Written by the half brother of Jesus Christ around AD 70-80.
The thrust of his message: Beware of pretenders who
1. pervert the grace of God into license to sin (v 4).
2. partake of the Lord’s Supper without fear (v 12).
3. are deceptive flatters (v 16).
4. are causers of division (v 19).
The false teachers taught that salvation by God’s grace allowed them to sin without condemnation. Jude countered by using three examples:
(i) Unbelievers were destroyed after their delieverance from Egypt (v5).
(ii) Sinning angels were kept in eternal bonds to await judgment (v6).
(iii) Sodom & Gomorrah were judged by fire (v7).
These pretenders were described in a three-fold term (v8,11):
(i) Defile the flesh (promote loose living) – way of Cain (he had a carnal attitude when he killed Abel).
(ii) Reject authority (truth is not absolute; everything is relative) – rebellion of Korah (rejected Moses' authority).
(iii) Revile angelic beings (no fear of God) – error of Balaam (went ahead despite angelic intervention).
The challenge for the believers is to contend earnestly for our faith (v 3). We are to
(i) fight for sound doctrine on the major issues of faith.
(ii) build ourselves up in our faith by praying in the Holy Spirit (v 20).
(iii) keep ourselves in God’s love (v 21).
(iv) save others from the error of their ways (v 23).
Are you contending earnestly for your faith or do you allow the things of this world to get a hold of you?
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
How to pray against terrorism? (Ps 9-10 NASB)
Arise, O LORD, do not let man prevail; let the nations be judged before You. Put them in fear, O LORD; let the nations know that they are but men (9:19-20). Bring to justice those who are bent on taking innocent lives through their senseless acts of wickedness. You see their plots and evil schemes (10:14); may they not prosper but rather be caught in their own traps (9:16; 10:2). Convict those who are behind bars for their part in terrorism. Turn their hearts back to You.
Break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer, seek out his wickedness until You find none (10:15). Cut off the flow of funding for their diabolical schemes and break up all terrorists’ cells operating in secret places all over the world. Bring confusion in their camps. Give wisdom and courage to governments to act righteously and against regimes that support terrorism.
The wickedness of man has increased much over the years. But You, O God, are King forever and ever. Every man will have to stand in your presence one day to account for what he has done on earth. O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear to vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror (10:17-18).
Break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer, seek out his wickedness until You find none (10:15). Cut off the flow of funding for their diabolical schemes and break up all terrorists’ cells operating in secret places all over the world. Bring confusion in their camps. Give wisdom and courage to governments to act righteously and against regimes that support terrorism.
The wickedness of man has increased much over the years. But You, O God, are King forever and ever. Every man will have to stand in your presence one day to account for what he has done on earth. O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear to vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror (10:17-18).
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Book of Hebrews
The writer of this book is unknown though the early church believed Paul wrote it. The reasons why this book is not attributed to Paul are:
1. There’s no customary salutation which includes Paul's name.
2. The Greek used here is polished whereas Paul’s is rugged, though vigorous (Morris, “Hebrews” in Expositor’s Bible Commentary)
3. The Levitical symbolism is not mentioned in Paul’s other writings.
The writer to the book of Hebrews wrote it for a Jewish audience, exhorting them to spiritual maturity and warning them against apostasy to Judaism. They were told to focus on a Person and not on the temple or its rituals.
The theme of this book is about Christ’s superiority, in particular, over
1. Angels (Ch 1-2)
2. Moses (Ch 3-4)
3. The Levitical priesthood (Ch 4:14-10:18)
4. The old way of approaching God (10:19-13)
The key word of this book is better.
• Christ is better than angels (1:4).
• Convinced of better things, that accompany salvation (6:9).
• Bringing in a better hope, through which we draw near to God (7:19).
• Jesus guarantee of a better covenant (7:22).
• He is a mediator of a better covenant, enacted on better promises (8:6).
• … purified with … better sacrifices (9:23).
• … better possession (10:34).
• Abraham desired a better country, a heavenly one (11:16).
• … obtain a better resurrection (11:35).
• God had provided something better for us … (11:40).
Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and man. As the Son of God, He represents us in the heavenlies. As the Son of Man, He represents God to mankind (1:1-3).
The invitation to us, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (4:16 NIV)
1. There’s no customary salutation which includes Paul's name.
2. The Greek used here is polished whereas Paul’s is rugged, though vigorous (Morris, “Hebrews” in Expositor’s Bible Commentary)
3. The Levitical symbolism is not mentioned in Paul’s other writings.
The writer to the book of Hebrews wrote it for a Jewish audience, exhorting them to spiritual maturity and warning them against apostasy to Judaism. They were told to focus on a Person and not on the temple or its rituals.
The theme of this book is about Christ’s superiority, in particular, over
1. Angels (Ch 1-2)
2. Moses (Ch 3-4)
3. The Levitical priesthood (Ch 4:14-10:18)
4. The old way of approaching God (10:19-13)
The key word of this book is better.
• Christ is better than angels (1:4).
• Convinced of better things, that accompany salvation (6:9).
• Bringing in a better hope, through which we draw near to God (7:19).
• Jesus guarantee of a better covenant (7:22).
• He is a mediator of a better covenant, enacted on better promises (8:6).
• … purified with … better sacrifices (9:23).
• … better possession (10:34).
• Abraham desired a better country, a heavenly one (11:16).
• … obtain a better resurrection (11:35).
• God had provided something better for us … (11:40).
Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and man. As the Son of God, He represents us in the heavenlies. As the Son of Man, He represents God to mankind (1:1-3).
The invitation to us, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (4:16 NIV)
Friday, November 27, 2009
How to pray for protection (Ps 7)
David is appealing to God’s court of justice to deliver him from the schemes of the enemy. This psalm relates to the persistent attempts by King Saul to hunt down David, hence the title concerning Cush, a Benjamite (though we don’t know who this Cush is). Saul was ill-informed that David wanted to seize his throne (1 Sam 24:9-11).
David began his psalm or song with these words:
“O LORD my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me, or they will tear me like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.” (v1-2)
When we want protection from the influence of ungodly people, the first thing we have to recognise is that God is our refuge (Ps 46:1). Sometimes, we feel that we need a safe place to hide from evil attacks against us. But nothing like hiding in God’s secret place (Ps 91:1). What this means is that we need to turn to God each time accusations are hurled against us. God's invisible shield of protection surrounds the righteous (Job 1:10).
David recognises also that if there’s iniquity within him, he deserves to be taken to task (v3-5). But he appeals to God based on his own integrity of heart (v8); he had no intention to neither kill Saul nor usurp his throne prematurely. God is certainly mighty to save and deliver the upright of heart (v10). The wicked will not prosper in their evil schemes but instead will fall into their own traps (v14-16).
David ends with praise to the righteous God who would be just in his judgment (v11,17).
Are you fearful and in need of God’s protection? Start praying the prayer of David and ask God to help you search your own heart in the matter at hand.
David began his psalm or song with these words:
“O LORD my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me, or they will tear me like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.” (v1-2)
When we want protection from the influence of ungodly people, the first thing we have to recognise is that God is our refuge (Ps 46:1). Sometimes, we feel that we need a safe place to hide from evil attacks against us. But nothing like hiding in God’s secret place (Ps 91:1). What this means is that we need to turn to God each time accusations are hurled against us. God's invisible shield of protection surrounds the righteous (Job 1:10).
David recognises also that if there’s iniquity within him, he deserves to be taken to task (v3-5). But he appeals to God based on his own integrity of heart (v8); he had no intention to neither kill Saul nor usurp his throne prematurely. God is certainly mighty to save and deliver the upright of heart (v10). The wicked will not prosper in their evil schemes but instead will fall into their own traps (v14-16).
David ends with praise to the righteous God who would be just in his judgment (v11,17).
Are you fearful and in need of God’s protection? Start praying the prayer of David and ask God to help you search your own heart in the matter at hand.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Justified for worship and service (Rom 11-15)
We read in the earlier chapters of Romans how Paul argued convincingly that our justification (right standing) before God is through faith in Christ and not based on keeping the law of God given through Moses. And as a result of this justification, we have received the benefits of heaven as considered last week. Paul concluded his theological treatise in 11:32 by saying that God has shut up both Jews and Gentiles in disobedience that He might show mercy to all.
From chapter 12 onwards, he gave some practical advice on living out the Christian faith. In view of God’s mercy (His withholding of punishment on us due to our disobedience), Paul urged us (the believers) to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God, which is our spiritual service of worship. The word worship is used to connote the kind of work the priests used to perform in the temple. The great difference is in the type of sacrifices used, dead animals as opposed to living sacrifices. In many pagan religions, dead animal sacrifices are still being offered to their gods. But for us believers, God demands us as His living sacrifices. How easy it is for a living sacrifice to walk away from the altar of God (12:1)!
The only way we can yield ourselves to God’s will (as opposed to being dictated by our will) is not to conform our thinking according to the pattern of this world but to be transformed (commitment to a long term way of doing things) by the renewing of our mind. The mind here speaks of our ability to reason and make moral judgments. We can only make right judgments provided we continually make connections with the God of righteousness. In particular, our mind renewal comes through the constant reading and meditation of God’s Word in order to know His will, which is good, pleasing and perfect (12:2).
Question: What proportion of time each day do we spend reading/meditating God’s Word as opposed to reading/watching other things?
Whatever we feed our mind daily, we would invariably be affected by it, whether for good or evil. “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Pr 23:7)
God desires first and foremost our worship (being in conformity to His will) and then our service (doing). Jesus commended Mary (who sat at His feet in worship) for having chosen the good part as opposed to Martha, who busied herself with housework ie. service (Lk 10:41-42).
Our service to God is manifested in our service to humanity and can be seen in the following ways:
1. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love (philadelphia) – seek the good fortune of others, exercising our spiritual gifts in love (12:10).
2. Love (agapao) one another – loving others unconditionally as demonstrated by Christ (13:8).
3. Do not judge one another – in non-essentials, let there be diversity but in essentials, let there be unity (14:13).
4. Accept one another – this is the basis of all relationships regardless of nationality, status or gender (15:7).
The last point was elaborated by me on Good Neighbours’ Day on 14 Nov 09 in which I quoted Gal 3:26-28, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” God through the church of Jesus Christ is creating a new humanity (spiritual race) which transcends culture, creed and race. We shall one day be like the angels of heaven, not given to marriage (Mt 22:30).
Rev Michael Ross Watson prophesied over our church that there would be growth and increase. This of course begins with each one of us cultivating the “being” (worship) before embarking on the "doing” (service). Jesus Christ is our supreme example in this area:
“And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.” Lk 1:80 (NIV)
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” Lk 2:52 (NKJV)
If you’re faithfully reading God’s Word on a daily basis, you’ve started on a journey to build up your spirit man; to increase in godly wisdom. You’ll gain great stature both in the eyes of God and man; gaining favour in whatever you do. It is the prayer of the spiritual leadership of Bethesda Cathedral that you'd grow and increase daily in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
From chapter 12 onwards, he gave some practical advice on living out the Christian faith. In view of God’s mercy (His withholding of punishment on us due to our disobedience), Paul urged us (the believers) to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God, which is our spiritual service of worship. The word worship is used to connote the kind of work the priests used to perform in the temple. The great difference is in the type of sacrifices used, dead animals as opposed to living sacrifices. In many pagan religions, dead animal sacrifices are still being offered to their gods. But for us believers, God demands us as His living sacrifices. How easy it is for a living sacrifice to walk away from the altar of God (12:1)!
The only way we can yield ourselves to God’s will (as opposed to being dictated by our will) is not to conform our thinking according to the pattern of this world but to be transformed (commitment to a long term way of doing things) by the renewing of our mind. The mind here speaks of our ability to reason and make moral judgments. We can only make right judgments provided we continually make connections with the God of righteousness. In particular, our mind renewal comes through the constant reading and meditation of God’s Word in order to know His will, which is good, pleasing and perfect (12:2).
Question: What proportion of time each day do we spend reading/meditating God’s Word as opposed to reading/watching other things?
Whatever we feed our mind daily, we would invariably be affected by it, whether for good or evil. “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Pr 23:7)
God desires first and foremost our worship (being in conformity to His will) and then our service (doing). Jesus commended Mary (who sat at His feet in worship) for having chosen the good part as opposed to Martha, who busied herself with housework ie. service (Lk 10:41-42).
Our service to God is manifested in our service to humanity and can be seen in the following ways:
1. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love (philadelphia) – seek the good fortune of others, exercising our spiritual gifts in love (12:10).
2. Love (agapao) one another – loving others unconditionally as demonstrated by Christ (13:8).
3. Do not judge one another – in non-essentials, let there be diversity but in essentials, let there be unity (14:13).
4. Accept one another – this is the basis of all relationships regardless of nationality, status or gender (15:7).
The last point was elaborated by me on Good Neighbours’ Day on 14 Nov 09 in which I quoted Gal 3:26-28, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” God through the church of Jesus Christ is creating a new humanity (spiritual race) which transcends culture, creed and race. We shall one day be like the angels of heaven, not given to marriage (Mt 22:30).
Rev Michael Ross Watson prophesied over our church that there would be growth and increase. This of course begins with each one of us cultivating the “being” (worship) before embarking on the "doing” (service). Jesus Christ is our supreme example in this area:
“And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.” Lk 1:80 (NIV)
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” Lk 2:52 (NKJV)
If you’re faithfully reading God’s Word on a daily basis, you’ve started on a journey to build up your spirit man; to increase in godly wisdom. You’ll gain great stature both in the eyes of God and man; gaining favour in whatever you do. It is the prayer of the spiritual leadership of Bethesda Cathedral that you'd grow and increase daily in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
How to pray for guidance? (Ps 5-6)
Guidance begins with the acknowledgment that God is our source of direction in life. David begins his day in prayer, seeking grace and mercy (6:1-3), believing that God would hear and answer him (5:1-3; 6:9). He also worships God in his temple (5:7).
God takes no pleasure in
1. those who do wicked things (5:4),
2. arrogant people (5:5),
3. people who lie and deceive others (5:6,9).
Surely these are the people God would not guide. The prayer of guidance is found in 5:8, “Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies – make straight your way before me.”
If we decide in our hearts to follow the way of the world in being unrighteous, then this prayer is not for us. This prayer speaks of God’s righteousness that we seek (see Mt 6:33). The enemies of God, represented by the ungodly, seek to ensnare Christians in their way (see Rom 1:28-32). When we pray this prayer, we’re praying for God’s righteousness to reign in us and to follow in His upright (another word for straight) ways. Thank God we’re made righteous through the blood of Jesus Christ. And the promise is that God would surround us with favour as with a shield (5:12).
God takes no pleasure in
1. those who do wicked things (5:4),
2. arrogant people (5:5),
3. people who lie and deceive others (5:6,9).
Surely these are the people God would not guide. The prayer of guidance is found in 5:8, “Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies – make straight your way before me.”
If we decide in our hearts to follow the way of the world in being unrighteous, then this prayer is not for us. This prayer speaks of God’s righteousness that we seek (see Mt 6:33). The enemies of God, represented by the ungodly, seek to ensnare Christians in their way (see Rom 1:28-32). When we pray this prayer, we’re praying for God’s righteousness to reign in us and to follow in His upright (another word for straight) ways. Thank God we’re made righteous through the blood of Jesus Christ. And the promise is that God would surround us with favour as with a shield (5:12).
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Results of Justification (Rom 5-10)
As we continue our reading of the book of Romans, we can anchor our thoughts on the results of justification in each chapter. I am listing one for each chapter as an illustration:
1. Peace with God (5:1) – having access and right standing with God through faith in Jesus Christ.
2. Eternal life (6:23) – life in the presence of God, again through the finished work of Christ at the cross.
3. Bearing fruit to God (7:4) – as opposed to living carnally (in the flesh).
4. No condemnation (8:1) – declared not guilty.
5. Children of God (9:26) – our status in God’s kingdom.
6. Salvation (10:10) – saved from the penalty and power of sin.
Do take time to meditate and dig out more gems out of your daily reading. Thank God for the wonderful benefits of being justified before Him.
Paul used a number of imageries to illustrate spiritual truths such as
1. Baptism (6:1-11) – our identification with Christ in His death & resurrection.
2. Slaves (6:15-23) – our subjection to a master in subservient obedience.
3. Marriage (7:1-6) – covenant remains in force as long as spouse is still alive.
A beautiful justification imagery comes to mind as found in Zechariah 3:1-5. Joshua the high priest had his filthy clothes removed (this signifies his sins being removed ie. no condemnation) and rich robes being put on him (this signifies Christ’s righteousness being imputed on him). This is exactly what God has done for each one of us as we put our faith in Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!
1. Peace with God (5:1) – having access and right standing with God through faith in Jesus Christ.
2. Eternal life (6:23) – life in the presence of God, again through the finished work of Christ at the cross.
3. Bearing fruit to God (7:4) – as opposed to living carnally (in the flesh).
4. No condemnation (8:1) – declared not guilty.
5. Children of God (9:26) – our status in God’s kingdom.
6. Salvation (10:10) – saved from the penalty and power of sin.
Do take time to meditate and dig out more gems out of your daily reading. Thank God for the wonderful benefits of being justified before Him.
Paul used a number of imageries to illustrate spiritual truths such as
1. Baptism (6:1-11) – our identification with Christ in His death & resurrection.
2. Slaves (6:15-23) – our subjection to a master in subservient obedience.
3. Marriage (7:1-6) – covenant remains in force as long as spouse is still alive.
A beautiful justification imagery comes to mind as found in Zechariah 3:1-5. Joshua the high priest had his filthy clothes removed (this signifies his sins being removed ie. no condemnation) and rich robes being put on him (this signifies Christ’s righteousness being imputed on him). This is exactly what God has done for each one of us as we put our faith in Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
