We can look at the Lord's Table, the Eucarist or the Holy Communion in three main ways:
1. In relation to Christ
For christians the partaking of the Holy Communion has three main aspects.
Proclaimation
Paul said, "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes" (1 Cor. 11:26, NKJV, emphasis added).
Not everyone is a preacher. But, by the act of taking the Holy Communion we are proclaiming the Gospel not only to our fellow believers, but the whole world seen or unseen, to the Holy Spirit, the evil spirits and angels, good or evil what Jesus Christ has done for us on the cross. We are proclaiming to the whole universe that Jesus Christ shed His blood and died on our behalf to redeem us. We are also proclaiming our faith in Him as our Savior and Lord.
Remembrance
Jesus said, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me" (1 Cor. 11:25, emphasis added).
It is said that, basically, a person can only remember about 40% of what he hears, 60% of what he sees, but 80% of what he hears, sees and does.
The application of this principle is also the same for the sacrament of Water Baptism and the sacrament of the Holy Communion.
The sacrament of water baptism is a symbolic act of identification of a person with Jesus Christ with His death, burial and His resurrection. Similarly, the sacrament of the Lord's Table is a symbolic act of partaking of the Lord's blood and body. These sacraments are not only heard, seen or heard, but seen, heard and acted out. The purpose is for christians to remember what Jesus has done for them.
Every time we partake of the Holy Communion we are reminded of the fact that Jesus died for us as sinners and that the cross is the ultimate demonstration of God's love for everyone of us.
Anticipation
Paul said, "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes" (1 Cor. 11:26, emphasis added).
Notice that we are not to proclaim the Lord's death forever. But, until He comes! In other words, we do not only look back and remember His death, but we also look forward to anticipate His coming again.
Someone said, "No past but the cross, no future but the coming". Our past before the cross is forgotten as we wait for the Lord's return.
Christians must believe that the Lord is coming again. He is coming quickly and suddenly. The New Testament ends with a prayer - "even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Rev. 22:20). All christians must pray this prayer often.
In my opinion, the only ultimate solution to earth's problems is the personal return of Jesus Christ. If He does not come back we will still be in a mess that we cannot get out of. This is the reason the Lord wants us to anticipate His return.
2. In relation to Christ's body
There are also three aspects:
Recognition
Paul said, "For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body" (1 Cor. 11:29, emphasis added).
I think discerning is a better word. Believers are to look beyond what the bread and wine speak of. We see the Body of the Lord and we feed on the Body of the Lord. Because there is only one loaf, we are one body, the Church. When we look at the person sitting next to us we do not see just a person, we see a member of the Body of Christ - someone whom Jesus died and shed His blood for. The bread is the Body of the Lord. The people who partake of the Communion with us are the living body of the Lord - members of His Body.
Failing to discern the Lord's Body was a major problem of the Corinthian Church. They had wrong relationships between them. They failed to discern and that was the reason some of them were sick or even died. It could be the major cause of sickness and premature death among christians today.
Participation
Paul said, "For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread" (1 Cor. 10:17, emphasis added).
In the Communion we all are partakers of the same bread together.
Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you" (John 6:53).
In other words, the only source of life is in the flesh and blood of Jesus. Those who partake of the Communion have divine life.
Sharing
Sharing is another word for communion - they mean the same thing.
Paul said, "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?" (1 Cor. 10:16, emphasis added)
So, when we partake of the bread and the cup we are sharing the Lord with our fellow believers. We are reminded we are only a small group of christians in the Universal Church. We are also reminded of all the believers who lived before us. We are united in this Communion.
3. In relation to the world
It means separation from the world:
"Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you" (2 Cor. 6:17, emphasis added).
Paul said, "Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons" (1 Cor. 10:20,21).
Whenever we partake of the Communion we draw a line of separation between us and anything that is satanic or any occult involment. We cannot have a foot in both camps. We must not keep anything that does not honour the Lord. We cannot partake of the Lord's table and Satan's table.
God takes the Holy Communion seriously and we must do likewise!
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Biblical Background of the Bread and the Wine
The Scripture reveals that there is a close relationship between the bread and the wine and both the Old and New Covenants that God made with men. Both Covenants began with the emblems of communion (bread and wine) between God and His people offered by God.
The Old Covenant
After Abram had defeated Chedorlaomer, king of Elam and other kings, he was met by two kings, Melchizedek, king of Salem and the king of Sodom. Melchizedek offered him bread and wine. In contrast, the king of Sodom offered him the spoil of the battle (Gen. 14:17 to 24).
Melchizedek was described as priest of the Most High God, king of righteousness and king of peace (Hebrews 7:1 to 3). He was "made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually" (V. 3). Furthermore, Melchizedek did not come from the Levitical priesthood (V.11).
The Psalmist David said, "The Lord has sworn and will not relent, 'You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek'" (Psalm 110:4, NKJV).
With this description, it is clear that Melchizedek was a type of Jesus Christ.
Notice that Abram had a choice whether to accept the bread and wine offered by Melchizedek or to accept the spoil offered by the king of Sodom. Abram took what Melchizedek offered and refused what the king of Sodom offered. Abram made the right choice in the sight of God.
This is in precise agreement with what Paul said:
"You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and the table of demons" (1 Cor.10:21).
Immediately after Abram partook of the bread and the wine, God made a covenant with him (Gen. 15). Genesis 17 outlines the covenant between God and Abram.
The Lord appeared to Abram and said, "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but you name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations" (Gen. 17:4,5).
So we see, the bread and wine of Melchizedek foreshadowed the bread and wine as communion elements offered by Jesus Christ in the Lord's Table. In other words, the communion between Melchizedek and Abraham finds fulfillment in the communion between Jesus and His New Covenant people, the christians. Similarly, the Old Covenant finds fulfillment in the New Covenant.
The New Covenant
The Lord's Supper, the Holy Communion or the Eucharist was instituted by Jesus Christ in the New Covenant:
"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body.' Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matt. 26:26 to 28, NKJV, emphasis added).
It seems to me, Jesus was effectively saying, "In Me you see the priesthood of Melchizedek reappearing. It has been in abeyance during the period when the Law of Moses was in force in the Old Covenant. Now, in the New Covenant the priesthood of Melchizedek is being restored".
Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth:
"And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as hou drink it, in remembrance of Me'" (1 Cor.11:24,25,NKJV, emphasis added).
Jesus Christ instituted the New Covenant in His blood.
This is the backgroud from Scripture of the Lord's Supper.
The Old Covenant
After Abram had defeated Chedorlaomer, king of Elam and other kings, he was met by two kings, Melchizedek, king of Salem and the king of Sodom. Melchizedek offered him bread and wine. In contrast, the king of Sodom offered him the spoil of the battle (Gen. 14:17 to 24).
Melchizedek was described as priest of the Most High God, king of righteousness and king of peace (Hebrews 7:1 to 3). He was "made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually" (V. 3). Furthermore, Melchizedek did not come from the Levitical priesthood (V.11).
The Psalmist David said, "The Lord has sworn and will not relent, 'You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek'" (Psalm 110:4, NKJV).
With this description, it is clear that Melchizedek was a type of Jesus Christ.
Notice that Abram had a choice whether to accept the bread and wine offered by Melchizedek or to accept the spoil offered by the king of Sodom. Abram took what Melchizedek offered and refused what the king of Sodom offered. Abram made the right choice in the sight of God.
This is in precise agreement with what Paul said:
"You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and the table of demons" (1 Cor.10:21).
Immediately after Abram partook of the bread and the wine, God made a covenant with him (Gen. 15). Genesis 17 outlines the covenant between God and Abram.
The Lord appeared to Abram and said, "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but you name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations" (Gen. 17:4,5).
So we see, the bread and wine of Melchizedek foreshadowed the bread and wine as communion elements offered by Jesus Christ in the Lord's Table. In other words, the communion between Melchizedek and Abraham finds fulfillment in the communion between Jesus and His New Covenant people, the christians. Similarly, the Old Covenant finds fulfillment in the New Covenant.
The New Covenant
The Lord's Supper, the Holy Communion or the Eucharist was instituted by Jesus Christ in the New Covenant:
"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body.' Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matt. 26:26 to 28, NKJV, emphasis added).
It seems to me, Jesus was effectively saying, "In Me you see the priesthood of Melchizedek reappearing. It has been in abeyance during the period when the Law of Moses was in force in the Old Covenant. Now, in the New Covenant the priesthood of Melchizedek is being restored".
Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth:
"And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as hou drink it, in remembrance of Me'" (1 Cor.11:24,25,NKJV, emphasis added).
Jesus Christ instituted the New Covenant in His blood.
This is the backgroud from Scripture of the Lord's Supper.
Monday, April 18, 2005
A Biblical Pattern for Worship in the Local Church
There are many ways of viewing the Tabernacle of Moses. The Tabernacle reveals many facets of truth which cannot be easily understood by any other ways. In this message I attempt to present a brief outline of how the Tabernacle can be a biblical pattern for "Order of Worship" in the Local Church. Both the Tabernacle of Moses and the Tabernacle of David are patterns for the Local Church worshippers to aproach God in their Sunday (or any other days) Worship services. The following are the steps to be taken as the "Way of approach to God" for "the assembling of worshippers together" (Hebrews 10:25).
1. The Gate of the Court
The Court Gate was the one and only way and entrance into the Court. Worhippers are reminded when they come to Church that they are saved by grace, and Jesus is the only Way to the Father (John 14:6). Because of this Truth they can "come boldly to the throne of grace" (Hebrews 4:16) to worship God. They sing one or two songs of praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord.
The Psalmist said, "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise" (Ps. 100:4).
2. The Brazen Altar
This Altar was a place of burn offering. It was the place where the lamb was taken and was slain. With the right attitude of hearts, worshippers acknowledge that Jesus came to Calvary as the Lamb of God to be "slaughtered" as a Sin Offering for all who believed.
3. The Brazen Laver
This was a place for washing and cleansing. The ministry of the laver points us to the ministry of the Word of God in the worshippers' lives. Jesus Christ who was the Word made flesh had been given authority to exercise judgment upon sin (John 5:27). The Laver speaks of this judgment upon sin operating through the Word of God. It speaks of that cleansing that comes as the Word exposes areas of our life that are not in conformity to the Divine Standard of God.
At this time the Word of God is preached and the cleansing effect of the Word is manifested in those who have the ears to hear.
"That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word" (Eph. 5:26).
4. The Holy Place Place
The entrance to the Holy Place is called "The Door" which speaks of the Lord Jesus as the one and only Way to God and into His Church (His Body). The Church is the place of priestly ministry. Worshippers who are in Christ are made kings and priests unto God. The believer has access as a king-priest to offer up spiritual sacrifices (worship, prayer, praise and thanksgiving), in the spiritual Priesthood, in a spiritual House (1 Peter 2:1 to 9; Rev. 1:6).
5. The Golden Candlestick
This was a Candlestick having oil lamps and not candles. Candles burn by self-consumption, while lamps burn by the continual supply of oil being poured into them.
The purpose of the candlestick was to give light and the light was sustained by pure olive oil which speaks of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the only light of the world and His light reflects and shines through the Church. Just as the Candlestick needed oil to give light, the Church needs the Holy Spirit to give light to the world.
Jesus said, "As long as I am in the world I am the light of the world" (John 9:5, emphasis added).
Jesus also said to his disciples, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden" (Matt. 5:14, emphasis added).
It is the light of the Holy Spirit in believers that gives light to the darkened world.
6. The Golden Altar of Incense
This Altar was for the burning of Incense unto the Lord. In Scripture, Incense always speaks to us of the prayers and intercession of the saints (believers) which ascent unto God.
"Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice" (Psalm 141:2).
In Christ we have access unto God the Father. We are believer-priests, and as such we have the joy and great privilege of presenting our prayers (incense) without ceasing to God in the Name of Jesus.
The worshippers in the Local Church at this time, have a time of prayer and intercession before the part-taking of the Lord's Table in the Holy Communion service.
7. The Table of Showbread
Upon this Table were placed twelve loaves of unleavened bread which were for the priests of the tribe of Levi to part-take.
1. The Gate of the Court
The Court Gate was the one and only way and entrance into the Court. Worhippers are reminded when they come to Church that they are saved by grace, and Jesus is the only Way to the Father (John 14:6). Because of this Truth they can "come boldly to the throne of grace" (Hebrews 4:16) to worship God. They sing one or two songs of praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord.
The Psalmist said, "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise" (Ps. 100:4).
2. The Brazen Altar
This Altar was a place of burn offering. It was the place where the lamb was taken and was slain. With the right attitude of hearts, worshippers acknowledge that Jesus came to Calvary as the Lamb of God to be "slaughtered" as a Sin Offering for all who believed.
3. The Brazen Laver
This was a place for washing and cleansing. The ministry of the laver points us to the ministry of the Word of God in the worshippers' lives. Jesus Christ who was the Word made flesh had been given authority to exercise judgment upon sin (John 5:27). The Laver speaks of this judgment upon sin operating through the Word of God. It speaks of that cleansing that comes as the Word exposes areas of our life that are not in conformity to the Divine Standard of God.
At this time the Word of God is preached and the cleansing effect of the Word is manifested in those who have the ears to hear.
"That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word" (Eph. 5:26).
4. The Holy Place Place
The entrance to the Holy Place is called "The Door" which speaks of the Lord Jesus as the one and only Way to God and into His Church (His Body). The Church is the place of priestly ministry. Worshippers who are in Christ are made kings and priests unto God. The believer has access as a king-priest to offer up spiritual sacrifices (worship, prayer, praise and thanksgiving), in the spiritual Priesthood, in a spiritual House (1 Peter 2:1 to 9; Rev. 1:6).
5. The Golden Candlestick
This was a Candlestick having oil lamps and not candles. Candles burn by self-consumption, while lamps burn by the continual supply of oil being poured into them.
The purpose of the candlestick was to give light and the light was sustained by pure olive oil which speaks of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the only light of the world and His light reflects and shines through the Church. Just as the Candlestick needed oil to give light, the Church needs the Holy Spirit to give light to the world.
Jesus said, "As long as I am in the world I am the light of the world" (John 9:5, emphasis added).
Jesus also said to his disciples, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden" (Matt. 5:14, emphasis added).
It is the light of the Holy Spirit in believers that gives light to the darkened world.
6. The Golden Altar of Incense
This Altar was for the burning of Incense unto the Lord. In Scripture, Incense always speaks to us of the prayers and intercession of the saints (believers) which ascent unto God.
"Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice" (Psalm 141:2).
In Christ we have access unto God the Father. We are believer-priests, and as such we have the joy and great privilege of presenting our prayers (incense) without ceasing to God in the Name of Jesus.
The worshippers in the Local Church at this time, have a time of prayer and intercession before the part-taking of the Lord's Table in the Holy Communion service.
7. The Table of Showbread
Upon this Table were placed twelve loaves of unleavened bread which were for the priests of the tribe of Levi to part-take.
Just as God had provided the Table for His priests in the Holy Place, He has also prepared a Table in Christ for His redeemed people, the priests of His Church. The Table of Showbread is typical and significant of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself as the Bread of Life to His people (John 6:25 to 63).
In the Local Church the worshippers come to the Lord's Table (1 Cor. 11:23 to 34) every time they meet in the Church for their weekly service. Biblically, the Holy Communion is to be taken each time the Church gether together to worship the Lord.
8. The Inner Veil and the Most Holy Place
The Veil separated the Most Holy Place from the Holy Place. This Veil was to hide the Shekinah Glory from the eyes of men. It acted as a partition to separate sinful man from the Most Holy God.
The Veil is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ before his crucifixion. There would be no access into God's presence until sin had been dealt with. When Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary, God, by a miraculous act and by His Grace, rent the dividing Veil from top to bottom (Mark 15:37,38). If God had not made the way opened by rending that Veil when Christ's flesh was rent on the Cross, then that separation and division brought about by man's sin would have remained forever.
The way is opened for worshippers in the Local Church to meet with the Lord in worship in the the Most Holy Place and to behold the beauty of His Holiness.
The Psalmist David said, "Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness" (Psalm 29:2).
In the Tabernacle of David there were no Outer Court and furniture, no Holy Place and furniture, and no veil. The Ark of Covenant was transferred from the Tabernacle of Moses to the Tabernacle of David (2 Samuel 6:12 to 23). The priests in David's tabernacle could simply and boldly enter into the Most Holy Place. They had direct access before the Ark of God. The spiritual sacrifice the priests offered before the Ark of Covenant in the Tabernacle of David would find its fulfillment in the New Testament Church where believers offer praise and thanksgiving and worship to the Lord.
This is the reason why it is Biblical to complete our weekly worship service in the Local Church with a "Grand finale" in worship and praise to our God.
In conclusion, the Divine Order of Worship Service is this - One or two songs of praise and thanksgiving; followed by the preaching of the Word; and after that, prayer and Communion Service and finally followed by singing songs of Worship and praise to our Lord.
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Grace, Grace Gifts and Wages
In Scripture grace and gifts are closely related. The Greek word for grace is "charis" which also means favour; and the Greek word for gifts of God is "charisma" which also means spiritual endowment.
Gifts are favours or benefits which God bestows on undeserved men. All gifts of God are given by Grace. We cannot earn the gifts of God by good works; we just accept them with thanks giving to God. Things that can be earned are not gifts but wages. Wages are the due rewards of what we have done.
Paul said, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23, NKJV, emphasis added).
In other words, God pays us wages in the form of death if we sin. We earned death by sinning against God. Death needs to be earned because it is not a gift of God.
Paul also said, "Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt" (Romans 4:4, emphasis added).
In other words, if we work sin, God must pay us the wages of sin, otherwise God is in debt. The wages paid by God is death.
This is consistent to what Ezekiel said, "Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4, emphasis added).
If the soul who sins does not die, then God is in debt because He fails to pay wages due to the soul who sins!
The Grace Gifts of God
This message is not about the nine Spiritual Gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12 although they are also Grace Gifts given by God in exercising His sovereign will. My purpose is to share with you God's gifts in general.
To begin with, it is difficult to understand the nature of God's gifts without first getting to know what grace means and how we receive the grace of God.
Grace is the free unmerited favour of God towards the undeserving soul. In place of evil, God offers us good. There is nothing in ourselves we can find any reason God offers us love, mercy and favour. Everything we received are through the grace of God.
The Truth about Grace
1. Grace has only one channel - Jesus Christ. Apart from Jesus Christ God offers grace to no one in any situation or circumstances.
John said, "For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (John 1:17, emphasis added).
2. God does not offer grace to everyone, but only to those who are humble.
"Surely He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble" (Proverbs 3:34). Read also James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5.
3. The only way to appropriate grace in one's life and experience is by faith.
Paul said, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8).
Notice that, faith and salvation are also grace gifts of God. Apart from grace and faith no one can receive salvation!
4. The administrator or dispenser of grace is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also called the Spirit of grace.
"Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace" (Hebrews 10:29, emphasis added)?
The Truth about Gifts
Paul said, "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable" (Romans 11:29).
In other words, what God has given to a person or groups of persons, either gifts or calling, He would not withdraw them. In the context, God called Israel as his chosen people, He would not withdraw His calling. He had given ministrial or spiritual gifts to His covenant people (both Jew and Gentile believers), He would not withdraw them. It is quite logical - anything that is revocable or can be redrawn would not be qualified as a gift - It is only a conditional loan.
The out-working of this truth can be seen in the Corinthian christians.
Paul said they "were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, so that they came short in no gift, .... " (1 Cor. 1:5,7, NKJV, emphasis added).
But, they were carnal, worldly and immature believers (1 Cor. 3). Their character, personality and attitude left much to be desired and yet all Spiritual Gifts (1 Cor. 12) were manifested in their Church.
It is also true in the contemporary Local Church. We have seen ministers and preachers with the gifts of the Spirit in operation in their ministries - God works miracles through them with signs and wonders following them. And yet, some of them having a life-style that left much to be desired. God uses them for the benefits of others. God will not revoke their gifts according to His Word. But, who knows? - a day may come when Jesus will remind them what He said before:
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" (Matthew 7:21 to 23).
Gifts are favours or benefits which God bestows on undeserved men. All gifts of God are given by Grace. We cannot earn the gifts of God by good works; we just accept them with thanks giving to God. Things that can be earned are not gifts but wages. Wages are the due rewards of what we have done.
Paul said, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23, NKJV, emphasis added).
In other words, God pays us wages in the form of death if we sin. We earned death by sinning against God. Death needs to be earned because it is not a gift of God.
Paul also said, "Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt" (Romans 4:4, emphasis added).
In other words, if we work sin, God must pay us the wages of sin, otherwise God is in debt. The wages paid by God is death.
This is consistent to what Ezekiel said, "Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4, emphasis added).
If the soul who sins does not die, then God is in debt because He fails to pay wages due to the soul who sins!
The Grace Gifts of God
This message is not about the nine Spiritual Gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12 although they are also Grace Gifts given by God in exercising His sovereign will. My purpose is to share with you God's gifts in general.
To begin with, it is difficult to understand the nature of God's gifts without first getting to know what grace means and how we receive the grace of God.
Grace is the free unmerited favour of God towards the undeserving soul. In place of evil, God offers us good. There is nothing in ourselves we can find any reason God offers us love, mercy and favour. Everything we received are through the grace of God.
The Truth about Grace
1. Grace has only one channel - Jesus Christ. Apart from Jesus Christ God offers grace to no one in any situation or circumstances.
John said, "For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (John 1:17, emphasis added).
2. God does not offer grace to everyone, but only to those who are humble.
"Surely He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble" (Proverbs 3:34). Read also James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5.
3. The only way to appropriate grace in one's life and experience is by faith.
Paul said, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8).
Notice that, faith and salvation are also grace gifts of God. Apart from grace and faith no one can receive salvation!
4. The administrator or dispenser of grace is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also called the Spirit of grace.
"Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace" (Hebrews 10:29, emphasis added)?
The Truth about Gifts
Paul said, "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable" (Romans 11:29).
In other words, what God has given to a person or groups of persons, either gifts or calling, He would not withdraw them. In the context, God called Israel as his chosen people, He would not withdraw His calling. He had given ministrial or spiritual gifts to His covenant people (both Jew and Gentile believers), He would not withdraw them. It is quite logical - anything that is revocable or can be redrawn would not be qualified as a gift - It is only a conditional loan.
The out-working of this truth can be seen in the Corinthian christians.
Paul said they "were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, so that they came short in no gift, .... " (1 Cor. 1:5,7, NKJV, emphasis added).
But, they were carnal, worldly and immature believers (1 Cor. 3). Their character, personality and attitude left much to be desired and yet all Spiritual Gifts (1 Cor. 12) were manifested in their Church.
It is also true in the contemporary Local Church. We have seen ministers and preachers with the gifts of the Spirit in operation in their ministries - God works miracles through them with signs and wonders following them. And yet, some of them having a life-style that left much to be desired. God uses them for the benefits of others. God will not revoke their gifts according to His Word. But, who knows? - a day may come when Jesus will remind them what He said before:
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" (Matthew 7:21 to 23).
Monday, April 11, 2005
Paradigm Shift for the Body of Christ?
This message is the follow-up of the message "True Disciples and True Christians" posted on 28th. March 2005 in this "blogspot".
The contemporary Church is in various stages of confusion. The end-time contemporary Local Church is in crisis and most believers are not committed disciples or committed christians. Many are "Sunday Church goers" with "a form of godliness" (2 Timothy 3:5). These are the Church members who walk in the flesh and led by spirit of the world. I addressed this problem in my previous postings, "The Spirit of God and the flesh" and "The Spirit of God and the spirit of the World".
Elders, ministers, pastors, leaders everywhere are looking for methods from the secular world and try to make them work in the Body of Christ. Bible teachers are making statements like, "The Church needs a Paradigm Shift to succeed" and "The Local Church needs new methods in making disciples of all Church members".
I believe true Christians must heed Paul's warning:
"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ" (Colossians 2:8. NKJV, emphasis added).
"Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world ...." (Colossians 2:20, emphasis added).
In other words, spiritually, true christians are not living in kingdom of the world, but in the Kingdom of God. The "basic principles of the world" are contrary to the higher principles of the Kingdom of God. If there is any "paradigm shift" for the Local Church to follow, a "backward paradigm shift" is more needful. The Church needs to seek the Scripture so as to discover what actually went wrong.
I think the Local Church needs to go back to basic principles of discipleship and the basic principles of of how the Body of Christ can grow in maturity. God-fearing christians must get answers only from the Scripture and nowhere else or they will be under a curse.
"Cursed is the man who trust in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord"(Jeremiah 17:5).
Biblical Discipleship
Our Lord Jesus Christ commissioned His followers (disciples) to carry the message of the gospel to all nations:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you" (Matt. 28:19,20, emphasis added).
The God-given proper divine order is very important:
1. First make disciples - teach people how to be disciples and make known to them what God requires of a disciple of Christ - for example, the cost of discipleship.
2. Before a disciple is eligible to be water baptised he must repent, believe and have a good conscience.
3. The disciple is to be water baptised.
4. Come into the fellowship of the Body of Christ in the Local Church.
5. The disciple needs to receive more thorough and extensive teaching that he may become a true disciple and a true committed christian.
Ask yourself, is there any Local Church following exactly the Lord's pattern of Discipleship? As far as I know, none!
A likely scenario is, a sinner is led to say the "sinner's prayer". He is asked to join a Local Church and subsequently water baptised. Follow-up ministry is seldom given; he is asked to attend church worship services regularly. Who is to be blamed if he becomes a "Sunday church goer"?
The Ephesian disciples followed the divine order of discipleship. Key Scripture verses are Acts 19:1 to 8.
Paul said the disciples in Ephesian had not heard of the Holy Spirit, let alone receiving it (V. 2). They were baptised into John's baptism of repentance (V. 4). Paul ministered to them and they believed and immediately baptised in water as well as baptised in the Holy Spirit (V. 5,6). Then Paul followed-up by preaching in the synagogue for three months so that the disciples could be taught more fully about the Kingdom of God (V. 8).
Paul's method of making true disciples (1 Thessalonians 1:5 to 10)
1. Paul preached the Gospel to the Thessalonian Church. The Word was proclaimed with power. It was accompanied by the Holy Spirit, and the result was that the disciples who came to Christ with much assurance of faith (V. 5).
2. They became true disciples (christians) - followers of Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy and Christ. This is the basic principle of making disciples - People learn how to follow the Lord by following the Lord's people (V. 6). Paul and his companions were able to disciple the Thessalonians because they were willing to follow them. Because Paul's life was consistent with the Scriptures and the leading of God, the Thessalonians became followers of the Lord as well. Notice that Paul used the group ministry of making disciple and not like many contemporary Church where unbiblical "disciple-pair" ministry is often used.
3. The disciples became pacesetters (so to speak). They became examples to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia (V. 7).
4. The disciple ministry is a reproduction ministry (V. 8).
5. The disciples were committed christians (V. 9,10).
"Discipleship pair" or "Friendship pair" is not biblical
The word "paradigm" describes a man-made model of something that is found workable or pragmatic. In the Local Church we do not follow what is workable; we follow the move of the Holy Spirit and the authority of God's Word. Any Bible teacher who suggests the Church needs a Paradigm Shift has insulted the Head of the Church, our Lord Jesus Christ. God's way in making the Church mature in Christ does not depend on man's futile pragmatic methods.
A divine "blueprint" of maturing the Church is given in Ephesians Chapter 4.
Spiritual Gifts are given to the Church for growth and maturity so that all disciples "come to the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (V.13).
The gifts are the five-fold ministry Gifts - Apostle, prophets, evangelist, pastors and teachers. The purpose is to equip disciples (christians) for "the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (V. 11,12). Notice that the divine principle is unity in Spirit (V. 4) but diversity in ministries. As long there is no unity of faith the Church still needs the five-fold ministry. Denomination differences are enemies to unity of faith in the Body of Christ. This five-fold ministry Gifts are meant for the Universal Church - the whole Body of Christ.
In the Local Church we have ministry gifts listed in 1 Cor. 12. and other gifts listed in other Epistles of Paul. It is the job of the elders and pastors in a Local Church to discern and to discover the gifts of individuals in the congregation that are made available by the Head of the Church. Every individual in the Local Church is chosen by God and does not simple appear there by chance. All these gifts must function in the Church meetings in an orderly manner and in perfect harmony. Without the functions of these gifts in operation in the Church, disciples will be like "children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting" (Eph. 4:14, emphasis added).
Elders and ministers of the Local Church are accountable to the Lord if the flock of believers under their care, not only become "Sunday christians" but being deceived as well.
The Local Church must ensure every church goer becomes a true christian and true disciple. Never listen to man's doctrine unless his doctrine is under the Authority of the Word of God. "Paradigm Shift for the Body of Christ" has no biblical basis and therefore does not come under the Authority of the Scripture. It is a deception of the highest degree and must be rejected
Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" (John 10:27).
In other words, to be a true christian and a true disciple is both very simple, precise and very practical. All He wants from His people is to hear His voice and to do what He says. Therefore, it is very clear that a believer who does not hear the voice of the Lord and does not do what He says cannot be classified as a Christian - he does not belong to His fold, he is not His sheep!
The contemporary Church is in various stages of confusion. The end-time contemporary Local Church is in crisis and most believers are not committed disciples or committed christians. Many are "Sunday Church goers" with "a form of godliness" (2 Timothy 3:5). These are the Church members who walk in the flesh and led by spirit of the world. I addressed this problem in my previous postings, "The Spirit of God and the flesh" and "The Spirit of God and the spirit of the World".
Elders, ministers, pastors, leaders everywhere are looking for methods from the secular world and try to make them work in the Body of Christ. Bible teachers are making statements like, "The Church needs a Paradigm Shift to succeed" and "The Local Church needs new methods in making disciples of all Church members".
I believe true Christians must heed Paul's warning:
"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ" (Colossians 2:8. NKJV, emphasis added).
"Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world ...." (Colossians 2:20, emphasis added).
In other words, spiritually, true christians are not living in kingdom of the world, but in the Kingdom of God. The "basic principles of the world" are contrary to the higher principles of the Kingdom of God. If there is any "paradigm shift" for the Local Church to follow, a "backward paradigm shift" is more needful. The Church needs to seek the Scripture so as to discover what actually went wrong.
I think the Local Church needs to go back to basic principles of discipleship and the basic principles of of how the Body of Christ can grow in maturity. God-fearing christians must get answers only from the Scripture and nowhere else or they will be under a curse.
"Cursed is the man who trust in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord"(Jeremiah 17:5).
Biblical Discipleship
Our Lord Jesus Christ commissioned His followers (disciples) to carry the message of the gospel to all nations:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you" (Matt. 28:19,20, emphasis added).
The God-given proper divine order is very important:
1. First make disciples - teach people how to be disciples and make known to them what God requires of a disciple of Christ - for example, the cost of discipleship.
2. Before a disciple is eligible to be water baptised he must repent, believe and have a good conscience.
3. The disciple is to be water baptised.
4. Come into the fellowship of the Body of Christ in the Local Church.
5. The disciple needs to receive more thorough and extensive teaching that he may become a true disciple and a true committed christian.
Ask yourself, is there any Local Church following exactly the Lord's pattern of Discipleship? As far as I know, none!
A likely scenario is, a sinner is led to say the "sinner's prayer". He is asked to join a Local Church and subsequently water baptised. Follow-up ministry is seldom given; he is asked to attend church worship services regularly. Who is to be blamed if he becomes a "Sunday church goer"?
The Ephesian disciples followed the divine order of discipleship. Key Scripture verses are Acts 19:1 to 8.
Paul said the disciples in Ephesian had not heard of the Holy Spirit, let alone receiving it (V. 2). They were baptised into John's baptism of repentance (V. 4). Paul ministered to them and they believed and immediately baptised in water as well as baptised in the Holy Spirit (V. 5,6). Then Paul followed-up by preaching in the synagogue for three months so that the disciples could be taught more fully about the Kingdom of God (V. 8).
Paul's method of making true disciples (1 Thessalonians 1:5 to 10)
1. Paul preached the Gospel to the Thessalonian Church. The Word was proclaimed with power. It was accompanied by the Holy Spirit, and the result was that the disciples who came to Christ with much assurance of faith (V. 5).
2. They became true disciples (christians) - followers of Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy and Christ. This is the basic principle of making disciples - People learn how to follow the Lord by following the Lord's people (V. 6). Paul and his companions were able to disciple the Thessalonians because they were willing to follow them. Because Paul's life was consistent with the Scriptures and the leading of God, the Thessalonians became followers of the Lord as well. Notice that Paul used the group ministry of making disciple and not like many contemporary Church where unbiblical "disciple-pair" ministry is often used.
3. The disciples became pacesetters (so to speak). They became examples to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia (V. 7).
4. The disciple ministry is a reproduction ministry (V. 8).
5. The disciples were committed christians (V. 9,10).
"Discipleship pair" or "Friendship pair" is not biblical
There is an unblibical teaching in the contemprorary Local Church to convince and to urge Church members to form "Discipleship or Friendship pairs" in their "discipleship program". Someone said Jesus used the same method, with reference to Mark 6:7, where Jesus sent out His 12 disciples in pairs. Another reference is Luke 10:1, where Jesus sent out 70 disciples in pairs. It is also said that the pairing of Moses and Joshua, Eli and Samuel, David and Jonathan, Elijah and Elisha, Paul and Barnabas, Peter and John and so on are examples of "pairs". But, these Scriptures are misquoted and the example given are not at all "Friendship pairs". The truth is these pairs are without exception "ministry pairs". You may refer to any good Bible commentary. They went out for evangelistic, mission purposes, prophetic or mobile teaching ministry. They need mutual support in counselling, in prayer, in companionship and in encouragement. It is not wise to go out on long journeys alone. A person can easily fall sick or fall into temptation. Do not be deceived; their going out in pairs has nothing to do with discipleship! You simple cannot find an example of "Friendship pair" in the entire Word of God!
An important point to note is that these "ministry pairs" are for mobile ministry only. For Churchgoers who are having a secular profession all they need is a prayer partner or partners. Within the same Local Church congregation there are "Cell Groups" to cater for all their other needs if the Local Church congregation is becoming too large in numbers for personal ministry. Luke described the life in the early New Testament Local Church in this way:
"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayers" (Acts 2:42).
Paul did not suggest or even hinted there this a need of any "friendship pair" in any of his Epistles. The concept of "friendship pair" can be made workable with even some "good" and "helpfull" results, but certainly not biblical. It is good for the Local Church leadership to seek spiritual discernment regarding what is a workable human method and what is a true biblical method - one comes from the will and effort of men, and the other is the will of God.
Paradigm Shift for the Body of Christ is not BiblicalThe word "paradigm" describes a man-made model of something that is found workable or pragmatic. In the Local Church we do not follow what is workable; we follow the move of the Holy Spirit and the authority of God's Word. Any Bible teacher who suggests the Church needs a Paradigm Shift has insulted the Head of the Church, our Lord Jesus Christ. God's way in making the Church mature in Christ does not depend on man's futile pragmatic methods.
A divine "blueprint" of maturing the Church is given in Ephesians Chapter 4.
Spiritual Gifts are given to the Church for growth and maturity so that all disciples "come to the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (V.13).
The gifts are the five-fold ministry Gifts - Apostle, prophets, evangelist, pastors and teachers. The purpose is to equip disciples (christians) for "the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (V. 11,12). Notice that the divine principle is unity in Spirit (V. 4) but diversity in ministries. As long there is no unity of faith the Church still needs the five-fold ministry. Denomination differences are enemies to unity of faith in the Body of Christ. This five-fold ministry Gifts are meant for the Universal Church - the whole Body of Christ.
In the Local Church we have ministry gifts listed in 1 Cor. 12. and other gifts listed in other Epistles of Paul. It is the job of the elders and pastors in a Local Church to discern and to discover the gifts of individuals in the congregation that are made available by the Head of the Church. Every individual in the Local Church is chosen by God and does not simple appear there by chance. All these gifts must function in the Church meetings in an orderly manner and in perfect harmony. Without the functions of these gifts in operation in the Church, disciples will be like "children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting" (Eph. 4:14, emphasis added).
Elders and ministers of the Local Church are accountable to the Lord if the flock of believers under their care, not only become "Sunday christians" but being deceived as well.
The Local Church must ensure every church goer becomes a true christian and true disciple. Never listen to man's doctrine unless his doctrine is under the Authority of the Word of God. "Paradigm Shift for the Body of Christ" has no biblical basis and therefore does not come under the Authority of the Scripture. It is a deception of the highest degree and must be rejected
Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" (John 10:27).
In other words, to be a true christian and a true disciple is both very simple, precise and very practical. All He wants from His people is to hear His voice and to do what He says. Therefore, it is very clear that a believer who does not hear the voice of the Lord and does not do what He says cannot be classified as a Christian - he does not belong to His fold, he is not His sheep!
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
The Spirit of God and the Flesh
Jesus said, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But, there are some of you who do not believe" (John 6:63,64, NKJV).
Jesus gives three spiritual principles here:
1. The only ultimate source of life is the Spirit of God - both spritual and physical.
2. Life comes through the Word because His Word is Spirit. God's Spirit gives life through the Word. In other words, the source is the Spirit and the channel is the Word. This is an eternal principle runs through the Bible.
3. The barrier to receiving life is unbelief. In other words, the only way to receive life is by faith in Christ.
The principle of life is confirmed by the Psalmist.
"By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth" (Psalm 33:6, emphasis added).
Notice that "breath of His mouth" speaks of the Holy Spirit. This life creating power is recorded in Genesis:
"And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light" (Genesis 1:2,3).
The Spirit of God moved, then God spoke his Word and the result is the creation of life. The whole universe was spoken into being when God released His Spirit.
The Realm of the Spirit
An important spiritual law is:
Paul said, "While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:18).
Behind the natural and the material is the spiritual. The spiritual controls the physical when God's Spirit is in operation. Therefore, when we operate in the spiritual successfully, success follows autometically in the natural. When God's covenant people get the victory in the spiritual realm, then the victory is their.
There is a clear example in 2 Chronicles 20. King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah annihilated the invating army without using a single natural weapon. All they used was praise and worsip. When they got the victory in the spiritual, the result inevitably followed in the natural.
The spiritual principle is, when we have a problem in the natural, we need to seek the solution in the spiritual. This principle is seen working out in the divine healing of sickness and diseases.
Works of the Flesh
In the Bible the word "flesh" usually does not mean the physical body. The flesh is the nature that we inherited with our physical body. There is a connection between the physical body and the flesh, but they are not identical. The flesh is the nature that all of us inherited from Adam because Adam had no descendents until after his fall. In every one of us (the natural man) dwells a rebel that causes us to rebel against God. The natural man is led by the carnal mind, which is directly connected to the things of the flesh.
The Bible reveals several ways of describing the flesh - the old man (Romans 6:6), body of sin (Romans 6:6), and sinful nature (Gal. 5:17, NIV).
John said, "... the flesh profits nothing ..." (John 6:6).
In other word, there is nothing good to be obtained out of the flesh.
Paul said the same thing in Romans, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells" (Rom. 7:18).
Paul went on to say in Romans 8:5 to 8 that, the carnal (or fleshly) mind cannot be subject to God and cannot please God. To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. These are strong statements!
Paul said further in Galatians that, "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish" (Gal. 5:16,17).
In other words, the flesh is directly contrary to the Spirit. Where the flesh prevails, the Spirit does not operate and when the Spirit prevails, the flesh does not. They do not operate at the same time - one excludes the other.
Paul listed the things (works) of the flesh in Galatians 5:19 to 21. There are actually four categories:
1. Sexual immorality - adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness.
2. Occult practices - idolatry, sorcery and any related practices the carnal mind wants to know things in the spirit world.
3. Self indulgence - drunkenness, revelries.
4. Division - hatred, contentions, jealousies, pride, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy and legalism.
I believe all divisions in the Body of Christ are due to the fleshly or carnal nature of believers - legalism, sectarianism and pride are the main problems.
Paul said, "... for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men" (1 Cor 3:3)?
Transition from the Flesh to the Spirit
The truth is all born again believer have been set free from the fleshly or carnal nature. The old man was crucified with Christ. The Scripture testifies this historical fact.
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me ..." (Gal. 2:20, emphasis added).
"For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ. ... since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man ...." (Col. 3:3,9,10, emphasis added).
Notice that the transition from the flesh to the Spirit is not automatic, even for born again believers. All provisions of God are given through Jesus Christ on the Cross but believers must receive the provisions and promises by faith.
This important truth can be proven by the Scripture.
Paul said, "Those are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:8, emphasis added).
The writer of Hebrews said, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him" (Hebrews 11:6, emphasis added).
Put these verses side by side we come to the logical conclusion (by an analytical way) that, to be in the flesh is to be without faith. Therefore, the only way to be released from the fleshly or carnal nature is by faith. I see no other ways suggested by the Scripture! We please God by receiving from Him this provision!
Finally, I wish to stress that the type of "faith" mentioned here is active faith. It is not theoretical or theological faith. It is faith working through love.
Paul said, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails any anything, but faith working through love" (Gal. 5:6, emphasis added).
Paul also said, "But he who doubts is condemned .... for whatever is not from faith is sin" (Romans 14:23, emphasis added).
In other words, legalism, doubt and unbelief are enemies of faith.
Jesus Himself said that our faith must never fail.
Jesus said to Peter, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren" (Luke 22:32, emphasis added).
In the context, Jesus was actually saying to Peter that he can deny him three times, he can run away from Him or do anything against Him. But, Peter will return to Him if his faith does not fail!
I think this is an important lesson for all christians. We can sin against God by our fleshly or carnal desires from time to time. God is faithful, He will forgive us if our faith fails not and return to Him with repentance!
Jesus gives three spiritual principles here:
1. The only ultimate source of life is the Spirit of God - both spritual and physical.
2. Life comes through the Word because His Word is Spirit. God's Spirit gives life through the Word. In other words, the source is the Spirit and the channel is the Word. This is an eternal principle runs through the Bible.
3. The barrier to receiving life is unbelief. In other words, the only way to receive life is by faith in Christ.
The principle of life is confirmed by the Psalmist.
"By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth" (Psalm 33:6, emphasis added).
Notice that "breath of His mouth" speaks of the Holy Spirit. This life creating power is recorded in Genesis:
"And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light" (Genesis 1:2,3).
The Spirit of God moved, then God spoke his Word and the result is the creation of life. The whole universe was spoken into being when God released His Spirit.
The Realm of the Spirit
An important spiritual law is:
Paul said, "While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:18).
Behind the natural and the material is the spiritual. The spiritual controls the physical when God's Spirit is in operation. Therefore, when we operate in the spiritual successfully, success follows autometically in the natural. When God's covenant people get the victory in the spiritual realm, then the victory is their.
There is a clear example in 2 Chronicles 20. King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah annihilated the invating army without using a single natural weapon. All they used was praise and worsip. When they got the victory in the spiritual, the result inevitably followed in the natural.
The spiritual principle is, when we have a problem in the natural, we need to seek the solution in the spiritual. This principle is seen working out in the divine healing of sickness and diseases.
Works of the Flesh
In the Bible the word "flesh" usually does not mean the physical body. The flesh is the nature that we inherited with our physical body. There is a connection between the physical body and the flesh, but they are not identical. The flesh is the nature that all of us inherited from Adam because Adam had no descendents until after his fall. In every one of us (the natural man) dwells a rebel that causes us to rebel against God. The natural man is led by the carnal mind, which is directly connected to the things of the flesh.
The Bible reveals several ways of describing the flesh - the old man (Romans 6:6), body of sin (Romans 6:6), and sinful nature (Gal. 5:17, NIV).
John said, "... the flesh profits nothing ..." (John 6:6).
In other word, there is nothing good to be obtained out of the flesh.
Paul said the same thing in Romans, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells" (Rom. 7:18).
Paul went on to say in Romans 8:5 to 8 that, the carnal (or fleshly) mind cannot be subject to God and cannot please God. To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. These are strong statements!
Paul said further in Galatians that, "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish" (Gal. 5:16,17).
In other words, the flesh is directly contrary to the Spirit. Where the flesh prevails, the Spirit does not operate and when the Spirit prevails, the flesh does not. They do not operate at the same time - one excludes the other.
Paul listed the things (works) of the flesh in Galatians 5:19 to 21. There are actually four categories:
1. Sexual immorality - adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness.
2. Occult practices - idolatry, sorcery and any related practices the carnal mind wants to know things in the spirit world.
3. Self indulgence - drunkenness, revelries.
4. Division - hatred, contentions, jealousies, pride, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy and legalism.
I believe all divisions in the Body of Christ are due to the fleshly or carnal nature of believers - legalism, sectarianism and pride are the main problems.
Paul said, "... for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men" (1 Cor 3:3)?
Transition from the Flesh to the Spirit
The truth is all born again believer have been set free from the fleshly or carnal nature. The old man was crucified with Christ. The Scripture testifies this historical fact.
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me ..." (Gal. 2:20, emphasis added).
"For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ. ... since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man ...." (Col. 3:3,9,10, emphasis added).
Notice that the transition from the flesh to the Spirit is not automatic, even for born again believers. All provisions of God are given through Jesus Christ on the Cross but believers must receive the provisions and promises by faith.
This important truth can be proven by the Scripture.
Paul said, "Those are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:8, emphasis added).
The writer of Hebrews said, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him" (Hebrews 11:6, emphasis added).
Put these verses side by side we come to the logical conclusion (by an analytical way) that, to be in the flesh is to be without faith. Therefore, the only way to be released from the fleshly or carnal nature is by faith. I see no other ways suggested by the Scripture! We please God by receiving from Him this provision!
Finally, I wish to stress that the type of "faith" mentioned here is active faith. It is not theoretical or theological faith. It is faith working through love.
Paul said, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails any anything, but faith working through love" (Gal. 5:6, emphasis added).
Paul also said, "But he who doubts is condemned .... for whatever is not from faith is sin" (Romans 14:23, emphasis added).
In other words, legalism, doubt and unbelief are enemies of faith.
Jesus Himself said that our faith must never fail.
Jesus said to Peter, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren" (Luke 22:32, emphasis added).
In the context, Jesus was actually saying to Peter that he can deny him three times, he can run away from Him or do anything against Him. But, Peter will return to Him if his faith does not fail!
I think this is an important lesson for all christians. We can sin against God by our fleshly or carnal desires from time to time. God is faithful, He will forgive us if our faith fails not and return to Him with repentance!
Monday, April 04, 2005
The Spirit of God and the spirit of the World
In the New Testament "the world" is described as a social world order or system that is in rebellion against God.
Through man's fall Satan has become the ruler of this world or god of this age (2 Cor. 4:4; 1 John 5:19) . Every single person is born into this rebellious social world order. Satan controls the world through deceptions. If a person is not submitted to God, then Satan is his ruler. The spirit of the world does not come from God but from Satan!
Paul said to the church in Corinth, "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God" (1 Cor. 2:12).
The world does not recognise Jesus or His disciples. The world hates Jesus and His disciples (John 15:18,19). The Spirit of God and the spirit of the world oppose to each other.
Contrast between the Spirit of God and the spirit of the World
1. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Truth; the spirit of the world is the spirit of error.
"...the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him ...." (John 14:17, NKJV).
"..... By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error" (1 John 4:6).
2. The Spirit of God reveals the things of God; the spirit of the world ridicules the things of God. (1 Cor. 2:10, 14).
3. The Spirit of God focuses on Jesus; the spirit of the world focuses on man, and makes man his god.
4. The Spirit of God focuses on the eternal; the spirit of the world focuses on the temporal (2 Cor. 4:18).
5. The Spirit of God convicts the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8). The Spirit of God says the world is passing away (1 John 2:17). The spirit of the world blinds man of this truth and tells man all things continue as they were from the beginning (2 Peter 3:4).
6. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7); the spirit of the world is the spirit of subjection to evil through lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16).
7. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal. 5:22,23); the spirit of the world is the spirit of strive, hatred, division, rashness, self indulgence and arrogance.
8. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of supernatural grace (Heb. 10:29); the spirit of the world is the spirit of fleshly effort.
God's Plan of deliverance for believers from the spirit of the world
God loves the world and gave Jesus to die for it (John 3:16).
Paul said, "Our Lord Jesus who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father" (Gal. 1:3,4).
In other words, the present age is an evil age controls by the spirit of the world. It is God's will that all mankind be delivered from it.
The cross is God's judgement for Satan and the world. The cross resulted in Satan's defeat (Col. 2:15) and God reconcils the world unto Himself (2 Cor 5:19; Col 1:20).
Christians (the Church) in their relationship to the World
1. Jesus and His people (christians) are the only source of light in the dark world.
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12).
Jesus said to His disciples, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden" (Matt. 5:14).
Paul said, "That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world" (Phil. 2:15).
2. Christians must not love the world. They are in the world but not of the world.
John said, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15).
Jesus prayed to the Father, "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, but that You shoul keep them from the evil one" (John 17:15,16).
3. Jesus chose christians out of the world system.
Jesus said to His disciples, "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:19).
4. Jesus overcomes the world and He expects His disciples (christians) to overcome the world also.
Jesus said to His disciples, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
John said, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:4,5)
The Spirit of Grace and Supplication
Paul warned Timothy that the spirit of the World will have great influence over the Church in the last days. Apostasy will come and people will give heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons (1 Tim. 4:1 to 5). Other problems are listed in 2 Tim. 3 to 5.
God, by the revelation of the Holy Spirit is calling the Church to repent just as He is calling "the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem" to repent:
"And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn" (Zechariah 12:10, eimphasis added).
Both Israel and the Church need the Spirit of grace and supplication. Notice that "supplication" means the "prayer of mercy or prayer of repentance". Only by the Holy Spirit - the Spirit of grace God's convenant people (both Israel and the Church) know how to repent.
Finally, here is the promise of God to His covenant people following repentance:
"In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of jerusalem, for sin and uncleaness. 'It shall be in that day,' says the Lord of hosts, 'that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they shall no longer be remembered. I will also cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to depart from the land'" (Zechariah 13:1,2, emphasis added).
In other words, God will open a fountain to cleance the land of sin and uncleaness. Idols and false prophets will be cut off. Notice that in the context (see verse 3) "prophets" means "false prophets". I believe "unclean spirit" is the spirit of the world. I also believe an example of "false prophets" is a preacher of the "properity gospel".
Through man's fall Satan has become the ruler of this world or god of this age (2 Cor. 4:4; 1 John 5:19) . Every single person is born into this rebellious social world order. Satan controls the world through deceptions. If a person is not submitted to God, then Satan is his ruler. The spirit of the world does not come from God but from Satan!
Paul said to the church in Corinth, "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God" (1 Cor. 2:12).
The world does not recognise Jesus or His disciples. The world hates Jesus and His disciples (John 15:18,19). The Spirit of God and the spirit of the world oppose to each other.
Contrast between the Spirit of God and the spirit of the World
1. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Truth; the spirit of the world is the spirit of error.
"...the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him ...." (John 14:17, NKJV).
"..... By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error" (1 John 4:6).
2. The Spirit of God reveals the things of God; the spirit of the world ridicules the things of God. (1 Cor. 2:10, 14).
3. The Spirit of God focuses on Jesus; the spirit of the world focuses on man, and makes man his god.
4. The Spirit of God focuses on the eternal; the spirit of the world focuses on the temporal (2 Cor. 4:18).
5. The Spirit of God convicts the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8). The Spirit of God says the world is passing away (1 John 2:17). The spirit of the world blinds man of this truth and tells man all things continue as they were from the beginning (2 Peter 3:4).
6. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7); the spirit of the world is the spirit of subjection to evil through lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16).
7. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal. 5:22,23); the spirit of the world is the spirit of strive, hatred, division, rashness, self indulgence and arrogance.
8. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of supernatural grace (Heb. 10:29); the spirit of the world is the spirit of fleshly effort.
God's Plan of deliverance for believers from the spirit of the world
God loves the world and gave Jesus to die for it (John 3:16).
Paul said, "Our Lord Jesus who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father" (Gal. 1:3,4).
In other words, the present age is an evil age controls by the spirit of the world. It is God's will that all mankind be delivered from it.
The cross is God's judgement for Satan and the world. The cross resulted in Satan's defeat (Col. 2:15) and God reconcils the world unto Himself (2 Cor 5:19; Col 1:20).
Christians (the Church) in their relationship to the World
1. Jesus and His people (christians) are the only source of light in the dark world.
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12).
Jesus said to His disciples, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden" (Matt. 5:14).
Paul said, "That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world" (Phil. 2:15).
2. Christians must not love the world. They are in the world but not of the world.
John said, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15).
Jesus prayed to the Father, "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, but that You shoul keep them from the evil one" (John 17:15,16).
3. Jesus chose christians out of the world system.
Jesus said to His disciples, "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:19).
4. Jesus overcomes the world and He expects His disciples (christians) to overcome the world also.
Jesus said to His disciples, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
John said, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:4,5)
The Spirit of Grace and Supplication
Paul warned Timothy that the spirit of the World will have great influence over the Church in the last days. Apostasy will come and people will give heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons (1 Tim. 4:1 to 5). Other problems are listed in 2 Tim. 3 to 5.
God, by the revelation of the Holy Spirit is calling the Church to repent just as He is calling "the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem" to repent:
"And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn" (Zechariah 12:10, eimphasis added).
Both Israel and the Church need the Spirit of grace and supplication. Notice that "supplication" means the "prayer of mercy or prayer of repentance". Only by the Holy Spirit - the Spirit of grace God's convenant people (both Israel and the Church) know how to repent.
Finally, here is the promise of God to His covenant people following repentance:
"In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of jerusalem, for sin and uncleaness. 'It shall be in that day,' says the Lord of hosts, 'that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they shall no longer be remembered. I will also cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to depart from the land'" (Zechariah 13:1,2, emphasis added).
In other words, God will open a fountain to cleance the land of sin and uncleaness. Idols and false prophets will be cut off. Notice that in the context (see verse 3) "prophets" means "false prophets". I believe "unclean spirit" is the spirit of the world. I also believe an example of "false prophets" is a preacher of the "properity gospel".
Friday, April 01, 2005
Baptism in the Holy Spirit and Divine Love
Baptism in the Holy Spirit and divine love are closely related. Divine love, agape love or supernatural love is given to the believer by Jesus, the Baptiser, in the act of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is pointed out by Paul in his Epistle to the Romans:
"The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:5, NKJV, emphasis added).
Notice that Paul said "The love of God" and not "human love" or "love for God". He was speaking about the love of God - God's own love - which the Holy Spirit pours out in the believer's heart in the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. The phrase "poured out" indicates the action of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
The Scripture says "God is love" (1 John 4:8) and so by "pouring out God's love", God essentially pours out Himself in the Person of the Holy Spirit into the heart of the believer in the Baptism in the Holy Spirit! I hope every believer needs to understand that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is not only necessary for him to have the power to witness (Act 1:8), but also to impart the love of God to those he is witnessing to.
The love of God, imparted by the Holy Spirit is the highest form of love far far above human love - as far as heaven is above the earth!
There are many forms of natural human love. Married love of husband and wife for each other. Within the human family, there is the love of parents for children and of children for parents. Outside the bonds of the family, there is the love of one friend for another, such as the love of David and Jonathan for each other. These forms of love, in varying degree, are found in all sections of the human race - believers or non-believers.
The love of God - agape, supernatural or divine - denotes the perfect love between the Persons of the Godhead - The Father, the Son and the Spirit. It is also the love of God toward man. It is the love which caused God the Father to give His Son, and Christ the Son to give His life, that man might be redeemed from sin and its terrible consequences. It is the unique love God through His Holy Spirit imparts to the hearts of those who believe in Christ.
Let us study these verses of Scripture again (quoted in my last posting):
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love" (1 John 4:7,8, NKJV, emphasis added).
The Greek words which John uses are "agape" (noun) and "agapao" (verb) describe love which is divine in its origin and nature. The above verses clearly say that no one can experience this divine love unless he has been born of God. Love of this kind comes only form God.
A christian (a born again believer) who manifests this kind of love has come to know God through the new birth. Conversely, a christian who had never known or manifested this love has never known God. For a christian who comes to know God, he is changed and transformed by the divine love, so that he himself begins to manifest it to others.
What John said about the manifestation of divine love commences in human experience with the new birth is in harmony with what Peter said:
"Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever" (1 Peter 1:22,23).
Notice that Peter connects the possibility of christians' manifesting the divine love with the fact that they have been born again of the inccorruptible seed of God's Word. In other words, the potentiality of divine love is contained within the divine seed of God's Word implanted in their hearts at the new birth, even before the christians receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
However, God intends for this initial experience of divine love, received at the new birth, to be immeasurably increased and expanded through the baptism in the Holy Spirit. For this reason, Paul said in Romans 5:5
"The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (emphasis added).
Notice that the phrase "has been poured out" is in the perfect tense. The use of the perfect tense indicates finality and completeness. In other words, in this one act of baptizing the believer in the Holy Spirit, God has emptied out into the believer's heart all the fullness of the divine love. Nothing has been reserved or held back; all has been poured out. Thereafter the believer does not need to seek more of God's love; he needs only to accept what he has already received within.
On the other hand, if a christian is unable to love others with the love of God, he needs to examine himself whether he has actually baptised in the Holy Spirit or not. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians addresses this problem of believers failing to love others with divine love. The christians in Corinth were baptised in the Holy Spirit, they had spiritual gifts (1 Cor.1:7), but they abused the gifts. They also abused the Lord's Super (1 Cor. 11:27). They had gifts but lacked in fruit - divine love is part of the fruit. They have charisma but without character, so to say.
Examples of manifestation of Divine Love
1. God's Love
"In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him" (1 John 4:9).
God gives love first and freely to those who are unlovable, unworthy and even in rebellion. Jesus expressed this divine love in His prayer for those who were crucifying Him.
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34).
2. Stephen, the first martyr
The same divine love is expressed in the dying prayer of the martyr stephen for those who were stoning him.
"Lord, do not charge them with this sin" (Acts 7:60).
3. The apostle Paul
"I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh" (Romans 9:1 to 3).
Paul's love for his own Jewish brethren was so great that he yearned for their salvation. He would have been willing to forego all the blessings of salvation for himself and return under the curse of unforgiven sin with all its consequences, if this could bring his brethren to Christ!
"The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:5, NKJV, emphasis added).
Notice that Paul said "The love of God" and not "human love" or "love for God". He was speaking about the love of God - God's own love - which the Holy Spirit pours out in the believer's heart in the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. The phrase "poured out" indicates the action of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
The Scripture says "God is love" (1 John 4:8) and so by "pouring out God's love", God essentially pours out Himself in the Person of the Holy Spirit into the heart of the believer in the Baptism in the Holy Spirit! I hope every believer needs to understand that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is not only necessary for him to have the power to witness (Act 1:8), but also to impart the love of God to those he is witnessing to.
The love of God, imparted by the Holy Spirit is the highest form of love far far above human love - as far as heaven is above the earth!
There are many forms of natural human love. Married love of husband and wife for each other. Within the human family, there is the love of parents for children and of children for parents. Outside the bonds of the family, there is the love of one friend for another, such as the love of David and Jonathan for each other. These forms of love, in varying degree, are found in all sections of the human race - believers or non-believers.
The love of God - agape, supernatural or divine - denotes the perfect love between the Persons of the Godhead - The Father, the Son and the Spirit. It is also the love of God toward man. It is the love which caused God the Father to give His Son, and Christ the Son to give His life, that man might be redeemed from sin and its terrible consequences. It is the unique love God through His Holy Spirit imparts to the hearts of those who believe in Christ.
Let us study these verses of Scripture again (quoted in my last posting):
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love" (1 John 4:7,8, NKJV, emphasis added).
The Greek words which John uses are "agape" (noun) and "agapao" (verb) describe love which is divine in its origin and nature. The above verses clearly say that no one can experience this divine love unless he has been born of God. Love of this kind comes only form God.
A christian (a born again believer) who manifests this kind of love has come to know God through the new birth. Conversely, a christian who had never known or manifested this love has never known God. For a christian who comes to know God, he is changed and transformed by the divine love, so that he himself begins to manifest it to others.
What John said about the manifestation of divine love commences in human experience with the new birth is in harmony with what Peter said:
"Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever" (1 Peter 1:22,23).
Notice that Peter connects the possibility of christians' manifesting the divine love with the fact that they have been born again of the inccorruptible seed of God's Word. In other words, the potentiality of divine love is contained within the divine seed of God's Word implanted in their hearts at the new birth, even before the christians receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
However, God intends for this initial experience of divine love, received at the new birth, to be immeasurably increased and expanded through the baptism in the Holy Spirit. For this reason, Paul said in Romans 5:5
"The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (emphasis added).
Notice that the phrase "has been poured out" is in the perfect tense. The use of the perfect tense indicates finality and completeness. In other words, in this one act of baptizing the believer in the Holy Spirit, God has emptied out into the believer's heart all the fullness of the divine love. Nothing has been reserved or held back; all has been poured out. Thereafter the believer does not need to seek more of God's love; he needs only to accept what he has already received within.
On the other hand, if a christian is unable to love others with the love of God, he needs to examine himself whether he has actually baptised in the Holy Spirit or not. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians addresses this problem of believers failing to love others with divine love. The christians in Corinth were baptised in the Holy Spirit, they had spiritual gifts (1 Cor.1:7), but they abused the gifts. They also abused the Lord's Super (1 Cor. 11:27). They had gifts but lacked in fruit - divine love is part of the fruit. They have charisma but without character, so to say.
Examples of manifestation of Divine Love
1. God's Love
"In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him" (1 John 4:9).
God gives love first and freely to those who are unlovable, unworthy and even in rebellion. Jesus expressed this divine love in His prayer for those who were crucifying Him.
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34).
2. Stephen, the first martyr
The same divine love is expressed in the dying prayer of the martyr stephen for those who were stoning him.
"Lord, do not charge them with this sin" (Acts 7:60).
3. The apostle Paul
"I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh" (Romans 9:1 to 3).
Paul's love for his own Jewish brethren was so great that he yearned for their salvation. He would have been willing to forego all the blessings of salvation for himself and return under the curse of unforgiven sin with all its consequences, if this could bring his brethren to Christ!
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