In the ancient world, and even today, God favoured His people by revealing Himself by many names which offered insight into His love. One of the names for God in the Old Testament is "Yahweh". The four letter Hebrew word "YHWH" was the name by which God revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush.

Then Moses said to God, 'I am to go, then, to the sons of Israel and say to them, "the God of your fathers has sent me to you." But if they ask me what his name is, what am I to tell them?' And God said to Moses, 'I Am who I Am. This' he added 'is what you must say to the sons of Israel: "I Am has sent me to you." And God also said to Moses, 'You are to say to the sons of Israel: "Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (Israel), has sent me to you." This is my name for all time: by this name I shall be invoked for all generations to come. - Ex. 3:13-15 -

The divine name "Yahweh" is usually translated "Lord" in English versions of the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible because it became a practice in late Old Testament Judaism not to pronounce the sacred name "YHWH" but to say instead "my Lord" (Adonai) a practice still used today. From the New Testament times, many Christians use the word "Yahweh" that is, "Lord."

Yahweh's oracle to you, my Lord, 'Sit at my right hand
and I will make your enemies a footstool for you. - Ps. 110:1 -

'Then how is it' he said 'that David, moved by the Spirit, calls him Lord, where he says:
                                   
                                    The Lord said to my Lord:
                                    Sit at my right hand
                                    and I will put your enemies
                                    under your feet? 

'If David can call him Lord, then how can he be his son?' - Matt. 22:43-45 - Mark 12:35-37 -

For David himself never went up to heaven; and yet these words are his:

                                    The Lord said to my Lord:
                                    Sit at my right hand
                                    until I make your enemies
                                    a footstool for you.

'For this reason the whole of Israel can be certain that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.' - Acts 2:34-36 -

Christ Jesus has his place at the right of the throne of divine Majesty in the heavens, and he is the minister of the sanctuary and of the true Tent of Meeting which the Lord, and not any man, set up. Heb. 8:2 -

Here the word "Lord" is used both for God and the messianic King, that is, Christ Jesus. Indeed, God has made Jesus, the only begotten Son, both Lord and Christ. Hence, the two "Lords" God and Jesus Christ are distinguished from each other but not separated. In fact, in the New Testament times, the Lordship of Christ Jesus theologically has been used and put into practices.

The Christians conviction, from the outset, that Jesus was the Messiah. He was also "Lord", a term that carried greater meaning than it might have for most people today. It indicated that Jesus Christ was exalted, for the word "Lord" was generally reserved for God or for those associated with divinity - God himself. To call Jesus Christ "Lord" as writers of the New Testament did repeatedly indicated that He was closely associated with God and came as His envoy.

"Jesus is Lord" is the ultimate Christian creed. A Christian therefore, is a person who confesses Jesus as Lord. After Jesus resurrection and exaltation, Jesus was given the title "Lord" in its full,

Saint Peter, concluding his address to the crowd in Jerusalem on the "Day of Pentecost" declared:

Men of Israel, listen to what I am going to say: Jesus the Nazarene was a man commended to you by God by the miracles and portents and signs that God worked through him when he was among you, as you all know........... You killed him, but God raised him to life, freeing him from the pangs of Hades; for it was impossible for him to be held in its power since as David says of him:

I saw the Lord before me always,
for with him at my right hand nothing can shake me. - Acts 2:22-25 -

'For this reason the whole House of Israel can be certain that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.' - Acts 2:36 -

Saint Paul, in fact, explicitly affirming "Jesus is Lord" in all his epistles, that is, addressing and calling Christ Jesus: "The Lord Jesus Christ." because apostle Paul, and all the apostles knew that when human beings honor Jesus as "Lord," God, the Father is glorified.

It is for that reason that I want you to understand that on the one hand no one can be speaking under the influence of the Holy Spirit and say, 'Curse Jesus,' and on the other hand, no one can say, "Jesus is Lord" unless he is under the influence of the Holy Spirit. - 1 Cor. 12:3 -

In your minds you must be the same as Christ Jesus: His state was divine, yet he did not cling to his equality with God but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave, and became as men are; and being as all men are, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross.

                                         But God raised him high
                                         and gave him the name
                                         which is above all other names
                                         so that all beings
                                         in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld,
                                         should bend the knee at the name of Jesus
                                         and that every tongue should acclaim
                                         Jesus Christ as Lord,
                                         to the glory of God the Father. - Phil. 2:5-11 -

If your lips confess that Jesus is Lord and if you believe in your heart that God raised him from the death, then you will be saved. By believing from the heart, you are made righteous; by confessing with your lips you are saved. When scripture says: those who believe in him will have no cause for shame, it makes no distinction between Jew and Greek: all belong to the same Lord who is rich enough, however many ask for his help, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. - Rom. 10:9-13 -

With references to 'The Gospel According To Saint John' especially in chapter 11, chapter 13 and chapter 20. In chapter 11, Jesus did not stopped and ignored Mary and Martha by calling and addressing Him, "Lord." Consequently, apostle Peter in chapter 13, also called and addressed Jesus: "Lord" but this time the Lord Jesus Christ affirming and acknowledging that, indeed, He is "Lord" even before His resurrection. Thus, Jesus Christ is true man and true God. But in chapter 20, apostle Thomas called Jesus, and affirming Jesus: "My Lord and my God!"

There was a man named Lazarus who lived in the village of Bethany with the two sisters, Mary and Martha, and he is ill. It was the same Mary, the sister of the sick man Lazarus, who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair. The sisters sent this message to Jesus, 'Lord, the man you love is ill.' - John 11:1-3 -

'Your brother' said Jesus to her 'will rise again.' Martha said, 'I know he will rise again at the resurrection on the last day.' Jesus said:

'I am the resurrection.
If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live,
and whoever lives and believes in me
will never die.
Do you believe this?'

'Yes, Lord,' she said 'I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world.' - John 11:24-27 -

Mary went to Jesus, and as soon as she saw him she threw herself at his feet, saying, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.' 'Where have you put him?' They said, 'Lord, come and see.' - John 11:32, 34 -

Jesus came to Simon Peter, who said to him, 'Lord, are you going to wash my feet?' Jesus replied, 'If I do not wash you, you can have nothing in common with me.' 'Then, Lord,' said Simon Peter 'not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!' - John 13:6, 8-9 -

You call me Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am. If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other's feet. - John 13:13-14 -

'Peace be with you' Jesus said. Then he spoke to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.' Thomas replied, 'My Lord and my God!' - John 20:27-28 -

Finally, the Lord Jesus Christ, perhaps, plainly tell, and teaches us, the believers, followers, faithful, how to inherit eternal life. That is, by pleasing God. Of course, in words and good deeds, too. Sadly to share the appended below which it is the Word of the Lord Jesus Christ, which many either ignored, skipped, pretend, and think otherwise, mainly because of pride and narcissism, and it is always the case to many. That is, arguing and justifying on it as well.

Perhaps, it is better to read the "Word of God" intently and, at the same time, seek help from God, that is, to help us to remove our stubbornness, and to enable us to comprehend 'His Word' and open up our heart, soul, and mind to Him. So that, the grace and peace of God our Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ be upon us, Who is able to rescue and save us from this present wicked world. It is because the Lord Jesus Christ always taught with authority. Indeed!

The Lord Jesus Christ said: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me - Matt. 28:18 -

'Why do you call me, "Lord, Lord" and not do what I say?

'Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and acts on them - I will show you what he is like. He is like the man who when he built his house dug, and dug deep, and laid the foundations on rock; when the river was in flood it bore down on that house but could not shake it, it was so well built. But the one who listens and does nothing is like the man who built his house on soil, with no foundations: as soon as the river bore down on it, it collapsed; and what a ruin that house became!' - Luke 6:46-49 -

'It is not those who say to me, "Lord, Lord", who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. When the day comes many will say to me, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, work many miracles in your name?"' Then, I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you: away from me, you evil men!'

'Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!' - Matt. 7:21-27 - Is. 29:13-14 - James 2:14-26 - 1 John 3:18-20 - Luke 13:22-30 -

The other bridesmaids arrived later. "Lord, Lord," they said "open the door for us." But Jesus replied, "I tell you solemnly, I do not know you." So stay awake, because you do not know either the day or the hour. - Matt. 25:11-13 -

The human race has nothing to boast about to God, but you God has made members of Christ Jesus and by God's doing he has become our wisdom, and our virtue, and our holiness, and our freedom. As scripture says: if anyone wants to boast, let him boast about the Lord. - 1 Cor. 1:29-31 -

                                                                           Page 1
Faith . Hope . Love - Welcome donation. Thank You. God bless. 

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -

Kingdom, king refers to ruler of a nation or territory, especially one who inherits his position and rules for life; a state or nation with a form of government in which a king or queen serves as supreme ruler.

In the ancient world a king was generally the ruler over a specific region or city. His office was usually hereditary and his authority derived from it. For instance, in Egypt the king, or Pharaoh, was regarded as a god; in Assyria the king represented a god. Both the Canaanites and the Philistines had kings as early as the time of Abraham. - Gen. 14:1-2, 20:2 - Many of the other nations related to Israel - Edom, Moab, Midian, and Ammon - adopted the kingship form a government earlier than Israel. - Gen. 36:31; Judg. 11:13 -

Long before the Israelites chose Saul as their first king, Israel has been a religious community with God Himself as the ruler. God had promised Abraham that kings would come from him. The same promise was given to Jacob.

You shall no longer be called Abram; your name shall be Abraham, for I make you father of a multitude of nations. I will make you most fruitful. I will make you into nations, and your issue shall be kings. - Gen. 17:5-6 -

Once more God appeared to Jacob on his return from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. God said to him, 'Your name is Jacob, but from now on you shall be named not Jacob but Israel.' Accordingly, they named him Israel. God said to him, 'I am El Shaddai. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation, indeed a group of nations shall descend from you. Even kings shall be numbered among your descendants. I give you this land, the land I gave to Abraham and to Issac; and I will give this land to your descendants after you.' Then God went up from him. - Gen. 35:9-13 -

During the Exodus of the Hebrew people from Egypt and the conquest of Canaan several years later, Moses and Joshua exercised "royal" authority, but only as representatives of God. Following Joshua's death, various cities and villages had "Elders" - Josh. 24:13; Judg. 11:5 - to whom the people looked for leadership. Occasionally, God appointed certain leaders called "Judges" who would lead an army against foreign oppression. - Judg. 2:16-19 - These leaders, however, were not strong religious personalities. They had no official authority, and their rule was local and temporary.

At the insistence of the people of Israel, prophet Samuel anointed Saul as the first king of the Hebrew nation. - 1 Sam. 10:1 - Samuel, the prophet, regarded the demand for a king as an act of rebellion - 1 Sam. 8 - because the moral decline of the nation had created a desire for a monarchy that would be similar to the form of government of all the surrounding nations. It is a believed that the introduction of kingship in Israel was a historical necessity, brought about by a desperate political situation, that is, oppression by the Philistines.

After establishment of the kingship under Saul and David, Solomon became king of the United Kingdom. Under his administration, the Hebrew people reached new levels of prestige and power. Solomon entered trade agreements with other nations and completed many impressive building projects. But to pay for all these great accomplishments, Solomon placed burdensome taxes upon the people and even forced them to work as laborers on this building projects. At Solomon's death, the United Kingdom split into two separate nations, that is, Judah in the south and Israel in the north. During the rest of their history, these two nations were ruled by their own individual kings. Accounts of the reigns of many of these kings are found in the books of 1 and 2 Kings in the Old Testament.

David was clearly God's choice to be king. - 1 Sam. 16:17, 12-13 - The hereditary kingship, therefore, began with him; from him would descend Jesus Christ, 'the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David' - Rev. 5:5 - In the light of the Messiah's descent from David, the meaning of God's Covenant with David becomes clear and fulfilled: "I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever." - 2 Sam. 7:13; Ps. 2; 110; Is. 11:1-4 -

A kingdom that would typify Christ Jesus coming kingdom was in God's plan. - Deut. 17:15 - Israel's king was supposed to be responsible to God alone. This king was God's servant and only the earthly representative of the Lord, who was Israel's true king. In that office he was expected to know and do the law of God. - Deut. 17:18-20 - Jesus was to be a preacher, teacher, and proclaiming the kingdom of God, and one who judged wisely and righteously. - 1 Kin. 3:28; 2 Chr. 17:7 -

The Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible used the title king not only of human rulers, but God as the Supreme Ruler of the world. As the Creator of the world, it is His right to rule the universe. That is, only by His authority do earthly kings reign. - Ps. 47:2, 7; Matt. 5:35; Deut. 10:17; Dan. 4:17 -

The New Testament speaks of several specific kings, including Herod the king and king Agrippa. - Matt. 2:1; Acts 25:24 - they were actually governors or rulers over political provinces or territories of the Roman Empire, serving under appointment by the Roman Emperor.

Christ Jesus the Messiah was born a king - Matt.2:2 - came preaching and proclaiming the kingdom of God - Mark 1:15 - died as a king - Mark 15:32 - and will yet be seen as King of kings and Lord of lords. - 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 19:16 - Jesus functions as a Priest-Prophet-King - Heb. 5:6; 7:1; Rev. 11:15 - enabling us to become heirs of the kingdom which He has established through His sacrificial death on the cross.

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and voices could be heard shouting in heaven, calling, 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.' - Rev. 11:15 -

On his cloak and on his thigh there was a name written: The King of kings and the Lord of lords. - Rev. 19:16 -

Christ Jesus was the full embodiment of the kingdom of God. The entire ministry of Jesus is understood in relation to this important declaration of the presence of the kingdom of God. The Lord Jesus Christ ethical doctrines, for example, cannot be understood apart from the announcement of the kingdom of God. They are ethics of the kingdom of God; the perfection to which they point makes no sense apart from the present experience of the kingdom. Participation in the new reality of the kingdom of God involves a faithful, believers, and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ in a call to the highest virtue and good deeds; love, joy, peace, mercy, compassion, kindness, patience, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control are some of the examples.

For I tell you, if your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven. - Matt. 5:20 -

All that Jesus did is related to this claim that the kingdom of God has dawned through His ministry. The Lord Jesus Christ righteousness, healing, miracle, love, forgiveness, compassion, joy, peace, kindness, patience, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control were manifestations of the presence of the kingdom of God. In these virtue and deeds there was a direct confrontation between God and Satan and his demons, and the forces of evil. Summarizing His ministry, the Lord Jesus Christ declared:

'I watched Satan fall like lightning from heaven.' - Luke 10:18 -

Satan and evil are retreat now that the kingdom of God has made its entrance into human history. This is an anticipation of the final age of perfection that will be realized at the Lord Jesus Christ return; Second Coming, or Parousia.

The Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible have described the phrase kingdom of God as a more comprehensive term referring to both heaven and earth. It is believed that the kingdom of God is a more restricted term referring to God's rule on earth, especially in relation to the nation of Israel. In this believed, Christ Jesus offered the literal kingdom of heaven to Israel, but particularly, the Jews, refused to accept it. Thus, it has been postponed until the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

A careful study of the gospels, however, shows that the two phrases [kingdom of God and kingdom of heaven] are used interchangeably. In parallel passages, Saint Matthew uses "kingdom of heaven" while Saint Mark and Saint Luke has "kingdom of God." Even in Saint Matthew the two phases are sometimes used interchangeably, where they are used one after the other in the same connection.

And if it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils, through whom do your own experts cast them out? Let them be your judges, then. But if it is through the Spirit of God that I cast devils out, then know that the kingdom of God has overtaken you. - Matt. 12:26-28 -

In the New Testament, the Book of The Acts Of The Apostles, and all of Saint Paul epistles and all the other books, the kingdom of God was a central doctrine in the preaching and proclaiming of the Lord Jesus Christ and of the early Christians. The kingdom of God generally point out that the Christians looked for its coming and entering it, now and the future.

The Lord Jesus Christ had shown himself to them after his Passion by many demonstrations: for forty days he had continued to appear to them and tell them about the kingdom of God. - Acts 1:3 -

Paul spent the whole of the two years in his own rented lodging. He welcomed all who came to visit him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete freedom and without hindrance from anyone. - Acts 28:30-31 -

For us, our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes the saviour we are waiting for, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body. He will do that by the same power with which he can subdue the whole universe. - Phil. 3:20-21 -

We want to be quite certain, brothers, about those who have died, to make sure that you do not grieve about them, like the other people who have no hope. We believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again, and that will be the same for those who have died in Jesus: God will bring them with him. We can tell you this from the Lord's own teaching, that any of us who are left alive until the Lord coming will not have any advantage over those who have died. At the trumpet of God, the voice of the archangel will call out the command and the Lord himself will come down from heaven; those who have died in Christ will be the first to be rise, and then those of us who are still alive will be taken up in the clouds, together with them, to meet the Lord in the air. So we shall stay with the Lord for ever. With such thoughts as these you should comfort one another. - 1 Thes. 4:13-18 -

In short, you must not compromise your privilege, because the kingdom of God does not mean eating or drinking this or that, it means righteousness and peace and joy brought by the Holy Spirit. - Rom. 14:16-17 -

                                                                            Page 1
Faith . Hope . Love - Welcome donation. Thank You. God bless. 

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -

'We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, the one about whom the prophets wrote: he is Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.' - John 1:45 -

JESUS CHRIST - fully human and fully divine, Son of God born of the Virgin Mary; the great High Priest, the Head of the Universal Church, and the central figure of the human race. Jesus Christ, God's saving act for all sinful humanity. Indeed, his name (Jesus) and his title (Christ) bear witness to that saving act.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a town about ten kilometers, south of Jerusalem, toward the end of Herod the Great's reign as king of the Jews. [37-4 B.C.] Early in His life he was taken to Nazareth, a town of Galilee. There He was brought up by His mother, Mary, and her husband, Joseph, a carpenter by trade.

A genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham:

Abraham was the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah, Tamar being their mother,
Perez was the father of Ram,
Ram was the father of Amminadab,
Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
Salmon was the father of Boaz, Rahab being his mother,
Boaz was the father of Obed, Ruth being his mother,
Obed was the father of Jesse;
and Jesse was the father of king David.

David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife,
Solomon was the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asa,
Asa was the father of Jehosaphat,
Jehosaphat the father of Joram,
Joram the father of Azariah,
Azariah was the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,
Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amon,
Amon the father of Josiah;
and Josiah was the father of Jechoniah and his brothers.

Then the deportation to Babylon:
Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud,
Abiud the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
Azor the father of Zadok,
Zadok the father of Eliud,
Eliud was the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob;
and Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary;
of her was born Jesus who is called Christ.

The sum of generations is therefore: fourteen from Abraham to David; fourteen from David to the Babylonian deportation; and fourteen from the Babylonian deportation to Christ. - Matt. 1:1-17 -

Jesus Christ began His public ministry when He sought baptism at the hand of John the Baptist. The Lord Jesus Christ birth stories of the Gospel According To Saint Matthew 1:17 and the Old Testament provide sufficient chronological information for human understanding. It theology are deeply interwoven with the introductory genealogy. Therefore, it is not possible to separate out the historical form and the theological date in the accounts. - Is. 11:1-2, 42:1-4, 61:1-3; Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34 -

In the New Testament, the Life, Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ, represent for Christians God's saving act for sinful humanity. The Gospel is not a new plan for salvation which was begun in Israel, and was completed in the Lord Jesus Christ, and was also make known by the Universal Church. Jesus' doctrines and messages was never intended to create a new religious movement. In fact, it is a call to repentance, and it was thoroughly in accordance with the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible and the prophetic tradition of Israel.

It is clear that Jesus' call for repentance, that is, conversion of heart. Therefore, Christ Jesus is not just a messenger. He is more than a messenger of the Gospel. Truly, Jesus Christ is the gospel. God, the Father was present in His life, His teaching, His action, His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. Thus, the Gospel is both a historical event and a personal relationship, and the Passion, Death, Resurrection, and the Ascension of Jesus unleashed the kingdom of God in full power.

Christ Jesus injected new life into the ethical principles of the Law of Moses. But He did not remove or impose a new set of laws that could be enforced by external sanction; The Lord Jesus Christ prescribed a way of life for His believers, followers, and the faithful to inherit eternal life. The affirmation from the Lord Jesus Christ was to 'do this and life is yours.'

There was a lawyer who, to disconcert him, stood up and said to him, 'Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?' He said to him, 'What is written in the Law? What do you read there?' The lawyer replied, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.' 'You have answered right', said Jesus 'do this and life is yours.' - Luke 10:25-28 - Mark 12:28-34 - Matt. 22:34-40 - John 13:34-35 -

The principle of non-violence is deeply ingrained in Jesus' teaching. In His references to "man of violence" who tried to bring in the kingdom of God by force, Jesus gave no sign that He approved of their ideals and methods.

Jesus said to him, 'My friend, do what you are here for.' Then they came forward, seized Jesus and took him in charge. At that, one of the followers of Jesus grasped his sword and drew it; he struck out at the high priest's servant, and cut off his ear. Jesus then said, 'Put your sword back, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father who would promptly send more than twelve legions of angels to my defence? But then, how would the scriptures be fulfilled that say this is the way it must be?' It was at this time that Jesus said to the crowds, 'Am I a brigand, that you had to set out to capture me with swords and clubs? I sat teaching in the Temple day after day and you never laid hands on me.' Now all this happened to fulfill the prophecies in scripture. Then all the disciples deserted him and ran away. - Matt. 26:50-56 - Mark 14:43-52 - Luke 22:47-53 - John 18:1-11 -

In order to attain 'Eternal Life' the Lord Jesus Christ gave a 'New Commandment' and it is the 'greatest.' This 'New Commandment' are the present work of the Lord Jesus Christ and the future work are dependent of His "finished work." That "finished work" was the beginning of God's good work in the people. This work will not be completed until "the Day of Christ" when the entire universe will be united "in Christ Jesus."

One of the scribes who had listened to them debating and had observed how well Jesus had answered them, now came up and put a question to him, 'Which is the first of all commandments?' Jesus replied, 'This is the first: Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the one Lord, and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You must love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.' The scribe said to him, 'Well spoken, Master; what you have said is true: that he is one and there is no other. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself, this is far more important than any holocaust or sacrifice.' Jesus, seeing how wisely he had spoken, said, 'You are not far from the kingdom of God.' And after that no one dared to question him anymore. - Mark 12:28-34 -

But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees they got together and to disconcert him, one of them put a question, 'Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?' Jesus said, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets also.' - Matt. 22:34-40 -

I give you a new commandment:
love one another;
just as I have loved you,
you also must love one another.
By this love you have for one another,
everyone will know that you are my disciples. - John 13:34-35 -

This will help you to become pure and blameless, and prepare you for 'the Day of Christ' when you will reach the perfect goodness which Jesus Christ produces in us for the glory and praise of God. - Eph. 1:10-11 -

So then, my dear friends, continue to do as I tell you, as you always have; not only as you did when I was there with you, but even more now that I am no longer there; and work for your salvation 'in fear and trembling.' It is God, for his own loving purpose, who puts both the will and the action into you. Do all that has to be done without complaining or arguing and then you will be innocent and genuine, perfect children of God among a deceitful and underhand brood, and you will shine in the world like bright stars because you are offering it the word of life. This would give me something to be proud of for 'the Day of Christ' and would mean that I had not run in the race and exhausted myself for nothing. - Phil. 2:12-16 -

Very soon now, I shall be with you again, bringing the reward to be given to every man according to what he deserves. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Happy are those who will have washed their robes clean, so that they will have the right to feed on the tree of life and can come through the gates into the city. - Rev. 22:12-14 -

                                                                          Page 1
 Faith . Hope . Love - Welcome donation. Thank You. God bless. 

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -