Sow Seeds Ministry: May 2015

Friday, 22 May 2015

Can Christians burn in hell?

This is seldom taught in church today, but yet it holds such an important message not to be missed by any God seeking Christians.

Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"

Who was Jesus referring to? Those who practice LAWLESSNESS. So what segragates the Godly and Lawless?

Matthew 7:24-27 NKJV

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

Yes, its "WHOEVER HEARS THESE SAYINGS OF MINE AND DOES THEM". Not merely hearing and recieving like a sponge. Not sitting in Church day in day out and continually claiming blessings upon blessings. But it's those who hears Jesus teaching and actually does them.

To the Lawless, Jesus called them False Prophets, why? Because they are not merely Lawless, they pretend to be for the Lord; they prophecised, cast out demons, and done wonders IN HIS NAME (v22). Doesn't this sound familiar? Even those who did all these things were rejected from heaven.

Matthew 7:15-20 NKJV

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them."

(in this instance, the Greek word for cut down is literally cut down, not lifted up... Strong's Greek 1581, ekkoptó)

But isn't Prophecies, Casting out Demons and doing wonders part of DOING HIS WORK? Well, Jesus is always looking for a heart for the lost. This is really what serving is about. Jesus truly explained what the 10 Commandments really meant, not a book of rules, but of the heart.

Matthew 25:34-46 NKJV

Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Works is of the Law? Think again. How can a Chrisitan who is genuinely saved not result in works and obedience to God's Law which is good? Has the Law been taken away? Or has it been written in our hearts?

Hebrews 10:16-18 NKJV

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord : I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin."

Jeremiah 31:33-34 NKJV

But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord : I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord ,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord . For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

If the law is written in our hearts, it has not been taken away. Jesus came as a greater replacement to the levitical law, so that Salvation is made available to Gentiles, and not confined to the lesser blood of Bulls and Goats. It was never meant to replace the Law, but to fulfill it.

Matthew 5:17-19 NKJV

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

Not Glenn Fong say one hor, it's bible say one.

How do you know if you are truly saved?

I John 2:3-6 NKJV

I John 2:9-11 NKJV

He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

I John 3:16-19 NKJV

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.

Righteouness is not something that one merely confess and claim. Is it really biblical to impose Jesus righteousness on oneself and expect one to be zapped into righteousness? Right believing produces right living? What does John say about right living?

Righteousness is a calling, it's a requirement that all true believers will desire, a liberty to perform out of love. Love is not a confession, it's an action. V17 says, "But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?" Again, not I say one hor, it's bible say one. Read 1 John for yourself if in doubt, thank you.

Goodness of God that leads us to repentance?

The misconception comes with Rom 2:4 that is preached out of context, whereby it's proposed that it's ONLY the "Goodness of God that leads us to repentance." The full verse is this :

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? - Rom 2:4 (NKJV)

God's goodness in this context refers to his "Forbearance and Longsuffering", as he waits for us to repent before we get condemned. Paulis questioning the Roman Church if they taking God's patience for granted (as he said "Or do you despise... ). That is the Mercy of God, to delay his judgement, to give us time to repent.

5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:[a] 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God. - Rom 2:5-11

What Romans 2 is really talking about, is how hopeless mankind is, and how Circumcision (part of the Mosaic covenant) is useless if we do not keep the Law.

25 For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. - Rom 2:25-29

The goodness of God CAN lead a person to repentance, but it's not the ONLY way in which a believer repents! Fear of God's Wrath can also lead to repentance. Btw, I became Christian when I was a teenager for the fear of hell. Anything wrong with that? True repentance comes in V7 " eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;"

The Serpent liberator of truths?

Luciferians and Modern Satanism believe that in the Garden of Eden, the Serpent liberated Adam and Eve from God's Law, and has given them knowledge of good and evil. Sounds Familiar? There is a doctrine that seems to imply that Adam's fall is a good thing that it freed us from God's Law through Jesus redemption plan. Isn't this floating towards the same idealogy of Satanists?? Did Jesus save us from the Law or from the Fall?? My dear fellow Chrstians, please be discerning on what you hear from the Pulpit! Wrong believe leads you to eternal judgement, it's in the bible...

Gospel of Grace vs The Real Grace

I believe there is no point arguing about Christianity based on opinions. Read the word for yourself and you will understand, his Grace was given to us to enable us to obey him. If there is no evidence of obedience, then your Salvation is not genuine. If anyone tells you not to look to your own obedience (not as a means, but as a prove to Salvation), then this preacher is heartless; blinding people who might risk to doom for eternal judgement, having failed to warn fellow Christians about their spiritual condition. The bible is very simple and straightforward, there is no need to go into Gematria and meditate every Hebrew Letter (like the Kabbalah, placing a ה instead of a Cross in a church). While Paul's doctrine focus mostly on Justification by Faith (the foundation), Apostle James and John explains it very clearly below, the importance of Works. No, not works of the Law that brings curse. It's works of the Law that proves your faith.

I John 2:3-11 NKJV

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

I John 5:1-5 NKJV

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

James 2:14-26 NKJV

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Jesus not an example for us to follow?

Did you hear someone who preaches that Jesus is here to save us, but he is not an example for us to follow, simply because we cannot do it? Did some preacher taught that we ought not look at our own Obedience but Jesus Obedience only? Let's look at what the bible says, to "walk as he walked", and "keeping his commandments". There is no need to "read between the lines" when the message from John is clear and simple.

I John 2:3-11 NKJV

Righteousness is right doing.

I John 3:4-17 NKJV

Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. BY THIS WE KNOW LOVE, BECAUSE HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

Faith without works is dead

"You can quote, “Faith without works is dead,” and at the same time say, “You do not need to do anything.” You can justify every contradiction to the commands of the Scriptures by saying to those who would want to obey, “That is legalism; salvation is a free gift.”

So, we see a religion full of gluttony, drunkenness, and even murder in the name of God, by people (including Martin Luther himself) who will justify their actions with the thought that they are “saved by faith alone.” But James boldly says, “Can that faith save him?”

James goes on to make the guidelines even tighter in writing to the believers, “If anyone one among you thinks he is religious, but does not bridle his tongue and deceives himself, this one’s religion is useless.”9

So what is the “useless religion” James is talking about? He is talking to believers here, isn’t he? They think they have “saving faith” because they think they are “religious” — but by simply “not bridling his tongue” such a one is exposed by his behavior as having useless religion.

So, what you do matters... if you have the faith that works.

He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1 John 2:4)

Is obeying His commandments “works”? Is keeping the commandments just useless works which have nothing to do with being “saved by faith”? What then are we saved for, except the good works that are prepared for us to spend our lives doing?

If you are the seed of Abraham, you will do the works he did, the Son of God said in John 8:39. James understood works, but he was obviously writing his letter to an element that had risen up in the early church that was denying the need to do anything, thus making the first church into a useless religion — one with no works to show their faith."

http://twelvetribes.org/articles/epistle-of-straw

Protesting the Devil by Obedience

Another observation, noticed how Satan misused God's word in Psalm 91? And how Jesus chose to Obey God by not putting him to a test (not merely saying, but doing it)?

The word of God CAN be misused if we are not careful (One of the ways is Positive Confession, which makes a believer focus on what he/she wants, and not what God wants; a sign of disobedience). Jesus nullified the Devil's words simply by his Obedience, he demonstrated this to show us his way of living.

Matthew 4:6-7 AMP

And he said to Him, If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, He will give His angels charge over you, and they will bear you up on their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone. [Ps. 91:11, 12.] Jesus said to him, On the other hand, it is written also, You shall not tempt, test thoroughly, or try exceedingly the Lord your God. [Deut. 6:16.]

Is Obedience considered "Works"?

Is Obedience considered "Works"? Sure it is. But does "Works" negate the work of Jesus on the Cross? Consider this :

James 2:21-24 NKJV

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is JUSTIFIED BY WORKS, AND NOT BY FAITH ONLY.

Which sub standard preacher made the word "Works" a dirty word??? Abraham obeyed, and his faith is justified by his works. Does it take effort to obey? Sure it does! Same thing as how you need effort to study for exams, and work hard to please our boss to get a promotion!! It is because a true believer WILL have the propensity / desire to keep his commandments even if he makes mistakes.

Consider this :

I John 2:1-11 NKJV

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him.

BY THIS WE KNOW THAT WE ARE IN HIM. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to WALK JUST AS HE WALKED. Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

So stop being adverse to "Works" as if it's Vulgarity!! Start to have a REAL relationship with God by desiring his ways and not your own personal agendas (FAKE relationship). Not I say one, bible say one.

What exactly is the "Law" mentioned in Galatians?

Galatians 2:11-14 NLT

But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others, “Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions?

A very critical point to note when understanding the book of Galatians. Paul describes how Peter forsakes his liberty by refusing to eat with the Gentiles when some of their Jewish friends arrives. For the fear of Criticism, Peter demonstrated a lack of conviction in Justification by faith in Christ. Fear of what? Jewish Traditions of eating only with the Circumcised (the issue is not with the 10 Commandments, i.e Murder, Theft, Adultry, etc.). On this basis, he continued,

Galatians 2:17-21 NLT

But suppose we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then we are found guilty because we have abandoned the law. Would that mean Christ has led us into sin? Absolutely not! Rather, I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down. For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God. My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.

This is consistent with the issue he is trying to address with the Galatian Christians; False teachers who are trying to introduce Jewish Traditions as part of the process besides Justification of Faith by Christ Jesus.

Galatians 2:4, 11-13 NLT

Even that question came up only because of some so-called believers there—false ones, really —who were secretly brought in. They sneaked in to spy on us and take away the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. They wanted to enslave us and force us to follow their Jewish regulations. But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.

And on this basis, he begin to address the Galatians on the falling back into Jewish Traditions (Not 10 Commandments). We can then understand the rest of Galatians with this foundation understanding.

Galatians 3:1-4 NLT

Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it?

What does it mean by "exceedingly abundantly" in Eph 3:21

Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS FOR GOOD WORKS, which God prepared beforehand that WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM.

Earlier in Chapter 2, Paul explains why why we are saved into his Kingdom, granted that is not of Works, as we are not justified based on Works but by faith. But we are "CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS FOR GOOD WORKS" as mentioned, which "God prepared beforehand that WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM". So that later in chapter 3,

Ephesians 3:14-21 NKJV

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the RICHES OF HIS GLORY (His Glory, nothing to do with material riches), to be strengthened with might (ah, so riches of his Glory is for strength, in what?) through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, BEING ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ LOVE OF CHRIST; that YOU MAY BE FILLED WITH ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD (Refer to Chapter 2:8-10, context is good works, Riches of his Glory for Strength and Love of Christ for Good Works!). Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly (As previously mentioned, Fullness of the Goodness of God, which manifests as good works in us), above all that we ask or think (Being a very matured Church under Paul's ministry, they desire to walk in his ways, therefore they "ask or think" about fulfilling his will in their lives), according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

1 John is written to Gnostic Jews??

1 John is written to Gnostic Jews?? Ok, if they exists, Jews (not exactly a large community) + Gnostic (a Rarity), is not exactly a huge audience. May I ask, what is 1 John doing here, being Canonized as a Christian bible, written for a minority group, and not relevant to the rest of the world?? Even if it's written to Jews, It has to be relevant to us, and if its relevant to us, it's important to read and understand it!

I John 1:6-10 NKJV

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

I John 2:3-6 NKJV

One lie leads to another, the Grace doctrine just doesn't hold up. Take heed!

As Jesus is, so are we in this world.

Jesus is what? Your health? Your Wealth? And everything else?

God is Love. His Love abides in us. And we are in the world. And Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment;
BECAUSE AS HE IS (God's Love), SO ARE WE (Demonstrating God's Love by loving one another) IN THIS WORLD

I John 4:12-19 NKJV

No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; BECAUSE AS HE IS, SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.

Does Luke 17:6 Confirm Positive Confession?

Does Luke 17:6 Confirm Positive Confession?

6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. 7 And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? 8 But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.[c] 10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’” - Luke 17:6-10

In Verse 7-10, there is an analogy of a Master and his Servant. To "eat and drink" is basically a reward at the end of the Servant's labour. To "prepare supper, gird yourself and serve" is basically a fulfillment THE WILL OF THE MASTER. Basically when Jesus is trying to say is, you don't ask for a reward before you labour in obedience (to Righteous Kingdom works). And if you serve the master before yourself, you yield to his will (Commandments). This is consistent with the attitude of praying according to HIS WILL, and not our own will. So the answer is "NO", you CANNOT POSITIVE CONFESS your way to whatever you wish for...

True Faith in God is demonstrated by Jesus :
41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless NOT MY WILL, BUT YOURS, BE DONE.” - Luke 22:41

Tuesday, 12 May 2015

Sarah is not Mother Grace

Video Link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBGKG_0TSDw

1. Sarah is Grace, Hagar is Law?

00:00 - 00:40 - Sarah is Grace, Hagar is Law? So it's an error to bring Hagar (Law) back into the church? Inappropriate for Hagar to raise Isaac who is Sarah's Child? Woh woh woh, let's stop for a second. Before we go on with this train of thought, let's see what the bible says about this fundamental concept of, Sarah=Grace and Hagar = Law.

^"21Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? ²²For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. ²³But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, ²⁴which things are symbolic. For these are the^[^d^] two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— ²⁵for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— ²⁶but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.²⁷For it is written:

“Rejoice, O barren,

You who do not bear!Break forth and shout,You who are not in labor!For the desolate has many more childrenThan she who has a husband.”^[^e
And it is marvelous in our eyes’? - Matt 21:42

²⁸Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. ²⁹But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. ³⁰Nevertheless what does the Scripture say?“Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.”^[^f^] ³¹So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.^{]" -}Galatians 4:21-31

a. Was this passage is even talking about Law vs Grace? How was that derived from? One thing for sure, v24 says, "For these are the^[^d^] two covenants". Which 2 Covenants? V22 says Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. Evidently, the bondwoman (Hagar) is the old covenant, the freewoman (Sarah) is the new covenant. Does the old covenant necessarily mean the Law of God?

b. Galatians was written because some false teachers has infiltrated to the Church of Galatia, instigating them to go back to circumcision and observation of days and months of the Judaic faith. Paul says in v9, " how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? ¹⁰You observe days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain. "

In fact in Chapter Gal 5:3-4, Paul says, "And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. ⁴You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. "

So what has caused the Galatians to fall from Grace, is it the 10 commandments? Or the beggarly elements like observing dates and circumcision. When you write a letter to address a certain issue, will you jump from one topic to another that is not relevant?

c. Let's jump back to Gal 4:21-31.

v25 says,

^"for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children."

v26 says,

^"but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all."

Evidently, Paul describes 2 Jerusalems for 2 covenants. The Jerusalem which is now, is old covenant (Hagar), The Jerusalem which is above, is the new covenant (Sarah). Now, IF the old covenant is of the Law (which Joseph Prince refers to 10 commandments) was the Jerusalem during Paul's time observing the 10 commandments? If your answer is "yes", please read the entire chapter of Matt 23 and Luke 11:37-53. After reading it, are the guardians of Jerusalem upholding the 10 commandments? If your answer is no, then the term, "Jerusalem which is now", can Paul be referring to the 10 commandments? Or is it Judaic Laws (the Beggarly Elements which he is warning the Galatians about)?

d. So if we can conclude that the Old Covenant here is really referring to the Judaic practices (or Law of Moses, not 10 commandments), and the new covenant is referring to Jesus Christ, doesn't this fit in better with the context of what Paul is trying to address with the Galatians? So when Paul say, " “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” ", is he not saying cast out the Judaic practices for the ones who practice the Judaic Practices (of the old covenant) shall not be heir with the ones in Jesus Christ?

00:34-0042 - So indeed it's until the Galatians throw out Hagar (Judiac Practices) that Isaac (the Church) was able to blossom.

Remember:

Old Covenant = 10 Commandments (Atonement by Blood of Bulls and Goats)

New Covenant = 10 Commandments (Atonement by Blood of Jesus Christ)

The Law Also called the Word (John 1:1, Deu 8:3, Isa 55:11), the Truth (Ps 119:30,43,142), the Spirit (Rom 7:14), Commandments (1 John 2:3-6). Heaven and Earth will pass away, yet not one letter from his word (the Law) will pass away. Matt 24:35.

2. The Stone at Lazarus's Grave has got to go with the Law?

00:42-01:08 - What has this got to do with the Law? Does every reference from the bible that has the word Stone is referring to the Law? Then how about these?

"and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones." - Matt 3:9

"Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected, Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing,

If the word Stone refers to the 10 commandments every time it's mentioned, then isn't it great that Jesus is the Stone (10 Commandments) that the builders rejected? And he has become the Chief CornerStone? Is Joseph Prince therefore giving a sound example of the Law?

3. The world needs 10 commandments, but 10 commandments is a hindrance to the church?

1:10 - 01:45 - "We are not removing the Law from dead people.... we cannot remove the 10 commandment from the people of the world, they still need it for governance... but in the church, it's hindrance, because resurrected people are alive, but behind the stone."

a. Without even referring to the scripture, are these statements incoherent? If a Christian commits a crime, does he go to Jail? And does it mean well meaning, sincere non Christians who does Charity all doing it out of Selfishness with no compassion at all?? The difference between a Christian and a Non-Christian is not the Law, it's in the atonement.

Remember:

Old Covenant = 10 Commandments (Atonement by Blood of Bulls and Goats)

New Covenant = 10 Commandments (Atonement by Blood of Jesus Christ)

b. The law applies to all. But it's the atonement by the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from our sins. But if a Christian wilfully breaks the law, the atonement is not for him because he is actually not born again. So how can the Law be a hindrance to the Church when it is used as a test for genuine believers?

"³Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. ⁴He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. ⁶He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." - 1 John 2:3-6

¹⁴Blessed are those who do His commandments,^[^g^] that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. ¹⁵But^[^h^]outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. - Revelations 22:14-15

4. If you are perfect, you are disqualified to healing.

2:35-3:00 - So because Abraham (who was perceived as imperfect) prayed for Abimeleh, and Abimelech got healed. So this means that if you pray for healing, you must be imperfect? And if you are perfect you are disqualified?

Firstly, let's look at Abraham. Joseph Prince propose that Abraham is Righteous by faith without his works? The bible begs to differ,

"⁴And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed;⁵because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”" - Gen 26:4-5

Yes, the bible says Abraham obeyed his voice and kept his charge, his commandments, his statutes, and his laws. Yes, Abraham was righteous by faith, but his faith enable him to be obedient to all of his commandments. Yes, Abraham is not perfect. He betrayed his wife Sarah out of fear. But that has NOTHING TO DO with his healing prayer for Abimeleh (Gen 20:17-18)!

What did Joseph Prince said about prayer?

"If you are perfect, you are disqualified"

What does the bible says about prayer?

"¹⁵And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ¹⁶Confess your trespasses^[^e^] to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." - James 5:15-16b