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Showing posts from August, 2013

Jesus: The Believer’s Inheritance

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  It is fascinating to observe when people talk about inheritance, ones mind would immediately cater properties, wills, houses, jewelries, and other material things. All of which are centered on material temporal things.   In 1 Peter 1:4 , although The Apostle Peter used the term “inheritance” once in his letter, Apostle Paul on the other hand, mentioned this term in his letters several times. ( Eph_1:14 , Eph_1:18 , Eph_5:5 , Col_3:24 ,) But what is so significant about this particular emphasis of Peter? After all, he made a brief description of the inheritance (verse 4-5) a believer will obtain now that he is part of God’s family.   The term “inheritance” is not something new among Jewish ears. Going back to the OT, when God divided the promised land among the 12 tribes of Israel, every tribe received a portion of the land as their inheritance, except for the tribe of Levi…”the priestly tribe”. They were the only tribe that didn’t get one. God’s reason for doing so is interesting. Th
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How human is Jesus? Can we really be like Him?

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Jesus was fully human. Scripture shows the full and true humanity of Jesus. First, he was made flesh and lived among men (John 1:14). Second, he demonstrated human emotions (Matthew 8:10; 26:38; John 11:33-35; 12:27; Hebrews 5:7). Third, he demonstrated human body experiences such as being born (Luke 2:7); physical growth (Luke 2:40, 52); hunger (Matthew 4:1); thirst (John 19:28); exhaustion (John 4:6); physical weakness (Matthew 4:11; Luke 23:26). Moreover, Jesus lived a Spirit-filled life (Matthew 4:1; Luke 4:1). Although we as Christians have a promise from Scripture that we will be like Him in the future (1 John 3:2-3), it is possible that we can be like Him even in our present state. The fact that the author of Hebrews exhorted his readers to persevere in the face of persecution by looking unto Jesus as the author and finisher of faith (Hebrews 12:2-3) indicates that it is possible to be like him. In addition, the apostle John asserts that those who claim to live in him must live
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Do we have to believe that Jesus is God incarnate vs. a prophet or wise teacher? What difference does it make?

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Although in Scripture we find passages describing Jesus as a Prophet (e.g. Mark 6:3-5; Luke 24:19; John 6:14) and a Teacher (e.g. Matthew 17:24; Mark 4:38; Luke 10:25; John 1:28; 8:4) believing that Jesus is God incarnate is imperative. Why? Because the essence of the gospel is that God became man and lived among humanity. Jesus Christ is the Immanuel—“God with us” (Matthew 1:22-23; John 1:14). He is the only God-Man, making him the unequivocal Savior of the world. That Jesus is God incarnate is a truth that most men and women find hard to accept. They refuse to believe that they are not able to save themselves from the righteous wrath of God (Romans 1:18-32) and it is wholly through Jesus Christ that one can be saved (John 14:6; Romans 10:9-13; Acts 16:31). 
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How closely does God control the universe, especially moral creatures?

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After creating the universe, God did not leave His creation to run its own course. The Lord, who is sovereign, continues to be actively involved in the universe, even in the affairs of men. As seen in many passages, the Lord declares His ownership of the earth and all that is contained in it (e.g. Deuteronomy 10:14; Psalm 89:11; 24:1; 1 Corinthians 10:26). Furthermore, in Scripture we see God asserting His rightful ownership of all humanity (Ezekiel 18:4); Israel (Leviticus 20:26; Ezekiel 16:8; Isaiah 43:1); and the church (John 17:6, 9; 1 Corinthians 3:23; 2 Corinthians 10:7; Galatians 5:24). Man, whom God created to become His image bearers, was also given the ability to choose. Hence, man is accountable for his decisions. One example of this is Nebuchadnezzar. He was warned beforehand by Daniel that if he does not acknowledge the sovereign God, there will be consequences. Unfortunately, his pride went to his head and he lived like an animal for seven years (Daniel 4:31-33). The ange
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