Sowing And Reaping, Time and Chance

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7 KJV)

I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent, nor the favor to the skillful. For time and chance happen to all. (Ecclesiastes 9:11 BSB)

God Passes Over Sin

God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith. This was to demonstrate his righteousness, because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed. (Romans 3:25 NET)

"Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31CSB)

He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2 ESV)

God does not condone sin. But God can overlook all sin legally and allow sinners to live without being unjust because He had sent His Son Jesus to die for the sins of the world, past, present and future. Thus when Adam sinned, the world was not destroyed straightaway. God can now be justified when He allow us to live while we are yet sinners, giving us an opportunity to be saved. Mercy and justice are reconciled in Christ Jesus.

Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. They know God's justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too. You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God's judgment when you do the same things? Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? (Romans 1:28-2:4 NLT)

Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? (Habakkuk 1:13 NIV)

Many people are confused by God's mercy. When they see the wicked who sinned terribly live without suffering any consequences, they demand that God punishes them. But they overlooked that they themselves are also sinners who commit small sins. They forgot that God is just and punishes all sin, big and small. Because their own sins are small, they did not see them as sin and thought they are righteous.

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. (Romans 3:23-26 NLT)

God Justifies The Ungodly

Would you really annul My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself? (Job 40:8 BSB)

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29 BSB)

Men always want to justify themselves. But it is better to let God justify us.

He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:25 BSB)

Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. (Romans 8:33 BSB)

Jesus The Judge of The World

For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:31 NLT)

Unlike the false gods and false prophets of this world who made claims without proof, God authenticated the future judge of the world by resurrecting Him from the dead. Resurrection proved that Jesus is the Judge.

For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. (John 5:22-23 ESV)

Are You Envious Because I am Generous?

"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 'You also go into my vineyard,' he said, 'and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went.
He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing.
About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?' he asked.
'Because no one has hired us,' they answered.
So he told them, 'You also go into my vineyard.'
When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last ones hired and moving on to the first.'
The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when the original workers came, they assumed they would receive more. But each of them also received a denarius.
On receiving their pay, they began to grumble against the landowner. 'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.'
But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Did you not agree with me on one denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you. Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?'
So the last will be first, and the first will be last." (Matthew 20:1-16 BSB)

Everyone has a certain idea of justice. If I put in more effort, I expect more reward. If I do not get it, I feel wronged. How do you feel when someone who put in less effort than you get the same reward as you?

However, when we face God, we may not want to talk about justice. We will prefer that God to be merciful. But some feel that they are good and demand justice from God. Since all have sinned, justice from God means hell for men.

Grace is unfair. We do not get what we deserve. We deserve hell but Christ died for our sins. Whether we sin more or sin less, we get the same pardon from God if we believe that Jesus had died for our sin.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NASB)

Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:22-24 NIV)

How then can I answer him or choose my arguments against him? Even if I were in the right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy. (Job 9:14-15 CSB)

David's Reaction to Nathan's Parable

So the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: "There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor. The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle. The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man's own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter. One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man's lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest."
David was furious. "As surely as the Lord lives," he vowed, "any man who would do such a thing deserves to die! He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity." (2 Samuel 12:1-6 NLT)

Two things we can learn from David's reaction:

1. We judge more harshly for other people's sin.
David's reaction to Nathan's story was the rich man must die, the rich man must repay. He was very judgemental because he did not know he also committed the same sin.

2. We may not be aware of our own sin even if we were not told directly.
David was totally unaware that he had committed the rich man's sin until Nathan pointed out to him explicitly. That is why sometimes when we are too shy to call a spade a spade, the sinner may thing that he is just a regular good guy.

Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? (Matthew 7:3, Luke 6:41 BSB)

And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. (2 Samuel 12:7a KJV)

God Gave Jesus to Secure Our Salvation

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)

When two persons break the same law, and one is punished and receive justice, but the other is pardoned and receive mercy, would this be fair?

Mercy is inherently unjust and grace is unfair. Thus every time when God pardons a sinner, He is committing injustice.

How does God reconcile mercy and justice? God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die for the sins of the world. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus had died for their sin. Mercy is now freely available to the sinner because God had paid the price for justice.

But justice remain for those who refuse to believe.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 KJV)

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)

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 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)

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)

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)

Water Came Out Of The Rock Despite Disobedience

There was no water for the community, so they assembled against Moses and Aaron. The people quarrelled with Moses and said, "If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord. Why have you brought the Lord's assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? Why have you led us up from Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It's not a place of grain, figs, vines, and pomegranates, and there is no water to drink!"
Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the doorway of the tent of meeting. They fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. The Lord spoke to Moses, "Take the staff and assemble the community. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will yield its water. You will bring out water for them from the rock and provide drink for the community and their livestock."
So Moses took the staff from the Lord's presence just as he had commanded him. Moses and Aaron summoned the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, "Listen, you rebels! Must we bring water out of this rock for you?" Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that abundant water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust me to demonstrate my holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land I have given them." (Numbers 20:8-12 CSV)

God had asked Moses to speak to the rock but Moses struck the rock twice. Please take note of two things:

1. God's severity toward Moses and he was punished for striking the rock twice;
2. God's kindness to the Israelites and brought water out of the rock despite their unbelief.

Thus the mercy (which is injustice) of God often confuse people when their evil deeds bring prosperity instead of punishment.

Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. (Ecclesiastes 8:11 ESV)

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 Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 ESV)

Why is Jesus Worthy to be the Savior of the World

What made Jesus worthy to be the Savior of the world?

1. He is God
   He was the creator of the world (Colossians 1:16, John 1:3).
   He is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15).
2. He is Man
   He came in the likeness of sinful flesh (Romans 8:3), thus fully human and was born as a servant (Philippians 2:7).
   He came to fulfill the Law (Matthew 5:17) and was tempted in every way just as we are, yet He remained sinless (Hebrews 4:15).
3. He is qualified to conquer death
   He took the penalty of sin (Romans 6:23) on our behalf (Isaiah 53:5, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 4:4-5, Hebrews 7:27, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 10:14) and died for the sins of the whole world (Romans 6:10, 1 John 2:2).
   He conquered death (Revelation 1:18) because He was sinless. After He rose from the dead, He never die again because death cannot hold Him (Acts 2:24).

Jesus, by His obedience and death, redeemed for God by His blood, a people from every tribe and language and people and nation (Revelation 5:9).

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:15-20 ESV)

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For "God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "all things are put in subjection," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:20-28 ESV)

And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,
"Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."
Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,
"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" (Revelation 5:6-12 ESV)

God And Fate

And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad - in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls - she was told, "The older will serve the younger." (Romans 9:10-12 ESV)

1. For Christians, all things, whether good or evil, will work for our good. We can the the hand of God in everything and we know how it will end. We are created to show God's mercy.
   We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 CSB)
2. For those who are outside the Kingdom of God, things happened without purpose. Or rather, things do not happen according to their beliefs. Good and bad things happened because of fate. They do not know that they exist to demonstrate God's justice.
   The LORD has prepared everything for his purpose - even the wicked for the day of disaster. (Proverbs 16:4 CSB)

Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory - even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? (Romans 9:21-24 ESV)

Preservation And Judgement

Then the Lord said to Abram, "Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete." (Genesis 15:13-16 ESV)

Below is a quote from Nick Mauer's "in one God's Heart for the Lost 03a Lesson 3":
QUOTE
And what it seems that God was giving the Amorites a period of time during which period the Amorites were devolving into more and more wickedness. And God was reserving a certain time when they at this point I will judge and I will disinherit them and dispossess them from this land and I will give it to you my people. During that time when Israel was in Egypt, God was protecting them from the escalating wickedness of Canaan.
UNQUOTE

There are a few things I wish to note after digesting what he (Nick Mauer) said.

Preservation
When God preserves, He does not do it in a five star hotel, separated from corruption and disease. Instead, the preservation was done in affliction. Israel was afflicted in Egypt for 400 years but they came out rich. And woe to Egypt, who dared to afflict God's people. They were judged, during the exodus of Israel and also later when they shrank from a proud world power to a minor nation. God also used Egypt's abhorrence of shepherds to cause separation between Israel and Egypt during Israel sojourn in Egypt.

Judgement
There are many wicked people and wicked nations. Sometimes they are punished quickly. Sometimes they are not. When judgement does not come quickly, there are two reasons for the delay.

1. God is waiting for some to repent (2 Peter 3:9);
2. The iniquity is not full, the wicked fruit is not ripe.

But this delay in judgement caused many to wonder about God's justice and His existence (Ecclesiastes 8:11, Psalm 50:21, Psalm 73:11, Psalm 94:7). They did not consider the goodness of God who give them time to repent (Romans 11:22).

Application
Today people are wondering about the existence of God because there is great wickedness and injustice. But God will not act until the iniquity of the nations (Gentiles) is complete. Things are bad today, but it will be worse. There will be greater wickedness coming. When that happened, God will judge (Luke 21:24). God acts only when the fruit is ripe for harvest (Joel 3:13, Revelation 14:15).

When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. (Ecclesiastes 8:11 NLT)

When you did these things and I kept silent, you thought I was exactly like you. But I now arraign you and set my accusations before you. (Psalm 50:21 NIV)

The wicked say, "How can God know? Does the Most High know everything?" (Psalm 73:11 CSB)

They say, "The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob takes no notice." (Psalm 94:7 NIV)

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 ESV)

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)

They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (Luke 21:24 NIV)

Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the winepress is full. The vats overflow, for their evil is great. (Joel 3:13 ESV)

And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, "Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe." (Revelation 14:15 ESV)

Going Viral

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5 ESV)

How do viruses spread?
How do invention and knowledge spread?
How do religions spread?
How does the gospel spread?

This is how Collins English Dictionary described the term "Go viral" - If a video, image, or story goes viral, it spreads quickly and widely on the Internet through social media and e-mail.

We actually find viruses, ideas and religions spreading like much in the same way. It depends on population density, geographic location, communication technology and the right time. It goes viral when the conditions are right.

In the Bible, the good news spread in the same way. God chose a people and placed them in a location and spread the message.

If you live far from China and where few Chinese visit, then you have a lower chance of getting the covid-19 virus. If you live far away from Israel, then the Gospel will take a longer time to reach you. Especially when the Holy Spirit bid Paul to go west.

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." (Acts 16:6-9 NIV)

God Justifies The Wicked

What does Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly (ἀσεβῆ), their faith is credited as righteousness. (Romans 4:3-5 NIV)

You are saved by believing in the truth, not by doing good deeds.

Good news! Jesus had already died for your sins. You have nothing else to do and you cannot do anything else to add to what He had already done.

Remove your pride. Admit that you are a wicked sinner who cannot save yourself. Believe in the God who justifies the wicked.

He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:25 NIV)

Belief Not Performance - Plain Truth From The Bible

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

The Bible is not like other religions that give you fake news and false hope. The Bible tells you plainly that good works cannot save you.

Firstly, you are saved by grace. If you are born in Wuhan in the middle of China one thousand years ago, you will have no opportunity to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. You will not be saved.

Secondly, the faith that saves is a gift of God. There are many who has the opportunity to hear the good news of Jesus Christ, the opportunity to read the Bible, or born into Christian family, but they do not believe.

Thirdly, good works cannot save.

Many will say, God is unfair. He did not give everyone the opportunity to be saved. Wrong. God is fair. He will punish every sin. And no good works can cancel sin. In contrast, grace is unfair, mercy is injustice. That is the reason why God has to send His Son Jesus Christ to die for the sins of the world so that whosoever who believe this will be saved and have eternal life. Otherwise on what grounds can God forgive sinners? Every sin has to be punished.

If you believe that Jesus has already paid the price for your sins, you will be saved. But if you think that you want to save yourself with your good works, then you will be punished for the sins that you have committed because good works cannot cancel out sin.

What you believe will determine where you spend your eternity. It is about belief, not performance.

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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18 KJV)

Justice And Delay

When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. (Ecclesiastes 8:11 NLT)

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 KJV)

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)