We know God's love / forgiveness to be unconditional explained by Romans 6:23. Unconditional love means love with NO limit within forgiveness.
If anyone hurt you but you forgave him/her, it means you are loving that person unconditionally. Conditional means limited. If you do not forgive whoever did wrong thing to you, it means you are not loving that person unconditionally. God loved you so much so He sent his son Jesus Christ to earth to pay our sin debt when he died on the cross to have all of our sins forgiven so we would never have to face penalty by going to hell as John 3:16 explained.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
(John 3:16)
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
However if you ever happen to read Matthew 6:15, you might be having difficult time understanding God's unconditional love.
"But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:15)
This causes difficulty in my understanding on Romans 6:23 too. I would say this doesn't verify the fact God's forgiveness is unconditional... but that was until when I read Psalm 66:18:
"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me" (Psalm 66:18)
I understood so much better. (iniquity = sin) Psalm 66:18 explains that if there is specific sin you hid in your heart and you haven't confessed that to the Lord yet or disagree that specific sin you committed is SIN, that means you are calling God a liar when His Word says:
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23)
Because unforgiveness is SIN. If you refuse to forgive, that means you are not agreeing that unforgiveness is sin. When you refuse to forgive after a long period of time WITHOUT reconciling (problems solved / forgiven) with a wrongdoer, your heart eventually becomes harden in a process, and that possibly prevents God from hearing your prayer when you attempt to reach out to Him as Psalm 66:18 explained. He cannot hear you when your heart is blocked by sin which you refuse to confess.
"If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:10)
In order to accept the salvation of Jesus Christ as God's personal gift, you must admit that you are sinner in need of a Savior. (Romans 6:23) When you become saved, you will begin to have the fruit of Spirit. Forgiveness is one of the most important virtues that demonstrate the fruit of Spirit in your heart. Refusing to forgive will only hinder your prayers with God. So you are required to make efforts to be like Jesus by being forgiving.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Seek God's Wisdom!
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. (Hosea 4:6)
Take extra caution whenever you enjoy things in the world such as TV shows, movies, music, books, etc. Not all of them glorify God. Some of them can be considered moral decays, dangerous for slowly stripping our biblical principles from us like flesh-eating bacteria / virus.
-TV shows and movies can teach good morals but often ignore the importance of the Salvation Jesus Christ offers for all of us.
-Music can heal but often ignore the fact that God can heal us and that he is our true counselor.
-Books can teach us many perspectives on humanity but often ignore God's Word that can only teach us prudence (means careful management or a sensible and careful attitude that makes you avoid unnecessary risks), and wisdom.
So be cautious whenever you enjoy all entertainment types in the world. We can also take pleasure in all the kind of cultures but some of today's cultures will continue to evolve until they reach the point where people will forget about God and His Word. Imagine how dangerous that can be.
I found interesting acronym on the Internet, B -I -B -L - E and it was mentioned that it stands for (B)asic (I)nstruction (B)efore (L)eaving (E)arth. Interesting thought! It is true that we must be completely dependent on KJV Bible that can only teach us God's Ways because our lives are extremely fragile without God's Word and prayer.
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (Joshua 1:8)
Take extra caution whenever you enjoy things in the world such as TV shows, movies, music, books, etc. Not all of them glorify God. Some of them can be considered moral decays, dangerous for slowly stripping our biblical principles from us like flesh-eating bacteria / virus.
-TV shows and movies can teach good morals but often ignore the importance of the Salvation Jesus Christ offers for all of us.
-Music can heal but often ignore the fact that God can heal us and that he is our true counselor.
-Books can teach us many perspectives on humanity but often ignore God's Word that can only teach us prudence (means careful management or a sensible and careful attitude that makes you avoid unnecessary risks), and wisdom.
So be cautious whenever you enjoy all entertainment types in the world. We can also take pleasure in all the kind of cultures but some of today's cultures will continue to evolve until they reach the point where people will forget about God and His Word. Imagine how dangerous that can be.
I found interesting acronym on the Internet, B -I -B -L - E and it was mentioned that it stands for (B)asic (I)nstruction (B)efore (L)eaving (E)arth. Interesting thought! It is true that we must be completely dependent on KJV Bible that can only teach us God's Ways because our lives are extremely fragile without God's Word and prayer.
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (Joshua 1:8)
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature
Hebrews 5:12
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Some of us are not certified to be a pastor or preacher but the bible says we are commanded to teach the gospel (Jesus' offering Salvation) to every person.
- If you have enough Bible knowledge to lead a bible study then lead one in your own church! or in your home.
- Help revive ministry in other churches if they are not strong enough
- If you go to mall a lot, be sure to give a tract to strangers.
- If you are a college student living in a dorm, leave a tract in the bathrooms / restrooms.
- Leave a tract on the table before you left out of a restaurant / diner.
- If you couldn't go anywhere without a ride, try to share the gospel in public chatrooms / online forum, (be careful not to cuss or participate in inappropriate topics.) Note: Christian chatrooms on the other sites are always filled with hate, dirty talk, so be on your guard. More importantly, protect yourself, don't give your address or text number.
if there's anyone in the public chatrooms that want to know more about God, be prepared to give the resources to study God's word and help them find a nearby church.
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Some of us are not certified to be a pastor or preacher but the bible says we are commanded to teach the gospel (Jesus' offering Salvation) to every person.
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
(Mark 16:15)
- If you have enough Bible knowledge to lead a bible study then lead one in your own church! or in your home.
- Help revive ministry in other churches if they are not strong enough
- If you go to mall a lot, be sure to give a tract to strangers.
- If you are a college student living in a dorm, leave a tract in the bathrooms / restrooms.
- Leave a tract on the table before you left out of a restaurant / diner.
- If you couldn't go anywhere without a ride, try to share the gospel in public chatrooms / online forum, (be careful not to cuss or participate in inappropriate topics.) Note: Christian chatrooms on the other sites are always filled with hate, dirty talk, so be on your guard. More importantly, protect yourself, don't give your address or text number.
if there's anyone in the public chatrooms that want to know more about God, be prepared to give the resources to study God's word and help them find a nearby church.
Apple of the Eye
The English idiom / phrase, "Apple of the eye" came from the Bible (Deuteronomy 32:10, Psalms 17:8, Proverbs 7:2, Lamentations 2:18, Zechariah 2:8)
It means something or somebody you deeply cherish. For example, "my friend's daughter is the apple of his eye" means his daughter is very, very precious to him.
Another example...."After adopting a new dog, she eventually became the apple of her eye. She fell in love with her new pet. She walks her dog every day and they always play together."
There's a good verse from the bible that uses the English idiom:
This scripture teaches that when Jesus sacrificed himself for us, all of our sins are forgiven, it does not mean we can sin freely as we want to. We are commanded to keep the Lord's commandments and cherish them completely as if His Word is our only treasure then we will live well. It might be impossible NOT to break his commandments but if we continue to practice God's principles, our fruit of the spirit will grow and stay strong, then we will be more blessed through our relationship with God.
Ask yourselves: Have you analyzed your relationship with God? He deeply cares for us because we are the apple of his eye.
It means something or somebody you deeply cherish. For example, "my friend's daughter is the apple of his eye" means his daughter is very, very precious to him.
Another example...."After adopting a new dog, she eventually became the apple of her eye. She fell in love with her new pet. She walks her dog every day and they always play together."
There's a good verse from the bible that uses the English idiom:
Proverbs 7:2 (KJV)
Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
This scripture teaches that when Jesus sacrificed himself for us, all of our sins are forgiven, it does not mean we can sin freely as we want to. We are commanded to keep the Lord's commandments and cherish them completely as if His Word is our only treasure then we will live well. It might be impossible NOT to break his commandments but if we continue to practice God's principles, our fruit of the spirit will grow and stay strong, then we will be more blessed through our relationship with God.
Ask yourselves: Have you analyzed your relationship with God? He deeply cares for us because we are the apple of his eye.
1 John 4:9 (KJV)
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
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