Like a chestnut tree

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.

Adam and Eve corrupted themselves by having the thought of becoming like God by their work. And that work was eating of the forbidden fruit. And they started to judge themselves and others by appearance. God does not judge people by appearances or human standards but sees the heart of everyone. Therefore, the new and eternal covenant promises the change of the heart. It cannot be done by human will or effort.

In Matthew 20, there are two episodes that I’d like to focus on. The first one is in verse 1 to 16. And the second is verse 20 to 28. The first is about the hired laborers. Those who hired first later complained to the owner of the vineyard. They say he is unfair. By human standards, he may appear so. But he does not change his mind because of those who complain. Instead, he says, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go; but I want to give to this last person the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I want with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?” (v.13-15)

People, especially those who call themselves Christians, are reluctant to accept the fact that God can do whatever He wants to do. They do not acknowledge God’s own rights as the Creator. Regarding this, Apostle Paul says in Romans 9:

You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” On the contrary, who are you, you foolish person, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? 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? What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with great patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction? And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon objects of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, namely us, whom He also called, not only from among Jews, but also from among Gentiles (Romans 9:19-24)

The doctrine of predestination is rejected by many Christians because there are not many who have been given understanding. The focus is not on my salvation but on God’s grace. God’s grace is total, complete, and absolute grace. No one can earn that grace. One may spend hours and hours reading the Bible and even teach people. Yet, God may consider that person dumb.

You are the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? (John 3:10)

The first passage (Matt 20:1-16) may not be about the doctrine of predestination. The passage is likely about Jews and Gentiles. It may also be about the earlier generations and the last generation. But what I’d like to say is that Christians do not acknowledge God’s own rights and thus, reject Him.

For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Job also considers God is unfair and thinks he can do a better job. He later was rebuked by God and repented. God tells Job the knowledge that only the Creator has. What God knows, Job does not know. The word “know” appears many times both in the OT and the NT.

Verse 20 to 28 also talks about the same thing. God has set all His plans and fulfills all.

But Jesus replied, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to Him, “We are able.” He said to them, “My cup you shall drink; but to sit at My right and at My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.” (v.22-23)

Sitting at Christ’s right and at His left requires serving others and suffering. It requires Agape, self-sacrificing love. Earlier I mentioned that we do not have love in ourselves. It can only be given by God through the Spirit. By the power of the Spirit, we can truly love, not by our own will but by God’s will.

Many churches encourage people to make a pledge to God publicly. They play loud and emotional music to promote this. And Christians make many false promises to God, which they cannot keep. I did, too. I did not know what I was saying to God. I did not acknowledge God’s own rights. Those who will receive much rewards must go through much suffering. None of us can say, “we are able” because such suffering cannot be endured by human will or efforts. The disciples did not know what they were saying. After Christ’s ascension, they were given the knowledge of God and power to endure suffering through the Spirit. I do not doubt their wish to become superior to others disappeared completely because of persecutions and suffering. Suffering brings complete submission to God. It is the opposite of pride. There is no doubt the disciples said at the end:

“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.” (Matt 6:10)

The part that I’d like to focus on is the story of the young ruler.

And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do so that I may obtain eternal life?” And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” Then he said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not give false testimony; Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to Him, “All these I have kept; what am I still lacking?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. (v. 16-26)

The young man’s view of the Law is a classic example of a wrong view of the Law. Most people separate the Law and love. Christ said the greatest commandment of the whole Law is love.

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’  The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”  And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions. (Mark 12:28-34)

We need many rules and guidelines when we have to achieve certain things that are difficult to do. The Pharisees focused on keeping the Law externally without knowing the essence of the Law.

My question is: Can we love someone by works? Can we love someone if we put rules and guidelines? The answer is no. We have no love in ourselves. People often say that a mother loves her child unconditionally. But God showed that it is not true. Parents ate their own children in the OT.

Then you will eat the offspring of your own body, the flesh of your sons and of your daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, during the siege and the hardship by which your enemy will oppress you. (Deuteronomy 28:53)

Then the king asked her, “What is the matter?” And she answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him, and tomorrow we will eat my son.’ So we boiled my son and ate him, and the next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him.’ But she had hidden her son.” (2 Kings 6:28-29)

I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters, and they will eat one another’s flesh in the siege and distress inflicted on them by their enemies who seek their lives.’ (Jeremiah 19:9)

In Matthew 19:16-26, Christ tells us that no one can fulfill the requirements of the Law, that is self-sacrificing love, by merely keeping the Law externally. Although the young ruler kept the Law perfectly in his own eyes, he still lacked something. All his keeping of the Law was not perfect in God’s sight. What is wrong with this man who tries very hard to live a pious life according to the Law? Should we consider him as a hypocrite, or as someone loved by God?

If the man was indeed a chosen man by God, I do not doubt that he later sold all his wealth and gave it to the poor and followed Christ. But the Bible does no longer talk about him. Our focus should be on what Christ teaches us here.

And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” And looking at them, Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (v. 23-26)

The issue Christ points out is still relevant today. Many churches preach prosperity gospel. Rich Christians boast that they are blessed by God because of their good deeds. Wealth is often considered as a proof of God’s blessing although the Bible repeatedly says that is not true. Wealth is almost always a stumbling block because it gives much comfort and a false sense of security. Wealth brings pride. Wealth becomes an idol. Christians say wealth can achieve many things including helping the poor. But the rich want to stay rich and do not want their wealth to decrease by helping the poor. Some rich people make a will and they donate money to charities upon their death. Yet, they want to keep their wealth while they are alive. In this matter, no one is innocent. We all want physical comfort and enjoy what the world has to offer. God allows us to enjoy what He provides to us while we are on earth. And we thank Him for providing food for our physical and spiritual needs. However, our sinful human nature loves material things rather than God who gives them.

When interpreting verse 26, we must be careful not to conclude that there are rich Christians who will receive eternal life. Everyone wants to be that rich Christian who enjoy life of prosperity on the earth and in the new Kingdom. When Christ says that it is extremely hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom, it is so. If we think our own works have brought prosperity, and prosperity is God’s blessing, then we consider God’s grace is from our works. As long as wealth is considered as a result of our good works, we have no place in the Kingdom. All rich people think their own hands have brought wealth or keep themselves wealthy. It is easy to think my own hands brought comfort, respect from people, and prosperity like Job. While saying God has given me everything, it is easy to boast that my good works have brought salvation and earned God’s grace and mercy. This is what the Roman Catholics and Arminians teach. Because their teachings are close to men’s natural sinful ideas, many follow them.  

There is much to talk about regarding this passage. Another thing I’d like to point out is that Christ does not say the conditional covenant comes before the unconditional covenant.

And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” (v.17)

This verse is not against what I’ve been telling. The Father is the source of righteousness and goodness. This goodness is not something that can be earned by works. This young ruler focused on works shown externally and judged others by works. He considered Christ as a good teacher because of miracles. But he did not understand the works of Christ were from the Father. It is because he keeps the Law by his own will and efforts. For those who think their life is depended on works, the Law is a lifeline. The man did not understand that the Spirit does all the good works and gives eternal life. Being united with the Son who became one of us and receiving the Spirit gives eternal life. And no one can earn this by works. Only God can give us obedience to the Law and true understanding of the Law. True obedience of the Law (Agape) comes after being united with Christ through the Spirit.

I sometimes reread what I wrote and find some critical typo errors. Once I wrote “now” when I was supposed to write “not”. I try to be careful, and it still happens. But I am sure you know what I’ve been trying to say because I repeated the same messages. I hope you do not dwell in a single sentence I wrote but look at the bigger picture by reading the Bible.

Each chapter of each book of the Bible has much knowledge and it would take many years to explain what each verse teaches us. So far, theologians have been focusing on microtheology, in other words, systematic theology. And it may have its own benefits, but it is much more important to understand the Bible in one theme – the Kingdom. Christ became a man to save His elect people for that very reason. Although I have much desire to spend time on a single story or passage within a chapter, I try not to. The Bible is like a billion-piece puzzle. You can spend time on looking at each piece. But you may not know what the puzzle as a whole shows. The Holy Spirit puts the puzzle pieces together. We see that Christ talks about the same things again and again to help our understanding. We are like children and not like learned men. And God wants us to stay that way. Children generally do not know much about how adults think and act. They learn to live the ways that adults live and think as they grow up. Parents teach their children certain things repeatedly.

For God’s children, Christ’s teachings are not difficult to understand. On the other hand, those who think they know God consider His teachings too difficult. Christ uses parables for His people so that the understanding can only be given to them by the Holy Spirit.

So then many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This statement is very unpleasant; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, aware that His disciples were complaining about this, said to them, “Is this offensive to you? What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh provides no benefit; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit, and are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray Him. And He was saying, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” (John 6:6-65)

These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things for Him. (John 12:16)

But this He said in reference to the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:39)

The Holy Spirit existed from eternity and was at work even in the OT and when Christ was on the earth. After Christ’s resurrection, the Spirit dwells in His people forever. The Spirit makes us understand the words of God. Although our level of knowledge varies, saints as a whole share the same knowledge of God and His will.

Matthew 18 does not talk about what to do or not. Christ does not teach us how to be saved. Christ simply talks about the difference between His people under grace and those who are not under grace.

Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to the person through whom the stumbling block comes! (Matthew 18:7)

The Son of Man is going away just as it is written about Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born. (Matt 26:24)

From a worldly point of view, God of the Bible is not fair. Those who reject the doctrine of predestination think that people can achieve salvation and grace by works. Apostle Paul has refuted them by saying – But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ (Romans 9:20)

Many are delusional and think that they have the right to judge what is right or wrong as if they are like God. That was Adam’s sin. I do not think the forbidden fruit itself had a special effect on Adam and Eve. The rebellious action of Adam and Eve that came from their corrupted heart made them fall. The forbidden fruit was a stumbling block for them. It was a direct reflection of what was in their heart. Adam and Eve wanted to be like God by eating the fruit. “If I just stretch my hand and grab it, I can be what I want to be.” This is what the world thinks. This is what people without the Holy Spirit say. People think God must exist to please them. Earlier I said only God is righteous. Righteousness is not about people’s idea of morality. Everything God does is righteous because only He is righteous as the Creator. Saints accept this truth while those who do not have the Spirit reject it. By rejecting truth, they reject God and thus, are rejected by God. There is no one who can argue with God and win because He is the Law.

This chapter teaches us that how men’s ideas are contrast to God’s. It starts with the disciples seeing Moses and Elijah with Christ.

Peter responded and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If You want, I will make three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him! (Matthew 17:4-5)

Even though the disciples received much power while Christ was on the earth, their thinking remained earthly until the Holy Spirit came and taught them. They were rebuked by Christ a few times for their lack of understanding and faith. It was God’s will that they stayed that way until the Spirit came and made them understand the teachings of Christ after His resurrection. Peter and other disciples thought that the Kingdom was an earthly Kingdom. From his point of view, Moses and Elijah were equal to Christ. All three men are worthy to receive worship. Therefore, he came up with the idea of three tabernacles. Men’s idea of three men with a close relationship with God receiving worship from others is what the devil wants – 666. This is men’s idea of a god, the anti-christ. This history of idolatry appears in the OT from Genesis.

Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:4)

Men have been trying to become like God since the time Adam was in the garden of Eden. It is deeply embedded within our nature. Even saints can fall into such temptation. It is important to beware of our weakness in this matter all the time.

Our nature wants to set an idol and worship it. The bottom of this idolatry is worship of a man or men. Idolatry is about worshiping myself. A person does not care about others but only himself/herself. This contrasts to God, who is love. And this love is beyond human expectations and ideas. This love is self-sacrificing love, which no man can do. A man may appear to be selfless and seek good for others, and yet deny God and His words, does not have love for others. Albert Schweitzer did many great things by helping the sick from the eyes of the world. Yet, he had wrong ideas about God. Keeping of the Law(love) is always accompanied by true knowledge and understanding of God.

Christ came to fulfill all the Law and the prophecies written in the OT. And He still fulfills all the promises God has made. He is Truth. He is faithful.

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)

Truth, love, faith, righteousness, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, the Law, the prophecies may have their own meanings, but they are, in fact, the same. They have the same root, God. Without knowing this, we can easily fall into men’s idea of a god.

The following passage after the first event of the chapter, Christ rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith.

And He said to them, “Because of your meager faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. (v.17-20)

This is not about how one must put their will and efforts to do something and achieve their will by the power of God. Moving of a mountain means moving of a tabernacle/temple. In the OT, God’s dwelling place was often referred as Mount Zion and Jerusalem. The Jews (and many Christians) think it is about the earthly Kingdom in a certain geographical location. But from the beginning, God did not want an earthly kingdom as His eternal dwelling place. What seemed impossible and unthinkable to the Jews, Christ did by His death and resurrection.

The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and yet You will raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking about the temple of His body. So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. (John 2:18-22)

Although the earthly systems – governments and visible churches- may continue to exist till Christ comes, saints must put hope in the coming Kingdom, which will exist for eternity.

A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. (v.4)

Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (v.17-19)

All humans are made for the glory of God. The elect people are saved by grace of God and glorify Him as His adopted children. The reprobate people rebel against God and will be punished for eternity, and thus, their eternal death becomes a proof of God’s faithfulness and righteousness. Whether a man is a saint or a reprobate, he cannot change his destiny. He cannot save himself. He cannot make himself go to hell. This is not because he becomes righteous by himself, but grace of God does not let His elect people fall. In regard to the visible church, all who have received the ceremonial baptism are included in the Kingdom. But because they do not receive the Holy Spirit, and thus, neither know God nor believe in Him, they become thrown out of the Kingdom. The irony is that these false Christians claim that they have the Holy Spirit in them and believe in God, but never repent of their sins. All saints believe that God has determined everything before the time began.

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:16)

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,before you were born I set you apart;I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5)

If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed.” This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people. (Revelation 13:10)

If they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says: ‘Those destined for death, to death; those destined for the sword, to the sword; those destined for famine, to famine; and those destined for captivity, to captivity.’ (Jeremiah 15:2)

Everyone chosen by God receives the Holy Spirit at God’s appointed time. One may receive the Holy Spirit at 5 years old. One may receive Him at 90. We just do not know, and it should not be our main focus.

In the Book of Jonah, I consider Jonah’s prayer the most important. It is because his prayer is the prayer of Christ after death.

Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the stomach of the fish, and he said,

I called out of my distress to the LORD,

And He answered me.

I called for help from the depth of Sheol;

You heard my voice.

“For You threw me into the deep,

Into the heart of the seas,

And the current flowed around me.

All Your breakers and waves passed over me.

“So I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight.

Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.’

“Water encompassed me to the point of death.

The deep flowed around me,

Seaweed was wrapped around my head.

“I descended to the base of the mountains.

The earth with its bars was around me forever,

But You have brought up my life from the pit, LORD my God.

“While I was fainting away,

I remembered the LORD,

And my prayer came to You,

Into Your holy temple.

“Those who are followers of worthless idols

Abandon their faithfulness,

But I will sacrifice to You

With a voice of thanksgiving.

That which I have vowed I will pay.

Salvation is from the LORD.” (Jonah 2:1-9)

Christ became one of us so that we would be like Him by uniting with Him.

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:6-8)

It was not that Christ had to meet some conditions to be saved. Christ knew the Father and His plans. And He was not afraid of becoming a man and dying at the cross for the Kingdom because He knew that the Father would save Him. He knew exactly why He had to become a man. It is meaningless to analyze this passage in terms of the two natures of Christ. Christ as a man and Christ as the Son of God are the same. The two natures do not contradict. The Son of God has faith in the Father and the Son of Man has faith in the Father by the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable. If someone says the Spirit is evil and deceiving like the devil, he/she breaks all foundations of the Kingdom. The Spirit maintains the relationships among the Father, the Son, and saints. Therefore, those churches who speak falsely about the Spirit will be condemned severely at the end.

In regard to the keys of the Kingdom given to Peter, one must not think that the authority was given to a man. It is still Christ who holds the keys.

and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. (Revelation 1:8)

…He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens… (Revelation 3:7)

The keys are given to saints on the earth. Not that saints have the power separate from God but saints minister on the earth by having the Spirit of God. Christ exercises the power within us. All saints are like Christ. Christ tells Peter that his confession is not from men but from God. Only the Spirit can give such knowledge of God and make us confess our faith in Him. Therefore, saints are blessed by God not because of our works but by His grace.

Therefore, we do not get swayed by someone saying, “Look here is the Christ”.

And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ’; or, ‘Look, there He is’; do not believe it; for false christs and false prophets will arise, and will provide signs and wonders, in order to mislead, if possible, the elect. But beware; I have told you everything in advance. (Mark 13:21-23)

All saints are like Christ. We do not magnify ourselves before the world. We share His sufferings.

but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that at the revelation of His glory you may also rejoice and be overjoyed (1 Peter 4:13)

and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:17)

When the Holy Spirit comes into and teaches a person, the basic knowledge of God is established. First thing I learnt was that God is God of His words. The Law and willingness to live according to God’s words come afterwards. One’s conversion may not be true if it comes from a feeling of guilt after hearing of the Law. Everyone feels a sense of guilt when struck by the Law. This is something a cult religion often uses to promote submission to their leaders. I am afraid that the reformers in the 17^th century England increased the number of the Protestants by using this method. Yet, it was God’s will that many people join the visible church by the ceremonial baptism although only the chosen remnants are saved as shown in the prophecies of the OT. These falsely converted people invaded other countries around the world and did many evil things. They thought that their country (and the kings/queens) had divine rights to conquer the world and exploit others, thinking they were chosen and privileged. While the reprobate people did evil things, the chosen saints preached the good news to others who had never heard of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.

You see, there is no such thing as Christian nationalism in God’s dictionary. Those who live in so-called Christian nations were the first ones that adopted and promoted false doctrines and idolatry. In many ways, what we call the Christian culture, or the Western culture is close to pagan philosophies and culture. For example, the seven other planets are named after Greek gods. The Halloween is another example. Many non-Christian countries accepted their culture and Christianity, thinking those Christian nations were blessed by God. Those Christian nations now need missionaries who preach the good news to them. But they say they do not need missionaries because they know God.

Calvin mentioned the knowledge of God in the first chapter of his book, the Institutes of the Christian Religion. A truly pious life comes from the knowledge of God. This knowledge cannot be learnt. Although God gave the visible church the authority to feed His people, we know that the knowledge of God cannot be learnt by human efforts. It is given by God. Christians in the Reformed churches often think they are true believers because they accept TULIP. TULIP can be learnt by human efforts. Many who grow up in the Reformed denominations learn TULIP and pretend to be a guardian of TULIP, and yet later deny Sola Gratia. Even the most prominent theologians and ministers in the Reformed denominations deny Sola Gratia later in their lives. We cannot distinguish who is a true saint by what doctrine one holds onto. One may appear to be a guardian of truth for some time. But we realize that we have been deceived when the person denies God and His truth. That is another reason that we should not spend much time on reading theology books or Christian inspirational books. If I say, “Listen to me, not the Bible”, then I am a false Christian.  When the Spirit comes, the knowledge of God grows as we read the Bible. Our prayers become like those of the saints in the Bible because we have the same Spirit. We speak the same things as they did. Therefore, we do not write a new psalm or a new book of the Bible.

because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect (Hebrews 11:40)

We are all connected through the words of God and His Spirit beyond time and place. We will all meet and sing praises to God together in the Kingdom. The most important feature of Christianity is self-sacrificing love. This love is proclaiming truths of God. Even though we have never met, we love those saints that appear in the Bible. Love is the foundation of the Kingdom. And Christ showed His love on the cross.

Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

It is a great sin that the Protestant churches emphasize on a moral living and say that they are saved by Christ’s perfect keeping of the Law. They disregard Christ’s ultimate love shown on the cross. Love is the fulfillment of the Law (Romans 13:10). But they say the cross and the Law are different. They also misunderstand “keep” and “fulfill”.

I do not receive glory from people; but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you accept glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have put your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” (John 5:41-47)

If love is what God requires us of, we know that we cannot and do not love God or His people on our own. Christ showed His love and sent His Spirit to us. Only the Holy Spirit initiates and grows this love. And God sees that we keep the Law because we are given the Holy Spirit, and thus love God and His people. On the other hand, the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law are called evildoers even though they try hard to keep the Law because they do not know God.

We love, because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

Matthew 15 tells us that the heart is what defiles a person. The new covenant promises that God changes the heart.

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)

It is God who does everything to change a person and bring him/her into His eternal Kingdom. We have no right to attack a nation because she is not a Christian nation or to convert someone by force. At an appointed time, God calls each saint. We speak truths of God according to the knowledge given to us freely by God.

After Jesus called the crowd to Him, He said to them, “Hear and understand! It is not what enters the mouth that defiles the person, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles the person.” Then the disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?” But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant will be uprooted. Leave them alone; they are blind guides of blind people. And if a person who is blind guides another who is blind, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15:10-14)

Those whom the Father did not plant will be uprooted. But God allows them to be blind guides of blind people until the appointed time of God’s wrath. Our job is to proclaim, not to kill.

This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far away from Me.
And in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. (Isaiah 29:13)