Witnessing to Malays and others

"Eh, Joel, why can't Jesus just be a prophet ye? Kenape dia tak boleh macam orang biase?"

These are wonderful questions to hear from your Malay colleagues. I am more than happy to answer why Jesus is not just a prophet, and why Jesus cannot be merely a prophet to save the world. 

Just these 2 days, my Malay colleagues have been asking me different things about Christianity in contrast with Islam (over lunch and after office work is done). Sometimes I gave satisfactory answers, sometimes I tell myself "You should have responded to that question more wisely!" a few minutes after I gave them a reply.

Besides that question, they have asked things like

"What is the difference between Catholic and Protestant?"

"Who is the biggest guy in Protestant?"

"What does the Bible say about doomsday?"

"Why are there so many versions of the Bible, and that there are so many revisions of one version"

"How can the Trinity be true?"

and the list goes on. 

Admittedly, there are no simple answers to the questions above. Besides that, knowing why they are asking such questions might sometimes be more important than answering the question itself. I had no guide book in answering these questions, and one question came after another, sometimes I am a little disappointed when I give blurry answers, but I am happy for one thing - they kept asking questions about Jesus and the Bible. Its good because by asking more and more questions about Jesus and the Bible, I can tell them more and more about the Full Gospel without saying things like "Do you have a moment for me to tell you from Genesis to Revelations?"

Most of the time, the "witnessing skills" we learn or the "witnessing mode" we turn on involves us telling more and more about ourselves becoming Christians - and trying to convince another person that our "experience with God" is genuine. We have to tell them how we "felt" when we sing songs in church, how the atmosphere just buzzes, the miracle about our aunt getting healed of cancer, and the list goes on. Instead of drawing them to the cross, we draw them more and more to ourselves. We learn the trick: People cannot contradict testimonies. You can argue against theories, but you can't argue testimonies.

But the problem is that we are bearing testimony of ourselves (and our little experiences) rather than bearing testimony of what happened on the cross 2000 years ago. Seekers become more suspicious as they hear the words we say, and their suspicion is well founded. After all,

"What gives me the assurance that what happen to you will also happen to me?"

or

"What makes you sure that what happens to you is the truth? After all, you are not the only one with miracles happening"

We then go further and further to ask them to make a "leap of faith" to trust that our experience of God is good enough evidence for them to make the first step... and hopefully they "experience" whatever we experience enough, so that their faith may be strong. Do we not realize that we have shifted the basis of our faith from the "historical work of salvation by Jesus" into some "weak experience and feelings we develop in church"? And yes, our mindset along such lines have brought us to continually think...

"If only I can bring Joe and Moe to church, then the pastor will do some amazing thing and they will somehow come to believe in Jesus as Lord and Saviour!"

Oh, if only we knew how powerful God's Word is on its own. We think as though people do not want to know the truth, as if truth does not matter. We are so busy feeding their immediate needs - promising them feelings(of peace, security, health, wealth, and whatever nots) leaving out the most crucial truth! Do we not know that even if they should come to church and raise up their hands during an altar call - you are increasing their chances of falling away? Or have you not heard the parable of seeds? The seed who fell on shallow ground who received it immediately with joy, but withered away as they had no roots? Should not their faith be rooted in the truth of the Gospel?

I remember during McGarage long time ago (yes, long time ago), we were laughing over the idea how church has served the Gospel with sandwiches. So that halfway while eating their sandwich, the pastor pops up and they can't go anywhere. Surely we do not use sandwiches, but do we try to serve the Gospel with Feelings? Most of the time, we think so pragmatically, that we say:

"it is okay for them to buy the feelings/our second hand experience/whatever first, they will come to know Jesus later"

and we do this in the name of "meeting their immediate needs". Come on, I believe most of us are educated in university already. Even a person not educated in university knows what a "con job" this is like. Let us suppose that this believer does "buy" our talks on feelings and miraculous experiences, do you want his faith to be rooted in that? Is that what the Bible teaches us to do?

2 Corinthians 4:5

For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.^[a^] 2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

Here is the demonstration of the Spirit's power - God's testimony of Jesus Christ crucified, so that our faith rest in the Gospel, and not on wise and persuasive words, good as they are - they are but nothing in times of trouble. As I come to close, I would like to share with you personally...

"I find myself much more confident selling the Full Gospel, rather than fearing my candy-packed-Gospel would be unconvincing"

Some of you sales people out there, I'm sure you would understand this. It is easier to sell a good product, than to sell one that you can't guarantee anything. Question to you, question to me is this: -

Have I been sharing the Gospel faithfully and truthfully?

What am I trusting in when I seek to share the Gospel? (God's Spirit to use God's Word? or God to use my brilliant life experience?)

If I trust that God will use His Word - then am I behaving that way in my speech? Am I taking the effort to learn what the Gospel is before telling others?

FAQ (something like that) 

Many people have used Paul's encounter with King Agrippa as a defense that a personal testimony is "the way to go". That is a terrible misreading of the context. Paul was brought out to defend himself and then perhaps share the gospel. Paul was not invited to "tell from Genesis to Revelations". Besides that, Paul was aware that Agrippa knew the prophets (OT), and when Paul appeals to Agrippa, Paul used the OT, God's Word.

Some of us work hard in our day job with the thinking of 

"One day, my colleagues will realize I'm so excellent in my job and I get promotions and I am so happy all the time. and then they will ask me why? then I will answer then 'it is because I believe in Jesus', then they will somehow be convinced that it is the right thing to be a christian and try out church"

I hope this logic works for you, because it doesn't work for me. I believe that Christians should do their work faithfully and honestly, for this adorns the doctrine of God our Saviour (Titus 2:9-10) But let us not mislead others into Christianity.

The second answer to that is also that it is the Bible pattern to lead people to Christ using God's Word. Relationships are important (we know it is hard to invite a person to church), but they cannot be the means nor the reason why someone would come to Christ. We have to trust God in evangelism, and trusting God simply means that we trust that His Spirit using His Word - is good enough, in fact, it is the best way to lead a sinner to Christ.

An Overview of Habakkuk

Introduction
When we look at our world today, there is so much injustice. There are wars all over – innocent civilians die because of power hungry dictators like Saddam Hussien. Recently, George Bush expressed regret that the U.S. intelligence gave wrong information and that Saddam didn’t actually had any weapons of mass destruction! Pity the people who died in the process. What about Hitler and the 6 million Jews who died? What about the rape cases around us? Many of these rapists are never caught, and as time passes, people forget and the police stops pursuing the case – and these rapists run free!

Non-Christians asks the question rightly: Where is God? Is God’s hand somehow shortened? God is not able? Or perhaps some will try to “defend” God, by stating that it is really the human problem – God has done His part, it is just that we fail at ours. There is definitely truth in that we humans are terribly responsible for the mess we are in, but is this the whole story of God’s solution? The political and economical injustice we see in the world today, isn’t God going to do something about it?

Our world today is not entirely different from the world that the prophet Habakkuk lived in. He saw the same injustices, he asked the same questions. Before we move on, it is important to know the background of Habakkuk. It would also be a good practice to have the Bible open before you, so that you can make sure what is preached is really according to the Bible, and not something the speaker made up.

Background of Habakkuk
According to historians, Habakkuk is dated about 605B.C. This is a very interesting time:

After the Golden Age of David and Solomon,
Israel split into 2 countries:
Israel (The Northern Country) and Judah (The Southern Country)
Both of the countries steadily saw their decline.

Their immorality towards God revealed itself in all sorts of crime.
God judged Israel by sending Assyria to attack Israel. Israel is forever gone from the pages of history.
God has warned Judah of her sin (and we read it in the book of Habakkuk too).

During 605 B.C., Judah is being reigned by the evil king Jehoiakim in Jerusalem who did what was evil in the sight of The Lord (2 Kings 23:36-37)

Wickedness, injustice and bribery is rampant in the country, and it is during this time that Habakkuk is written.

Habakkuk 1:1-4
Habakkuk has been crying out to God who apparently is indifferent about the Israel.

“The law is paralyzed and justice never prevails”

There is wickedness in the judges, injustice is everywhere! The wicked oppress the righteous, justice is perverted! God isn’t listening!

Habakkuk 1:5 – 1:11
To Habakkuk’s dismay, God revealed to Habakkuk that He is about to judge Judah by raising the “ruthless and impetuous” Babylonians who does not obey the Law of God but are “a law to themselves” to attack Israel.

God reveals that the Babylonians will “seize dwellings not their own”(i.e. conquer Judah which is immediately fulfilled during Jehoiakim’s time). God will judge wicked Judah by sending a more wicked Babylon to conquer it.


Habakkuk 1:12-2:1
Habakkuk takes no such “nonsense” from God and “makes his case” to “see what God will say to him”. Habakkuk then puts forth his argument:

o God’s eyes are too pure to look on evil: How can he tolerate such wickedness? As if Israel was not wicked enough – God will give Israel over to Babylonians who are more wicked!

o Babylonians are going to “catch” Israelites like fish – without mercy! As though Israelites are not human beings!

o Not only that, in their victory and pride, the Babylonians credit it all to themselves ( and their idols) – “sacrificing to their nets, and burning incense to the dragnets”

o Above all, God is going to just let all these happen when the Babylonians are destroying the nations without mercy?

To Habakkuk, God’s decision is inconsistent with God’s character.

Habakkuk 2:1 – 19
God replies! From 2:4-17, God reveals that He indeed hates the wickedness of the Babylonians, there are proud, have wicked desires, greedy, steal, extort, murder, commit all sorts of immorality – the list just goes on!

As God reveals each type of wickedness that He detests, He also reveals that He will judge them with a terrible judgement. Perhaps the most powerful line is revealed in 2:16, speaking to the Babylonians

“You will be filled with shame instead of glory. Now it is your turn! Drink and be exposed!”

(Reading from Daniel, we know that God revealed that the Babylonian empire to be overthrown by the different empires that followed after – as Daniel explained the dream)

Building from 2:2 onwards, the most striking verse in this chapter is found in 2:4

“The righteous will live by faith”

God revealed that this judgment will not be immediate. It will take time – but it will SURELY COME. It speaks of some appointed time, not now, but sometime in the end. But it will not prove false. God’s judgment lingers, but IT WILL CERTAINLY COME!

Meanwhile, the righteous will just have to take God at His Word and trust that God will make good His promise of judgment. The righteous will have to live by (his) faith. Faith that simply says “God will do what He said”.





Habakkuk 2:20
God does not lie, though His judgment will take time. God is sovereign. We who are often so faithless, doubting whether God actually cares about what is going on with the injustices in the world – this is what God says to Habakkuk (and perhaps to us)

“The Lord is in His holy temple, let the earth be silent before Him”

Habakkuk didn’t get this, he thinks that God is somehow mellow and complacent with wickedness when no immediate judgment followed – maybe God fell of His throne of something else! But God replies that He is not like the idol who is useless (2:18-19), but Yahweh is THE Sovereign Lord who is ever in control. Judgment will come, God knows what He is doing – let the earth be silent before Him.

Habakkuk 3:1-15
Receiving such a powerful revelation of God in His power and sovereignty, Habakkuk burst into a beautiful poem using different imageries to describe God’s strength for simply who He is, and His Judgment – God’s sure Judgment.



Habakkuk 3:16-19
Now Habakkuk understands. The world may crumble, Babylonians may win the battle – but God is still God! God will surely judge Babylon as Habakkuk “waits patiently for the day of calamity to come to the nation invading Israel”. God has opened Habakkuk’s eyes to see beyond the “here and now” to be confident that God will make good His promise and Judgment – God is teaching Habakkuk to “live by faith” (to take God at His Word). It is no wonder that if Habakkuk can see what God sees (in a way), the Sovereign Lord is His strength! Habakkuk’s sight of Judah crumbling fails him, but God’s promise of avenging Judah just turns the table around – no wonder Habakkuk bursts forth

“I will be joyful in God my Savior”

Application:
What about our world? What about the rich who oppress the poor – and get away with it? What about the rapist?? Will they get away? Will God judge the greedy American businesses that caused this financial crisis?

God will surely judge is the reply. Maybe now, but most probably not now. Will God judge them now by striking them down with cancer? Maybe, maybe not.

How should we understand this judgment in light of the New Testament? Paul quotes Habakkuk 2:4

“The righteous will live by his faith”

in Romans 1:17 and Galatians 3:11. Paul argues that we are saved by grace through faith – the righteous will live by faith. Faith in what? In Jesus Christ.

To understand God’s judgment, we have to understand Jesus. It is not weird for the Israelites to expect the Messiah as a “political deliverance”. After all, they have been ruled by foreign powers since forever! But through Jesus’ death on the cross, we suddenly realize that the sin of the whole world goes on to Jesus! The real deliverance was not military/political in nature, God is concerned for something FAR MORE IMPORTANT.

This is unimaginable! The rapist’s sin? Hitler’s sin? Saddam Hussien’s sin? Perhaps more importantly – My sin? Your sin? We are almost going to cry out in disagreement like Habakkuk did! But God has indeed judged the world. The judgment fell on Jesus.

The world is sinful.
God is Just, God is loving.
Jesus takes the penalty.

What? The Judgment fell on Jesus? Yes, this is what the Christian Message is. Jesus – Sin Bearer of the whole world, which is the means by which EVERYBODY can find forgiveness. By faith, we are saved. Not of ourselves, so that no one can boast. The righteous shall live by faith.

Paul argues: By the law no one is justified. Some of us who think we are good enough – that is not true. Jesus had to die – for our sins, and the sins of the world. If anybody could be nominated for being the “most cursed person”, it is Jesus. Innocent, Righteous, GOD Himself – suffers the ultimate humiliation, the ultimate condemnation. Can we try to earn our salvation? No. God’s Love calls us to accept this free gift. By faith.

Whichever way it is, God wants to teach us to take Him at His Word that He will surely judge, even though what our eyes see might not look like God’s immediate judgment. God wants us to trust in Him – in His Word that He will surely fulfill. God is not an absent God like what we would think of absent fathers – they go away and do their own thing, and comes home to just give money (assuming that they have done their part). God is actively involved in our world, but God has a time for everything – sometimes God’s timetable is the same as ours, most times it is different. Perhaps God didn’t want to waste this opportunity to train His People to “live by faith and not by sight”.

But let us not only point fingers at others – the rapists, the swindlers, the wicked dictators. What makes us think that God who is the Judge of the whole world is not our Judge? God is just and shows no partiality! Not with “them” (the other people), neither with us. To start with, when we point fingers at others calling them murderers and thieves, do we not practice it? (Afterall, the Sermon on The Mount equates hating our brothers as murdering – highlighting that what God demands is the true obedience from the heart, not just a FORM of obedience)


Closing:
God is just and God hates sin. His eyes are too pure to look on evil. God’s hatred for sin and God’s judgment for sin is revealed in Jesus. Yet on the cross, we realize God’s love for us is immeasurable. It is immense – God’s judgment and God’s Love demonstrated fully through Jesus Christ crucified. What about us? We know God’s judgment – it is terrible and horrifying. How then are we to respond to Jesus – to God?

Questions to challenge us
Are we going to realize our own ignorance, and turn to God for forgiveness and trust in Him – to stand in awe of Jesus’ sacrifice and bow our knees? Or are we going to continue in our ignorance and despise God’s Love?

Questions to discuss
1. What kind of issues in our world and our lives today that we think “need God’s immediate judgment”?
2. In light of Scripture and Jesus’ death, how then are we to understand the world we live in?

Mark 1 - Epilogue

Introduction:
Mark, though the shortest among all the Gospels, is one master storyteller. Mark is structured in a way such that for the first half of the Gospel (till middle of Chapter 8 - Peter's Confession of Christ), we will be looking at Who is Jesus? Then thaat point onwards, we will look at what it means to follow Jesus.

Please do read through Mark 1 and ask questions along the lines - Who is Jesus?

Chapter 1:

v1. The Gospel is about Jesus Christ, Son of God.

v2. "I will send my messenger ahead of you who will prepare your way"
Mark quotes Malachi 3:1 - dated about 430 B.C. Malachi talks about the "Day of The Lord", a day when God Himself would be coming down from heaven.

v3. "A voice of one calling in the desert", "Prepare the way of The Lord"
Mark quotes Isaiah 40:3 - Isaiah speaks of God comforting his people(Isa 40:1), and also that "The Lord" is coming to his people (Isa 40:10)

v4-8. John is corresponds to the messenger in the desert region. He announces that One will come who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.

v9-11 As there is the messenger, so "The Lord" would correspond to the person that John points out, i.e. Jesus. God testifies of Jesus as His Son.

Extra note up to this point:
As a whole, Mark is pointing out that Jesus is The Fulfillment of the prophecy of the long awaited God-King who will come for Israel.

v12-14 The antagonist, Satan, appears for the first time in the Gospel of Mark. As readers, we are now aware that Jesus is not alone. This quickly follows with a report that John (the messenger) is thrown into prison. After the temptation, Jesus ministry begins.

v15. "The time has come", "the Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news" - Within immediate context, the time would refer to the time where the Kingdom of God is near. Thus far, Jesus ministry is proclaiming the good news - calling people to repent, and believe the good news. The good news will be the continuing pages of Mark which we will read more of.

Jesus' Authority

v16-20 We see that Jesus has the authority to call men to Himself. Whether he has favour with men, or favour with God - we might not be able to conclude how He has the ability to do so. But from the text, we know that Christ has such authority.

v21-22 Jesus taught (the Scriptures) with authority. Jesus taught it with authority, so much so that people were amazed as He spoke differently from the teachers (of the law) of the day.

v23-27 Jesus has authority over demons. "Be quiet, come out of him" is simply a command - that the demons have to obey Jesus' words, unlike what the media portrays (people holding crosses and sprinkling "holy water" and shouting chants).

v29-31 Jesus has authority over sicknesses. Jesus simply touched Simon's mother-in-law and the sickness left.

v32-34 Further records of Jesus work on healing and exorcism.

Extra note up to this point:
From v24-25 and v34 we are introduced to the concept of some secret. Normally known as the "Messianic Secret" - we read of Jesus making effort to conceal His identity for some reason. Yet, we also see that Jesus continues to do works that demonstrate His Deity.

v35 After a whole day (cf. v32 evening) of ministry, Jesus departs to a place where He could pray. He departs early in the morning while it was still dark, perhaps He did not want anybody to see Him, and simply to be alone for some time with God in prayer.

v36-39 Everybody is looking for Jesus. From previous verses, it is most probable that there were more diseases to be healed and demons to be casted out. The disciples were eager about it - but Jesus had a different focus. Jesus plainly declared that His purpose of coming was to preach (the Gospel - the Good News), to teach. Jesus continues to teach (primary focus) and drive out demons.

v40 -45 Though the main aim of Jesus was to preach, the people continued to come to Jesus for their physical ailments. "Filled with compassion", Jesus continues to heal the people - yet the man who once had leprosy did not obey Christ's word, so much so that what he thought of as "spreading the good news" became a hindrance to Jesus ministry.
v44 - This is an Old Testament Law from Lev 13:49 and Lev 14 concerning lepers who are healed.

Chapter Summary:
Jesus fulfillment of prophecy, Jesus Authority (call men, teach, heal, drive out demons) and the centrality of preaching the Gospel.

FAQ

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

To understand 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, I have briefly browsed through the few preceding Chapters to create a framework whereby we ought to understand the 4 verses. Let us be reminded of not taking a few verses from the Bible to preach our sermon. Ultimately, it was Paul's letter to the people at that time, and it ought to be understood from their point of view.

Hurry not to look for application, but that when we understand the meaning and the principle, then we can apply effectively and biblicaly.

I will be picking a few verses from chapter 1-9 to show the theme of the letter and the flow of reasonings and details that Paul puts. Before we go there, any reader of Paul will know that Paul is indeed a brilliant man - If he is set to convince you of something, he will quote sources, he will structure is argument, he will demonstrate how he reaches a conclusion - along this line, we will learn about who God is, what Jesus does, what examples we ought to follow and much more

However, it is important again to remember Paul's structure, so as to put the few verses in a greater context.

The Corinthian Church is one of the early churches that Paul planted. Paul has his heart for them - and it is understandable that the church has little structure about it. The word is preached, the people are fresh to this "Christianity" religion, and they have very little idea ow to run a church. We will soon see some of the problems they face.

Chapter 1
Here, we know that the Corinthian Church is truly blessed - "enriched in every way". It is possible that they were finanically doing well, they had spiritual gifts of many sorts - as we will read of in Chapter 13. However, there are divisions in church - for some claim to be followers of Paul, some of Peter, some of Apollos. One might guess that the divisions occured due to intellectual arguments that the people cook up. Verse 26 onwards might give us a hint that the Corinthian church might have divisions as they would think of following one person ( Paul/Peter/Apollos ) was in some way superior than the other. It is also probable that they thought of themselves in superior terms compared to their counterparts based on some worldly standard which is really not God's standard. God's standard is different, God chooses the weak and demonstrates His power - God does not think a person is truly great the way the world would measure a man - i.e. intellect, wealth, etc. Christ is the one that we ought to follow, Christ is the Wisdom and Power of God (i.e. This is God's Way of saving us all, God's Perfect Solution, Our Holiness, Our Redeemer). Therefore, we ought not to boast in ourselves, but to boast about God.

Chapter 2-3
Paul continues to build on his arguments that God's type of wisdom is not only different from the world's type, but that it is superior, and it is powerful. Paul uses different terms here, Christ is God's Wisdom, Wisdom of the Spirit, God's secret wisdom - Wisdom and power that enables us to call God our Father, in short - what the Gospel is. The theme is central to promote God's Wisdom, God's standard, God's people as one - all under Christ. In Chapter 3 verse 1, Paul called them infants - their understanding has not matured. They still measured God's church/people/ideas according to human standards. Paul ends of chapter 3 ( verse 18 to 23 ) declaring supremacy of God's wisdom and the unity of the church all under Christ. In Christ - unity according to God's standard. Out of Christ, forget about it.

Chapter 4
We must not lose sight that the theme of this whole letter is centered on Christ. Christ being the standard, the wisdom, the example. In light of that, Paul argues that indeed Apollos and himself have gone very low - to be like slaves and servants to serve them - while the church is indeed rich, and has gotten herself into much worldliness, i.e. divisions, human wisdom,etc. verse 18, Paul points out the arrogance of some in the church, verse 20, big talkers...

Chapter 5 - 8
Paul now deals with the detail issues in church - Immorality, lawsuits among believers, more immorality, marriage, and food sacrifice to idols. In each of these issues, Paul explains the principle of the problem and solution - taking Christ as the example. please read at least chapter 7. For example: in chapter 7:28 onwards, Paul was discouraging them to simply think of marriage only - Paul wanted them to think of marriage and the consequences. Paul said that it is not wrong to marry, but should we get married and start to have divided interest ( between spouse and God ), we really have to examine whether or not we should proceed. Paul also says that indeed time is short, those who have spouses ought to live as though they have none. This does not imply don't love your wife, but not to be engrossed in these issues ( verse 31). Paul not only offers solution in these chapters, but the bigger picture that Paul is asking is " LOOK AT THE JESUS PERSPECTIVE" - "CONSIDER THINGS THAT WAY", this is showed also by previous verses, i.e. 6:7-8, 6:12, etc.

Transition from Chapter 8 to Chapter 9
Now towards the end of Chapter 8, I will give a little background about food sacrificed to idols. There is an understanding which is still relevant to us today: If somebody invites us to eat with them/eat their food - we are really declaring some sort of fellowship and friendship. Therefore, when some of the Christians were eating food that were sacrificed to idols ( think of eating the apple beside the jostick and inscense used to pray to the chinese gods ), some Christians felt that it was wrong, for it might have symbolized some union with the idols (devils). But Paul argues that, eating something or not eating something does not make us closer to God, i.e. more spiritual, or further from God, i.e. sinning against God and become less spiritual, etc. In the light of this, Paul said - however, for the sake of our fellow Christian brothers and sisters who have weaker faith, let us not wound their conscience - that is, let us not destroy their faith.
I will give a more modern example:
Christians are not forbidden to drink alcohol. However, the Bible does say we ought not to get drunk - stupid consequences to it. However, if we drink in front of a new Christian, they might think we are "okay" with drinking and getting drunk. They don't have proper understanding, if we continue to drink, then we destroy their faith - we confuse their understanding, we wound their conscience, their hearts.
So, Chapter 8:13 , Paul concludes, [ I will replace the words to illustrate ]
If drinking alcohol causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never drink alcohol, so that I will not cause him to fall.

Do you see the Christ pattern? It is really Christ pattern to consider for the sake of the others. This is God's perspective.

Remember when the disciples asked Jesus who is the greatest? Jesus said, "he who wants to be the greatest, has to be the servant of all" - now this is a Christ persepctive. Therefore, from Chapter 1 till Chapter 9, the theme is continuous and is centered around Christ.

Please get this...

Now opening Chapter 9...
Paul says " Am I not free?" "Am I not an apostle"?

As you read on the chapter you will find the attitude of Paul saying...
"Am I any lesser?" "Don't I have the right to do this and that?"
Paraphrased: it is something like, " Don't I have the authority and liberty to drink alcohol?"
Of course, by now we know that Paul does have the authority in the human perspective. In fact, in the human perspective, Paul could do anything.

But in verse 19, Paul says
"Though I am free and belong to no man,i.e. he has liberty - I make myself everybody elses servant to win as many as possible". Paul subjected himself to be like Jesus, to be a servant for the sake of other people, so that they might be saved!
Taking the alcohol example, Paul does not drink, so that the Christian brother will not be wounded. Think of Jesus - He could have come down from the cross - but for our sakes, Jesus hung there for our sakes, so that we can receive eternal life from His death.

Now, with that in mind, let us read 9:24-27

The picture painted in the few verses is one of striving. Is one of competing in a way of winning the prize. Let us not confused with the "one prize" picture. Paul said " Run in SUCH A WAY as to get the prize" Reread it, it means that " RUN like there is only one prize!"

When you have one prize, you run like mad. If there are many, maybe consolation prize is good enough.

Is this teaching that God is too poor to give us prizes? No! Paul is encouraging us to "run" our Christian lives that way - WHAT WAY?

verse 25 - strict training
verse 27 - being the master of our body , not letting the body be the master of us

like how some people live for the body ( live to eat, live to have sex, live to feel good ). It is alright to have sex and eat and feel good, but note that there is a difference between eating to live and living to eat.

The idea of a race in verse 26, "not aimlessly" also implies a certain focus.

Why run this way?

To obtain a prize. What prize - A crown that will last forever. What does the crown symbolize? A crown from God. God crowning you declaring that you "did it", you are a "winner". God saying "well done, good and faithful servant, come in and share the joy of your Lord!"

Paul also mentioned that when he makes his body his slave (i.e. disciplines it), after he preaches to others, he will also not be disqualified. In other words, he might be disqualified if he was not disciplined- and live whatever way he wishes.

Conclusion for these few verses,

"Do we need to be like the guy in the race and strive?"

Did Paul HAVE TO follow his strict training and not "drink alcohol"(my example)?

Well, I don't think Jesus HAD TO die on the cross - but He did. Why?

ONE APPLICATION QUESTION ONLY

How should this then relate to us?

Predestination

Little report to summarize the evening:

Philippians 1:6
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus

Philippians 2:13
for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose

The main purpose of this sharing is that:
1) Acknowledge God who works behind everything - therefore rightfully deserves all the credit
2) Receive assurance in God's unfailing work in our development
3) Know the main purpose of us - and the whole universe
4) Understanding the role our efforts play
Being confident of this

Many people around says encouraging things at times. Sometimes, those words are simply to make us feel better - it could be based on truth or simply well-intentioned wishful thinking. As comforting as those words are, Paul here asks us to be confident in God's character - so that our faith

"might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power"(1 Corinthians 2:5)

That He who begun a good work in you
He - that is God, begun a good work in us. The work is evidently begun when we were waken from our slumber in sin - being turned over into His marvelous light. As much as God has plans for the events of the world - He does not do so at the expense of His good work in us. The phrase "in you" is definitely not referring to any external qualities/talents or possession we have, but would have to mean our development, or character.

"Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand" (Ecclesiastes 5:15)

So what is this good work? This development of us?

"For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son"(Romans 8:29)

To become like Jesus Christ for God's Glory. As we will "depart empty handed", and that in a thousand years our life and accomplishment on earth will be remembered no more, God takes our character - us as a person - very seriously.

It is important here to note that it is God who begun a good work in us. Not us ourselves. This is God's project - He has counted the cost like a wise builder, He thinks it worthwhile to begin, and He will complete it as we shall see in the next paragraph

Will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ
I am not sure what "until the day of Jesus Christ" would mean - honestly, but for now, the emphasis will be God bringing it to completion. God's bringing it to completion - as far as this verse and Philippians 2:13 is concerned, is very much centered on God's ability to make us holy, and not so much our ability to put in effort.

What implications does this have?
Knowing that God does not abandon His work (I speak from His credibility and track record), we have a promise here stating explicitly that He "will not leave us nor forsake us". Not so much an encouragement only - but an assurance. We ought to be confident - that should we fall, we repent and confess our sins to Him who

"is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9)

and then we rise up in hope - knowing that our falling will be used by God to

"work for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28)

and have no need to hear lies from Satan telling us that our falling short this time shows that we are essentially incapable to please God - even with His Spirit in us. We agree with Satan that our sinful nature does not and will never be able to please God, but we disagree that God has given us up - or has left us to work out our own salvation.

for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose

From the previous verse,

"continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12)

Paul advocates that in our effort, God puts in His effort. God's effort does not make void our effort - on the contrary, His efforts are revealed in our efforts. He works in us. When we desire in our heart to praise God, to do something that is pleasing to Him - it is the Holy Spirit in us who yearns to do the Will of God.

Surely this desire to please God is not of our sinful nature - therefore it must me of our new spiritual nature. Our God revived and inspired spirit yearns together.

Not only God gives us the desire, He gives us to ability to do it. While something might seem too great a sacrifice to give, God gives us the knowledge to say

"whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ" (Philippians 3:7)

and give whatever needs to be given away - with joy, counting it a blessing. We know then that even our efforts and our labour in God is for His purpose - We may at times see the service we contribute as a singular separate effort which ends in itself - but God uses it for future plans that we do not even have any idea about!

Let us be ever mindful that God deserves the credit for all these:

"For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

God not only works in us - but He has chosen us before we were born or have the ability to choose Him. This extreme favour(pre-planned life our ours) would be one aspect of predestination. That God has set for us plans - in our case of believers - plans that lead to salvation and an eternity spent with Him and our fellow brothers and sisters.

As much as we seem to have a choice now to do good or to do evil - Are we not choosing to do good because God's Truth has dawned upon our hearts? Is it not God who has influenced our will to see His goodness and choose Him above the glitters of the world?

Answering a question:

1) Is it true therefore that some people are born to eternal condemnation (that is, born to go to hell?)

Yes, it is true. However, the underlying question would probably be, isn't God unfair in doing that? God is as just and fair when He sends one sinner from hell, or saves the other into eternal life. God did not send innocent people to hell, but those who suffer hell are like us - deserving of it by natural consequences.

We are saved not by our merits, but by the saving grace of God - Our death has been substituted by Christ death - So that we are not saved merely by mercy, but also by the justice of God - Justice in punishing Christ, mercy in our salvation.

The reason that I would accept this as an answer is:
1. God is sovereign - He does according to His pleasure

2. But more importantly, we know that God is a good God, and that He is a loving God. His pleasure is good and not wicked in nature. Therefore, He having absolute power and control over all our lives is not something meant to be feared the way we would fear an unjust slavemasters who kills according to his fancies. Or sometimes discipline teachers back in high school who have mood swings.

Scriptural reference to God's choice:

For he says to Moses,
"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."

It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.

For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."

Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' "Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?

What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?

(Romans 9:15-24)

God chooses one and not the other. For us who have been called and justified - which we will soon be glorified - this is purely God's gift. The gift is so hefty, so big, and so undeserved for very good reasons:

1) Should it be smaller, we might account our holiness to our strict discipline
2) A big gift is fitting for a rich king (Remember the story of Napoleon giving gold coins?)
3) Undeserved, so that we know indeed we have nothing to boast of ourselves

Having a great gift deposited in our souls, let us then remember it is God who fills us, gives us the desire to do His will, and gives us the power to do so too - God has called us before we existed, He watched our birth, saved our souls, prepared good works for us to do, invested in our development by His Spirit, ensuring that our temptations do not grow too big for us, most of all - exchanged His life for our lives. Though we know that God's Life is of infinitely more value than ours, but Jesus humbled Himself - bringing Glory to God by esteeming His life well spent in exchange for our death.

Therefore, we fear. Yes we fear. If God has chosen us, it could be as easy and simple that He did not choose us - and that we would end up in hell.

Does not John Newton's hymn sing out the story of grace therefore?

"Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved,
How precious did that grace appear,
the hour I first believed"

On a human level - should we be thinking chickens, we would be so fearful if our masters suddenly fed us with the choicest grains - for we fear that we would end up on a plate next week!
But God has no ulterior motive to put us on plates - In this we then work out our salvation in fear and trembling. No the fear of punishment - but respecting and loving God - who showed us mercy undeserved.

God does not coerce or threaten us to live holy lives - but now knowing God's good assurance for our spiritual success - He guarantees our final destination as of Philippians 1:6, and He also guarantees our journey as of Philippians 2:13 - assuring us of not only guidance, but His residence in us.

He now lives in us - How can He give us up without breaking His Word and giving up on Himself!?

Since it is God who lives in us, we ought to live therefore in truth and no longer in pretense to men. Let our prayers be with integrity - and not mere words to please our hearers. For Jesus says that the people who "perform" prayers have the rewards from men:

(Let us clap our hands and pity their little rewards)...Clap Clap Clap...

But God takes none of these nonsense. In the words of Charles H. Spurgeon, our eloquence and oratory is nothing before God. It is an insult to divine intelligence thinking that we could flatter God like we would bribe the men of this world.

When the two men prayed, the Pharisee could probably make a poem out of his "righteousness" - but God only heard one prayer that day. The prayer sounded like "God be merciful to me a sinner".

God hears our hearts, even when our words fail to express them. But knowing that it is even God in us who enables us to offer true prayer - let us not insult God by putting up fancy words to scratch the itches of the ears of listeners. When we encourage our friends, let us do so lovingly; when we pray, let us pray truthfully too - but let us not do such nonsense like praying for our friend to let them hear some encouraging words, in disguise to praying with God.

Having good assurance in God, let us strive to maintain our constant dependence on Him by frequently praying to Him throughout the day. When we walk, or do our work; when we see a beautiful flower or when disaster strikes us - let us always tell God as it is - to be truthful to God and tell us our fears and desires.

I have many reasons that God would love an honest sinner compared to a pious Pharisee. Having good assurance and good support, let us love God - talk with Him and grow with Him for that is His design for our growth - Not to slave under laws that we could never keep and punish ourselves for it - reminding ourselves daily of hell's threat to live a holy life for Him.

No- no- He gives peace. Jesus gives peace. Disciplines have their place - they should all be practiced with the understanding that it is God who works in us. Apart from that, it is better to be a common sinner than to be a self righteous Pharisee.

I believe with all my heart that God has destined greatness for you all dear cell members. He has called and justified you - He will glorify you. He has set you and I for success according to His definition (the best this world can never offer) - never give up hope, Jesus says to Peter to forgive his brother seventy times seven times... How would Jesus Himself offer less?

In view of such mercies, let us surrender ourselves totally and freely to God, doing everything to His Glory for He loves us and He remembers our welfare too - For His Glory - is the purpose of our existence, and also of the Universe.

Amen!