1859

1859. This is the year the Theory of Spontaneous Generation died and was reincarnated as the Theory of Evolution.

Maggots appeared on decaying meat. Mice came where there were grains. Fleas appeared in mattresses. The Theory of Spontaneous Generation was used to explain how these living things arose spontaneously from non-living matter. This may sound stupid to us but it was believed to be true. Even the microscope, which was already invented, proved that was true because under the microscope, you could see more and more small little creatures popping up on dead meat as the days went by, but you could not see where they came from. They got to be appearing spontaneously from the rotting meat, right?

In 1859, Louis Pasteur conducted an experiment to prove that life forms does not arise spontaneously. "To prove himself correct, Pasteur exposed boiled broths to air in swan-neck flask that contained a filter to prevent all particles from passing through to the growth medium, and even in flasks with no filter at all, with air being admitted via a long tortuous tube that would not allow dust particles to pass. Nothing grew in the broths unless the flasks were broken open, showing that the living organisms that grew in such broths came from outside, as spores on dust, rather than spontaneously generated within the broth. This was one of the last and most important experiments disproving the theory of spontaneous generation for which Pasteur won the Alhumbert Prize in 1862. (from Wikipedia)".

Life begat life. The Theory of Spontaneous Generation died. But in the same year Darwin published his Theory of Evolution. While life begat life and evolved into multiple species, the ultimate original microbe had to arise spontaneously.

In another word, it is the Theory of Spontaneous Generation again, but pushed back into time, and with a new term, abiogenesis. Proving abiogenesis is more difficult, if not impossible, having to conduct scientific experiment in supposedly primeval conditions. And when the experiment failed, you can just blame the primeval conditions. Maybe the primeval conditions are not right.

We are now waiting for a new Louis Pasteur to conduct another experiment to prove again that only life can begat life, even in primeval conditions. A Nobel Prize may be waiting. Any takers?

God' Revealed Will

God's will is revealed in His Word, the Bible.

It is God's will that God's revealed will be done on earth.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10 KJV)

It is God who willed your creation and your ongoing existence.
"Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created." (Revelation 4:11 ESV)

God willed our eternal salvation. God wishes the conversion of every man. He willed Christ's sacrifice on the cross to rescue us from this evil age (Galatians 1:4; Acts 2:23; 4:28). In an even more specific sense, He willed our regeneration (John 1:13; James 1:18). He willed our adoption as sons (Ephesians 1:5). Christ willed to reveal the Father to you (Matthew 11:27). And it is the Father’s will that Christ keep us and not lose any who have come to Him (John 6:39-40).
And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:39-40 KJV)
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13 NASB)
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (James 1:18 KJV)

Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. (Matthew 18:14 KJV)
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)
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:3-4 KJV)

This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. (Acts 2:23 NIV)
But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will. (Acts 4:28 NLT)

God willed to give you a spiritual gift according to that which He wanted for you and according to how He wanted you to serve in the body of Christ.
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. (1 Corinthians 12:11 NASB)

God wills that we conduct ourselves honorably and submissively even in a pagan world.
Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 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. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. (1 Peter 2:12-15 ESV)

God wills a certain kind of behaviour for men in His church: that they model His concern for mankind by praying always, everywhere, for everyone (1 Timothy 2:1-8).

God wills a certain kind of behavior for women in His church: that they be modest, appropriate, and reserved (submissive), and that younger widows remarry and have children (1 Timothy 2:9-12; 5:14).
Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, claim to godliness. A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. (1 Timothy 2:9-12 NASB)
So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. (1 Timothy 5:14 ESV)

God wills that sometimes we suffer for doing right (1 Peter 3:17; 4:2, 19).
For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. (1 Peter 3:17 KJV)
Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. (1 Peter 4:1-2 NASB)
Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (1 Peter 4:19 ESV)

God wills that you live a sexually pure life.
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 KJV)

God wills that you live a thankful life.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV)

Summarized from messages by Dr Tim Berrey at JSM Family Camp 2014.

Knowing God's Will (Another Post)

I had posted on Knowing God's Will on 29th April 2009. Now I am posting on the same subject again after five years. The conclusion is still the same even if the words to present the idea is different.

1. The key to knowing God's individual will is to know God.
2. The key to knowing God is to do His revealed will.
3. To do His revealed will, one must know His Word.

Here are also some of other people's conclusions:

But actually, knowing God's will means that you study His Word and keep close to Him. Then when the time comes, He will tell you what to do.

The first principle is to live by the Word of God (Matthew 4:4). Being familiar with the word of God is very important in our decision making. (Three principles of effective decision making in "Man in the Mirror" by Patrick Morley)

I think the best guarantee that God will lead you tomorrow is that you obey Him today. (Dr Jason Lim)

Finding God's will is not so much making decisions about future options as being the right person. (Dr Tim Berrey)

The Secret to Knowing God's Will

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2 ESV)

The following were taken from the transcript of a sermon preached by Pastor Jason Lim of Gospel Light Christian Church on 28 Oct 2012 "The Secret to Knowing God's Will":

I think the best guarantee that God will lead you tomorrow is that you obey Him today.
…
I learned this personally in my life. Saved at 18, never had any doubt I want to serve Christ for the rest of my life. But I never really knew where I was going to go. I wanted to serve Him. And I thought I will serve Him in some rural countries somewhere off. But I never really had enough time or I never really devoted myself to worrying about the future. All I did was to do what I had to do in my life. Studying in medicine, reading and training myself in the Scriptures and in the ministry. Actively fellowshipping, doing what God wants me to do. And right up to the last six months of my bond, I was not even thinking about exactly where I was going to go. And then as we obey God in the first step of our life, He leads us into the next step.
…
Maybe today, you’re a child, teenager, and you want to know God’s will for you. Let me say this, what God wants you to know today is His revealed will and that is this: Children, obey your parents. How is God going to lead me? Let me say this, you obey your parents. Because God is going to lead you through your parents. Children, honour your parents, value what they say to you. If some of us, we are impatient and we feel that we are the only one who hears from God. Maybe today you’re looking for a new job because financially you are tight. Let me say this to you, instead of worrying about the future like we’ve been talking about, focus on being a good worker. Focus on submitting to your superior. Focus on being gracious to your subordinates. Focus on not being a "I" service worker, man-pleaser, but working with diligent and dignity and integrity. And God leads you in your next step. When there are needs around you, you don’t have to sit around and wait. Is this God’s will for me to serve the poor, reach the unsaved and encourage my brethrens. You don’t have to sit around waiting for these things. It’s the mind of Christ. What would Jesus do? Now, there are times when we really know not better, then you’ve got to pray. You’ve got to pray, God give me wisdom. James 1:5. But it’s always through the renewed mind. That’s how it works.
…
God is not just here to give us information, but to effect transformation.
…
But a good teacher, a good teacher doesn’t give all the right answers to the students. That’s not his job. A good teacher doesn’t give all the right answers. A good teacher coaches the person to develop and to discover the right answers. Would you want to ace your exams and fail in life?
...
Knowing God’s will, we also think it’s about formula. Step 1, step 2, step 3… and we think that God is some heavenly vending machine that you press some buttons and He must give you an answer. No, seeking God’s will is more than a formula. It’s about a relationship and intimacy, a fellowship with God that His Word will come into your life and by the Holy Spirit, He transforms your mind to apply those truths. I suggest to you, that the secret to knowing God’s will is having the mind of Christ and one of the key there is to realise knowing God’s will, the key to knowing God’s will is not knowing God’s will but knowing God. I suggest to you, that the secret to knowing God’s will is having the mind of Christ and one of the key there is to realise knowing God’s will, the key to knowing God’s will is not knowing God’s will but knowing God.
…
And lastly can I say to you, when you know that the secret of knowing God’s will is found in the mind of Christ, it leads you to live a life of active obedience and not passive waiting. It’s exciting! I can live in active obedience today and not be anxious or worry about the future tomorrow.

Key Characteristics of God's Will

So, brothers and sisters, because of God’s mercies, I encourage you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God. This is your appropriate priestly service. Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God’s will is - what is good and pleasing and mature. (Romans 12:1-2 CEB)

Intrinsically Good (agathon ἀγαθὸν)
There is things which we think is good for us, but is not good. But God's will is intrinsically good. It is good because it is His will and it is good for us.

Well-pleasing (euareston εὐάρεστον)
God's will is acceptable and well-pleasing to God.

Perfect (teleion τέλειον)
This word is also found in James 1:25. God's will is perfect, or perfectly suited to accomplish or attain the goal or purpose of God.

Summarized from messages by Dr Tim Berrey at JSM Family Camp 2014.

Being The Right Person

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 NASB)

Finding God's will is not so much making decisions about future options as being the right person. (Dr Tim Berrey)

The right person has:
1. A bodily sacrifice;
2. A non-conformist stance;
3. A transformed mind.

Summarized from messages by Dr Tim Berrey at JSM Family Camp 2014.

How To Know God's Will

There are two steps to knowing God's will.

First be the Right Person
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, (Romans 12:1-2a KJV)

Then can know God's Will
that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2b KJV)

Summarized from messages by Dr Tim Berrey at JSM Family Camp 2014.

No Obligation

The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29:29 KJV)

It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. (Proverbs 25:2 ESV)

Samuel
The Lord said to Samuel, "How long are you going to grieve over Saul? I have rejected him as king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and get going. I’m sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem because I have found my next king among his sons."
"How can I do that?" Samuel asked. "When Saul hears of it he’ll kill me!"
"Take a heifer with you," the Lord replied, "and say, 'I have come to make a sacrifice to the Lord.' Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will make clear to you what you should do. You will anoint for me the person I point out to you." (1 Samuel 16:1-3 CEB)

God had no obligation to tell Saul Samuel's purpose in visiting Jesse of Bethlehem.

Deception In War

Moses
And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.' (Exodus 3:18 ESV)

And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead. Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, "Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as you have said. Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also!" (Exodus 12:30-32 ESV)

Joshua
The Lord said to Joshua, "Don’t be afraid or terrified. Take the entire army with you. Start to go up to Ai. Look! I have given the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land into your power. Do to Ai and its king what you did to Jericho and its king. But you may take its booty and cattle as plunder. Set your ambush behind the city." (Joshua 8:1-2 CEB)

And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness. (Joshua 8:15 KJV)
Joshua and all Israel let themselves be driven back before them, and they fled toward the wilderness. (Joshua 8:15 NIV)
And Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten before them and fled in the direction of the wilderness. (Joshua 8:15 ESV)
Then Joshua and all Israel let themselves be beaten before them. They fled in the direction of the desert. (Joshua 8:15 CEB)

Just as plunder and killing, deception is allowed in war.

Alternate view:
The request to be allowed to make a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to God was sincere. Why not? Could not the Lord test the king of Egypt first in the lesser thing before He presented him with the demand to release His people? (Exodus – Bible Student’s Commentary, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1982, page 57)

The Christian Hope

The Christian Hope is not a wish, a desire or mere wishful thinking. It is an assurance and a guarantee, a confident expectation, a clear conviction, a reality. It is promised in Jesus Christ. God has given us His Son. Our source of hope is God.

Hope's Foundation
This hope will not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5 HCSB)
Holy Spirit produces hope.

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. (Romans 15:4 ESV)
The scriptures give us hope.

Hope's Results
And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 3:3 ESV)
When you have hope, you will live holy life.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13 ESV)
Joy and Peace comes from Hope. Because of the Hope, a man can have joy and peace in the midst of tribulations.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Romans 12:12 ESV)
Rejoice not in the circumstances, but in the hope of Jesus Christ.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. (1 Peter 3:15-16 KJV)
Hope gives us an opportunity to witness for Christ in a hopeless world.

Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: (2 Corinthians 3:12 KJV)
Since we have such a hope, we are dare to speak frankly and boldly.

Hope - look back at Calvary, look forward to Christ's return, look to the witness of the Holy Spirit within ourselves.

No matter in which direction a Christian looks, he finds reason to obey God. If he looks back, he sees Calvary, where Christ died for him. If he looks within, he sees the Holy Spirit, who lives within and teaches him the truth. If he looks around, he sees his Christian brethren, whom he loves; he also sees a world lost in sin, desperately needing his godly witness. And if he looks ahead, he sees the return of Christ!
Warren W. Wiersbe

The Christian Goal - Be Like Christ

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:29 ESV)

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV)

He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30 ESV)

Dear friends, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is. (1 John 3:2 HCSB)

Hope, Faith And Truth

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 ESV)

Hope comes from faith. And when faith is based on truth, our hope will be real.

Paul's Advice On Christian Living

Ephesians 5:15-21 HCSB

15. Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk - not as unwise people but as wise
16. making the most of the time, because the days are evil.
17. So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
18. And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit:
19. speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music from your heart to the Lord,
20. giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21. submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.

15 Behaviour
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12 ESV)

16 Time
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12 ESV)

17 Purpose - Do God's will
For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. (1 Peter 2:15 ESV)
For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:17 ESV)
Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. (1 Peter 4:1-2 NASB)
Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (1 Peter 4:19 ESV)
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: (1 Thessalonians 4:3 KJV)

18 The only excess allowed - be filled with the Spirit
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. (Romans 8:9 ESV)
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8 ESV)
Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." (John 6:28-29 ESV)

19 Fellowship
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:11 ESV)
If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. (1 John 4:20 ESV)

20 Attitude
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV)

21 Authority
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Hebrews 13:17 ESV)
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. (Romans 13:1 ESV)
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, (Titus 3:1 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. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Peter 2:13-25 ESV)

God Demonstrated His Love

Romans 5:6-11 KJV

6. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Christians are weak(6), ungodly(6), sinners(8) and enemies of God(10), but saved(10) and reconciled(10) to God by the atoning(11) death(8,10) of His Son Jesus.

If you are weak, ungodly, a sinner and an enemy of God, rejoice! For Jesus had died for your sins and you are reconciled with God. All you have to do is believe.

Ultimate Description Of Love

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a HCSB

4. Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited,
5. does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs.
6. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth.
7. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8. Love never ends.

Based on a sermon by Dr Mark Minnick (2003-12-09)

Passive and Active Response of Love
Passive response: patient(4)
Active response: kind(4)

Five self denials of Love
Does not envy(4)
Does not boast, brag or parade itself(4)
Not conceited, puffed up(4)
Does not act improperly or unseemly, not rude(5)
Not self-seeking(5)

Three refusals of Love
Refused to be easily provoked or exasperated(5)
Does not keep a record of wrongs(5)
Finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth(6)

Four universals of Love
Bears all things(7)
Believes all things(7)
Hopes all things(7)
Endures all things(7)

Love is Eternal
Love never ends(8)

The Bodily Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Bodily Resurrection proves Jesus's authority over His Father's house.
The Jews then said to Him, "What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews then said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" But He was speaking of the temple of His body. (John 2:18-21 NASB)

Bodily Resurrection proves He had returned from the grave.
Jesus made five appearances on the first day of His resurrection and proved that He had risen in His same body, and not a ghost (Luke 24:13-43)

Bodily Resurrection proves He is the long promised Messiah.
"Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man clearly attested to you by God with powerful deeds, wonders, and miraculous signs that God performed among you through him, just as you yourselves know- this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles. But God raised him up, having released him from the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held in its power. For David says about him,
'I saw the Lord always in front of me,
for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced;
my body also will live in hope,
because you will not leave my soul in Hades,
nor permit your Holy One to experience decay.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of joy with your presence.'
"Brothers, I can speak confidently to you about our forefather David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. So then, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, David by foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did his body experience decay. This Jesus God raised up, and we are all witnesses of it. (Acts 2:22-32 NET Bible)

Bodily Resurrection proves that the Gospel is true.
1 Corinthians 15:14-19 KJV

14. And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
    
15. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17. And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

God and Mammon

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:24 KJV)

Mammon is a great competitor to God. We either have faith in mammon or God, but not both. When I had no savings, I feel very insecure. I had to depend on God for my expenses. When I need something and I need to ask God, sometimes I have to question myself if it is the will of God. It is just like my children coming to me for money. They are never sure if I would agree to buy what they want.

When I have savings, I feel very secure. I also feel generous. Not only that, I feel that I can spend accord to my own wishes. I do not have to care about the will of God.

I realize that I actually have more faith in mammon than God.

Benefits of Believing in Jesus

Hope
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5 NASB)

For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people for His own possession, eager to do good works. (Titus 2:11-15 HCSB)

Rest
Because Christ is our hope, we can rest. We do not need to struggle.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30 KJV)

Satisfaction
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:13-14 KJV)

Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (John 6:35 ESV)

And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. (Isaiah 58:11 KJV)

Performance beyond your ability
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13 ESV)

And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8 NET)

Our Hope

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:18:25 ESV)

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 ESV, NASB)

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13 ESV)

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:3-5 NASB)

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. (Romans 15:4 ESV)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know
what is the hope of His calling,
what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.
Ephesians 1:18-19a NASB

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32 KJV)

Gentiles

But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. (Acts 15:20 KJV)

That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. (Acts 15:29 KJV)

As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. (Acts 21:25 KJV)

Perversions

Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. (Jude 1:7 KJV)

If you already committed these perversions then, this is what God has to say:
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV)

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy on him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7 KJV)

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)

Some Acronyms

GRACE = God's Riches At Christ's Expense
JOY = Jesus Others You
BUSY = Being Under Satan's Yoke
FROG = Fully Reliant On God

Second Coming - The Public Return

Return in power with the saints at Mount Olives.
On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. (Zechariah 14:4 ESV)

Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:30 ESV)

And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Luke 21:27 ESV)

Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:11 KJV)

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. (2 Thessalonians 2:8 ESV)

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. (Revelation 1:7 ESV)

The timing of His return is unexpected to the wicked, like a thief.
"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. (Matthew 24:36 ESV)

Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (Matthew 24:42-44 ESV)

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. (Matthew 25:13 ESV)

For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. (1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 ESV)

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. (2 Peter 3:10 ESV)

Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. (Revelations 16:15 KJV)

Boasting About Tomorrow

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. (Proverbs 27:1 ESV)

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit" - yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." (James 4:13-15 ESV)

Virgin Birth And Bodily Resurrection

I believe that the virgin birth of Jesus is important because it proved that Jesus was not born from the sinful line of Adam. Recently, I was reminded that not only the virgin birth is important, the bodily resurrection of Jesus is even more important.

One can be born sinless, but subsequently fall into sin. Adam is a good example. He was created sinless but he fell into sin.

While the scripture recorded that no one could find any sin in Jesus, but how do we know what His thoughts are? But the bodily resurrection of Jesus proved that not only was Jesus born sinless, He continued without sin till His death. Because His body was sinless and perfect, when Jesus was resurrected, He was resurrected with His own body.

For the rest of us who believed in Jesus, we will be resurrected, but not with our original sinful body, but with a new body.

And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." (Luke 24:38-39 ESV)

So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe."

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:25-29 ESV)

By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. (1 John 4:2-3 ESV)

Divorce And Re-Marriage - Bible vs Koran

The Torah prohibits a man from remarrying his ex-wife after she has married another man.

Let’s say a man marries a woman, but she isn’t pleasing to him because he’s discovered something inappropriate about her. So he writes up divorce papers, hands them to her, and sends her out of his house. She leaves his house and ends up marrying someone else. But this new husband also dislikes her, writes up divorce papers, hands them to her, and sends her out of his house (or suppose the second husband dies). In this case, the first husband who originally divorced this woman is not allowed to take her back and marry her again after she has been polluted in this way because the Lord detests that. Don’t pollute the land the Lord your God is giving to you as an inheritance. (Deuteronomy 24:1-4 CEB)

The Quran allows remarriage after an irrevocable divorce (i.e. husband divorces wife 3 times) only if the wife marries another man and divorce him.

Surah 2:230 (Sahih International)
And if he has divorced her [for the third time], then she is not lawful to him afterward until [after] she marries a husband other than him. And if the latter husband divorces her [or dies], there is no blame upon the woman and her former husband for returning to each other if they think that they can keep [within] the limits of Allah . These are the limits of Allah , which He makes clear to a people who know.

What God detests, Allah allows. The two cannot be the same.

Jesus's Loud Voice

John 11:43
When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." (John 11:43 ESV)

Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46 ESV)

Matthew 27:50, Mark 15:37, Luke 23:46
Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. (Luke 23:46 ESV)

1 Thessalonians 4:16
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel's voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (1 Thessalonians 4:16 HCSB)

Life After Salvation

Who should we do after we are saved?

For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people for His own possession, eager to do good works. (Titus 2:11-15 HCSB)

Very simple, just two things:

1. Deny ungodliness and live in a godly way;
2. Wait for the return of Christ.

Grace Is Unfair

Grace is, by definition, unfair. - Philip Yancey

Quoted from this website:
Justice is getting exactly what we deserve. (which in our case is death)
Mercy is not getting the bad that we deserve. (again, death)
Grace is getting the good that we do not deserve. (eternal life, NO death)

So how does a just and righteous God reconcile justice with grace and mercy?

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Romans 5:10 ESV)

God took upon Himself our punishment for our sins and gave us eternal life.

Salvation Before Christ

Essentially, salvation has always been the same - it is by God's grace through faith. The two consistent components are God and faith. Before Jesus came, those who trust in the true and living God will be saved. Subsequent revelations revealed that Jesus is the Word of the true and living God, and is God Himself. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1 ESV)" Thus those who believe in the true God will live. Those who do not will die.

The following websites gave more information:
Before Jesus died for our sins, could people be saved? How?
How Were People Saved Before Jesus Came in the Flesh?
People who died before Christ were justified by faith
How were people saved before Jesus died for our sins?

Salvation is from God
Salvation belongs to the LORD; Your blessing be upon Your people! Selah. (Psalm 3:8 NASB)
Those who worship worthless idols (הַבְלֵי־שָׁוְא) forfeit the mercy that could be theirs. But as for me, I promise to offer a sacrifice to you with a public declaration of praise; I will surely do what I have promised. Salvation belongs to the LORD! (Jonah 2:8-9 NET)

It is written from the beginning
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:27 ESV)
All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. (Revelation 13:8 NASB)

The Consistent Message of Salvation

The consistent core message of the Bible:
Salvation is provided by God and must be accepted by faith
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 ESV)

Death is necessary for forgiveness of sin
Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. (Hebrews 9:22 ESV)

The consistent message of the Bible is that salvation is provided by God and men have to accepted it by faith. The knowledge of God and the actual mechanics of how the salvation is provided is revealed progressively.

Progressive Revelation:
Shadow to Substance
They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, "See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain." (Hebrews 8:5 ESV)

Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the actual form of those realities, it can never perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices they continually offer year after year. (Hebrews 10:1 HCSB)

These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. (Colossians 2:17 ESV)

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (Hebrews 1:1-2 ESV)

Mechanics of Salvation - the Blood
The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:13 ESV)
If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; 18 knowing that you were not [a]redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. (1 Peter 1:17-19 NASB)

Provision of Sacrifice
And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them. (Genesis 3:21 ESV)

And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. (Genesis 4:4-5 KJV)

By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. (Hebrews 11:4 ESV)

And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. (Genesis 22:13 ESV)

By faith Abraham offered Isaac when he was tested. The one who received the promises was offering his only son. He had been told concerning him, Your legitimate descendants will come from Isaac. He figured that God could even raise him from the dead. So in a way he did receive him back from the dead. (Hebrews 11:17-19 CEB)

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight. (Exodus 12:5-6 ESV)

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29 KJV)

Baptismal Regeneration - Water Baptism Does Not Save

Baptism is not necessary for salvation, but all Christians should be baptized.

Jesus
Our Lord does not need to be saved, but He subject Himself to baptism to fulfil all the requirements of the Law for sinners who could never hope to do so on their own.

But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" But Jesus answering said to him, "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he permitted Him. (Matthew 3:14-15 NASB)

And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. (John 1:31 KJV)

The Dying Thief
The dying thief was not baptized, but he was saved. None other than the Lord Himself confirmed that.
And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:39–43 KJV)

Simon the Sorcerer
Simon the Sorcerer was baptized. But he was not saved. Water baptism does not save. You can remain as an unbeliever even after baptism.
Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed. (Acts 8:13 ESV)
Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, "Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." (Acts 8:18-19 ESV)

Jerusalem Council
In the debate about the salvation of Gentiles on whether the Gentiles must be circumcised and keep the Law from Moses like the Jews, the conclusion is that salvation for Gentiles and Jews are the same, which by grace through faith.
The apostles and the elders gathered to consider this matter. After much debate, Peter stood and addressed them, "Fellow believers, you know that, early on, God chose me from among you as the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and come to believe. God, who knows people’s deepest thoughts and desires, confirmed this by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, but purified their deepest thoughts and desires through faith. Why then are you now challenging God by placing a burden on the shoulders of these disciples that neither we nor our ancestors could bear? On the contrary, we believe that we and they are saved in the same way, by the grace of the Lord Jesus." (Acts 15:6-11 CEB)

Paul the Apostle
Paul the very single minded apostle on salvation, (For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2 KJV)), declared that he did not baptize many people. He was glad and "I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one would say you were baptized in my name. Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other. (1 Corinthians 1:14-16 NASB)" He emphasized that "For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. (1 Corinthians 1:17 ESV)" If baptism is necessary for salvation, why didn’t Christ sent Paul to baptize? Why would Paul be so glad that he baptize so little?

Baptism - Bible Verses

It is the Lord's command to baptize
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20 KJV)

And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:15-16 ESV)

And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." (Acts 2:38-39 ESV)

Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. (1 Peter 3:21-22 ESV)

One baptism
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13 NASB)

There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:4-6 NASB)

Baptized into Christ
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-4 ESV)
Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-4 NASB)

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:27 ESV)
For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (Galatians 3:27 NASB)

Having been buried with Him in baptism, you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. (Colossians 2:12 HCSB)

Acts of Water Baptism
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:41 ESV)

But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. (Acts 8:12 ESV)

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?" And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. (Acts 8:35-38 ESV)

And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; and he took food and was strengthened. (Acts 9:18-19a NASB)

"And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me, and standing by me said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. And he said, 'The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.' (Acts 22:12-16 ESV)

While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, "Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days. (Acts 10:44-48 ESV)

One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. (Acts 16:14-15 ESV)

And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. (Acts 16:33 ESV)

Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. (Acts 18:8 ESV)

And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, "Into John's baptism." And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. There were about twelve men in all. (Acts 19:1-7 ESV)

The Lord's Supper - Bible Verses

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (John 6:35 KJV)

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (John 15:1-2 KJV)

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. (Matthew 26:26-29 KJV)

And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. (Mark 14:22-25 KJV)

When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. And He said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, "Take this and share it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes." And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood." (Luke 22:14-20 NASB)

For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:23-32 KJV)

Not to Go Beyond What Is Written

I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. (1 Corinthians 4:6 ESV)

Know And Trust

And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. (Psalm 9:10 ESV)
For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. (2 Timothy 1:12 NASB)

The two keywords to successful Christian living is know and trust. It sounds easy, but because of our sinful nature and our deeply ingrained belief that we can only trust ourselves, it is very, very difficult to know God and to trust Him.

Know
Jesus - positional holiness

1. Know the Bible;
2. Know God;
3. Know why God saves us;
4. Know how God saves us;
5. Know our standing before God.

Trust
Holy Spirit - practical holiness

1. Trust in God's Word;
2. Trust in God’s Sovereignty;
3. Trust in God’s Power.

Christianity is not about trying, but trusting.

F.R.O.G. - Fully Reliant On God

He cares for you
Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. (Psalm 55:22 ESV)
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 KJV)

He has our good in His mind
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32 KJV)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 ESV)

He is trustworthy
God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:9 ESV)
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6 ESV)
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 ESV)
And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. (Psalm 9:10 ESV)

He is able
For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. (2 Timothy 1:12 NASB)

Your faith glorifies Him
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; (Romans 4:20 KJV)

You cannot help yourself
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (John 6:63 ESV)

Relying on yourself cause pain
Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys his servant? Whoever walks in deep darkness, without light, should trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.
Look, all of you who start a fire and who equip yourselves with flaming arrows, walk in the light of the fire you started and among the flaming arrows you ignited! This is what you will receive from me: you will lie down in a place of pain. (Isaiah 50:10-11 NET)
Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. (Jeremiah 2:12-13 ESV)
Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. (Jeremiah 17:5 ESV)

Noah Film Perverts The Gospel

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:21 KJV)
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13 KJV)
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12 KJV)

The Paramount film Noah (2014), directed by Darren Aronofsky, written by Aronofsky and Ari Handel, is an American film supposedly to be based on the Bible's Noah. However, the film had so many deviations from the Biblical truth that it is actually very different in spirit from the true Noah. Many articles had been written in the Web about how the film is different from the Bible. Here an article from Answers In Genesis that gives a good review on how unfaithful is the Noah film to the Bible truth.

I would like to focus on the stowaway of Tubal-cain in the ark and the drowning of Methuselah in the flood. This is a direct challenge to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The ark is a type of Christ, which signifies salvation of God. "The ark was God's provision for Noah as Christ is God's provision for sinners. (A W Pink)" Anybody who wanted to escape from the flood can come into the Ark. No one need to be a stowaway. Any sinner can come to Christ for repentance and salvation. Nobody, not even Tubal-cain, would be rejected by Christ, if he is willing to repent and come to Him for salvation.

Those who were drowned in the flood typified those who rejected Christ. Noah, a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5), had preached to them, but they refused to believe. They remained outside the ark and were drowned.

Tubal-cain the stowaway
In the Noah film, Tubal-cain was not allowed to come on board the ark. He had to be stowaway, hiding from Noah. That Tubal-cain had to be a stowaway implies that God’s salvation is not for all, in direct contradiction to the clear promise of God in Acts 2:21 and Romans 10:13.

That there is a successful stowaway in the ark has another significance. It signifies that one day in the New Earth, we will find Tubal-cains, who somehow, can have eternal life by being a stowaway in Christ, bring sin and destruction to the New Earth all over again.

Methuselah drowned
Methuselah was reckoned a righteous man in the sight of God. In the Noah film, Methuselah was shown happily waiting to be drowned in the flood, having lived a very long life, ready to die.There are two interpretations for this, both are unbiblical and wrong.

The flood is a judgement of God on sinners. Being drowned in the flood implies being sent to hell. That Methuselah was drowned implied that a righteous man can go to hell.

An alternative interpretation would be a righteous person who do not trust in Christ can go to heaven. Methuselah was reckoned a righteous man in the sight of God  but he was not in the ark. By showing him outside the ark, happily waiting to be drowned, it implied that there is salvation outside the ark. That also implies there is salvation outside of Christ, in direct contradiction to Acts 4:12.

Handling Criticism

Listen
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (James 1:19-20 ESV)
If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame. (Proverbs 18:13 ESV)
Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. (Proverbs 19:20 ESV)
The person who hears the reproof that leads to life is at home among the wise. The one who refuses correction despises himself, but whoever hears reproof acquires understanding. (Proverbs 15:31-32 NET)

Attitude
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7 ESV)
The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor. (Proverbs 15:33 ESV)

Warnings
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. (Proverbs 12:1 ESV)
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. (Proverbs 12:15 ESV)
Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored. (Proverbs 13:18 ESV)
Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. (Proverbs 15:32 ESV)
A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. (Proverbs 17:10 ESV)
It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools. (Ecclesiastes 7:5 ESV)

Response
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1 ESV)
If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18 HCSB)
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Colossians 3:12-13 ESV)

Pray
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (Matthew 5:44 ESV)
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5 ESV)

Charles Haddon Spurgeon on Criticism in a sermon delivered on 1st July 1888:
QUOTE
Brother, if any man thinks ill of you, do not be angry with him; for you are worse than he thinks you to be. If he charges you falsely on some point, yet be satisfied, for if he knew you better he might change the accusation, and you would be no gainer by the correction. If you have your moral portrait painted, and it is ugly, be satisfied; for it only needs a few blacker touches, and it would be still nearer the truth.
UNQUOTE

Israel Restoration Prophecies Fulfilled

In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea. He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. (Isaiah 11:11-12 ESV)
Indeed, the coastlands look eagerly for me, the large ships are in the lead, bringing your sons from far away, along with their silver and gold, to honor the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has bestowed honor on you. (Isaiah 60:9 NET)
"Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when it shall no longer be said, 'As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,' but 'As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.' For I will bring them back to their own land that I gave to their fathers. (Jeremiah 16:14-15 ESV)
"Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, 'He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.' (Jeremiah 31:10 ESV)
I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. (Ezekiel 36:24 ESV)
When the sticks on which you write are in your hand before their eyes, then say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land. And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. And one king shall be king over them all, and they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms. (Ezekiel 37:20-22 ESV)
I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them," says the LORD your God. (Amos 9:14-15 ESV)
I will whistle and gather them because I have redeemed them; they will be as numerous as they once were. Though I sow them among the nations, they will remember Me in the distant lands; they and their children will live and return. I will bring them back from the land of Egypt and gather them from Assyria. I will bring them to the land of Gilead and to Lebanon, but it will not be enough for them. (Zechariah 10:8-10 HCSB)
They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (Luke 21:24 ESV)
Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. (Romans 11:25 ESV)

Israel was restored on 14th May 1948.

Two Greatest Commandments

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. (Deuteronomy 6:5 ESV)

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:18 ESV)

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had left the Sadducees speechless, they met together. One of them, a legal expert, tested him. "Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
He replied, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands." (Matthew 22:34-40 CEB)

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?" And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live." (Luke 10:25-28 ESV)

What Satisfies You?

Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (John 6:35 ESV)

You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. (Psalm 145:16 ESV)

Based on the Bible, God should be your source of satisfaction. (John 6:35, Psalm 145:16, Psalm 103:1-5)

Based on our natural self, self should be your source of satisfaction.

Freedom Comes From Truth

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32 ESV)

Democracy cannot give you freedom. Freedom comes from truth.

Undeserved Grace of God

And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. (Romans 4:22 KJV)
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5 KJV)

The concept of the undeserved grace of God is introduced early in the Bible, in Genesis, where Abraham is reckoned as righteous by the grace of God (Genesis 15:6). Men are such great sinners that all system devised by them will fail, and if they succeed, it is by the undeserved grace of God.

Democracy does not work, but succeeds in United States and Western Europe because the concept of the equality of men is embedded into it because of the Bible.

Meritocracy is fair, but it did not reckon that men are sinful and unfair, which means that meritocracy will break down after one or two generations.

Every fair system will break down because of the sinfulness of men. No checks and balances can prevent it.

Tiger Mothers

Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. (1 Corinthians 9:25 NET)
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33 KJV)

There are so many mothers who are proud to be Tiger Mothers, forcing their children to study and spending money on education.

The Christian mother need not do so. All she need to do is the know the Bible, learn to study the Bible herself. Then she can teach her children the Bible and the methods of study the Word. All these techniques which the children picked up in the study of the Word will be put to good use when they study their secular subjects.

The Christian mother may not have the domain knowledge of the subjects which her children are studying when they grow older. But she can be assured that they have learned how to study, plus those who know the will of God will definitely succeed.

Rebuke

Proof that God loves you
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (Revelation 3:19 KJV)
For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. (Proverbs 3:12 KJV)
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. ( (Hebrews 12:7-10 KJV)

Attitude when rebuked
A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke. (Proverbs 13:1 KJV)
As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. (Proverbs 25:12 KJV)
My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: (Proverbs 3:11 KJV)

Scorner
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. (Proverbs 9:8 KJV)
Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge. (Proverbs 19:25 KJV)

Our action
Open rebuke is better than secret love. (Proverbs 27:5 KJV)

As He Is So Are We

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgement: because as he is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17 KJV)

No Worry

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (Matthew 6:24-34 KJV)

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31 KJV)

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12:6-7 ESV)

When we start to earn money, suddenly value take on a monetary dimension. Before that, we stretch out our hands and our parents provide. They are like God answering our prayers. But now we earn our money and we become dependent on money. Then Mammon takes over as our master.

Taken from the following website:
QUOTE
Anxiety is a funny thing. We hoard up worries the way we hoard money and material goods. In some eras and cultures, people live hand-to-mouth and rely on each growing season to make it another year. I’m grateful not to live in a culture like that, yet I realize we’ve lost a certain perspective it fosters: our eyes no longer look to God to provide for daily needs. Instead, we take bread for granted and borrow trouble ahead of schedule, focusing on the adequacies and inadequacies of our insurance policies and savings accounts.
UNQUOTE

Answered Prayers - Paul's Journey To Rome - 1

Paul's prayer:
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you - that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. (Romans 1:9-15 ESV)

Paul's prayer answered (Acts 25-28):
But Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar." Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, "To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go." (Acts 25:10-12 ESV)
And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar." And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. (Acts 26:32 - 27:1 ESV)
There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. (Acts 28:14 ESV)