Judgement

A friend asked me about last judgement. Here are the three judgements passages found in the Bible:

1. The separation of Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46)
2. Bema Seat of Christ (Romans 14:10-12, 1 Corinthians 3:13-15, 2 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Peter 4:18)
3. Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15)

Some believed all these are actually one judgement. Some believed that there are two judgements, one for believers, one for unbelievers. Some believed in three judgements, the separation of sheep and goats is also called judgement of the nations.

Then we have to consider the chronology, if we assume it to be three. Everyone agrees that Great White Throne Judgment is the last judgement. Some believed that Bema Seat of Christ judgement occur after the rapture. If the separation of Sheep and the Goats is not the same as the Bema Seat of Christ judgement, then, it seem to occur at the Second Coming, to judge the nations after the great tribulation.

Proof God. Live by Faith. Glorify Him

Live by faith. Prove that to yourself that your God is real and the Bible is true. Then you will have testimonies to tell. Others can see from your life that Christ is real and God is glorified in you.

Proof God
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21 KJV)
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. (Malachi 3:10 ESV)

Live by Faith
The just shall live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38)
And without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6 NIV)

Light of the World
And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. (Daniel 12:3 KJV)
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (Matthew 5:14 KJV)
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 KJV)
Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. (2 Corinthians 3:2-3 KJV)
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. (Proverbs 11:30 KJV)

Salt of the Earth
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. (Matthew 5:13 KJV)

What Every Christian Must Do - 3 Pray

Frequency
1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV
Pray without ceasing.
Psalm 55:17 KJV
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

What to pray for?
ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication)
Adoration - Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. (Psalm 150:6 KJV)
The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)
Daily Thanksgiving - Count your blessings
Home, Church, Work
All men, all who are in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
The lost, the sick, those in mission field
Church prayer items

We can prayer because:
Jesus is able to sympathize with our weaknesses
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16 KJV)

The Holy Spirit Himself intercedes for us
In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26 NASB)

Job 42:10 KJV
And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Luke 18:1 KJV
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Matthew 5:44 KJV
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Matthew 9:38 KJV
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Matthew 26:41 KJV
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Philippians 4:6 KJV
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
2 Thessalonians 3:1 KJV
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
James 1:5-6 KJV
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Colossians 4:2 KJV
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
1 Peter 4:7 KJV
But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

What Every Christian Must Do - 2 Read

Read the BibleRead daily, even if it is only a chapter, or a verse.
Read a Psalm every day to start your day.

J. Wilbur Chapman has given us the following suggestions for how we can get the most from the Word of God:

1. Study it through. Never begin a day without mastering a verse from its pages.
2. Pray it in. Never lay aside your Bible until the verse, or passage you have studied, has become a part of your being.
3. Put it down. The truth that God teaches you, put in the margin of your Bible or in your notebook.
4. Work it out. Live the truth you get in the morning through each hour of the day.
5. Pass it on. Seek to tell someone else what you have learned.

How to Read the Bible

1. Read  daily

2. Set a specific time

3. Pray before reading (2 Peter 1:20-21, Psalm 119:18)

4. Mark verses, write notes

Bible Reading Plans

Robert Murray M'Cheyne Bible Reading Calendar
52 Week Bible Reading Plan

A recommendation on how to read the New Testament

1. Read "Mark" (It is written in chronological order.)
2. Read "Matthew"  (It goes into better detail of some events and adds more about Jesus.)
3. Read "John"  (It contains a lot of the life of Jesus not read before, especially his last two weeks before his crucifixion.)
4. Read "Luke"  then "Acts."  (Both written by Apostle Paul's traveling companion Luke.  Acts is a continuation of Luke.  It describes the early church and contains the examples of New Testament conversions.)
5. Read "Galations"  (It deals with the reasons why we do not follow the Old Testament Laws in a more simplified way than does Romans or Hebrews.)
6. Then read the rest of the New Testament starting at Romans and going to Revelation.

Is there any command to obey?
Is there any promise to believe?
Is there a warning to heed?
Is there a good example to follow?
Is there any sin to avoid?
Do I learn anything about God?
Do I learn anything about man?
Is there anything I can thank God for?

Why should I read the Bible?
For Life
John 6:63 NLT
The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
For Food
Deuteronomy 8:3 KJV
And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
Matthew 4:4 KJV
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
For Success
Joshua 1:8 ESV
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
For Hope
Romans 15:4 ESV
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
For Truth
John 17:17 KJV
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
John 8:31-32 KJV
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
For Discernment
2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Hebrews 4:12 KJV
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Christianity An Event-Based Religion

Christianity is based on an events, principally the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:12-19). It is not rule-based, like all the other religions in this world are.

The Bible has Ten Commandments and the Pharisees came up with a complex system to fulfil the letter but ignore the spirit of the law. You don't have to be a genius to be a hypocrite. Give me any rule and I will show you how to unfollow it.

In a rule-based meritocracy, if I did not follow the rule, I do not get the reward. It is fair. If I choose not to get the reward, I can don't follow the rules. I am fair. I may suffer, yes, but I saved my face and my pride.

Christianity is not about following a set of rules to be saved. It is about what God has done through Christ Jesus to save me. If I have to live my life as a response to what God has graciously done for me to save me, how can I wriggle myself out of the demand of someone who has loved and saved me and done so much for me? I would be a reprobate. I would see myself as ungrateful. My motivation for doing good is not to gain merit, to get what I deserve, but out of gratitude to my God and Saviour who had died for my sins.

Turning to the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she, with her tears, has washed My feet and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss, but she hasn’t stopped kissing My feet since I came in. You didn’t anoint My head with olive oil, but she has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little." Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." (Luke 7:44-48 HCSB)

What Every Christian Must Do - 1 Overview

Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with gratitude. (Colossians 2:6-7 HCSB)

What every Christian must do - Read, Pray and Grow.

Read
Read your Bible daily. It is food for the soul and makes the New Man grow strong and healthy. It is communication with God, who talks to you through the Bible.

Pray

Prayer is talking to God. The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) is an example of prayer. Another acronym to remember is ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication).

Grow
To grow, do these:
1. Read and Pray, just to keep the New Man alive.
2. Sabbath/Worship/Fellowship
3. Tithe
4. Service
5. Witness/Evangelism

God and Chance

By chance, I came across a book by an Arminian Methodist and he believed in luck.

Here are some verses supporting luck or chance.
So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. (Ruth 2:3 ESV)
But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded." (1 Kings 22:34 ESV)
Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. (Ecclesiastes 9:11 ESV)
Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. (Luke 10:31 ESV)

Here are the verses that ruled out luck.
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. (Matthew 10:29 KJV)
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)

Here is a verse that explain that chance is from God.
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. (Proverbs 16:33 ESV, NIV)

Abraham Went Out Without Knowing Where He Was Going

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. (Genesis 12:1-4 KJV)

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. (Hebrews 11:8 KJV)

And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. (Genesis 12:5 KJV)

Notice in Genesis 12:1, God did not tell Abraham where to go. He just said, "Get thee out of thy country ... unto a land I will shew thee" and Hebrews 11:8 confirmed that "he went out, not knowing whither he went". So how did Abraham know that he must go to the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:5)?

Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot (Haran’s son), and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they set out together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. Terah lived 205 years and died in Haran. (Genesis 11:31-32 HCSB)

My conclusion is Abraham decided to go where his father Terah, had intended to go (Genesis 11:31), and it turned out to be the land which God intended to give him.

Evangelism

Evangelism is first foremost being something rather than doing something (Dr Ng Eng Kee 15 July 2012 at JSM)

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 KJV)

Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV)

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21NIV NASB)

Was Solomon Saved?

A friend emailed me, "My Wesley cell group asked me whether Solomon is saved? Any supporting scripture?"

Solomon was the author of Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon and many Proverbs. Was there any author of the Bible that was not saved? Can an unsaved man write this:
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

We do not have a verse or two in the Bible that state that Solomon is saved. We have a book or two.

Amazing Amaziah Worshiped Defeated Idols

Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them. (2 Chronicles 25:14 KJV)

I used to wonder why Amaziah was so stupid to worship the idols whom he had defeated. It is bad enough to worship idols, but this amazing guy was worshipping idols that were proven worthless. Then I realized that many a time, I am doing it myself.

Many Christians believed that Christ died for their sins. This the the victory that Christ won over their idols, self and mammon. But after this victory, we bring back the defeated idols of self and mammon and worshipped them in our daily life. We rather trust self-effort and money rather than Christ.

Mystery of God Fulfilled

And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down." And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets. (Revelation 10:4-7 ESV)

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith - to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen. (Romans 16:25-27 ESV)

When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (Ephesians 3:4-6 ESV)