Good Verses For 2018

God is faithful.
But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3 NLT)

His Word is alive.
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 NASB)

Righteous Man As Defined By The Law

"Now suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right: He does not eat at the mountain shrines or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor's wife or come near a woman during her menstrual impurity. He doesn't oppress anyone but returns his collateral to the debtor. He does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing. He doesn't lend at interest or for profit but keeps his hand from wrongdoing and carries out true justice between men. He follows My statutes and keeps My ordinances, acting faithfully. Such a person is righteous; he will certainly live." This is the declaration of the Lord God. (Ezekiel 18:5-9 HCSB)

This is a righteous man:

1. He does not commit idolatry;
2. He is sexually pure;
3. He does not oppress;
4. He cares for the poor;
5. He does not commit usury;
6. He is just;
7. He keeps the commandments of God, acting faithfully.

It seems easy to fulfil and many, like the rich young ruler, thought that they can fulfil these KPI. But can they withstand the scrutiny of God?

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth." And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Mark 10:17-22 ESV)

Generation - From Adam to Jesus

From creation to Adam (Genesis 2:4-7)
These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, (Genesis 2:4 KJV)

From Adam to Noah (Genesis 5:1-32)
This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; (Genesis 5:1 KJV)

From Noah to his three sons (Genesis 6:9-10)
These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. (Genesis 6:9 KJV)

From Shem to Abraham (Genesis 11:10-26)
These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood: (Genesis 11:10 KJV)

From Abraham to Jesus, but it is the generation of Jesus, not of Abraham (Matthew 1:1-17)
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1 KJV)

Does God Has Plan B?

He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:20-21 ESV)

For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. (Ephesians 1:4a HCSB)

Saved By Grace - Through Faith

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

The grace of God puts you in a position to exercise your salvation by faith. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). If you have no chance of hearing the Word of God, there is no chance for your faith to act on it.

Evolution Is Evil

"[If] there is mercy in nature, it is accidental. Nature is neither kind nor cruel but indifferent." - Richard Dawkins, atheist

If evolution is true, survival is for the fittest. I see nothing wrong to kill a million or a billion for my own survival if I have the means (therefore the fitness) to do so. I am fit, therefore I am right.

Praising Faith Instead Of God

Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth. (Psalm 115:1 NASB)

Atheists do not believe in God or anything supernatural. However, there are people who accomplished great things because of their religious beliefs. Since atheists do not believe in the supernatural, they attribute the success of these people to their great faith. They praise the faith of the person, rather than the object whom the person have faith in. After all, there is such thing as "Placebo Effect" in which faith plays an important part.

Christians should praise God, the object of their faith, rather than faith itself. Because our belief in God is not a "Placebo Effect". Our God is the effective cause.

Interesting Verses On Anger

And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation." (Exodus 34:6-7 NIV)
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (Psalm 103:8 ESV)
The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (Psalm 145:8 ESV)
God is merciful.

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV)
My dearly loved brothers, understand this: Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. (James 1:19-20 HCSB)
Man should control his anger.

God is a righteous judge and a God who shows His wrath every day. (Psalm 7:11 HCSB)
God is angry with sin everyday.

No Book Like The Bible

There is no book like the Bible. It tells the beginning and the end. It tells you the end before it happened.

Look at what the Bible says in the beginning.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 ESV)

Look at what the Bible says how it will all end.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. (Revelation 21:1 ESV)

And the Bible tells you the end before it happened.
Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and no one is like Me. I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: My plan will take place, and I will do all My will. (Isaiah 46:9-10 ESV)

Is there any other book like the Bible?

Do And Know

Jesus answered them, "My teaching isn't Mine but is from the One who sent Me. If anyone wants to do His will, he will understand whether the teaching is from God or if I am speaking on My own. (John 7:16-17 HCSB)

Anyone who choose to follow Jesus and do His commandments will know if His teaching is from God.

O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. (Psalm 34:8 KJV)

Why God Did Not Protect Modern Israel

Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the LORD God, the God of Israel. For I will cast out nations before you and enlarge your borders; no one shall covet your land, when you go up to appear before the LORD your God three times in the year. (Exodus 34:23-24 ESV)

God had promised that if all Israel were to appear before God three times a year in Jerusalem, no one will attack them during this period. History has proven that Israel was not attacked as God had promised. It was an unnoticed miracle because it looked so natural.

But for modern Israel, things changed. In 1973, Israel was attacked by Egypt and Syria during Yom Kippur. In 2002, there was a suicide bomber killed himself and 25 Israelis during Passover. Why has God fail to keep His promise to protect Israel in modern times?

Some answers were offered:

1. God does not exist and those history were myths;
2. Modern Israel is not true Israel, the true Israel is the Church.

What do you think?

Jesus told her, "Believe Me, woman, an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:21-24 HCSB)

From Beginning Till The End

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 ESV)

There is no book like the Bible. It tells you how it all began. It tells you how it will end.

Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and no one is like Me. I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: My plan will take place, and I will do all My will. (Isaiah 46:9-10 HCSB)

In 1989, Francis Fukuyama announced the "end of history". The free-market liberal democracy had won out and would become the world's "final form of human government." But Francis Fukuyama is now worried about democracy's future.

The whole statue was crushed into small pieces of iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold. Then the wind blew them away without a trace, like chaff on a threshing floor. But the rock that knocked the statue down became a great mountain that covered the whole earth. (Daniel 2:35 NLT)

For I will create a new heaven and a new earth; the past events will not be remembered or come to mind. (Isaiah 65:17 HCSB)

Long before Francis Fukuyama existed, the prophet Daniel already given the world a panoramic view of history. Three more empires will come after the Babylonian Empire. And then the Kingdom of God will be set up as the final form of government. The prophet Isaiah told us that God will then create a new heaven and a new earth.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. (Revelation 21:1 ESV)

Homosexuality and Pedophilia

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. (1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV)

The Bible only allows sex between married man and woman. Any sex outside this context is sin.

Homosexuality and pedophilia are both sin. Homosexuality is a sin because it is not sex between a man and a woman. The Bible has many verses against homosexuality, for example Leviticus 20:13. But the Bible does not mention pedophilia directly. The silence of the Bible does not means that pedophilia is acceptable. By implication, marriage is between an adult male and an adult female, not between an adult and a child. Matthew 18:6 has a severe warning against anyone who is a stumbling block to children, especially to those who believed.

In today's western liberal society, homosexuals are viewed as an alternate sexual orientation, not a perversion. We are told to accept them as normal. Refusing to do so is treated as immoral. We are not given a choice. In some countries, not recognizing homosexuals is a criminal offence.

Pedophiles, on the other hand, are treated as perverts of the worse kind. Wherever they are found, they are hated, shamed, prosecuted and imprisoned. No one is allowed to speak for pedophilia.

We choose our own standards of righteousness and follow our own perversions. Those sins we love we call it right. The sins we hate, we persecute without mercy.

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20 ESV)

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. (Matthew 23:23 ESV)

There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filth. (Proverbs 30:12 HCSB)

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. (Hebrews 13:4 ESV)

Christianity The Dangerous Religion

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

The New Testament is full of ordinary people, who would not have been known, if Christianity did not become a world religion. Who would be interested in Galilean fishermen who lived 2000 years ago?

In the first 300 years of Christianity, the religion was spread by ordinary people, unknown to history. No general took up the sword to force people to become Christians. No king got converted and made Christianity a national religion. In fact, in the first 300 years of Christianity, Christians were persecuted by good and wise Roman Emperors, who realized that the Roman culture was involved in an existential struggle with Christianity. If Christianity win, the Roman gods and Roman culture will die.

Christianity did win and Rome and its gods died.

This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. (Psalm 118:23 ESV)

Going To Miss A Sermon On Romans 16

There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after. (Ecclesiastes 1:11 ESV)

This morning, I am going to miss the sermon on Romans 16:12-16 by Rev Dr Tang Tuck Keong because I am overseas.

Volumes had been written on the rest on Romans, but to me, it is Romans 16 that is the most touching part of the whole epistle. It is one of the best parts of the Bible and it makes the Bible different from other books. It is the part that make the epistle real by writing about real people in the church. Imagine these were the ordinary people who lived 2000 years ago and their names and relationships are preserved for us till today, just like our names, which will be preserved because they are written in the Book of Life for eternity. When we are gone, nobody will know us. But that is not important. Because we know God and we know Jesus whom He had sent, we will be remembered by the One who will not die.

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

Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. (Romans 16:12-16 ESV)

Jesus - Predicted And Fulfilled

It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. (1 Peter 1:12 NIV)

The plan of salvation had been revealed to the old testament prophets, not for themselves, but for us. They did not understand what they were prophesying. Even angels longed to know these things.

Founders of many religions popped out of nowhere claiming to be somebody, met with angels and delivering messages, became awaken and started to teach. But Jesus is not the same. Long before His arrival, His birth and death was prophesied.

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

Quitting Cigarettes

My son just told me since Monday 6 am (09-Oct-2017), he only smoked 2 sticks of cigarettes.

Too Many Words Mars One's Testimony

When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise. (Proverbs 10:19 HCSB)

Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning. (Proverbs 17:28 NET)

But let your word 'yes be 'yes,' and your 'no be 'no.' Anything more than this is from the evil one. (Matthew 5:37 HCSB)

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)

Man Creating God Based On Artificial Intelligence

Half of it he burns in the fire; over this half he eats meat as he roasts a roast and is satisfied. He also warms himself and says, "Aha! I am warm, I have seen the fire." But the rest of it he makes into a god, his graven image. He falls down before it and worships; he also prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god." (Isaiah 44:16-17 NASB)

Anthony Levandowski, a former Google engineer, has founded a religious organization, called Way of the Future, that seeks to "develop and promote the realization of a Godhead based on Artificial Intelligence".

Man making gods is not new. Only the technology changes.

Walk to Know, Know to Trust

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

Saw this UOB video about building trust.

We need to build our trust (or faith) in God. To trust in God, we must know God. When we know that someone is reliable, we will trust him. Likewise we also have to know God before we can trust Him. To know God, the only way is to walk with Him. To walk with Him means to keep His commandments. When we keep His commandments and apply them to our daily living, we will see that they are true and good. Then our faith in Him will increase.

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! (Psalm 34:8 ESV)

Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. (Deuteronomy 8:6 KJV)

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)

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (Psalm 1:1-3 KJV)

Everyone Loves Sin - Updated

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. (John 3:19 ESV)

In my previous post, I wrote that they made Superman a bit less perfect to make him more appealing. Now DC went all the way and created Injustice, where Superman actually become a despot intolerant of all injustice.

Fighting Antinomianism

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

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? (Romans 6:1 ESV)

True Christianity treads the narrow path between legalism and antinomianism.

We are all against antinomianism. But we cannot fight antinomianism by making grace law++. That is legalism.

We know that thoughts of adultery is sin. But if the thoughts come to us, we know that we have forgiveness in Christ. If we not only think, but actually commit adultery, we know that we have forgiveness in Christ. If we not only commit adultery but also murder the husband, we know that we have forgiveness in Christ, just as King David was forgiven.

This is antinomianism. Antinomianism says, "Go ahead, commit adultery and murder because there is forgiveness in Christ."

This is grace. Grace says, "If you have committed adultery and murder, there is forgiveness in Christ."

Such subtle difference, but one is from the devil, the other is from God.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1 ESV)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 ESV)

Purpose and Fate

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. (Philippians 1:12-13 ESV)

Everything happened for the purpose of Christ. And God had declared this from the beginning. He had revealed the end to the world in the Bible.

For those outside the kingdom, they refuse to believe. Because of that, they cannot see the purpose and cannot understand why things happened the way it happened. So they call it fate.

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)

Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT)

Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and no one is like Me. I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: My plan will take place, and I will do all My will. (Isaiah 46:9-10 HCSB)

God's Promise to Israel

God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. And God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name." So he called his name Israel. And God said to him, "I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body. The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you." Then God went up from him in the place where he had spoken with him. (Genesis 35:9-13 ESV)

God repeated His promise to Abraham to Israel with some elaboration,

1. kings shall come from him;
2. a nation and a company of nations shall descended from him;
3. land will be given to him.

"The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
Nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,
Until Shiloh comes,
And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
(Genesis 49:10 NASB)

But his father refused. "I know, my son; I know," he replied. "Manasseh will also become a great people, but his younger brother will become even greater. And his descendants will become a multitude of nations." (Genesis 48:19 NLT)

God's Promise to Isaac

Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to Abimelech king of the Philistines. And the Lord appeared to him and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." (Genesis 26:1-5 ESV)

The promise to Abraham now given to Isaac and not Ishmael. Abraham had many sons, but only Isaac will inherit the promise of God.

For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. (Galatians 4:22-23 ESV)

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. (Romans 9:6-8 ESV)

God's Promise to Abraham

When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly." Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, "Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God."

And God said to Abraham, "As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant."

And God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her." Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, "Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?" And Abraham said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live before you!" God said, "No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year."

When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. (Genesis 17:1-22 ESV)

Theme development

1. God promised Abraham that kings will be descended from him;
2. God promised to make Abraham a father of a multitude of nations;
3. God promised Abraham the land of Canaan for his descendants.

Short term promise
God promised Abraham a son born by his wife Sarah and God will established His covenant with him. His name would be Isaac.

Abraham's task
Abraham's part in this is to circumcise his family as a mark of the covenant.

The mystery of the Gospel in embryonic form
Why can share the covenant of Abraham? Is it only his blood descendants? No. According to Genesis 17:12, it is "every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner - those who are not your offspring" So those who are born and those who are bought can be part of God's covenant with Abraham. Thus when the Apostle Paul wrote that the Gentiles who are bought by the blood of Christ are heirs together with Israel, he is not inventing his own theology. It is rooted in Genesis 17:12.

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 3:6 ESV)

The First Prophecy Prophesied A Redeemer

I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel. (Genesis 3:15 HCSB)

The first prophecy was prophesied personally by God to the serpent. He told the serpent that his seed will be fatally injured by the woman's seed. The first prophecy developed on the theme of a redeemer or savior, on His one special characteristic - the seed of the woman. But this was way before God's covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15:7-21, Genesis 17:1-14) when the theme of king redeemer, people and land was more fully developed.

Seed of the woman
All men are descended from the seed of men. But God promised that there is a special man that would not be from the seed of man, but from the seed of woman.

If any man has a wife who became pregnant and it is not his seed, she must be an adulteress and had child by another man's seed. In Biblical times, both the adulterer and adulteress would be taken outside the city and be stoned to death.

At one point in history, this happened to a man. His wife was pregnant but it was not his seed. While he pondered over the next step to take, God intervened.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:18-21 ESV)

The Main Theme of the Bible

"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)

The Bible's main theme is the act of God in His redemption of a people from a fallen world for His glory.

Within this main theme, there are some sub-themes. There will be

1. a king, a redeemer anointed by God;
2. a nation or people to be redeemed;
3. a place where God will be worshipped.

All these themes are developed throughout the Bible, from Moses to John.

The Bible was written by more than 40 authors over a period of 1600 years. Yet these themes are consistently developed and maintained. Any other books, authors or prophets who claimed to have received messages from the God of Abraham, but do not focus on these themes, are false prophets, even if they perform miracles.

"If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, 'Let us go after other gods,' which you have not known, 'and let us serve them,' you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 13:1-3 ESV)

But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.' (Deuteronomy 18:20 ESV)

The Call of Abraham

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

The first thing to note is that Abraham was called.
The second thing to note is he was told to leave.
The third thing to note is he was not told where to go.
The fourth thing to note is he was childless.

If  he obeyed, this was promised to him,

1. He will be given land;
2. He will be a great nation;
3. He will be blessed;
4. He shall be a blessing.

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. (Hebrews 11:8 NASB)

And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. (Hebrews 11:11 NIV)

Religion - Bible vs Koran

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (Romans 1:18-25 ESV)

And if Allah had willed, He could have made you [of] one religion, but He causes to stray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And you will surely be questioned about what you used to do. (Surah 16:93 Sahih International Version)

And if Allah willed, He could have made them [of] one religion, but He admits whom He wills into His mercy. And the wrongdoers have not any protector or helper. (Surah 42:8 Sahih International Version)

Why are there so many religions in the world?

According to the Bible, the cause is unbelief. People refused to believe in the truth, thus they believed in their own lies. Truth is one, but lies are infinitely many.

According to the Quran, Allah could have made all people with one religion, but he chose not to.

One Language - Bible vs Koran

At one time the whole earth had the same language and vocabulary. As people migrated from the east, they found a valley in the land of Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, "Come, let us make oven-fired bricks." They used brick for stone and asphalt for mortar. And they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky. Let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise, we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth."
Then the Lord came down to look over the city and the tower that the men were building. The Lord said, "If they have begun to do this as one people all having the same language, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let Us go down there and confuse their language so that they will not understand one another's speech." So from there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth, and they stopped building the city. Therefore its name is called Babylon, for there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth, and from there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth. (Genesis 11:1-9 HCSB)

And We have revealed to you, [O Muúammad], the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it. So judge between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth. To each of you We prescribed a law and a method. Had Allah willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you; so race to [all that is] good. To Allah is your return all together, and He will [then] inform you concerning that over which you used to differ. (Surah 5:48 Sahih International Version)

Had your Lord wanted, He would have made all people one united nation. They still have different beliefs (Surah 11:118 Muhammad Sarwar Version)

Did God ever create a world with only one language?

The answer from the Bible is "Yes". From Adam to Noah, the world had only one language. But when the people intend to stick together and build a city after the flood instead of spreading abroad, God decided to confuse their tongues so that they could not succeed in building the one world government ahead of its time.

The answer from the Koran is "No". In Surah 5:48, the Muhammad Sarwar version translated as "Had God wanted, He could have made you into one nation" Yusuf Ali translated as "If God had so willed, He would have made you a single people," And the above Sahih International translate as "Had Allah willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion]". The implication is God had never created a world with one language. The world had many languages from the beginning and God wanted them to "compete with each other in righteousness." In Surah 11:118, God gave another reason why many languages were created, that is, even with one language, they will still fight and quarrel.

In His Own Words - What Jesus Taught

Jesus said we are to repent because kingdom of God has come.
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17 ESV)
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news!" (Mark 1:15 HCSB)

Jesus said if we set the correct goal, everything will be provided for.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33 ESV)

Jesus said we are to follow Him and He will offer us a job.
And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19 ESV)

Jesus said we have to love Him more than anything else.
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:37 ESV)
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26 ESV)

Jesus said if anyone loves Him, he will keep His commandments.
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (John 14:15 ESV)
Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. (John 14:23 ESV)

Jesus commanded us to love one another.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (John 13:34 ESV)
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:12 ESV)

Jesus said we should love our enemies just as God loves us.
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:44-45 ESV)

Jesus asked us to take up our cross.
And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:38 ESV)
Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:27 ESV)
Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24 ESV)
And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Mark 8:34 ESV)
And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23 ESV)

Jesus said we should not judge.
Judge not, that you be not judged. (Matthew 7:1 ESV)

Jesus said we have to judge.
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. (Matthew 7:6 KJV)
If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. (Matthew 18:15-17 ESV)

Jesus said do what the hypocrites say but do not do what they do.
"The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. (Matthew 23:2-3 ESV)

Jesus said He told His disciples things before it took place so that they will believe.
I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. (John 13:19 ESV)
And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. (John 14:29 ESV)

Jesus said we must eat His flesh and drink His blood.
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26:26-28 ESV)
And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. (Mark 14:22-24 ESV)
And he took bread, and when he had 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 likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. (Luke 22:19-20 ESV)
So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever." (John 6:53-58 ESV)

Jesus said His Words are very important.
"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it." (Matthew 7:24-27 ESV)

Jesus taught with authority.
And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. (Matthew 7:28-29 ESV)

Before resurrection, Jesus told his disciples to go to the lost sheep of Israel.
These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' (Matthew 10:5-7 ESV)

After resurrection, Jesus told his disciples to go to all nations.
And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20 ESV)

In His Own Words - Why Jesus Came

Jesus said He came to do His Father's will.
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. (John 6:38-39 ESV)

Jesus said He came to bear witness to the truth.
Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world - to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." (John 18:37 ESV)

Jesus said He came to be the light of the world.
I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. (John 12:46 ESV)

Jesus said He came to fulfil the Law.
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (Matthew 5:17 ESV)

Jesus said He came to proclaim the good news about the Kingdom of God.
And He said to them, "Let's go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach there too. This is why I have come." (Mark 1:38 HCSB)
But He said to them, "I must proclaim the good news about the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because I was sent for this purpose." (Luke 4:43 HCSB)
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19 ESV)

Jesus Christ said He came to call sinners to repentance.
And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:17 ESV)

Jesus said He was sent to the lost sheep of Israel.
He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Matthew 15:24 ESV)

Jesus said He came to seek those who are lost.
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. (Luke 19:10 ESV)

Jesus said He came to save the world.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:17 ESV)

Jesus said He came to serve.
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. (John 13:14 ESV)
But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:25-28 ESV)

Jesus said He came to suffer, die for the forgiveness of sins and resurrect on the third day.

He also said to them, "This is what is written: The Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead the third day, and repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:46-47 HCSB)

Jesus said He came to give His life as a ransom for many.
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45 ESV)
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again 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 ESV)

Jesus said He came to die on the cross.
Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. (John 12:27 ESV)

Jesus said He came to die for all His sheep.
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father. (John 10:14-18 ESV)

Jesus said He came so that we can have life, and have it more abundantly.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10 ESV)

Jesus said He came to give rest to the weary.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28 ESV)

Jesus said He came to give us peace.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27 ESV)

Jesus said He came to cause division.
Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. (Matthew 10:34 ESV)
Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. (Luke 12:51 ESV)

Jesus came for the judgement of the world.
Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind." (John 9:39 ESV)

Jesus said He did not come to judge.
Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?" (Luke 12:13-14 ESV)

In His Own Words - Who Jesus Is

Jesus said He came from above.
He said to them, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. (John 8:23 ESV)
No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. (John 3:13 ESV)

Jesus said He existed before Abraham.
Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." (John 8:58 ESV)

Jesus said that He is the Messiah.
The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things." Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he." (John 4:25-26 ESV)

Jesus said that He is the King of Israel.
Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You have said so." (Matthew 27:11 ESV)
And Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him, "You have said so." (Mark 15:2 ESV)
And Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him, "You have said so." (Luke 23:3 ESV)

Jesus said that He is the Son of God.
And they all said, "Are You the Son of God, then?" And He said to them, "Yes, I am." (Luke 22:70 NASB)

Jesus said that He is the Son of Man.
For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. (Matthew 16:27 ESV)
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. (Matthew 25:31 ESV)

Jesus said that He is the Messiah, the Son of God and Son of Man.
But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven." (Matthew 26:63-64 ESV)
But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" And Jesus said, "I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." (Mark 14:61-62 ESV)

Paul Preached Boring Sermons

Paul preached boring sermons. He was about the only preacher recorded in the Bible that actually bored someone to death.
And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. (Acts 20:9 ESV)

But the power of Paul's letters can still be felt among us today.
For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account." (2 Corinthians 10:10 ESV)

This is the secret. You will never find any quotable quotes from Paul, but the power of the Holy Spirit is in his words.
And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5 NASB)

So if we listen to inspiring preachers, we must examine ourselves to see if we are moved by the preacher or by the Holy Spirit.

Qualifications Of Overseers/Elders and Deacons Compared

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:1-7 ESV)

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you - if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. (Titus 1:5-9 ESV)

Deacons, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And they must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons. Wives, too, must be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled, faithful in everything. Deacons must be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently. For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves, and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 3:8-13 HCSB)

Characteristic	Overseer ἐπίσκοπον	Deacon Διακόνους
Have the desire	1 Timothy 3:1
Above reproach, ἀνεπίλημπτον	1 Timothy 3:2
Blameless, ἀνέγκλητος	Titus 1:6
Blameless, ἀνέγκλητον	Titus 1:7	1 Timothy 3:10
Husband of one wife	1 Timothy 3:2,Titus 1:6	1 Timothy 3:12
Children are believers	Titus 1:6
Household well managed	1 Timothy 3:4-5	1 Timothy 3:12
Dignified, σεμνότητος	1 Timothy 3:4
Dignified, σεμνούς		1 Timothy 3:8
Sober, νηφάλιον	1 Timothy 3:2
Self-controlled, σώφρονα	1 Timothy 3:2,Titus 1:8
Respectable, κόσμιον	1 Timothy 3:2
Hospitable, φιλόξενον	1 Timothy 3:2,Titus 1:8
Able to teach, διδακτικόν	1 Timothy 3:2
A lover of good, φιλάγαθον	Titus 1:8
Upright, δίκαιον	Titus 1:8
Holy, ὅσιον	Titus 1:8
Disciplined, ἐγκρατῆ	Titus 1:8
Gentle, ἐπιεικῆ	1 Timothy 3:3
Peaceable, ἄμαχον	1 Timothy 3:3
Not self-willed, μὴ αὐθάδη	Titus 1:7
Not quick tempered, μὴ ὀργίλον	Titus 1:7
Not given to (much) wine	1 Timothy 3:3,Titus 1:7	1 Timothy 3:8
Not lover of money or greedy of dishonest gain	1 Timothy 3:3,Titus 1:7	1 Timothy 3:8
Not a striker	1 Timothy 3:3,Titus 1:7
Not double-tongued, μὴ διλόγους		1 Timothy 3:8
Not a recent convert	1 Timothy 3:6
Good reputation with outsiders	1 Timothy 3:7
Teach sound doctrine, refute false teaching	Titus 1:9
Hold on to the faith		1 Timothy 3:9
Tested		1 Timothy 3:10
Women or Deacon's Wife, γυναῖκας		1 Timothy 3:11
Dignified, σεμνάς		1 Timothy 3:11
Not slanderers, μὴ διαβόλους		1 Timothy 3:11
Clear-minded, νηφαλίους		1 Timothy 3:11
Faithful in all things, πιστὰς ἐν πᾶσιν		1 Timothy 3:11

The Day of the LORD

The Day of the LORD is a day of wrath and a time for repentance. But there will be warnings and the Lord shall come as a thief in the night.

Let the nations be roused and come to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit down to judge all the surrounding nations. Swing the sickle because the harvest is ripe. Come and trample the grapes because the winepress is full; the wine vats overflow because the wickedness of the nations is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the Day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. (Joel 3:12-14 HCSB)

This is part of Zephaniah 1:7-18, a long passage on the day of the Lord.
The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there. A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements. I will bring distress on mankind, so that they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them on the day of the wrath of the LORD. In the fire of his jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed; for a full and sudden end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth. (Zephaniah 1:14-18 ESV)

Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes. (Joel 1:15 ESV)

Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming; it is near, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains a great and powerful people; their like has never been before, nor will be again after them through the years of all generations. (Joel 2:1-2 ESV)

On that day the LORD will punish the host of heaven, in heaven, and the kings of the earth, on the earth. (Isaiah 24:21 ESV)

Full context in Obadiah 1:15-21.
For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head. (Obadiah 1:15 ESV)

For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. (Malachi 4:1 ESV)

This is part of Isaiah 2:6-4:6, a long passage on the day of the Lord.

For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up - and it shall be brought low; (Isaiah 2:12 ESV)

You did not go up to the gaps or restore the wall around the house of Israel so that it might stand in battle on the day of the LORD. (Ezekiel 13:5 HCSB)

For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. (1 Thessalonians 5:2 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)

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 ESV)

Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. (Malachi 4:5 NASB)

Behold, a day is coming for the LORD, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst.  For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. 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. And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. (Zechariah 14:1-5 ESV)

I will produce portents both in the sky and on the earth - blood, fire, and columns of smoke. The sunlight will be turned to darkness and the moon to the color of blood, before the day of the LORD comes - that great and terrible day! It will so happen that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be delivered. For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who survive, just as the LORD has promised; the remnant will be those whom the LORD will call. (Joel 2:30-32 NET)

And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:19-21 ESV)

The day of the Lord is also mentioned in the judgement of the northern kingdom of Israel:
Woe to those who wish for the day of the LORD! Why do you want the LORD's day of judgment to come? It will bring darkness, not light. Disaster will be inescapable, as if a man ran from a lion only to meet a bear, then escaped into a house, leaned his hand against the wall, and was bitten by a poisonous snake. Don't you realize the LORD's day of judgment will bring darkness, not light - gloomy blackness, not bright light? (Amos 5:18-20 NET)

The day of the Lord is also mentioned in the judgement of Babylon:
The sound of a tumult is on the mountains as of a great multitude! The sound of an uproar of kingdoms, of nations gathering together! The LORD of hosts is mustering a host for battle. They come from a distant land, from the end of the heavens, the LORD and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come! (Isaiah 13:4-6 ESV)

Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light. I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless. (Isaiah 13:9-11 ESV)

The day of the Lord is also mentioned in the judgement of Egypt:
That day is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, to avenge himself on his foes. The sword shall devour and be sated and drink its fill of their blood. For the Lord GOD of hosts holds a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates. (Jeremiah 46:10 ESV)

For the day is near, the day of the LORD is near; it will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations. A sword shall come upon Egypt, and anguish shall be in Cush, when the slain fall in Egypt, and her wealth is carried away, and her foundations are torn down. (Ezekiel 30:3-4 ESV)

Church Leadership

Church leaders are

1. Appointed by the Holy Spirit
2. Gifted by Jesus Christ
3. To overseer and to shepherd
4. To teach and to defend the doctrines
5. Held accountable for the flock
6. Not to lord over the flock
7. Not to serve for gain

Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock that the Holy Spirit has appointed you to as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood. (Acts 20:28 HCSB)
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. (Ephesians 4:11-14 ESV)

The overseer / elder
Qualification
Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:2-7 ESV)
This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you - if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. (Titus 1:5-9 ESV)

Appointed, with prayer and fasting
Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. (Acts 14:23 NLT)

Deacon
Qualification
Deacons, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And they must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons. Wives, too, must be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled, faithful in everything. Deacons must be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently. For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves, and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 3:8-13 HCSB)

Elected
And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." (Acts 6:2-4 ESV)

Exercise of authority
Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly - not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don't lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. (1 Peter 5:2-3 NLT)
But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:25-28 ESV)
But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. (Luke 22:26 ESV)

The flock should

1. respect / obey the leaders
2. pray for them
3. imitate their faith
4. pay them well
5. not to entertain false accusation

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 ESV)
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. (Hebrews 13:7 ESV)
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. (Hebrews 13:17 HCSB)
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. (1 Timothy 5:17 ESV)
Don't accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. (1 Timothy 5:19 HCSB)

Aristotle, First Principles Thinking, Limitations and Presuppositions

"The things best to know are first principles and causes, but these things are perhaps the most difficult for men to grasp, for they are farthest removed from the senses ..." - Aristotle

I am not sure did Aristotle said this or someone put words into his dead mouth. Anyway, we are told that Aristotle always look for "the first basis from which a thing is known" or first principles for every new thought he started. But it is the same Aristotle that said that a heavier object will fall at a faster speed. Why did he not apply his first principles thinking and do some experiment to prove it?

Like all human, Aristotle suffered from this - limitation.

First principle thinking is wonderful, except that it has to cope with two limitations:

1. Limited time and resources
   It is not possible do everything from first principles. There is not enough time, skills, knowledge, resources and power to do that. You have to choose. How are you going to make your choice? That brings us to the second limitation.
2. Presuppositions
   Everybody has presuppositions. There is not enough time, skills, knowledge, resources and power to remove all presuppositions.

Ultimately you need faith. For those things that you do not have time to apply first principles thinking, you have to accept by faith what your senses, gut feeling, friends, authorities or even Google tell you.

Without faith, you cannot even take one step forward. How do you know that the ground in front of you can take your weight when you did not conduct any experiment to prove that it can?

Sola Scriptura vs Sola Ecclesia

Who has authority to interpret the Bible? Who has the final say - the Bible or the Church?

The anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you don't need anyone to teach you. Instead, His anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lie; just as He has taught you, remain in Him. (1 John 2:27 HCSB)

Catechism of the Catholic Church - The Transmission of Divine Revelation Part 1 Section 1 Chapter 2 Article 2, 100
The task of interpreting the Word of God authentically has been entrusted solely to the Magisterium of the Church, that is, to the Pope and to the bishops in communion with him.

Who should you believe, the Bible or the Roman Catholic Church? Let us examine some of the other verses in the Bible.

Jesus had given the authority to all disciples.
And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20 ESV)

He had promised that the Holy Spirit as the Counselor/Helper/Comforter/Advocate will guide.
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. (John 14:16-18 HCSB)
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit - the Father will send Him in My name - will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you. (John 14:26 HCSB)
When the Counselor comes, the One I will send to you from the Father - the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father - He will testify about Me. (John 15:26 HCSB)
When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. (John 16:13 HCSB)

The apostles confirmed this.
Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. (1 Corinthians 2:12-13 ESV)
But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. (1 John 2:20 ESV)
But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie - just as it has taught you, abide in him. (1 John 2:27 ESV)

Those who examine the Scriptures were considered more noble.
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. (Acts 17:11 ESV)

Just as we eat our food daily for nourish, we read the Bible daily for spiritual nourishment.
But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4 HCSB)

The Bible is the living word of God and has the power to convict.
For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 HCSB)

But the natural man cannot accept it.
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV)

Checkpoints in New Testament Canonization

Here is a short, simple summary of checkpoints in the canonization process of the New Testament.

AD 50 - AD 95 The authors themselves
New Testament authors knew they were writing authoritative Scripture and also quoted other parts of the New Testament as authoritative Scripture. Churches were circulating these books although no one seemed to have thought of making an authorized list of books.

AD 110 Ignatius of Antioch and Polycarp of Smyrna
These immediate disciples of the apostles wrote letters (Ignatius 7, Polycarp 1) with quotations from the New Testament.

AD 140  Marcion's truncated New Testament canon
Marcion of Sinope, founded a heretical sect and produced a list of accepted (which he used to support his doctrine) and rejected  New Testament books. In doing so, he kind of listed the New Testament books in circulation during his time.
Accepted - Luke Galatians 1Corinthians 2Corinthians Romans 1Thessalonians 2Thessalonians Ephesians (which Marcion called Laodiceans) Colossians Philemon Philippians
Rejected - Matthew John

AD 180 Muratorian fragment
The Muratorian Canon (also called the Muratorian Fragment) is an ancient list of New Testament books - the oldest such list found. The original document, which was probably written in Greek, is dated to about AD 180 and lists 22 of the 27 books of the New Testament.
Includes - Four gospels, Acts, 13 Pauline Epistles (exclude Hebrews), 1John and one more (not sure 2John or 3John) Jude, Revelation, Wisdom of Solomon
Omits - Hebrews, James, 1Peter, 2Peter, 2John or 3John

AD 322 Eusebius of Cæsaria
Eusebius's Ecclesiastical History 3.25.1-7 has 4 lists:
1. accepted works - 4 gospels, Acts, 14 Pauline letters, 1Peter, 1John, Revelation, total 22 books
2. disputed works - James, Jude, 2Peter, 2John, 3John
3. rejected works - Revelation (but it was on the accepted list)
4. heretical works - did not contain any works now regarded as part of the New Testament

AD 367 Athanasius of Alexandria
Athanasius's 39th Festal Letter listed the complete New Testament canon (27 books) for the first time.

A more detailed reference can be found in The Development of the Canon of the New Testament - Cross Reference Table Writings and Authorities and The Development of the Canon of the New Testament.

New Testament Canonization

New Testament authors quoting other parts of the New Testament as authoritative Scripture
Paul recognized Luke's Gospel as scripture
For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages." (1 Timothy 5:18 ESV)
When Paul wrote to Timothy he quoted a passage from Luke 10:7 as Scripture. This also proved that the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of Apostles were finished and in circulation before Paul wrote the first epistle to Timothy. This collaborate with Acts 28:30-31 which was written by Luke, and finished off with Paul's first imprisonment. It also established the date of the epistle's writing as between Paul's first and final Roman imprisonments.

Peter recognized the letters of Paul in circulation as scripture
And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. (2 Peter 3:15-16 ESV)
Peter recognized the scriptural authority of Paul's letters and warned against twisting the words of Paul to justify heresies.

New Testament authors knew they were writing authoritative Scripture
Paul knew that he is writing scripture
If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. (1 Corinthians 14:37-38 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)
And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. (1 Thessalonians 2:13 ESV)
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. (2 Thessalonians 2:15 ESV)
He declared that a true prophet would recognize that his letters are the command of the Lord.

Peter knew that he was writing scripture
I want you to recall both the predictions foretold by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles. (2 Peter 3:2 NET)
Peter put the writings of the apostles (including himself) on par with the prophecies of the Old Testament.

John knew that he was writing scripture
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. (Revelation 1:1-3 ESV)
John explicitly stated that the book he was writing was a revelation from Jesus Christ Himself. With the completion of Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ in about AD 95-96, the New Testament is closed. All books written after Revelation and claimed to be revelations of the God of Abraham from angels or prophets or the apostles or successors of the apostles are all false.

The following quote from this article "Early Christians Believed that Canonical Books were Self-Authenticating" by Michael J Kruger summarized an important point on the canonization of the New Testament - it is canonized by God, not men.

QUOTE
In the end, the church fathers teach us a very important truth.  The NT canon we possess today is not due to the machinations of later church leaders, or to the political influence of Constantine, but due to the fact that these books imposed themselves on the church through their internal qualities.
UNQUOTE