Anyone could just claim that they are God’s children – even non-Bible believers could “believe” they are.
But it’s a very different thing, if God Himself will call you His child. “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1, NKJV).
If God Himself will recognize us as His children, our tendency is to be attracted to Him! For we are made aware that He is our Father!
Others claim that God has the same kind of love for everyone. They even teach that everyone in the world is a child of God. But God’s Word declares He has greater love for His own children. The New International Version translates the first part, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us…”!
We read also in 1 John 3:10, that there are “children of God and the children of the devil…” – NOT ALL are included in His Holy Family.
The Son of God told others, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do…” (John 8:42-44).
If we realize that He Himself has recognize us as His children and we experience His Great Loving Fatherly care, we will also embrace Him, as we see Him running toward us to welcome us!
Yes, we will choose to love Him – not because we choose Him to be our Father, but He has chosen us first to become His own children.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Friday, July 4, 2008
God A T T R A C T S ! !
Could you afford to reject God? Could you just set aside His Supreme Goodness?
Would you be interested in something other than Him?
David, who had a glimpse of His Divine Beauty, declared:
"One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,To behold the beauty of the LORD,And to meditate in His temple" (Ps. 27:4, NAS).
"To behold the BEAUTY of the LORD"!!
Beauty attracts! It does not repulse!
We do not tend to reject something beautiful! We do not close our eyes to it. We are drawn toward it! We gravitate closer and closer to it.
If something beautiful that is created just out of nothing attracts us, how much more the BEAUTY that is there from all eternity and will go on for eternity!?
God's Beauty is unsurpassed. He who beholds Him will so admire Him and will be satisfied God Himself dwells in him.
Would you be interested in something other than Him?
David, who had a glimpse of His Divine Beauty, declared:
"One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,To behold the beauty of the LORD,And to meditate in His temple" (Ps. 27:4, NAS).
"To behold the BEAUTY of the LORD"!!
Beauty attracts! It does not repulse!
We do not tend to reject something beautiful! We do not close our eyes to it. We are drawn toward it! We gravitate closer and closer to it.
If something beautiful that is created just out of nothing attracts us, how much more the BEAUTY that is there from all eternity and will go on for eternity!?
God's Beauty is unsurpassed. He who beholds Him will so admire Him and will be satisfied God Himself dwells in him.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
SEE The GREAT IMPORTANCE Of BELIEVING In Christ
Because of the passage, "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive" (1 Cor. 15:22, NKJV) -- there are those who teach and believe that "all" or everyone in the world are "in Christ"!
But WHO are those "in Christ"?!
If we fail to grasp the meaning of that verse, we can easily agree that just like Adam, who did not believe God, we could also be in Christ! And so, we can fall into error that though we do not believe, we are also reconciled with Him, we are raised up with Him, we are justified, we are chosen, etc.
There are many verses in the Scriptures, however, that emphasized the need for us to believe in Christ. For example, John 3:18 -- "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
Notice the words, "... he who does NOT believe is CONDEMNED ALREADY"!
Now, let's go back to 1 Corinthians 15 and understand verse 22 in the light of the whole chapter.
Who are those in Christ -- and that all of them would be made alive?
According to Paul in verse 11: "... so we preach and so you believed."
Those "in Christ" as those who BELIEVED! They are those who are not condemned. They are reconciled with God. They are redeemed. They are raised up -- made alive -- with Him. They are chosen ones. They belonged to God. They are the spiritual children of God. They are guaranteed by God Himself that they would have their inheritance. They are those who really love God.
May you also see the need and the worth of believing in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
But WHO are those "in Christ"?!
If we fail to grasp the meaning of that verse, we can easily agree that just like Adam, who did not believe God, we could also be in Christ! And so, we can fall into error that though we do not believe, we are also reconciled with Him, we are raised up with Him, we are justified, we are chosen, etc.
There are many verses in the Scriptures, however, that emphasized the need for us to believe in Christ. For example, John 3:18 -- "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
Notice the words, "... he who does NOT believe is CONDEMNED ALREADY"!
Now, let's go back to 1 Corinthians 15 and understand verse 22 in the light of the whole chapter.
Who are those in Christ -- and that all of them would be made alive?
According to Paul in verse 11: "... so we preach and so you believed."
Those "in Christ" as those who BELIEVED! They are those who are not condemned. They are reconciled with God. They are redeemed. They are raised up -- made alive -- with Him. They are chosen ones. They belonged to God. They are the spiritual children of God. They are guaranteed by God Himself that they would have their inheritance. They are those who really love God.
May you also see the need and the worth of believing in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
WHEN The Air Was "Gone"...
When I was gasping for breath and I could not even think of anything, for oxygen could no longer reach my brain -- God was not even in my consciousness -- it was a very fearful thing! (http://www.christianster.com/ctan/html/showsharing.php?sid=57003&authid=99269&m=6&d=5&y=2008).
If you were helpless and hopeless and you could not even pray... and yet God gave you a joyful deliverance, only then you could have a better grasp of the meaning of the Grace of God.
Air began to fill again my lungs NOT because I was able to pray and ask God to save me. I was able to breathe again NOT because someone brought me to the doctor -- I was alone in the house.
I was able to breathe again NOT because I just exercised the so-called power of the human will to choose to breathe! My brain or mind was UNable to function properly, just as my physical body was wrestling with pain!
But because of God's Grace -- He allowed me to taste the sweetness of air once again and to enjoy the sweetness of His Grace!
Whether we have life in this world, or our life is extended, or even blessed with eternal life -- it's because of His Mercy.
We read in Romans 9:16, "So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy" (NAS).
The New International Version renders it, "It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy."
If you were helpless and hopeless and you could not even pray... and yet God gave you a joyful deliverance, only then you could have a better grasp of the meaning of the Grace of God.
Air began to fill again my lungs NOT because I was able to pray and ask God to save me. I was able to breathe again NOT because someone brought me to the doctor -- I was alone in the house.
I was able to breathe again NOT because I just exercised the so-called power of the human will to choose to breathe! My brain or mind was UNable to function properly, just as my physical body was wrestling with pain!
But because of God's Grace -- He allowed me to taste the sweetness of air once again and to enjoy the sweetness of His Grace!
Whether we have life in this world, or our life is extended, or even blessed with eternal life -- it's because of His Mercy.
We read in Romans 9:16, "So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy" (NAS).
The New International Version renders it, "It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy."
Sunday, June 1, 2008
God COMPLETES
Some are teaching: “GOD SAYS HE WILL COMPLETE THE WORK HE HAS BEGUN IN US. YET SCRIPTURE ALSO INDICATES THAT SOME WILL NOT COOPERATE WITH HIM.”
Indeed, there are those who will not cooperate with God. But they are not among those whom God has begun His spiritual work of redemption.
Paul wrote:
“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:4-6).
When he stated, “… He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” – he was referring NOT to every human being, but to the believers – those who have “partnership in the gospel” – or as we read in verse 1, “To all the saints in Christ Jesus…”
It is wrong to imply that God who began to work in the life of a person – enabling him to come to Jesus, granting him repentance and faith – will not enable him to cooperate with Him until the end. The Sovereign God is not subject to the so-called “ningas-cogon” mentality – that He is good only to start something, but cool off before finishing it.
Besides, Paul wrote: “…BEING CONFIDENT of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…” He didn’t doubt. He was sure. He was confident.
For the completion of God’s Work in the life of the believers does not rest in our own hands.
Paul also wrote, "HE WILL KEEP YOU STRONG TO THE END, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful” (1 Cor. 1:8-9).
We read further in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” And verse 4 states, “The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”
If God started to work in your life, will it be completed?
Yes, for He is faithful. So, “…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Phil. 2:12-13).
Indeed, there are those who will not cooperate with God. But they are not among those whom God has begun His spiritual work of redemption.
Paul wrote:
“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:4-6).
When he stated, “… He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” – he was referring NOT to every human being, but to the believers – those who have “partnership in the gospel” – or as we read in verse 1, “To all the saints in Christ Jesus…”
It is wrong to imply that God who began to work in the life of a person – enabling him to come to Jesus, granting him repentance and faith – will not enable him to cooperate with Him until the end. The Sovereign God is not subject to the so-called “ningas-cogon” mentality – that He is good only to start something, but cool off before finishing it.
Besides, Paul wrote: “…BEING CONFIDENT of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…” He didn’t doubt. He was sure. He was confident.
For the completion of God’s Work in the life of the believers does not rest in our own hands.
Paul also wrote, "HE WILL KEEP YOU STRONG TO THE END, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful” (1 Cor. 1:8-9).
We read further in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” And verse 4 states, “The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”
If God started to work in your life, will it be completed?
Yes, for He is faithful. So, “…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Phil. 2:12-13).
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
WHY Would God Open YOUR Heart?
Let us read Acts 16:14, “One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message” – especially the last part, “The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message.”
A Bible teacher, who exalts so much the human free will, told me through the email that though God opened the heart of Lydia and she responded to Paul’s message, it does not mean that whenever God opened the heart of others, they would also respond just like Lydia.
As if he was saying, God could open our hearts, but, because we have the freedom of choice, we could still refuse to respond to the Gospel!
The verse, however, makes me realize that though the tendency of our fallen nature is to respond negatively to God, because of His grace, He would open our hearts, so we could respond positively to Him. We could not boast that we respond to His message, because we just choose to. We respond to Him, because He has opened our hearts.
We did not choose Him. He had chosen us. We called upon Him, because He had called us. We knew Him, because He first knew us and made Himself known to us. We loved Him, because He first loved us.
And God would open our hearts in order for us to respond to Him – not to resist or reject Him.
A Bible teacher, who exalts so much the human free will, told me through the email that though God opened the heart of Lydia and she responded to Paul’s message, it does not mean that whenever God opened the heart of others, they would also respond just like Lydia.
As if he was saying, God could open our hearts, but, because we have the freedom of choice, we could still refuse to respond to the Gospel!
The verse, however, makes me realize that though the tendency of our fallen nature is to respond negatively to God, because of His grace, He would open our hearts, so we could respond positively to Him. We could not boast that we respond to His message, because we just choose to. We respond to Him, because He has opened our hearts.
We did not choose Him. He had chosen us. We called upon Him, because He had called us. We knew Him, because He first knew us and made Himself known to us. We loved Him, because He first loved us.
And God would open our hearts in order for us to respond to Him – not to resist or reject Him.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
God SEEKS And SAVES
We read in Luke 19:10, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
What a great comfort and encouragement to hear those words!
Jesus Christ came to seek... He Himself is the One who is doing the seeking. We do the hiding (Gen. 3:8). What a very foolish thing we do -- hiding from the only One who could give us happiness and satisfaction.
Whenever we hear His Words, "Where are you?" (Gen. 3:9) it does not mean that He does not know where we are. He knows exactly that we need His help, that apart from Him we have nowhere else to go.
He is seeking for us to help -- to save us. And when He seeks He finds. We cannot hide from Him.
Also, when He saves, He will surely save us. He will not just give us an option whether we choose to be saved, or not. Remember the story of the "Good Samaritan"? Did the Samaritan ever ask the victim whether he wanted his help? Yes, those who are lost are too helpless -- "half dead" -- to refuse.
Besides, Jesus came to seek and to save those who are aware and know they are really lost -- they do not know where to go, too helpless to save themselves.
God will not save those who believe that their good deeds, their good denomination, their good doctrines, their good choice, or whatever could save them.
Have you ever heard His Voice, "Where are you?"
Then, He was seeking to save you.
What a great comfort and encouragement to hear those words!
Jesus Christ came to seek... He Himself is the One who is doing the seeking. We do the hiding (Gen. 3:8). What a very foolish thing we do -- hiding from the only One who could give us happiness and satisfaction.
Whenever we hear His Words, "Where are you?" (Gen. 3:9) it does not mean that He does not know where we are. He knows exactly that we need His help, that apart from Him we have nowhere else to go.
He is seeking for us to help -- to save us. And when He seeks He finds. We cannot hide from Him.
Also, when He saves, He will surely save us. He will not just give us an option whether we choose to be saved, or not. Remember the story of the "Good Samaritan"? Did the Samaritan ever ask the victim whether he wanted his help? Yes, those who are lost are too helpless -- "half dead" -- to refuse.
Besides, Jesus came to seek and to save those who are aware and know they are really lost -- they do not know where to go, too helpless to save themselves.
God will not save those who believe that their good deeds, their good denomination, their good doctrines, their good choice, or whatever could save them.
Have you ever heard His Voice, "Where are you?"
Then, He was seeking to save you.
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