Postingan
Rabu, 25 Februari 2009
GOOD & EVIL
Reading: Psalms 119:104
119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
Without ignoring their greatness and hard work of philosophers like Socrates, Aristoteles, and Plato, it had been proved that the genius of man only able to result something like philosophy. Not Bible with prophets and apostles that led by the Holy Spirit.
Philosophy and the Bible in fact is very different. One is explored from the power of the human thinking towards many things around them. And the other one, which is the Bible, is not from man but from God. It was written by prophets and apostles that moved by the Holy Spirit (see 2 Pet 1:20-21). The Bible speaks about transcendent things out of people rationality. For example: About heaven, redemption, resurrection from the death, incarnation, the coming of God to the earth, etc.
It does not mean that the Bible is an irrational book but it is super rational. It contains about God's facts that is beyond rationality of man only but can be reached by faith. No wonder if people smile, laugh, shaking their head, say “yes” or “right” after have faith in God. Why? Because the truth of God is 100% valid in the world also in heaven.
No wonder why man has so much differences or even confusedness to determine which one is Good and which one is Evil. Because they do not refer or base on His word. For example: Sex without marriages based on liking each other is good for certain people, smoking is considered good with reason to overcome stress, workaholic is considered good by the boss who do not care to the family time, polygamy, raising kids without discipline by reason against human rights is considered as Good, abortion, homosexuality, and many other that are considered as Good based on the happiness or enjoyment only by certain person or group.
The question is, which one is the real Good and which one is the real Evil? People have many differences in this matter and even more people (not view) think that they are good and in the same time think that other people are Evil. It is acceptable thought in context of easy talk with a cup coffee on the afternoon. But not toward God. Someone should not think like that about himself before God. Because there are no one is good before Him. In fact all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (see Romans 3:23).
You may be asking what is the meaning of “sin”. In Greek words, sin is “hamartia” that means “miss the target” or “miss the mark”. Means, the imperfect of man to fulfill God’s will is sin. In another words, someone who do many good things actually undeserved to be mentioned as good people before God. Because, it is not about how many of good things which he had done but about good things that he had not done. If there is 1 (one) will only which had not been fulfilled it means “miss the target”, “miss the mark”, “imperfect”, or “not 100% doing God’s will”. Therefore, it is concluded that no one is not have sinned before God. But once again, all have sinned and needed help and grace of God.
Let see what the Bible says about sin and evil. Please read Mark 7:21-23 below:
7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
It is is mentioned that sin comes from inside of the heart not from outside. In another words, heart is the basis or the source. Similarly mentioned also in Proverb 4:23, ”Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
Heart is a place where God put His law or His word (see Romans 2:15). If man accept His word and keep and watch over it in the heart, then he will grow and fruitful as the parable of 4 (four) seeds. If not, he will be death or dying spiritually.
In another words, heart needs the word of God. Without His enlightenment, heart can be changed or moved. Deceived by false teaching or belief. For instance in Africa, there is certain group believe that a mother who are left by her children who died has to cut her fingers equally the same to the number of children who left her. If one died, so one finger will be cut. If two then two fingers. Also similar in India, there is a belief that a wife who left by her dead husband has to give herself to be burned together with the body of her husband on fire (ref. What If The Bible Had Never Been Written by James Kennedy & Jerry New Combe).
This reality shows that man is not clear or detail towards Good and Evil without the teaching or understanding from God. In another words, man need the word of God for teaching about it so that able to separate Good and Evil like being mentioned by this verse, Hebrew 4:12-13, below:
4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
In conclusion, only by His word, you are able to see clearly which one is Good and which one is Bad, which one is sin, which one is not, which one is wrong, which one is right and which one is false.
The Word of Prayer:
Thank you God for this lesson. Help us to always be able to see clearly which one is Good and which one is Evil, which one is sin, which one is not, which one is wrong, which one is right and which one is false. In Jesus name. Amen.
119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
Without ignoring their greatness and hard work of philosophers like Socrates, Aristoteles, and Plato, it had been proved that the genius of man only able to result something like philosophy. Not Bible with prophets and apostles that led by the Holy Spirit.
Philosophy and the Bible in fact is very different. One is explored from the power of the human thinking towards many things around them. And the other one, which is the Bible, is not from man but from God. It was written by prophets and apostles that moved by the Holy Spirit (see 2 Pet 1:20-21). The Bible speaks about transcendent things out of people rationality. For example: About heaven, redemption, resurrection from the death, incarnation, the coming of God to the earth, etc.
It does not mean that the Bible is an irrational book but it is super rational. It contains about God's facts that is beyond rationality of man only but can be reached by faith. No wonder if people smile, laugh, shaking their head, say “yes” or “right” after have faith in God. Why? Because the truth of God is 100% valid in the world also in heaven.
No wonder why man has so much differences or even confusedness to determine which one is Good and which one is Evil. Because they do not refer or base on His word. For example: Sex without marriages based on liking each other is good for certain people, smoking is considered good with reason to overcome stress, workaholic is considered good by the boss who do not care to the family time, polygamy, raising kids without discipline by reason against human rights is considered as Good, abortion, homosexuality, and many other that are considered as Good based on the happiness or enjoyment only by certain person or group.
The question is, which one is the real Good and which one is the real Evil? People have many differences in this matter and even more people (not view) think that they are good and in the same time think that other people are Evil. It is acceptable thought in context of easy talk with a cup coffee on the afternoon. But not toward God. Someone should not think like that about himself before God. Because there are no one is good before Him. In fact all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (see Romans 3:23).
You may be asking what is the meaning of “sin”. In Greek words, sin is “hamartia” that means “miss the target” or “miss the mark”. Means, the imperfect of man to fulfill God’s will is sin. In another words, someone who do many good things actually undeserved to be mentioned as good people before God. Because, it is not about how many of good things which he had done but about good things that he had not done. If there is 1 (one) will only which had not been fulfilled it means “miss the target”, “miss the mark”, “imperfect”, or “not 100% doing God’s will”. Therefore, it is concluded that no one is not have sinned before God. But once again, all have sinned and needed help and grace of God.
Let see what the Bible says about sin and evil. Please read Mark 7:21-23 below:
7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
It is is mentioned that sin comes from inside of the heart not from outside. In another words, heart is the basis or the source. Similarly mentioned also in Proverb 4:23, ”Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
Heart is a place where God put His law or His word (see Romans 2:15). If man accept His word and keep and watch over it in the heart, then he will grow and fruitful as the parable of 4 (four) seeds. If not, he will be death or dying spiritually.
In another words, heart needs the word of God. Without His enlightenment, heart can be changed or moved. Deceived by false teaching or belief. For instance in Africa, there is certain group believe that a mother who are left by her children who died has to cut her fingers equally the same to the number of children who left her. If one died, so one finger will be cut. If two then two fingers. Also similar in India, there is a belief that a wife who left by her dead husband has to give herself to be burned together with the body of her husband on fire (ref. What If The Bible Had Never Been Written by James Kennedy & Jerry New Combe).
This reality shows that man is not clear or detail towards Good and Evil without the teaching or understanding from God. In another words, man need the word of God for teaching about it so that able to separate Good and Evil like being mentioned by this verse, Hebrew 4:12-13, below:
4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
In conclusion, only by His word, you are able to see clearly which one is Good and which one is Bad, which one is sin, which one is not, which one is wrong, which one is right and which one is false.
Through thy precepts I get understanding:
therefore I hate every false way (Psalms 119:104).
therefore I hate every false way (Psalms 119:104).
The Word of Prayer:
Thank you God for this lesson. Help us to always be able to see clearly which one is Good and which one is Evil, which one is sin, which one is not, which one is wrong, which one is right and which one is false. In Jesus name. Amen.
THE NEW TESTAMENT
Reading: Hebrew 1:1-3
1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
In The Old Testament, God spoke to reveal Himself through many ways and through His Prophets. But in The New Testament God speaks through His Son, Jesus Christ. Through the message of His Son, his apostles, his ministries, his churches and his disciples.
The New Testament consist of 4 (four) big parts:
1. Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)
2. The Book of Acts
3. Pauline Epistles (Roman to Philemon)
4. Non-Pauline Epistles or General Epistles (Hebrew to Revelation)
GOSPELS
Gospel consists of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. From Jesus births, life, teachings, parables, miracles and wonders, his cross, his death, his resurrection and his ascending to heaven.
Matthew says that He is the King of all kings. Mark says that He become servant in his life and death. Luke says that He is the Son of man who comes to save the lost. John says that He is the Son of God. He is The Word of God and He is God.
THE BOOK OF ACTS
The book of Acts contains of the story of the apostles of Jesus, his churches and his disciples after his resurrection and ascending to heaven. Also about the Holy Spirit that working in the life of disciples or Christian as promised by Jesus beforehand.
It was written by Luke who accompanied Paul to take care of his health during the journey of mission and even up to prison.
PAULINE EPISTLES
Paul wrote 13 (thirteen) letters. He wrote to the church of Romans (1 letter), Corinthians (2 letters), Galatians (1 letter), Ephesians (1 letter), Philippians (1 letter), Colossians (1 letter), Thessalonian (2 letters), Timothy (2 letters), Titus (1 letter), and Philemon (1 letter).
All Paul's letters contain doctrines, teaching, advises, warns, encouragements, wisdoms, principals and many other words or text that refers and focuses to Christ Jesus. About he himself, his life, his cross, his death, his resurrection, and the meaning of it such as: redemption, salvation, value or principles in solving problems between believers, marriages, etc. In another words, Jesus Christ is the center of the entire of Paul writings.
GENERAL EPISTLES (NON-PAULINE EPISTLES)
General Epistles consisting of Hebrew, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2 and 3 John, Jude, and Revelation. It contains and focuses on Jesus Christ, his churches, and his disciples.
Why we accept The New Testament as The Word of God?
Without ignoring God who protect the New Testament through or by the church fathers, today we are also able to see that all writings that is not centered or focused on the true Jesus Christ is not The Word of God.
The writings that is not in one body of doctrine of the Bible, which is conflicted or against the Bible, The Old Testament and The New Testament, is not the Word of God. Beside that, it is important to see who the writer is and the authenticity of the writings. And the church father did!
1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
In The Old Testament, God spoke to reveal Himself through many ways and through His Prophets. But in The New Testament God speaks through His Son, Jesus Christ. Through the message of His Son, his apostles, his ministries, his churches and his disciples.
The New Testament consist of 4 (four) big parts:
1. Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)
2. The Book of Acts
3. Pauline Epistles (Roman to Philemon)
4. Non-Pauline Epistles or General Epistles (Hebrew to Revelation)
GOSPELS
Gospel consists of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. From Jesus births, life, teachings, parables, miracles and wonders, his cross, his death, his resurrection and his ascending to heaven.
Matthew says that He is the King of all kings. Mark says that He become servant in his life and death. Luke says that He is the Son of man who comes to save the lost. John says that He is the Son of God. He is The Word of God and He is God.
THE BOOK OF ACTS
The book of Acts contains of the story of the apostles of Jesus, his churches and his disciples after his resurrection and ascending to heaven. Also about the Holy Spirit that working in the life of disciples or Christian as promised by Jesus beforehand.
It was written by Luke who accompanied Paul to take care of his health during the journey of mission and even up to prison.
PAULINE EPISTLES
Paul wrote 13 (thirteen) letters. He wrote to the church of Romans (1 letter), Corinthians (2 letters), Galatians (1 letter), Ephesians (1 letter), Philippians (1 letter), Colossians (1 letter), Thessalonian (2 letters), Timothy (2 letters), Titus (1 letter), and Philemon (1 letter).
All Paul's letters contain doctrines, teaching, advises, warns, encouragements, wisdoms, principals and many other words or text that refers and focuses to Christ Jesus. About he himself, his life, his cross, his death, his resurrection, and the meaning of it such as: redemption, salvation, value or principles in solving problems between believers, marriages, etc. In another words, Jesus Christ is the center of the entire of Paul writings.
GENERAL EPISTLES (NON-PAULINE EPISTLES)
General Epistles consisting of Hebrew, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2 and 3 John, Jude, and Revelation. It contains and focuses on Jesus Christ, his churches, and his disciples.
Why we accept The New Testament as The Word of God?
Without ignoring God who protect the New Testament through or by the church fathers, today we are also able to see that all writings that is not centered or focused on the true Jesus Christ is not The Word of God.
The writings that is not in one body of doctrine of the Bible, which is conflicted or against the Bible, The Old Testament and The New Testament, is not the Word of God. Beside that, it is important to see who the writer is and the authenticity of the writings. And the church father did!
BIBLICAL RELIABILITY
History tells us that the Bible has ability to answer man. It seems that there is nothing needed more except to His own word that had been written inside the Bible. And also God is controlling and protecting the Bible to be freed from error. He used his prophets and apostles to write and to lead the church, to select, to choose, to determine, to make decision and to compile the canon.
Let us study what the Bible says about the Bible:
1. The Bible is from God not from man
2 Pet 1: 20-21: By first knowing this, none of the prophecy in the scripture that came from any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in the old time by the will of man: but by the holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
2. The Bible is quick, powerful, sharp, piercing
Hebrew 4:12-13 For the word of God is quick, powerful, sharper than any two edged of a sword, piercing deeply even dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
3. The Bible is profitable for holy life, righteous life and perfect life
2 Tim 3:16-17: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
4. The Bible is the judge in the last day
John 12:48 He who rejected me, and not received not my words, had one that judged him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
GOD’S WORD IS POWERFUL
Verse: Jeremiah 1:9-10
1:9 Therefore I bring charges against you again,” declares the Lord. “ And I will bring charges against your children's children.
1:10 Cross over to the coasts of Kittim and look send to Kedar and observe closely see if there has ever been anything like this.
From the book of Jeremiah we can see the process of writing the Bible, here they are:
1. God touched the mouth of Jeremiah, the prophet, with his hands (Jeremiah 1:9).
2. God put the words inside Jeremiah's mouth (Jeremiah1:9).
3. God told Jeremiah to write all His words (Jeremiah 36:2).
4. Jeremiah wrote the words with the help of Barukh son of Neria.
5. Because the word were destroyed. And God wrote the words again through Jeremiah and Baruch.
This process is a very basic thing for the Christians to put their trust on the Bible as the 100% word from God. Not only His ideas, concepts or thinking but also His words. Meaning that the Christians are not only to understand the content in general or just the big pictures but also supposed to pay attention and study on the words in the Bible. Because every God's word is very meaningful, important and serious.
We can see this truthfulness in the Jeremiah's story. From there, there is one main and very important truth that the word of God would never be failed. What ever He said will be happening because He knows everything. He knows the future. He knows about what has happened to the Kings, Nations, and Kingdoms. He can make all things possible. Everything under His power and control. That is why Jeremiah knew what the kings should do to be saved and to able to win. And he also knows what will happen to the kings who have no trust in His words.
All of his life, Jeremiah was in 5 different kingdoms: The king of Josiah, Joahas, Joachim, Zedekiah. From all the five kings only King Josiah who was righteous in front of God. And the other last four were the evil kings. And in fact, only Josiah who came with victory at his kingdom time. But the other four kings were in great lost and tragic death and sadness.
Beside that, the word of God that being told through Jeremiah to the Egyptian, Kasdim, Babel and other nations was happening at that moment too. God proved to keep his promises that He was going to raise Jeremiah, the son of priest from Anatot to take out, take down, destroy, put down, build up,and to plant. King, Nation and Kingdom whom listened and believed will win and save but if not will be struck down and perished.
The same thing will happen to the people in the this modern time, if they listen to His word, believe and doing it, they will be saved, if not, they are already under the punishment (Romans 3:23;6:23).
GOD’S WORD IS NOT FROM MAN
Verse: Gal 1:1, 11-12, 16-17
1:1 Paul, an apostle sent not from men nor by man, but Jesus Christ and God the father, who raised him from the dead -
1:11 I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up.
1:12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation fro Jesus Christ..
1:16 …, to reveal his son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man,;
1:17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was,…
Paul was using the word human many times in his letter to the Galatians. Why? Because he wanted to tell something serious about the source of his teaching.
There are two important things that Paul wants to underline in his letter to the Galatians:
1. Paul except his apostleship not from human, of human or by human, but from God and by God only.
2. The gospel that Paul teaches or preaches are not coming from human, not from him self or from the other apostles but from the Christ statement.
The background of Paul's letter to the Galatians is in Acts 15. From there , we can find one big issue that Paul, Galatians Church and the Jewish Christians ex-Parisians were debating about. That issue was bringing by the the Jewish Christians ex-Parisians that all the non Jews Christians must be circumcised to be saved. If not, then no salvation for them. It was very much different from the non Jews ex-Parisians teaching that based on opinion or personal interpretation of the Old Testament. Also, Paul's life had strengthen his statement.
Please read and watch the life of Paul through the below verses.
Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus (Gal 6:17).
Paul said about the marks of Jesus, where actually representing suffering, distress, and Paul survival as the Christ Servant. What I mean is that it was impossible for him to be suffered, got refused, humiliated, put into isolation, terrorized, in hunger, in jail, punished, going through the sink ship, and cut to the head only for one lie. Very difficult to be imagined, isn't? If he did all of that, wasn't he that stupid?
Even more, Paul left his position as the Parisians, Sanhedrin, Gamaliel disciple and was from Benjamin tribes. He was not a unemployment or loser but he was very respectable. One more time, this is very difficult to be understood if wanted to do all of that for one lie? The truth is Paul are and truly chosen by God to become his apostle and received teaching and gospels form God not from human.
As Christians, you and I deserved to have peace in heart because the teachings we got from Paul are from God not opinion or subjective interpretation, that is not powerful and that is not bringing or lead you and I to God's truly truth.
So, let us stand still and stay faithful to the teaching and good news of God not human, not celebrities or others or even angel (compare to Galatians 1:8)
LOVE HIS WORD!
Verse: Psalm 119:97-100
119:97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
119:98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.
119:99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.
119:100 I have more understanding than the elders for I obey your precepts.
Before we come to the explanation about the above verses.
Please answer these questions first: If there is one book that can make you wise, will you read it? If that book can make your knowledge and wisdom more than most of the people including your teacher, will you study on that? Or if that book can make you understand about life more than older people, will you persistently read it?
Sure your answer is “yes” for all those above questions. But that is not exactly what happened in the world. Although many people have Bible but they don't read it. In his introduction for the book of “What Bible is All About” Billy Graham stated his concern of many Christians these days. Although Bible has been translated, printed, and distributed but “not” many people open to read it, study on it and read carefully with all heart.
There are three possibilities why many people don't read Bible:
1. Many people do not understand because no one teach them.
This condition will happen all the time. The generation who don't care and lazy to teach Bible will end up making another next generation who also don't care.
2. Many people more interested with other things, more than Bible.
This truth statement is expected and understandable with the fact that there are so many information these days. Information and Technology has been improving and growing really fast. People are more interested in product advertisements. with a lot of exploitations on sex, greediness and many other things.
3. Many people prefer sins and refuse to repent more than receiving Bible message.
This kind of people probably didn't like Bible, even hated and attacked Bible because their sins and faults are being expose. (Hebrews 4:12)
We know that philosophy or human wisdom is relative, not the final answer, very limited, can not solve human problems especially in related to spiritual. Actually humans are facing serious problems. They are death in spirit, separated from God. They have sins. They need mercy.
Other than that, human are facing character problems, personality problems , relationship problems as result of consequences for their sins. Although many disciplines of human and their relationships such as: sociology, politics, communications, psychology and many others but still can not solve human problems at a certain level.
By no means to discredit all disciplines around the world, James Kennedy in his book “ What if Bible Never Been Written”, describing the influence of the Bible in the education. Then he described that the world are going to be wild without Bible. Other words, the educations in this century have taken Bible value though not explicitly or whole.
Three reasons why Bible or Word of God is far more greater than any other books:
1. Bible comes from God who is the creator of human being, the universe, the earth and all inside.
2. The word of God is powerful. He handle logic, ratio and human ability.
3. The word of God is the final answers, and it is not an unending searching .
The Bible can make you wise, knowledgeable and to have many understanding to handle the world. There fore read, study on it, and keep persistently seeking. Love His Word!
Let us study what the Bible says about the Bible:
1. The Bible is from God not from man
2 Pet 1: 20-21: By first knowing this, none of the prophecy in the scripture that came from any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in the old time by the will of man: but by the holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
2. The Bible is quick, powerful, sharp, piercing
Hebrew 4:12-13 For the word of God is quick, powerful, sharper than any two edged of a sword, piercing deeply even dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
3. The Bible is profitable for holy life, righteous life and perfect life
2 Tim 3:16-17: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
4. The Bible is the judge in the last day
John 12:48 He who rejected me, and not received not my words, had one that judged him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
GOD’S WORD IS POWERFUL
Verse: Jeremiah 1:9-10
1:9 Therefore I bring charges against you again,” declares the Lord. “ And I will bring charges against your children's children.
1:10 Cross over to the coasts of Kittim and look send to Kedar and observe closely see if there has ever been anything like this.
From the book of Jeremiah we can see the process of writing the Bible, here they are:
1. God touched the mouth of Jeremiah, the prophet, with his hands (Jeremiah 1:9).
2. God put the words inside Jeremiah's mouth (Jeremiah1:9).
3. God told Jeremiah to write all His words (Jeremiah 36:2).
4. Jeremiah wrote the words with the help of Barukh son of Neria.
5. Because the word were destroyed. And God wrote the words again through Jeremiah and Baruch.
This process is a very basic thing for the Christians to put their trust on the Bible as the 100% word from God. Not only His ideas, concepts or thinking but also His words. Meaning that the Christians are not only to understand the content in general or just the big pictures but also supposed to pay attention and study on the words in the Bible. Because every God's word is very meaningful, important and serious.
We can see this truthfulness in the Jeremiah's story. From there, there is one main and very important truth that the word of God would never be failed. What ever He said will be happening because He knows everything. He knows the future. He knows about what has happened to the Kings, Nations, and Kingdoms. He can make all things possible. Everything under His power and control. That is why Jeremiah knew what the kings should do to be saved and to able to win. And he also knows what will happen to the kings who have no trust in His words.
All of his life, Jeremiah was in 5 different kingdoms: The king of Josiah, Joahas, Joachim, Zedekiah. From all the five kings only King Josiah who was righteous in front of God. And the other last four were the evil kings. And in fact, only Josiah who came with victory at his kingdom time. But the other four kings were in great lost and tragic death and sadness.
Beside that, the word of God that being told through Jeremiah to the Egyptian, Kasdim, Babel and other nations was happening at that moment too. God proved to keep his promises that He was going to raise Jeremiah, the son of priest from Anatot to take out, take down, destroy, put down, build up,and to plant. King, Nation and Kingdom whom listened and believed will win and save but if not will be struck down and perished.
The same thing will happen to the people in the this modern time, if they listen to His word, believe and doing it, they will be saved, if not, they are already under the punishment (Romans 3:23;6:23).
GOD’S WORD IS NOT FROM MAN
Verse: Gal 1:1, 11-12, 16-17
1:1 Paul, an apostle sent not from men nor by man, but Jesus Christ and God the father, who raised him from the dead -
1:11 I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up.
1:12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation fro Jesus Christ..
1:16 …, to reveal his son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man,;
1:17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was,…
Paul was using the word human many times in his letter to the Galatians. Why? Because he wanted to tell something serious about the source of his teaching.
There are two important things that Paul wants to underline in his letter to the Galatians:
1. Paul except his apostleship not from human, of human or by human, but from God and by God only.
2. The gospel that Paul teaches or preaches are not coming from human, not from him self or from the other apostles but from the Christ statement.
The background of Paul's letter to the Galatians is in Acts 15. From there , we can find one big issue that Paul, Galatians Church and the Jewish Christians ex-Parisians were debating about. That issue was bringing by the the Jewish Christians ex-Parisians that all the non Jews Christians must be circumcised to be saved. If not, then no salvation for them. It was very much different from the non Jews ex-Parisians teaching that based on opinion or personal interpretation of the Old Testament. Also, Paul's life had strengthen his statement.
Please read and watch the life of Paul through the below verses.
Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus (Gal 6:17).
Paul said about the marks of Jesus, where actually representing suffering, distress, and Paul survival as the Christ Servant. What I mean is that it was impossible for him to be suffered, got refused, humiliated, put into isolation, terrorized, in hunger, in jail, punished, going through the sink ship, and cut to the head only for one lie. Very difficult to be imagined, isn't? If he did all of that, wasn't he that stupid?
Even more, Paul left his position as the Parisians, Sanhedrin, Gamaliel disciple and was from Benjamin tribes. He was not a unemployment or loser but he was very respectable. One more time, this is very difficult to be understood if wanted to do all of that for one lie? The truth is Paul are and truly chosen by God to become his apostle and received teaching and gospels form God not from human.
As Christians, you and I deserved to have peace in heart because the teachings we got from Paul are from God not opinion or subjective interpretation, that is not powerful and that is not bringing or lead you and I to God's truly truth.
So, let us stand still and stay faithful to the teaching and good news of God not human, not celebrities or others or even angel (compare to Galatians 1:8)
LOVE HIS WORD!
Verse: Psalm 119:97-100
119:97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
119:98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.
119:99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.
119:100 I have more understanding than the elders for I obey your precepts.
Before we come to the explanation about the above verses.
Please answer these questions first: If there is one book that can make you wise, will you read it? If that book can make your knowledge and wisdom more than most of the people including your teacher, will you study on that? Or if that book can make you understand about life more than older people, will you persistently read it?
Sure your answer is “yes” for all those above questions. But that is not exactly what happened in the world. Although many people have Bible but they don't read it. In his introduction for the book of “What Bible is All About” Billy Graham stated his concern of many Christians these days. Although Bible has been translated, printed, and distributed but “not” many people open to read it, study on it and read carefully with all heart.
There are three possibilities why many people don't read Bible:
1. Many people do not understand because no one teach them.
This condition will happen all the time. The generation who don't care and lazy to teach Bible will end up making another next generation who also don't care.
2. Many people more interested with other things, more than Bible.
This truth statement is expected and understandable with the fact that there are so many information these days. Information and Technology has been improving and growing really fast. People are more interested in product advertisements. with a lot of exploitations on sex, greediness and many other things.
3. Many people prefer sins and refuse to repent more than receiving Bible message.
This kind of people probably didn't like Bible, even hated and attacked Bible because their sins and faults are being expose. (Hebrews 4:12)
We know that philosophy or human wisdom is relative, not the final answer, very limited, can not solve human problems especially in related to spiritual. Actually humans are facing serious problems. They are death in spirit, separated from God. They have sins. They need mercy.
Other than that, human are facing character problems, personality problems , relationship problems as result of consequences for their sins. Although many disciplines of human and their relationships such as: sociology, politics, communications, psychology and many others but still can not solve human problems at a certain level.
By no means to discredit all disciplines around the world, James Kennedy in his book “ What if Bible Never Been Written”, describing the influence of the Bible in the education. Then he described that the world are going to be wild without Bible. Other words, the educations in this century have taken Bible value though not explicitly or whole.
Three reasons why Bible or Word of God is far more greater than any other books:
1. Bible comes from God who is the creator of human being, the universe, the earth and all inside.
2. The word of God is powerful. He handle logic, ratio and human ability.
3. The word of God is the final answers, and it is not an unending searching .
The Bible can make you wise, knowledgeable and to have many understanding to handle the world. There fore read, study on it, and keep persistently seeking. Love His Word!
Senin, 09 Februari 2009
Langganan:
Postingan (Atom)