Faith And Christian Living

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

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

The Women in Jesus' Genealogy

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

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

Passing Time

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

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

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

Wedding At Cana On The Third Day

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

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

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

Evil And Suffering Perspective

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

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

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

Only Jesus Saves To The Uttermost

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

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

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

Conversion And Repentance

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

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

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

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

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

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

Repentance Proven by Fruit

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

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

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

Why God Send Tribulations

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

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

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

To My Children - 2

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

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

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

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

To My Children - 1

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

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

I classify things into important things and unimportant things.

Important things are things we can bring beyond our death.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saved By Grace; Live By Faith

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

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

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

Without faith, it is impossible to please Him.

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

For we are saved by grace to live by faith.

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

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

Where Sin Abounds Grace Much More Abounds

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

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

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

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

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

How Should Christians Live

Coram Deo - to live before the face of God

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

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

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

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

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

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

How Do Christian Live

We can ask four questions about Christian living:

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

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

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


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

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

How to do it?

1. Knowledge is power;
2. Love is power

Knowledge
Know the imperatives
Know our nature

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

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

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