. He just preached the Gospel. He started his ministry when he was 28 and it went on until his death just a month before his 43rd birthday. In his 15 years of ministry, there were 100,000 recorded conversions and millions of others revived through his ministry. He used to preach three times a day and one sermon could go on for 2 hours. John Sung’s messages were focused on the need for repentance and he preached against sin. He took the issue of sin very seriously and often invited his audience to repent to a list of specific sins that he read out. He spoke out against sin and hypocrisy, even at the ministers and pastoral staffs who were with him at the meetings.
When the Communists took over in 1949, there were roughly 800,000 Protestant Christians in China. In 1954, the Three Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM 中国基督教三自爱国运动委员会) was formed as the official church in China. Christians abandon the TSPM and establish house churches (家庭教會、地下教會、地下天國). During the decade from 1966 to 1976, Christians in China were persecuted by the Red Guards. By 1977 an open door policy pursued by Deng Xiao-ping. Since then, Protestant churches, with or without buildings, have been opening or re-opening. The number of Christians have risen to a total estimated at anywhere between 50 to 100 million.
Today, many of the house church Christians could some how trace their spiritual lineage back to John Sung. China is transformed by the simple Gospel, which change the lives of individual Chinese. The grand ideas of Communism and Sun's Three Principles which focused on society and politics could not change the hearts of the individual. It only serves to glorify those who espouse the ideologies.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. The world cannot be changed by social revolutions and men's ideologies. It can only be changed one by one, individually, by the Good News (Gospel) of Jesus Christ, to the Glory of God.
Friday, November 5, 2010
God eye view
Long ago, it is impossible for one to know how he looked like. If you live near a lake or river, the reflection in the water is the best self-image you can get. Later, men invented the bronze mirror. You now get a better self-image. Then the glass mirror is invented. You can see yourself clearly, but only as a mirror image. With the invention of photography, now we can see ourselves truly in the way others view us. Finally, with digital video, we can see ourselves in motion.
But long ago, God provide us a self-view of our spiritual self through the Bible. It shows us through God's point of view - sinners in dire need of salvation. Sadly, until today, people still refused to themselves as God see them.
But long ago, God provide us a self-view of our spiritual self through the Bible. It shows us through God's point of view - sinners in dire need of salvation. Sadly, until today, people still refused to themselves as God see them.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Dialog on God's Glory
God said, "I am not interested in anything except My own glory."
Man said, "You is so selfish."
The chicken said to Man, "Man, you are so selfish. You eat me."
Man said, "I am a vegetarian."
The tree said to Man, "Man, you are so selfish. You make me into houses and furniture."
Man said, "I lived in stone houses and my furniture is made of plastic."
The ground said to Man, "Man, you are so selfish. You clear the forest and killed many animals and plants to build your house and dig your oil to make plastics."
Man said, "I have to survive. Mother Nature allows me to do so."
God said, "Man, for your survival, you destroy those that you did not create and yet you are not selfish. I, the creator of all these, just asked for that which is due to me, but you consider me selfish?"
Man said, "You is so selfish."
The chicken said to Man, "Man, you are so selfish. You eat me."
Man said, "I am a vegetarian."
The tree said to Man, "Man, you are so selfish. You make me into houses and furniture."
Man said, "I lived in stone houses and my furniture is made of plastic."
The ground said to Man, "Man, you are so selfish. You clear the forest and killed many animals and plants to build your house and dig your oil to make plastics."
Man said, "I have to survive. Mother Nature allows me to do so."
God said, "Man, for your survival, you destroy those that you did not create and yet you are not selfish. I, the creator of all these, just asked for that which is due to me, but you consider me selfish?"
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
The Kingdom of God And Government of Men
Christians are citizens of the Kingdom of God. We owe our God our highest allegiance. We have to obey the government because "every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God (Romans 13:1 KJV)." and "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. (1 Peter 2:13-14 KJV)" For governments are ordained by God to maintain justice and peace. However, if government ordinances contradict God's Word, "We ought to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29 KJV)."
An analogy can be made with our body. Although we are born again, we retain our fleshly body. We still obey our body's desire. For example, when our body tells us that we are hungry, we eat. However, if we become gluttons, then we have sinned and have to repent.
An analogy can be made with our body. Although we are born again, we retain our fleshly body. We still obey our body's desire. For example, when our body tells us that we are hungry, we eat. However, if we become gluttons, then we have sinned and have to repent.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
τέλειος - complete, perfect, mature
"but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. (1 Corinthians 13:10 NASB)"
等那完全的来到，这有限的必归於无有了。
ὅταν δὲ ἔλθῃ τὸ τέλειον, τὸ ἐκ μέρους καταργηθήσεται.
What is perfect?
Matthew 5:48
“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 19:21
Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Romans 12:2
καὶ μὴ συσχηματίζεσθε τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ, ἀλλὰ μεταμορφοῦσθε τῇ ἀνακαινώσει τοῦ νοός εἰς τὸ δοκιμάζειν ὑμᾶς τί τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ, τὸ ἀγαθὸν καὶ εὐάρεστον καὶ τέλειον.
1 Corinthians 2:6
Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away;
1 Corinthians 13:10
but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
1 Corinthians 14:20
Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be babes, but in your thinking be mature.
Ephesians 4:13
μέχρι καταντήσωμεν οἱ πάντες εἰς τὴν ἑνότητα τῆς πίστεως καὶ τῆς ἐπιγνώσεως τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ, εἰς ἄνδρα τέλειον, εἰς μέτρον ἡλικίας τοῦ πληρώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ,
Philippians 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;
Colossians 1:28
And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ.
Colossians 4:12
Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.
Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Hebrews 9:11
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation;
James 1:4
And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:17
Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.
James 1:25
But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does.
James 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 bridle the whole body as well.
1John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
等那完全的来到，这有限的必归於无有了。
ὅταν δὲ ἔλθῃ τὸ τέλειον, τὸ ἐκ μέρους καταργηθήσεται.
What is perfect?
Matthew 5:48
“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 19:21
Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Romans 12:2
καὶ μὴ συσχηματίζεσθε τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ, ἀλλὰ μεταμορφοῦσθε τῇ ἀνακαινώσει τοῦ νοός εἰς τὸ δοκιμάζειν ὑμᾶς τί τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ, τὸ ἀγαθὸν καὶ εὐάρεστον καὶ τέλειον.
1 Corinthians 2:6
Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away;
1 Corinthians 13:10
but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
1 Corinthians 14:20
Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be babes, but in your thinking be mature.
Ephesians 4:13
μέχρι καταντήσωμεν οἱ πάντες εἰς τὴν ἑνότητα τῆς πίστεως καὶ τῆς ἐπιγνώσεως τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ, εἰς ἄνδρα τέλειον, εἰς μέτρον ἡλικίας τοῦ πληρώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ,
Philippians 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;
Colossians 1:28
And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ.
Colossians 4:12
Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.
Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Hebrews 9:11
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation;
James 1:4
And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:17
Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.
James 1:25
But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does.
James 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 bridle the whole body as well.
1John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Resurrection - Proof of Christ's Divinity
Romans 1:4
and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. (New Living Translation)
and patently marked out as the Son of God by the power of that Spirit of holiness which raised him to life again from the dead. He is our Lord, Jesus Christ (Phillips New Testament in Modern English)
who is marked out Son of God in power, according to the Spirit of sanctification, by the rising again from the dead,) Jesus Christ our Lord; (Young's Literal Translation)
按圣善的灵说，因从死里复活，以大能显明是神的儿子。
and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. (New Living Translation)
and patently marked out as the Son of God by the power of that Spirit of holiness which raised him to life again from the dead. He is our Lord, Jesus Christ (Phillips New Testament in Modern English)
who is marked out Son of God in power, according to the Spirit of sanctification, by the rising again from the dead,) Jesus Christ our Lord; (Young's Literal Translation)
按圣善的灵说，因从死里复活，以大能显明是神的儿子。
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Two Agnostics
The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one (Psalm 14:2-3 NASB).
Buddha and Confucius are two agnostics who developed some methodology to seek certain truth. They did not use these methodology to seek God (see Psalm 14:2-3, above). Buddha taught Eight-fold path 八正道 to achieve human perfection. Confucius taught Eight Items 八目 to achieve world peace.
八目
Investigation of things 格物、Extend knowledge 致知、诚意、正心、修身、齐家、治国、平天下
Eight-fold path 八正道
Wisdom
Right View 正見, Right Intention 正思惟
Ethical Conduct
Right Speech 正語, Right Action 正業, Right Livelihood 正命
Mental Development
Right Effort 正精進, Right Mindfulness 正念, Right Concentration 正定
Buddha and Confucius are two agnostics who developed some methodology to seek certain truth. They did not use these methodology to seek God (see Psalm 14:2-3, above). Buddha taught Eight-fold path 八正道 to achieve human perfection. Confucius taught Eight Items 八目 to achieve world peace.
八目
Investigation of things 格物、Extend knowledge 致知、诚意、正心、修身、齐家、治国、平天下
Eight-fold path 八正道
Wisdom
Right View 正見, Right Intention 正思惟
Ethical Conduct
Right Speech 正語, Right Action 正業, Right Livelihood 正命
Mental Development
Right Effort 正精進, Right Mindfulness 正念, Right Concentration 正定
Friday, October 1, 2010
The Last Judgement
Matthew 25:31-33 (NASB)
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. “All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
Matthew 25:34-40 (NASB)
“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 a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
Matthew 25:41-46 (NASB)
“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, 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 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 to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Ephesians 2:8-10 (KJV)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. “All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
Matthew 25:34-40 (NASB)
“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 a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
Matthew 25:41-46 (NASB)
“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, 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 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 to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Ephesians 2:8-10 (KJV)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Difference between Saul and David
Their sins
Saul did not kill all that God asked him to:
Then Saul slaughtered the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, east of Egypt. He captured Agag, the Amalekite king, but completely destroyed everyone else. Saul and his men spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs — everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality. (1 Samuel 15:7-9 NLT)
David commited adultery and murder:
Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, "She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite." Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home. Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message, saying, "I'm pregnant." (2 Samuel 11:2-5 NLT)
Some of the king's men were killed, including Uriah the Hittite. (2 Samuel 11:24 NLT)
Their reaction when confronted by the prophets:
Saul was interested in looking good before the people.
Then Saul pleaded again, "I know I have sinned. But please, at least honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel by coming back with me so that I may worship the LORD your God." (1 Samuel 15:30 NLT)
David publicly confessed his sins:
Then David confessed to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." (2 Samuel 12:13 NLT)
God's response:
God rejected Saul but built a house for David.
Saul did not kill all that God asked him to:
Then Saul slaughtered the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, east of Egypt. He captured Agag, the Amalekite king, but completely destroyed everyone else. Saul and his men spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs — everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality. (1 Samuel 15:7-9 NLT)
David commited adultery and murder:
Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, "She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite." Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home. Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message, saying, "I'm pregnant." (2 Samuel 11:2-5 NLT)
Some of the king's men were killed, including Uriah the Hittite. (2 Samuel 11:24 NLT)
Their reaction when confronted by the prophets:
Saul was interested in looking good before the people.
Then Saul pleaded again, "I know I have sinned. But please, at least honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel by coming back with me so that I may worship the LORD your God." (1 Samuel 15:30 NLT)
David publicly confessed his sins:
Then David confessed to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." (2 Samuel 12:13 NLT)
God's response:
God rejected Saul but built a house for David.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Buddhist Endpoint - Nirvana / Nibbana
I found this website that write about nirvana:
QUOTE
The death of a Buddha, the great Parinirvana, is neither destruction nor death, else would it be birth and continuation. If it were destruction, it would be an effect-producing deed, which it is not. Neither is it a vanishing nor an abandonment, neither is it attainment, nor is it of no attainment; neither is it of one significance nor of no significance, for there is no Nirvana for the Buddhas.
The Tathagata's Nirvana is where it is recognised that there is nothing but what is seen of the mind itself; is where, recognising the nature of the self-mind, one no longer cherishes the dualisms of discrimination; is where there is no more thirst nor grasping; is where there is no more attachment to external things. Nirvana is where the thinking-mind with all its discriminations, attachments, aversions and egoism is forever put away; is where logical measures, as they are seen to be inert, are no longer seized upon; is where even the notion of truth is treated with indifference because of its causing bewilderment; is where, getting rid of the four propositions, there is insight into the abode of Reality. Nirvana is where the twofold passions have subsided and the twofold hindrances are cleared away and the twofold egolessness is patiently accepted; is where, by the attainment of the "turning-about" in the deepest seat of consciousness, self-realisation of Noble Wisdom is fully entered into,--that is the Nirvana of the Tathagatas.
Nirvana is where the Bodhisattva stages are passed one after another; is where the sustaining power of the Buddhas upholds the Bodhisattvas in the bliss of the Samadhis; is where compassion for others transcends all thoughts of self; is where the Tathagata stage is finally realised.
Nirvana is the realm of Dharmata-Buddha; it is where the manifestation of Noble Wisdom that is Buddhahood expresses itself in Perfect Love for all; it is where the manifestation of Perfect Love that is Tathagatahood expresses itself in Noble Wisdom for the enlightenment of all;--there, indeed, is Nirvana!
There are two classes of those who may not enter the Nirvana of the Tathagatas: there are those who have abandoned the Bodhisattva ideals, saying, they are not in conformity with the sutras, the codes of morality, nor with emancipation. Then there are the true Bodhisattvas who, on account of their original vows made for the sake of all beings, saying, "So long as they do not attain Nirvana, I will not attain it myself," voluntarily keep themselves out of Nirvana. But no beings are left outside by the will of the Tathagatas; some day each and every one will be influenced by the wisdom and love of the Tathagatas of Transformation to lay up a stock of merit and ascend the stages. But, if they only realised it, they are already in the Tathagata's Nirvana for, in Noble Wisdom, all things are in Nirvana from the beginning.
UNQUOTE
QUOTE
The death of a Buddha, the great Parinirvana, is neither destruction nor death, else would it be birth and continuation. If it were destruction, it would be an effect-producing deed, which it is not. Neither is it a vanishing nor an abandonment, neither is it attainment, nor is it of no attainment; neither is it of one significance nor of no significance, for there is no Nirvana for the Buddhas.
The Tathagata's Nirvana is where it is recognised that there is nothing but what is seen of the mind itself; is where, recognising the nature of the self-mind, one no longer cherishes the dualisms of discrimination; is where there is no more thirst nor grasping; is where there is no more attachment to external things. Nirvana is where the thinking-mind with all its discriminations, attachments, aversions and egoism is forever put away; is where logical measures, as they are seen to be inert, are no longer seized upon; is where even the notion of truth is treated with indifference because of its causing bewilderment; is where, getting rid of the four propositions, there is insight into the abode of Reality. Nirvana is where the twofold passions have subsided and the twofold hindrances are cleared away and the twofold egolessness is patiently accepted; is where, by the attainment of the "turning-about" in the deepest seat of consciousness, self-realisation of Noble Wisdom is fully entered into,--that is the Nirvana of the Tathagatas.
Nirvana is where the Bodhisattva stages are passed one after another; is where the sustaining power of the Buddhas upholds the Bodhisattvas in the bliss of the Samadhis; is where compassion for others transcends all thoughts of self; is where the Tathagata stage is finally realised.
Nirvana is the realm of Dharmata-Buddha; it is where the manifestation of Noble Wisdom that is Buddhahood expresses itself in Perfect Love for all; it is where the manifestation of Perfect Love that is Tathagatahood expresses itself in Noble Wisdom for the enlightenment of all;--there, indeed, is Nirvana!
There are two classes of those who may not enter the Nirvana of the Tathagatas: there are those who have abandoned the Bodhisattva ideals, saying, they are not in conformity with the sutras, the codes of morality, nor with emancipation. Then there are the true Bodhisattvas who, on account of their original vows made for the sake of all beings, saying, "So long as they do not attain Nirvana, I will not attain it myself," voluntarily keep themselves out of Nirvana. But no beings are left outside by the will of the Tathagatas; some day each and every one will be influenced by the wisdom and love of the Tathagatas of Transformation to lay up a stock of merit and ascend the stages. But, if they only realised it, they are already in the Tathagata's Nirvana for, in Noble Wisdom, all things are in Nirvana from the beginning.
UNQUOTE
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
The Agnostic's Guide to True Religion
There may seem to be many religions and gods, but your fellow agnostic, Confucius, said that we should always begin at the classification of things (格物).
If you look carefully at all the religious systems of the world, you can actually divide them into two classes:
1. Creator religion: eternal creator (god or gods) who created the universe but not part of it;
2. System religion: an eternal system of rules exists from which the current universe is built upon.
So it is a chicken and egg problem - is there is some intelligent personality (a god or some gods) who create the system, or the system is always there, and the god or gods and the universe arise out of the system.
Common sense tells me that things are always made by some intelligent personality. I am sure many heard of the watch implies a watchmaker analogy. Critics of this analogy like to point that the watchmaker would likewise need another maker, and so on ad infinitum. Well, mathematics tell me that the largest number n, will always have a larger number, n + 1. But we define "infinity" to resolve the issue. Likewise, if a maker always have another maker, then it will stop at the infinite maker, which is God.
If we agree that there is some intelligent personality creating the universe, then our next job is to identify this intelligent personality. Among all the religions that claim to have some intelligent personality that create the universe, which is the most probable?
First, let us eliminate false creators. An example is Pan Ku (盤古, 盘古), the creator in Chinese mythology. He was formed from an egg which was formed from a formless chaos. In another word, he was created within a pre-existing system. Thus it is not a true creator religion, but a system religion. Likewise are the creation accounts of many polytheist religions, which seem to accept a system from which our world, gods and people, exists.
Common sense tells me that things are always made by some intelligent personality. I am sure many heard of the watch implies a watchmaker analogy. Critics of this analogy like to point that the watchmaker would likewise need another maker, and so on ad infinitum. Well, mathematics tell me that the largest number n, will always have a larger number, n + 1. But we define "infinity" to resolve the issue. Likewise, if a maker always have another maker, then it will stop at the infinite maker, which is God.
If we agree that there is some intelligent personality creating the universe, then our next job is to identify this intelligent personality. Among all the religions that claim to have some intelligent personality that create the universe, which is the most probable?
First, let us eliminate false creators. An example is Pan Ku (盤古, 盘古), the creator in Chinese mythology. He was formed from an egg which was formed from a formless chaos. In another word, he was created within a pre-existing system. Thus it is not a true creator religion, but a system religion. Likewise are the creation accounts of many polytheist religions, which seem to accept a system from which our world, gods and people, exists.
The only true creator religions that I know of are the monotheistic religions. The most likely candidates for creator God are the God of Abraham and the God of Sikhism. Thus the Agnostic can start by studying all the monotheistic religions. This should narrow down the scope.
Rules for my Children who play Computer Games
You are not allowed to use real money to buy virtual goods in computer games.
Let us look at the Biblical basis for this rule:
Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom) Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. (Genesis 25:29-34 ESV)
Esau is the stupid fool who use his eternal heavenly wealth to buy perishable earthly food. It is the most expensive dish in the world. Neither should we use our real earthly money to buy virtual computer goods.
However, you can use virtual money to buy real goods.
It is none other than the Lord Jesus Himself who gave the Biblical basis for such instruction:
I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. (Luke 16:9 NIV)
We can use worldly wealth to change for eternal wealth. We can help the poor with our wealth, winning them to Christ. Earthly money has no eternal value. It is better to use it to "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal (Matthew 6:20 KJV)." Likewise if your skill in the computer game is so good that you gain a lot of virtual wealth, and the game allow you to use it to buy real earthly objects, please do so. In fact, it would be very wise to do it.
Let us look at the Biblical basis for this rule:
Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom) Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. (Genesis 25:29-34 ESV)
Esau is the stupid fool who use his eternal heavenly wealth to buy perishable earthly food. It is the most expensive dish in the world. Neither should we use our real earthly money to buy virtual computer goods.
However, you can use virtual money to buy real goods.
It is none other than the Lord Jesus Himself who gave the Biblical basis for such instruction:
I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. (Luke 16:9 NIV)
We can use worldly wealth to change for eternal wealth. We can help the poor with our wealth, winning them to Christ. Earthly money has no eternal value. It is better to use it to "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal (Matthew 6:20 KJV)." Likewise if your skill in the computer game is so good that you gain a lot of virtual wealth, and the game allow you to use it to buy real earthly objects, please do so. In fact, it would be very wise to do it.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Agnosticism
Agnostics believe that God has given insufficient evidence for His existence. But God disagree. "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse (Romans 1:20, NASB)."
In the olden days, men thought that the world was just a small place and the sky was a high ceiling. They thought that if they build a tower tall enough, they could reach God's heaven (Genesis 11:1-4). It would be understandable if their opinion of God was low. But Noah and his sons were still alive. They could ask them.
Today, we know how big and complex our universe is. It is still beyond our comprehension. We even learn engineering (biomimetics) from "mother nature". However, we attribute the existence of this great universe to chance based on the laws of physics. We assigned the eternal attributes of the Creator to His creation.
"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. (Psalm 19:1-3 KJV)"
In the olden days, men thought that the world was just a small place and the sky was a high ceiling. They thought that if they build a tower tall enough, they could reach God's heaven (Genesis 11:1-4). It would be understandable if their opinion of God was low. But Noah and his sons were still alive. They could ask them.
Today, we know how big and complex our universe is. It is still beyond our comprehension. We even learn engineering (biomimetics) from "mother nature". However, we attribute the existence of this great universe to chance based on the laws of physics. We assigned the eternal attributes of the Creator to His creation.
"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. (Psalm 19:1-3 KJV)"
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, Roman Emperor, Agnostic
"Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones. I am not afraid." Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, Roman Emperor (161 to 180), last of the Five Good Emperors, Stoic Philosopher, Persecutor of Christians.
This is a good bet, live a good life and hope for the best. The problem is what is "good"?
Every employee knows of this thing call "KPI (Key Performance Indicator)". The Employer defines the KPI (i.e. what is good for the company) and the employee works towards it. Now, if Marcus Aurelius is an employee, he would probably say something like this, "I do not know what my company's objective is. I do not even know which company I am working for. I just do my best in my job. If the company is just, I would be rewarded. If the company is unjust, maybe I should quit. If I am actually not an employee, too bad, I worked for free, but at least, I found something to occupy my time."
A lot of religion does not give clear KPI. It is always a vague "live a good life" thingy, but never clearly stating how good is good enough. The Christian God gives a very clear KPI.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:16 ESV)
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 3:18 ESV)
So it is very clear, and these verses are just two of the many verses stating the same fact. Salvation is not what you do, but what you believe.
By putting the KPI as what he did, "live a good life", Marcus Aurelius, the last of the Five Good Roman Emperors, the great Stoic philosopher and author of the book "Meditations", made a great mistake. This mistake led him to persecute Christians and he is now condemned in Hades, waiting for the Final Judgement at the Great White Throne (Revelations 20:11-15). His ultimate sin is to refuse to believe his Creator.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Lee Kuan Yew's comments on various religions
In the transcript of the interview Seth Mydans had with Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, for the New York Times and the International Herald Tribune held on 1 September 2010, Mr Lee gave his comments on various religions.
Agnosticism
"I am an agnostic."
The meaning of the word, from various dictionaries:
One who believes that it is impossible to know whether there is a God, who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism.
One who is doubtful, noncommittal or unwilling to commit to an opinion about something.
This website gave the origin of the word "Agnostic":
QUOTE
The word agnostic was coined in 1869 by Thomas Henry Huxley, the noted English biologist. Though the date of coinage is known, the specific etymology that Huxley had in mind has been a matter of debate for some years. The following portion of a letter dated March 13, 1881 (which has since disappeared) from R.H. Hutton was printed by the editors of the Oxford English Dictionary at the entry for agnostic:
Suggested by Prof. Huxley at a party held previous to the formation of the now defunct Metaphysical Society, at Mr. James Knowles’s house on Clapham Common, one evening in 1869, in my hearing. He took it from St. Paul’s mention of the altar to "the Unknown God."
The Greek form of the altar inscription given in Acts 17:23 is agnosto theo.
UNQUOTE
Chinese Traditional Religion
"I was brought up in a traditional Chinese family with ancestor worship. I would go to my grandfather’s grave on All Soul’s Day which is called “Qingming”. My father would bring me along, lay out food and candles and burn some paper money and kowtow three times over his tombstone. At home on specific days outside the kitchen he would put up two candles with my grandfather’s picture. But as I grew up, I questioned this because I think this is superstition. ... After my father died, I dropped the practice."
Being the former Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee is aware of the importance of monetary policy. It is simply impossible that 阎罗王 (if he exists) would allow monetary exchange via burning of cheap paper. It is tantamount to allowing strangers to print legal currency.
Christianity
"My youngest brother baptised my father as a Christian. He did not have the right to. ... I do not know if my father was fully aware when he was converted into Christianity."
Islam
"The Muslims say that there are seventy houris, beautiful women up there. But nobody has come back to confirm this."
The 72 houris are found in what Muslims refer to as Gharib Hadiths (weak or strange Hadiths), so it is better not to believe them. However, the Quran does promise men young maidens for companions (Surah an-Naba' 78:31-34) in paradise but does not specify their exact number. I wonder what would the women get.
Buddhism
"The Buddhist believes in transmigration of the soul. If you live a good life, the reward is in your next migration, you will be a good being, not an ugly animal. It is a comforting thought, but my wife and I do not believe in it."
Buddhists do not believe in transmigration of the soul. Hindus do.
Agnosticism
"I am an agnostic."
The meaning of the word, from various dictionaries:
One who believes that it is impossible to know whether there is a God, who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism.
One who is doubtful, noncommittal or unwilling to commit to an opinion about something.
This website gave the origin of the word "Agnostic":
QUOTE
The word agnostic was coined in 1869 by Thomas Henry Huxley, the noted English biologist. Though the date of coinage is known, the specific etymology that Huxley had in mind has been a matter of debate for some years. The following portion of a letter dated March 13, 1881 (which has since disappeared) from R.H. Hutton was printed by the editors of the Oxford English Dictionary at the entry for agnostic:
Suggested by Prof. Huxley at a party held previous to the formation of the now defunct Metaphysical Society, at Mr. James Knowles’s house on Clapham Common, one evening in 1869, in my hearing. He took it from St. Paul’s mention of the altar to "the Unknown God."
The Greek form of the altar inscription given in Acts 17:23 is agnosto theo.
UNQUOTE
Chinese Traditional Religion
"I was brought up in a traditional Chinese family with ancestor worship. I would go to my grandfather’s grave on All Soul’s Day which is called “Qingming”. My father would bring me along, lay out food and candles and burn some paper money and kowtow three times over his tombstone. At home on specific days outside the kitchen he would put up two candles with my grandfather’s picture. But as I grew up, I questioned this because I think this is superstition. ... After my father died, I dropped the practice."
Being the former Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee is aware of the importance of monetary policy. It is simply impossible that 阎罗王 (if he exists) would allow monetary exchange via burning of cheap paper. It is tantamount to allowing strangers to print legal currency.
Christianity
"My youngest brother baptised my father as a Christian. He did not have the right to. ... I do not know if my father was fully aware when he was converted into Christianity."
Islam
"The Muslims say that there are seventy houris, beautiful women up there. But nobody has come back to confirm this."
The 72 houris are found in what Muslims refer to as Gharib Hadiths (weak or strange Hadiths), so it is better not to believe them. However, the Quran does promise men young maidens for companions (Surah an-Naba' 78:31-34) in paradise but does not specify their exact number. I wonder what would the women get.
Buddhism
"The Buddhist believes in transmigration of the soul. If you live a good life, the reward is in your next migration, you will be a good being, not an ugly animal. It is a comforting thought, but my wife and I do not believe in it."
Buddhists do not believe in transmigration of the soul. Hindus do.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Meditation
Lee Kuan Yew’s devout Christian friend, Ng Kok Song, taught him to meditate. This meditation involves the use of a chanting mantra, to keep the monkey mind from running off into all kinds of thoughts. Is there any basis in the Bible for such type of meditation?
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking (Matthew 6:7 KJV).
This may not apply directly to meditation, but to prayer, but I believe the principle is the same. No vain repetitions.
For Lee Kuan Yew, the purpose of meditation is to achieve peace and serenity. For Christians, peace comes from God. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid (John 14:27 ESV)." We have our assurance of salvation, "for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day (2 Timothy 1:12 KJV)." The world has no peace, and they tried many ways to achieve it. They have no assurance. They are seeking for peace. They will not find it. "'There is no peace for the wicked, ' says the LORD (Isaiah 48:22 NASB)."
For Christians, the purpose of meditation is to know God, to know the Bible so that the Word of God will influence the way we act and we can be transformed by the renewal of our mind. We do not need to meditate to achieve peace and serenity. But our meditation of the Word transforms us, and in turn, transforms the world.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2 ESV).
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking (Matthew 6:7 KJV).
This may not apply directly to meditation, but to prayer, but I believe the principle is the same. No vain repetitions.
For Lee Kuan Yew, the purpose of meditation is to achieve peace and serenity. For Christians, peace comes from God. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid (John 14:27 ESV)." We have our assurance of salvation, "for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day (2 Timothy 1:12 KJV)." The world has no peace, and they tried many ways to achieve it. They have no assurance. They are seeking for peace. They will not find it. "'There is no peace for the wicked, ' says the LORD (Isaiah 48:22 NASB)."
For Christians, the purpose of meditation is to know God, to know the Bible so that the Word of God will influence the way we act and we can be transformed by the renewal of our mind. We do not need to meditate to achieve peace and serenity. But our meditation of the Word transforms us, and in turn, transforms the world.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2 ESV).
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Singapore Pools, Ministry of Education and Food offered to idols
My friend told me that every year, Singapore Pools will donate some money to the Ministry of Education, who will then distribute the money to the schools. The Methodist schools accept the money and give thanks to God for it. The Presbyterian schools refuse to accept the money since it is profit from gambling. So should the Presbyterians accept the money?
We can start by asking three questions:
Does it glorify God? (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Will it stumble a weaker brother? (1 Corinthians 8:13)
Can you do without it? (1 Corinthians 10:23)
We can look at the example in the Bible about food offered to idols.
All food is acceptable if received with thanksgiving (1 Corinthians 8:4-13, Romans 14:13-23).
On the other hand, we are to abstain from meats offered to idols (Acts 15:20, Acts 15:29, Revelation 2:14, Revelation 2:20). We cannot participate in idol worship (1 Corinthians 10:14-22).
Some Bible verses for your consideration:
1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1 NLT
You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.
So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”
If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience. (But suppose someone tells you, “This meat was offered to an idol.” Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved. And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:14-22 NLT
So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true. When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body. Think about the people of Israel. Weren’t they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar?
What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons. You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is?
We can start by asking three questions:
Does it glorify God? (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Will it stumble a weaker brother? (1 Corinthians 8:13)
Can you do without it? (1 Corinthians 10:23)
We can look at the example in the Bible about food offered to idols.
All food is acceptable if received with thanksgiving (1 Corinthians 8:4-13, Romans 14:13-23).
On the other hand, we are to abstain from meats offered to idols (Acts 15:20, Acts 15:29, Revelation 2:14, Revelation 2:20). We cannot participate in idol worship (1 Corinthians 10:14-22).
Some Bible verses for your consideration:
1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1 NLT
You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.
So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”
If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience. (But suppose someone tells you, “This meat was offered to an idol.” Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved. And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:14-22 NLT
So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true. When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body. Think about the people of Israel. Weren’t they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar?
What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons. You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is?
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Raised from the Dead
The following are Biblical records of people raised from the dead.
Elijah raised the widow of Zarephath's son (1 Kings 17:21-23)
And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, please let this child’s life return to him.” The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he revived! Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room and gave him to his mother. “Look!” he said. “Your son is alive!” (1 Kings 17:21-23 NLT)
Elisha raised the Shunammite's son (2 Kings 4:32-37)
When Elisha arrived, the child was indeed dead, lying there on the prophet’s bed. He went in alone and shut the door behind him and prayed to the Lord. Then he lay down on the child’s body, placing his mouth on the child’s mouth, his eyes on the child’s eyes, and his hands on the child’s hands. And as he stretched out on him, the child’s body began to grow warm again! Elisha got up, walked back and forth across the room once, and then stretched himself out again on the child. This time the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes! Then Elisha summoned Gehazi. “Call the child’s mother!” he said. And when she came in, Elisha said, “Here, take your son!” She fell at his feet and bowed before him, overwhelmed with gratitude. Then she took her son in her arms and carried him downstairs. (2 Kings 4:32-37 NLT)
Dead man revived after touching Elisha's bones (2 Kings 13:21)
Once when some Israelites were burying a man, they spied a band of these raiders. So they hastily threw the corpse into the tomb of Elisha and fled. But as soon as the body touched Elisha's bones, the dead man revived and jumped to his feet! (2 Kings 13:21 NLT)
Jesus raised Jairus' daughter (Matthew 9:18–26, Mark 5:21–43, Luke 8:40–56)
Jesus raised the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-15)
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:43-44)
Peter raised Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead (Acts 9:36-41)
Paul raised Eutychus who fell to his death (Acts 20:9-10)
As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below. Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. "Don't worry," he said, "he's alive!" Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord's Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left. Meanwhile, the young man was taken home unhurt, and everyone was greatly relieved. (Acts 20:9-12 NLT)
Elijah raised the widow of Zarephath's son (1 Kings 17:21-23)
And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, please let this child’s life return to him.” The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he revived! Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room and gave him to his mother. “Look!” he said. “Your son is alive!” (1 Kings 17:21-23 NLT)
Elisha raised the Shunammite's son (2 Kings 4:32-37)
When Elisha arrived, the child was indeed dead, lying there on the prophet’s bed. He went in alone and shut the door behind him and prayed to the Lord. Then he lay down on the child’s body, placing his mouth on the child’s mouth, his eyes on the child’s eyes, and his hands on the child’s hands. And as he stretched out on him, the child’s body began to grow warm again! Elisha got up, walked back and forth across the room once, and then stretched himself out again on the child. This time the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes! Then Elisha summoned Gehazi. “Call the child’s mother!” he said. And when she came in, Elisha said, “Here, take your son!” She fell at his feet and bowed before him, overwhelmed with gratitude. Then she took her son in her arms and carried him downstairs. (2 Kings 4:32-37 NLT)
Dead man revived after touching Elisha's bones (2 Kings 13:21)
Once when some Israelites were burying a man, they spied a band of these raiders. So they hastily threw the corpse into the tomb of Elisha and fled. But as soon as the body touched Elisha's bones, the dead man revived and jumped to his feet! (2 Kings 13:21 NLT)
Jesus raised Jairus' daughter (Matthew 9:18–26, Mark 5:21–43, Luke 8:40–56)
Jesus raised the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-15)
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:43-44)
Peter raised Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead (Acts 9:36-41)
Paul raised Eutychus who fell to his death (Acts 20:9-10)
As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below. Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. "Don't worry," he said, "he's alive!" Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord's Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left. Meanwhile, the young man was taken home unhurt, and everyone was greatly relieved. (Acts 20:9-12 NLT)
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Sex is for Married Couple
In a letter to Straits Times Forum published on Saturday 18th September 2010, Adam Leo Isidore Tan wrote, "sex is an act of intimacy between two lovers; a profound expression of love."
This is the typical thinking of the world - sex is for two lovers. No, this is wrong. According to the Bible, sex is for married couple. Because of the perverse definition of marriage today, I must now qualify, sex is for married couple of different sex.
All sex outside marriage is sin. However, due to the hardness of men's heart, God has to regulate irregular sexual acts, such as concubines and sex between unmarried couples in Moses's Law. God also regulates divorces. However there is still a limit. Adultery and sodomy are punishable by death.
Sex always has a moral dimension. To ignore that in any sex education will bring about immorality and corruption of the society.
This is the typical thinking of the world - sex is for two lovers. No, this is wrong. According to the Bible, sex is for married couple. Because of the perverse definition of marriage today, I must now qualify, sex is for married couple of different sex.
All sex outside marriage is sin. However, due to the hardness of men's heart, God has to regulate irregular sexual acts, such as concubines and sex between unmarried couples in Moses's Law. God also regulates divorces. However there is still a limit. Adultery and sodomy are punishable by death.
Sex always has a moral dimension. To ignore that in any sex education will bring about immorality and corruption of the society.
Friday, September 17, 2010
八步平天下
Since we talk about Lee Kuan Yew, we must also quote Confucius:
QUOTE
禮記 大學第四十二
The Great Learning by Confucius---translated by A. Charles Muller
古之欲明明德於天下者、先治其國。
The ancients who wanted to manifest their bright virtue to all in the world first governed well their own states.
欲治其國者先齊其家。
Wanting to govern well their states, they first harmonized their own clans.
欲齊其家者先脩其身。
Wanting to harmonize their own clan, they first cultivated themselves.
欲脩其身者先正其心。
Wanting to cultivate themselves, they first corrected their minds.
欲正奇心者先誠其意。
Wanting to correct their minds, they first made their wills sincere.
欲誠其意者先致其知。
Wanting to make their wills sincere, they first extended their knowledge.
致知在格物。
Extension of knowledge consists of the investigation of things.
物格而后知至。
When things are investigated, knowledge is extended.
知至而后意誠。
When knowledge is extended, the will becomes sincere.
意誠而后心正。
When the will is sincere, the mind is correct.
心正而后身脩。
When the mind is correct, the self is cultivated.
身脩而后家齊。
When the self is cultivated, the clan is harmonized.
家齊而后國治。
When the clan is harmonized, the country is well governed.
國治而后天下平。
When the country is well governed, there will be peace throughout the land.
UNQUOTE
Confucius thinks that in eights steps, we can bring peace to the world:
格物、致知、诚意、正心、修身、齐家、治国、平天下
Confucius is quite smart to realise that knowledge (致知) must begin with investigation of things which are objects and observable (格物). With knowledge come truth and sincerity (诚意). There can be no peace without truth. So Confucius rightly put truth before peace.
While there is no doubt about the correctness and the logic of the steps, the question remain, is it doable? If it was so easy, why is there no peace on earth?
"For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do ... O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:19, 24-25 KJV)"
The problem is that men know what is right but they cannot do it, "but the righteous shall live by his faith (Habakkuk 2:4 ESV)."
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith" (Romans 1:16-17 ESV)."
QUOTE
禮記 大學第四十二
The Great Learning by Confucius---translated by A. Charles Muller
古之欲明明德於天下者、先治其國。
The ancients who wanted to manifest their bright virtue to all in the world first governed well their own states.
欲治其國者先齊其家。
Wanting to govern well their states, they first harmonized their own clans.
欲齊其家者先脩其身。
Wanting to harmonize their own clan, they first cultivated themselves.
欲脩其身者先正其心。
Wanting to cultivate themselves, they first corrected their minds.
欲正奇心者先誠其意。
Wanting to correct their minds, they first made their wills sincere.
欲誠其意者先致其知。
Wanting to make their wills sincere, they first extended their knowledge.
致知在格物。
Extension of knowledge consists of the investigation of things.
物格而后知至。
When things are investigated, knowledge is extended.
知至而后意誠。
When knowledge is extended, the will becomes sincere.
意誠而后心正。
When the will is sincere, the mind is correct.
心正而后身脩。
When the mind is correct, the self is cultivated.
身脩而后家齊。
When the self is cultivated, the clan is harmonized.
家齊而后國治。
When the clan is harmonized, the country is well governed.
國治而后天下平。
When the country is well governed, there will be peace throughout the land.
UNQUOTE
Confucius thinks that in eights steps, we can bring peace to the world:
格物、致知、诚意、正心、修身、齐家、治国、平天下
Confucius is quite smart to realise that knowledge (致知) must begin with investigation of things which are objects and observable (格物). With knowledge come truth and sincerity (诚意). There can be no peace without truth. So Confucius rightly put truth before peace.
While there is no doubt about the correctness and the logic of the steps, the question remain, is it doable? If it was so easy, why is there no peace on earth?
"For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do ... O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:19, 24-25 KJV)"
The problem is that men know what is right but they cannot do it, "but the righteous shall live by his faith (Habakkuk 2:4 ESV)."
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith" (Romans 1:16-17 ESV)."
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Lee Kuan Yew's birthday
Today is Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's 87th birthday. In an interview done earlier this month (1 September 2010) with Seth Mydans for the New York Times and the International Herald Tribune, he spoke on what happened after death. "Well, what is next, I do not know. Nobody has ever come back."
This is not true. One person did come back. He is Jesus. The Bible testifies that "And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:4 KJV)" The resurrection of Christ was recorded by all the four Gospels in the Bible and also by Apostle Paul in his epistles.
Jesus is the most unique among the founders of religions. The other founders were born without warning, without giving us advance notice, born of a father and a mother like me, then they preached their religion out of the blue, and then they died, like any ordinary men.
The coming of Jesus was predicted in the Old Testament before He was born. The Bible declared that "Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God (Hebrews 10:7, quoting Psalm 40:7 KJV)."
He had a forerunner, John the Baptist, to herald His coming. Even the birth of the forerunner was predicted. "Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God (Isaiah 45:3 KJV)."
He was born of a virgin, and after preaching His religion, He died. "And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:4 KJV)".
He was the only Man who died and rose again. He walked about for forty days "and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; (1 Corinthians 15:5-7 NASB)." Last of all, He appeared to Paul the Apostle.
He will be coming again. "And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also 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 just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away." (Acts 1:9-12 NASB)." Jesus will come back again and "On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward (Zechariah 14:4 ESV)."
So the Aramaic phrase, "Maranatha", means "the Lord is coming", refers to this coming event. It is not some sound for meditation, like what some "devoted" Christian claimed. "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. (1 Corinthians 16:22 KJV)" or in a modern translation, "If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed. Our Lord, come! (1 Corinthians 16:22 NLT)" Anyone who does not love Jesus is "Anathema", or cursed. Maranatha is a blessing to those who love Jesus, but a curse (Anathema) to those who don't.
"If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed. Our Lord, come! May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. (1 Corinthians 16:22-24 NLT)"
This is not true. One person did come back. He is Jesus. The Bible testifies that "And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:4 KJV)" The resurrection of Christ was recorded by all the four Gospels in the Bible and also by Apostle Paul in his epistles.
Jesus is the most unique among the founders of religions. The other founders were born without warning, without giving us advance notice, born of a father and a mother like me, then they preached their religion out of the blue, and then they died, like any ordinary men.
The coming of Jesus was predicted in the Old Testament before He was born. The Bible declared that "Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God (Hebrews 10:7, quoting Psalm 40:7 KJV)."
He had a forerunner, John the Baptist, to herald His coming. Even the birth of the forerunner was predicted. "Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God (Isaiah 45:3 KJV)."
He was born of a virgin, and after preaching His religion, He died. "And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:4 KJV)".
He was the only Man who died and rose again. He walked about for forty days "and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; (1 Corinthians 15:5-7 NASB)." Last of all, He appeared to Paul the Apostle.
He will be coming again. "And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also 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 just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away." (Acts 1:9-12 NASB)." Jesus will come back again and "On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward (Zechariah 14:4 ESV)."
So the Aramaic phrase, "Maranatha", means "the Lord is coming", refers to this coming event. It is not some sound for meditation, like what some "devoted" Christian claimed. "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. (1 Corinthians 16:22 KJV)" or in a modern translation, "If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed. Our Lord, come! (1 Corinthians 16:22 NLT)" Anyone who does not love Jesus is "Anathema", or cursed. Maranatha is a blessing to those who love Jesus, but a curse (Anathema) to those who don't.
"If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed. Our Lord, come! May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. (1 Corinthians 16:22-24 NLT)"
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Famine in the Promised Land, but no famine in Egypt
During the time of the Patriarchs, there were famines in the Promised Land, but as far as Biblical records is concerned, there was no famine in Egypt. This is hard for the believers in those days. Why were those who believed in God suffering from famine and had to go down to Egypt, which represented the World? Why is the World prospering? Is belief in God wrong?
The Patriarchs were not poor. They were very rich. But compared to Egypt, they were wandering nomads. Egypt is a powerful and rich country with advanced technology. And Egypt had no famine. River Nile is so reliable.
Today, the original Egyptians were gone. In their place are the Arab descendants of Abraham. The other descendant of Abraham, Israel, is now in the Promised Land. God had kept His promise to Abraham. Israel still survives. Israel is rich. However, compared to the World, Israel is small. Like their ancestor Abraham and Egypt, the World is very much bigger and richer. Would Israel prevail, like their ancestor? Would the World perish, like Egypt? The Bible says “Yes”.
The Patriarchs were not poor. They were very rich. But compared to Egypt, they were wandering nomads. Egypt is a powerful and rich country with advanced technology. And Egypt had no famine. River Nile is so reliable.
Today, the original Egyptians were gone. In their place are the Arab descendants of Abraham. The other descendant of Abraham, Israel, is now in the Promised Land. God had kept His promise to Abraham. Israel still survives. Israel is rich. However, compared to the World, Israel is small. Like their ancestor Abraham and Egypt, the World is very much bigger and richer. Would Israel prevail, like their ancestor? Would the World perish, like Egypt? The Bible says “Yes”.
Volkswagen Beetle
God does not care about anything except for His own glory.
My wife does not care about anything except for her children's studies.
A friend of mine does not care about anything except for a cottage by the woods.
A blogger wrote that he does not care for anything except to get rich.
When I was young, I always wanted a toy Volkswagen Beetle. It cost $6.00 and was beyond my reach. Decades later, someone gave (or my wife bought) a big toy Volkswagen Beetle for my son. It was huge, much bigger than the original toy that I wanted. I could even buy a second-hand real Volkswagen Beetle, but I would not want to waste my money on old cars. The toy that I used to think I would die without, the car that I thought I would want to buy when I grew up, I no longer want them.
When our chief desire is so different from God, is it so strange that God sometimes refuse to answer our prayers? We may find, in due time, that those that we desire are foolishness and a waste of our time.
My wife does not care about anything except for her children's studies.
A friend of mine does not care about anything except for a cottage by the woods.
A blogger wrote that he does not care for anything except to get rich.
When I was young, I always wanted a toy Volkswagen Beetle. It cost $6.00 and was beyond my reach. Decades later, someone gave (or my wife bought) a big toy Volkswagen Beetle for my son. It was huge, much bigger than the original toy that I wanted. I could even buy a second-hand real Volkswagen Beetle, but I would not want to waste my money on old cars. The toy that I used to think I would die without, the car that I thought I would want to buy when I grew up, I no longer want them.
When our chief desire is so different from God, is it so strange that God sometimes refuse to answer our prayers? We may find, in due time, that those that we desire are foolishness and a waste of our time.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
You must be Bad to be a Christian
There are many societies, schools and jobs which demand good qualifications before you can join. For example, now the post of the CEO of Hewlett-Packard is vacant, their Board of Directors will choose a person will good qualities to fill the post. I won't qualify for the job. If you want to go to a top school or university, they expect your results to be good.
When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Mark 2:17 KJV)
However, to be a Christian, there is only one qualification. You must be bad. If you are good, you will be rejected. The God of the Christians, the Father of our Lord Jesus, wants all the glory of the salvation of men to be given to His Son and would not tolerate other factors as competition. If you think you can be a Christian because you have some good points, such as kind-hearted, have done some charitable works, you will be rejected. There is only one qualification. You must be bad. You cannot challenge God for His glory.
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18 :10-14 KJV)
The Pharisee did not qualify to be a Christian because he is good. The Publican qualified because he was bad.
Always remember this, Christianity is the only religion in the world where Good People go to Hell and Bad People go to Heaven. If you are reading this and is offended, you must be a good person. Watch it! You are on the way to Hell.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
El Qanna - Jealous God
God's jealousy means that God continually seeks to protect his own honor. People sometimes have trouble thinking that jealousy is a desirable attribute in God. This is because jealousy for our own honor is human beings is almost always wrong. We are not to be proud, but humble. Yet we must realize that the reason pride is wrong is a theological reason: it is that we do not deserve the honor that belongs to God alone (1 Corinthians 4:7, Revelations 4:11). It is not wrong for God to seek his own honor, however, for he deserves it fully.
Quoted from "Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings of the Christian Faith" by Wayne A. Grudem, Jeff Purswell.
Quoted from "Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings of the Christian Faith" by Wayne A. Grudem, Jeff Purswell.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Goods Works and Idolatory
"Then he uses part of the wood to make a fire. With it he warms himself and bakes his bread. Then--yes, it's true--he takes the rest of it and makes himself a god to worship! He makes an idol and bows down in front of it! (Isaiah 44:15 NLT)"
Man made idols out of good wood, precious stones and metals and with great skill and labour. Then he worshipped his own works. This is the image of the religions of good works and merit. Many good people gave a lot of effort and time and sacrifice for good works and charity. They spared no effort. They went to the poor and lived among them and feed them. They did wonderful works with the hope of saving themselves. They believed that the works would be acceptable because much sacrifice, love and effort had gone into it.
Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval."
They replied, "We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?"
Jesus told them, "This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent."
John 6:26-29 NLT
Man made idols out of good wood, precious stones and metals and with great skill and labour. Then he worshipped his own works. This is the image of the religions of good works and merit. Many good people gave a lot of effort and time and sacrifice for good works and charity. They spared no effort. They went to the poor and lived among them and feed them. They did wonderful works with the hope of saving themselves. They believed that the works would be acceptable because much sacrifice, love and effort had gone into it.
Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval."
They replied, "We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?"
Jesus told them, "This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent."
John 6:26-29 NLT
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Knowing God, Knowing Ourselves
There are many religions and philosophies in this world, all trying to answer questions, such as the meaning of our existence. But there is no answer, unless we know God and ourselves.
Everyone should know about God. He is the creator of heavens and earth, the most important person in this existence. You ignore Him at your own risk. The most important thing to know about God is that He creates all things for His own glory. Once you understand this implication of this statement correctly, you can understand all things in the universe because you know the purpose of creation.
Next we have to know about ourselves. We are all born to be slaves. We can either be God's slaves or our body's slaves. No one is free. If we choose to be slave to the body, you are choosing a limited and perishable master. If you choose to be slave to God, you have access to infinite resources and eternity.
Everyone should know about God. He is the creator of heavens and earth, the most important person in this existence. You ignore Him at your own risk. The most important thing to know about God is that He creates all things for His own glory. Once you understand this implication of this statement correctly, you can understand all things in the universe because you know the purpose of creation.
Next we have to know about ourselves. We are all born to be slaves. We can either be God's slaves or our body's slaves. No one is free. If we choose to be slave to the body, you are choosing a limited and perishable master. If you choose to be slave to God, you have access to infinite resources and eternity.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Humility
There is this quote, "Humility is a strange thing; the moment you think you have it, you have lost it." The truly humble gives glory to God. "Humility is pride in God" (Austin O'Malley 1760-1854).
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
God looks for Faithfulness. Man looks for Giftedness.
God looks for faithfulness. Man looks for giftedness. God does not need gifts. He is the Giver of Gifts. "That is why the Scriptures say, "When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people." (Ephesians 4:8 NLT)" "Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12 NLT)." "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10 KJV)."
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Easy to Choose the Correct Religion
Many people said that there are many religions in the world. It is so confusing and nobody knows which is real. Actually, things are not as difficult. When classified by method of salvation, there are only two religions in the world. One is of grace, the other of works. There is the third option of atheism, which believes that there is nothing after life. So this brings the decision down to deciding which method of salvation is real or there is nothing after life.
If you think there is nothing after life, well, "let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die (1 Corinthians 15:32)". If you think that salvation by grace is true, you only have one choice, the religion of the Bible. If you think that salvation by one's own effort and work (i.e. meritocracy) is true, you have a bewildering number of choices, such as the reincarnation religions of Hinduism and Buddhism, or the monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The other polytheistic religions are mostly dead, killed by Christianity, Islam or Atheism.
So the confusion of choices will occur if you want to save yourself by your own effort. There are many methods, ranging from Theravada Buddhism, which require your 100% effort over many life times, to the other religions which require effort plus faith in varying degrees. Your effort includes the performance of different rituals, stipulated by the religions. If you think that salvation by works is true, I think you ought to put in a lot of effort to study these religions and decide which of these is true.
As for me, salvation is by the grace of God, who sent His Son Jesus to die for my sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:9) and God’s heaven be filled with boasters. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them (Ephesians 2:10) to the praise of the glory of His grace ((Ephesians 1:6).
If you think there is nothing after life, well, "let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die (1 Corinthians 15:32)". If you think that salvation by grace is true, you only have one choice, the religion of the Bible. If you think that salvation by one's own effort and work (i.e. meritocracy) is true, you have a bewildering number of choices, such as the reincarnation religions of Hinduism and Buddhism, or the monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The other polytheistic religions are mostly dead, killed by Christianity, Islam or Atheism.
So the confusion of choices will occur if you want to save yourself by your own effort. There are many methods, ranging from Theravada Buddhism, which require your 100% effort over many life times, to the other religions which require effort plus faith in varying degrees. Your effort includes the performance of different rituals, stipulated by the religions. If you think that salvation by works is true, I think you ought to put in a lot of effort to study these religions and decide which of these is true.
As for me, salvation is by the grace of God, who sent His Son Jesus to die for my sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:9) and God’s heaven be filled with boasters. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them (Ephesians 2:10) to the praise of the glory of His grace ((Ephesians 1:6).
Friday, August 6, 2010
God's Mercy the Sole Criteria for Salvation
"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Matthew 7:22-23 KJV)."
Many people like to use their works as the basis for salvation. If only they could depend solely on God's mercy, like the publican in Jesus's parable, who smote his breast and cried out, "God be merciful to me a sinner (Luke 18:13 KJV)."
Many people like to use their works as the basis for salvation. If only they could depend solely on God's mercy, like the publican in Jesus's parable, who smote his breast and cried out, "God be merciful to me a sinner (Luke 18:13 KJV)."
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Author arrested on charges of criminal defamation and contempt of court
Alan Shadrake, the author of ‘Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice in the Dock’, was arrested on 18th July 2010 on charges of criminal defamation and contempt of court.
I have no objections with authors revealing corruption and injustice. I take issue with his motives - he is against capital punishment. That is one of those pet topics of the liberal human rights activist. Like I said earlier, after the gay rights, the other pet topics, such as euthanasia, anti-capital punishment would come to the fore.
If you dissect the logic of these activists, you will find that basically they are saying this:
"I have the right to do anything I want. You cannot do anything to me, without my permission."
Thus gay sex is okay as long as it is consensual. Euthanasia is taking one's own life, so it is a right. Capital punishment is inflicted on oneself by the State, therefore, it is not allowed. Any other punishment would probably be disallowed. Only counselling is possible.
The rights that the human rights activist wanted for themselves are the rights of the Ultimate Selfish One, the Creator of Heavens and Earth. Thanks to the selflessness of the Ultimate Selfish One, who do all things for His own glory, who sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins, we are able to be selflessly good.
I have no objections with authors revealing corruption and injustice. I take issue with his motives - he is against capital punishment. That is one of those pet topics of the liberal human rights activist. Like I said earlier, after the gay rights, the other pet topics, such as euthanasia, anti-capital punishment would come to the fore.
If you dissect the logic of these activists, you will find that basically they are saying this:
"I have the right to do anything I want. You cannot do anything to me, without my permission."
Thus gay sex is okay as long as it is consensual. Euthanasia is taking one's own life, so it is a right. Capital punishment is inflicted on oneself by the State, therefore, it is not allowed. Any other punishment would probably be disallowed. Only counselling is possible.
The rights that the human rights activist wanted for themselves are the rights of the Ultimate Selfish One, the Creator of Heavens and Earth. Thanks to the selflessness of the Ultimate Selfish One, who do all things for His own glory, who sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins, we are able to be selflessly good.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Our losses, crosses and disappointments are blessed
In his 4th August entry of Faith's Check Book, Charles Spurgeon wrote this:
"What a joy to abide under the divine blessing! This puts a gracious flavor into all things. If we are blessed, then all our possessions and enjoyments are blessed; yea, our losses and crosses and even our disappointments are blessed."
I wish to bring special attention to this: "our losses and crosses and even our disappointments are blessed". And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28 NASB). Thus our losses, crosses and disappointments should never become our concern. Ultimately, we shall see the glory of God when these are turned into blessings.
"What a joy to abide under the divine blessing! This puts a gracious flavor into all things. If we are blessed, then all our possessions and enjoyments are blessed; yea, our losses and crosses and even our disappointments are blessed."
I wish to bring special attention to this: "our losses and crosses and even our disappointments are blessed". And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28 NASB). Thus our losses, crosses and disappointments should never become our concern. Ultimately, we shall see the glory of God when these are turned into blessings.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
The Glory of God and the Bondage of Man
There are two facts that every Christian ought to know:
1. God does not care about anything except His own Glory;
2. Men are born slaves, but, humanly speaking, they can choose between two masters.
God does not care about anything except His own Glory. And the purpose of sending His Son to die for our sins is to glorify the Father, "just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:4-6 NASB)." "Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him (Isaiah 43:7 KJV)."
Jean Jacques Rousseau began his treatise "Social Contract" with this dramatic statement, "Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains." But the Bible claims otherwise. We are born in bondage, either to the flesh, or to God. There is no freedom. You choose which master you want to serve and be a slave to that master. For Christians, "you have been liberated from sin and become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification—and the end is eternal life! (Romans 6:22 HCSB)."
This is the end of all men, either an eternal life enslaved to the Creator who made men for His own Glory, or an eternal life burning in hell, enslaved by your flesh, ever craving, but never satisfying.
1. God does not care about anything except His own Glory;
2. Men are born slaves, but, humanly speaking, they can choose between two masters.
God does not care about anything except His own Glory. And the purpose of sending His Son to die for our sins is to glorify the Father, "just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:4-6 NASB)." "Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him (Isaiah 43:7 KJV)."
Jean Jacques Rousseau began his treatise "Social Contract" with this dramatic statement, "Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains." But the Bible claims otherwise. We are born in bondage, either to the flesh, or to God. There is no freedom. You choose which master you want to serve and be a slave to that master. For Christians, "you have been liberated from sin and become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification—and the end is eternal life! (Romans 6:22 HCSB)."
This is the end of all men, either an eternal life enslaved to the Creator who made men for His own Glory, or an eternal life burning in hell, enslaved by your flesh, ever craving, but never satisfying.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
In Everything Give Thanks
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV).
How can we give thanks for everything, both good and bad? Because we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28 KJV).
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Principles of Decision Making
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'"
Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU’; and ‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’” Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’”
Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’” Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him. (Matthew 4:1-11 NASB)
In his book "Man in the Mirror", Patrick Morley used the three temptations of Christ to derive three principles of effective decision making.
The first principle is to live by the Word of God (Matthew 4:4). Being familiar with the word of God is very important in our decision making.
The second principle is not to put God to test (Matthew 4:7). We should not put ourselves into a position whereby only a miracle of God can save us. "Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and the herds and the camels, into two companies; and he said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the company which is left shall escape (Genesis 32:7-8 NASB)." He used the means that he judged to be the best under the existing circumstances, and I believe that God intends us always to use our best wits and judgment, and then to fall back upon him in confiding prayer just as if we had done nothing at all. Do everything as if God were not about to help you, and then trust in God as if you had done nothing at all. An Arab said to Mahomet, “I let my camel run loose, and trusted it to Providence,” but Mahomet replied, “You should have tied it up first, and then trusted it to Providence;” and Jacob was very much of that mind and a very sensible mind it was, not at all inconsistent with the very best of faith (Expositions by C. H. Spurgeon on Genesis 32).
The third principle is worship God and serve Him only (Matthew 4:10). We must always question our motives to see if our decision would glorify God.
Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU’; and ‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’” Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’”
Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’” Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him. (Matthew 4:1-11 NASB)
In his book "Man in the Mirror", Patrick Morley used the three temptations of Christ to derive three principles of effective decision making.
The first principle is to live by the Word of God (Matthew 4:4). Being familiar with the word of God is very important in our decision making.
The second principle is not to put God to test (Matthew 4:7). We should not put ourselves into a position whereby only a miracle of God can save us. "Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and the herds and the camels, into two companies; and he said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the company which is left shall escape (Genesis 32:7-8 NASB)." He used the means that he judged to be the best under the existing circumstances, and I believe that God intends us always to use our best wits and judgment, and then to fall back upon him in confiding prayer just as if we had done nothing at all. Do everything as if God were not about to help you, and then trust in God as if you had done nothing at all. An Arab said to Mahomet, “I let my camel run loose, and trusted it to Providence,” but Mahomet replied, “You should have tied it up first, and then trusted it to Providence;” and Jacob was very much of that mind and a very sensible mind it was, not at all inconsistent with the very best of faith (Expositions by C. H. Spurgeon on Genesis 32).
The third principle is worship God and serve Him only (Matthew 4:10). We must always question our motives to see if our decision would glorify God.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Only two religions in the world
When classified by method of salvation, there are only two religions in the world. One is of grace, the other of works.
The religion of grace believes that we are saved by the grace of God. Though we do not deserve it, but God in His great mercy, saves us by providing a substitute for our sins. Jesus came to the world to save the sinners by dying for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, as the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (Isaiah 53:4-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:1-2.)
The other religion believes in salvation by our own good works, our merit. We are saved because we are good. It is meritocracy.
The religion of grace believes that we are saved by the grace of God. Though we do not deserve it, but God in His great mercy, saves us by providing a substitute for our sins. Jesus came to the world to save the sinners by dying for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, as the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (Isaiah 53:4-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:1-2.)
The other religion believes in salvation by our own good works, our merit. We are saved because we are good. It is meritocracy.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The Mechanics of our Salvation
How are we saved?
Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (1 Corinthians 15:3), the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; (1 Peter 3:18), Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed (1 Peter 2:24).
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21), who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father (Galatians 1:4).
Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (1 Corinthians 15:3), the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; (1 Peter 3:18), Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed (1 Peter 2:24).
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21), who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father (Galatians 1:4).
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
The Bronze Serpent
Then they set out from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the people became impatient because of the journey.
The people spoke against God and Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food."
The LORD sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.
So the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove the serpents from us." And Moses interceded for the people.
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live."
And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived. (Numbers 21:4-9 NASB)
Fiery serpents bit the people and many people died, but anyone who were bitten looked to the bronze serpent shall live. First, the people were bitten by the fiery serpent and they realized that they will die. They requested for a solution and were told to look at the bronze serpent. Those who believed, looked, and were saved.
"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. (John 3:14-15 NASB)
When fiery serpents bite you, you know. But you may not know that you are a sinner. Those bitten by the serpent looked at the bronze serpent and they can see that they are healed from the bite. But when you know you are a sinner, you believe in Jesus, how do you know that you are saved?
So the difference between being saved from snake bites and saved from sin is that snake bites are physical and obvious. When you are bitten by a snake, you are bitten by a snake. When the snake bite healed, it is healed.
Sins are spiritual and you continue to sin in your flesh after salvation. While your belief changed your standing with God, it may not be so obvious to you that you are already saved.
The people spoke against God and Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food."
The LORD sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.
So the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove the serpents from us." And Moses interceded for the people.
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live."
And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived. (Numbers 21:4-9 NASB)
Fiery serpents bit the people and many people died, but anyone who were bitten looked to the bronze serpent shall live. First, the people were bitten by the fiery serpent and they realized that they will die. They requested for a solution and were told to look at the bronze serpent. Those who believed, looked, and were saved.
"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. (John 3:14-15 NASB)
When fiery serpents bite you, you know. But you may not know that you are a sinner. Those bitten by the serpent looked at the bronze serpent and they can see that they are healed from the bite. But when you know you are a sinner, you believe in Jesus, how do you know that you are saved?
So the difference between being saved from snake bites and saved from sin is that snake bites are physical and obvious. When you are bitten by a snake, you are bitten by a snake. When the snake bite healed, it is healed.
Sins are spiritual and you continue to sin in your flesh after salvation. While your belief changed your standing with God, it may not be so obvious to you that you are already saved.
Monday, July 12, 2010
The Blood on the Lintel and Doorposts
You shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and apply some of the blood that is in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts; and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning. For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you (Exodus 12:22-23 NASB).
Every first born in the land of Egypt shall die. How could any first born be saved? There must be the blood of the lamb on the lintel and door posts. When God sees the blood, He will pass over the house. Any first born in Egypt at that time who believed and do exactly the same shall be saved. It does not matter if he is a Hebrew or an Egyptian. Any house without the blood, the first born shall be slain. It does not matter if he is a Hebrew or an Egyptian. This salvation is also available to the Pharaoh, but he did not believe.
Every first born in the land of Egypt shall die. How could any first born be saved? There must be the blood of the lamb on the lintel and door posts. When God sees the blood, He will pass over the house. Any first born in Egypt at that time who believed and do exactly the same shall be saved. It does not matter if he is a Hebrew or an Egyptian. Any house without the blood, the first born shall be slain. It does not matter if he is a Hebrew or an Egyptian. This salvation is also available to the Pharaoh, but he did not believe.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Noah's Ark
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith (Hebrews 11:7 KJV).
Friday, July 9, 2010
God's Will and Jonah
Everyone does God's will. Some do it willing, others unwillingly. There are those who do it by opposing it, and there are those who do it unknowingly.
Daniel and Paul did God's will willingly and against great odds. Jonah did God's will unwillingly. Satan is doing God's will by opposing it. Most people in the world do God's will everyday unknowingly.
The word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.” But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD (Jonah 1:1-3 NASB).
But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; (Matthew 12:39 NASB).
God asked Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach. Jonah disobeyed God and went in the opposite direction from Nineveh, to Tarshish. Jonah is not doing God's will, or is he? If he did not flee from the presence of the LORD, he would not be swallowed by a big fish for three days and three nights. If he was not swallowed by the fish, there would be no "sign of Jonah the prophet" for our Lord Jesus to quote.
Daniel and Paul did God's will willingly and against great odds. Jonah did God's will unwillingly. Satan is doing God's will by opposing it. Most people in the world do God's will everyday unknowingly.
The word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.” But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD (Jonah 1:1-3 NASB).
But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; (Matthew 12:39 NASB).
God asked Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach. Jonah disobeyed God and went in the opposite direction from Nineveh, to Tarshish. Jonah is not doing God's will, or is he? If he did not flee from the presence of the LORD, he would not be swallowed by a big fish for three days and three nights. If he was not swallowed by the fish, there would be no "sign of Jonah the prophet" for our Lord Jesus to quote.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Life Bible-Presbyterian Church wins suit against FEBC
Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers? (1 Corinthians 6:1-6 NASB).
A difference in doctrines over VPP led to a dispute between the Life Bible-Presbyterian Church and the Far Eastern Bible College, which had shared the same premises in Gilstead Road since the 1960s. The dispute led to a court battle when the church filed a suit in 2008 against the directors of the college to evict the school. On 30 June 2010, High Court judge Judith Prakash ruled in favour of Life B-P Church. Justice Prakash ruled that the college was a separate entity from the 1962 one as it had a different constitution which mentions the new VPP doctrine. She noted that the courts have recognised that doctrine is fundamental to the character of a religious charitable body. So the 2004 college cannot benefit from the funds that were raised in the names of the church and the original college. The claims of the FEBC Board of Directors against the Church were dismissed with costs. Adapted from this article from Singapore Law Watch.
Do not say, "I will repay evil"; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you (Proverbs 20:22 NASB).
Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD (Psalm 27 :14 NASB).
Wait for the LORD and keep His way, And He will exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you will see it (Psalm 37:34 NASB).
Now he waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him. So Saul said, “Bring to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him and to greet him. But Samuel said, “What have you done?” (1 Samuel 13:8-11 NASB).
Waiting on the Lord can be very trying. But if you do not wait, you could become like king Saul, doing the wrong things for a right cause.
A difference in doctrines over VPP led to a dispute between the Life Bible-Presbyterian Church and the Far Eastern Bible College, which had shared the same premises in Gilstead Road since the 1960s. The dispute led to a court battle when the church filed a suit in 2008 against the directors of the college to evict the school. On 30 June 2010, High Court judge Judith Prakash ruled in favour of Life B-P Church. Justice Prakash ruled that the college was a separate entity from the 1962 one as it had a different constitution which mentions the new VPP doctrine. She noted that the courts have recognised that doctrine is fundamental to the character of a religious charitable body. So the 2004 college cannot benefit from the funds that were raised in the names of the church and the original college. The claims of the FEBC Board of Directors against the Church were dismissed with costs. Adapted from this article from Singapore Law Watch.
Do not say, "I will repay evil"; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you (Proverbs 20:22 NASB).
Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD (Psalm 27 :14 NASB).
Wait for the LORD and keep His way, And He will exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you will see it (Psalm 37:34 NASB).
Now he waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him. So Saul said, “Bring to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him and to greet him. But Samuel said, “What have you done?” (1 Samuel 13:8-11 NASB).
Waiting on the Lord can be very trying. But if you do not wait, you could become like king Saul, doing the wrong things for a right cause.
Friday, June 25, 2010
North Korean live telecast loss to Portugal
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:13 KJV).
Habitual liars usually cannot perceive truth well. North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il probably thought that his soccer team could tear Portugal to shreds after losing to mighty Brazil by just one goal. He decided to let his people watched the glory of his team beating the daylights out of Portugal live on television. Instead, Portugal beat the daylights out of his team. Depending on what bullshit he fed the people before the match, the defeat may open the eyes of his people to the truth.
When the window of truth shines on the regime of deception, it may spell its doom. Never underestimate what a live television broadcast may do. It is truth.
Habitual liars usually cannot perceive truth well. North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il probably thought that his soccer team could tear Portugal to shreds after losing to mighty Brazil by just one goal. He decided to let his people watched the glory of his team beating the daylights out of Portugal live on television. Instead, Portugal beat the daylights out of his team. Depending on what bullshit he fed the people before the match, the defeat may open the eyes of his people to the truth.
When the window of truth shines on the regime of deception, it may spell its doom. Never underestimate what a live television broadcast may do. It is truth.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
The sin of Jeroboam the son of Nebat
Jeroboam was the son of Nebat is the man who made Israel sin.
What did Jeroboam do?
Today, many religions featured Jesus. He may be God or prophet, but He is not worshipped according to the Bible. Like Israelites of old, people think that all these religions are Christianity. However, in God's eyes, they are evil. All the kings of Israel are " evil in the LORD's sight" because they "departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin".
What did Jeroboam do?
- He made two golden calves and set them in Bethel and Dan (1 Kings 12:28-29);
- And he made houses on high places (1 Kings 12:31);
- He made priests from among all the people who were not of the sons of Levi (1 Kings 12:31);
- He devised his own feast on the fifteenth day in the eighth month(1 Kings 12:33).
Today, many religions featured Jesus. He may be God or prophet, but He is not worshipped according to the Bible. Like Israelites of old, people think that all these religions are Christianity. However, in God's eyes, they are evil. All the kings of Israel are " evil in the LORD's sight" because they "departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin".
Friday, June 18, 2010
Jeroboam II and Uzziah
Jeroboam II did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 14:24). However, the LORD saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter and there was no helper for Israel (2 Kings 14:26), He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash (2 Kings 14:27). He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah (2 Kings 14:25).
In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam II, king of Israel, Uzziah became the king of Judah. He did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done (2 Kings 15:3, 2 Chronicles 26:4). He was successful in his wars and he became very strong (2 Chronicles 26:6-15). But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense (2 Chronicles 26:16). Leprosy broke out on his forehead and he was a leper to the day of his death (2 Chronicles 26:19-21).
What can we learn from these two kings?
First, we learn that God may save through evil kings. Jeroboam II was an evil king who did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat (2 Kings 14:24). But the northern kingdom was at her greatest prosperity under the rule of Jeroboam II. God was hoping that some may repent and He sent the prophets Amos and Hosea to preach to them, not about prosperity, but about the righteousness of God. However, Israel would not repent. The northern kingdom would be destroyed (722 BC) within 40 years after Jeroboam II’s death in 753 BC. Thus when we see some worldly churches prospering and having large numbers, do not think that God is truly blessing the church. God in His mercy is temporarily staying His hand of judgement, hoping that some may repent.
Uzziah was a good king. That meant that he worshipped the true God. His kingdom also prosper, but not as much as Jeroboam II's kingdom. Jeroboam II worshiped the calves set up by Jeroboam the son of Nebat but he died peacefully. Uzziah usurped the priests’ function and he became a leper to the day of his death. Churches led by true Christians may not be as large or as properous as some mega-churches. However, God will still bless them in obvious ways. However, God is stricter with the leaders of these churches. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth (Hebrews 12:6 KJV). If you are chastened by the Lord, it is a proof that you are His child.
In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam II, king of Israel, Uzziah became the king of Judah. He did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done (2 Kings 15:3, 2 Chronicles 26:4). He was successful in his wars and he became very strong (2 Chronicles 26:6-15). But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense (2 Chronicles 26:16). Leprosy broke out on his forehead and he was a leper to the day of his death (2 Chronicles 26:19-21).
What can we learn from these two kings?
First, we learn that God may save through evil kings. Jeroboam II was an evil king who did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat (2 Kings 14:24). But the northern kingdom was at her greatest prosperity under the rule of Jeroboam II. God was hoping that some may repent and He sent the prophets Amos and Hosea to preach to them, not about prosperity, but about the righteousness of God. However, Israel would not repent. The northern kingdom would be destroyed (722 BC) within 40 years after Jeroboam II’s death in 753 BC. Thus when we see some worldly churches prospering and having large numbers, do not think that God is truly blessing the church. God in His mercy is temporarily staying His hand of judgement, hoping that some may repent.
Uzziah was a good king. That meant that he worshipped the true God. His kingdom also prosper, but not as much as Jeroboam II's kingdom. Jeroboam II worshiped the calves set up by Jeroboam the son of Nebat but he died peacefully. Uzziah usurped the priests’ function and he became a leper to the day of his death. Churches led by true Christians may not be as large or as properous as some mega-churches. However, God will still bless them in obvious ways. However, God is stricter with the leaders of these churches. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth (Hebrews 12:6 KJV). If you are chastened by the Lord, it is a proof that you are His child.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Heavy
A 5-kg bag of rice is not heavy to me. For my daughter, that bag is heavy, because she herself only weigh about 25 kg. So if we pass a law on the definition of heavy, what should it be?
Monday, May 3, 2010
Pray Straight to the Point
When we pray, we sometimes use very roundabout expressions; we do not come straight to the point; we seem to imagine that a kind of religious etiquette forbids us from speaking plainly at the throne of grace. I am persuaded that this notion is altogether wrong; and instead of God approving this mode of speaking to him in prayer, he would much rather have us speak to him as a child speaks to his earthly father, — respectfully, reverently, remembering that he is in heaven, and we are on earth, yet simply and plainly, for our Heavenly Father needs no garnishing of our speech; and the poor tawdry flowers of eloquence, with which some of our brethren at times adorn their prayers, must be displeasing to God rather than acceptable to him.
From Jacob’s Model Prayer by Charles Haddon Spurgeon, a sermon published on Thursday, October 18th, 1906, delivered at The Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington on Lord’s Day evening, June 16th, 1867.
From Jacob’s Model Prayer by Charles Haddon Spurgeon, a sermon published on Thursday, October 18th, 1906, delivered at The Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington on Lord’s Day evening, June 16th, 1867.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Show thee great and mighty things
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not (Jeremiah 33:3 KJV).
I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it (Psalm 81:10 KJV).
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32 KJV)
Ruth went to the field of Boaz, expecting to get a handful of barley, but instead, she found a husband.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Unbelievers can perform miracles in Jesus's Name
Matthew 7:21-23 (New American Standard Bible)
Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'
Numbers 24:2 (New American Standard Bible)
And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe ; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
Many miracles were performed by money loving pastors. These miracles are performed in Jesus's Name. But on the day of judgement, Jesus will deny them. We already have an example in the Old Testament, where the prophet Balaam, who is rejected by God, although he is a true prophet who prophesied in God's name.
Balaam is a warning to all the money loving miracle working pastors, who "loved the wages of unrighteousness" (2 Peter 2:15-16).
Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'
Numbers 24:2 (New American Standard Bible)
And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe ; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
Many miracles were performed by money loving pastors. These miracles are performed in Jesus's Name. But on the day of judgement, Jesus will deny them. We already have an example in the Old Testament, where the prophet Balaam, who is rejected by God, although he is a true prophet who prophesied in God's name.
Balaam is a warning to all the money loving miracle working pastors, who "loved the wages of unrighteousness" (2 Peter 2:15-16).
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