How you read your bible...

A friend posted a question to me. I thought it was a very good question so i decided to post it here

Question:

Since God loved everyone the same,
How come He chose Israelites as His chosen people?
And what about the rest such as the Philistines, the Moabites, Babylonians and etc?

Answer:

This question has a very long answer. It covers the big picture and the mission that God is doing in this world. What is God actually up to? This is something I've been trying to figure out since I started out as a Christian. And God has graciously provided me with answers, albeit step by step, to help me understand the mission and the world from His perspective. It has been a wonderful journey of getting to know Him. (Journaling during your quiet time helps for God to reveal to you better)

So back to the question. We believe and without a doubt that God loves everyone the same, right? So when we read anything in the Bible that seems to contradict this, we need to go back and look at it again to find out what actually is God's perspective to this. If we get this right, then we can rest be assured that God is always good, even when bad things happen in the bible and also in real life. 

Now that we got this settled, we will need to see a bit of background to all of this. Sometimes, when we see a verse or chapter by itself, it seems to contradict everything that we believe. God’s mission has always been to save us all from sin and from the beginning of time, He has planned already that He Himself would be the one to come down in the form of Jesus and save us all. We see this throughout the bible from Genesis to Revelations and it has never gotten away from this very revelation. But first, God needed to show you and me that He has done all that He could to bring you back to Him before He sent His son to perform the greatest sacrifice.

Some argue that God could have come down and commanded us to worship Him and we would have done that because what we see is what we believe. I mean like at this moment, if God would have appeared in front of you and said, “Hey friend, I am real!”, then you would definitely believe Him. But for how long will we believe and obey Him? Oh but wait… He already did that at mount Sinai! (Exodus 19-24). God appeared to the Israelites and, of course out of love, gave certain restrictions to them to be holy so that when He came down, they would not die. When God spoke, look at Exo 20:18-21, the people told Moses not to let God speak to them. Yes, He was that scary. In Exo 24:3, the Israelites responded to God after God gave them the commandments, that they will do all that the Lord has said.

Wow, awesome, the story as it should be à God appeared, the people believed, and they lived happily ever after. But no, that was not what happened. You would think that after seeing God appear to them that they would remain loyal to him for at least a generation. But guess what, only after 40 days, Exodus 32 happened. The people turned away from God. I wanted to punch all the Israelites when I read this. If I was God…. Let’s just say there will be no more descendants of Israel there and then, if I was God.

I tell you all this story to say this, that God did try really hard to bridge the connection with us. And because of this, the whole of the old testament had to happen before Jesus could come. God had to show you and I that the great sacrifice of Jesus had to be the last resort when all else had failed.

Now that we know why the old testament had to be so, let’s now look at the brighter picture. God actually found a few who understood Him and feared Him not because they saw Him but simply a choice they made to believe and commune with Him. One of them was Abraham.

In Gen 12:1-4, Abraham (Abram during that time) got his calling from God. God did not tell Abram his life story from beginning to end and asked Abram if he would join Him to make this come true. God simply told Abram that if he obeyed, God can use him to make a difference to all the peoples of the earth. Abram trusted God and obeyed. This marked the start of the journey. We fast forward now to Gen 15 where God made a covenant with Abram and Abram believed and God credited that to him as righteousness. Fast forward to Gen 17, and God makes Abram a covenant and a covenant with his descendants. In Gen 22, Abraham is tested (God told Abraham to kill his son, Isaac) and God swore by Himself (because there is no one higher than Himself) that He will surely bless Abraham and his offspring. We understand from here that God had sworn to make Abraham’s offspring a chosen people, because of Abraham’s obedience. Deut 7:9 is clear when it says that God is faithful and will keep his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.

And that my friend, is how the Israelites came to be a chosen people. J

Now for the second part of Grace’s question. What about the other nations? The Philistines, Moabites, Babylonians, etc.

Yes, believe it or not, God loves them too. But because our bible story is focused on the Israelites as the chosen people, it fails to capture the daily lives of the other nations. One instance in the bible that managed to capture some of this is in the story of Balaam in Numbers 22-24. Very often we assume that God only speaks to the Israelites, God’s “chosen” people. But here in Numbers 22, it clearly tells about a prophet of the Lord… in Moab. This prophet had no connections whatsoever with the Israelites. Balaam was his name and the King of Moab summoned him to put a curse on the Israelites because whatever Balaam prophesied, it came true. Balaam spoke to God and God spoke back to him just like a friend would speak to you (Num 22:9-12). Here we have proof that God was with the other nations as well.

 We do not know all that happened in the other nations but as told from the bible, a majority of the people there are idolaters, people who worship other gods. Did they have a chance to hear of the Lord? Moab seemed to have someone there who knew the Lord well enough. So I always assume that there are people of God in the other nations as well.

Jonah was another instance in the bible, albeit a short story, where this prophet was sent to preach to the Ninevites. Nineveh was an Assyrian empire (a nation filled with idolatry). Nineveh was a rebellious city and God sent Jonah to reach out to it. And when Jonah preached to them, they turned from their evil ways. Jonah 4:2 tells us a bit more about the God we worship (although Jonah was upset when he said this). Jonah said, “I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”

How great is our God that we serve. How great is His love for us. Yes, He loves everyone the same, and as we saw here, even the nations not chosen by God were loved by God.

I really hope that what I have written here is God-inspired, because only He can make you understand and reveal to you what is in God’s heart for you and for the world. If there were any errors, feel free to point it out. I understand that I’m not perfect and what I said may not fit your bill perfectly. We may discuss openly.

Lots of love,

Kenny Lim

Feeling Condemned?

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Feeling condemned?

Romans 8:34

Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Because the Lord Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of God, interceding for us, we are no longer condemned. Condemnation is no longer a word for us to live in fear of. For because of Christ, the enemy cannot make us rejected by God. Now God accepts everyone who believes in His Son Jesus Christ and it does not matter if you slip into sin.

In Christ there is no longer condemnation. This of course does not mean that we are licensed to sin. In fact Christ did not die for us so that we can sin. He died to save us from the consequences of our sins. And when He did, He gave us the power to overcome sin. Those who believe in Christ and His resurrection power no longer have to be overwhelmed by sin. In fact in Titus 2:12, grace teaches us to deny ungodliness.

So why do we need to know that in Christ there is no condemnation? It is because directly or indirectly, we are naturally prone to live in condemnation. Take for example, if you fail an exam, are you still rested or do you feel condemned? If you fail to keep the ten commandments, do you feel condemned? If you fail to make a close one proud, do you feel like you have not done enough? All these are, to me, are examples of being condemned by your failures and mistakes. But fear not, everyone makes mistakes, everyone fails in life. To get to your success is to fail multiple times and learn from it.

What I am getting at is that our Lord Jesus Christ has already paid for you so that you no longer have to feel condemned. Because no sin on earth, nor failures you have made could separate you from the love of God. And as long as we know that, we can remain rested and stressed free because our God does not condemn us. In fact, He just wants to draw us closer to Him.

The One Time Sacrifice

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

The One Time Sacrifice

Hebrews 10:12

But when this priest (Jesus) had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God

Jesus did for us what no one could ever do. What Jesus did for us meant a one-time deal. Your sin, whether past, present or future, has been forgiven. There is no other name by which we must be saved except through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

That is the power of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Sin has been put to death and life is victorious because of this one sacrifice. No longer to we have to strive to gain access to God.

In most movies, when you kill evil foe/enemy, the enemy will rise again in the next episode to be stronger. However, in the case of the cross, the devil has been beaten once and for all and we no longer have to tremble at under the devil. Jesus has given us authority to trample over him. By the name of Jesus, every knee must bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. In this "movie", it is really happily ever after.

Even though Jesus has done it all, most Christians still live in fear day to day thinking that they need to put in more effort to be sure that they are saved or to be sure that God is not against them. Christians think that the circumstances they go through have something to do with God being angry with them. Christians see numbers, happenings and the supernatural and trust in those things rather than in the God who saved them. Christians debate over who is right in doctrine when we are called to see the finished work at the cross and share it with others. The church is called as one body yet we operate as if there are many bodies, each with their own methods hoping that theirs is the “right” way. Although Jesus has given us the victory, many still live defeated by fear of demons, fear of security, fear of not having enough and fear of survival.

Let us make it clear here. Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior came down one time, set everything that needed to be set straight, paid the full price of our salvation, commanded us to share about Him, and sent us the Holy Spirit to give us the grace for victory over every area of our lives, and then went back to heaven and sat at the right hand of God the Father. IT IS FINISHED!

Jesus Crucified

Monday, March 25, 2013

Jesus Crucified

Luke 23:26-49

The Crucifixion of Jesus

²⁶ As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. ²⁷ A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. ²⁸ Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. ²⁹ For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ ³⁰ Then

“‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
    and to the hills, “Cover us!”’^[b]

³¹ For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

³² Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. ³³ When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. ³⁴ Jesus said,“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”^[c] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

³⁵ The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

³⁶ The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar ³⁷ and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

³⁸ There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.

³⁹ One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.^[d]”

⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

⁴⁴ It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, ⁴⁵ for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶ Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”^[e] When he had said this, he breathed his last.

⁴⁷ The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised Godand said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” ⁴⁸ When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away.⁴⁹ But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance,watching these things.

A very weird thing happened that I have never stopped to notice before. In Verse 28-31, Jesus mentioned these things to the women who were following him as he was led to be crucified. “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us”, for if people do these things when the tree is green what will happen when it is dry?”

The last part was said also by Hosea when he was prophesying over the sins of Israel. At times like these modern times, we see and hear so many crimes, injustice and sufferings that people go through, not just in poor areas, but also even in our neighborhood. We hear about prostitution, forced slavery, snatch thieves, murders, burglars, rapes, etc. and the list goes on and on. Some would say that they are lucky they do not have to go through any of it. But our security is still uncertain. Maybe that was what Jesus was talking about - when the human race would do anything for their selfish gain. Jesus was also murdered because the people during that time were full of self. And the innocent ones could not do anything about it. They could only stand and watch. Even His disciples fled.

The human race is full of sin, even though we might think we are doing good. Everyone does what he/she thinks is right in his/her own eyes. Some say cheating is the right way to live in this hostile world. Others would rather take the consequences of telling the truth and being honest even though they would hurt themselves and others. What is right is greyed and uncertain. Therefore, no one is good except one – Jesus Christ.

He willingly gave his life up for us on the cross. He was dragged, after being scorched by whips, to Golgotha where they mocked him until his death. He faced all that so that we know we have a Savior who can sympathize with every failure and every embarrassment we might go through, that He might save us from our sin.

Verse 46 “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”. Nothing that Jesus did was out of His own will. He did everything out of the will of the Father. As He is one with His Father, His desire is the same as the Father. And that desire is to die for you a painful death. I remember a song titled “With all I am”. Its lyrics begin with “Into your hands, I commit again”. How many of us are willing to commit our lives and our will to the Father? He is good and He knows all things. He knows what you need and He has a plan for you. Are you willing to die to yourself and your own ambitions to live your life for Him and Him alone?

The ultimate model is Jesus and the ultimate goal is you. Are you willing to step out of your comfort zone and take on all that God has for you?

Need a Miracle?

Need a Miracle?

2 Timothy 4:17-22

17 the Master stood by me and helped me spread the Message loud and clear to those who had never heard it. I was snatched from the jaws of the lion! 18 God's looking after me, keeping me safe in the kingdom of heaven. All praise to him, praise forever! Oh, yes! 19 Say hello to Priscilla and Aquila; also, the family of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed behind in Corinth. I had to leave Trophimus sick in Miletus. 21 Try hard to get here before winter. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all your friends here send greetings. 22 God be with you. Grace be with you

Recently, someone said this to me, “A miracle only comes when there is a problem”. Truly there will be no miracle had there been no problem to fix in the first place.

Paul really had a problem when they sent him to the lion’s den (v17). Out of the lion’s den came deliverance and believers. When I think of how I would have felt if I was led to my death, I can safely say that I am not ready to be in Paul’s shoes. But that is the only way to be delivered and to see the power of God at work in your life. So if you are facing any problem, persecution or circumstance at the moment, take heart and anticipate for a miracle. God will not put you into something that you cannot endure.

                In all of this, it was not Paul’s work but the work of God that gave Paul the strength to go through what Paul had to go through simply to bring the message of Christ to the Gentiles. It was all the work of God. This tells us that we do not need to wait till we have enough courage and boldness to step out like Paul did. We just need the faith to step out and God will provide all the courage and boldness we need for the purpose He has called us to. I am really encouraged when I know that it is not my own efforts that will bring me through the trial but all God’s effort through me.

Feeling forsaken?

Feeling forsaken?

2 Timothy 4:6-16

“6 As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 8 And now the prize awaits me -- the crown of righteousness that the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that great day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his glorious return. 9 Please come as soon as you can. 10 Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, be sure to bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books, and especially my papers. 14Alexander the coppersmith has done me much harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done. 15 Be careful of him, for he fought against everything we said. 16 The first time I was brought before the judge, no one was with me. Everyone had abandoned me. I hope it will not be counted against them”

            If you are someone who has gone through times when your friends or family has deserted you during your hard time, imagine how Paul must have felt when everyone who was with him forsook him or an even better word would be deserted him during his most trying times. How does one hold on to God and faith in times like these?

            People who were once faithful and loyal to you suddenly leaves you when you need them the most. This is when your relationship with God is put to the test. How does Paul face this alone? He must have had a solid trust in his God, the one who has called him for such a time as this. All I can say is that he knew, even though the times were bad and everyone else is against him, that God still loves him and that God was for him.

            So if you are currently facing trying times and everyone has abandoned you and you feel as if God has forsaken you also (and I know how hard it must be to accept this truth), God still loves you and He is still there beside you. He is still holding the world together. He is for you and has prepared a way out for you. Be encouraged because you’ll need it to endure through this season. God bless you and I know you’ll come out of it strong just like I did. Jesus loves you.

God, Predictable?

Colosians 1:15-18
Monday, August 27, 2012

  “The Supremacy of the Son of God 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy."

 In Jesus, we find the image of the invisible God. If that is so, I do not find Him hard to understand nor complex at all. Some religions make God so complex that we have to always go to the priest or the head of the religion to understand the least about God. But to us Christians, God has already modeled Himself in the shape of Jesus Christ that we may see, in the flesh, the invisible God.

 In some ways, God is predictable such as His compassion toward us and His love for us never changes. His mind is set and His decisions not swayed back and forth like ours does unless He allow us to do so like in Abraham’s case. There is even a verse in Numbers 23:19 that says that God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that he should change His mind. And because He never changes, I can always be secure that He loves me no matter what.

 If that is so, I can then be secure that He knows what He is doing on planet earth since He created all things and because of Him all things hold together. Therefore, God is good whether or not you believe it. QED.