Ro 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world...
"World" here refers to society apart from God. The world has its own principles, systems and viewpoints that they operate by. It has its own politics, religion, entertainment, science, education, economy, morality and many others, all with the true God out of the picture. If ever God is in it, it is nothing but a distorted sprinkling of God in the mix---in effect, a false religion.
* You watch a documentary on TV, and you are presented with a different interpretation of the things in the world. It promotes evolution, same-sex marriage, premarital sex etc.
* You read a certain news agency online and all the advocacies that it is promoting are anti-God movements.
* You go to a certain religious organization and you are taught a different way of salvation.
* You log in to social media and you read all kinds of opinions that leave God out.
* You listen to their moral men and women but it does not have God as its foundation.
This is the world of which Romans 12:2 is talking about.
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Is Foot-washing An Ordinance?
There are some Christians who practice foot-washing as an additional ordinance to the Lord's Supper and Baptism. May God bless them.
However, personally, I believe, like many other Christians do, that there are only two ordinances that the Lord Jesus gave the Church, namely, Lord's Supper and Baptism. But I won't object to Christians, out of personal conviction, practicing foot-washing at all. I would certainly participate if given an opportunity.
In the book of Acts, the early Church only practiced the Lord Supper and Baptism. Foot-washing is mentioned in Paul's letters but only as a symbol in the context of humble service to the saints.
1Ti 5:10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has WASHED THE SAINT'S FEET, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.
However, personally, I believe, like many other Christians do, that there are only two ordinances that the Lord Jesus gave the Church, namely, Lord's Supper and Baptism. But I won't object to Christians, out of personal conviction, practicing foot-washing at all. I would certainly participate if given an opportunity.
In the book of Acts, the early Church only practiced the Lord Supper and Baptism. Foot-washing is mentioned in Paul's letters but only as a symbol in the context of humble service to the saints.
1Ti 5:10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has WASHED THE SAINT'S FEET, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.
Friday, June 24, 2016
Was Mary Magdalene A Prostitute?
The widespread belief that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute is as credible as the belief that there were three kings who visited the Lord Jesus, that the forbidden fruit eaten by Adam and Eve was an apple and that the Lord Jesus was born on December 25.
No. There is no record in the Bible that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. Period.
Mary Magdalene can only be identified as a prostitute if we confuse the woman in Luke 7:36-50 with Mary Magdalene in Luke 8:1-3.
No. There is no record in the Bible that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. Period.
Mary Magdalene can only be identified as a prostitute if we confuse the woman in Luke 7:36-50 with Mary Magdalene in Luke 8:1-3.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Explain Matthew 16:20 Please
MT 16:20 Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.
The Lord Jesus prohibited His disciples here from telling others that He was the Christ because of the unbelieving condition of Israel. Israel, as a nation, reached a stage wherein they finally decided to reject the Lord Jesus. Further evangelism was futile.
MT 16:20 Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.
MT 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.
Israel only wanted Him for the material benefits that they can reap out of Him. They only wanted Him as their political King. They never saw the need to be saved and receive Him as their Savior.
The Lord Jesus prohibited His disciples here from telling others that He was the Christ because of the unbelieving condition of Israel. Israel, as a nation, reached a stage wherein they finally decided to reject the Lord Jesus. Further evangelism was futile.
MT 16:20 Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.
MT 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.
Israel only wanted Him for the material benefits that they can reap out of Him. They only wanted Him as their political King. They never saw the need to be saved and receive Him as their Savior.
Thursday, June 16, 2016
What's The Importance Of The Virgin Birth?
It is important for two things:
First, if the Lord Jesus was the result of the union between Joseph and Mary then He would have been disqualified to occupy the throne in Israel.
Joseph was a descendant of Coniah. Coniah or Jeconiah and his descendants were forever barred from occupying the throne of David (See Jer. 22:24-30 and Matthew 1:12)
Matthew is the genealogy tracing the Lord Jesus from David to Joseph His stepfather. Luke is the genealogy tracing the Lord Jesus from David to Mary His mother. Thus, the Lord Jesus was qualified to sit on David's throne as King because He was also in David's line through her mother. God declared in the Old Testament that the king who would reign in Israel forever must come from David's line though not through Jeconiah.
Second, if the Lord Jesus Christ was the result of the union between Joseph and Mary then He would have inherited a sinful nature from them. The sin nature is passed from parents to their children by natural birth. This would disqualify Him from being the Savior.
It should be noted that Mary was simply a vessel or a container of the human body of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord's body was formed miraculously without the union Joseph's sperm cell and Mary's egg's cell. The Lord Jesus was IN Mary but not OF Mary.
Notice:
Mt 1:20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived IN HER is of the Holy Spirit.
First, if the Lord Jesus was the result of the union between Joseph and Mary then He would have been disqualified to occupy the throne in Israel.
Joseph was a descendant of Coniah. Coniah or Jeconiah and his descendants were forever barred from occupying the throne of David (See Jer. 22:24-30 and Matthew 1:12)
Matthew is the genealogy tracing the Lord Jesus from David to Joseph His stepfather. Luke is the genealogy tracing the Lord Jesus from David to Mary His mother. Thus, the Lord Jesus was qualified to sit on David's throne as King because He was also in David's line through her mother. God declared in the Old Testament that the king who would reign in Israel forever must come from David's line though not through Jeconiah.
Second, if the Lord Jesus Christ was the result of the union between Joseph and Mary then He would have inherited a sinful nature from them. The sin nature is passed from parents to their children by natural birth. This would disqualify Him from being the Savior.
It should be noted that Mary was simply a vessel or a container of the human body of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord's body was formed miraculously without the union Joseph's sperm cell and Mary's egg's cell. The Lord Jesus was IN Mary but not OF Mary.
Notice:
Mt 1:20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived IN HER is of the Holy Spirit.
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
What Does Providence Mean?
It is God's orchestration and arrangement of all things towards His purpose. Every single moment we are in the ocean of God's providence. Whatever situation we find ourselves in is God's providence. Everything has a purpose that will eventually lead to His ultimate purpose.
Did The Fact That The Lord Jesus Was Tempted Imply That He Could Sin?
No. The Lord Jesus had no sinful nature to give way to temptation. He was both impeccable and holy inwardly and outwardly.
Heb 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
The expression at the end "without sin" is literally sin apart in the original Greek. That is, He had no sinful nature to respond to the temptations from without. Some would object that if He was not susceptible to commit sin, what was the point of the temptation? It would not be a real temptation, so they say.
First, it would help to view that temptation could also mean testing. The Lord Jesus was tested not to show that He was not pure gold, but, on contrary, to demonstrate that He truly was pure gold. His temptation was a demonstration that He could not sin and therefore qualified to be man's Savior.
Second, an impregnable fortress could be attacked. A seven-fleet warship could be besieged by row boats. Some people could be that stupid. Sin makes people and Satan that stupid even to attempt such an offensive. The attack is real. The castle feels it. The warship senses it. But it cannot topple or sink it.
Heb 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
The expression at the end "without sin" is literally sin apart in the original Greek. That is, He had no sinful nature to respond to the temptations from without. Some would object that if He was not susceptible to commit sin, what was the point of the temptation? It would not be a real temptation, so they say.
First, it would help to view that temptation could also mean testing. The Lord Jesus was tested not to show that He was not pure gold, but, on contrary, to demonstrate that He truly was pure gold. His temptation was a demonstration that He could not sin and therefore qualified to be man's Savior.
Second, an impregnable fortress could be attacked. A seven-fleet warship could be besieged by row boats. Some people could be that stupid. Sin makes people and Satan that stupid even to attempt such an offensive. The attack is real. The castle feels it. The warship senses it. But it cannot topple or sink it.
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