To build a church with a strong spiritual atmosphere of faith and purity,
where every member is released into ministry, discipled in the Great Commandment to obey the Great Commission.
The fundamental teachings of this congregation are reflected in the following clear statements of faith:
1. We believe in the plenary-verbal inspiration of the accepted canon of scriptures as originally given. The scriptures are infallible, inerrant and the sole and final authority for all matters of faith and conduct.
(2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Corinthians 2:13)
2. We believe in the eternal Godhead who has revealed Himself as one God existing in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, distinguishable but indivisible.
(Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
3. We believe in the creation, test and fall of man as recorded in Genesis; his total spiritual depravity and inability to attain to divine righteousness.
(Romans 5:12, 18)
4. We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of men, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born by the Virgin Mary, very God and very Man.
(Luke 1:26-35; John 1:14-18; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6)
5. We believe Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day, and personally appeared unto His disciples.
(1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 4:25)
6. We believe in the bodily ascension of Jesus to heaven, His exaltation and personal, literal and bodily coming again the second time for His Church.
(John 14:2-3; and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
7. We believe in the salvation of sinners by grace, through repentance and faith in the perfect and sufficient work of the cross of Calvary by which we obtain remission of sins.
(Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 9:12, 22; Romans 5:11)
8. We believe in the necessity of water baptism by immersion in the name of the eternal Godhead in order to fulfill the command of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:34-36; 19:1-6)
9. We believe in the baptism in the Holy Spirit as a real experience at or subsequent to salvation, with the scriptural evidence, namely, speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.
(Acts 2:1-4; 8:14-17; 10:44-45; Galatians 3:14-15)
10. We believe in the operation of the gifts and ministries of the Spirit as enumerated in 1 Corinthians 12-14 and Ephesians 4, as manifested in the early Church.
11. We believe in the Spirit-filled life, a life of separation from the world and perfecting of holiness in the fear of God as expressing the true Christian faith.
(Ephesians 5:18; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 7:1)
12. We believe in the healing of the body by Divine power, or Divine healing in its varied aspects as practised in the early Church (Acts 4:30; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 12:9; James 5:14) and by deliverance in the name of Jesus.
(Mark 16:17)
13. We believe in the table of the Lord, commonly called the Communion or the Lord's Supper, for believers.
(1 Corinthians 11:28-32; Matthew 26:26-28)
14. We believe in the reality and personality of the Devil and eternal judgment in the Lake of Fire for the Devil and his angels.
(Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:14-15)
15. We believe in the eternal life for believers (John 5:24; 3:16), and eternal punishment for the unbelievers.
(Mark 9:43-48; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:10-15)
16. We believe that there is one true universal Church, made up of genuine believers, but this one universal Church is also composed of many local Churches in given localities. These Churches are under the sovereign headship of the Lord Jesus Christ, exercising autonomous government under Him, administering all its local affairs and ministry, as well as the propagation of the gospel.
(Acts 15:22; Matthew 16:18; 18:15-20)
17. We believe that Government is ordained of God, and the powers that be are ordained as ministers of God to us for good. To resist the powers and the ordinances is to resist the ordinance of God. We are subject not only for wrath sake but for conscience sake, rendering to all their dues, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. We declare our loyalty to our Government and its leaders, and will assist in every way possible, consistent with our faith in the scriptures as Christian citizens.
(Romans 13)
We pray for unity within the Bible-Presbyterian Church. Calling some of their fundamentalists to repentance. We reprimand Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC) lecturers for teaching heresy and living in lust and pride! ++THIS BLOG HAS STRONG LANGUAGE. Reader discretion is advised++
31.12.08
God is a Healer
There is life and death in our tongues,
Lets use our tongues for good in 2009...
Our biggest problem is not we have no perfect Bible....
But to encourage people to read the Bible, the Very Word of God!
May God heal our spirit, mind and body this moment,
count down.....1,2,3, heal...
It is God's will so that we may be heal
It is because Jesus had been bitten, so we can be healed...
Give thank to the Lord....
Lord receive me again.
Lets use our tongues for good in 2009...
Our biggest problem is not we have no perfect Bible....
But to encourage people to read the Bible, the Very Word of God!
May God heal our spirit, mind and body this moment,
count down.....1,2,3, heal...
It is God's will so that we may be heal
It is because Jesus had been bitten, so we can be healed...
Give thank to the Lord....
Lord receive me again.
Christmas 2008
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11-12)
Looking back the past 12 months, it is unfortunate that many have allowed fear to infuse their lives. They were overwhelmed by the fear of extremism and terrorism, the fear of economic recession, the fear of natural disasters and diseases, and the fear of future uncertainties.
But in the midst of these life perplexities, my hope and prayer for us is that we may once again capture the sense of holy fearfulness that the shepherds experienced on that Christmas night more than 2000 years ago. Their feeling of shock and awe was not caused by the explosion of a terrorist’s grenade or the merciless pounding of a cyclone, but by that wonderful announcement made by the angel – “A Saviour is born to you!” They were simply awestruck by the reality that God has made His dwelling among men, full of grace and truth. The Word has become flesh. The Infinite has become an infant.
This December, as we listen again to the proclamation of Christ's birth, it is critical that we hold firm to the foundational message of Christmas – that Jesus is the Immanuel, God with us. In Him, we are longer called to live a life of fear, but of faith. May the Spirit of our Triune God saturates us with that holy fearfulness, and fill our hearts with uncontrollable joy so that we can join the great angelic choir in glorifying and praising God, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favour rest!”
Together with the Executive Council, I wish you and your families, ‘A Joyful Christmas and a Blessed 2009!’ "May the Lord of Peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.” (2 Thes 3:16)
Written by a Bishop
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11-12)
Looking back the past 12 months, it is unfortunate that many have allowed fear to infuse their lives. They were overwhelmed by the fear of extremism and terrorism, the fear of economic recession, the fear of natural disasters and diseases, and the fear of future uncertainties.
But in the midst of these life perplexities, my hope and prayer for us is that we may once again capture the sense of holy fearfulness that the shepherds experienced on that Christmas night more than 2000 years ago. Their feeling of shock and awe was not caused by the explosion of a terrorist’s grenade or the merciless pounding of a cyclone, but by that wonderful announcement made by the angel – “A Saviour is born to you!” They were simply awestruck by the reality that God has made His dwelling among men, full of grace and truth. The Word has become flesh. The Infinite has become an infant.
This December, as we listen again to the proclamation of Christ's birth, it is critical that we hold firm to the foundational message of Christmas – that Jesus is the Immanuel, God with us. In Him, we are longer called to live a life of fear, but of faith. May the Spirit of our Triune God saturates us with that holy fearfulness, and fill our hearts with uncontrollable joy so that we can join the great angelic choir in glorifying and praising God, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favour rest!”
Together with the Executive Council, I wish you and your families, ‘A Joyful Christmas and a Blessed 2009!’ "May the Lord of Peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.” (2 Thes 3:16)
Written by a Bishop
30.12.08
Shame
There are a lot more reasons 2008 year gone down in shame,
We may be,
ashame, the lawsuit between the theologians and pastors,
ashame, because we did not honor our parents,
ashame, because we are not as perfect as we can,
ashame, when we are quarreling, and the neighbors are listening,
ashame, ashame we are poor and needy...
The devil is like a roaring lion at night,
shouting "shame, shame, shame" onto us.
The Son of God had been mocked and ashamed being nailed and insulted on the cross!
Jesus Christ bears all our shame.
Do not forget,
God value us,
God love us,
God care and bless us,
Have a new and a blessed new year!
We may be,
ashame, the lawsuit between the theologians and pastors,
ashame, because we did not honor our parents,
ashame, because we are not as perfect as we can,
ashame, when we are quarreling, and the neighbors are listening,
ashame, ashame we are poor and needy...
The devil is like a roaring lion at night,
shouting "shame, shame, shame" onto us.
The Son of God had been mocked and ashamed being nailed and insulted on the cross!
Jesus Christ bears all our shame.
Do not forget,
God value us,
God love us,
God care and bless us,
Have a new and a blessed new year!
25.12.08
Legalistic and Charismatic
Legalistic became a problem to many, some of the fundamental are too judgmental, and some are having the attitude of holier than you, some are pursuing things that are not from the Bible, some attacking fellow Christian until there is not fellowship in Christ, some are too legalistic until the their teaching become unbiblical teachings, and then there are some who had gone beyond until become the foothold for doctrines of the devil.
Legalistic is like the Pharisee in the New Testament times. That is a reason, why God allowed Charismatic movement to move into the picture of Christianity. Legalistic is balanced by Spiritual tongue and gifts, there is a camp for Charismatic movement, there a market for Charismatic teachings, and so the lesser and lesser demand for fundamentalism due to the problem of legalistic. Some fundamentalist had gone too far to reach higher ground in legalistic way of life and then even having lost their conscience of love and truth. At the same time, some Charismatic had also gone beyond the teaching of Christ and apostles until they lost the joy of the salvation of Christ.
They are some who had been blocked to come into these camps of fundamental and charismatic, they are left to join any other group which is welcoming them, so this group of smaller number of churches had to find their identity in Christianity, some of these people started to join new movement like eminent church. Postmodernism had gain position in Christianity, some started to delude the distinction of denominations, they dislike denominations, and because for them they are also too legalistic, legalistic is a bad name for fundamentalist.
At the same time Fundamentalist had a standard they thought they are the legal one, they are right one, they are perfect one, they are the better one, until they lost the battle in balancing themselves, they are fallen away from the first love, so that is why people started to turn away from fundamentalism, and they open themselves for new movement. There are too much of congestion and frictions even the in the pool of fundamentalism, some had to get out from the pool, some of the strong swimmer still leading for the championship; they are fighting themselves in the swimming pool of fundamentalism. Trying to find a quite corner for themselves, but there are too much noises in the pool, they are fighting and calling name. Pulling and pushing, it is a witness of the life and teaching of Christ in the end?
And some jump into another swimming pool which full with love without truth, some jump into pool full with nails, and they ended there. Some jump into the pool with spiritual gifts there they can forget all the theological jargons, where they say they can practise Christianity, and there they at least find a greener pastures for the flocks some where near the poolside. What about them who are still looking for newer pool, yes there are still someone digging and digging and trying to find water and making new pool.
I hope there are hope, faith and love in that pool, let us all jump into it. What about “Loving God and Man,” but some had failed to obey these greatest commandments, and they are making their pool more attractive and attracting people into it, with all kinds of advertisements! The end times there are rumor of wars, and there are also wars within ourselves, how to take care of other, when we are still fighting among ourselves? When we are still fighting, punching, pulling hairs and legs, how is the love of God and man to do with those lawsuit among Christians? Are fundamentalist too judgmental and too legalistic? Is fundamentalist being humbled by Charismatic? Is there a demand for new doctrines? Is there a demand for new teaching? For example, do not pray, but fight, is this teaching a teaching from the Bible? Is it biblical?
What is the meaning of Christmas, giving, gaining, forgiving, forgetting, praying and fighting, some are sinful and puny creature like me are losing directions, each is the right way? I hope jingle bell is still jingling…jingle all the way? The Word becomes flesh, how the fundamentalist and charismatic explain this time? Is there any differences? Who is fundamentalist and who is Charismatic? And who is Christ, does Jesus love them? Are they reading the same Bible?
Legalistic is like the Pharisee in the New Testament times. That is a reason, why God allowed Charismatic movement to move into the picture of Christianity. Legalistic is balanced by Spiritual tongue and gifts, there is a camp for Charismatic movement, there a market for Charismatic teachings, and so the lesser and lesser demand for fundamentalism due to the problem of legalistic. Some fundamentalist had gone too far to reach higher ground in legalistic way of life and then even having lost their conscience of love and truth. At the same time, some Charismatic had also gone beyond the teaching of Christ and apostles until they lost the joy of the salvation of Christ.
They are some who had been blocked to come into these camps of fundamental and charismatic, they are left to join any other group which is welcoming them, so this group of smaller number of churches had to find their identity in Christianity, some of these people started to join new movement like eminent church. Postmodernism had gain position in Christianity, some started to delude the distinction of denominations, they dislike denominations, and because for them they are also too legalistic, legalistic is a bad name for fundamentalist.
At the same time Fundamentalist had a standard they thought they are the legal one, they are right one, they are perfect one, they are the better one, until they lost the battle in balancing themselves, they are fallen away from the first love, so that is why people started to turn away from fundamentalism, and they open themselves for new movement. There are too much of congestion and frictions even the in the pool of fundamentalism, some had to get out from the pool, some of the strong swimmer still leading for the championship; they are fighting themselves in the swimming pool of fundamentalism. Trying to find a quite corner for themselves, but there are too much noises in the pool, they are fighting and calling name. Pulling and pushing, it is a witness of the life and teaching of Christ in the end?
And some jump into another swimming pool which full with love without truth, some jump into pool full with nails, and they ended there. Some jump into the pool with spiritual gifts there they can forget all the theological jargons, where they say they can practise Christianity, and there they at least find a greener pastures for the flocks some where near the poolside. What about them who are still looking for newer pool, yes there are still someone digging and digging and trying to find water and making new pool.
I hope there are hope, faith and love in that pool, let us all jump into it. What about “Loving God and Man,” but some had failed to obey these greatest commandments, and they are making their pool more attractive and attracting people into it, with all kinds of advertisements! The end times there are rumor of wars, and there are also wars within ourselves, how to take care of other, when we are still fighting among ourselves? When we are still fighting, punching, pulling hairs and legs, how is the love of God and man to do with those lawsuit among Christians? Are fundamentalist too judgmental and too legalistic? Is fundamentalist being humbled by Charismatic? Is there a demand for new doctrines? Is there a demand for new teaching? For example, do not pray, but fight, is this teaching a teaching from the Bible? Is it biblical?
What is the meaning of Christmas, giving, gaining, forgiving, forgetting, praying and fighting, some are sinful and puny creature like me are losing directions, each is the right way? I hope jingle bell is still jingling…jingle all the way? The Word becomes flesh, how the fundamentalist and charismatic explain this time? Is there any differences? Who is fundamentalist and who is Charismatic? And who is Christ, does Jesus love them? Are they reading the same Bible?
23.12.08
The Book of Jude with VPP
Verse 2, “multiplying the blessings to you” the word “plethuno” was used here, double portion increment, when the believers were drawing closer to God, God bless them with mercy, peace, and love, abundantly shed on them without limit.
Verse 3, here Jude wrote that the believers are to faithfully fight for the truth given to the believers.
What is this truth? This truth is the “Gospel” this the truth is what Jesus and His disciples preached about, is recorded in the Bible, the New Testament, this is the truth which can not be changed, unchangeable truth.
This truth must be obeyed, in love and holiness, this is about life! With this truth, the kingdom of God is revealed, by the truth, the believers receive the Holy Spirit, then they receive the gifts, some in miracles and charisma, so that the believer can deliver the truth to the end of the world.
“epagonizomai” means the faithful follower are defending the truth like a warfare. It means “fight” and “suffering,” “in great oppressions” and “war” Even though we may have to sacrifice and endured great pain, but the faithful believers must fight for God’s truth, and defending the purity of the belief until to war, even by faith, until to death, to the end. Some had to give up their lives for the truth of the Gospel.
Jude advices us to defend in 2 ways:
1. Firstly, we must rebuke those who denying the authority of the Bible and those who misinterpreted the truth from Jesus Christ and His apostles.
2. To preach the truth about the salvation to all man. When we are faithfully following the truth, we wanted the purified and preserved truth, but at the same time we should not distract the truth of the Gospel, because the gospel is the power of God to save sinners
Verse 4, there are those who teach that being saved, in the grace of God, the believers are allowed to sin in all they want, they will not be punished. Jude was rebuking this kind of false teachings. They said once saved always saved, they continue indulged in sins and filthiness, because they believe they had been saved long time ago. These teachers taught the forgiveness of sin, but they are silent about the nessecity of holiness.
Verse 6, there are fallen angels, from honorable places, fallen into the darkness, waiting to the judgment day, they disobeyed God, disobey the law, they are bound. But Satan and its evil followers are walking around on earth to devour some.
Verse 9, Micheal dare not to rebuke Satan, but he turned to God for help, so like wise we are not to rebuke the evil creature like Satan and evil spirits. We must turn to God in prayers.
Verse 12, those who wrongfully teach the Bible, and those who had fallen from the truth, these teachers are having second death, died and then die again. They were coming out form the death, but later they went back to sinning and death. These are the second spiritual deaths.
Jude was quoting from the Book of Enoch, written some 110 years ago, maybe it is a Jewish legend, in quoting that verse, Jude find Enoch prophecy there to be true, he does not indicates that all the Book of Enoch to be true or authenticated.
Jude wanted the believers to defend the truth,
1. Self edification in the truth. The Bible is the revelation from God Jesus Christ and His disciples, deligently study and learn the Word of God, so that we may understand the Bible truth and teachings. (Acts 2:42)
2. Praying in the Holy Spirit, means, in these prayers we want the Holy Spirit to touch our heart and feeling, let Him guides us, empower us, lifting us, and help us, positively facing the spiritual warfare. Pray in the spirit and also pray with our understanding. (I Cor 14:15)
3. Keep ourselves in the Love of God, in this, means we must totally surrender to God and obeying His Words. (John 15:9-10)
4. Thirsting and waiting for the second coming of the Lord, and looking forward for the eternal glory.
Lastly, may God bless us in defend the truth of the Bible, in defending the very Word of God, the inerrant and perfect autograph of the Word of God, defending the doctrine of the scripture, let us pursue and to be united and continue to be united in Christ, and to love one another, and continue in the walk, rightly dividing the word of God, continue to expound the Word rightly and add nothing into the Word of God, subtract nothing from the truth of the Gospel, faithfully fight the war until to the end, may God bless all the Chinese ministers and Chinese pastors, elders and Chinese preachers, all the congregation of the beloved and friends in Christ, so that they may love one another, care for one another, and cry for another, like Jesus and Mary cared for one another, like Jesus and Peter cried for one another, like Jesus and John loved one and another, and then they put down the war within, defending the truth, fight the true enemy of Christ, united, and to be strengthen in the grace of the Mighty God, continue to walk together, hand in hand, heart in heart, eyes to eyes, tears with tears, bring the best and perfect gift to the Lord in this Christmas, that is to celebrate the love of God, may we be watchful with tears and loves in hearts, in the last days and looking up to heaven, the better and solid inheritance prepared for you, and there is the land unshakable by man and devil, there, one day all must be united, lining to join the Great Feast in heaven, may you be comforted in sickness and even in poverty, because where our treasure is, our eyes and hearts will be, may God bless us in Christ, faithfully teaching and learning the very Word of God, and may God forgive me in this writing, may God remind and help me in writing this blog, and continue to write until the truth of the VPP is to be found, by leaning on the arm of Jesus, may God forgive us.
The end of the first part. “The New Testament with VPP”
Verse 3, here Jude wrote that the believers are to faithfully fight for the truth given to the believers.
What is this truth? This truth is the “Gospel” this the truth is what Jesus and His disciples preached about, is recorded in the Bible, the New Testament, this is the truth which can not be changed, unchangeable truth.
This truth must be obeyed, in love and holiness, this is about life! With this truth, the kingdom of God is revealed, by the truth, the believers receive the Holy Spirit, then they receive the gifts, some in miracles and charisma, so that the believer can deliver the truth to the end of the world.
“epagonizomai” means the faithful follower are defending the truth like a warfare. It means “fight” and “suffering,” “in great oppressions” and “war” Even though we may have to sacrifice and endured great pain, but the faithful believers must fight for God’s truth, and defending the purity of the belief until to war, even by faith, until to death, to the end. Some had to give up their lives for the truth of the Gospel.
Jude advices us to defend in 2 ways:
1. Firstly, we must rebuke those who denying the authority of the Bible and those who misinterpreted the truth from Jesus Christ and His apostles.
2. To preach the truth about the salvation to all man. When we are faithfully following the truth, we wanted the purified and preserved truth, but at the same time we should not distract the truth of the Gospel, because the gospel is the power of God to save sinners
Verse 4, there are those who teach that being saved, in the grace of God, the believers are allowed to sin in all they want, they will not be punished. Jude was rebuking this kind of false teachings. They said once saved always saved, they continue indulged in sins and filthiness, because they believe they had been saved long time ago. These teachers taught the forgiveness of sin, but they are silent about the nessecity of holiness.
Verse 6, there are fallen angels, from honorable places, fallen into the darkness, waiting to the judgment day, they disobeyed God, disobey the law, they are bound. But Satan and its evil followers are walking around on earth to devour some.
Verse 9, Micheal dare not to rebuke Satan, but he turned to God for help, so like wise we are not to rebuke the evil creature like Satan and evil spirits. We must turn to God in prayers.
Verse 12, those who wrongfully teach the Bible, and those who had fallen from the truth, these teachers are having second death, died and then die again. They were coming out form the death, but later they went back to sinning and death. These are the second spiritual deaths.
Jude was quoting from the Book of Enoch, written some 110 years ago, maybe it is a Jewish legend, in quoting that verse, Jude find Enoch prophecy there to be true, he does not indicates that all the Book of Enoch to be true or authenticated.
Jude wanted the believers to defend the truth,
1. Self edification in the truth. The Bible is the revelation from God Jesus Christ and His disciples, deligently study and learn the Word of God, so that we may understand the Bible truth and teachings. (Acts 2:42)
2. Praying in the Holy Spirit, means, in these prayers we want the Holy Spirit to touch our heart and feeling, let Him guides us, empower us, lifting us, and help us, positively facing the spiritual warfare. Pray in the spirit and also pray with our understanding. (I Cor 14:15)
3. Keep ourselves in the Love of God, in this, means we must totally surrender to God and obeying His Words. (John 15:9-10)
4. Thirsting and waiting for the second coming of the Lord, and looking forward for the eternal glory.
Lastly, may God bless us in defend the truth of the Bible, in defending the very Word of God, the inerrant and perfect autograph of the Word of God, defending the doctrine of the scripture, let us pursue and to be united and continue to be united in Christ, and to love one another, and continue in the walk, rightly dividing the word of God, continue to expound the Word rightly and add nothing into the Word of God, subtract nothing from the truth of the Gospel, faithfully fight the war until to the end, may God bless all the Chinese ministers and Chinese pastors, elders and Chinese preachers, all the congregation of the beloved and friends in Christ, so that they may love one another, care for one another, and cry for another, like Jesus and Mary cared for one another, like Jesus and Peter cried for one another, like Jesus and John loved one and another, and then they put down the war within, defending the truth, fight the true enemy of Christ, united, and to be strengthen in the grace of the Mighty God, continue to walk together, hand in hand, heart in heart, eyes to eyes, tears with tears, bring the best and perfect gift to the Lord in this Christmas, that is to celebrate the love of God, may we be watchful with tears and loves in hearts, in the last days and looking up to heaven, the better and solid inheritance prepared for you, and there is the land unshakable by man and devil, there, one day all must be united, lining to join the Great Feast in heaven, may you be comforted in sickness and even in poverty, because where our treasure is, our eyes and hearts will be, may God bless us in Christ, faithfully teaching and learning the very Word of God, and may God forgive me in this writing, may God remind and help me in writing this blog, and continue to write until the truth of the VPP is to be found, by leaning on the arm of Jesus, may God forgive us.
The end of the first part. “The New Testament with VPP”
The Book of 3 John with VPP
1:2, God’s will is to bless believers with strong body, life full with abundant heavenly blessings, God wish every things we do in peace and success, in work, in life, in planning, in purpose, in our aims, even the spiritual ministry, and family, in God’s will everything will be in stable and normal functioning. In God’s hope, through the Christ’s redemption, He blesses us, to satisfy our physical and spiritual needs.
John use “euodoo,” means a “wonderful and satisfying journey, walking in a good path.” John wished us to walk into the salvation and even continue to walk in God’s will, so that we can abundantly tasting His blessings.
The believers can pray for materials blessing, at the same time, the Bible also says that God is allowing His children to experience difficulties; this is a part of training, so that they may depending on God, to increase their faith, to persevere in ministry. There are also many persecutions from the world. These are part and parcel in training.
There are also wars and hungers, dry seasons, recession, and conflicts with the governments. In all these troubles, the believers still can experience the blessings and spiritual abundance. They are called to pray for God’s will to be done. Obeying the guidance of the Holy Spirit, separating from the world, loving and reading the Bible, in prayer asking the helps from God, hardworking, by faith looking to the Lord in provision and providence, seek ye the kingdom of God. May God heal us when we are sick and weak. Fearlessly facing the fiery darts and trials in the world, in these you are called.
1:5, John said Gaius is faithful; he is obeying the truth, and walking in the truth. He was faithfully receiving the traveling missionary; he gave food and shelter to them, even money so they can travel with ease. John never forgets what he had done to those missionary. He has done a good work in love.
1:7, God’s children are taking care of those ambassador of Christ, to give in hospitality, and sent them away in support them, do not treat them like a bagger! Gaius was treating them like treat Christ Him self, they were the honorable servants of God. Giving them food and drink in evangelize the world.
Do not take anything from those we had evangelized, if we receive anything from them, this will hinder the gospel work. The missionary may tempted to have more greedy gains. So evangelist has to support from the church that sent him or her, even sometime to self-support.
Jesus gave 5 loaves 2 fish from a boy, to the 5000 hungry men.
22.12.08
The Book of 2 John with VPP
1:1, John, when he was old, he was still serving the Lord as an elder in Ephesus. He wrote to the chosen ladies in the church, they are called the sisters in Christ.
1:3, John did not wrote long letter about doctrines, or discuss much about theology here, he wrote 3 important words, “grace, mercy and peace.”
1:5, simply he said, there is a new commandment.
1:6, obeying God is the way to love God. Sign and mark of a Christian, in obeying God’s commandment, do not forget, God commanded us to love one another.
1:7, there are heretics who denying that Jesus Christ come in flesh.
1:8, do not teach beyond Christ’s teaching.
1:10, do not spend money or food on the heretics. Have nothing to do with their sins in preaching heresies.
1:12, paper and ink were expensive in the first century, sometimes parchments were also being used. John did not misuse their function to convey only the truth, nothing but the truth. Those earlier manuscripts are priceless compare to 15th century TR! The earlier the better!
Those ancient ink cannot replace the blood of Christ! Only the blood of The Lamb of God can erase the sin of the whole world. The ink was used to convey to us about His story and the truth! the Bible is inspired Word of God, put down to us in paper and ink. May God forgive me in writing, the more I wrote, there are more mistake!
The Book of 1 John with VPP (part 2)
1:1, John wrote about the Word become flesh. He is the living Word.
1:2, when a man received Christ, he has the life of Christ, he will not live in the world, but come out of the world, and to love brethren in Christ.
1:3, Koinonia, fellowship in Christ is mentioned with man, and man fellowship with God.
1:4, our happiness in full.
1:5, John wanted them to be children of God.
1:6, there is darkness.
1:7, To go into the light, the man must be cleansed by the blood.
1:8-10, that man still capable to sin, he needs forgiveness, sometimes we lies to ourselves. Willful sinning disqualified us from every good work and service.
2:1, there is a mediator.
2:2, He died on the cross.
2:3-4, we are called to obey Him.
2:5, in His Commandments.
2:7, Christ’s love on the cross in greater!
2:9-11, there are brethren who hate brethren, in an un Christian way.
2:12-14, God’s has high expectation on all of them.
2:15, there are some still in the world.
2:18, The Lord is coming soon. And there is anti Christ and its followers.
2:20, the believers have received the Holy Spirit.
2:22, beware there are heresies.
2:23, The Father is with the Son.
2:27, the believers are completed in the Holy Spirit and the teachings of the apostles.
2:29, they are the children of God, in holiness.
3:1, they had nothing to boast about their own self.
3:2, there is glory in the future.
3:3, for the time being lets self cleansing and searching.
3:6, throw away the bad habits. The Lord destroyed the work of the devils.
3:11, love other is to show mercy. Sacrifice ourselves for others.
3:12, Cain belongs to the world, hate and jealousy.
3:14, lets come out from death.
3:15, there were killings.
3:20, God’s love is greater.
3:23, there is love in his followers.
4:1, test the spirit in Christianity, there are some speak with Holy Spirit, some with the evil spirits.
4:2, one way is to confess Jesus Christ is come in flesh, the Son of God.
4:3, we are still living in the world.
4:4, God is living in you.
4:5, there are some who belong to the world.
4:8, “love” is mentioned in this epistle, 40 times.
4:17, let the followers love like Christ.
4:20-21, love God and love man.
5:1, continue to believe Jesus is Christ.
5:3-4, His commandments are not easy to obey, only in Holy Spirit he can obey them.
5:6, Jesus give us the water and blood on the cross, they are witnessing for Christ.
5:7-8, Jesus is Christ, even the Holy Spirit witness for Him.
5:9, receive their witnesses.
5:10, there is eternal life in Christ.
5:13, Christians have the eternal life.
5:14-17, keep praying for those weak and sinning Christians, but the heretics will died in their sins and lusts.
5:18-19, God’s Son will protect His children.
5:20, eternal life is waiting for you. Take freely!
5:21, the writer concluded, since the believers have the truth, the eternal life, so they must not be tempted by the heresies, keep away fro the false gods, holding to the truth, walk in the light, to be responsible to each other, and to love one another.
The Testing 6
One day a Chinese pastor chided a younger man, the pastor show his hatred to the young man, like God, who hates sins literally. This is my Christmas story!
There come one day in 2008, this pastor and the young man went to a place, and the pastor show him a night club, and he asked the young man to walk straight to the night club! The young man was very sad when he was asked to go there, because he was been to those places before, he was ashamed of himself. But he was embarrassed by the pastor.
The Christian pastor means God will not love any one who went to night club before, heaven is no place for ex-club goer! Only for the ex-church goer! This is another testing for the young man! The pastor is saying, "Young foxes, look, these are your tails...shame, shame, shame, these are your true colors!"
There came another time, just after the worship service, this same Chinese pastor, called the young man again, the young man look to him with hope and happiness, lo, the Chinese pastor slapped his own cheek few times, and spit in his own hands! To show the young man, how bad he is. Even calling his name is a curse to his mouth. The pastor means God will not called a man who was so bad and evil to serve Him, to him God is only call, those who had been living in holiness and perfection. No place for sinful man like us to serve the Lord. This is a testing to young men like us! There is no second chance, remember this! Woe to the young men who sin like us, Jesus said, sin no more! "There is no second chance for us! "
Young men, there is no fun to go to heaven in quarrel with pastors! Pastors are like God, they speak for God, they are God's mouth piece! That pastor is saying, young men, go your own way, follow your own sinful nature, follow your instinct, sin some more, run away from God, young man go your own way, there is no hope, no love, no faith in believing in Christ, wasting your time in trusting God, see what you had done, "I knew what you had done last summer! No second chance! No second chance! God hate you!"
For many well known pastors, those who believe that the Bible is perfect, the Bible is inerrant and infallible, but sad to say many of them believe "God is dead!" and they proclaimed, "Long live fundamentalist like us!" I sees them, remember them, they walk to the pulpit with full energy and glory of a pastor, preached touchy sermon, and breaking the bread and drink the wine in the holy communion. A church next to heaven.
These pastors said to the young men at another time behind the pulpit, "Be merry with your sins, until God called you like Jonah. There is no fun like Jonah to stay in the ship, jump, jump, jump from the ship into the sea. And let the whale came to take you! " This is what the Chinese pastors are preaching to the young man! They had gone to China, they had gone to the end of the world to preach, "God is love." But at another time, they told the young man, "Go to hell, I curse you forever, there is no second change for you! There is no hope for you, there is no love for you, there is no faith for you, young sinner, go away!"
One night, this young man, speak in his heart, "God, I hope You may forgive me, I hope You will not slap Your cheek when you call my name like that pastor, I know I am bad. God, please love me again, please do not spit in your hand when You call my name like that pastor, I know I am not Your loved one, I know I will run away from You like Jonah, until I know God is living, and knowing God is willing to love me again, I know I can do worst than that club going, I know I will run away from God, I know I will jump from the ship one day. I knew one day I may not serve the Lord any longer! I will go my own way this time. Give me a break this time, I want to take a rest!"
To all the young man, listen, "do not follow any pastor who is evil and wicked, you will become a bad pastor, go and find and follow a good pastor, if you are following good pastor, you will become a good pastor." And do find Jesus Christ, He is the best pastor. Young man do not blame any one when we sin! Ask Jesus, the Christ, did Jesus' hands really being nailed for us? Jesus, did Your cheek being slapped for us? We cannot blame any one this Christmas! Ask Jesus this Christmas, did Jesus' face being spit for us? Should we trust in You? Should we give our life for Jesus? Did You called us? Should I run away again? Let God deal with us, if there is no way in Jesus, we will died in our sins! But God, if You are living, please do not turn away Your face from us, how long we have to wait, before You answer us?
In this Christmas! Do we find love in God? Is there is a God who love us? Is there a caring pastor like Jesus? What does Christmas means to me this year?
God really love a sinner like me? Really call a sinner like me? Really care for a sinner like me?
My Bible, my curse? my blessing?
"The Bible is without error or mistake, if there is any error or mistake, it is man made error and mistake, or there is because of the translation mistake, or it is because there is interpretation error or mistake." (Wong Ming Tao's The Truth of Born again. pg 58-59) 「圣经中没有错误。若有错误,不是圣经本身的错误,乃是人弄出来的。或是译圣经的译错,或是解圣经的解错。」——王明道,《重生真义》,页58-59。
"Our belief is, we will accept all truth in the Bible, and obey them; if there is any thing not from the Bible, we will reject totally." (Wong Ming Tao's Because of Belief, pg 320) 我们在信仰上的态度是:凡是圣经中的真理,我们都接受,都持守;圣经中所没有的东西,我们完全拒绝。」——王明道,〈我们是为了信仰〉,《王明道文库》,第七册,页320.
Today, the church must believe, God had inspired the Bible in its languages and words, God had chosen every language and word, His masterpiece is perfectly trustworthy and dependable, inerrant and infallible. (In fact, the inerrant is applied to the autographs, not to copies of the autographs) 今天教会必需维护一个信念,就是:神在《圣经》默示过程所选用的语言及文字,既由神亲自选用,其作品必然绝对真实可靠、无谬无误。(真实无误是指<<圣经>>的原本﹐不是指抄本。)
The copied text may has error, but the spiritual meaning is more important, the meaning is the power to change the life. 载体是肯定有误的﹔重要的是精义﹐是内容﹐是改变生命的大能。
The Bible is inspired and inerrant and infallible, this is historical truth, people in the 21th century need to hear this truth. 《圣经》默示及无误是《圣经》自身的宣称,是历代不变的真理,也是廿一世纪极需听到的讯息。
Today, the Chinese Churches are facing a great danger, if we do not renew and build our foundation of our theology in the doctrine of Scripture, after ten, twenty years, the present evangelical churches, seminary, will become Liberal churches and seminary. 今天华人神学及神学教育界面临重大危机,若不重新在《圣经》论建立稳固的信仰(神学)根基,十年、二十年之后,今天的福音派教会、神学院,会变为明天的自由派教会、神学院.
Look at Liberalism in the 19th century, liberals is following Immanuel Kant and Friedrich Schleiermacher. For them, the truth in Christianity is based on man, not based on God. Christianity is the experience of man, it is not God's revelation.十九世纪之自由派,跟着康德(Immanuel Kant),士来马赫(Friedrich Schleiermacher)等思想走,论到基督教信仰之真义时,认为只是人本,不是神本,是人的宗教经历,不是神的直接启示。
Neo-Orthodoxy is headed by Karl barth, he was influenced by Soren Kierkegaard, he said the religion is based on subjectivity. 新正统神学,以巴特为代表,受祁克果之影响,强调人宗教经历之主观性。
Barth's theology of the Bible had been taken by the American Presbyterian, in Confession of the 1967. They did not say anything about the Bible is the Word of God.巴特式的圣经观已被美国联合长老会写入1967年之信条中 — 从不提及《圣经》就是神的话。
Neo-evangelicalism was started in 1970s, in Fuller Seminary, in 1940 it was very fundamental, after in 1970s some of the theologians started to fall away from the truth, they rejected the infallible Bible. 新福音派(Neo-evangelicalism)于一九七零年代兴起。美国富乐(Fuller)神学院与1940年代创办﹐起初信仰非常正统﹔但到了七零年代﹐其中有一部分教授开始弃绝「圣经无误」观念。
How they explained the authority of the Bible, they said the Bible is inspired by God in totality, but at the same time they also say that some parts of the Bible is not inspired! 他们是如何理解《圣经》的权威呢?有人说,《圣经》整体是神所默示,但其中某些部分不是神默示的。
What about Postmodernist? They are not new in 21th century, they have powerful influences in the education and philosophy ares, they are promoting deconstructionism. 后现代的诠释学。迈进廿一世纪,学术界中最具影响力的诠释理论,乃后现代主义的「解构主义」。
How they translate the Bible? They said the author does not exist, the text is not exist, even the reader is not exist, and I myself also not exist! 后现代诠释学不但宣称作者不存在,文本不存在;连读者──我自己──也不存在!
How we believe about the Bible? The Bible is infallible and inerrant, not even in the doctrines, life, history and science facts in the Bible are infallible. The Bible is inerrant, this is talking about the autographs, but if the copies or the apographs are faithfull conveying the meaning of the autographs, we also treat the apographs as the Bible, as the Word of God. (Please refer to the Chicago's Confession about the inerrant of the Bible.) 圣灵所默示的《圣经》,是全无谬误的 (infallible and inerrant)。不单在教义、生活方面,而且在历史、科学范围内的宣称,也是无误的。「圣经无误」是指原本(autographs),不过当译本准确地表达原本的意义时,我们也应当它为《圣经》,为神的话。(参阅《芝加哥圣经无误宣言》.)
Why we must read the Bible? To fear God, to worship God, to thank God, and to be holy like God, and hating the wicked and sins, and to find abundance and satisfaction in God. If we say we believe the Bible is inerrant, than we must accept the choice of God in all His Words, all His Meanings and all His concepts! 为什要读圣经? 应圣经可以使我们敬畏神,敬拜神,感谢神,与神的圣洁,忌邪认同,在神的丰富中找到满足,信靠神,爱慕神,顺服神.相信《圣经》之无误,必需同时接纳《圣经》中神所选用的所有文字、词语、观念。
Why we must have a Bible College? Because the goal and task of Christian education is education itself! 为什么我们要开办神学院呢?基督教教育之目标及任务,即教育本身!」
Farewell in Christ! 再见主面!
Mahatama Gandhi of India
Although Mahatama Gandhi was in no way the originator of the principle of non-violence, he was the first to apply it in the political field on a huge scale. The concept of nonviolence (ahimsa) and nonresistance has a long history in Indian religious thought and has had many revivals in Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Jewish and Christian contexts.
Gandhi explains his philosophy and way of life in his autobiography The Story of My Experiments with Truth. He was quoted as saying:
"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall — think of it, always."
"What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy?"
"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."
"There are many causes that I am prepared to die for but no causes that I am prepared to kill for."
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