Like a chestnut tree

Now that we have gone through the Book of Matthew, I will choose another book to continue to explain the eternal and only covenant of God – the Covenant of Grace.

Everything in the Bible and everything happening in our daily lives are connected. Everything is connected to one another. They are like puzzle pieces but only though the eyes of God that we can see the whole picture. For us to see it, we need the Holy Spirit and the Bible. Only then, everything that has happened in history and that is happening now can be understood. Sometimes the truth is right there in front of our eyes. But only when the Holy Spirit teaches us, we understand them.

Many Christians rely on their intellectual abilities and human logics to understand the Bible. Therefore, they welcome Thomism or other philosophy-based theology. It is important to notice that God did not give a perfect transcription of the Bible. And God never made us learn ancient Hebrew or Koine Greek to understand His words. There are many translations of the Bible and yet, those who need to understand the truths of God understand them by the power of the Holy Spirit. The elect people of God understand the Bible like children.

In many ways, Christians who are like children have better understanding of God than those who studied theology at universities or seminaries. In many ways, they are better than Aquinas, Luther, or Calvin who studied theology at university.

I once watched a video clip on a minister giving a lecture on Luther’s idea of justification at a church. He boasted that he read Luther’s writings on the justification a hundred times. But one of the audiences asked him a very important question on Adam and his limitation (or his immaturity). The minister did not understand the question. Stuck with men’s words, he could not explain or understand a very simple logic – why could Adam not overcome the temptation?

We believe that God started and orchestrated the Reformation. There is no doubt about it. But that does not mean everything that the Reformers wrote has inerrancy like the Bible. However, people spend much time learning the original language used in the Reformed confessions as if each word is from God.

The Creeds and the Reformed confessions do not have as high authority as the Bible. They can help us understand the truths of God. But if we focus on the doctrines rather than the actual words of God, we fail to advance in our knowledge. We become stale. We rot.

I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:15-16)

Food is kept either in fridge or heated repeatedly to stop it from going bad. Bacteria (leaven) always grow in the food that is left at room temperature. If you eat rotten food, you need to spit it out to stop yourself from getting sick.

Regarding the inerrancy of the Bible, I’d like to mention one thing. We divide the Bible into two: the Old Testament and the New Testament. But it is one book. The OT and the NT speak the same things. Many unbelievers think the books of the Bible contradict to one another and therefore it is full of errors. It is simply not true. Everything is connected. The Bible speaks the same things again and again through history. God does not change because He is not a man.

Also the Glory of Israel will not lie nor change His mind; for He is not a man, that He would change His mind. (1 Samuel 15:29)

But many Christians think God changed His mind when Adam rebelled. That is what the Covenant theologians believe. God does not change His mind according to men’s actions. Faith did not come because works failed. Works were bound to fail to teach us that faith (in other words, the Holy Spirit) comes first.

Although the OT and the NT speak the same things, there is a difference between them. I consider that God gave His appointed people to interpret the OT and write the NT. Only those with the Holy Spirit and the authority from God were able to write the NT. It was the continuation of Christ’s works on the earth because He interpreted the OT and taught people with the authority from heaven.

for He was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. (Matthew 7:29)

The invisible church also has the authority because she is one with Christ. Yet, her understanding still grows. That does not mean what the Apostles wrote in the NT were inadequate. God foresaw the needs of saints and made them write the NT books in early stage of the Kingdom. Therefore, there is no need for new books of the Bible. If new epistles of the Apostles appear and speak new things, it means those who were born before did not know truths and therefore, all of them were not saints. One must be careful in distinguishing what is true or not. This cannot be done by ourselves but only by the Holy Spirit.

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! (Galatians 1:8)

The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet. (Psalm 110:1)

Therefore, if David calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?” No one was able to offer Him a word in answer, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him any more questions. (Matthew 22:45-46)

Finally, we have reached to the last chapter of the Book of Matthew. I focused on explaining the eternal Covenant of Grace and the divine election. They cannot be understood without knowing the Trinity and Christ’s inseparable two natures. You may study various theology books and try to understand them through their understandings. But I think it is useless because theology has been tainted by men’s ideas of God. Thomism has engulfed both the Roman Catholic church and the Protestant churches. As a result, Sola Gratia, the divine election, and the Trinity are denied by people who call themselves Christians.

In this chapter, Christ rises from the dead and ascends to heaven.

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt 28:18 – 19)

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slaughtered, and You purchased people for God with Your blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation. You have made them into a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing.” And I heard every created thing which is in heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, or on the sea, and all the things in them, saying, “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion forever and ever.” And the four living creatures were saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped. (Revelation 5:9-14)

Many theologians who focus on merits think that Christ had to meet some conditions to receive the rewards. Consequently, they emphasize on works of men instead of the new heart God gives to His chosen people for free. It may appear that the Father made a conditional covenant with the Son. But Christ denies that in John 5:19.

Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same way. (John 5:19)

There are two kinds of wrong views of Christ. One sees that He was a mere man. The other view is that Christ is God, not a man. True understanding of Christ does not lean on either side. Christ is the Son of Man and the Son of God. This is beyond human ideas. Therefore, no one knows God until the knowledge is given. The Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son gives us the knowledge.

What the Father decided and planned before creation, the Son accepted and understood fully because the Son loves the Father unconditionally. What the Father planned is for the Son because the Father loves the Son unconditionally. The Son was given tasks on the earth to achieve the goal of the creation, the kingdom of God. And He was given all aids from the Father to do them. Yet, the Father gives the Son the glory because the Son’s glory is the Father’s and vice versa. And this glory is also given to His saints because we are one with the Son and the Father through the Holy Spirit. The Son enabled this union by becoming a man and doing everything that the Father willed. And love is the root of all. This is explained in John 17.

The glory which You have given Me I also have given to them, so that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and You loved them, just as You loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. “Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them. (John 17:22-26)

Those who focus on mere external piety and the written code do not consider the Law as love. Therefore, their idea of God stops at the same level as the Pharisees and the Scribes. They judge Christ by the written code (Law) and put Him to death. In many churches, Christ dies every Sunday. Those who truly love God by the power of the Holy Spirit hate immoralities. Sola Gratia does not lead to antinomianism. It is those who do not have the Holy Spirit worry that Sola Gratia will promote antinomianism. They often look pious and take a high position in their churches. But God sees them as evildoers. Losing Sola Gratia is antinomianism. Denying Sola Gratia will open doors to all heresies and lawlessness.

I’d like to talk about two things regarding this chapter. One is about repentance. The other is about the two groups of people.

In the beginning of the chapter, it speaks about what Judas did after Christ was arrested.

Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You shall see to it yourself!” And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and left; and he went away and hanged himself. The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put them in the temple treasury, since it is money paid for blood.” And they conferred together and with the money bought the Potter’s Field as a burial place for strangers. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the One whose price had been set by the sons of Israel; and they gave them for the Potter’s Field, just as the Lord directed me.” (v.3-10)

Here, it may appear Judas realized his sin and repented. But his confession of the sin was not accepted by God. It is because he was not one of God’s sheep from the beginning.

Jesus answered them, “Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot; for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him. (John 6:70-71)

We do not know the psychology behind Judas’ actions. All we know is that Judas went to the chief priests to hand in Christ to them. Although Christ warned that the priests would put Him to death, Judas followed them.

From that time Jesus began to point out to His disciples that it was necessary for Him to go to Jerusalem and to suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and to be killed, and to be raised up on the third day. (Matthew 16:21)

This tells a lot to us. Many Christians follow false teachers who often have a lot of wealth and reputation in churches and in the world. They put trust in them, but what they are actually following is prosperity in the world. God sees everyone’s heart. The heart is what matters. It is the Holy Spirit that produces good fruit because God gives the heart of flesh through the Spirit.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26)

The Holy Spirit teaches us what is true or untrue. Sometimes pride blinds our eyes, and we commit grievous sins like King David. Yet, David’s sin was forgiven.

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has allowed your sin to pass; you shall not die. (2 Samuel 12:13)

Even though David did not ask God to forgive him, God forgave him. What are the differences between David and Judas? From the world’s point of view, they are the same sinful humans. But God judges them not as the world judges, but He sees the heart of a man. God knows whom He has chosen.

This separation was mentioned from the beginning in Genesis where it mentions Abel and Cain.

By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. (Hebrews 11:4)

And this separation is clearly seen in Matthew 27:38.

At that time two rebels were being crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. (Matt 27:38)

All four books – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – mention of these two men because they are linked to the blessings and the curses written in the Deuteronomy 11:29.

And it shall come about, when the LORD your God brings you into the land where you are entering to possess it, that you shall place the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal (Deut 11:29)

Earlier, I mentioned that the name Jesus was from the name Joshua. In Joshua 8:30-35, Joshua stands before the two groups of people.

Then Joshua built an altar to the LORD, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal, just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the sons of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, an altar of uncut stones on which no one had wielded an iron tool; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings. And he wrote there on the stones a copy of the Law of Moses, which he had written, in the presence of the sons of Israel. And all Israel with their elders, officers, and their judges were standing on both sides of the ark before the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, the stranger as well as the native. Half of them stood in front of Mount Gerizim, and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded at first to bless the people of Israel. Then afterward he read all the words of the Law, the blessing and the curse, according to everything that is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel with the women, the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them. (Josh 8:30-35)

Many Christian theologians and ministers interpret this from a federal point of view. But as I repeatedly mentioned, the true meaning of the Law is love (agape) for God and for His people. Many can endeavour to achieve this but we cannot love without the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees and the Scribes who appeared to keep the Law perfectly on the outside were considered as sons of the devil by Christ. It is because God sees the heart, and the heart is where the actions come from. The Bible does not say that people were divided into groups by their deeds or ancestors. They were randomly divided. Likewise, the disciples did not talk about the backgrounds of these two rebels. They are both rebels. But one is forgiven, the other not forgiven. Therefore, saints do not boast of ourselves or our works.

Regarding this, Paul says that we as clay do not have the right to talk back to the potter in Romans 9.

Or does the potter not have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one object for honorable use, and another for common use? (Romans 9:21)

It is by God’s good will; He saves some and condemns the rest. Earlier, I mentioned this is how God trains His people on the earth to make the Kingdom. Saints are persecuted by the other group of people for telling the truths of God.

Even if I am not chosen to be saved, it does not change the truth that God is just, merciful, and faithful. God’s righteousness is absolute and unchangeable. It is the evil people who judge God according to His Law and condemns Him as if His righteousness depends on works.

And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. (Revelation 19:11)

And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give water to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life, without cost. The one who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. But for the cowardly, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and sexually immoral persons, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (Revelation 21:5-8)

It would take months to explain things written in this chapter. There are two things that I’d like to focus on. One is the woman who prepared for Christ’s burial. And the other is the Lord’s supper.

I already mentioned about Christ’ being anointed with precious oil by a woman (v. 6 – 13). She was the only one who understood the meaning of Christ’s death. Christ must die for the kingdom of God. While the disciples were daydreaming of becoming rulers of the world, this woman understood the meaning of the kingdom and why the King must die. The Holy Spirit gave her the understanding. Christ prophesied that people would talk about her and her deed. But many interpret this passage with wrong understandings. The woman symbolizes the kingdom (the invisible church). She knows she is sinful. She knows that people see her as a sinful woman. Yet, she knows that her Lord has forgiven her and many others who are included in the kingdom. And she knows that the King will pay for the sins of His church once for all and buy His people with the price of His blood. This reminds us of Hosea and his wife, Gomer.

So I purchased her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver, and a homer and a lethech of barley. (Hosea 3:2)

It is understood that what Hosea paid for his wife was about 30 shekels of silver. And Christ was sold for 30 pieces of silver by the betrayer, Judas.

Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:14-15)

In order to redeem her, Christ was sold for 30 pieces of silver on behalf of her. He paid with His own life. Therefore, anyone who denies that Christ died in substitution to His church must be considered unorthodox. Some say that Aquinas does not support the substitution doctrine. I am not surprised because he knew nothing about God when he was sitting as the teacher of the Roman Catholic church.

One may ask, “How is my sin forgiven? It is my sin. My sin must be paid by myself.” But that is not God’s way. The new covenant promises that our sins will not be remembered.

They will not teach again, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their wrongdoing, and their sin I will no longer remember.(Jeremiah 31:34)

Here we can see that the knowledge of God and the forgiveness of sins go together. And Christ did all. Sins of His people are forgiven and they are given the knowledge of God.

As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, For He will bear their wrongdoings. (Isaiah 53:11)

Even though we did not pay for our sins, the Father sees that our sins are paid and remembers no more of our sins. It is because Christ and His church are united. The Lord’s supper happens before Christ’s death, not after. It is significant because the church must die with Christ in order to resurrect with Him. Therefore, the church is reborn.

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. (Romans 6:8)

Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. (Romans 7:4)

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.” (John 3:6-8)

One thing to remember regarding the Lord’s supper is that Judas was also invited to the supper and shared bread with Christ. The Lord’s supper is for the visible church but is ultimately only for the invisible church. Many are invited to the wedding but those who do not wear wedding clothes are thrown out. Those who refuse to bear fruit while being attached to the vine will be cut off. Any branch that is not one with the vine is useless.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (John 15:1-2)

Although the invisible church is the true kingdom of God, God was pleased to establish an earthly system to nurture His people. Therefore, the visible church system has the authority. However, only those who are chosen by God receive the Holy Spirit and therefore, are truly united with Christ. When the visible church fails to bear fruit, it is denied by God. Only those who receive the Holy Spirit are saved as Lot was saved by escaping Sodom and Gomorrah.

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, held for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example of what is coming for the ungodly; and if He rescued righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the perverted conduct of unscrupulous people (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from a trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt passion, and despise authority… (2 Peter 2:4-10)

Problems rise when a visible church thinks she has paid for her sins by her own hands. She loses the authority of God. She can no longer feed God’s people. God’s people then cry out because of hunger and thirst. And their prayers to God bring disasters to the world that denies God of His words. Those churches who are one with the world will not escape God’s wrath.

The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. (Revelation 8:4-5)

I mentioned earlier that it is the person that determines the works, not the other way around. The world judges people by their works because no human can see the heart of a person. But God sees the heart of a person. And He is the ultimate judge because He is the Creator. It may appear that God judges a person according to his or her works. But the Bible tells us that the works do not change until the person changes. That is the promise of the new covenant. This principle is explained again in this chapter.

Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. (v. 1-2)

The parable of ten virgins starts with describing their characters. Five of them are foolish and act foolishly. The other five are prudent and act wisely. The foolish do not suddenly become wise and act wisely against their nature. Where does wisdom come from? How does it come? Wisdom comes from God, and it is freely given. No one can say, “I will be wise from now.” Whoever says that is foolish because the wise know where wisdom comes from.

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1: 5-6)

Can a reprobate ask for wisdom and receive it? James says it is impossible because one must have faith in God for his prayer to be accepted by God.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; (Ephesians 2:8)

It is important to notice that all ten virgins fell asleep. But only half of them were ready to receive the groom with their lamps burning. Those who have received wisdom from God act wisely.

The second parable of Matthew 25 is similar to the first one. Although the parable does not explain much about the character of each servant, we know that the third servant is worthless and lazy by his work.

But his master answered and said to him, ‘You worthless, lazy slave! Did you know that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter seed?Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore: take the talent away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ (v. 26-28)

The third servant blames his master for the result, but it is his laziness and foolishness that brings his demise. His master wisely gives him only one talent because he knows his character.  

To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. (v.15)

If the third servant knew of his own foolishness and sought mercy, he would have been considered wise. But he does not admit it and blames his master. It is the same in this world and churches. The reprobate do not have the ability to produce fruit. But they are given opportunity to produce it because God is merciful. They refuse to make fruit because they think they are wise, and the master is not. They blame their master for their evil works.

Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed.  And I was afraid, so I went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you still have what is yours. (v.24-25)

The reprobate have a wrong understanding of God. Instead of blaming their foolishness, they blame God. They are afraid of God. But their own action shows that they do not revere God. They are loved by many people. They may appear to do good deeds, but they are not accepted by God. They consider themselves gods, but they are not. Their end is the second death.

These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. (v.46)

This chapter speaks in detail about the end times. In fact, all book of the Bible talk about the end times. God did not create heaven and earth to last forever. They exist as a part of God’s plan. And the result of His plan is the Kingdom. In the Kingdom, God’s words dwell forever in His people. Only God’s words remain forever. Thus, people who are united with the Word live forever.

 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. (v. 35)

Earlier I mentioned that anyone who is united with Christ by the Holy Spirit is like Christ, and we do not follow those who claim themselves Christ. All saints understand God’s words through the Spirit and are not enticed by false teachings. Even if we get tempted and fall into a trap because of our stupidity and pride, God still saves His saints. We no longer live in the fear of being separated from God because Christ removed the issue of sin and death completely.

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short
That it cannot save;
Nor is His ear so dull
That it cannot hear. But your wrongdoings have caused a separation between you and your God,
And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. (Isaiah 59:1-2)

The only way to prepare for the end is to read the Bible and to pray. It is impossible for saints not to bear fruit because the Holy Spirit dwells inside. We do not do good works because we fear of what others might think of us. Good works come naturally from the Spirit. He makes us endeavor to know God through His words.

People boast of their works then say, “Do you mean we should just sit and relax and don’t do any good works? What does the Book of James say?” They are often aware of what they have done and do in terms of good works. But saints often do not know what we have done well. We do not boast of our good works. We are ashamed when people praise us. It is because we know that our good works do not come from us but from the Holy Spirit. Only God receives praises from all His creatures. Yet, our merciful God lets us be glorified with Him.

Not to us, LORD, not to us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, because of Your truth. (Psalm 115:1)

the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and they will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” (Revelation 4:10-11)

Another thing that I’d like to talk about is the four winds in Matthew 24:31. Ezekiel 37 and Revelation 7 also mention of the four winds. Wind is often considered as the Holy Spirit. Some may interpret that the four winds are the four corners of the earth, meaning the whole earth. It is different from the breath that God blew into Adam although breath can also be interpreted as the Holy Spirit. In Adam’s case, it is more logical to think that he did not receive the Holy Spirit because he could not overcome the temptation and did not have faith in God. What Adam received was a physical and spiritual life. When he committed the sin, he became dead to God.

Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living person. (Genesis 2:7)

of all that was on the dry land, all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, died (Gen 7:22)

Ezekiel 37 describes that the dry bones are brought back to life by the breath from the four winds (v.9). And Revelation 7:1 tells us that the winds stop. This happens just before the sealing of the saints. The winds stop because the number of the saints are filled. In all this, there is nothing a man can do.

After sealing of the saints, the rest receive the mark of the beast. Many Christians think they would be saved if they do or don’t do certain things. For example, there has been much confusion and fear around the coronavirus vaccine. I think it should be left to everyone’s conscience. Most people do not understand the Bible and think their salvation depends on their actions. Dry bones are dead. There is nothing that dry bones can do. It is not those who do not receive the vaccine receive the seal of God. Some believe that the vaccine is the mark of the beast and we must not get it to be saved. But the Bible says the sealing of the saints comes first. The mark of the beast is about false teachings of the Bible, men-made doctrines. Anyone who believes the work-based salvation and refuses to accept Sola Gratia receives the mark of the beast. Saints anointed with the Holy Spirit do not receive the mark of the beast because we do not accept false teachings or false teachers. God makes us impossible to accept the mark of the beast.

Earlier I mentioned that the first reformation happened after Christ resurrected and ascended to heaven. Christ came for His church’s separation from the Jewish system. Hebrew 9 describes this in detail. I advise you to read the whole chapter. The greatest error of the Pharisees (and the Scribes) is not knowing the difference between a shadow and the reality. Without knowing the reality, they made a shadow their own kingdom without the King.

But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Law, being confined for the faith that was destined to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our guardian to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. (Galatians 3:23-25)

Here, Paul does not talk about the Law as love but the Law as the written code. What the Law truly indicates is love for God and His people. Thus, we promote keeping of the Law but we do not say that a mere external keeping of the Law can achieve anything. Through the Law, we know what God wants is love (agape). And we also know that we are not born with love for God or His people. We confess that we are all breakers of the Law unless God gives His Spirit to us. It is because only God can love. God is love. If we love God and His people, God says that we are keeping the Law and make much fruit.

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:8-10)

However, the Pharisees see the Law from a moral and federal point of view. This was also the mistake of the Reformers in the 16th and the 17th century. Earlier I talked much about the errors of the Covenant Theology (CT) and the active obedience of Christ (AOC).

While many theologians and ministers who follow the CT and the AOC say that Christ’s death is only the payment for our sins (and that we need the perfect keeping of the written code for eternal life), all the Apostles think the cross signifies more than that. By His death on the cross, Christ fulfilled the Law and the prophecies. He moved His people from the land of the dead to that of the living. He also removed the ability to fall from God’s mercy by making us the sons of the living God by sending us His Spirit. However, it is not the works of Christ we should focus on, it is His person that saves us. Our salvation is not merit-based but person-based. By uniting with Christ by the Holy Spirit, we are God’s adopted children. Because Christ is the Son of Man and the Son of God, He has accomplished and still accomplishes everything according to the Father’s plan. Without understanding His person, there is no understanding of His works.

The same logic applies to the Pharisees. Christ mentions their works first. But it is their person that causes their works.

You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? (Matt 23:33)

Those who are one with the satan produce bad fruit or no fruit. God judges them according to their works. Some of these people are in churches and promote false teachings. They lead people to work-based salvation. They promote breaking of the Law by abandoning Sola Gratia. They say it is to keep the system going. They say they are trying to make others keep the Law. They are loved by many people. They are in high positions in churches. They are often the leaders in their churches. We must not forget an earthly system is only a shadow.

But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Matt 23:8-12)

Christ says that Jerusalem on the earth is only a shadow. The real Jerusalem will come.

 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matt 23:37-39)

If a system fails to be a shadow of the reality and tries to be something different, it loses its value. It must fall. It must and will be removed, not by our will and efforts but by God.

Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19)

The deacon Stephen understood this very well. But people did not understand. They accused him saying, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” (Acts 6:13-14)

Acts 7 tells us what a saint understands regarding the coming Kingdom.

This part of chapter 22 has three main stories. They may appear to talk about different things. But, in fact, all are connected.

First, Christ tells us that God appoints the civil governments separate from church authorities. This was explained in the Westminster Confession of Faith chapter 23. One thing we need to mindful of is that God gives non-Christian civil governments the authority to rule people. For example, God made the unbelieving nations such as Babylon or the Roman empire rule the Israelite. Although we do not violate the laws of a civil government, our Christian conscience formed and developed by the Holy Spirit has superior authority because God is the ultimate ruler. For example, the Roman Catholic church had the authority over politics, but they did not hold on to God’s truths. Therefore, God orchestrated the Reformation. Another example is the Nazi government. I understand that they borrowed ideas from Luther and distorted his teachings. Our Christian conscience rejects the Nazism. Therefore, it was the right thing to resist them and fight against them.

The problem rises when those who do not have the Spirit insist that they must act according to their conscience and commit a crime that does harm to others. Christian conscience does not contradict to what the Bible says.

Apostle Paul talked a few times on this Christian conscience. This conscience is attached to the knowledge of God. As our knowledge grows, our conscience gets strengthened. A lot of Christians live in fear because they think they will be punished if their actions are considered illegal before God. I heard of a person who prays before he does anything, even when he goes for grocery shopping. He prays God to see if He would be pleased with him going to a supermarket. He does not have any freedom while the Bible says Christ sets us free. This man may not have the Holy Spirit in him. Or his conscience is still immature because of the lack of knowledge. Without knowing God, there is always fear.

Some Christians consider that they are saved because of some supernatural experiences. They think they have received the Holy Spirit because of some extraordinary events happened to them. The Roman Catholics and some Protestant denominations promote such experiences. But if the experiences do not lead to the right knowledge of God, they are not from God.

People who do not have the knowledge of God can only read and interpret the Bible literally and chronologically. And speculative theories arise. Those theories are wrapped beautifully by much learned scholars and men with reputation. Therefore, many Christians follow those who are famous and/or wrote many books.

While the Pharisees and the Sadducees read the Scriptures eagerly, they and their followers did not accept the one the Scriptures had foretold.

You examine the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is those very Scriptures that testify about Me; and yet you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people; but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. (John 5:39-42)

There are many Christians who claim they have the Holy Spirit in them, know God and the Scriptures, and do good deeds in the sight of God. Yet, some do not have the right knowledge of God, entice others, promote false teachings, break the Law, and rebel unlawfully against their governments. They often wrap themselves nicely to please others. And many follow them. True Christians must discern. The only way to strengthen our conscience is reading the Bible and praying to God for mercy.

Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now that you maintain, ‘We see,’ your sin remains. (John 9:41)

This chapter continues to explain God’s will. The foundational corner stone of the Kingdom is about to be laid. Jerusalem was built as a shadow of the coming Kingdom. All shadows must disappear. Christ came and started His public ministry at 30. His ministry lasted about 3 years. And in AD 70, Jerusalem fell. King David’s life is a shadow of Christ. He reigned Israel for 40 years as I mentioned before.

When Christ entered Jerusalem, He was welcomed by sinners and children, not by church or political authorities. He came to replace the old with the new. He judges people and their abominable acts in the temple. He announces death on the fig tree, which symbolically represent the old covenant. He rebukes the false Jews/Christians who reject Sola Gratia and refuse to have faith in God.

In this chapter, the parable of two sons (v. 28-32) and the parable of the landowner (v.33-41) speak about the false believers.

When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them. (v. 45)

The parable of two sons remind me of Cain and Abel or Esau and Jacob. Regarding Esau and Jacob, God said:

I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you say, “How have You loved us?” “Was Esau not Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet I have loved Jacob; but I have hated Esau, and I have made his mountains a desolation and given his inheritance to the jackals of the wilderness.” (Malachi 1:2-3)

This was mentioned again in Romans 9 where Paul explains the doctrine of predestination.

As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion,^b but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. (Romans 9:13-18)

God is not responsible for their eternal damnation because they say they can keep the Law with their own hands. And by their actions and what is in their heart, they are judged. Thus, God remains as the just judge.

Let’s look closely at the parable of the two sons.

But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go work today in the vineyard.’ But he replied, ‘I do not want to.’ Yet afterward he regretted it and went. And the man came to his second son and said the same thing; and he replied, ‘I will, sir’; and yet he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even have second thoughts afterward so as to believe him. (Matt 21: 28-32)

Why did the first son change his mind and go to the vineyard as his father commanded him? I can only conclude that the son knew what was in his father’s mind. We often do not want to listen to our parents but eventually do what they ask us because we understand the reason behind it. We do not listen to them just because of the fear of punishment. The other son, on the other hand, says yes to his father but disobeys because he trusts in his own ideas, not understanding his father’s will.

Christ enters Jerusalem to announce judgements on the false sons of God, who reject the only Son of God. They say they can keep the Law by their hands. They reject God’s ways. They reject Sola Gratia. They are judged by their own works. Therefore, God is just and punishes the evildoers.