Understanding New Testament Divine Healing

New Testament Divine Healing is a Gift of God through the Atonement of Jesus for the sins of the world. Isaiah 53 (the "Atonement Chapter) has this prophetic vision about Jesus Christ:

"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for you iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5, NKJV, emphasis added). 1 Peter 2:24 says the same thing.

Notice that, "by His stripes we are healed" and not "will be healed" - which means healings are already provided for anyone who believes.

Two New Testament Ordinances for Healing

1. Jesus said, "And these signs will follow those who believe .... they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover" (Mark 16:17, 18, emphasis added).

2. James said, "Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven" (James 5: 14, 15, emphasis added).

Notice that both these ordinances for divine healing are effective only through the exercise of faith in the Name of Jesus. In the case of anointing with oil, it is specifically stated that prayer must accompany this act. In the passage about laying hands on the sick in Mark's Gospel, no specific mention is made of praying. However, in most cases it would be natural to pray for the sick person, as well as laying hands on him.

Notice also that "the sick" in Mark's Gospel are not necessarily means only sick christians. In fact the ordinance of laying of hands on the sick, as set forth in Mark 16 is intended to go together with the preaching of the gospel to the unconverted. Healing is one of the miraculous signs (Mark 16:17) that follows those who go and preach the Gospel. Any believer sitting quietly in the pews and not "going" may not experience these signs.

On the other hand, the epistle of James is addressed primarily to professing Jewish christians. But the phrase "among you" would seem to refer to all believers who attend a christian church with elders. A sick person who made no profession of faith and was not associated with any christian church would not be included in the phrase "among you". Therefore, the ordinance of anointing with oil is intended primarily for those who already profess faith in Christ and are associated with some Christian church.

Two Important Lessons from James 5:14,15

1. God expects every sick christian to seek Him first, for healing through faith by spiritual means. This does not mean it is necessarily unscriptural for a christian who is sick to seek the advice or help of a medical doctor. But it is absolutely contrary to Scripture for any professing christian who is sick to seek for human medical aid without first seeking for divine help from God Himself, through the appointed elders of the church. All sick christians who do not seek divine help first before seeking medical help are guilty of direct disobedience against the ordinaces of God as set forth in the New Testament. In the face of this, any christian who falls sick and calls for the doctor, without calling for the elders of the church, is guilty of open disobedience. It is tantamount to saying to God: "I do not need You. I do not really believe You can help me or heal me. I am content to accept the best that man can do for me without seeking You for guidance or help". This prevailing attitude among professing christians is one main reason why so much sickness also prevails among them. God is the healer and it is not wise to close the doors of our home or churches against Christ the healer.

2. God expects every christian to associate himself with a church and that the elders of this church must know him and is known to him. These elders shall be ready to minister in faith, according to the Scripture, to the physical needs of their church members.

Notice that no believers can claim the fulfillment of Jemes 5 unless the church is a true church of Jesus Christ and the elders are true ministers who are called by God to take on the function and qualifications of elders.

How God ministers Divine Life and Divine Healing

Notice that there is no suggestion that the anointing oil used possesses any natural healing properties. Here, as in many other passages of Scripture, the oil is simply a type or picture of the Holy Spirit.

Thus, placing the oil upon the sick person represents the claim of faith on behalf of that person that the Spirit of God shall minister divine life and healing to his sick body. This claim is based upon a clear promise from God:

" But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you" (Romans 8:11, emphasis added).

Here the phrase "to give life to your mortal bodies" means to impart divine life and power to the mortal, physical body of the believer in whom the Spirit of God dwells. The great agent of the Godhead who imparts this divine life is the third Person, the Holy Spirit. Sickness comes when a christian lacks divine life.

To be continued in the next message.

What Jesus says about War

Jesus said, "He who is not with Me is against Me and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad" (Matthew 12:30, NKJV).

Anyone who is against God is an enemy of Jesus. The primary enemy of God is Satan. Because of pride and rebellion Satan opposed God from the beginning, even before Adam was created. Satan became the "god of this age" (2 Cor. 4:4) when Adam sinned. Therefore, those who are not with Jesus and those who do not believe Jesus as their Lord and savior are all under the dominion of the "god of this age" - whose kingdom is in opposition to the Kingdom of God. War began when the kingdom of Satan opposed the Kingdom of God. There are always wars between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of the world whose king is Satan. There are always wars and conflicts between darkness and light, wars between the good and the evil, wars between righteousness and sin and wars between Christ and Satan. In other words, these two opposing Kingdoms are always at war with each other until the end of the age.

Paul said, "Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Col. 1:12-14, NIV, emphasis added).

Notice, there are two kingdoms. There is the kingdom of light, in which our inheritance lies. But there is also the dominion of darkness. The word translated "dominion" is the Greek word "exusia", which means "authority". In other words, whether we like it or not, Satan has authority. He is the ruler of a kingdom that the Bible recognizes. So these two kingdoms are engaged in mortal warfare and the war is coming to its climax in our day as this age comes to a close.

War begins in the spirit - the spirit of the world wars against the Spirit of God. And then physical wars follow. The types of wars existed are spiritual war, religious war, physical war and political war. It is beyond the scope of this message to dwell on each type of wars in any details.

Jesus Accepts War

The Scripture indicates that Jesus not only allows wars to happen, but also accepts war as part of the present world-order. In fact it is one of the conditions of discipleship. When we are born again by the Spirit of God we become representatives of God's Kingdom here on earth. Whether we like it or not, believers find themselves involed in an an all out spiritual war with Satan's opposing kingdom. What begins in the spiritual will be manifested in the physical. And this is the main reason why there are physical religious and political wars.

Jesus says, "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet" (Matt. 24:6, NKJV, emphasis added). Other Gospel writers said the same thing (Luke 21:9 and Mark 13:7).

In other words, Jesus says there will be wars and rumors of wars in the last days - and all of us are living in the last of the last days.

Jesus said to his 12 disciples that He did not come to bring peace (the opposite of war) but a sword on earth. There will be war even in a man's own household (Matt. 10:34,34,35).

Physical wars are due to sin of selfishness and greed:

"Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask" (James 4:1,2).

Wars are under the full control of the Almighty God:

Solomon (the preacher) said, "A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war and a time of peace.

In other words, everything has its time - to everyting there is a season, and God gives time to fulfill his every purpose on earth:

"A time to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; a time to kill and a time to heal; A time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh ...." (Eccle. 3:2,3,4).

We may not understand it, but I believer this is God's answer for those who are killed in a war. I can not find any other reason given by God in the Scripture.

God decides when wars shall cease and the final victory belongs to Him:

"He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire" (Psalm 46:9, emphasis added).

"These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful"(Rev. 17:14, emphasis added).

The Real Purpose of Life

Many books have been written to help Christians how to find the purpose of life and to live life according to Biblical principles. The purpose of life is a pupular theme for Church Camps or Church Seminars all over the country. Some of these teachings are good and even helpful, but not all are Biblical. Majority of these teachings originated from the wisdom of men. They bring new "doctrine" to local churches with irrelevant references to the Scripture to feed iching ears.

Paul gave a solemn warning to christians:

"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" (Col. 2:8, NKJV).

If Christians care to search the Scripture diligently they will not fail to realise that the main purpose of life is knowing God. Jesus Himself expressed this beautifully when He prayed to the Father:

"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (John 17:3, NKJV, emphasis added).

In the context, "they" means "Jesus' disciples and those whom God had given eternal life.

This, I believe is the ultimate purpose of all life - to know the one and only true God. Out of this knowledge there comes eternal life, divine life, the life of God Himself. Eternal life is the hope of all men and only by knowing God this hope can be realised.

Paul said, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable"(1 Cor.15:19).

In other words, our hope in Christ is beyond our present life on earth; our hope is our eternal life with Christ! Paul said, "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3). The life that is hidden with Christ in God is eternal life - the result of knowing God.

However, knowledge of God is not merely intellectual. It is not merely theology or doctrine. It is not knowing about God. It is actually knowing God Himself - knowing Him directly and intimately; knowing Him as a Person. It is a person-to-person relationship. It is a spiritual union between the Spirit of God and the spirit of man quickened and made alive by the Holy Spirit.

Covenant relationship between Christ and His Church

Before we can understand life's purpose of "knowing" God we must understand the convenant relationship between God and His people and Christ and His Church.

In the Old Testament, God compared His relationship with Israel to that of a husband with his wife. He traced this relationship back to the covenant back to the covenant that He made with Israel at Mount Sinai after He had delivered them out of Egypt (Jeremiah 31:31,32).

However, by unfaithfulness and idolatry, Israel violated their covenant relationship with God as their Husband. Hosea gave a prophetic picture of God bringing Israel back into a new covenant with Himself and thereby restore His relatioship to them as their husband:

"I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know the Lord" (Hosea 2:19,20, NKJV, emphasis added).

Through Israel's covenant commitment they would come to "know the Lord" as they had never known Him before - just like the marriage covenant commitment between a man and a woman through which a man comes to "know" his wife.

The nature of this new covenant is more fully reveiled in the New Testament. This New covenant in Christ is viewed as bringing believers into a relationship with God that is analogous to the marriage relationship between husband and wife. This truth is brought out by Paul in Ephesians 5:25-33 which says, Christ redeems and sanctifies His church in order that He may present it to Himself as a bride is presented to her husband, "holy and without blemish" (V. 27).

One Spirit with God

The picture of a bride is not only for the body of true believers (the true Church) as a whole. Paul said, God desires to have an intimate relationship with each individual believer - to be in one Spirit with Him:

"Do you not know that that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For 'the two,' He says, 'shall become one flesh.' But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him" (1 Cor. 6:16,17, emphasis added).

Paul was speaking about the sexual union between a man and a woman. He said that a man who has sexual relations with a harlot makes himself "one body" with her. Then he went on to say that a believer can have a similar kind of union with God in which he becomes "one spirit" with God. That means, the relationship that God invites each believer to have with Him is precisely parallel, on the spiritual plane, to the sexual union which, on the physical plane, a man may have with a woman.

The above Scriptures also brought out an important truth. The union between a man and the harlot is fornication, which is sinful. Unlike a man and his wife whose marriage union is preceded by mutual covenant commitment. Paul applied this priciple also to the relationship between God and the believer. God desires spiritual union with each individual believer. At the same time, however, it is certain that God will never violate His own laws. He will never be a party to "spiritual fornication", which means a believer shall have no other covenant relationwhip with other gods. Therefore, union with God in this sense depends upon, and receded by covenant commitment to God. Until a believer is ready to make the total, unreserved commitment to God that covenant requires, he can never have this full spiritual union with God that is the purpose of redemption.

Take the situation that is so common in an evangelistic campaign in the local Church or in an evangelistic rally. Many people are touched by the message. They respond to the altar call and come forward to receive Christ. They desire a relationship with God. They may even lay claim to such a relationship. Nevertheless, their desire is unfulfilled; their claim is unjustified. The reason is that they have never made that solemn, unreserved, personal commitment to God that is the only basis upon which He will receive them into the relationship that they desire. Religious ritual, such as baptism or confirmation of Church membership may not change a thing in their relationship with God. It is the committed covenant relationship with God that God is after. Short of this no believer shall get to really know God. And without truly knowing God there is no real purpose of life. Knowing God is beyond discipleship!

A true disciple of Christ should never be interested in some watered-down, religious substitute for the real intimacy with God. Look at the picture of intimacy painted by the psalmist David:

"O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water" (Psalm 63:1, NKJV).

In other words, there can be only one source of ultimate satisfaction for the thirsty soul; it is God Himself. To stop at less than true union with Him is to miss the real purpose of living. It is to remain forever frustrated, forever unfulfilled in the christian life.

Covenant commitment between between man and God causes man to really know God - on the vertical plane. Similarly, covenant commitment between a man and his wife causes man to really know his wife - on the horizontal plane. Any christian or disciple who fails to know God as mush as he knows his wife does not know the real purpose of life!

An Important Aspect of God's Word

God gives man His Word because He loves man and gives man a free will - freely to obey His Word or to reject His Word. The basis of given man a free will is His love for man and His love to have fellowship with man. This is His primary purpose when He created man in His own image (Gen.1:27, NKJV) and commanded man to be fruitful and multiply (Gen. 1:28).

God's Word for Adam

God gave Adam a free will. He could always choose to obey or disobey. Free will is a mockery if there is no choice. After creating Adam, God did not remain around, like a policeman on duty, following Adam and saying, "Now do this!" or "Don't do that!".

Apparently, God left Adam and Eve for significant periods on their own. Genesis 3:8 says, "...the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day ...". That would be about the time that it was getting a little cool and the evening breeze was beginning to blow. It seems clear that God had not been in the Garden all day. The verse seems to suggest that God used to drop in for a visit and fellowship with Adam and Eve in the evening.

Although God did ot remain permanently present in person in the Garden, He left with Adam one permanent representative, one thing that always represented God, one thing that never departed from Him - HIS WORD. God left Adam the Word. Therefore, the basis of Adam's relationship to God was his relationship to the Word of God. God gave Adam not the entire Bible but only two verses:

"And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, 'Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die'" (Genesis 2:16,17).

Take note of the three successive phases to God's Word to Adam:

1. Permission. "You may eat of every tree that is in the Garden except one".

2. Prohibition. "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat".

3. Warning. "In the day that you eat of it you shall surely die".

As long as Adam believed and obeyed God's Word, no evil could touch him. Nothing could take away his peace, his life or his peace. But, Adam chose to obey the word of Satan who spoke, "You will not surely die" (Gen. 3:4). Adam and Eve were confronted by a situation where they have to exercise free will to obey God or to obey Satan. The tragic error was that they rejected the Truth of God's Word and received Satan's lie.

God's Word for Christians

There is a direct parallel truth between Adam's situation in the Garden and the situation confronted by the new creation in Christ in the present dispensation.

Christians are believers created anew in Christ. Just like what happened in Adam's time, God does not wave a big stick at us all the time commanding us, "Do this!" or "Don't do that!". Instead, He left with us one permanent representative of Himself - HIS WORD, the entire BIBLE.

Jesus said, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him" (John 14:23).

In other words, God the Father and Jesus will love the christian who keeps His Word. Not only that, God the Father and God the Son will come to him and dwell with him. God comes to us and abides with us through His Word. The spiritual principle is - the place that God's Word has in our lives is the place that God Himself has. The same honour and respect that we owe to God, we owe to His Word. The fact is that we do not love God more than we love His Word. The test of our relationship to God is our attitude toward His Word.

The Authority of God's Word

The psalmist David understood the authority of God's Word;

"Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven" (Ps. 119:89).

Jesus Himself said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away" (Matt.24:35).

David said further that, "The entirety of Your word is truth" (Ps.119:160).

In other words. the Bible is true from Genesis 1:1 right on through to the very last verse of Revelation. Conversly, we can say the "The entirety of Satan's word is lie"!

Anyone who compromises the teaching of the Bible compromises and denies the truth of God's word. This is tantamount to committing the same sin committed by Adam who denied the Word of God, but took heed of the word of Satan instead.

If only Adam had said:

"Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You" (Ps. 119:11).

Adam and the Last Adam

The Apostle Paul said to the Church at Corinth:

"The first man Adam became a living being. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven" (1 Cor. 15:45,47, NKJV).

It is obvious that Jesus is called the Last Adam and not the second Adam - there is no second Adam. Jesus is also called the "second Man" not a descendant of Adam, the "first man". God gave Adam a freewill. He was given the ability to obey God or to disobey and sin against God. But he chose to sin and the whole race descended from him became sinners. Jesus the last Adam brough forth a new race when He died on the cross and rose again from the dead. Those who believe in Him become a new race descended from Him and made righteous with the righteousness of God (Romans 3:22).

The Adamic Race

God created man to be a ruler and to have dominion over the entire earth.

"Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeess; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air and over the cattle, over all the earth and over ever creeping thing that creeps on the earth" (Genesis 1:26, emphasis added).

Notice that these words were not spoke of Adam as an individual, but of the race descended from him: "Let them have dominion ...". The Adamic race was created to rule the entire earth is clearly brought out in Psalm 8:4-8. The same words applied to Jesus the Son of God are quoted in Hebrews:

"What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, and set him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet" (Heb. 2:6-8).

Therefore, the purpose of God (to rule and to have dominion over all creation) for the Adamic race found fulfilment in only Jesus (in His humanity) who was the Head of the Adamic race. Before Jesus came, the purpose was stated but was not fulfilled. There is something even in fallen man that still knows he was created to rule. But his capacity to rule is impaired because of the work of sin in him. The whole Adamic race inherited the sinful nature of the first man, Adam.

The God-Man Race

Jesus is called the last Adam because spiritually he was the end of the whole evil Adamic inheritance (1 Cor. 15:45).

When He died on the cross and was buried that whole evil Adamic inheritance was buried in Him. His was the last of the of the Adamic race. He put away sin once and for all by the sacrifice of Himself. When He rose from the dead three days later He was the second (not second Adam) Man. He was the new kind of Man. He became the Head of a totally new Race never existed before. This is the God-Man race - God and men fused together in one nature. This is our inheritance in Christ.

Peter said, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3-5).

Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ sinners can be born again, out of sin, out of death and begotten again into the new Race in a new Kingdom of which Jesus is the Head.

Paul said to the christians in Colosse about Jesus Christ as the Head of the Church:

"He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence" (Col. 1:18, emphasis added).

In other words, because Jesus is the firstborn from the dead (the first born again Man) all born again believers becomes His body and follow Him - the Head comes first and the body follows. So, we are part of His body, a part of this new Race in a new Kingdom, through faith in His death and resurrection. We are a new creaction (2 Cor. 5:17) with a new kind of life - a divine undefeatable eternal resurrected life.

I believe there is a parallel truth between Adam and Eve and Jesus and His Bride, the true Church.

God gave Adam the desire for fellowship; first to fellowship with God and then to fellowhip with Eve, the "helper comparable to him (Adam)" (Gen. 2:20). Adam himself said, Eve was "bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh" because God made Eve from Adam's rib (Read Gen. 2:21-24). God performed a unique operation on Adam physically for this purpose.

To me this is a clear picture, in type, of Jesus Christ and the true Church, the Bride of Christ. But the Bride of Christ comes from Jesus spiritually - Cor. 15:45 says Jesus is the life-given spirit. The picture I see is, while Jesus "slept" in the tomb, God "took out from His death that which He will build into a Bride for Jesus". The Bride is prophetic.

To me the Church is going to be to Jeus what Eve would become to Adam, "bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh", and thus fulfil His longing for fellowship. It is the eternal nature of God to long for fellowship with man!

"Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, God Himself will be with them and be their God'" (Rev. 21:2,3, emphasis added).

The ultimate purpose of God is not to bring His Bride to heaven to dwell there, but to have intimate fellowship with Him in the New Earth under the New Heaven!

The Original Sin

It is very important for all Christians to realize that the first sin (the original sin) in the universe was not murder, nor sexual immorality, but pride. It was pride that produced rebellion. God is the Author of all blessings. God created Lucifer and He gave him power, authority, beauty and wisdom - all were gifts from God. Yet Lucifer's wrong attitude turned them into instruments for his own destruction. All these things happened to Lucifer long before Adam came into the scene.

Lucifer had occupied a position of unique honour in heaven. What God said to him and about him was recorded in Ezekeil 28:12-15. Lucifer was perfect in beauty, but he was a created being. Pride motivated him to challenge God and to claim a place of equality with God. Apparently Lucifer had authority over a company of angels, and he had succeeded in alienating some of those under him from their loyalty to God. In response, God cast Lucifer and his partners in rebellion from His presence. But, Lucifer continued his rebellion by setting up a kingdom of his own in opposition to God's Kingdom.

Jesus said, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?" (Luke 11:17,18 NKJV). In the context of these and other verses Jesus revealed that Satan has a kingdom of his own.

Isaiah analysed the motive behind Lucifer's rebellion. He had an ambition to be equal with God. Read Isaiah 14:12-15 and you will notice that Lucifer made five successive declarations prefaced by the phrase I will. He said, "I will ascend into heaven ... I will exalt my throne ... I will sit on the mount of the congregation ... I will ascend above the heights of the clouds". Finally came the climax, "I will be like (or equal to) the Most High, like God Himself". Lucifer's self-promoting ambition was the cause of his fall.

Contrast between Jesus and Lucifer

Notice that Scripture confronts us with a deliberate contrast between Lucifer and Jesus.

Paul depicted the self-humbling of Jesus:

"Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of not reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in apperance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:6,7,8).

There are actually 7 downward steps taked by Jesus to humble Himself:

1. He made Himself of no reputation.

2. He took upon Himself the form of a servant.

3. He was made in the likeness of man.

4. He was found in fashion (appearance) as a man.

5. He humbled Himself.

6. He became obedient unto death.

7. He became obedient to the death of a crimainal on the cross.

Lucifer was not in the form of God; he was a created being. He had no right to be equal with God. Yet he grasped at equality with God, and when he reached up, he slipped and fell. On the other hand, Jesus was divine by eternal nature and enjoyed equality with God. He did not need to grasp at it, but rather, He humbled Himself.

It is interesting to note that when Jesus humbled Himelf God exalted Him in 7 upward steps in the next few verses.

"Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:9,10,11).

Here we have the 7 upward steps of the exaltation of Jesus:

1. God has highly exalted Him.

2. God has given Him a name that is above every name.

3. At the Name of Jesus, every knee shall bow.

4. "Of those in heaven".

5. "Of those on earth".

6. "Of those under the earth".

7. Every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

The above principle of self-humbling was taught by Jesus to the Pharisees:

"For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 14:11).

The principle of "The way up is down" is declared all through Scripture. For example, Solomon declared:

"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18).

"Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before honor is humility" (Proberbs 18:12).

The apostle Paul wrote to the believers at Philippi:

"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:3,4,5, emphasis added).

The two motivations that Paul rules out are self-centred ambition and conceit.

God's Perfect Plan of Redemption

The entire message of the Gospel revolves around the one and only one unique historical event - The sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the Cross. This is God's perfect plan of redemption. He offered His only Son to die on the cross as a perfect sacrifice to redeem all mankind.

The writer of Hebrews said, "For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified" (Hebrews 10:14, NKJV, emphasis added).

Notice that "perfected forever" depicts a sacrifice that comprehends every need of the entire human race. The effects of this sacrifice extend throughout time and on into eternity.

The most complete account of what was accomplished a the cross was given throught the prophet Isaiah. God made Jesus' soul (life) "an offering for sin" (Isaiah 53:10). On the cross, the sin of the whole world was transferred to the soul of Jesus. The outcome is described in Isaiah 53:12:

"He poured out His soul unto death".

By His sacrificial, substitutionary death, Jesus made atonement for the sin of the whole human race.

Paul said, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21).

The above verse is the basis of "Divine Exchange" Jesus made for us on the cross. Notice that Paul did not speak here about any kind of righteousess that we can achieve by our own tighteousness. It is the righteousness of God that we can only receive by faith. This divine exchange may be summed up as follows

Jesus ws made SIN with OUR SINFULNESS that we might become RIGHTEOUS with HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

The divine purpose accomplished by the sacrifice of Jesus Himself is summed up:

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6, emphasis added).

The above verse describes the universal problem of all humanity - "we have turned, every one, to his own way". In other words, our iniquity is "independence" and in rebellion against God. This type of sin is common to all. Notice that not only Jesus identified with our iniquity, but He also endured all the evil consequences of that iniquity.

I believe this is the true meaning and purpose of the cross. On the cross a divinely ordained exchange took place. First, Jesus endured in our place all the evil consequences that were due by divine justice to our iniquity. Now, in exchange, God offers us all the good that was due to the sinless obedience of Jesus. This divine principle of exchange are revealed in Isaiah 53:4 and 5:

"Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."

Notice that Jesus on the cross, took our place both spiritually and physically. Spiritually, Jesus received the punishment due to our transgressions and iniquities that we, in turn, might be forgiven and so have peace with God (see also Romans 5:1). Physically, Jesus bore our sicknesses and pains that we through His wounds might be healed.

The physical application of the exchange is confirmed by Peter who referred back to Isaiah 53:5 and 6 and said of Jesus:

"(He) Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness - by whose stripes you were healed" (1 Peter 2:24).

The spiritual and physical aspects of exchange described in the above verses may be summed up as follows:

Jesus was PUNISHED that we might be FORGIVEN; Jesus was WOUNDED that we might be HEALED.

Another aspect of the divine exchange is stated by Paul:

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich" (2 Cor. 8:9).

Actually, Jesus became poor on the cross. In fact Jesus was in absolute poverty in four expressions: He was hungry, He was thirst (John 19:28), He was naked (John 19:23), and He was in need of all things. He no longer owned anything whatever. After His death He was buried in a borrowed robe and in a borrow tomb (Luke 23:50 - 52). Thus, Jesus, exactly and completely, endure absolute poverty for our sakes. In other words, Jesus broke the poverty curse for us forever (Deu. 28:48).

Another aspect of the divine exchange is rejection by God:

"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, My God. why have You forsaken Me?'" (Matt. 27:46, emphasis added).

For the first time in the history of the universe, the Son of God called out to His Father and received no response. He was at that moment forsaken or rejected by God. The rejection of Jesus resulted in our acceptance. We were accepted by God "in the Beloved" (Eph. 1:5,6).

This may be summed up as:

Jesus endured our REJECTION that we might have HIS ACCEPTANCE as children of God.

Finally, Jesus became a CURSE that we might receive the BLESSING.

Paul said, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree'), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (Gal. 3:13,14).

Notice that the curse that came upon Jesus is defined as "the curse of the law". It includes every one of the curses, listed by Moses in Deuteronomy 28. Therefore, Jesus has opened the way for us to obtain full release from the curses and to enter into the corresponding blessings!

All we need to do is to received by faith, what Jesus has done for us on the cross.

Biblical Significance of the Holy Communion

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!

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.

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.

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.

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).

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

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 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 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!

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".

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!