Apostle Stephen is 'the first Christian martyr' he was stoned to death. - Acts chapter 6 & 7 -

Two thousand years ago, Christians emerged in the Roman empire and it is spread and flourished, and found its sense of identity within the Roman world. In the era of Christianity, peoples who believed and converted to Christianity were baptized and were properly instructed in the belief and practices of Christianity. As a result, today, approximately, a third of the world's population are Christians.

Christians had its origin, foretold by Christ Jesus, 'builds on' by the surviving apostles, disciples, followers and believers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"Jesus came up and spoke to them. He said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time." - Matthew 28:18-20 -

"Remember your leaders, who preached the word of God to you, and as you reflect on the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same today as he was yesterday and as he will be for ever. Do not let yourselves be led astray by all sorts of strange doctrines: it is better to rely on grace for inner strength than on dietary laws which have done no good to those who kept them." - Hebrews 13:7-9 -

Great religious experiences like that of Jacob at Jabbok, - Genesis 32:22-32 - Moses at the burning bush, - Exodus 3:1 - Josiah on hearing the reading of the Law - 2 Kings 22:8-13 -  Isaiah in the Temple - Isaiah 6:1-8 -might well be regarded as "new birth". Thus, regeneration involves an enlightening of the mind, a change of will and a renewed nature. It extends to the total nature of man/woman, changing a person's desires and restoring him/her to a right relationship with God in Christ.

People who are interested only in unspiritual things can never be pleasing to God. Your interests, however, are not in the unspiritual but in the spiritual, since the Spirit of Christ of God has made his home in you. In fact, unless you possessed the Spirit of Christ you would not belong to him. - Romans 8:8-9 - Psalms 51:5-11; Jeremiah 31:33; Zechariah 13:11 -

"Remember, there was a time when we too were ignorant, disobedient and misled and enslaved by different passions and luxuries; we lived then in wickedness and ill-will, hating each other and hateful ourselves. But when the kindness and love of God our saviour for mankind were revealed, it was not because he was concerned with any righteous actions we might have done ourselves; it was for no reason except his own compassion that he saved us, by means of the cleansing water of rebirth and by renewing us with the Holy Spirit which he has so generously poured over us through Jesus Christ our saviour. He did this so that we should be justified by his grace, to become heirs looking forward to inheriting eternal life. This is the doctrine that you can rely on." - Titus 3:3-8 -

It is the spiritual change brought about in a person's life by an act of God. There is a first birth and a second birth. The first birth, as Jesus said to Nicodemus is "of the flesh"; the second birth is "of the Spirit". - John 3:1-12 - Being born of the Spirit is essential before a person can enter the kingdom of God. Every scripture command to man/woman to undergo a radical change of character from self-centeredness to God-centeredness is, in effect, an appeal to be "born again".

Mercy is the aspect of God's love that causes Him to help the miserable, just as grace is the aspect of His love that moves Him to forgive the guilty. Those who are miserable may be so either because of breaking God's law or because of circumstances beyond their control. God show mercy upon those who have broken His law, although such mercy is selective, demonstrating that it is not deserved. God's mercy on the miserable extends beyond punishment that is withheld. Withheld punishment keeps us from hell, but it does not get us into heaven.

"Does it follow that God is unjust? Of course not, Take what God said to Moses; I have mercy on whom I will, and I show pity to whom I please. In other words, the only thing that counts is not what human beings want or try to do, but the mercy of God. For in scripture he says to Pharaoh; It was for this I raised you up, to use you as a means of showing my power and to make my name known throughout the world. In other words, when God wants to show mercy he does, and when he wants to harden someone's heart he does so.

You will ask me. In that case, how can God ever blame anyone, since no one can oppose his will? But what right have you, a human being, to cross-examine God? The pot has no right to say to the potter: Why did you make me this shape? Surely a potter can do what he likes with the clay? It is surely for him to decide whether he will use a particular lump of clay to make a special pot or an ordinary one?" - Romans 9:14-21 - Daniel 9:9; 1 Timothy 1:13, 16; Ephesians 2:4-6 -

God also shows mercy by actively helping those who are miserable due to circumstances beyond their control. We see this aspect of mercy especially in the life of our Lord Jesus. He healed blind peoples and lepers. These acts of healing grew out of his attitude of compassion and mercy. - Matthew 9:27-31, 20:29-34; Luke 17:11-19 - Because God is merciful, God aspects His children to be merciful. - Matthew 5:7; James 1:27 -

The need for sincere repentant and born again grows out of humanity's sinfulness. It is brought about through God's initiative. God works in the human heart and the person responds to God through faith and love. Thus, spiritual regeneration is an act of God through the Holy Spirit, resulting in resurrection from sin to a new life in the Lord Jesus Christ.

"From now onwards, therefore, we do not judge anyone by the standards of the flesh. Even if we did once know Christ in the flesh, that is not how we know him now. And for anyone who is in Christ there is a new creation; the old creation has gone and now the new one is here." - 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 -

"Continue to love each other like brothers/sisters, and remember always to welcome strangers, for by doing this, some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Keep in mind those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; and those who are being badly treated, since you too are in the one body. Marriage is to be honoured by all, and marriages are to be kept undefiled, because fornicators and adulterers will come under God's judgment. Put greed out of your lives and be content with whatever you have; God himself has said: I will not fail you or desert you, and so we can say with confidence: With the Lord to help me, I fear nothing: what can man do to me?

Remember your leaders, who preached the word of God to you, and as you reflect on the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same today as he was yesterday and as he will be for ever. Do not let yourselves be led astray by all sorts of strange doctrines: it is better to rely on grace for inner strength than on dietary laws which have done no good to those who kept them." - Hebrews 13:1-9 -

Cornelius is a Roman soldier stationed in Caesarea. He was a God fearing person strongly attracted to the Jewish teaching of Monotheism (the belief in one God) as opposed to pagan idolatry and immorality, and to the concern expressed in the law of Moses. He gave generously to Jewish causes, helping the poor and needy, and prayed constantly to God. - Acts 10:1-2 -

Cornelius was the first recorded Gentile convert to Christianity. He is introduced in the Book of The Acts of the Apostles as a representative of thousands in the Gentile world who were weary of paganism and who were hungry for the coming of the Messiah - the Christ who would deliver them from their sins and lead them into an abundant Spirit filled life.

God sent a heavenly vision both to Cornelius and to Simon Peter. Obeying his vision, Cornelius sent some of his men to Jaffa, to find Simon Peter. Peter, in turn, obeyed his own vision ( which he interpreted to mean that Gentiles were to be included in Christ's message ) and went to Cornelius. While Peter was still preaching to Cornelius and his household, the Holy Spirit came down on all the listeners. And Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teach them to observe all God's commands.

"One day at about the ninth hour he had a vision in which he distinctly saw the angel of God come into his house and call out to him, 'Cornelius!' He stared at the vision in terror and exclaimed, 'What is it, Lord?' 'Your offering of prayers and alms' the angel answered 'has been accepted by God. Now you must send someone to Jaffa and fetch a man called Simon, known as Peter, who is lodging with Simon the tanner whose house is by the sea.' When the angel who said this had gone, Cornelius called two of his slaves and a devout soldier of his staff, told them what had happened, and sent them off to Jaffa.

Next day, while they were still on their journey and had only a short distance to go before reaching Jaffa, Peter went to the housetop at about the sixth hour to pray. He felt hungry and was looking forward to his meal, but before it was ready he fell into a trance and saw heaven thrown open and something like a big sheet being let down to earth by its four corners; it contained every possible sort of animal and bird, walking, crawling or flying ones. A voice then said to him, 'Now, Peter; kill and eat!' But Peter answered, 'Certainly not, Lord; I have never yet eaten anything profane or unclean.' Again, a second time, the voice spoke to him, 'What God has made clean, you have no right to call profane.' This was repeated three times, and then suddenly the container was drawn up to heaven again.

Peter was still worrying over the meaning of the vision he had seen, when the men sent by Cornelius arrived. They asked where Simon's house was and Peter was lodging there. Peter's mind was still on the vision and the Spirit had to tell him, 'Some men have come to see you. Hurry down, and do not hesitate about going back with them; it was I who told them to come.' Peter went down and said to them, 'I am the man you are looking for; why have you come?' They said, 'The centurion Cornelius, who is an upright and God fearing man, highly regarded by the entire Jewish people, was directed by a holy angel to send for you and bring you to his house and to listen to what you have to say.' So Peter asked them in and gave them lodging.

Next day, he was ready to go off with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Jaffa. They reached Caesarea the following day, and Cornelius was waiting for them. He had asked his relations and close friends to be there, and as Peter reached the house Cornelius went out to meet him, knelt at his feet and prostrated himself. But Peter helped him up. 'Stand up' he said 'I am only a man after all!' Talking together they went in to meet all the people assembled there, and Peter said to them, 'You know it is forbidden for Jews to mix with people of another race and visit them, but God has made it clear to me that I must not call anyone profane or unclean. That is why I made no objection to coming when I was sent for; but I should like to know exactly why you sent for me.' Cornelius replied, 'Three days ago I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, when I suddenly saw a man in front of me in shinning robes. He said, "Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been accepted as a sacrifice in the sight of God; so now you must send to Jaffa and fetch Simon known as Peter who is lodging in the house of Simon the tanner, by the sea." So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Here we all are, assembled in front of you to hear what message God has given you for us.'

Then Peter addressed them: 'The truth I have come to realise' he said, is that God does not have favourites, but anybody of any nationality who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to him.

'It is true, God sent his word to the people of Israel, and it was to them that the good news of the peace was brought by Jesus Christ - but Jesus Christ is Lord of all men. You must have heard about the recent happenings in Judaea; about Jesus of Nazareth and how he began in Galilee, after John had been preaching baptism. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil. Now I, and those with me, can witness to everything he did throughout the countryside of Judaea and in Jerusalem itself; and also to the fact that they killed him by hanging him on a tree, yet three days afterwards God raised him to life and allowed him to be seen, not by the whole people but only certain witnesses God had chosen beforehand. Now we are those witnesses - we have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection from the dead - and he has ordered us to proclaim this to his people and to tell them that God has appointed him to judge everyone, alive or dead. It is to him that all the prophets bear this witness: that all who believe in Jesus will have their sins forgiven through his name.'

While Peter was still speaking the Holy Spirit came down on all the listeners. Jewish believers who had accompanied Peter were all astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit should be poured out on the pagans too, since they could hear them speaking strange languages and proclaiming the greatness of God. Peter himself then said, 'Could anyone refuse the water of baptism to these people, now they have received the Holy Spirit just as much as we have?' He then gave orders for them to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterwards they begged him to stay on for some days. - Acts 10:3-48 -

This incident marked the expansion of the Christian faith, and of the early Church to include Gentiles as well as Jews. Apostle or Saint Peter alluded to Cornelius' conversion at the Jerusalem Council.

"Peter stood up and addressed them: 'My brothers' he said, 'you know perfectly well that in the early days God made his choice among you: the pagans were to learn the Good News from me and so become believers. In fact God, who can read everyone's heart, showed his approval of them by giving the Holy Spirit to them just as he had to us. God made no distinction between them and us, since he purified their hearts by faith. It would only provoke God's anger now, if you imposed on the disciples the very burden that neither we nor our ancestors were strong enough to support? Remember, we believe that we are saved in the same way as they are: through the grace of the Lord Jesus. This silenced the entire assembly, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing all the signs and wonders God had worked through them among the pagans." - Acts 15:7-12 -

The need for a new heaven and a new earth arises from man's sin and God's judgment. It is not from some deficiency or evil in the universe.

To the man he said, Because you listen to the voice of your wife and ate from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat,
Accursed be the soil because of you. With suffering shall you get your food from it, everyday of your life. - Genesis  3:17 -

The Apostle/Saint Paul referred to the Old Testament doctrine of the Day of the Lord and applied it to the events that will occur at the Second Coming of Christ. When Christ returns, this present evil age will give way to the age to come. The universe will be purified and cleansed by the power of God. This will be reminiscent of the purging of the earth in the days of Noah but on a universal scale.

"The Day of the Lord will come like a thief and then with a roar the sky will varnish, the elements will catch fire and fall apart, the earth and all that it contain will be burnt up. Since everything is coming to an end like this, you should be living holy and saintly lives while you wait and long for the Day of God to come when the sky will dissolve in flames and the elements melt in the heat. What we are waiting for is what he promised: the new heavens and new earth, the place where righteousness will be at home.

So then, my friends, while you are waiting do your best to live lives without spot or stain so that he will find you at peace. Think of our Lord's patience as your opportunity to be saved; our brother Paul who is so dear to us told you this when he wrote to you with the wisdom that is his special gift. He always writes like this when he deals with this sort of subject, and this makes some points in his letter hard to understand; these are the points that uneducated and unbalanced people distort, in the same way as they distort the rest of scripture - a fatal thing for them to do.

You have been warned about this, my friends; be careful not to get carried away by the errors of unprincipled people, from the firm ground that you are standing on. Instead, go on growing in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory in time and in eternity. Amen." 2 Peter 3:10-18 -

Heaven is a word that expresses several distinct concepts in the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible:

1. - As used in a physical sense heaven is the expanse over the earth. The tower of Babel reached upward to heaven. God is the possessor of heaven. Heaven is the location of the stars as well the source of dew. - Genesis 1:8, 11:4, 14:9, 1:14, 26:4, 27:28 -

2. - Heaven is also the dwelling place of God. It is the source of the new Jerusalem.

Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, 'Truly, Yahweh is in this place and I never knew it!' He was afraid and said, 'How' awe-inspiring this place is! This is nothing less than a house of God; this is the gate of heaven!' - Genesis 28:16-17 -

"And now war broke out in heaven, when Michael with his angels attacked the dragon. The dragon fought back with his angels but they were defeated and driven out of heaven. The great dragon, the primeval serpent, known as the devil or Satan who had deceived all the world, was hurled down to the earth and his angels were hurled down with him. Then I heard a voice shout from heaven, "Victory and power and empire forever have been won by our God and all authority for his Christ now that the persecutor who accused our brothers day and night before our God has been brought down.

They have triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the witness of their martyrdom because even in the face of death they would not cling to life. Let the heavens rejoice and all who live there but for you, earth and sea, trouble is coming because the devil has gone down to you in a rage knowing that his days are numbered." - Revelation 12:7-12 -

The city prepared and built by God for those who are faithful to Him. Known as the heavenly Jerusalem this is the city that is to come. They lived there in tents while he looked forward to a city founded, designed and built by God. - Hebrews 11:10 - They can hardly have meant the country they came from since they had the opportunity to go back to it; but in fact they were longing for a better homeland, their heavenly homeland. - Hebrews 11:15-16 - These references in Hebrews find their fulfillment in Revelation chapter 21 and 22. The New Jerusalem is illuminated by the glory of God. It serves as the dwelling place of God among His redeemed forever.

3. - Because of the work of Christ on the Cross, heaven is, in part, present with believers on earth as they obey God's commands. - John 14:1-4 - The word heaven also used as the name of God, the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of heaven are often spoken of interchangeably. - Luke 15:18; John 3:27; Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15 -

At the end time a new heaven will be created to surround the new earth. This new heaven will be the place of God's perfect presence.

For now I create new heavens and a new earth, and the past will not be remembered , and will come no more to men minds. Be glad and rejoice forever and ever, for what I am creating because I now create Jerusalem "Joy and her people Gladness". I shall rejoice over Jerusalem and exult in my people. - Isaiah 65:17-19 -

For as the new heavens
and the new earth I shall make
will endure before me
it is Yahweh who speaks
so will your race and name endure

From New Moon to New Moon,
from sabbath to sabbath,
all mankind will come to bow down
in my presence, says Yahweh.

And on their way out they will see
the corpses of men
who have rebelled against me,
Their worm will not die
nor their fire go out;
they will be loathsome to all mankind. - Isaiah 66:22-24 -

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now and there was no longer any sea. I saw the holy city, and the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice call from the throne, You see this city? Here God lives among men. He will make his home among them; they shall be his people and he will be their God; his name is God-with-them. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes; they will be no more death and no more mourning or sadness. The world of the past has gone.

Then the One sitting on the throne spoke: 'Now I am making the whole of creation new' he said, 'Write this; that what I am saying is sure and will come true'. And then he said, It is already done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give water from the well of life tree, free to anybody who is thirsty; it is the rightful inheritance of the one who proves victorious; and I will be his God and he a son/daughter to me. But the legacy for cowards, for those who break their word or worship obscenities, for murderer and fornicators, and for fortune tellers, idolaters or any other sort of liars, is the second death in the burning lake of sulphur." - Revelation 21:1-8 -

"This, too, he said to me," Do not keep the prophecies in this book a secret because the Time is close. Meanwhile let the sinner go on sinning, and the unclean continue to be unclean; let those who do good go on doing good, and those who are holy continue to be holy. Very soon now, I shall be with you again, bringing the reward to be given to every man according to what he/she 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. These others must stay outside: dogs, fortune-tellers, and fornicators, and murderers, and idolaters, and everyone of false speech and false life." - Revelation 22:10-15 -

-     WELCOME TO SACRED SCRIPTURE / WORD OF GOD / HOLY BIBLE READER'S COMMUNITY     - 

Wishing you, 'Happy Reading', and may God, the Father, the Son of the living God, Jesus Christ, fills your heart, mind, thoughts, and grants you: The Holy Spirit, that is, Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Counsel, Piety, Fortitude, Fear of the Lord, and also His fruits of the Holy Spirit, that is, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Trustfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. Amen! God blessing be upon you!

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/she is like. He/She is like a man/woman who when he/she built his/her house 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/woman who built his/her 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 - 

If we live by the truth and in love, we shall grow in all ways into Christ Jesus, who is the head by whom the whole body is fitted and joined together, every joint adding its own strength, for each separate part to work according to it function. So the body grows until it has built itself up, in love." - Ephesians 4:15-16 - 

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/She will glorify me, since all he/she tells you will be taken from what is mine. Everything the Father has is mine; that is why I said: all he/she tells you will be taken from what is mine." - John 16:12-15 -

Your generous contribution and support is profoundly cherish. I sincerely pray that: God blessing be upon you, always. Amen! Bank transfer: Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah - Public Bank Berhad account no. 4076577113 - Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.