In his 4th August entry of Faith's Check Book, Charles Spurgeon wrote this:
"What a joy to abide under the divine blessing! This puts a gracious flavor into all things. If we are blessed, then all our possessions and enjoyments are blessed; yea, our losses and crosses and even our disappointments are blessed."
I wish to bring special attention to this: "our losses and crosses and even our disappointments are blessed". And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28 NASB). Thus our losses, crosses and disappointments should never become our concern. Ultimately, we shall see the glory of God when these are turned into blessings.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
The Glory of God and the Bondage of Man
There are two facts that every Christian ought to know:
1. God does not care about anything except His own Glory;
2. Men are born slaves, but, humanly speaking, they can choose between two masters.
God does not care about anything except His own Glory. And the purpose of sending His Son to die for our sins is to glorify the Father, "just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:4-6 NASB)." "Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him (Isaiah 43:7 KJV)."
Jean Jacques Rousseau began his treatise "Social Contract" with this dramatic statement, "Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains." But the Bible claims otherwise. We are born in bondage, either to the flesh, or to God. There is no freedom. You choose which master you want to serve and be a slave to that master. For Christians, "you have been liberated from sin and become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification—and the end is eternal life! (Romans 6:22 HCSB)."
This is the end of all men, either an eternal life enslaved to the Creator who made men for His own Glory, or an eternal life burning in hell, enslaved by your flesh, ever craving, but never satisfying.
1. God does not care about anything except His own Glory;
2. Men are born slaves, but, humanly speaking, they can choose between two masters.
God does not care about anything except His own Glory. And the purpose of sending His Son to die for our sins is to glorify the Father, "just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:4-6 NASB)." "Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him (Isaiah 43:7 KJV)."
Jean Jacques Rousseau began his treatise "Social Contract" with this dramatic statement, "Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains." But the Bible claims otherwise. We are born in bondage, either to the flesh, or to God. There is no freedom. You choose which master you want to serve and be a slave to that master. For Christians, "you have been liberated from sin and become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification—and the end is eternal life! (Romans 6:22 HCSB)."
This is the end of all men, either an eternal life enslaved to the Creator who made men for His own Glory, or an eternal life burning in hell, enslaved by your flesh, ever craving, but never satisfying.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
In Everything Give Thanks
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV)
How can we give thanks for everything, both good and bad? Because we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 KJV)
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Principles of Decision Making
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'"
Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU’; and ‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’” Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’”
Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’” Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him. (Matthew 4:1-11 NASB)
In his book "Man in the Mirror", Patrick Morley used the three temptations of Christ to derive three principles of effective decision making.
The first principle is to live by the Word of God (Matthew 4:4). Being familiar with the word of God is very important in our decision making.
The second principle is not to put God to test (Matthew 4:7). We should not put ourselves into a position whereby only a miracle of God can save us. "Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and the herds and the camels, into two companies; and he said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the company which is left shall escape (Genesis 32:7-8 NASB)." He used the means that he judged to be the best under the existing circumstances, and I believe that God intends us always to use our best wits and judgment, and then to fall back upon him in confiding prayer just as if we had done nothing at all. Do everything as if God were not about to help you, and then trust in God as if you had done nothing at all. An Arab said to Mahomet, “I let my camel run loose, and trusted it to Providence,” but Mahomet replied, “You should have tied it up first, and then trusted it to Providence;” and Jacob was very much of that mind and a very sensible mind it was, not at all inconsistent with the very best of faith (Expositions by C. H. Spurgeon on Genesis 32).
The third principle is worship God and serve Him only (Matthew 4:10). We must always question our motives to see if our decision would glorify God.
Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU’; and ‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’” Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’”
Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’” Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him. (Matthew 4:1-11 NASB)
In his book "Man in the Mirror", Patrick Morley used the three temptations of Christ to derive three principles of effective decision making.
The first principle is to live by the Word of God (Matthew 4:4). Being familiar with the word of God is very important in our decision making.
The second principle is not to put God to test (Matthew 4:7). We should not put ourselves into a position whereby only a miracle of God can save us. "Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and the herds and the camels, into two companies; and he said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the company which is left shall escape (Genesis 32:7-8 NASB)." He used the means that he judged to be the best under the existing circumstances, and I believe that God intends us always to use our best wits and judgment, and then to fall back upon him in confiding prayer just as if we had done nothing at all. Do everything as if God were not about to help you, and then trust in God as if you had done nothing at all. An Arab said to Mahomet, “I let my camel run loose, and trusted it to Providence,” but Mahomet replied, “You should have tied it up first, and then trusted it to Providence;” and Jacob was very much of that mind and a very sensible mind it was, not at all inconsistent with the very best of faith (Expositions by C. H. Spurgeon on Genesis 32).
The third principle is worship God and serve Him only (Matthew 4:10). We must always question our motives to see if our decision would glorify God.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Only two religions in the world
When classified by method of salvation, there are only two religions in the world. One is of grace, the other of works.
The religion of grace believes that we are saved by the grace of God. Though we do not deserve it, but God in His great mercy, saves us by providing a substitute for our sins. Jesus came to the world to save the sinners by dying for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, as the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (Isaiah 53:4-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:1-2.)
The other religion believes in salvation by our own good works, our merit. We are saved because we are good. It is meritocracy.
The religion of grace believes that we are saved by the grace of God. Though we do not deserve it, but God in His great mercy, saves us by providing a substitute for our sins. Jesus came to the world to save the sinners by dying for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, as the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (Isaiah 53:4-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:1-2.)
The other religion believes in salvation by our own good works, our merit. We are saved because we are good. It is meritocracy.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The Mechanics of our Salvation
How are we saved?
Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (1 Corinthians 15:3), the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; (1 Peter 3:18), Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed (1 Peter 2:24).
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21), who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father (Galatians 1:4).
Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (1 Corinthians 15:3), the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; (1 Peter 3:18), Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed (1 Peter 2:24).
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21), who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father (Galatians 1:4).
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
The Bronze Serpent
Then they set out from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the people became impatient because of the journey.
The people spoke against God and Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food."
The LORD sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.
So the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove the serpents from us." And Moses interceded for the people.
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live."
And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived. (Numbers 21:4-9 NASB)
Fiery serpents bit the people and many people died, but anyone who were bitten looked to the bronze serpent shall live. First, the people were bitten by the fiery serpent and they realized that they will die. They requested for a solution and were told to look at the bronze serpent. Those who believed, looked, and were saved.
"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. (John 3:14-15 NASB)
When fiery serpents bite you, you know. But you may not know that you are a sinner. Those bitten by the serpent looked at the bronze serpent and they can see that they are healed from the bite. But when you know you are a sinner, you believe in Jesus, how do you know that you are saved?
So the difference between being saved from snake bites and saved from sin is that snake bites are physical and obvious. When you are bitten by a snake, you are bitten by a snake. When the snake bite healed, it is healed.
Sins are spiritual and you continue to sin in your flesh after salvation. While your belief changed your standing with God, it may not be so obvious to you that you are already saved.
The people spoke against God and Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food."
The LORD sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.
So the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove the serpents from us." And Moses interceded for the people.
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live."
And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived. (Numbers 21:4-9 NASB)
Fiery serpents bit the people and many people died, but anyone who were bitten looked to the bronze serpent shall live. First, the people were bitten by the fiery serpent and they realized that they will die. They requested for a solution and were told to look at the bronze serpent. Those who believed, looked, and were saved.
"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. (John 3:14-15 NASB)
When fiery serpents bite you, you know. But you may not know that you are a sinner. Those bitten by the serpent looked at the bronze serpent and they can see that they are healed from the bite. But when you know you are a sinner, you believe in Jesus, how do you know that you are saved?
So the difference between being saved from snake bites and saved from sin is that snake bites are physical and obvious. When you are bitten by a snake, you are bitten by a snake. When the snake bite healed, it is healed.
Sins are spiritual and you continue to sin in your flesh after salvation. While your belief changed your standing with God, it may not be so obvious to you that you are already saved.
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