Be of Good Cheer - We know Where We are Going

I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.' (Isaiah 46:10 NIV)

The world faces uncertainty. As 2018 comes to a close, there are so much uncertainty - politics, economics, climate, religious tensions. The world do not know what is ahead in 2019.

But it should not be so with the Christians. Our God knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). And He had told us what is going to happen (Amos 3:7).

At the macro level, we know how the end is going to be. From the prophets Ezekiel and Daniel and also the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John, we know that Israel will be restored (done), there will be seven years of tribulation (coming) and followed by the millennium rule by Jesus the Anointed One (coming).

At our personal level, we know we have eternal life if we die (1 John 5:12). If we do not die, we will be raptured before the seven years of tribulation (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33 KJV)

Meaningless

Found that I wrote this in my Facebook last year:

Christmas is meaningless without Christ. Christ is meaningless if people can be saved without Him.

Everlasting Gospel

And I saw another angel flying through the sky, carrying the eternal Good News to proclaim to the people who belong to this world - to every nation, tribe, language, and people. "Fear God," he shouted. "Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water." (Revelation 14:6-7 NLT)

This is the eternal Gospel:

1. There is a God;
2. He created all things;
3. He will judge all men;
4. Fear, glorify and worship Him.

My interest in God started when I read the Bible for the first time. I became aware of the fact that there could be a God who created the heavens and the earth. And I thought that the Bible describes this God appropriately. But I did not become a Christian straightaway. I became a Buddhist instead. It would be another few months before I became a Christian.

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: "Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." (Acts 14:14-17 NIV)

So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: "Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: 'To an Unknown God.' This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I'm telling you about.
"He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn't live in man-made temples, and human hands can't serve his needs - for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.
"His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him - though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' And since this is true, we shouldn't think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.
"God overlooked people's ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:22-31 NLT)

Birth of Jesus - Predicted And Fulfilled

Now listen and understand! Seven sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of seven will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until a ruler - the Anointed One - comes. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, despite the perilous times. (Daniel 9:25 NLT)

Then I said, "Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures: (Psalm 40:7 NLT)

Long Jesus was born, the Old Testament predicted His time of birth (Daniel 9:25), His place of birth (Micah 5:2) and His special birth by a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). His life was written before He was born (Psalm 40:7).

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2 KJV)

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14 KJV)

God's Dealings With Men

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, (1 Timothy 2:5 ESV)

People are ignorant; need Word of God through prophets;
People are guilty; need to offer atonement for sin through priests;
People are rebellious; need enforcement of law through kings.

Under the old covenant, God gave temporary prophets, priests and kings.
Under the new covenant, Jesus is the true prophet, priest and king.

Prophets are called; priests are consecrated and kings are crowned.

From Rev Stephen Schaefer, JSM Church Camp 2018.

Praying For Salvation of Loved Ones

How come we can pray for the salvation of our loved ones and for all people? On what basis can we do that?

1. Because God desires all people to be saved
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? (Ezekiel 18:23 ESV)
Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?' (Ezekiel 33:11 NIV)
What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. (Matthew 18:12-14 NIV)
This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:3-4 ESV)
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 ESV)

2. Because God had made provision for all to be saved
He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2 ESV)
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. (Titus 2:11 NIV)

Nature of Sin - Transactional or Infectious?

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned. (Romans 5:12 CSB)

Is sin transactional or infectious?

Some people believe that sin is transactional. Good works can cancel bad works. At the end of life on judgement day, somebody will place your good works and bad works on a balance and see which is heavier.

The Bible see sin as infectious. Sin spread like a disease. If someone with SARS enter a crowded lift and sneeze, he will infect all the people in the lift with the disease. Some may die from the disease because of the sneeze, and many more will be infected by those infected in the lift.

Just as a disease need a cure, sin also need to be cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

But there is a great difference between Adam's sin and God's gracious gift. 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)

Devil Can Quote Scriptures

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 one of the temptations, the devil quoted scripture to tempt our Lord Jesus. But the Lord used scriptures to fend off all three temptations. Truly the Word is the sword. It is the only offensive weapon in the armoury of God.

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17 NIV)

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 ESV)

God's Grace vs Buddhist Universal Gateway 應化身

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. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

People always ask me, "Isn't it unfair for those who do not have a chance to hear about Jesus to go to hell?" But the Bible state very clearly, salvation is by the "grace of God" (Ephesians 2:8).

It turned out that other religions also have the same problem. An European living one thousand years ago in Europe would never heard of Buddhism. So the poor guy cannot achieve nirvana! But Buddhism has this unproven process of reincarnation and they also came up with another unproven method of how the Buddhist message is spread to other regions.

Below is a quote taken from "妙法蓮華經 觀世音菩薩普門品 The Universal Gateway Of Guanyin Bodhisattva":

QUOTE
4.無盡意菩薩白佛言。世尊。觀世音菩薩。云何遊此娑婆世界。云何而為眾生說法。方便之力。其事云何。
佛告無盡意菩薩。善男子。若有國土眾生。應以佛身得度者。觀世音菩薩。即現佛身而為說法。應以辟支佛身得度者。即現辟支佛身而為說法。應以聲聞身得度者。即現聲聞身而為說法。
應以梵王身得度者。即現梵王身而為說法。應以帝釋身得度者。即現帝釋身而為說法。應以自在天身得度者。即現自在天身而為說法。應以大自在天身得度者。即現大自在天身而為說法。
應以天大將軍身得度者。即現天大將軍身而為說法。應以毗沙門身得度者。即現毗沙門身而為說法。應以小王身得度者。即現小王身而為說法。應以長者身得度者。即現長者身而為說法。
5.應以居士身得度者。即現居士身而為說法。應以宰官身得度者。即現宰官身而為說法。應以婆羅門身得度者。即現婆羅門身而為說法。應以比丘。比丘尼。優婆塞。優婆夷身得度者。即現比丘。比丘尼。優婆塞。優婆夷身而為說法。
應以長者。居士。宰官。婆羅門。婦女身得度者。即現婦女身而為說法。應以童男。童女身得度者。即現童男。童女身而為說法。
應以天龍。夜叉。乾闥婆。阿修羅。迦樓羅。緊那羅。摩睺羅伽。人非人等身得度者。即皆現之而為說法。應以執金剛神得度者。即現執金剛神而為說法。
無盡意。是觀世音菩薩。成就如是功德。以種種形。遊諸國土。度脫眾生。是故汝等。應當一心供養觀世音菩薩。
4.Inexhaustible Intention Bodhisattva said to the Buddha, "World Honored One, why does Guanyin Bodhisattva journey in this saha world? How does he preach the Dharma to sentient beings? How does he utilize expedient means?"
The Buddha said to Inexhaustible Intention Bodhisattva, "Good man, if there were living beings on this earth who would be liberated by a buddha, then Guanyin Bodhisattva would manifest as a buddha to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by a pratyeka-buddha, he manifests as a pratyeka-buddha to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by a sravaka, he appears as a sravaka to preach the Dharma.
"To those who would be saved by King Brahma, he appears as King Brahma to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by King Shakra, he appears as King Shakra to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by an isvara, he appears as an isvara to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by a mahesvara, he appears as a mahesvara to preach the Dharma.
"To those who would be saved by a great heavenly general, he appears as a great heavenly general to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by a vaisravana, he appears as a vaisravana to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by a minor king, he appears as a minor king to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by an elder, he appears as an elder to preach the Dharma.
5."To those who would be saved by a householder, he appears as a householder to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by a chief minister, he appears as a chief minister to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by a Brahman, he appears as a Brahman to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by a bhiksu, bhiksuni, upasaka, or upasika, he appears as a bhiksu, bhiksuni, upasaka, or upasika to preach the Dharma.
"To those who would be saved by the wife of an elder, chief minister, or Brahman, he appears as the wife of an elder, chief minister, or Brahman to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by a boy or girl, he appears as a boy or girl to preach the Dharma.
"To those who would be saved by a heavenly being, dragon, yaksha, gandharva, asura, or garuda, he appears as a heavenly being, dragon, yaksha, gandharva, asura, or garuda to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by a kimnara, mahoraga, human, or non-human, he appears as a kimnara, mahorage, human, or non-human to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by a vajrapani, he appears as a vajrapani to preach the Dharma. 
"Inexhaustible Intention, Guanyin Bodhisattva has succeeded in acquiring such merits and can use myriad forms to go about the world to save sentient beings. Because of this you should all wholeheartedly make offerings to Guanyin Bodhisattva.
UNQUOTE

This is the scripture in a YouTube cartoon "觀世音菩薩普門品--化身救渡".

The Lotus Sutra describes Avalokiteśvara as a bodhisattva who can take the form of any type of God. A total of 33 different manifestations of Avalokitasvara are described, including female manifestations, all to suit the minds of various beings (adapted from Wikipedia).

Is Avalokiteśvara a real historical person like the historical Buddha? No idea. With so many manifestations, it is really difficult to prove. Since no proof is needed, some Buddhists believed that Jesus is a manifestation of Avalokiteśvara for the Western people.

But the Bible does not pretend that all will be saved. Salvation is by the grace of God. Those who do not know Jesus will be judged justly by their works.

For this is the statement of the promise: At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son. And not only that, but Rebekah conceived children through one man, our father Isaac. For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand - not from works but from the one who calls - she was told, The older will serve the younger. As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.
What should we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not! For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy. (Romans 9:9-16 CSB)

Life And Death; Good And Wicked

I have always emphasize that Christianity is the only religion in the world where the good people go to hell and wicked people go to heaven. I say it again and again because people does not seem to get it.

Let us look at this man (identified as a ruler in Luke 18:18) who came to Jesus as an illustration.

As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

"Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother."
He said to him, "Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth."

Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, "You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions. (Mark 10:17-22 CSB)

This man honoured his parents, did not kill, did not tell lies, did not commit adultery. He was a good man. But Jesus asked him one question and he went away without eternal life.

At the judgement seat, Jesus is going to ask all the good people on earth one question and they will all be sad. They will not inherit eternal life.

Who are the wicked that go to heaven? The most prominent was the dying thief crucified beside Jesus. He was a thief. He confessed that he was punished justly, for he was getting what he deserved (Luke 23:41). He was a wicked man. But Jesus said to him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).

The Bible is a big book with many words. Many times, it seems to tell us that the good will go to heaven and the wicked go to hell. But buried deep in the Bible, right at the beginning, in the book of Genesis, is this verse that tells us God's KPI:

Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6 NIV)

The righteousness of Abraham was credited to him by God, not something that he earned. It was there from the beginning, not something invented in the New Testament.

Finally, let us listen to the words of the most wicked sinner on earth (by his own confession in writing), none other than Paul the Apostle. Yes, SAINT Paul, the MOST WICKED man on earth.

This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" - and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:15-16 NLT)

So let all the good people take heed. There is none so good that they do not need the saviour.

And let all the wicked people rejoice at this good news from Jesus Christ. There is no one so bad that he cannot be saved by the blood of Jesus.

Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? (Ezekiel 18:23 ESV)

Some Incomprehensible Logic of Quran's Argument

In this YouTube video "Who can be more stupid than Allah any watch and see why", the narrator argued that the logic of Quran 3:65 is stupid.

O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Why do you dispute about Ibrahim (Abraham), while the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) were not revealed till after him? Have you then no sense? (Quran 3:65 Mohsin Khan translation)

We can always argue about those who came before us because we know our past. So it is only logical the Christians and Jews can argue about Abraham because they came after him. We cannot argue about people that may appear after us, because we do not know who they will be.

Wives - Mohammed and Other Muslims

Muslims cannot have more than four wives.
And if you fear that you cannot act equitably towards orphans, then marry such women as seem good to you, two and three and four; but if you fear that you will not do justice (between them), then (marry) only one or what your right hands possess; this is more proper, that you may not deviate from the right course. (Quran 4:3 Shakir version)

Mohammed can have many wives as he desired.
You may put off whom you please of them, and you may take to you whom you please, and whom you desire of those whom you had separated provisionally; no blame attaches to you; this is most proper, so that their eyes may be cool and they may not grieve, and that they should be pleased, all of them with what you give them, and Allah knows what is in your hearts; and Allah is Knowing, Forbearing. (Quran 33:51 Shakir version)

Narrated Aisha:
I used to look down upon those ladies who had given themselves to Allah's Apostle and I used to say, "Can a lady give herself (to a man)?" But when Allah revealed: "You (O Muhammad) can postpone (the turn of) whom you will of them (your wives), and you may receive any of them whom you will;
and there is no blame on you if you invite one whose turn you have set aside (temporarily).' (33.51) I said (to the Prophet), "I feel that your Lord hastens in fulfilling your wishes and desires."
Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Number 311

Trinity - Bible vs Koran

Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One (אֶחָֽד). (Deuteronomy 6:4 HCSB)

You cannot find the word "Trinity" in the Bible. Why? Because there is no such thing. "Trinity" is a term invented by lazy theologians to give one word to describe what the Bible affirmed about God:

1. God is One;
2. The Father is God;
3. The Son is God;
4. The Spirit is God;
5. The Father, the Son and the Spirit is distinct (that is, the Father is not the Son, the Father is not the Spirit, the Son is not the Father, the Son is not the Spirit, the Spirit is not the Father, the Spirit is not the Son).

The Bible has very carefully avoided associating God with any number other than one. Search the Bible and you will know the I am writing the truth. We should never go beyond what the Bible says.

But you can find the word "Trinity" in the Koran!

People of the Book, do not exceed the limits of devotion in your religion or say anything about God which is not the Truth. Jesus, son of Mary, is only a Messenger of God, His Word, and a spirit from Him whom He conveyed to Mary. So have faith in God and His Messengers. Do not say that there are three gods. It is better for you to stop believing in the Trinity. There is only One God. He is too glorious to give birth to a son. To God belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth. God alone is a Sufficient Guardian for all. (Quran 4:171 Muhammad Sarwar version)

Koran says Jesus is the Word of God.
Koran says Jesus is a spirit from God.
Koran says do not believe in Trinity.

Calculating Gabriel's Formula of 483 Years - Time of Messiah's Arrival - 2

Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince will be seven weeks and 62 weeks. It will be rebuilt with a plaza and a moat, but in difficult times. After those 62 weeks the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing. (Daniel 9:25-26a HCSB)

The decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem
There are four decrees to consider:

1. The decree of Cyrus to rebuild the temple (2 Chronicles 36:22-23, Ezra 1:1-4);
2. The decree of Darius I to rebuild the temple (Ezra 6:1-12);
3. The decree of Artaxerxes I to rebuild the temple (Ezra 7:12-26);
4. The decree of Artaxerxes II to rebuild Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1-8).

Two Calculations
This is the calculation according to this website "A Mathematical Error with the Bible?"
QUOTE
The commandment to restore and build Jerusalem was given by Artaxerxes Longimanus on March 14, 445 b.c. (The emphasis in the verse on "the street" and "the wall" was to avoid confusion with other earlier mandates confined to rebuilding the Temple.) When we examine the period between March 14, 445 b.c. and April 6, 32 a.d., and correct for leap years, we discover that it is 173,880 days exactly, to the very day!
Here are the calculations.
March 14th, 445 B.C. to March 14th, 32 A.D. is 476 years.
(1 B.C. to 1 A.D. is one year, There is no year zero)
476 years x 365 days per year = 173,740 days
Add for leap years = 116 days (Leap years do not occur in century years unless divisible by 400 [therefore, we must add three less leap years in four centuries])
March 14th to April 6 th = 24 days
total = 173,880
This is the only occasion that Jesus presented Himself as King. It occurred on April 6, 32 a.d.
UNQUOTE

This is another calculation - "Was Jesus' Arrival Accurately Predicted in the Bible? – Today's New Reason to Believe"
QUOTE
Now we're ready to do some math to determine if Gabriel did in fact predict Jesus's arrival. We'll start by determining how many days are in 483 lunar years: 360 x 483 = 173,880 days. Next, we'll convert those days back into solar years: 173,880 ÷ 365.2422 = 476.068 years. After converting the decimal part (0.068) to days (0.068 x 365.2422 = 24.8 days), the time prophesized for the Messiah to arrive comes out to be 476 years and 25 days.
Adding this number to March 5, 444 BC - the date on which the decree to rebuild Jerusalem was issued - brings us to March 30, AD 33, the very day of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Is this match not remarkable? The remarkable accuracy of the predictions in the prophecy in Daniel [assuming the estimates are correctly interpreted and accurate] supports the truth of the prophecy, which in turn builds confidence in the authority and reliability of the Bible.
UNQUOTE

Pioneer Generation

God appeared to the pioneer generation of both covenants, old and new.

God appeared to the Israelites who left Egypt for Canaan under Moses.

On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled. Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently. As the blast of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered his reply. The Lord came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses climbed the mountain. (Exodus 19:16-20 NLT)

When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram's horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear. And they said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we will listen. But don't let God speak directly to us, or we will die!" (Exodus 20:18-19 NLT)

The Apostles and the first generation of believers saw Jesus and witnessed His resurrection.

Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? (John 14:9 ESV)

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV)

Christianity is not only about the message, but also the authentication and transmission process. After all, anyone can claim to be a prophet, but not many can descend on Mount Sinai with fire and resurrect from the dead.

IAAA

Anyone taken CISSP? Do you know IAAA? Identification, Authentication, Authorization and Accountability.

Identification
God said He is the One who created the heavens and earth.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 NIV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:1-3 NIV)

Authentication
God authenticates Himself by creating a nation called Israel, by performing signs and wonders and resurrection of the dead publicly and by prophesying the future. Anyone can write a book and call himself a prophet. But only God can create a nation.
Or has a god attempted to go and take a nation as his own out of another nation, by trials, signs, wonders, and war, by a strong hand and an outstretched arm, by great terrors, as the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? (Deuteronomy 4:34 CSB)
You saw with your own eyes the great trials and those great signs and wonders. (Deuteronomy 29:3 CSB)
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2 Peter 1:16 KJV)
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. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. (1 Corinthians 15:4-8 NLT)
Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen. (Isaiah 44:7 ESV)
I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: My plan will take place, and I will do all My will. (Isaiah 46:10 HCSB)
I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. (John 13:19 ESV)
And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. (John 14:29 ESV)

Authorization
The basis of God's authority is lies in the fact that He is God, He is the creator of all things and He is the redeemer of those He called.
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11 KJV)
I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. (Exodus 20:2 CSB)
You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 18:4 ESV)
Don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 CSB)

Accountability
For most system, accountability is the log of the events or transactions done. For God, things are slightly different. The event log of God is His prophecies of things yet to happen.
Indeed, the Sovereign LORD never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7 NLT)
And whether they listen or fail to listen--for they are a rebellious people--they will know that a prophet has been among them. (Ezekiel 2:5 NIV)
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11 KJV)
Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, (Psalm 40:7 KJV)
Then I said, "See--it is written about me in the scroll--I have come to do your will, O God." (Hebrews 10:7 CSB)
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (Matthew 5:17 NIV)
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8 ESV)

Creation Myths

Secular humanist believed that the Bible's account of creation in Genesis is the same as other creation myths. This article "The Top 10 Intelligent Designs (or Creation Myths)" is an example of such belief. They asked this question, "If they allow one belief system to be taught, surely they must also teach others?" Below is the full context of the quote:

QUOTE
Several parents won a lawsuit against a Pennsylvania school district in 2005 that had added the controversial theory of "intelligent design" to its curriculum. Unlike the theory of evolution which is taught at most schools as a fact-based science, "intelligent design" -- as argued by the plaintiffs -- was nothing more than a philosophy predicated on the Judeo-Christian belief that the logical sequences found in nature are not random happenings or surprising mutations, but deftly managed events created by a greater omniscient and omnipresent intelligence with a specific plan. In short, the work of God. A federal judge thought otherwise. But therein lies the rub: Which god? When the founding fathers established the Constitution of the United States, they chose to include the separation of church and state. This was to ensure that the state-sanctioned religious persecutions that plagued much of Europe during the 16th century would not despoil the young, yet grand experiment in democracy that was to become this Republic. Scientific research has come a long way since Charles Darwin first posited the concept of "natural selection." In the intervening years, humanity has learned much about how we became the dominant species on the planet, how the Earth and the solar system were formed and the ever-changing development of the Universe. Over that time, how we understand the theory of evolution has also changed. Scientists now think that there is an intrinsic logic to our reality, that there are absolutes, laws of nature. Much remains a mystery, and as one question is answered, many others arise. The question that faced Pennsylvania's Dover School District was whether or not the imposition of one creation belief on a multi-ethnic, secular student body is in keeping with the law that prohibits the creation of a state religion. If they allow one belief system to be taught, surely they must also teach others? To help out with this dilemma, LiveScience presents a list of those Creation Myths that helped define civilizations both past and present...
UNQUOTE

The article went on to list the top 10 "Intelligent Designs (or Creation Myths)" to demonstrate the problem if all these "myths" were to be taught.

1. Genesis of the Judeo-Christian and Islamic Faiths
2. Greek
3. Hindu
4. Japan
5. China
6. Aztecs
7. Ancient Egypt
8. Babylon
9. Zoroastrianism of Ancient Persia
10. Norse

Performance

I can do more by my Lord the creator of heavens and earth than by my own strength. I think this is simple logic.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. (Psalm 118:8 ESV)
Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us. (Isaiah 8:10 NIV)
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31 ESV)

Facebook Blocked My Account

This morning Facebook lock me out of my own account because they suspect someone is posting on my behalf. Wonder which post caused them to think of this?

Facebook has rejected a Singapore government request to remove fake news yet the Facebook dictator Zuckerberg try to decide which post of mine is malicious and wanted to save me from myself.

In every good there is evil and every evil there is good. If even God decides not to remove fake news from the world, who are we to do that?

"The farmer's workers went to him and said, 'Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?' "'An enemy has done this!' the farmer exclaimed. "'Should we pull out the weeds?' they asked. "'No,' he replied, 'you'll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.'" (Matthew 13:27-30 NLT)

God's Promise to Israel Through Jeremiah

The Lord has made a promise to Israel.
He promises it as the one who fixed the sun to give light by day and the moon and stars to give light by night. He promises it as the one who stirs up the sea so that its waves roll. He promises it as the one who is known as the Lord who rules over all.
The Lord affirms, "The descendants of Israel will not cease forever to be a nation in my sight. That could only happen if the fixed ordering of the heavenly lights were to cease to operate before me."
The Lord says, "I will not reject all the descendants of Israel because of all that they have done. That could only happen if the heavens above could be measured or the foundations of the earth below could all be explored," says the Lord. (Jeremiah 31:35-37 NET)

Three Points To Note

I always see such response to messages, "Noted" or "Noted with thanks". I think there are three important points we ought to note in life.

The first point to note is that death is not the end of consciousness.

What happens after death? Almost nobody has ever come back, except for one Jesus. So I have to based this point on the only One who had came back to life and also on the Bible who tells me that death is not the end of it all.

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, (Hebrews 9:27 ESV)

The next point to note is that you cannot save yourself.

How can that be proven? Simple. Death is the ultimate proof. If anyone can save himself, the first thing he will do is to save himself from physical death. If we cannot overcome death, it is unlikely that we can overcome anything beyond it.

Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe. (Proverbs 28:26 NIV)

The last point to note is only Jesus can save and there is none else.

Almost every religion in the world requires you to do something to save yourself. Only one religion provides salvation because someone did something for you. Jesus saves by dying on the cross on all our behalf. He proved His victory over death by His resurrection. We know we will live because He lives.

so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:28 ESV)

Why did I spend so much time and effort, writing this three points for you to note?

Because there is a second death, an eternity in the fiery lake of burning sulphur. If death is just the end of conscious existence, I would not have bothered to write all these. You live your life and I live mine. And the good news of Jesus Christ is not good news at all and Jesus would have died in vain.

"But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars - their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." (Revelation 21:8 NLT)

Hopefully, you would do more than just responding with "Noted" or "Noted with thanks".

Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" Paul replied, "Short time or long - I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains." (Acts 26:28-29 NIV)

Middle Child Dates Middle Child

I came back from Ho Chi Minh City with my wife and when I stepped into the house, I saw my daughter and another guy from church. He asked permission to date my daughter which I gladly approved.

Bible And Scientific Rules

Three events described in the Bible had great impact on science:

1. Creation;
2. Sin entered the world;
3. The flood.

Without acknowledging these three events, the science of earth's origin cannot progress and will be stuck at its present state of speculation of big bang and evolution.

Creation
The creation was good up to the seventh day. It took six days of implementation and was successfully completed by the end of the sixth day. God rested on the seventh. The production problem caused by sin has to occur after the seventh day. So, at least for the first seven days, the scientific rules that governed the universe was different from today. There is no death and decay.

Sin
When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. (Romans 5:12 NLT)
When sin entered the world, the scientific rules that governed the world changed to cater for death and decay. But many of the good stuff that exist initially still continue. Men lived to almost a thousand years old.

Flood
The world wide flood caused an unprecedented environmental catastrophe. The life span of men dropped rapidly from almost a thousand years to seventy years.

Millennium
The Bible prophesised one more change, that is, the millennium. I am not sure if this has an impact on the scientific rules, but men will resume living to a thousand years. The carnivores will become herbivores and I suppose, death, for humans, plants and animals will be rare.

Forgot My Bag

I have a thanksgiving item to report. I was travelling from Vị Thanh 渭清, Hậu Giang 后江 to Hồ Chí Minh 胡志明 City. After taking a drink at the only rest point along the way, I left my bag with my laptop in the restaurant. Only after travelling quite a while (maybe 30 minutes) before I realized that my bag was not in the car. We told the driver to turn around back to the restaurant and prayed very hard that no one took the bag. Thank God when we reached the restaurant, the bag was still there. We give thanks to our prayer answering God who does not leave His children in a lurch. (BTW, the drinks were nice. We also thank God for that.)

The Present State of the Kingdom of God

Mixed - you cannot tell the difference between true and false believers easily.
He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?' He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' So the servants said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?' But he said, 'No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, "Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn."'" (Matthew 13:24-30 ESV)

Growth - the kingdom started small by ordinary people and grew big and influential.
He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches." (Matthew 13:31-32 ESV)

Potent - a small group of believers can bring great changes to the society they are in.
He told them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened." (Matthew 13:33 ESV)

Closer And Closer

For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. (2 Corinthians 13:8 ESV)

Science is beginning to confirm the Bible. It is getting closer and closer. Time seems to be the major point of disagreement.

Universe has a beginning
Science
The universe was the result of a big bang 13.7 billion years ago.
Bible
The universe was created in six days about 6000 years ago.

All men are descended from one man and all women are descended from one woman
Science
All men are descended from Y-chromosomal Adam (Y-MRCA), estimated to live about 60,000 to 340,000 years ago. He wasn't the only man around, but he was the one whose descendants survived.
All women are descended from Mitochondrial Eve (mt-MRCA) who lived about 200,000 years ago. This doesn't mean she was the first modern woman, rather it indicates that only her descendants survive to the present day.
Bible
All men are descended from Noah (remember the flood?) about 4500 years ago.
All women are descended from Eve about 6000 years ago.

Flood
Science
In a massive genetic study, senior research associate at the Program for the Human Environment at Rockefeller University Mark Stoeckle and University of Basel geneticist David Thaler discovered that virtually 90 percent of all animals on Earth came to being at the same time as humans did some 100,000 to 200,000 years ago.
Bible
All land animals were saved in Noah's ark 4500 years ago. The sea animals were not in the ark since they won't drown. There were no fish or octopus in the ark.

For the word of the LORD holds true, and we can trust everything he does. (Psalm 33:4 NLT)

Genetics - Beginning of the End of Evolution

The discovery of genes and DNA coding is no friend of evolution. But evolutionist still manage to appropriate the findings to their favour.

Evolutionist:
All living things shared the same genetic code, implying a common ancestry!

Creationist:
All living things shared the same genetic code, implying an intelligence using the same code base, as one may expect from a good programmer.

God Bless Those Who Bless Israel

I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (Genesis 12:3 NIV)

Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!" (Genesis 27:29 ESV)

He crouched, he lay down like a lion and like a lioness; who will rouse him up? Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you." (Numbers 24:9 ESV)

The Lord Does Whatever Pleases Him

Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. (Psalm 115:3 NIV)

If I have the power to do whatever pleases me, what will I do? Maybe I will organize a sex orgy. But God cannot do that. So I said, "Ha! there you are, there is a limit to God's power. He cannot do evil."

Then I think again. It is out of my sinful nature that a sex orgy pleases me. If I am as powerful as God, why didn't I think of dying for the sins of the world? Because I am selfish and sinful. I think of pleasing myself first.

God has the power to do whatever pleases Him. But He chose to come in the flesh to die for the sins of the world. Organizing a sex orgy does not please His sinless nature. Because of His sinless nature, whatever that pleases God are the righteous acts and He has the power to do them.

But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does. (Job 23:13 ESV)

All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?" (Daniel 4:35 NIV)

The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths. (Psalm 135:6 NIV)

Nations And Invaders

So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he said, "Because this people have transgressed my covenant that I commanded their fathers and have not obeyed my voice, I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died, in order to test Israel by them, whether they will take care to walk in the way of the LORD as their fathers did, or not." (Judges 2:20-22 ESV)

The invaders of Israel who came and went.
Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greek, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs (Rashidun, Umayyad, Abbasid, Fatimid), Crusaders, Mamelukes, Ottoman, British ...

The Feast of the Trumpets

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52 ESV)

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 ESV)

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." (Revelation 11:15 ESV)

Meritocracy Favours The Elites

For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!
I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin - a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. (Philippians 3:3-6 NLT)

The Apostle Paul gave a list of accomplishment he could have confidence in the flesh:

1. With respect to birth and pedigree, circumcised on the eighth day, from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews;
2. With respect to observing the Law, a Pharisee who strictly obeyed the Law of Moses;
3. With respect to zeal, persecuting the church;
4. With respect to righteousness under the Law, blameless.

For those who believe in work and meritocracy, they must be like Paul, who was not only self-disciplined, hard working, principled and zealous, he was also born of the right parents and pedigree.

Christianity does not favour the elites.

Christianity is for those who are hopeless, those who cannot make it in life. For an elite like Paul, he must give up all the works of the flesh in order to gain the righteousness that is from Christ.

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith - that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:7-11 ESV)

666 And 668

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. (John 6:66 ESV)
These were the people and went on to live their lives and died naturally of disease or old age.

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God." (John 6:68-69 ESV)
This guy who went on to preach Christ and died by crucifixion.

What would your choice be if you were there?

Global Flood Evidence

Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are going camping. They pitch their tent under the stars and go to sleep. In the middle of the night Holmes wakes Watson up: "Watson, look up at the stars, and tell me what you deduce."
Watson: "I see millions of stars and even if a few of those have planets, it's quite likely there are some planets like Earth, and if there are a few planets like Earth out there, there might also be life."
Holmes: "Watson, you idiot, somebody's stolen our tent!"

It is always possible for two person to look at the same thing and come up with completely different conclusions. It all depends on their view or perception. Buddha taught that the first of the eight-fold path is right view. If you hold on to a certain view or convictions, you will interpret observations through that view. I am not sure if Buddha taught this, but the view you hold will blind you to other possibilities. It creates a blind spot for you.

Scientist never looked for soft tissue in dinosaur bones. Their view is the bones are millions of years old. There should be no soft tissue left. This quote taken from Controversial T. Rex Soft Tissue Find Finally Explained:
QUOTE
"The problem is, for 300 years, we thought, 'Well, the organics are all gone, so why should we look for something that's not going to be there?' and nobody looks," she said.
UNQUOTE
So soft tissue in dinosaur bones had to be discovered by accident through a mistake.

A global flood must have left plenty of evidence. But the secular scientist's view is that religions are myths. While the myths may originate from truth or contain some truth, you cannot take the myths as truth and try to prove them. Furthermore, scientists do not allow God to be a factor in science theory. Otherwise, they will find themselves to be theologians, proving or disproving this religion or that religion. Actually scientists are in the business of proving gods to be fakes and superstition, such as thunder god, rain god, wind god, etc, rather than proving god(s) to be true.

Since scientists think that the global flood catastrophe is a myth, so the fossil and geological observations has to be explained in a uniformitarian view. What happened today is used to extrapolate the past. So the geological evidence of the flood may be hiding in plain sight, waiting for a Nobel prize winner. Do you want to be that winner?

Brothers, consider your calling: Not many are wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. (1 Corinthians 1:26 HCSB)

Especially if you are considered by your superiors, peers and inferiors as "not likely to achieve greatness" and "quite ordinary". I heard somewhere that it is better to be lucky than to be good, and that you have to be wise to know that you are lucky.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. (1 Corinthians 1:27 NIV)

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV)

For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Corinthians 1:25 ESV)

Too Much

But Jesus, aware of this, said, "O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." (Matthew 16:8-11 ESV)

How come there are leftovers? Why Jesus cannot create the exact amount of food to feed the people? This is our idea of a great miracle.

That reminds me of another theological argument on the scope of atonement. If Jesus died for all and some are not saved, does that means that the provisioning for redemption is over provided? If that is true, is it less miraculous? God does not know the exact number of people to be saved in advance?

Wait, if we want to doubt, why don't we go all the way to the beginning? God is supposed to know all things in advance. Why did He create Satan and put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden of evil. Didn't He know what will happen later?

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. (Isaiah 55:8 ESV)

Faith And Christian Living

But Jesus, aware of this, said, "O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." (Matthew 16:8-11 ESV)

Faith comes by experience of walking with the Lord. But it really take a lot of time.

The Women in Jesus' Genealogy

Women are normally not mentioned in ancient genealogies. Jewish genealogies are no exception. However, the Apostle Matthew mentioned 5 women in Jesus' genealogy. And see what type of women they were!

1. Tamar (Matthew 1:3), the daughter-in-law who had sex with her father-in-law;
2. Rahab (Matthew 1:5), the Canaanite prostitute;
3. Ruth (Matthew 1:5), the Moabite widow;
4. Bathsheba (Matthew 1:6), the adulteress;
5. Mary (Matthew 1:16), the virgin.

Passing Time

Every now and then, people (especially those who just know me) asked me, "What do you do during your free time? Do you play games?"

From now on, this is how I will reply them, "When I am not sinning, I will try to do something to spread the good news about Jesus Christ, or tell something about the Bible using my phone, FaceBook or blog."

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV)

Wedding At Cana On The Third Day

"On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee (John 2:1)." From which day is this third day counted from? I found some interesting answers from "Jesus - What might 'on the third day' stand for in John 2:1? - Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange".

One answer said that it was the third day of the week. Thus it is Tuesday.
6th day
And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" (John 1:19 ESV)
Sabbath
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29 ESV)
1st day
The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, (John 1:35 ESV)
2nd day
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." (John 1:43 ESV)
3rd day
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. (John 2:1 ESV)

Another answer was that Jesus decided to go to Galilee (John 1:43) and on the third day He arrived at Cana for the wedding.

Evil And Suffering Perspective

"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'
"'An enemy did this,' he replied.
"The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
"'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'" (Matthew 13:27-30 NIV)

"I think God is 100% benevolent but only 80% effective," - Jim Holt
(Tweets by Barnyardstories@BrianJBarnes442 11:11 AM - 2 Sep 2014)

We always hear this question, "If there is a god, why does he allow so much evil and suffering?" But do one put it the other way, "Why did sinful men cause so much evil and suffering in the good world that God had created?"

Only Jesus Saves To The Uttermost

And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43 ESV)

Only Jesus can save the dying thief on the cross.
Buddha said, "Too bad. You have to pay your karmic debt in your next reincarnation. Hopefully you don't add to the debt."
Allah said, "Too bad. Your bad deeds had outweighed the good. You will go to hell unless you die as a martyr."

Only Jesus can save the dying to the uttermost because He died for your sins. The others did nothing to save you. They said platitudes for you to follow. You have to save yourself.

Conversion And Repentance

Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance (μετάνοιαν) toward (εἰς) God, and faith (πίστιν) toward (εἰς) our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21 KJV)

I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. (Acts 20:21 NIV)

Many Christians tell me that conversion begins with repentance and genuine repentance begins with heartfelt conviction of sin.

My personal take on repentance, based on the original Hebrew and Greek word for repentance is that conversion begins with repentance and genuine repentance is realizing who Jesus (God) is.

Many people are aware of their sins. That is why they turn to religions to resolve the issue. But genuine repentance begins with knowing who God is.

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:3 ESV)

Repentance Proven by Fruit

I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God - and prove they have changed by the good things they do. (Acts 26:20 NLT)

Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. (Matthew 3:8 ESV)

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. (Luke 3:8 NIV)

Why God Send Tribulations

Watch Middle East Current Events Update, August 11, 2018. - YouTube from 14:40 to 17:25.

The prosperity of Israel today does not make Israel recognize God. The miracle of God's intervention in Gog and Magog does not make Israel recognize God. Israel will finally recognize the One who they pierced as God in the time of Jacob's trouble.

And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10 ESV)

To My Children - 2

Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward. (Job 5:7 NIV)

God created all things (John 1:3) and is in control of all things (Psalm 135:6). It include the greatest totality (Psalm 147:4) and the minutest detail (Luke 12:7).

Earlier on, I said things can be classified into important things and unimportant things.
Now I want to tell you that events that happened to us also can be classified into two - events that we absolutely have no control and events that we may have full control.
An example of events that we absolutely have no control is our birth.
An example of events that we may have full control is our reaction to events.

You can make many plans, but the LORD's purpose will prevail. (Proverbs 19:21 NLT)

To My Children - 1

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. (1 Timothy 6:7 KJV)

As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? (Ecclesiastes 5:15-16 ESV)

I classify things into important things and unimportant things.

Important things are things we can bring beyond our death.

Unimportant things are things we cannot bring with us when we die.

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (John 5:24 ESV)

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. (John 6:47 ESV)

Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death. (John 8:51 ESV)

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:3 ESV)

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV)

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9 ESV)

As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. (2 Thessalonians 3:13 ESV)

Saved By Grace; Live By Faith

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 ESV)

How shall one live after becoming a Christian? He or she must live by faith in Jesus. We cannot depend on ourselves. The world teaches us to depend on ourselves. "Don't depend too much on anyone in this world. Even your shadow leaves you when you are in darkness." The Bible teaches us to depend on God. We live our lives in flesh by trusting in the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us.

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32 ESV)

Without faith, it is impossible to please Him.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 NASB)

For we are saved by grace to live by faith.

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. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

Note:
In Galatians 2:20, do we live by faith "in the Son (most modern translations)" or "of the Son (KJV)"?
Here are two articles that commented on the above:
Question: Based upon Gal 2:20 ("I live by the faith of the Son of God"), some teach that Christ had to have faith in God...but
Some "Greek", The Faith of Christ in Galatians 2:20 | The Evangelical Calvinist

Where Sin Abounds Grace Much More Abounds

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)

The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. (Luke 18:11 ESV)

The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:20-21 HCSB)

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? (Romans 6:1 NIV)

Christians must always know that when we do good it is by the grace of God and when we do evil there is always forgiveness in Christ.

How Should Christians Live

Coram Deo - to live before the face of God

1. To live in the presence of God
2. To live under the authority of God
3. To live to the glory of God.

Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. (Psalm 51:9 - 11 ESV)

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. (1 Peter 2:13-14 ESV)

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV)

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16 KJV)

But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (Matthew 24:13 ESV)

How Do Christian Live

We can ask four questions about Christian living:

1. What to do? - Instructional specificity
2. Where/when to do it? - Situational specificity
3. Why do it? - Proper motivation
4. How to do it? - By the Spirit

What to do? Where and when to do it?
When I first become a Christian, I wondered what I should do as a Christian. Must I go to church? Must I read the Bible? Is there anything else?

Eventually, I realized that it is not what I do, but a change in attitude and perspective toward life that is most important.
"All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be dominated by anything. (1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV)
"All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up. (1 Corinthians 10:23 ESV)


Why do it?
Christian living is grace motivated. This is how we live.
We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19 ESV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)
For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin's dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin's claims. (Romans 6:6-7 HCSB)
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1 ESV)

Grace despite our sin
Grace destroying the guilt of sin
Grace defeating the power of sin
Grace compelling holiness
Motivating holiness by grace
Saving discipline (chastisement) not equals punishment
Grace is motivation for love of God

How to do it?

1. Knowledge is power;
2. Love is power

Knowledge
Know the imperatives
Know our nature

Our nature
Old nature - not able not to sin (because live for self)
New nature - real change is possible by the Spirit

Love
Sin does not have dominion over us.
However, we sin because we love it.
The power of sin comes from our love for sin.
Solution - the surpassing love of Christ

What about Christian disciplines such as going to church, daily Bible study, prayer etc?
Christian disciplines nourish our love of God, help us recognize the grace of God.
Christian disciplines do not earn God's favour, not a bargaining chip to get things from God or a leverage on God to answer our prayers.

How To Score Full Marks In Mathematics Test

For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. (Ecclesiastes 1:18 KJV)

To score full marks in mathematics test, just answer every question correctly. It sounds simple and logical. So why isn't everyone scoring full marks?

Lack of knowledge - you do not know how to solve the question;
Lack of ability - you know, but you may not know it well enough to solve it within the allotted time.

To be perfect, one just need to do everything right, right view 正見, right intention 正思惟, right speech 正語, right action 正業, right livelihood 正命, right effort 正精進, right mindfulness 正念, right concentration 正定. Then why are we not doing it?

Lack of knowledge - we do not know what is right;
Lack of ability - we know what is right, but do not have the ability to do it perfectly;
Lack of agreement - we know what is defined as right, but disagree with that definition;
Lack of will - we know what is right, but we do not want to do it, we want to do it our way.

For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. (Romans 7:19 ESV)

God's Promise To Abraham, Isaac And Jacob

God's promise to Abraham:
Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Genesis 12:1-3 ESV)

The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you." (Genesis 13:14-17 ESV)

On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites." (Genesis 15:18-21 ESV)

God's promise to Isaac:
And the Lord appeared to him and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." (Genesis 26:2-5 ESV)

God's promise to Israel:
And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, "I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." (Genesis 28:13-15 ESV)

Idol Worship

Hear the word that the Lord speaks to you, O Israel! This is what the Lord says: "Do not act like the other nations, who try to read their future in the stars. Do not be afraid of their predictions, even though other nations are terrified by them. Their ways are futile and foolish. They cut down a tree, and a craftsman carves an idol. They decorate it with gold and silver and then fasten it securely with hammer and nails so it won’t fall over. Their gods are like helpless scarecrows in a cucumber field! They cannot speak, and they need to be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of such gods, for they can neither harm you nor do you any good." (Jeremiah 10:1-5 NLT)

And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven. (Deuteronomy 4:19 ESV)

Ninth of Av 2018

Tisha B'av 2018 (Ninth of Av 2018) fell on the evening of Saturday July 21, and concluded on Sunday evening July 22.

Nothing bad happened to Israel.

Naaman Changed His Mind

But Naaman became angry and stalked away. "I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!" he said. "I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me! Aren't the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn't I wash in them and be healed?" So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.
But his officers tried to reason with him and said, "Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn't you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, 'Go and wash and be cured!'" So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child, and he was healed!
Then Naaman and his entire party went back to find the man of God. They stood before him, and Naaman said, "Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant." (2 Kings 5:11-15 NLT)

The Greek words for repent in New Testament are μετανοέω and μεταμεληθεὶς which mean "I change my mind". The Hebrew word for repent is שׁוּב, which mean "to turn back, return".

Like so many people in the world, general Naaman did not know the true God. He thought that all gods were the same, whether Aramean or Israelite. But after dipping in Jordan, he changed his mind.

Salvation And Worship

If you use stones to build my altar, use only natural, uncut stones. Do not shape the stones with a tool, for that would make the altar unfit for holy use. (Exodus 20:25 NLT)

A stone that has been worked on by the hands of men is no longer fit for God's use.

Repentance - Personal Testimony

The Greek words for repent in New Testament are μετανοέω and μεταμεληθεὶς which mean "I change my mind". The Hebrew word for repent is שׁוּב, which mean "to turn back, return".

When I was in secondary two, I had a Buddhist friend and a Christian friend. One day they decided to have a debate about the six-day creation. I was asked to be the judge. After reading the first chapter of the Bible, I felt that if there is a true God that created the heavens and the earth, the God in Genesis chapter one fits the bill. This is repentance. I changed my mind about God. I think if there is a God, that is what He should be like. But this is not a repentance to salvation because I did not accept that there is a God. I just say, "If there is a God."

In the year 1973 on the first day of the second month, I was walking outside the squash court, a friend sitting on a bench called to me. He spoke to me about Jesus and somehow, I accepted Jesus as my savior and prayed the sinner's prayer. After that, I kept saying to myself, "Now I am a Christian" although I don't have a Bible and did not attend any church. I just joined my school's Christian fellowship every Wednesday before the start of school. This is Repentance with a capital R. I made a decision to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I changed my mind and changed my direction toward Jesus although at that moment, I knew very little. I always mark this day as my new birth.

Despite being a Christian, I still have very little knowledge and I remembered disagreeing with one verse in the Bible, Isaiah 64:6. When I read that "all our righteousness are as filthy rags", I said, "How can that be? What about people like Confucius and Mencius? Is their righteousness also filthy rags?" I cannot accept that. Somewhere down the road, another repentance occurred. I realized that the Bible is always right. The righteousness of Confucius and Mencius are indeed filthy rags. But there was no marker to date this change. It must have been a gradual process.

The Good That Damn

And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." (Luke 5:32 ESV)

Christianity is the only religion in the world where good people go to hell and bad people go to heaven.

Good people are like fit triathlon runners. They exercise, they keep fit, they watch their diet and they thought they are healthy. Then one day while running the triathlon, they collapse and die.

Many people think that they can save themselves by doing good deeds, by donating money, by helping the poor, by being religious and being kind. But the Bible tells us only God can save.

Good works blind you to your need of God's grace. Religion numb you from calling out to God for mercy.

"You will be as surely damned by your righteousness, if you trust in it, as you will by your unrighteousness! Christ, alone, the Gift of the free Grace of God - this is the gate of Heaven - but all self-satisfaction, all boasting, all exaltation of yourself above your fellow men is mischievous and ruinous, and will surely be deadly to your spirit forever."
C.H. Spurgeon, 1900, Sermon #2704 Flee from the wrath to come

No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. (Luke 13:3 ESV)

Repentance Old and New Testament

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more I called to him, the farther he moved from me, offering sacrifices to the images of Baal and burning incense to idols. (Hosea 11:1-2 NLT)

So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: "Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: 'To an Unknown God.' This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I'm telling you about. (Acts 17:22-23 NLT)

True repentance turns one toward Christ.
True repentance changed one's mind about Christ.

The Hebrew word for repent in the Old Testament is שׁוּב, which mean "to turn back, return".
The Greek words for repent in the New Testament are μετανοέω and μεταμεληθεὶς which mean "I change my mind".

Israelites are like second generation Christians. They know God but refused to follow Him. To repent is to return to God and follow Him.
Gentiles are like first generation Christians. They know nothing about the true God. Their ideas of god or gods came from their parents, religion and culture. When they find out about the true God, they change their mind about God and follow Him.

Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. (Acts 3:19 NLT)

Repentance For Second Generation Christians

You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. (James 2:19 NLT)

The Greek words for repent in New Testament are μετανοέω and μεταμεληθεὶς which mean "I change my mind". The Hebrew word for repent is שׁוּב, which mean "to turn back, return".

For second generation Christians who has been indoctrinated by parents and church about God, sin and salvation and are convinced that there is one God and two ways, what kind of repentance is needed?

There are many that is convinced that there is one God. The demons also believe in one God. The repentance required that will separate true believers from demons is the belief that this one God is our savior. We can totally trust this one God for our salvation. The demons believe in one God and they know that this one God will doom them in hell, which is why they trembled in terror.

Sadly, many who know that there is only one God, refuse to follow Him. They wish reality is something else. They are reluctant to follow, preferring to strike out their own path, while at the same time, convinced that it may be futile.

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. (John 6:68 KJV)

True Repentance

First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. (Acts 26:20 NIV)

In English, repentance seems to mean "a turning from sin." The Cambridge dictionary defines repent as "To be very sorry for something bad you have done in the past and wish that you had not done it:"(UK) or "to be sorry you did or did not do something:"(US).

In the Bible, the Greek word translated as repent means "a change of mind". When that change of mind results in action that lead to Christ, it is a true repentance.

Judas repented, but he had "a change of mind" about what he had done. He did not turn to Christ, but turned to himself and found no hope. He then committed suicide. That is not true repentance.

Peter wept bitterly (Luke 22:62) about his denial of Jesus. But he turned back to Jesus. This is true repentance.

Judas Repented, Regretted or Felt Remorseful

Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, (Matthew 27:3 KJV)
Now when Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus had been condemned, he regretted what he had done and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders, (Matthew 27:3 NET)
When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. (Matthew 27:3 NIV)

The Greek word behind remorse/repent/regret, μεταμεληθεὶς, is found 6 times in the New Testament and translated as "repent" in the KJV. Though not the usual Greek word used for repentance, it is not always negative. Basically it seems to indicate changing of the mind about something.
He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. (Matthew 21:29 KJV)
For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him. (Matthew 21:32 KJV)
Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, (Matthew 27:3 KJV)
For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. (2 Corinthians 7:8 KJV)
(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) (Hebrews 7:21 KJV)

μεταμεληθεὶς
According to Strong, this is the meaning:
Literally: I change one care or interest for another
I change my mind (generally for the better), repent, regret.

You can read more about the correctness of translation this article, 'In Matthew 27:3, did Judas "repent" or "feel remorse"? - Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange'.

For those who use KJV may ask, if repentance was the pre-requisite for salvation, why wasn't Judas saved since he repented?

Repentance in Greek simply means to think differently afterwards; a change of mind. If the repentance is toward God, we shall be saved. Judas repented but not toward God. Whether he changed his mind, repented, regretted or feel remorseful is not important. The important thing was what he did next. He did not seek out Jesus. He went and hanged himself (Matthew 27:5).