Nov., 4, 2005 (Matt.18:15-->sinned, not sinne against you!)
I am inspired that I should write a book and the name of it should be:
"God's Given treasures in the Bible."
Why does God choose to reveal these knowledge to me?
1. I think may be because my life long aspiration is to search and preach the truth in the Bible!
2. By God's will that I grew up in a non-denomination educational
organization that I may be exposed to many different kinds of
denominational churches in Hong Kong.
3. In my formation years, I always wonder, all of my teachers were
"Christians".
They all claim to believe in Jesus according to what the Bible says.
But they all belong to different kinds of church!
How can they all believe in Jesus according to the same one Bible
but teach different doctrines! Something is not logically right!
So they came up with this claim: each teacher got his interpretation
from the Holy Spirit!
After you read what the Bible says, you must pray to the Holy Spirit
and he will inspire you what those you have just read mean!
So then, one section of scripture reading by different people and
they all being inspired by the one Holy Spirit with many different
meanings!? But in the mean time they also claim that the word of God
in the Bible is forever! They will never change because they are
truth! How can the same Bible inspired by the same Holy Spirit at
different times to different people at different place has different
meanings?
4. 1 Cor.1:10--> organizational unity.
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no
divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and
thought! (NIV)
Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and (that) there be no
divisions among you; but (that) ye be perfected together in the same
mind and in the same judgment.
It is clear the scriptures say, let there be no denominations (in
those days they called divisions).
That you be perfectly united in mind and thought!
In the ASV translation it goes like this --> Now I beseech you,
brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all
speak the same thing and (that) there be no divisions among you; but
(that) ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same
judgment. That you all speak the same thing and there be no
denominations among you!
5. Titus 3:10-11 -->Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a
second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be
sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
Here all we need to know is how our today expression will say the
word that was translated as "divisive person"!
This is talking about teaching the same scripture with different
meanings which are not originally intended!
Divisive in teaching! The same scripture teaching different meanings
which was not originally intended by the author!
6. I think, it is God's time to grant salvation to the people who live
in that part of God's world!
Otherwise, why do you think that I was granted this opportunity to
share the truth in China in such a way!?
Everyone who know me, know that I am literally a no-body? No one has
to care whatever I have to say! Why is it that I, this nobody, get
to preach in a church where president of America chosen to worship?
It just has to be God's will that it is time for people in that part
of the world to know the truth in the Bible!
7. As 1 John 1:9 says, God is faithful and just!
God had granted people who live in Europe and other parts of the
world to have the one Gospel preached to them in the first century
by Paul and others!
We have been praying for many years that God be faithful and just to
the people who live in that part of the world!
Therefore, we believe this is the time God wants people in that part
of the world to know the truth as written down in the Bible!
Why do you think that we have this idea and determination to find
out what was the one and only meaning intended by the writers when
then wrote these scriptures?
8. We talk about why didn't God let those who are famous in the world
to find out these truth in the Bible!?
According to what we can think! It would be much better and would
reach a lot more people in a lot shorter time if these truth were
revealed to them and from their mouth to share!
9. Make no mistake about it!
It is not easy to be me, John Chan. I went through a lot in my life
and I am still under God's constant training!
With God's permission I got to meet an American missionary in Hong
Kong by the name William Reeves. Now that he is dead and no one
here knows who he was so I can make it more real to put down his
name! He was instrumental in training me to get start in studying
the Bible in 1966 to 1970!
In that four years he and I with others chip in their help, we
baptized over 500 people into the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!
10. God knows it was time for me to leave Hong Kong in 1970.
Mr. Reeves told me that the church where I was the preacher to work
for self-supporting! So I work for that and present to him the plan
to be self-supported! But he suddenly changed his mind by saying
that I was trying to take his church away from him!
Just a little phrase: Are you trying to take my church away from me?
It sounds innocent and correct in many ways in this world!
But at the time, this was my answer --> I thought I was working for
the church of Christ! If this is your church, I want no part of it!
I resign! I give you a month to find a replacement! That was it!
11. At that time I gave my life to help evangelize Hong Kong. We
baptized over 500 people in that 4 years! I was baptizing people
every week!
12. My other American friend, suggested that I should come to America
for a visit and meet with the church in Brady Tex. So that they can
meet with me and may be let them support me directly so I can
continue to do the Lord's work in Honk Kong!
But the one who helped to train me, heard that I was in America.
He jumped on the plane and came to the church to block them from
seeing me and wrote articles against me called me a rebel!
Someone show me that article in a publication! My angry word was
these, yes, I am a rebel of the devil! If a rebel can help 500 plus
people to be baptized for the remission of sins, he should be an
effective worker too!
13. God has another idea!
God knew that I will be in trouble! So he send brother J.W. Roberts
to Hong Kong for a gospel meeting in Hong Kong from Abilene Tex. He
was the Bible department's director in Abilene Christian College!
God inspired him to take pity on me! Help me enroll in school! Help
me to chose courses so I can work for my MS degree there!
14. He was instrumental for me to learn and buy Greek and English
dictionary! 15 years later I found a New Testament Bible with word
translation into English and Chinese! I found Greek word is label
with numbers and these number correspond with my old dictionary!
Because I had to work to support my family and myself and pay
tuition in the same time! So I had disappointed my good brother
Roberts! I did take Greek long enough to be able to read and
understand Greek in that two years in school!
15. One year later an elder, brother Fletcher look me up and invited me
to be a worker with the Herald of Truth after I got my MS degree!
By this time my interest to help all those people in Hong Kong
rekindled so I tried to find support to go back to Hong Kong.
But no church would support a Chinese national preacher!
And my way of life in Hong Kong was ruined because of my way of work
in the Lord I had alienated all of my former friends! I accepted the
work with the Herald of Truth and planned to settle in Abilene Tex.
But within a few month my supervisor told me that my job is no more
but they will continue to pay my salary until I find a place to go!
In two weeks I found three churches of Christ willing to hire me as
their preacher!
Some how with my plain naïve nature! I chose to go to the worst
place instead of going to the nicest place in Mooresville, NC. This
church in Allendale SC has a preacher house with a muddy basement!
My reason was this church is in worse shape if we don't go to help
them, no good preacher will go there!
Within months after we moved there we found that people in that
church were content to have a preacher to preach in Sunday and
Wednesday! They have no desire to evangelize their neighborhood!
That was a small town! When we moved there, the local news paper had
reported as a big deal that this small church of Christ in town had
a preacher from Hong Kong who was a Math teacher...!
When the local school's math teacher was sick they ask me to help!
16. Go back to why did God chose me to receive his revelation?
In 1968, a year after I was married. At the time I was very busy!
I went out for Bible study early in the morning and come home late
so my two older children hardly see me! Before they woke up I was
gone. When I came home they were asleep!
But one day I was very tired. I went home for lunch! After lunch
I went to my room lay down in my rocking chair! As soon as my head
touch the back of the chair a bright shining China map with lights
on many cities show up on the white wall in front of me! I got up
and went close to the wall to check it out!
When I walked closed to the wall it disappeared! So I went back to
the chair and lay down again as soon as my head touch the chair it
appeared again! So I got up and check it again! As I walk close to
the wall it disappeared again! So I went back to the chair and that
map appear again! For the third time but this time I was determined
to check it out! So I stand close to the wall then it never appear
again!
17. Exactly 20 years later this vision begin to materialize!
The Lord was telling me that I will be sharing the gospel truth in
China! But it was the prime time of cultural revolution (1966-1976}!
How can it be possible! Yes, it was impossible for John Chan to
preach in China! By 1970 that was two years later, I was ready to
give up preaching! Because at that time, I did not think much about
the vision! I was so busy studying Bible with people in Hong Kong!
Now, Dec., 6, 2005 when I look back then I know it was the Lord's
way of telling me that I will be preaching in China! It was so easy
to dismiss this idea because I never thought about leaving Hong Kong
and go anywhere! For such a busy man like me to leave behind so many
opportunity of sharing the truth in the Bible in Hong Kong!?
18. It is the Lord who makes this possible!
I was not equipped enough to do a good job in China! I needed much
more trainings! When I failed to go back to Hong Kong in 1972 I was
ready to settle down in Abilene Tex. When I was in Allendale SC I
was planning to settle for the Lord's work in that part of the world!
But the Lord has other idea for me!
After I found that the people do not want to work with me to
evangelize the community I told them I am leaving! They thought I
was just talking since I was very interested in fishing at the
Hunting Island every week! I was having a good time enjoying life
with my children! Especially with our youngest daughter, Kar Yang!
Watching her running on her walker on the beach was so much fun!
But one day a thought strike my wife and I --> are we going to spend
our lives here in this little place! God gave us the ability to
speak Mandarin, Cantonese... there must be a use for them!
Yes, among these American churches of Christ they have lots of good
preachers but I did not see other Chinese preachers who is willing
and able to help the Chinese in America and in the world to know the
truth in the Bible so they can be saved!
It was at this time I received a letter from Keith Mitchell who was
a class mate in ACU! He told me about lots of Chinese in China town
N.Y.C. but they have only one church in Chatham N.J. willing to
support this work with $100 a month! You want to come to help the
Chinese in N.Y.C.?
Yes, we answered the call by faith! By faith we came to N.Y.C.
against a lot of advise not to!
At this time, Moses father was already here in the city for a year
or two. He was a very out going diplomatic person he make lots of
friends. He was able to land me a part time job with the Manpower
Project! That was how we came to N.Y.C. By faith!
We didn't wait for the elders in Chatham to prepare a place for us
to go. We packed and come!
When we arrived DC I have to make a call to them for an address to
go! They thought there was a basement we can stay for now! That was
150-10 Sanford Ave., in Flushing N.Y. not Manhattan where Chinatown
was located! And that was how God leaded us to Flushing, until now!
19.The teaching of the Bible System was a major discovery of my life
I must write down these 12 strategic scriptures:
1. Deu.5:1-3. 2. Jer.31:31-32. 3.Matt.16:18. 4. Matt.11:13.
5. Matt.28:18-20. 6. Gal.3:22-25. 7. 2 Cor.3:6-9. 8. Ro.7:1-6.
9. Heb.7:12. 10.Ro.10:4. 11. Matt.5:17-48. 12. Acts 15:1-30.
20.Attention:
2 Cor.3:6 has been interpreted wrong for the last 1500 years!
By the mercy of God, now we know! Thank God for the revelation!
"Letter kills" Letter here means the law of Moses! Study the book
of Hebrew, Galatians and Romans and lots of instructions in Paul
letters! Lots of teachers, taught that this letter means written
words in the printed age of the Bible! Wrong, please take notice!
All you need to know is read on and you will know!
This letter were engraved on stone! At the time when Moses had a
shining face! The one thing that engraved on stone is the ten
commandment! The one time when Moses' face was shinning was at the
time when he received the ten commandments!
Please make no mistakes about this one!
We who are working under the New Covenant time do things according
to what says in the New Testament. We work under the New Covenant
we don't do things according what Moses wrote in the Old Testament!
21. Ro.7:1-6
Make no mistake about it, my interpretation here will upset many!
Please be patience with me! These was revealed to me by my almighty
Father in heaven! Who am I dare to say, this is my interpretation?
This is God given interpretation! The time is now! God has revealed
this to me! Please read and compare with every day normal life
among normal people in the world!
Ro 7:1 Do you not know, brothers-- for I am speaking to men who know
the law-- that the law has authority over a man only as long as he
lives?
Ro 7:2 For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband
as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released
from the law of marriage.
Ro 7:3 So then, if she marries another man while her husband is
still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies,
she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though
she marries another man.
Ro 7:4 So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of
Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from
the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.
Ro 7:5 For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful
passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we
bore fruit for death.
Ro 7:6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been
released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit,
and not in the old way of the written code.
This is the one correct interpretation:
The New Testament of the Bible represented by one husband.
The Old Covenant of the Bible represented by another husband.
When the Old and the New come together you have two husbands.
The church is represented by one woman in Eph.5:22-33!
Both place were written by Paul.
If the church abide by the Old and the New, that means this woman is
having two husbands at the same time. And that would make the church,
this woman a whore! This would in turn make those who are in there
to be condemned in hell!
This illustration is to help the church of Christ to obey only what
says in the New Testament!
There will be writings on this subject later in this book!
Well, why not tell a little now just in case I forgot!
1 Cor.10:11--> These things happened to them as examples and were
written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages
has come.
There will be further saying on this when I write about Matt.5:17-48!
22. Heb.7:12
For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a
change of the law.
This is very important! To understand this one, it is better that my
readers read chapter 7 to chapter 10!
Actually study the books of Galatians, Romans and Hebrew would be
much better! But here I can only make it simple and clear!
There is clear instructions here:
There is a change of the priesthood!
In the Law of Moses only the Levites are to be priests!
Numbers 3:11-13
The LORD also said to Moses, "I have taken the Levites from among
the Israelites in place of the first male offspring of every
Israelite woman. The Levites are mine, for all the firstborn are
mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for
myself every firstborn in Israel, whether man or animal. They are to
be mine. I am the LORD."
In the Old Covenant Levites are to be priests.
Here Jesus is from Judas! If the Law is in effect and Jesus
declared to high priest in Hebrew chapter 6 then he had committed
sins! (in violation of the Law of Moses handed down by God!)
1Jn 3:4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is
lawlessness. Since Jesus is not a Levite if he is priests then he
would be broken the law! and that would make Jesus a sinner!
Therefore, the law has to change in order for Jesus to be high
priest of the New Covenant and all those who were baptized into
Christ are priests according to 1 Peter 2:5, 9-->
1Pe 2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a
spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises
of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
In the New Covenant time, those who are saved in the Lord and the
Lord added them into the church Acts 2:47 are all holy and royal
priests! Please study the following scriptures in its order then you
will have a clear mind about the Old and the New testaments!
1. Deu.5:1-3. 2. Jer.31:31-32. 3.Matt.16:18. 4. Matt.11:13.
5. Matt.28:18-20. 6. Gal.3:22-25. 7. 2 Cor.3:6-9. 8. Ro.7:1-6.
9. Heb.7:12. 10.Ro.10:4. 11. Matt.5:17-48. 12. Acts 15:1-30.
23. The truth in the Bible has been hidden for 1500 years!
With the mercy of God, now he had chosen to reveal this truth for me
to declare to the people who are willing to hear! I found lots of
this kind of people in the land of China myself!
There are 1.4 billion souls in the land of China and they are hungry
for the truth in the Bible!
I think God was ready to reveal this truth to the people who lived
in Europe in the early 16 century! But somehow for some reasons
which I am not clear. They missed it! And now it is time for the
Chinese people to know this truth and I pray that we will not missed
this opportunity to know the truth and be free from sins!
The world had been taught for the last 500 years to pay attention on
Ro.10:9 but neglected 10:4! What a shame it is!
At Ro.10:4 Paul declared one more time that Christ is the end of the
law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
(otherwise only the Jews may have salvation!)
Christ is the end of the law!....
Please pay attention: Christ is the end of the law....
The book of Romans were written to protect the saved Gentile
Christians not to be confused by that group of “DOGS”! Read Ac.15:1-
5 and Phil.3:2 to know!
A group of people raise up to teaching a gospel which was different
from the one gospel preached by Paul. After debate by the elders and
apostles in Jerusalem they refused to abide by the decision and
continue to spread that their perverted gospel! So that Paul had to
write the book of Romans to protect those gentile Christians!
24. Matt.5:17-48
Now we come to one of the "most difficult" scriptures!
I put most difficult in parenthesis is because actually this is not
so difficult! Just that people all over the world had been brain
washed or printed in the mind with wrong interpretation about these
verses! O.K. please be patient! People have been wrong for about
1400 years or 500 years it depend on how you count it!
If you count the departure from the truth in the year of 600 then is
about 1500 years. If you count the reformation started with Marin
Luther then it is about 500 years!
So if not the mercy of God, how can I a little guy get to know this!
O.K. let us read Matt.5:17-19 first-->
Jesus declares: Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or
the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them….
People all over the world jump to the conclusion saying that as you
can see, Jesus said it himself, he did not come to abolish the Law….
He came to fulfill them!
This “fulfill” they said it means to obey more fully!
From in the Bible system lesson scripture #1 to #10 we had teach
that the Law and prophets had been abolished. Why then, Jesus said
here he came not to abolish but to fulfill them!?
Jesus said it himself! Yes! Jesus also said, Matt.11:13
For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John!
Paul was the one who declare in Ro.10:4 saying that Christ is the
end of the Law!
Matt. 28:18-20
Jesus declared he was given all authority in heaven and on earth and
he instructed people in all nations to obey everything he commanded!
If here in Matt.5:17-19 means Jesus is saying that we have to obey
the Law and Prophets then Jesus contradicted himself!
Please be patient with me for your salvation sake, don't stop now!
Please read on! These scriptures also said until heaven and earth
disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least of stroke of a pen,
will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is
accomplished. It also said, anyone who breaks one of the least of
these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called
least in the kingdom of heaven...
This is the phrase where that I was dawned to the truth!
This is clear if my teaching that the Law is abolished, no longer in
Effect nor do we have to obey is wrong, I will still be saved in the
kingdom of heaven!
I only need to be humble willing to be the least in the kingdom of
heaven! And the point is this, the least in the kingdom of heaven
as Jesus said in Matt 11:11--> I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not
risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is
least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (NIV)
The least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the Baptist!
Can you imagine if I teach that the Law has been abolished since the
beginning of the Church 2000 years ago, I will be greater than John the
Baptist in the kingdom of God!
And then on this earth I would be "how great" please figure that out for
me from Matt.11:11!
This cannot be it! How can I be greater than John the Baptist?
No, I cannot be!
But this what it means!
Let take the great wall in China for illustration!
The first I got to visit the Great Wall of China is the time I got this
inspiration!
The Great Wall is to be keep in its original share as an historic site!
We must keep not let one stone be stolen! It is to be kept for
generation to come forever!
The Great Wall was established to be a defense measure in Qin Dynasty to
prevent barbarian to come to the central part of China to make trouble!
But no longer the same today we have to build space defend!
In the book of Heb. it goes like this!
Jesus is talking to Moses. Moses come. You are a faithful servant in my
Father's house. Your work had accomplished. And we thank you! But now
I, the Son is here. You can rest now! You work, every bit of it will
be forever preserve and remember! Not on dot of your work will be
abolished destroy but will be kept as an historic event! You had done
your job! Well done you faithful servant!
This was what Jesus mean!
Please study books of Hebrew, Romans and Galatians and others!
Like the Great Wall is to be kept in its original share for generations to
come and visit and collect lots of money. It would be a shame if we let
the Great Wall China disappeared!
Those who do work for the Lord will be forever remember just like Moses
did!
This was what Jesus mean! As an encouragement to all who would come to
do the Lord's work!
This kind of work will be forever remembered!
Now let us go down to Matt.5:21-22
This is to show that our Lord is truly all wise!
He knew that we will have problem with these verses! He take time to
explain to us by taking examples!
1. Matt.5:21-22
Mt 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not
murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' (NIV)
Mt 5:22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be
subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, `Raca,'
is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, `You fool!'
will be in danger of the fire of hell. (NIV)
As we can see, Jesus is taking Ten Commandments #6 as example to explain
what he mean in 5:17-19!
Moses, the Law #6 says--> Do not murder.
But I tell you do not be angry at people!
So here we have Moses said do not murder and we have Jesus said do not
be angry with others!
Which will you obey? Please don't go too far! There is more coming!
Matt.5:27--> You have heard that it was said "Do not commit adultery"
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already
committed adultery with her in his heart!
Now, we know this is Moses Law #7!
Do not commit adultery, Ten Commandments #7
But I tell you: Do not even think about it!
Again we have two set of rules! One from Moses and one from Jesus!
Which one will you obey!?
No, you cannot obey both! don't try to be more piety!
Remember what says in Romans7:1-6?
You need only to chose to obey what Jesus said!
Jesus wants it this way in Matt.28:18-20!
Matt.5:31-32
Mt 5:31 "It has been said, `Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a
certificate of divorce.' (NIV)
Mt 5:32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital
unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who
marries the divorced woman commits adultery. (NIV)
Matt.5:33-34
Mt 5:33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do
not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.'
Mt 5:34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is
God's throne; (NIV)
Mt 5:35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is
the city of the Great King. (NIV)
Mt 5:37 Simply let your `Yes' be `Yes,' and your `No,' `No'; anything beyond
this comes from the evil one. (NIV)
Now that I have established a pattern for you! You should be able to
continue to figure out the rest!
It is Moses said verses Jesus said!
We who are saved in Christ must obey what Jesus said!
This is the center of matter! Who is you Lord!
If you do what your Lord said! Who can say otherwise!?
By the grace of God, we have come to the last one and the easier one!
12. Acts 15:1-30
Here we found there was a sharp between Paul and Barnabas with that
group who Paul called dogs and mutilators of the flesh and liars from
Jerusalem!
Ac 15:1 Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the
brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom
taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." (NIV)
Ac 15:2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with
them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other
believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders
about this question. (NIV)
Ac 15:5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the
Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and
required to obey the law of Moses." (NIV)
Combine verse 1 and 5 we know these group of dogs were teaching that the
saved people are not saved unless they be circumcised and obey the law
of Moses!
Thus their gospel was this:
Believe, repent, be baptized for forgiveness of sins and be circumcised
and the obey the law of Moses for life then will be saved!
They, these dogs, declared to the saved people in Antioch --> Unless you
are circumcised according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be
saved!
Paul labeled this to be the other gospel and declared those who teach this
will be eternally condemned! (Gal.1:8)
That is why Paul and Barnabas had sharp dispute with them!
Please do not be fooled by those who say we must keep peace in the church!
Yes, when comes to people who owe you million dollars! If they don't return
your money, you must not say a word about it!
But when comes to believe and be baptized plus something else you must for
your eternal salvation sake debate them with all your might!
It is recorded in the Bible! Acts 15:2!
For those who are not so experienced!
Please go back to the section about the name of the church!
Ask them is the name of their church recorded in the Bible?
Make them say yes or no! Don't let them explain!
Because you did not ask why their name is this or that!
You ask is the name of the church you attend in the Bible! Yes, look it
up and let me read. No! Then the next question: are we to believe in
Jesus according to what is recorded in the Bible or not!?
If their answer is, no. We do not believe in Jesus according to what is
recorded in the Bible you have to let them go! Don't get into dispute
with them!
This is the time not to get into dispute! They are free to believe what
they want! But they cannot claim that they believe according to what
the Bible says! If they claim that would be lie!
Liars belong to Satan! We all know this one! Jn.8:44!
Ac 15:28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with
anything beyond the following requirements: (NIV)
Ac 15:29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from
the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will
do well to avoid these things. Farewell. (NIV)
Ac 15:30 The men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered
the church together and delivered the letter. (NIV)
James the chairman made the conclusion at the discussion about whether the
saved people in Antioch need to be circumcised and be required to obey
the law of Moses to be saved!
It seemed good the Holy Spirit and to us...
Attention: There are three parties making the decision!
The Holy Spirit, the Apostles and the elders!
And their conclusion is this: Not to burden you with anything beyond the
following requirement:
You are to abstain form food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the
meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.
These is good to be free from lots of sickness in the flesh and
especially from the trouble of AIDS!
The law of Moses is not required for salvation in the Lord!
Now that they had debated and concluded!
Please let no one do it again!
Can anyone be wiser than the Holy Spirit, the Apostles and the Elders in
Jerusalem in that time?
No, right! So, who is qualified to debate about it!
If people had been taught right, we would not be needed to write about
this!
May all the glory be to God!
Treasure #1 is the discovery of Acts 15:1-30!
#2 Should be my God given unique logical reasoning ability!
As I said, God did not give me much! But God has given me one little unique
ability and that is the ability to utilize those little gifts of God to help
spreading the gospel of Christ!
#3 I am aspired to search and to preach the original word of God as Peter said in 1 Peter 4:11!
#4 By the grace of God, I discovered how to correct use the example of the seed
sowing parable in Luke 8:11!
#5 I had discovered the easiest and most powerful way to expose false teaching in
the world today! And that is the name of the church in the Bible!
Yes, by the way, do you know what is the name of the church in the Bible?
#6 The correct original meaning of John 3:16.
#7 The correct interpretation of Acts 9:17-18.
#8 Why the church at Corinth called church of God rather than church of Christ?
#9 The way to understand Acts 10:1-11:18
The conversion of the Cornelius family!
#10 Who really started the teaching of justification by faith?
What does justification by faith mean?
#11 The only correct interpretation of Matt.5:17-20 in light of Matt.5:17-48!
First of all, let me put all of those who may disagree with me by saying that I am too proud in my writing to rest once for all time!
Someone once use this line as an insult to me by saying: You are talking like apostle Paul, but to bad you are not apostle Paul!
In fact, I don't believe anyone in this world is and will be as good as Paul!
No one can ever be as good as Paul!
I think I more like Peter before he was baptized by the Lord with the Holy Spirit and fire as recorded in Acts 2:1-4!
As Jesus said he was a dull headed man in Matt.15:16!
AS the high priest said in Acts 4:13 he was an unlearned and ignorant men!
As for myself, I am not highly educated man. I don't know have much knowledge of this world! And that is why I am determine to hide myself in the scripture of the Bible! I know, I am not as educated as many in this world. I have to depend on the Bible to teach others about Jesus!
I am also a timid person when comes to teaching the Bible!
The responsibility is too great for a humble man like me! When teaching the Bible we are talking about whether a soul is going to hell or to heaven!
I don't want to be responsible!
As James said in James 3:1 -->
a. NIV --> Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you
know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
b. Be not many (of you) teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive
heavier judgment.
c. My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater
condemnation.
I promised God, if I become a preacher, I will preach according to what the Bible says! That is why I must search what the Bible really says!
By the grace of God, I was given the opportunity to be revealed with all these things in this book!
I am willing to be corrected! I am not perfect!
But I request anyone in this world have doubt about what I wrote in this book give me a chance to come to talk to you before you may any judgment on it!
It is not that I am scared! It is my Christian love for you in light of Matt.7:1! And is it a sin to criticize others behind their back!
May it be known to all who read this book. I am willing to come to you to defend what I wrote! It is only fair that you give me this chance!
As Jesus said about Peter before Peter was baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire
in Acts 2:1-4 Peter was fisherman with a dull head! (Matt.15:16)
As the high priest said in Acts 4:13 Peter was an unlearned man!
It is because I do not have much knowledge and education in the world, I have chosen to hide myself in the teachings of the Bible!
Matt.16:13-19 -->
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked.
"Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the
living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was
not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you
are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will
not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you
bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be
loosed in heaven."
In the above occasion, Peter recognized Jesus as the Christ, the son of the living God.
According to this record and as I can understand with our today reasoning.
Jesus was saying Peter you can not possibly have this knowledge!
Peter you did not learn this from other people, in another word you did not know this through you schooling!
This was revealed to you by my Father in heaven!
It is in line of this thought, I wrote this book! This is why the name of this book is "God given treasures in the Bible"!
After all, who am I? Do you know me? As you can see, in Europe, America and all the Western world, in all the Arab world, how many know about my existence!?
I do claim to be like this one in Luke 10:21 -->
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you,
Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the
wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
As I said, everything I have was given to me by my Father in heaven!
And that includes everything I wrote in this book!
I came to this world empty handed. I came to America with a Bible in my hand and a return air ticket in my pocket! I had to depend on my friends to feed me and shelter me! But now it is Dec., 2, 2005 I am writing this book with thankfulness to God and with confidence to defend it anywhere in the world! Make no mistake about it!
Why is the name of the church so important?
1. It tells who the church belong to!
2. It tells what kind of teaching that church represent!
3. It tells the kind of people in that church!
4. The name tells who the head is in that church!
5. In identification the name always go first!
Why do people refuse to wear the name church of Christ?
1. They are ashamed to wear that name!
2. Because they are really not church of Christ!
Denomination is warp, sinful and self condemned! (Titus 3:10-11)
The name of the church denote a denomination!
Is the church established by Jesus Christ not good enough for them! That they have to establish their own kind of church and name after their wish?
The church is God's family, household! (1 Tim.3:15)
The one who started to call a name for a church has committed sins:
1. He refused to follow their ancestor's teaching and personal example!
He rebel against the will of God and the example of their elders!
2. He is saying, in action, the church existed were built by Christ is not good enough for him to be a part of so he must build for him his own kind of church and he get to pick the name of that church!
This is sinful against the will of God, against the will of Christ.(Eph.5:22-32, Jn.17:20-23)
3. anyone who study the respective denomination will find out each has its own set of rules! This by itself is warp, sinful and self condemn!
As I say being a Chinese has its benefits!
One of these is "if you sow mellum you will reap mellum. If you sow bean you wil reap bean. In this line of logic. Since the Bible Gal.1:8 says there is only one gospel. anyone who teach a different gospel will be eternally condemned. As we know in the world history. For the first 500 years there were churches of Christ!
There was not one other church existed in the first 500 years!
Therefore, we know all the preachers in that first 500 years preaching the same gospel and they all produce the same churches of Christ.(Ro.16:16)
Therefore, anyone who preaches the same gospel, sow the same gospel seed they hae to produce church of Christ!
The name comes natural! When one preach the same gospel, he produce Christians!
When there are Christians, they gather to worship and that is the church of Christ! This naming ritual does not existed!
Just like when a child is born he born into a family! The name of the family is already in place! He was born into the family! Not wait for him to grow up and that he pick the name of the family he was born into!
What an up side down philosophy! Have you ever seen a son was born and then at sometime in the future his son get to pick the name of the family his was born into?
As a Chinese has another benefit is that the Chinese has famous saying which says when the name of right, the saying may be correct and smooth! When the name is not right, the saying may not be correct nor would it be smooth!
When the name of the church is not recorded in the Bible you will have a hard time to defend it! Once my logical is spread!
But if you admitted it, your organization is no longer relevant! Not existed!
It is so important, how can then anyone says that the name of their church is not important?
Now let me write about using the name of the church to expose false teachings in this world!
The name of the church to the church itself it is the ice burg which you see above water! The big wrongs are under water! That means the content of the teaching of that church is mistaken also!
If everything was taught right, the name will be right too!
It is because the teaching is not right with the Bible that is why they have a different name for their church!
Most teachers will say the name of the church is not important!
This is my unique answer to this group of "teachers"!
As you can see I put "teachers" in parenthesis! Because I do not think they are qualified to be so called!
1. This answer show that they are foolish, very foolish! If the name of their
church is not important why then even bother to defend their name!
2. This answer show that they themselves and all those who belong to that church
are foolish! They support and uphold something that is not important!
3. They are saying that they are misusing given money and resources!
4. They are ignorant because they did not even have the ability to discover the
Biblical name in the Bible!
Another of their answer is put up an illustration like this "dumb" one -->
In John Chan's family there are five members, each one has to be called John Chan? You know the have five different names, and that is why the name of the church can be different!
A doctor degree graduate from Yale University put further illustration by adding this one!
In 1980 this "zealous believer" in answer my question about the name of the church he was a part of!
China has 1.1 billion people and they has at least 1 billion different names!
And that is why the church can have different names!
At the time I was about 40 years old? I was still in hot temper!
I admonished him this way --> I am glad you had retired from you teaching!
Otherwise you would mislead lots of your students! I thought Yale University is one of the top school in the world! And you have doctor degree in Physic from them! But your logic is messed up!
Let me show you how the correct illustration shall be!
One China in the world in contrast with one Church in the Bible!
One China has one name and that is China.
One church in the Bible is church of Church of Christ!
People in China in contrast with members in the church of Christ!
1.1 billion people should be contrasted to the members in the church!
People in China may have different names, members in the church can have different names!
But there is one China with one name and one church with one name!
He was too proud to admit his wrong! He called his pastor to cast me out of his house!
Now please don't make the same mistake!
Recognize it, there is one church with one name in the Bible!
Jesus himself wants it that way! (John 17:20-23)
Apostle Paul taught it that way! (Eph.4:1-6)
The one gospel seed must produce the one church product!(lk.8:11, Gal.1:6-12)
All the churches in the Bible was called churches of Christ! (Ro.16:16)
Rev.21:9 and Eph. 5:22-32 says the church is the bride or wife of Christ!
A woman's married related name is Mrs. The husband's name!
The church should be proud to be church of Christ!
The relation between Christ and the church is that Christ is the head and the church is his body! (Eph.5:22-32)
The body does not have a name of its own. It goes with the head!
When the head is Christ, the body is body of Christ, church of Christ!
Such as the head of you is John, your body is body of John!
The body cannot declare independence from its head! Please don't ever tried this one!
Jesus Christ bought this church with his blood! (Acts 20:28)
Yes, please don't jump too fast! I know your Bible may translates as church of God in this verse! Please read and pay attention to grammatical construction!
It should be translated as church of Christ which he bought with his own blood!
If you can't understand this one, I have to day that you have a bit less education than I do!
The church was to be establish by Jesus!(Matt.16:18)
Jesus called this as --> My church! If you don't understand what this mean!
Again I have to say that you have a bit less education than I do!
The church of Christ was there in Acts 2:1-42, and Acts 2:47!
Who has the right to pick and name the church!
We believe what is recorded in the Bible!
Any name of the church is not recorded in the Bible is foreign to God's will!
I know, this name thing, caught most teachers in the world!
I know, it is hard for them to change! Because as soon as they changed their name their organization cease to exist and that they can't afford!
So they have to find a way to defend it!
But they can't never defend it against one who know to say this line!
Is this name in the Bible?
When this question posted to them, I expect that they immediately come right out saying, no this name is not in the Bible! Then I say. They are honest!
When they tried to explain and failed to say no immediately I will quote Matt.5:37!
Let you yes be yes and you no be no. say anything more is from Satan!
So is the name of the church you attend recorded in the Bible?
If you are not in the church of Christ you have to say no!
Once you say no, then this question must follow, do you believe in Jesus according to what is recorded in the Bible or believe in Jesus according to what is not recorded in the Bible!
Is Jesus your savior? Yes, I know, you are free to repent and not to repent!
You have to make your one choice!
This is simple and powerful! All of my brethren, everywhere in the world can use it! Thanks God I found it! And I am willing to share! May all glory be to God1As a Chinese minister in the church in America for the last 36 years, I found it to be very interesting to know how I discover the correct way to interpret Jn.3:16!
To interpret Jn.3:16 correctly, you have to start with Jn.3:1 and proceed to verse 16!
First you have to know these scriptures was a conversation between Jesus and a Nicodemus!
2nd you have to study and find out what was the theme they were talking about!
In these scriptures I found the question posted to Jesus by Nicodemus was -->
What must I do to get into the kingdom of God to have eternal life?
First, Jesus said, you must be born again. He said, "Unless one is born again, he can't see the kingdom of God!" (Jn.16:3)
Nicodemus thought of as a physical born again! So he said, when a man is old as he. How can he be born the second time? Surely, he can't get into his mother's womb to be born the second time!
Then Jesus told him, he was talking about a spiritual born again!
Physical body was born of a physical body. For the spirit to be born again is has to be born from water and the Spirit! (Jn.3:5)
Jesus proceed to explain this spiritual born again to him! Such as eyes can't see wind, but we can see the effects of wind!
It is like that! Spiritual born again can't be seen with physical eyes. It is the life changing action that can be seen!
Eternal life is in the kingdom of God! The kingdom of God is spiritual!
Eternal life is in the spiritual kingdom not physical kingdom!
The last follow up question was not recorded but in normal logic, it can be understood! When can he do the things so that he can have eternal life?
He has to wait until Jesus was nailed to the cross! (Jn.3:14)
To have eternal life, one has to be born into Christ!
Eternal life was offer as a gift from God.(Ro.6:23)
To be born into Christ from the water and the Spirit! One first has to believe Jesus is the Lord, Christ, the Son of the living God. (Acts 2:36)
All these is to be accomplished when Jesus was nailed to the cross!
Then the last natural follow up question is this -->
Why did God willing to give up his one and only Son to died for us?
Then finally comes Jn.3:16 as the conclusion of the conversation -->
For God so love the people of the world, that he gave his begotten Son, whoever believe in him shall not perish but have eternal life!
How did I discover this teaching?
1. Peter was such a dull head man!(Matt.15:16)
Jesus said that!
How does such a dull head man able to preach such a wonderful biblical sermon
to convert 3000 people in one day? (Acts 2:14-41)
Yes, it was right after he was baptized by the Holy Spirit and fire by Jesus
personally! (Acts 2:1-4)
2. Where did Peter get this teaching?
Jn.3:1-6 naturally! The teaching in the New Testament is to be covenant of
Christ! Teachings in the N.T. are of Christ! It has to come from Christ!
3. Paul said the same thing about the way of salvation in Acts 22:3-16.
In Gal.1:6-12 he said his teaching is from Christ!
4. This also correspond with Mark 16:15-16!
The disciples are to preach the whole world the gospel. he who believed and is
baptized will be saved. He who believed not will be condemned!
Now that this is out of the way, here comes the conversion of Cornelius and Ro.10:9-10! And all the faith alone saved you scriptures....!
Please be patient with the Bible!
It takes me 45 years to discover all these!
You might want to take 5 years to understand what I say here in this book!
To understand Cornelius conversion we must study carefully all the record in Acts 10:1-48 and Acts 11:1-8! Plus Matt. 10:5-6 and may be others!
Why is it so hard for God to get Peter to go to tell the message of salvation to Cornelius and his family?
1. God has to show him and talk to him 3 times from heaven!
2. The Spirit has to tell him to go with them!
3. Even when he was there at the door he still say, you know for a Jew like I, it is not lawful to come to associate with you Italian Gentiles!
4. We know in Matt.10:5-6 Jesus had told him in person that he is not to go to
teach among Gentiles, he can go only to the lost sheep of Israel!
5. For a life long practice that a Jew can't associate with Gentiles!
Plus Personal instruction for Jesus. It would take Jesus himself to come to
tell him that, now the time has changed, now he can and must go tell also the
gentiles the way of salvation!
6. And that is why Jesus had to baptize them with the Holy Spirit from above just
as he did for Peter and the rest of disciples in Acts 2:1-4! Peter himself
said this in Acts 11:1-18!
Jesus is the one who baptize with the Spirit! (Jn.1:29)
7. Therefore, Acts 10:1-11:18 is to persuade Peter to ignore what Jesus told him
in person in Matt.10:5-6!
8. In a way, when Jesus instructed them to teach the all creations the gospel!
in Mark 16:15 Peter should understand that the new era has come!
Some people interpret Apostle Paul's person salvation as different from others!
In Acts 22:3-16 we know Paul told his person conversion story! And that is in total agreement with what Jesus said in Mark 16:15-16 and what Peter said in Acts 2:36-28.
His sins were washed away at the time when Ananias came to baptize him in water!
Why do many Western theologians think that Paul was saved at the time of his confession that Jesus is Lord on the road to Damascus?
Why did God waited until now, that I was revealed the really meaning of his conversion? You tell me, I am just honored and glad that I was chosen!
Someone in the old time about 4 or 5 hundred years think that people are saved at time of confession and repentance! And they went all out to teach and train lots of people in all over the world and now the people had this as their traditional teaching in the back of their mind. Faith alone saved you! As to how can they ignore James 2:17-26 where it says, faith alone can not save you!
Here I can only say tradition is very deadly and misleading!
But that is the fact of life right now in our age!
In the back of their mind faith alone will save!
So when they read the record about Saul conversion in Acts 9:17-181
Ananias came and said to Saul the Lord Jesus who you have met on the road here has sent me to help you to see again and to receive the Holy Spirit!
Ananias lay hand on him and he was able to see again. And he got up and was baptized!
So people without thinking twice because of their wrong back ground training!
They take the words "see again" "receive the Holy Spirit" and he got up and was "baptized"!
Oh, ha, ha, they said to themselves! This is prove that Saul eyes could see again! That prove his sins were forgiven right there.
He had received the Holy Spirit, this would surely prove that he was saved!
Besides, when a devoted Jewish Ananias saw him he called him brother Saul!
If Saul was not saved, a devoted Jewish believer, faithful servant of the Lord would not have called him brother!
So they say, all the way, three fold way, Saul was saved before he was baptized!
By the mercy of God, I was revealed with Acts 22:3-16 especially verse 12-16!
Because these verses was Paul's personal testimony about his salvation!
He himself, said his baptism was for the washing away of his sins!
Come back to Acts 9:17-18! And we ask, why did Ananias ask him to get up and be baptized to wash away his sins!
Jesus as Ananias to do two things for Saul --> 1. restore his eyes sight!
2. help him to be filled with the Holy Spirit! (Acts 9:17)
we must assume Ananias as a devoted Jews, he would do exactly what he was told!
Especially when the one who told him was Jesus his Lord and Christ!
Would he dare to not follow his exact instruction?
But he as a devoted Jew, he knew in order for Saul to be filled with the Holy Spirit in a normal and usual way, naturally he has to baptize him to wash his sins away, so that he can be clean to be filled with the Holy Spirit!
He was expected to know without even told in details!
At the time baptism for the washing away of sins is a common and normal practice!
Fortunately, we can read Paul's own personal testimony in Acts 22:3-16 to know that in Acts 9:18 the reason that he got up and was baptized is to wash away his sins, so that he can be filled with the Holy Spirit and be a suitable instrument for the Lord to carry his message of salvation to the Gentiles!
Please no more confusion, no more frustration! Straightly what the Bible says!
Now what about Ro.10:9-10!
These verse has been condensed into this simple formula -->
Confess with your mouth that God has raised Jesus from the dead and believe this in your heart you will be saved!
As they all say, this is clear and simple!
Yes, this is clear and simple! But to whom it was directed to!
Please read Ro.1:7 it was talking to those who are loved by God in the church of Christ in Rome, Italy! Please forever remember, these verse were directed to the people who had already been baptized for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38 and 22:16), to those who are already saved in the church!
Please do not miss used it for the sinners in the world!
To the sinners in the world Jesus has clear instruction in Mark 16:15-16!
Now that you are told, please make no mistake about Ro.10:9-10!
Why then to the saved in the church Paul had to remind them how they were saved!
Yes, in Romans chapter 6 Paul already discuss about baptism with them!
To understand this we must go back to Acts 15:1-29 and Gal.1:6-12 to find out the first century heretic!
Paul called that a different gospel and condemned it in Gal.1:6-9!
These people without authorization from anyone came up a different gospel saying those who believe and were baptized were not saved! Saying that they have to receive circumcision and obey the law of Moses to be saved! (Acts 15:1-5)
Paul and Barnabas had sharp dispute with them....
If one study the book of Romans careful enough they will discover, the book was written so that the saved people in that church will not be confused by this heretics!
It is for this purpose Paul wrote to those who were already saved in the church saying that they need only to confess Jesus as Lord with the mouth and believe in the heart they will be saved, obey the law of Moses is not needed for salvation circumcision is not needed for salvation either!
If we pay attention to Ro.10:4 we may know already!
For this verse says, Christ was the end of the law!
When Christ came, the law ended! Therefore, the law is not needed for salvation!
As Jesus said, all they need is to believe and is baptized will be saved! (Mk.16:16)
1. I know how to answer this forever covenants in the O.T.!
"This is to be a lasting ordinance"
Forever covenant, lasting covenant... has been destroyed due to one party of the
covenant failed to live up to the conditions of the covenant!
Jer.31:31 "The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new
covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
Jer.31:32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I
took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to them," declares the LORD.
The above scriptures says, one of the party in the covenant had broken the
condition of the covenant!
"Through prophet Jeremiah God said, The Lord declares: The time is coming when I
will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It
will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by
the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a
husband to them,! Common sense tells us, when one party failed to live up the
condition of a covenant, that covenant is void! This is a very important
discovery! Otherwise how do anyone explain why there are!
Gal 5:11 Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being
persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.
Mt 11:13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.
1500 years ago some departed from the faith in the Bible! Since then, this truth
was buried it is long enough to God, and that is why God has chosen to reveal
through people like us!
Another discovery is Eph.4:1-6 especially Eph.4:4
Why didn't others in the world know this truth!
Why do they always use wrong example!
Why do they always gave wrong reasons!
The name of the church is not important.
Why do they failed to know Eph.5:22-32! Especially Eph.5:31-32
Eph 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one
hope when you were called--
Eph 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
Eph 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
One church, one name for this one church!
Eph 5:31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be
united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." (NIV)
Christ and the church are one!
The church is to be Mrs. Christ!
The church is to be called by the name of the head!
In this human world, the name of a person always go with the head.
Never someone call the head a name and called his or her body another
name! Why then, such a crazy teaching or idea could be existed for all
these 1500 years or 500 years depend on how you reason with it!
If one reason with the start of the Romans then it is 1500 years.
If one reasons with the so called protestants then it is 500 years!
Does not matter which reasoning, the fact remain the same!
Why didn't they collectively discover this truth!
Their reasons were so illogical, so foolish! How can any intellectual
person following, listen or whatever to this kind of illogical teachings!
Even today, Nov., 4, 2005!
Some people still can think that the churches of Christ is a wrong
church! How foolish can they be? This is how foolish they can be!
Keep calling other women as their mother while their real mother is
right there with them! How can they be so foolish and blind?
When comes to the truth in the Bible, this is how foolish they can be!
By the grace of God I found three scriptures to discrib these people!
1. John 12:40
Jn 12:37 Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their
presence, they still would not believe in him. (NIV)
Jn 12:38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: "Lord, who has
believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been
revealed?" (NIV)
Jn 12:39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says
elsewhere: (NIV)
Jn 12:40 "He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither
see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn-- and I would heal
them."
2 Cor 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
1 John 2:11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.
a. Their eyes were blinded and their hearts were deadened.(Jn.12:40)
b. The god of this age has blinded their minds.(2 Cor.4:4)
c. They are walking in darkness and the darkness blinded them!(1 Jn.2:11)
I had been saying for quite some time now! I am not smarter than they!
Just that out of God's love for all the people he revealed all these to me!
I am just a small instrument in the hands of God!
But you are blessed if you are reading this book!
I know you will be enlightened! And it is God who enlightened you!
How did God equipped me to discover all these?
1. God had equipped me with this unique curiosity!
I was naughty without a father to disciple me, I wander around in hills and
mountains! When I see older people doing things I like to ask them questions!
especial when come to this thing called worship gods!
I like to know who started this things.
Why do we have to follow what they set up!? Why can't we have our ways in doing
this or that!
When comes to believe in God, I was offered many ways!
I am curious? Why is that there is only one Bible, but so many different ways of
teachings and practices! It is just does not make sense!
If they all follow what the Bible says, why are they different?
I refused to accept what was given to me! I want to find it out for myself!
With the mercy of God, I think I found it!
Now that it is your turn to find it!
Don't just take what I said, may be you can still find others!
The point is this! We are all aspired to make it to heaven to be with God!
Jesus is the way, the truth and the life!
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes
to the Father except through me.
Ac 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven
given to men by which we must be saved."
So it is clear there is one way to go to the Father!
Why there are so many different ways offered in the world for people to Go to the
Father! Yes, of course everyone says, his way is the way!
Here comes my another discovery!
Let us let the Bible tell us!
Let us start with the simple ones!
Let us start with things that do not need to be interpreted!
such the name of the church? Church of Christ!
No one has even offer a way to interpret this name!
How do you interpret a name, you name?
Now we are not trying to find out why this name!
We are just trying to find out where does the scripture that given this
name as the name of the church which Jesus promised to build in Mt.16:18!
Now this is very important discovery! because this one we can just look
up the Bible. We don't have to waste time and energy to argue or debate!
Just quietly look up the scripture!
Do you know why no one ever try to argue about the name of the name is a
correct Biblical name?
New discovery on Dec., 13, 2005.
The original meaning of 1 Cor.15:29 and 15:33!
Thank God for this new discovery!
1. 1 Cor.15:33 -->Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.
Do not be deceived: Bad companionship corrupts good morals. ASV
2. 1 Cor.15:29 Why do they baptize for the dead?
For item #1 In our today English expression it should translate as -->
Do not be led away from the right way: These bad company can destroy your
established good customs!
1. How may the saved be let away from the right way?
These bad company was saying that there is no resurrection of the dead!
Their established good customs was that they believe Jesus has been raised from
the dead!
This saying that there is no resurrection of the dead make these people bad
company to those who had not been polluted!
Therefore, this bad company was not talking about people who curse or people
who do evil things... bad in character!
It was talking about bad in believing and teaching wrong doctrine!
Keep company with people who believe and teach things that are not according to
what is recorded in the Bible can corrupts good customs! Established belief!
That Jesus has been raised from the dead!
Item #2 was we were thinking about how and who were the baptize for the dead and how do you or how can you and for what! So much questions for years and years!
Suddenly it is clear! It was all because English translation are incorrect!
Paul was pointing to their wrong practice! On the one hand these bad company say there is no resurrection of the dead. On the other hand these bad company practice baptism for the dead!
Therefore, Paul used their saying and their practice to prove their wrong!
They practice baptize for the dead is in hope that these dead will be raised to eternal life! But on the other hand they were saying that there is no resurrection of the dead!
Therefore, the baptizing for the dead is a wrong teaching. We don't have to understand how, why, what and who! It does not make sense to figure out what is wrong in the first place!
Thank God! It is very interesting and very important!
That is why we must study carefully 1 Cor.15:12-34 study the whole paragraph in the same time and slowly so the meaning will become clear to you!
Yes, you have to read the original Greek Bible to know that!
Because in the original Greek the scripture clearly has they, them and we, us!
That way we can see Paul was contrasting they, them and we, us!
If there is no resurrection of the dead as they said, then Christ has not been raised from the dead.
If Christ has not been raised from the dead. We then are preaching a lie!
All those who believe in Jesus are still in their sins. All those who died in Christ are lost....
Therefore, their saying is bad. They company is bad!
Therefore, the saved must watch out, less they may be corrupted in their true belief!
These bad company not just saying that there is no resurrection of the dead.
They also practice baptizing for the dead people!
It is easy to baptized them when they are dead because they can do what they wish with them!
Would it be much easier if we can just baptized for those who are dead!?
Please don't forget what does 1 Cor.15:29, 33 really mean?
Who were those bad company that corrupt good character?
Those who were saying that that is no resurrection of the dead!
Good character should be translated as good customs! Good customs means the already adopted correct biblical belief!
Which specifically in this case was talking about there is resurrection of the dead! Please read 1 Cor.15:17-33 then you will know for yourself!
Gal.3:26-27
Gal 3:26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, (NIV)
Gal 3:27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves
with Christ. (NIV)
There is a “for” between 3:26 and 3:27.
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, because all of you were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
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How may people know the truth in the Bible?
A. Pro.2:1-9
1. My son, if you will receive my words, lay up my commandments with you.(Pro.2:1)
Willing to receive and lay up God’s words! Never be tire of listening or listen and forget!
2. So as to incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding.2:2
Pay close attention and put into use!
3. If you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding. 2:3
Determine with great interest to know and to understand.
***4. If you seek her as seek silver and search for her as for hid treasures. 2:4
5. You will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. 2:5
Respect for the Lord also has to do with the truth in the Bible! The more respect you have for
the Lord, the more you will pay attention to His words and remember them! You will find and
know the truth in the Bible!
6. For the Lord gives wisdom and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
God is the source of wisdom, knowledge and understanding!
People seek wisdom from the wrong place, they never find it!
7. God lay up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to them that walk in integrity. 2:7
How do sinners be able to become upright and walk in integrity? Does God protect them or his
wisdom protect them!? So how may people know the truth in the Bible.
8. For God the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. 2:8
Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.
9. Wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.2:10
10. Discretion shall watch over you; understanding shall keep you: To deliver you from the way of
evil, from the men that speak perverse things. 2:11-12
Who forsake the paths of uprightness, To walk in the ways of darkness. 2:13
Who rejoice to do evil, And delight in the perverseness of evil.2:14
Who are crooked in their ways, And wayward in their paths. (2:15)
B. Ro. 1:18-32
1. People who made things which enhance quality of life. are to be respected, adore and even worship!
But what do people do to the God who made things that human depend on to live…
Why and how could people not do the same for God? (Ro.1:18-21)
2. They forsake normal reason on knowing God, they become vain in their reasoning…
3. When comes to things about God their logic is upside down! (Ro.1:22-23)
They do not deserve to know the truth!
C. 1 Cor.1:17-31
1. They departed from the one church built by the Lord. They created denomination churches to
disgrace the Lord. They are determined to be a denomination knowing which is against the will of
the Lord! (Jn.17:20-23, Ro.1:17-3:23)
2. The Jews ask for signs and Greek seek human philosophy! (1:22)
3. People refused to accept Jesus as the power and wisdom of God! (1:24)
4. Yes, we do have some wise men in the church! (1:26)
5. People like to be glorified in the world! They don’t like to be glorified in the Lord! The
Bible says, “According as it is written, He that glorified, let him be glorified in the Lord.”
D. Conclusion: (2 Cor.4:3-5)
1. Paul said if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4:3
2. They perish because the god of this age has blinded their minds, so that they can’t see the
light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.
3. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord,….
May the Lord bless you and keep you! (August 23, 2007)