The Kingdom Subjected to Violence (Luke 16:16-18)

It is a time to heed to the kingdom of God. It is true that life on the earth is temporary, fleeting, and momentary like a vapor. Eternity comes in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye. In eternity, we will see clearly and visibly what the kingdom of God looks like. But we don’t have to wait till death to know the kingdom because the Law and the Prophets have been revealing it and the nature as well. What is the kingdom of God? It is an invisible realm where God rules. It is where our emotional feelings come and go, our intellectual minds reason and imagine, and our wills maneuver. Anger, jealousy, bitterness, hatred, resentment, happiness, enjoyment, delight are a few experiences in the psychological level of life. These invisible forces at times are manifested in the visible form of violence and protest which often produce murder and injury. The kingdom of God is not an imaginary tale but a genuine reality. In fact, what is seen is the manifestation of what is unseen. Seeing and understanding the kingdom of God keeps us from the illusion and delusion of unrealities.

Dr. Luke puts an additional teachings of our Lord Jesus followed by the parable of the shrewd manager which tells a truth that no one can serve two masters, God and worldly money and thus we shall worship God only. Money is one of essential elements in human living. Many a people, believers and non-believers alike is trapped by the powerful allurement and seduction of worldly wealth and falls into the worship of money. Some may say that they don’t serve God nor money. But such a thing doesn’t exist. We must choose one, either God or money.

It is so obviously true that no one on the face of the earth wants to be deceived and cheated. However, it is sadly and tragically what is going on in humanity, being deceived and cheated by the mastermind of lie, the devil. In the kingdom of God there is a forceful being who has rebelled and defied against the Master of the heavens and the earth. The cunning and crafty mind of devil deceived the woman who ate and handed the forbidden tree to Adam who ate it without question. Likewise, the devil is still searching for prey like a roaring hungry lion through the lie that we will be like God, knowing good and evil when we listen to him. No one lives out of the kingdom of God. Those who think so are not living truthfully and realistically but ignorantly and unwittingly.

Our Lord Jesus came to the earth in order to release the elect from the bondage of the lie and untruth of the devil. It is a generous and yet urgent invitation call to come into the kingdom of God, saying “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” This call shall lead to the kingdom of God if answered rightly according to the promise of God. Jesus Christ is the good news of the kingdom of God.

“The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law. Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” (Luke 16:16-18)

The good news of the kingdom of God has not come into the heart of people in random nor has been made by human. It was precisely foretold and prophesied in the Law and the Prophets, beginning with the Pentateuch and the Psalms till Malachi and John the Baptizer. The gospel of Jesus Christ was proclaimed in the Book of Moses and the Prophets. The coming of the Messiah was repeatedly prophesied from the humble birth, the violent and bloody crucifixion on a cross, and the resurrection from the dead on the third day. In fact, the coming of Christ was deeply and inseparably embedded in the daily lives of the people of Israel. For example, they offered the daily sacrifices in the evening and in the morning in the sacred tabernacle where they could access into the presence of Holy God. They practiced the laws and precepts given unto them through Moses every day through which they could learn that they had to depend on the work of another to come into the throne of grace. Without blood no one could come to the presence of God. That blood was the symbol of the death of Christ Jesus. With the merit of the work of Christ, they could stand before the Holy God.

“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:3-6)

“Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.” (Daniel 9:25-26)

The Law and the Prophets are the Old Testament which stretched to John the Baptizer who appeared in the wilderness, breaking out the four hundred years of silence. He offered the baptism of water in the Jordan River and preached the message of repentance to prepare the hearts of the people to receive the coming promised Messiah. He was the voice and speaker in the wilderness to proclaim the message of the coming of the Blessed One as the forerunner of Christ. The Old Testament is in a word the preparation of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Anointed and the Promised. It’s been long awaited and anticipated for the coming of the Anointed for the elect. At the close of the preparation fulfilled through John, according to the scriptures Christ has come into the world in the likeness of man and opened his mouth, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God to all peoples on earth. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

“When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: ‘Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.’ From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” (Matthew 4:12-17)

Jesus Christ is the door into the kingdom of God. Who is eligible to enter into the kingdom of God? Jesus says, “Everyone is forcing their way into it.” Why is everyone forcing their way into the kingdom of God? Matthew also says the same in his Gospel.

“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.” (Matthew 11:12)

Why has the kingdom of heaven been subjected to violence and have violent people been raiding it. There is only one way to enter the kingdom of heaven that is Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father except through him (John 14:6). Christ Jesus came and died in our place in a violent and bloody crucifixion on the cross of Calvary. There was no reason for Jesus to die for himself because he was sinless. But he had to die for the sin of the world which must be atoned by the blood of the Son of God for the wages of sin is death. He died for our sins and transgressions so that we may have life in him.

What’s happened when we have believed in Christ Jesus? What we believe is that God has sent the Promised Christ and he is the Son of God who was crucified. Believing in him crucified means that we died with him, were buried with him, and were raised from the dead with him (Galatians 2:20). No death, no life. No crucifixion, no resurrection. No pain, no gain. Everyone who is in Christ Jesus has died with him on the cross of Calvary, the eternal symbol of violent death. Since we died with the violent death of Christ we have been liberated and delivered from the bondage of darkness and thus have entered into the kingdom of heaven.

This is so revolutionary that the world cannot accept it. The wisdom of God is foolishness and nonsense to the mind of the world. They say how it could be possible to get life through death. That’s the wisdom of this age and of the rulers of this age. They reject and oppose the truth that we must die first with Christ to gain eternal life. It is God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and concealed to the world. No mind of the world understands the mystery, says Apostle Paul.

“No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:7-8)

In the parable of two sons in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus says that the tax collectors the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of the Pharisees and the experts in the law. It’s a shocking and scandalous statement to them. They must have greatly insulted by it. But don’t forget that it’s the word uttered by none other than the Maker of heavens and the earth. He is the way of righteousness and anyone who believes in him crucified shall enter the kingdom of heaven. That’s why our Lord Jesus says that anyone who wants to be his disciples must deny himself, take up the cross, and follow him. No violent death, no life.

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. ‘Which of the two did what his father wanted?’ ‘The first,’ they answered. Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.” (Matthew 21: 28-32)

God is light brilliantly and constantly shining like sun out of darkness. That’s the Law of God which is unchanging, unbending, and unshakable. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stoke of a pen to drop out of the Law (Luke 16:17). No one can be saved except through the Son Jesus Christ crucified. One of these days, heaven and earth will be shaken and disappeared as prophesied. But the word of God will remain forever. In fact, all things are being hold and sustained together by his powerful word (Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:17).

“Immediately after the distress of those days 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'” (Matthew 24:39)

For example, marriage is a blessing, if not the greatest one, for humanity. It brings exquisite enjoyment and happiness in life. All race regardless of statue and color enjoys it. However it is also true that it is severely and greatly twisted and distorted in understanding and knowledge about marriage. Homosexual marriage is widely acceptable in this age, not to mention common practices of divorce and separation. Fornication and adultery are considered as acceptable practices even among Christians. Pornography is openly and deeply rampant across the generations and peoples. All is wrong in the sight of God. Marriage is a mystery of God which tells the essential and indispensable truth on humanity. Marriage between a man and a woman is unbreakable in the sight of God except through death. It’s designed and instituted and blessed by God. That’s the nature of God. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

“Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” (Luke 16:18)

“That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)

Why is God so rigid and unbroken? Why is the Law of God so unbending and unyielding? It’s because he is love. He is just and faithful no matter what. When Jesus said that no one can serve two masters—God and money the religious hypocrites sneered at him. God is uncompromising and hard-nosed in love and in truth. He is also merciful and compassionate. What God sees is all things from beginning to end. God does all things out of love. At times he looks like a brazen tyranny in whom there is no mercy and compassion. But even so, he is just and faithful because he wants no one to perish and to break through the illusion and delusion of the world. He knows how much we can take in the midst of troubles and struggles and saves without fail.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Prayer: Thank you Father in heaven for your unfailing and unadulterated love for us even if it seems at times difficult and clueless to understand why they come so differently than we expected and anticipated. Thank you Father that you open the door for anyone to enter the kingdom of heaven through the Son Jesus Christ who died violently and brutally as the ransom payment for our sin. Thank you Father to teach us honestly that there is no other way to enter the kingdom of heaven except through the violent death of Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.   

January 20, 2016

© 2015-2016 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.

Worship God Only (Luke 16:1-15)

This Chapter Sixteen of Luke’s Gospel teaches us about an important subject in our lives which is money. It is morally neutral itself. It is neither good nor evil. Money is not ours but God’s because everything is coming from him. No one can carry over any form of wealth but must leave behind with death. No one dies with fortune but sheer empty-handedness just as they come into the world with nothing. However, there is something which lasts beyond death. What is it? It is the outcome of how worldly money has been invested and used. Is it used up only for themselves? Or is it used for making friends? There are some who have much called the rich and who have little called the poor. But those who have little do not have too little and those who have much do not have too much.

“The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.” (Exodus 16:17-18)

It happened in the wilderness forty years that the Israelites ate the manna which fell down from heaven above. They had to collect manna daily except the Sabbath Day and some collected much and some little but strangely all was well fed consistently and faithfully without fail. It is true that whether rich or poor there is no distinction in consuming three meals a day. The rich may consume meals in fancier and colorful way. But that doesn’t mean that they have much more than others do. That’s how humanity is designed and built to share one lump of life all together with God the Father and the Son Jesus Christ. Our Lord teaches us how to use money in the parable of the shrewd manager.

Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’” (Luke 16:1-2)

In this parable a rich man is God and the manager is humanity. Note that the shrewd manager who was accused of loose practices on the owner’s properties is not at all the main character nor the main story point. Our Lord Jesus never praises the lazy and sloppy manager but stresses out how he handled worldly money after he was told that he was going to lose his job. So, this parable is not about the shrewd manager but about the handling of worldly wealth on the earth.

“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg—I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’ So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ ‘Nine hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied. The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’ Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ ‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied. He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’ The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” (Luke 16:3-9)

The manager did something worse for the master, cutting the debt by a great deal of amount before he lost his position, saying “When I lost my job, people will welcome me into their houses.” It suggests that he did it to prepare for the future which would be obviously rough and difficult. Although he generated a great loss for the master he was commended because he acted shrewdly. In what sense did he act shrewdly? Jesus says, “For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”

Jesus says that worldly wealth will be eventually gone and no more just as no one can carry it over after death. It is not difficult to believe that because it is going on all the time around us. But there is something which survives through death. What is it? It is friendship which remains forever. It doesn’t mean to make friends, spending money lavishly in orgies and debaucheries. That’s not true friendship. The younger son in the parable of the lost son squandered his wealth with some companies who looked like friends but all left him when they found out that he didn’t have wealth no more. What it remains forever is the right attitude to use the bestowed master’s property and wealth.

Our Lord Jesus tells about the Day of the Lord that he will divide all the peoples on earth into two groups—goats and sheep. One is the righteous and other is not. The righteous did use worldly wealth to give something to eat when someone was hungry and gave something to drink when someone was thirsty. Here someone may be anyone who is in need. They could be families, neighbors, co-workers, strangers, and even husbands and wives. That’s how we shall use worldly wealth in giving out to someone who is in need. Surprisingly, our Lord Jesus says that that whatever we did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of his was done for none other than himself.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:31-40)

The main character of this parable is not the shrewd manager but the master who sees the heart of his servants to whom he entrusted his property. Listen what our Lord Jesus unfolds the mystery of life

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?” (Luke 16:10-12)

The Owner entrusted everyone his property according to his will and expected them to use it shrewdly, bearing the good fruits, the fruits of the Spirit. What God entrusted us on the earth is very little. Although the world says that money is a big thing, our Lord Jesus says it is very little. He implies that worldly wealth is entrusted for us to learn something for the future in the age to come. Deceitfulness and falsity on money are prevalent in this mundane world. People are constantly told that they can do anything with money, even the fulfillment of life. That’s not true. It cannot be measured by the riches of worldly wealth. It’s very little because the incomparable riches in heaven lie ahead in the coming age, eternity. Apostle Paul prayed for the saints in Ephesus that the eyes of their heart may be opened and enlightened to know the hope in heaven, the riches of his glorious inheritance, and his incomparably great power, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” (Ephesians 1:18-21)

Indeed, we have come into the world in nakedness and will leave it with nothing. So, all we have is not ours but the property of the master. We’re borrowing everything from the one who is lavishly giving because he is forever love. We borrow from a single breath of life, a body which is functioning in perfection and harmony, talents and gifts, families to all the material things including money. Everyone is equally and fairly given in time, space, capacity, opportunity, ability, and aptitude. God endowed each and every person the amazing property, especially money to learn what the true riches are. It is so important to learn how to manage the master’s property shrewdly because life on earth is not all. The Scripture says that it is like a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 

“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” (James 4:14)

The scriptures confirm that God has promised to give eternal life to those who believe in the Son Jesus Christ whom the Father sent. What is seen is not all but what is unseen is. It is true that there is the invisible kingdom and realm to which our life is subject like light energy emitted through Sun. The intricacy and sophistication of life is too much for humans to understand and fathom. It is too complicated and complex to handle like there is nothing we can do to handle just one organ in our body, heart. It’s functioning and running throughout lifetime, but we don’t know why it works so. It’s the mystery of life. We cannot know it all. However, our God is gracious and knows what he is doing. He shines light what life is through life itself, all the steps we tread in struggles and challenges. Eternal life is quality not quantity. Money is given to humanity to learn the true quality of life. Now our Lord Jesus brings us to the real point he wants to teach through this parable of the shrewd manager.

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Luke 16:13)

Money has mighty power for seduction and allurement. Often it gives fantasy and illusion. Many a people is caught by the deception of money power and ruined by it. There is nothing evil or wrong with money, but the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. It is an essential element in life for it is used for trading since the beginning of human history. So God gives to some with much and to some with little and we shall be content with whatever he has given. Paul gives admonition to Timothy to be warned and watched on money.  

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:10)

Our God wants us to see his generous and faithful giving of money to meet the ends of our lives. Remember and do not forget that God provided his people in the wilderness forty years the manna from heaven that those who collected much didn’t have too much and those who collected little didn’t have too little. It’s the mystery of God. No mathematical formula or economic theory can explain how it works, but it works because God the Father is feeding us all. Is it not what our Lord Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount?

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:25-27)

Behind all wealth there is the hands of God who lavishly gives to those who are in need. Humanity is not made to worship the things but God only who made all things and gave us generously. It is impossible to worship both God and worldly money. It’s our choice to serve one though. True riches do not lie on the amount of wealth we possess but on our dependence on the Maker of all things, even the definition of true riches. He can give and take justly. He gives not to fall into the trap of loving and serving money but to learn who he is. He is God of everything. Through what we have received he wants us to have the true riches in Christ Jesus the Lord by worshiping him only. But the Pharisees who loved money sneered at Jesus.

“The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, ‘You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.’” (Luke 16:14-15)

The religious establishment of the nation worshiped money because the people of the world praised their wealth which includes their religious piety and the knowledge of the law. They were obsessed by the praise of the people not that of God. They worshiped worldly money and mundane praise because they were deceived and tricked by the love of money and human recognition. Our Lord Jesus gives a great warning to humanity that what people value highly is detestable and abominable to God. There is nothing for humans to contribute for the credentials of righteousness. We’re absolutely broke because there is sin deeply embedded and implanted in humanity since Adam fell.

Rebellious and stubborn resistance to the grace of God leads to the praise and value of people and to complete destruction and ruin of life. That’s the reason and purpose God sent his Son Jesus Christ to save those who are locked and bounded in the dungeon of deception and illusion, shining the great light out of darkness. Endowed wealth is the evidence of God’s unfailing love for humanity to learn what he is. He is a Being to be worshipped wholly and blamelessly.

This parable is truly a story of our Lord Jesus Christ. In order to redeem the sin bounded humanity he invested his whole being to be the sacrifice Lamb of God on a cross. He offered his body through the bloody and violent death in order to purchase the elect from the fatal fall. He redeemed the elect by giving out himself unto the Father in heaven.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Prayer: Thank you once again Father in heaven for not hiding the truth but unraveling it for us to see the depth and height of realities in life. This is truly the age of the love of money and material abundance is widely praised and worshipped by all people including many Christians. Thank you Lord for teaching the truth that it is impossible to serve God and money. May we be content with what God has generously and lavishly given and thus worship him only in all circumstance. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

January 13, 2016

© 2015-2016 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.

Stewards of the Mysteries of God (1 Corinthians 4:1-2)

“This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2)

We began the year with the Gospel of Luke which was in fact the continuation of the Luke’s study last year. The Gospel led us to the teachings and events and miracles of our Lord Jesus who came and walked on the dusty and rugged roads in the towns and villages of the small land of Palestine. Amazement, majesty, sovereignty, mystery, sternness, kindness, compassion are a few languages in describing the Lord Jesus Christ who had visibly manifested the beauty and glory of the Father God in heaven. He is the healer and the savior of the poor and needy and anyone who comes on to him with any problems in life. Most of all, in order share his resurrection life, the most powerful force in heaven and on earth with the elect he gave his life as a result of the violent death on the cross of Calvary just as it was told and prophesied in the Law and the Prophets. Christ Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s oath to man.

In fact, he was God before he came down to the earth from heaven. He was still God while he lived on the earth. He was Immortal and yet forsook his right, position, status as God and gave his life with blood unto the Father in heaven. Although he knew all, even the deep things in humanity and had power above all authority and power in heaven and on earth, he kept on pleading his people to come unto him and have life in full and more abundantly in the fully and well prepared banquet. That’s the reason our Lord Jesus came down in the likeness of man to bring back the lost from the slavery of sin and black darkness to the liberation and freedom through repentance now and forevermore. The Gospel teaches and gives us a greater revelation to see through life in a more realistic and truthful way via the eyes of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the meantime, we came to one of the Epistles of Apostle Paul, First Corinthians. Unfortunately, but truthfully the problems happened in the church of Corinth in the first century have been visibly and amply going on and manifesting in almost all the churches throughout the centuries and even in our days. That’s reason of the study of this Epistle in order to see and understand the realities of the saints in action. There are a lot of misunderstandings and errors about the church. Some are so idealistic that they don’t think that Christians can sin any longer. Many a Christians is baffled and bewildered by the fact that what they discover all kinds of problems in the church just like they experienced in the world before coming to Christ. They are like cliques, quarrels, divisions, sexual immorality, lawsuits among the saints. Worse is that they are gradually getting used to doing the same thing and accepting it as the normal practices.

But that is not true at all. Apostle Paul wrote the Epistles four times among which two of them are persevered. The Letters are designed and presented to the saints in the churches all throughout the centuries to correct the wrong practices and misunderstandings and errors about the church. This Epistle is followed by Romans in which the apostle nailed down the meaning and implication of the righteousness of God through which the saints have been liberated from the devil and adopted to the family of God. All saints in Christ have now the fellowship with Christ Jesus the Lord which is graciously given for the elect (1 Corinthians 1:9). So, Christians can love one another, being united in one mind and heart in Christ regardless of differences in race, culture, status, age, sex, color, and etc.

Christ is the mystery God in whom we can truly understand the nature of fallen race and thus love our enemies and even those who hate us. Christ is the perfecter of faith through the death on the cross of Calvary, being both the sacrifice offering and the high priest who carried the blood of the lamb into the temple in heaven. In Christ Jesus, all saints are united into one body, the church. Though there were many problems in the church at a flourishing and bustling city, Corinth, it was still the church of Christ Jesus the Lord. It is sadly true almost every Christian goes through the experience of being carnal and fleshly. It is hopefully true that just as a new born babe grows not into the adulthood in one day so also are not the new born Christians. The spiritual growth is the process, maybe a long and painful process. It’s going on to each and every child of God with the guarantee of being perfected and holy. That’s imperishable, unshakable, and eternal hope kept in heaven. Prophet Jude tells the enduring hope for the believers of Christ Jesus.

“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25)

Thankful and grateful for the children and students of bible who were being equipped with the mysteries of God through the revelations of the scriptures and the realities of lives even the difficulties and struggles and troubles experienced throughout the year. Pray in hope and faith that we may be continually equipped and molded by the truth and mysteries of God. Thankful and grateful for the opportunities of open door to reach out the neighbors and communities through prayers and bible studies on and off campus. Thankful for the opportunities to present the gospel stories in the conferences and online blogs. We may continue to study the Gospel of Luke through which we may be strengthened, enlightened, revealed, and empowered by our Lord Jesus who is the mystery of God. Amen.

January 1, 2016
Reporting by David Lee