Light And Blindness

For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. (2 Corinthians 4:6-7 NLT)

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4 NIV)

"I was sought by those who did not ask; I was found by those who did not seek me. I said, 'Here I am, here I am,' to a nation that did not call on my name. (Isaiah 65:1 CSB)

True Shepherds

Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them - not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:2-3 NIV)

Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. (2 Corinthians 4:1-2 NIV)

For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. (2 Corinthians 4:5 NIV)

Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. (2 Corinthians 2:17 NIV)

Endurance, Perseverance, Patience, ὑπομονή

Now also for this very reason, having brought in all earnestness, supplement into your faith virtue, and into virtue knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance (ὑπομονήν); and to perseverance (ὑπομονῇ), godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5-8 BSB)

Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance (ὑπομονήν). And let endurance (ὑπομονὴ) have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4 CSB)

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance (ὑπομονὴν), and endurance (ὑπομονὴ) produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5 ESV)

Salvation by Grace through Faith - 3

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)

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 NIV)

He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has also planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God] - yet man cannot find out (comprehend, grasp) what God has done (His overall plan) from the beginning to the end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11 Amplified Bible)

Seeing Is Not Believing

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. (Genesis 3:8 CSB)

Many people said that if they see God, they will believe in Him. This is not true.

Adam saw God but did not believe in Him. He chose to eat the forbidden fruit.

The Israelites saw God speaking to them at Mount Sinai. They worshipped the golden calf not long after.

The Jews saw Jesus but they did not believe in Him.

"But Abraham said, 'If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.'" (Luke 16:31 NLT)

Jesus Saves Those Who Believe

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6 KJV)

Truth will still be true even if you do not believe. However, Jesus saves only those who has faith in Him. There is no salvation for the sin of unbelief.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 BSB)

Faith Love Hope

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 ESV)

1. Work (ἔργου) of faith
2. Labor (κόπου) of love
3. Endurance (ὑπομονῆς) of hope

God Use Israel to Prove His Existence

"Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. (Ezekiel 36:22-24 ESV)

So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD. (Ezekiel 38:23 ESV)

So I will make my holy name known among my people Israel and will no longer allow it to be profaned. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. (Ezekiel 39:7 CSB)

It is not possible to prove that God exist. So God use the existence of Israel to prove His existence.

God's Kindness and Severity to Our Sin

See then the kindness and severity of God: to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; for otherwise you too will be cut off. (Romans 11:22 NASB)

Sin has two purposes, to show the kindness of God and also His severity.

No matter how heinous a sinner you are, if you come to God for mercy, He will show it to you and pardon you through His Son, who had died for the sins of the world. And let all the wicked people rejoice at this good news from Jesus Christ. There is no one so bad that he cannot be saved by the blood of Jesus.

This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" - and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:15-16 CSB)

If you think that you are good enough to face God, you will realize how severe is His judgement. Every evil thought and every idle word have to be accounted for. There is no one so good that they do not need the saviour.

And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. (Matthew 12:36 NLT)

God's Kindness and Severity

Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. (Romans 11:22 ESV)

The elects are chosen to show God's grace and kindness, the rejects are to demonstrate God's justice and severity.

The 144000 in Revelation

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad, 12,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh, 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 from the tribe of Levi, 12,000 from the tribe of Issachar, 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 from the tribe of Joseph, 12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed. (Revelation 7:1-8 ESV)

The 144000 will be sealed at the sixth seal and martyred by the seventh trumpet.

Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. (Revelation 14:1-5 ESV)

Earthquakes In Revelation

And when I saw the Lamb open the sixth seal, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth like unripe figs dropping from a tree shaken by a great wind. The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. (Revelation 6:12-14 BSB)

Then I saw the seven angels who stand in the presence of God; seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel, with a golden incense burner, came and stood at the altar. He was given a large amount of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up in the presence of God from the angel's hand. The angel took the incense burner, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. (Revelation 8:2-5 CSB)

For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here!" And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. (Revelation 11:9-13 ESV)

And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder, and an earthquake, and a great hailstorm. (Revelation 11:19 NASB)

The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, "It is done!" Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell on people. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible. (Revelation 16:17-21 NIV)

Israel And The Promised Land

It is not because of your righteousness or uprightness of heart that you are going in to possess their land, but it is because of their wickedness that the LORD your God is driving out these nations before you, to keep the promise He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Deuteronomy 9:5 BSB)

God gave the promised land to Israel to keep the promise He swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. That is why it is called the promised land.

Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: It is not for your sake that I will act, O house of Israel, but for My holy name, which you profaned among the nations to which you went. I will show the holiness of My great name, which has been profaned among the nations - the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when I show My holiness in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the nations and gather you out of all the countries, and I will bring you back into your own land. (Ezekiel 36:22-24 BSB)

God restored Israel to the promised land in 1948 to show the holiness of His great name and to keep the promise He swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. (Malachi 3:6 KJV)

End Of Secularism

"Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. (Ezekiel 36:22-24 ESV)

God restored Israel to vindicate the holiness of His great name in the eyes of the nations. But the nations still refused to recognise the God of Israel. So there will be the Gog and Magog war where God will defeat Gog miraculously. And that will end secularism.

So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD. (Ezekiel 38:23 ESV)

So I will make my holy name known among my people Israel and will no longer allow it to be profaned. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. (Ezekiel 39:7 CSB)

In The Shoes Of Others

Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted. (Hebrews 2:18 CSB)

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15 CSB)

God put Himself in our shoes, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. He is able to sympathize with our weakness. Are we able to put ourselves in other people's shoes?

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5-8 KJV)

Israel-Palestinian Problem - A Secular Solution

But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel. (2 Chronicles 6:6 KJV)

Moreover, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: "Have you not noticed what these people are saying: 'The LORD has rejected the two families He had chosen'? So they despise My people and no longer regard them as a nation. This is what the LORD says: If I have not established My covenant with the day and the night and the fixed order of heaven and earth, then I would also reject the descendants of Jacob and of My servant David, so as not to take from his descendants rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore them from captivity and will have compassion on them." (Jeremiah 33:23-26 BSB)

This interesting video "Who Controlled Jerusalem the Longest? - YouTube" gave us a rational basis for a secular solution to the Israel-Palestinian problem. It concluded at the end of the video that since the Muslims controlled Jerusalem for 1283 years and the Jews for 1197 years, then it ought to be a two-state solution. I think for all those people who do not believe in the Bible, he has a very good case.

But both the Jews and the Muslims will not accept the solution. Neither will the Bible believing Christians. Above all, the God who created the heavens and the earth will bring to pass all that He had purposed. God is the factor overlooked in secular solution.

On that day, when all the nations of the earth gather against her, I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who would heave it away will be severely injured. (Zechariah 12:3 BSB)

The LORD of Hosts has sworn: As I have purposed, so it will be; as I have planned it, so it will happen. (Isaiah 14:24 CSB)

I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will. (Isaiah 46:10 CSB)

Israel And Bible Prophecies

Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, "What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created." (2 Peter 3:3-4 NLT)

We are fortunate to be born in the period where Israel became a nation again and Bible prophecy started to kick in again. If you were born five hundred years ago, there was no way to answer the scoffers, except to tell them that you believe by faith. Today at least we can tell scoffers that Israel is back, fulfilling Bible prophecies about its restoration and that more fulfilments will follow.

Bible prophecy is very focused. It is about Yeshua Hamashiach and Israel. Only when Israel is back, then would Bible prophecies continue. The major outline for the future of Israel can be found in Ezekiel 33-47 and Daniel 7-12.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (Matthew 5:17 KJV)

Israel Last Longer Than Sun and Moon

Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar - the LORD of hosts is his name: "If this fixed order departs from before me, declares the LORD, then shall the offspring of Israel cease from being a nation before me forever." (Jeremiah 31:35-36 ESV)

Moreover, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: "Have you not noticed what these people are saying: 'The LORD has rejected the two families He had chosen'? So they despise My people and no longer regard them as a nation. This is what the LORD says: If I have not established My covenant with the day and the night and the fixed order of heaven and earth, then I would also reject the descendants of Jacob and of My servant David, so as not to take from his descendants rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore them from captivity and will have compassion on them." (Jeremiah 33:23-26 BSB)

Even when the fixed order of the sun for light by day and the moon and the stars for light by night is no longer needed, Israel will continue to exist.

The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. (Isaiah 60:19 ESV)

And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. (Revelation 21:23 ESV)

And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:5 ESV)

How Do You Know If You Are Brainwashed

The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him. (Proverbs 18:17 BSB, CSB)

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21 KJV)

I accused somebody of being brainwashed. Then the somebody accused me back of being brainwashed. I decided to google for this subject and found the following link:

1. Are you being brainwashed? 10 warning signs of indoctrination (IdeaPod)
2. How to Recognize and Avoid Brainwashing: 13 Steps with Pictures (WikiHow)
3. Ten Unmistakable Signs You're Brainwashed (Forbes)

After a brief glance at the information given, maybe that somebody was not brainwashed, but have beliefs that I could not agree with. Then I wonder if wrong beliefs and being brainwashed are the same. Maybe they are not. Maybe they are. I am not sure. But just like religions, many people just belief their own religions. Did they go through a process to check what they believe is true?

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

Attitude: Does it glorify God?

Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true. (Acts 17:11 BSB)

Perspective: Does it contradict the Bible?

For the moment, that is all I can think of.

Where Did the First Atom Came From?

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. (Genesis 1:1-5 ESV)

In this YouTube video "How Did the First Atom Form? Where did it come from? | Big Bang Nucleosynthesis - YouTube", Arvin Ash tried to explain how the universe came about via a big bang. But the big bang needs way too many Goldilocks moments (not too hot, not too cold, just right) to make things happen.

The Bible tells us that God created the heavens and the earth in six days. It is not a big bang. Molecule to man evolution is just not true. Uncaused existence is just not possible.

Secular Humanist Artificial Intelligence Myth

We're headed toward a situation where AI is vastly smarter than humans and I think that time frame is less than five years from now. But that doesn't mean that everything goes to hell in five years. It just means that things get unstable or weird.
Elon Musk: The Maureen Dowd Interview - The New York Times 2020-07-25

Secular humanists think that religions are myths. But secular humanists also create their own myths.

Secular humanists believe in nature and the material world. God or gods are invoked to fill in the blanks in our knowledge. For example, when we do not know how rain and thunder works, we created rain god and thunder god. As our knowledge increase, there will be less and less requirement for divine explanation. Eventually, when we know everything, god or gods will cease to exist.

Why do secular humanists think like this?

It is because they have a superior view of man and an inferior view of God and God's creation, also known as nature. They believe that in due time, man will understand everything. Because they have a superior view of man, they also believe that man's creation, also known as artificial intelligence, can take over the world.

In What Form Will The Bible Exist During The Millennium

For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (Matthew 5:18 KJV)

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. (Matthew 24:35 NIV CSB)

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8 ESV)

I have a question for those who believe in a literal millennium with Jesus ruling as King on earth, will our Bible still continue to exist in its current form of written words?

There is no Word of God in written form before the flood. It seemed that knowledge was passed by word of mouth in those days and writing was not invented.

During the millennium, God have promised to write the law into the minds and hearts of the people (Hebrews 8:10). Maybe people in the millennium will be born with the Bible knowledge in them. And all those who are saved will come back with the Messiah to rule the earth. For example, if anyone need to know about Abraham sacrificing his son Isaac, he can just go straight to both of them and ask them about it. He does not need to read it from a Bible with written words, whether be it printed as a book or in softcopy in digital devices.

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (Jeremiah 31:33 ESV)

The Just and the Justifier

It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:26 ESV)

But now the righteousness of God has been clearly revealed [independently and completely] apart from the Law, though it is [actually] confirmed by the Law and the [words and writings of the] Prophets. This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believe [and trust in Him and acknowledge Him as God's Son]. There is no distinction, since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God, and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly [before the eyes of the world] as a [life-giving] sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation (propitiation) by His blood [to be received] through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness [which demands punishment for sin], because in His forbearance [His deliberate restraint] He passed over the sins previously committed [before Jesus' crucifixion]. It was to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the One who justifies those who have faith in Jesus [and rely confidently on Him as Savior]. (Romans 3:21-26 Amplified Bible)

God can be the just (He punishes all sin) and the justifier (He forgives all sin) because He had sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins on the cross.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. (1 Peter 3:18 NIV)

大學之道

Chinese classics sometimes have glimpses of Biblical truth. Here we have the first verse of "Great Learning 大學 (translated by A. Charles Muller)":

QUOTE
大學之道、在明明德、在親民、在止於至善。
The way of great learning consists in manifesting one's bright virtue, consists in loving the people, consists in stopping in perfect goodness.
知止而後有定、
When you know where to stop, you have stability.
定而後能靜、
When you have stability, you can be tranquil.
靜而後能安、
When you are tranquil, you can be at ease.
安而後能慮、
When you are at ease, you can deliberate.
慮而後能得。
When you can deliberate you can attain your aims.
物有本末、事有終始。知所先後則近道矣。
Things have their roots and branches, affairs have their end and beginning. When you know what comes first and what comes last, then you are near the Way.
UNQUOTE

I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will. (Isaiah 46:10 CSB)

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. (Revelation 22:13 NIV)

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6 KJV)

Confucius, as usual, got the concepts more or less right. If you knew your end (知止), you would be near the way (近道). But what should the end be? Is it to end in perfect goodness (止於至善)? And what would the way be? Is it to manifest one's bright virtue (明明德), loving people (親民), ending in ultimate goodness (止於至善)? Confucius may not have the right answers since he was a mere mortal.

Let us think about this. If we know the ultimate beginning and the ultimate end (物有本末、事有終始。知所先後), we can frame our goals and ways within it. Jesus is the ultimate beginning and the ultimate end. He is also the Way. We know where we are going because Jesus is the Way. We know He is the right Way because He is also the Truth and the Life.

Jesus is the answer to Confucius. Jesus is your goal and your way.

The Chinese text without translation found in 禮記 : 大學 - 中國哲學書電子化計劃:
大學之道，在明明德，在親民，在止於至善。知止而後有定，定而後能靜，靜而後能安，安而後能慮，慮而後能得。物有本末，事有終始，知所先後，則近道矣。

Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. (Psalm 119:98-100 NIV)

Read the Bible. It will make you wiser than Confucius.

Objections To Paul's Argument

But if our unrighteousness highlights the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict His wrath on us? I am speaking in human terms. (Romans 3:5 BSB)

What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase? (Romans 6:1 BSB)

What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, "Do not covet." (Romans 7:7 BSB)

With My Own Hand

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. (1 Corinthians 16:21 ESV)

See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. (Galatians 6:11 ESV)

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. (Colossians 4:18 ESV)

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. (2 Thessalonians 3:17 ESV)

I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it - to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. (Philemon 1:19 ESV)

An interesting observation about the Apostle Paul by Joel Arnold in Lecture 4—What books belong in our Bible? - YouTube.

Jesus And The Law

Jesus fulfils 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. For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. (Matthew 5:17-18 BSB)

Jesus clarifies the law

You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:27-28 BSB)

Jesus frees us from the law

For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:3-4 BSB)

What Is Legalism?

It is not wrong to love and obey the law of God. Neither is it legalism. What then is legalism? I found an interesting definition of legalism in this article "Jesus and the Law | Reformed Theological Seminary"

QUOTE (with minor changes to paragraph and spelling)
What then is legalism? Legalism comes in many shapes and forms. Let me mention four forms in which we still see legalism raising its ugly head today.

First of all, legalism is when someone teaches that salvation is by works. If somebody tells you that salvation is by law keeping, they are a legalist by Jesus' definition.

Secondly, legalism occurs when people attempt to add their own man-made human rules and traditions to the authoritative word of God. Mad-made rules added to the word of God take away from the authority of the word of God and they are one manifestation of legalism.

A third form of legalism is grudging obedience. Jesus is going to go into detail in Matthew chapter 6 about grudging obedience and His prime example of grudging obedience is going to be the Pharisees. These are the one who supposedly love the law, and yet He said they relate to God not as if He is their loving heavenly father, but they relate to God as if they're doing "x" so He will do "y". They'll do this so He'll do that. They're relating to God as if they can trap Him into being loving and kind towards them if they'll only do certain things. So that kind of grudging obedience is legalism.

And finally, legalism occurs when people confuse the weightier and lesser matters of the law and give great attention to the lesser matters of the law while ignoring the weightier matters of the law.
UNQUOTE

Law Cannot Save, Jesus Saves

The law cannot save.

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:16 KJV)

Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith. (Galatians 3:11 CSB)

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20 ESV)

The law brings condemnation.

For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. (Romans 4:15 ESV)

Jesus saves by fulfilling the law on our behalf.

For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, in order that the law's requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:3-4 CSB)

For the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. (Hebrews 10:1a BSB)

So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:24 BSB)

When we are saved, our lives will reflect the law.

What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. (Romans 6:15 KJV)

This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands. (1 John 2:3 CSB)

If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. (John 14:15 BSB)

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (2 Corinthians 5:15 NIV)

Law, Sin And Grace

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. (1 Corinthians 15:56 BSB CSB ESV NIV)

for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. (2 Corinthians 3:6b KJV)

For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. (Romans 3:20 NLT)

What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, "Do not covet." But sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from the law, sin is dead. Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. So I discovered that the very commandment that was meant to bring life actually brought death. (Romans 7:7-10 BSB)

Some preachers claimed that according to Apostle Paul in Romans 7:9, when you introduce the law, there will be a REVIVAL OF SIN! And that's not all. Apart from reviving sin, the law also kills and brings death!

Am I saying something good caused my death? Certainly not! It was sin that killed me by using something good. Now we can see how terrible and evil sin really is. (Romans 7:13 CEV)

Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. (1 John 3:4 NIV)

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17 BSB ESV NIV)

The law does not bring death. Actually, the law magnifies grace by showing how evil sin is and how much we have been forgiven from.

God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:20-21 NLT)

Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that's why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little." (Luke 7:47 CSB)

Separation To God

Do not be yoked together with those who do not believe. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols?
For we are the temple of the living God, as God said:
I will dwell and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you. And I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18 CSB)

I wrote to you in a letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. I did not mean the immoral people of this world or the greedy and swindlers or idolaters; otherwise you would have to leave the world. But actually, I wrote you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister and is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person. For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders? Don't you judge those who are inside? God judges outsiders. Remove the evil person from among you. (1 Corinthians 5:9-13 CSB)

See "Biblical Separation" for a full list.

Do What They Liked

Before entering the promised land:
"You shall not do according to all that we are doing here today, everyone doing whatever is right in his own eyes, for you have not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance that the Lord your God is giving you. (Deuteronomy 12:8-9 ESV)

After entering the promised land:
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (Judges 21:25 ESV)

Reaping What You Did Not Sow

He gave his people the lands of pagan nations, and they harvested crops that others had planted. All this happened so they would follow his decrees and obey his instructions. Praise the LORD! (Psalm 105:44-45 NLT)

"When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that he would give you - a land with large and beautiful cities that you did not build, houses full of every good thing that you did not fill them with, cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant - and when you eat and are satisfied, be careful not to forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. (Deuteronomy 6:10-12 CSB)

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His inheritance! (Psalm 33:12 BSB)

God chose the English people to conquer the world, to shame the wise, the strong and the ancient, and to spread the gospel. He also handed over the wealth of the heathens to them. The passing of Queen Elizabeth II is the symbolic end of an era, where the Bible was still considered, even though very faintly, as a code of conduct.

With the new King who has woke left ideas, the so-call West that we know today, based loosely on Christ, will end. A new West, based on anti-Christ, will be welcomed by the world. And the ten-horned beast will be the last empire.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast in His presence. (1 Corinthians 1:27-29 BSB)

And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads. On its horns were ten crowns, and on its heads were blasphemous names. The beast I saw was like a leopard, its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority. One of its heads appeared to be fatally wounded, but its fatal wound was healed. The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast. They worshiped the dragon because he gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to wage war against it?" (Revelation 13:1-4 CSB)

Do Not Follow Wisdom Of The World

You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, "Don't handle! Don't taste! Don't touch!"? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person's evil desires. (Colossians 2:20-23 NLT)

If you died with Christ to the way the world thinks and acts, why do you submit to rules and regulations as though you were living in the world? "Don't handle!" "Don't taste!" "Don't touch!" All these things cease to exist when they are used. Such rules are human commandments and teachings. They look like they are wise with this self-made religion and their self-denial by the harsh treatment of the body, but they are no help against indulging in selfish immoral behavior. (Colossians 2:20-23 CEB)

Therefore, if you died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you subject yourself to legalistic rules? "Do not touch! Do not taste! Do not handle!" These all are to perish with use and are aligned with the commandments and doctrines of men. These things have indeed a show of wisdom in self-imposed worship and humility and neglecting of the body, but are worthless against the indulgence of the flesh. (Colossians 2:20-23 MEV)

Freedom Based on Truth

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

There is no absolute freedom. Freedom needs a platform to rest upon. The bird flying in the sky may look very free. But it has to land someday on somewhere.

The best platform for freedom is truth. The best freedom is freedom based on truth because the truth set us free. If we have freedom from truth, then we have nothing but lies.

God The Maker Of Heaven And Earth

Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.
Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them - he remains faithful forever. (Psalm 146:3-6 NIV)

He answered, "I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land." (Jonah 1:9 NIV)

For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. (1 Chronicles 16:26 NIV)

My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:2 ESV)

May the LORD bless you from Zion, he who is the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 134:3 NIV)

You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. (Nehemiah 9:6 NIV)

Bear Own Burden And Also One Another's

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.
Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct. (Galatians 6:1-5 NLT)

Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so that you also won't be tempted. Carry one another's burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Let each person examine his own work, and then he can take pride in himself alone, and not compare himself with someone else. For each person will have to carry his own load. (Galatians 6:1-5 CSB)

Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Each one should test his own work. Then he will have reason to boast in himself alone, and not in someone else. For each one should carry his own load. (Galatians 6:1-5 BSB)

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. (Galatians 6:1-5 ESV)

My friends, you are spiritual. So if someone is trapped in sin, you should gently lead that person back to the right path. But watch out, and don't be tempted yourself. You obey the law of Christ when you offer each other a helping hand.
If you think you are better than others, when you really aren't, you are wrong. Do your own work well, and then you will have something to be proud of. But don't compare yourself with others. 5 We each must carry our own load. (Galatians 6:1-5 CEV)

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. (Galatians 6:1-5 KJV)

Bear your own burden. Bear one another's burden. Carefully scrutinize, examine, test and proof your own work so that you can have personal satisfaction of doing something well and do not compare with others.

Work Enjoyment and Ministry

Our lives consist mainly of work. We work for a living and it takes up most of our time. The rest of it, we rest or enjoy ourselves. For those who are Bible believers, we also find time for service to God. It would be fortunate if we like our work. If not, we just labour mindlessly or unhappily for money.

Work
We labour for money so that we can survive.

The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. (Genesis 2:15 ESV)
It was God ordained.

And to the man he said, "Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:17-19 NLT)
When man sinned, it became a struggle.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, (Colossians 3:23 ESV)
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going. (Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV)
But there is mitigation.

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal." (John 6:27 ESV)
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! (Psalms 90:17 ESV)
A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense. (Proverbs 12:11 NLT)
A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty. (Proverbs 28:19 NLT)
Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established. (Proverbs 16:3 ESV)
And also some advice.

Enjoyment
We can also enjoy the fruits of our labour.

Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. (Ecclesiastes 5:18 NLT)
So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 8:15 NLT)
Go, eat your bread with pleasure, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already accepted your works. (Ecclesiastes 9:7 CSB)
It is not wrong to enjoy.

Ministry
We serve the Lord with our life.

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28 KJV)
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV)
Our Lord Jesus Himself is our example.

It would be best that our work is a ministry for the Lord and something that we enjoyed.

Servants of God

Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. (2 Corinthians 6:4-10 NIV)

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV)

Paul Prays For The Churches

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 ESV)

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. (Colossians 1:9-12 NIV)

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11 NIV)

Paul prayed for the churches that

1. God will make them worthy of His calling;
2. God's power to help them accomplish every good desire and faithful work;
3. They will glorify the name of our Lord Jesus, and Jesus will glorify them according to His grace;
4. God will fill them with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives;
5. They will bear fruit;
6. They will be kept pure and blameless for the day of Christ.

Introducing God To Those With No Bible Knowledge

"People! Why are you doing these things? We are people also, just like you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to go their own way, although he did not leave himself without a witness, since he did what is good by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons and filling you with food and your hearts with joy." (Acts 14:15-17 CSB)

After Paul healed a crippled man, the Lycaonians thought that Paul and Barnabas were gods who came down to earth in the likeness of men and brought oxen and garlands to offer sacrifice to them. Paul quickly introduced God as a living God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them (Acts 14:8-20).

Be like Paul and proclaim the good news to people who know not the Bible by telling them that the God who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them has came to provide salvation for them too.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 CSB, NIV, NLT, BSB, NKJV, NASB, HCSB, CEV, NET)

For the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days; then he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy. (Exodus 20:11 CSB)

People believe in many gods but the Bible has a test for these gods. If that god is not the creator of the heavens and the earth, then he/she/it is a false god.

You are to say this to them: "The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth and from under these heavens." (Jeremiah 10:11 CSB)

Ninth of Av 2022

So the time is coming, declares the Lord, when no one will say, "As the Lord lives who brought up the Israelites from the land of Egypt." Instead, they will say, "As the Lord lives who brought up the descendants of the people of Israel from the land of the north and from all the lands where he has banished them so that they can live in their own land." (Jeremiah 23:7-8 Common English Bible)

"For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will bring you back. (Isaiah 54:7 BSB)

Today is the 9th of Av (evening of 2022-08-06 Saturday till evening of 2022-08-07 Sunday), also called Tisha B'Av. How shall we greet a Jew on this day? Happy Tisha B'Av or sad Tisha B'Av?

Maybe it should be "Happy Tisha B'Av!" because every Tisha B'Av is an opportunity for God to prove that Israel is indestructible. All Palestinians please take note.

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me," declares the LORD. (Isaiah 54:17 BSB)

Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar - the Lord of hosts is his name: "If this fixed order departs from before me, declares the Lord, then shall the offspring of Israel cease from being a nation before me forever." Thus says the Lord: "If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be explored, then I will cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done, declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 31:35-37 ESV)

For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. (Malachi 3:6 KJV)

China's Ah Q Spirit

These are the two basic characteristics of Chinese people:

1. Faced-based
   Face is very important to the Chinese. Even when they are teaching their children, they say, "You better behaviour properly. Don't make your parents lose face." Behaviour is not about right and wrong, but about face.
2. Power-based
   Chinese are afraid of the powerful and bully the weak. Ancient China paid tribute to more powerful countries and demand tribute from weaker countries. Modern China is afraid to reclaim big territories lost to countries that speak with their fists. They only dare to claim small territories lost to countries that speak with their mouth.

We can see these characteristics in Ah Q, a character in the novel "阿Q正傳", written by 魯迅, which was published in 1921. One hundred years after 魯迅 published 阿Q正傳, Chinese people remained unchanged. They still have the Ah Q spirit. There is even a living Ah Q, named 胡錫進, gaining Ah Q victories for mainland China during American House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

God Invite Us to Pray

The Lord is near. Be anxious about nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:5b-6 Berean Literal Bible)

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know. (Jeremiah 33:3 CSB)

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20 ESV)

Pray. Do not be anxious. Our God will answer. When He has answered, glorify Him and give thanks.

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-11 ESV)

He even has a free Seven Eleven Convenience Store for you.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (Romans 8:26 ESV)

God sends His Holy Spirit to help us to pray. What more can we ask for?

You ask and don't receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. (James 4:3 CSB)

Prayers not answered? Here is a list of items prayed by Paul the Apostle pray for his fellow Christians and you can follow his example:

1. God will make them worthy of His calling;
2. God's power to help them accomplish every good desire and faithful work;
3. They will glorify the name of our Lord Jesus, and Jesus will glorify them according to His grace.

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 ESV)

Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:18 CSB)

Pray for all the saints.

Prove God to be true by praying according to His Word and His Will.

God Does As He Pleases

Our God is in heaven and does whatever he pleases. (Psalm 115:3 CSB)

The LORD does whatever he pleases in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all the depths. (Psalm 135:6 CSB)

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

All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing, and he does what he wants with the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can block his hand or say to him, "What have you done?" (Daniel 4:35 CSB)

Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27 KJV)

But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26 ESV)

I know that you can do anything and no plan of yours can be thwarted. (Job 42:2 CSB)

Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?" (Isaiah 43:13 NIV)

Some people think that God has limitations, for example, He cannot lie. But we noticed that what the scriptures are saying is God does whatever that pleases Him. If you are a vegetarian and have the power to do as you please, would you organize a barbecue or force everyone to eat grass? Lying does not please God. Thus God will not lie.

God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? (Numbers 23:19 ESV)

So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. (Hebrews 6:18 NLT)

Throne of Grace

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV)

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV)

We have no basis to approach God in prayer, if we do not approach Him through our great high priest, our God, our Lord and Saviour.

Obvious And Hidden

Some people's sins are obvious, preceding them to judgment, but the sins of others surface later. Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden. (1 Timothy 5:24-25 CSB)

Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later. In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light. (1 Timothy 5:24-25 NLT)

New Life

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 2:13-3:17 NIV)

Good to Read the Bible

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4 KJV)

We read the Bible because it is our spiritual food. Without food, we will die.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 CSB)

The Bible equips us for every good work.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105 KJV)

It guides us.

Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. (Psalm 119:98-100 NIV)

It makes us wise.

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:27 ESV)

In it, you can find Christ.

Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. (Romans 15:4 ESV)

We see examples of God's action and it gave us hope.

Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17 NLT)

It is the only offensive weapon in God's armoury.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17 ESV)

Through it, we can bring the good news to all we come into contact with.

It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. (Deuteronomy 30:12-14 NIV)

Download a Bible app into your handphone and you have no excuse not to read the Bible.

Jesus Coming With the Clouds

I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. (Daniel 7:13 CSB)

Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. So it is to be. Amen. (Revelation 1:7 CSB)

The next significant event in the world, the second coming of Jesus Christ, who will establish the Kingdom of God for a millennium.

The Donkey, The Tiger, The Lion And The Colour Of Grass

Recently I saw someone posted this story in Facebook:

QUOTE (paraphrase)
The donkey said to the tiger, 'The grass is blue.' The tiger said, 'No, the grass is green.'

Then the discussion heated up and to end this argument, both went to the lion, king of jungle.

The lion pronounced his judgement, 'Yes! The grass is blue.'

The donkey said, 'This tiger does not believe. He should be punished.'

The lion declared, 'Tiger will be jailed for a year.'

The tiger said to the lion, 'Why Your Highness! the grass is green, isn't it?'

The lion said, 'Yes! The grass is green.'

Then the tiger asked, 'Then why am I sentenced to jail?'

The lion said, 'You did not get punished for the grass being blue or green. You have been punished because it is not possible for a brave and intelligent creature like you to waste time arguing with a donkey, and on top of that come and bother me with that question.'
UNQUOTE

Many people agree with the lion that they should not waste time arguing with donkeys, which imply that most people think that they are brave and intelligent and not donkeys.

Presenting the Gospel

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah." (Acts 2:36 NIV)

He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" (Acts 9:4 NIV)

"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone - an image made by human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:29-31 NIV)

Then I saw another angel flying in mid air, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth - to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water." (Revelation 14:6-7 NIV)

The first step in presenting the Gospel is always to tell the non-believer of a Holy God, of sin and judgement. We can see from the four examples given in the Bible. Sins (crucifixion of Jesus (Acts 2:36), persecution of Jesus (Acts 9:4), idolatry (17:29-31)) were identified in the first three and in the last example, the coming judgement (Revelation 14:6-7). God is always identified.

You must let the non-believer know who he or she has offended, what is the offence and what is the judgement or punishment will be.

Only when the non-believer is convicted of Holy God, sin and judgement, then he or she can see God's salvation as good news. When the non-believer understand the the enormity of sin against as a Holy God, that is when he or she understand the love of God in sending Jesus to die for their sins. Those who are forgiven much will love much.

Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven - as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little." (Luke 7:47 NIV)

Who Does God Swear By - Bible vs Koran

But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!"
He replied, "Here I am."
Then he said, "Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me." Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. And Abraham named that place The Lord Will Provide, so today it is said, "It will be provided on the Lord's mountain."
Then the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, "By myself I have sworn," this is the Lord's declaration: "Because you have done this thing and have not withheld your only son, I will indeed bless you and make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the city gates of their enemies. And all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring because you have obeyed my command." (Genesis 22:11-18 CSB)

After Abraham proved his faith in God by offering Isaac as a sacrifice, God replaced Isaac with a ram and swore to Abraham that He will multiply Abraham's descendants. This event is also celebrated by the Muslims in Eid al-Adha (Hari Raya Haji).

In the Bible, God can only swear by Himself because there is no one greater than Him.

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself: I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you. And so, after waiting patiently, Abraham obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and for them a confirming oath ends every dispute. (Hebrews 6:13-16 CSB)

In the Quran, Allah swears by all kinds of stuff. Below is quoted from the WikiIslam article Swears and Oaths in the Qur'an and Hadith - WikiIslam:

QUOTE
The following are verses from the Qur'an, where we find Allah swearing oaths.
I swear by the Book that makes manifest (the truth). (Quran 44:2)
Qaf. I swear by the glorious Quran (that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah) (Quran 50:1)
I swear by the wind that scatters far and wide, (Quran 51:1)
I swear by the Mountain, (Quran 52:1)
I swear by the star when it goes down. (Quran 53:1)
But nay! I swear by the falling of stars; (Quran 56:75)
Noon. I swear by the pen and what the angels write, (Quran 68:1)
Nay; I swear by the moon, (Quran 74:32)
Nay! I swear by the day of resurrection. (Quran 75:1)
I swear by the emissary winds, sent one after another (for men's benefit), (Quran 77:1)
I swear by the angels who violently pull out the souls of the wicked, (Quran 79:1)
I swear by the mansions of the stars, (Quran 85:1)
I swear by the heaven and the comer by night; (Quran 86:1)
I swear by the daybreak, (Quran 89:1)
Nay! I swear by this city. (Quran 90:1)
I swear by the sun and its brilliance, (Quran 91:1)
I swear by the night when it draws a veil, (Quran 92:1)
I swear by the early hours of the day, (Quran 93:1)
I swear by the fig and the olive, (Quran 95:1)
I swear by the runners breathing pantingly, (Quran 100:1)
I swear by the time, (Quran 103:1)
UNQUOTE

Examples - Bible vs Koran

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV)

The apostle Paul urged Christians to follow his example, just as he follow the example of Jesus.

Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad SAW) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much. (Surah 33:21 Muhsin Khan version)

Allah urges Muslims to follow the example of Mohammed.

Respect And Pray For Church Leaders

Honour the church leaders.

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)

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 NIV)

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 are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Hebrews 13:17 ESV)

Pray for them.

Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. (Ephesians 6:19-20 NIV)

Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. (Colossians 4:3 NLT)

Brothers, pray for us. (1 Thessalonians 5:25 ESV)

Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 ESV)

Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. (Hebrews 13:18 ESV)

Blood of the Covenant

Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words." (Exodus 24:8 NIV)

In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. (Luke 22:20 NIV)

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

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. (Leviticus 17:11 ESV)

If Jesus Paid It All, Why Do We Have To Count The Cost?

But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. (Hebrews 10:12 CSB)
Jesus paid it all.

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (Luke 9:23 KJV)
Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? (Luke 14:27-28 ESV)
Why do we have to count the cost?

I have heard how some pastors explain in this way, salvation is free but discipleship is costly. So is God a wicked fisherman who hide the sharp hook of discipleship within the free bait of salvation? Or are there two classes of believers, ordinary believers and disciples?

When I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, I did not count the cost. Neither I did I do a cost benefit analysis. I did not know what a wonderful benefit eternal life is. I could not fully understand that I have escape eternal damnation. I did not know much. I did not have the Bible. I just accepted blindly.

Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4 CSB)

Looking back, I saw the wonderful grace of God working in me, walking with Him for more than forty nine years. If there had been any earthly cost, I think I have reaped more earthly benefit, and that is not counting the eternal gain that I will be having.

He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24 ESV)

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. (Romans 4:20-21 KJV)

Don't count the cost. Believe God. Whatever He had promised, He is able to deliver.

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you fail to meet the test! (2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV)

Brethren, pray for us. (1 Thessalonians 5:25 KJV)

Grace and Justice

Not only that, but Rebekah's children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad - in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls - she was told, "The older will serve the younger." Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. (Romans 9:10-13 NIV)

It is very difficult to explain grace. It is great joy to be chosen, but to those who are not chosen, do they care?

Jacob was very thankful that God was merciful to him. Does Esau care that he was not chosen? Yes, when he thought that his father's blessings can bring him some benefit. But when he was able to achieve great things by his own effort and without his father's blessings, he did not care about it anymore.

God as the creator and maker of the universe, has the sovereign right to decide how events will unfold. According to the Bible, God does everything for His glory. You are happy when you are the chosen one. If you are not, then you will think that everything is fate.

Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use? (Romans 9:21 NIV)