Like a chestnut tree

And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:1-12)

There are many interpretations on the Beatitudes. Many Christians (and also non-Christians) consider this as some kind of law. This is NOT a list of things that a believer must do to be included in the Kingdom of God. These are the features of Christ and His elect people of God.

What I’d like to focus on is the suffering of saints. God’s people are persecuted because of God. Everywhere in the world, especially in the Western countries, you can see many churches who claim they are true orthodox churches. Most Christians live a peaceful life in terms of religious freedom. But the elect people continue to be persecuted within churches. Those who do not know God hate the elect people without a reason.

But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’ (John 15:25)

In their depraved mind, they hate God and His people.

Their throat is an open grave;they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood;in their paths are ruin and misery,and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Rom 3:13-18)

The Apostles wrote about those who claim to be Christians and yet, oppose to them in NT. To understand more about the sufferings that the elect people go through, you need to read the prophets’ writings in the OT.

In the NT era, Christians are the Israel people in the OT. Through ceremonial baptism, we join a church and call ourselves Christians. Yet, just as in the OT, many of us do not know God and rebel. It is not about immorality. Immorality comes as a result of spiritual idolatry. Many of us are Christians and yet, are not Christians because they do not know God.

I think the Book of Jeremiah and the Book of Ezekiel show the current situation of Christianity. The two kingdoms(systems), Judah and the Northern Israel, existed in the OT. And we have the two systems – the Protestant churches and the Roman Catholic church. Many people in the OT rejected the prophets’ messages. They thought they were God’s people, and God would protect them despite their idolatries. But God rejected them. God poured wrath on them not as He trained them like silver but as dross. Only the remnant survived. But those remnant in the OT were not real remnant. Isaiah’s prophecy talks about the end time.

And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” And as Isaiah predicted, “If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah.” (Romans 9:27-29)

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)

Christians say that they live in the era of grace. But they reject Sola Gratia and divine election. They reject sound doctrines of Christianity. God does not change. Whether in OT or in NT era, the way God saves His people is the same. God gives His Spirit to His elect people, and they believe in God by the power of God. Even now, many Christians go through persecutions not only in the world of the unbelievers but also in churches.

In this passage, Christ starts His public ministry and says, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (v. 17) The very reason that the Son of God became a man was to save His people and make them into the Kingdom. Christ appoints 12 disciples so that they can continue God’s work by preaching the good news to His elect people even after He ascends to heaven. Christ started His ministry around the age of 30 (Luke 3:23). It is commonly believed that Ezekiel also received his prophetic role at this age. Even if it is not true, the age 30 is associated with the Levites (Numbers 4:3,35,39,43,47). King David was also 30 years old when he became a king, and he reigned for 40 years. David, as the shadow of the real King, also hold the three offices – king, prophet, and priest. He was the king of whole Israel. He wrote prophecies as we read them in the Psalms. And he wore the linen ephod when he inquired of the Lord, which only the high priest wore (Exodus 28:4).

Christ started His ministry at 30 and Jerusalem fell in AD 70. In this passage, Christ’s public ministry was His reign. He was the King of the Jews (John 19:19). As any other worldly leaders, He appointed His officials. Although Judas betrayed Christ, he was replaced by Matthias in Acts 1:12-26. Therefore, the number twelve remained intact according to God’s words.

The distinctive features of the disciples are that they actively sought God’s will, prayed, understood God’s words written in the OT, preached the good news, and fulfilled His prophecies by His Spirit. They were also the features of the prophets in the OT. But it became clearer in the NT. The disciples were given the authority to interpret God’s words in the OT.

In this passage, Matthew talks about the miracles Christ performed. Miracles were used to draw people’s attention so that they would come to see Christ and hear the good news. Miracles are the shadows of the Kingdom where there is no sickness or pain.

Jesus was going about in all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. (v.23)

Many churches use this healing power to draw people. But most of them (if not all of them) do not teach the good news. They deny Sola Gratia. Christ spent much time on teaching the knowledge of God. By His words, we discern who is from God and who is not from God. There are the sons of the devil in sheep’s clothing.

You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44)

We were all once idolaters and followed false teachers. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we now understand God’s words and discern. There is no doubt, the anti-Christ will perform many miracles at the end. Many will follow him as destined.

they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” A mouth was given to him speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority was given to him over every tribe, people, language, and nation. All who live on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slaughtered. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints. (Revelation 13:4-10)

In this passage, Christ is tempted by the devil after fasting forty days and forty nights. Here, I’d like to focus on the two natures of Christ.

Forty days and forty nights remind us of Moses and Elijah, symbolically they are the laws and prophecies of God. As I mentioned earlier, Christ came to fulfill the laws and the prophecies. This is not only the work of the Son of God but also the Son of Man with the Spirit. Christ’s two natures cannot be separated, the two natures do not contradict to each other. Christ often refers Himself as the Son of Man, the title that was used for Ezekiel.

He gave Him authority to execute judgment because He is the Son of Man. (John 5:27)

If I remember it correctly, the Reformers including Calvin interpret this passage that Christ as a human overcame the temptation and thus, separating Christ’s two natures. In terms of suffering, I do not deny that Christ felt every bit of pain, powerlessness, and anguish that any men would feel after fasting for forty days and forty nights. But we must not separate Christ’s two natures because they are inseparable. There is no difference between the Son of God and the sinless man with the Spirit. Christ as the Son of Man is the final stage of the elect people. Christ Himself showed why God chose some to be His Kingdom. Saints are made and trained to become like Christ – king, priest, and prophet by becoming one with Christ (See John 17)

This good news was rejected by the Pharisees. Although they said God was their Father, Christ denied them because they rejected Christ.

They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham. But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to Him, “We were not born as a result of sexual immorality; we have one Father: God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came forth from God and am here; for I have not even come on My own, but He sent Me. (John 8:41-42)

Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken—do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? (John 10:34-36)

There are always evil people who think they can be above God and misuse this good news. God tells us that we are His children through Christ. We cannot bear fruit apart from God. As John 15 tells us, we are nothing if we do not remain in the Son. However, it is God’s good pleasure that we become like Him as His good children. This is the work of the Triune God.

A student is not above the teacher; but everyone, when he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher. (Luke 6:40)

Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. (John 13:16)

Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well. (John 15:20)

There are many churches who misuse this good news and indulge themselves with delusions. Earlier I mentioned about the Protestant churches selling indulgence like the Roman Catholic church. They think they can rule the world and want to be praised by others. They think they are the elect people of God. They think their decisions are God’s decisions. They think they have God’s authority. They think their words are better than God’s words. They are no better than the Pharisees. They are white-washed walls. There are many evil people in churches who distort and misuse God’s words. The Apostles struggled with these people in churches as we read the NT.

The Kingdom is made of people who are made humble and serve one another by the power of the Spirit. Saints do not claim they are Christ. We are all servants and brothers of Christ.

I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you. (John 13:15)

Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked. (1 John 2:6)

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. (Philippians 2:4-8)

Paul emphasized on the Son of Man. But those without knowledge made Adam as equal to Christ using Paul’s letters. That is the error of the Covenant Theology and the active obedience of Christ. Paul was not talking about a great man. He was talking about the Son of God. He did not separate Christ’s two natures. But he understood that the Son of God is the Son of Man.

This does not mean that we need to decide to become like Christ today. This is not from a man’s will. Many false teachers give delusional ideas to their followers. They say we should go out and conquer the world. They say we should overthrow the civil governments and build God’s Kingdom on earth. We must discern that the Kingdom is far from the ideas of a kingdom in the world.

In Matthew 4:1-11, Christ also shows that He is different from Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve did not have any defense system. They were naked. They wanted to become like God by their own work – eating of the fruit. God showed them His way of making them one with Him – the Seed. Adam was from the dust and must be reborn from heaven through the Son. Adam and Eve could not overcome the temptation of the devil in the garden. Therefore, it is important to understand the true meaning of Total Depravity. It is not that people became unable to obtain eternal life by works because of their sin. The fundamental issue is their inability to overcome the temptation. The knowledge of God is the biggest difference between Christ and Adam. The Son knows the Father. Adam did not.

No one has seen God at any time; God the only Son, who is in the arms of the Father, He has explained Him (John 1:18)

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world. (Hebrews 1:1-2)

In this passage, Christ receives John’s baptism to show the world He is the one that John prophesied about. And His public ministry starts with the baptism. The verse I’d like to focus on is v15.

But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. (v. 15)

Those who follows the Covenant Theology (CT) and the active obedience of Christ (AOC) interpret this as Christ’s obedience to the Law. A bad theory has many faces. Among those theologians who consider the CT and the AOC orthodox, their interpretations of the Law differ. Therefore, it is difficult to pinpoint where they are wrong. Instead of criticizing individual ideas of different theologians, I will explain what is right. There is a difference between fulfill and keep. I will try to explain this righteousness without making it complicated.

There are many interpretations of the Law. But it is simply God’s will. However, not all the Mosaic Laws are intended for keeping forever, but it is important to know what the Laws were pointing at. All the Laws of God in the OT are pointing at Christ. They have been fulfilled or are being fulfilled by God. The Son was given the power of fulfilling them by the Father. And it is important to understand the Son and His works on the earth. In verse 15, righteousness can be interpreted as God’s prophecies, laws, and will. All these three words can be used interchangeably.

Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all the things that are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” (Luke 24:44)

The important word is “fulfill”. There is no man on the earth, including Adam and Eve, who can fulfill God’s will except the Son of Man, Christ. The word “fulfill” is different from “keep”. One may externally keep God’s command(s). But fulfillment of God’s prophecies, Law and all other commands are done by God alone.

The biggest problem with the AOC is that it sees keeping the Law as the source of righteousness. Some say the Law is the Mosaic Law and others say it is all God’s commandments. At the time the AOC became a doctrine of the Protestant, the Protestant churches of England faced two issues, which are antinomianism and legalism. They saw that the antinomians were more dangerous to the society than the legalists. Even now, those who holds the AOC doctrine accuse those who do not as antinomians because the AOC was made to reject antinomianism. Some Reformed ministers think people in churches will become antinomians without this doctrine. This is a serious misunderstanding of the work of the Holy Spirit within saints. The doctrine emphasizes on obedience to church authorities and on a moral life. I do not consider that a mere externally pious life indicates a holy life as many Christians think. But that was the aim of the Reformers in the 17^th century England. Since then, Christians focus on doing good deeds externally to show others they are righteous and the elect people. How are churches different from the Pharisees in the NT? Historically, King JamesⅠ did not allow the Westminster divines to include the doctrine because it was a new matter. The divines did not include it in the Westminster Confession of Faith. But the Congregationalists like John Owen included it in their Savoy Declaration later.

Those who holds the doctrine say it is from Calvin. It was considered a new idea in the 17th century because it had a face-off from Anselm’s original idea. The origin of the doctrine is focused on keeping of the Law externally. The AOC is wrong because it takes us back to work-based salvation. All Protestant churches who take this doctrine sooner or later promote work-based salvation.

The right understanding of this righteousness is that only God is righteous. Adam was incomplete. He was made to be clothed with righteousness later. Therefore, he was naked. God wants us to admit that we cannot be righteous until we become one with God by being one with the Son. People who lived in the OT era are saved because they believed in the promise of the Savior. Adam and Job before suffering were only upright (Yashar, Strong 3477). Those who are united with God are clothed with God’s righteousness and consequently, does righteous deeds. The Son who are one with the Father and knows the Father’s will fully, fulfills all Laws, prophecies, righteousness. Therefore, the Lord is our righteousness.

In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will live securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The LORD Our Righteousness.’ (Jeremiah 23:6)

Christ did not need to earn righteousness by keeping the Law to impute it onto saints. Righteousness does not come from keeping of the Law from the beginning. Adam’s righteousness (rather uprightness) was removable. His righteousness was that of a slave. God’s righteousness does not come from works. The Son does not have such righteousness that can be removed. And the Son does not give such righteousness to His people. If our righteousness is from the Law, then one rebellious action should remove us from salvation. Logically speaking, if God wants us to keep everything He says and that is His ultimate aim of creation, our righteousness depends on keeping of His commandments. Then we can fall again. Then we will live in terror for eternity. But that was not God’s aim of creation.

On that day you will ask in My name, and I am not saying to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. (John 16:26)

He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to Me; when he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and with strokes of sons of mankind, but My favor shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from you. Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever. (2 Samuel 7:13-16)

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” (Hebrews 12:5-6)

By being one with the Son, saints become children of God, a holy City of God, the bride of Christ. God’s love will never depart from the Son nor from His people. Obedience comes as the result of being one with God. What Christ did for us on the earth changed the status of His people. And all the Apostles say that the work of Christ was on the Cross. Christ’s all other works were leading to this final act of righteousness. Christ became a man to fulfill God’s will by the power of God to redeem His people. Indeed, the fulfillment of the Law is love (agape). Only God loves. Only God fulfills.

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

Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. (Romans 5:18)

Straight after explaining the arrival of the King, Matthew talks about the Kingdom of heaven. There are talks regarding why Matthew referred the Kingdom as the Kingdom of heaven, not the Kingdom of God. They are the same Kingdom.

What is important is the Savior’s mission is the Kingdom that will become God’s eternal dwelling place. Because the Kingdom is God’s people, the Savior’s mission is to gather and teach them about God and His Kingdom. Many ministers emphasize on Christ’s miracles when talking about Christ’s works. In the Reformed, ministers emphasize on Christ’s obedience to the Law. The most important work of Christ was to give knowledge to His people. He spent most time on teaching. Miracles were to show His authority given by the Father. Miracles were given as the shadows of the true characteristics of the Kingdom – forgiveness of sins, full of knowledge of God, no death, no suffering, etc. There are many churches who say they can heal people’s diseases but deny Sola Gratia.

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles? (Matt 7:22)

These false disciples perform miracles in Christ’s name but are denied by God. It is because they do not know God. They do not preach truths of God. Therefore, the Lord says to them, “I never knew you.” (Matt 7:23)

In this passage, there are a lot to talk about. First one is repentance.

Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance (v.8)

Earlier, I talked about the Protestant churches selling indulgence like the Roman Catholic. When people are beaten by the Law continuously, they feel guilty and falsely confess that they now accept Christ as the Savior. I believe this was done in the 17^th century England by the Protestant churches. What we now call the Reformed theology has been influenced a lot by the theologians in the 17^th century England. It is not surprising there are many who have falsely repented and act just like the Pharisees in the NT. The result is bad fruit. Most Protestant churches have abandoned Sola Gratia and made speculative theories about Adam and the covenants.

I heard the Protestant Reformed Churches America (PRCA) has this issue of understanding repentance. And the Reformed Protestant Church (RPC) came out of the denomination. Can repentance be initiated by a man’s will or by God alone? In God’s dictionary, good fruit is always associated with the work of the Holy Spirit. It is not that a man does some portion of good works, and the Spirit does the rest. Producing good fruit is completely and totally done by God alone. Without the Holy Spirit, there is no good fruit. Therefore, the repentance accepted by God is initiated by God alone. That is true repentance. From the beginning to the end, God does all the works to make His Kingdom by Himself. There is false repentance, which produces either no fruit or bad fruit. John 15 and 16 explains about the work of the Spirit. It is impossible for a saint to produce bad fruit or no fruit. God refers Himself as a farmer who does not tolerate fruitless trees.

And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore, every tree that does not bear good fruit is being cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matt 3:10)

About a fruitless vine, its end was already told in Ezekiel chapter 15. Many people think the conditional covenant is eternal because the OT was written first. But the OT needs to be understood through the NT. The end was already planned before creation. Eternal God is not limited to time. Therefore, interpreting and understanding the Bible chronologically pose risks of misinterpretation and misunderstanding.

The next thing I’d like to talk about is John the Baptist. John was considered as Elijah, the prophet in the OT. Elijah rebuked Israel people in the OT. He was against the kings of Israel and their false prophets. There are a lot to talk about Elijah. Elijah’s experience in the Mt. Horeb in 1 Kings 19 is very important in understanding God. After walking to Mt. Horeb for 40 days and 40 nights, Elijah hears God’s voice. This is a similar experience as Moses in Exodus 24. What Elijah experiences is the contrast to what many churches preach. God is not in the strong wind, in the earthquake, or the fire. God is a gentle and quiet voice. People should not seek after some grand experiences to know the presence of God. God is everywhere but most importantly God is in His words. The Holy Spirit teaches God’s words. He is like a private tutor. There are people in the world who say they hear the voice of God and say something different from what the Bible teaches. Saints must discern. But how can we discern if we do not read the Bible?

Thirdly, John’s baptism is different from the ceremonial baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. John’s baptism is limited to a certain time (before Christ’s public ministry) and a certain place (Israel).

Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” (Acts 19:4)

Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. (Acts 18:24-25)

John’s baptism was a sign or a shadow of the true baptism.

… He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Matt 3:11)

A question rises regarding “fire”. I interpret it as suffering or tribulation. Christ mentions of the baptism of suffering.

But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. (Mark 10:38-39)

God speaks a few times about refining His people by fire in the OT.

This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’ (Zechariah 13:9)

In contrast to God’s people, some (the reprobate) are treated as dross, not silver.

Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to me; all of them are bronze and tin and iron and lead in the furnace; they are dross of silver. (Ezekiel 22:18)

Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. (Isaiah 48:10

Saints are refined that way as in the case of Job. The others (the reprobate) go through sufferings as dross of silver. Such sufferings do not result in the knowledge of God.

Regarding the ceremonial baptism, as I talked about it earlier, it is a substitute to ceremonial circumcision. It does not indicate the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is like a birth certificate. When a child is born, the parents register the baby as a citizen of the country the baby was born in. A visible church is a shadow of the Kingdom and issues a birth certificate to include the baby into the visible church. God was pleased to build a system on the earth to educate His people, that is the visible church system. Many do not know the work of the Spirit. Therefore, they do not know the presence of the Holy Spirit in a person. No one knows who has received the Holy Spirit. We can only discern by the words and the actions coming from a person. Yet, false believers can fool themselves and others very well. When one receives the Holy Spirit, the understanding of God dramatically changes. False prophets, even though they fool others very well with their words and actions, their true identities are revealed eventually because they have wrong understandings of God especially regarding the Trinity and grace of God. We all were once idolaters and rebellious people. By the grace of God, our knowledge of God grows and we depart from false teachings.

In this chapter, Matthew continues to explain that Jesus is the Savior. The prophecies and the Law in the OT foretold about the coming Savior. What I’d like to focus on is verse 18.

A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more

This is quoted from Jeremiah 31:15. Jeremiah talks about the new covenant and hope in the same chapter. We understand that Matthew 2:18 shows the evilness of the ruler Herod who tried to kill our Lord. When he failed, he murdered innocent children. This verse can be interpreted that God gives hope after suffering. People who suffered under the evil ruling of Herod will be saved by Christ.

Thus says the Lord: “Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work, declares the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. (Jer 31:16)

Another interpretation is possible. If we connect Matthew 2: 16-18 with Jeremiah, who foretold the judgement of God on Israel, the verse 18 can be interpreted as God’s judgement on His people (at that time the Jewish people) because no one recognized or welcomed Christ’s coming. Instead, the three foreigners looked for Jesus. They came to know about the birth of the King by God’s grace. This is very important. From the beginning, God decided to save some to make His kingdom regardless of their backgrounds. We all have Adam as a biological father. God built Israel as a shadow of the visible church. Therefore, salvation comes from the Jews (John 4:22). And the visible church is a shadow of the invisible church, the eternal kingdom. The three magi thought the Jews would know about the King’s birth and asked Herod. But no Jews knew about it. There was no guest room available for our Lord as we read Luke 2:7. The three magi found the King lying in a manger. His humble birth indicates the kind of life Christ lived as the Son of Man.

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Matt 8:20)

What we learn from Matthew 2 is that His own people did not recognize Him. Since Adam’s fall, all humans became spiritually dead. (That does not mean Adam was perfect as I mentioned before.) No one can hear or see unless one receives God’s total grace. All who call themselves Christians are the new Israelite.

He came to His own, and His own people did not accept Him. (John 1:11)

God is still rejected by His own people who call themselves Christians. They do not accept the total and only grace doctrine. The judgements told in the OT will be repeated in the last days.

For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17)

In this passage, Mathew starts to explain why Jesus is Truth.

…for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. (v. 20)

Our Lord became a human by the power of the Holy Spirit. From the beginning, building the Kingdom was God’s mission not a man’s mission. But Christ was made a man. Christ refers Himself as the Son of man and also the Son of God. It is God’s will that His creatures are made into sons through the only begotten Son. God wanted one of us to pay for our sins on behalf of us. Therefore, Christ became a man.

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins (Matt 1:21)

God could have made another upright man like Adam as He did in the beginning to do this task.

… I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. (Matt 3:9)

But He did not because the task must be fulfilled by His Son and the woman’s Seed. In this, we can see a glimpse of God’s will in creation.

Then Matthew quotes Isaiah 7:14 where it says,

… the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel (God with us).

Christ fulfils prophecies spoken in the OT, which only God can do. As God’s Word (Truth), He has fulfilled and fulfils all prophecies.

Adam was not made to become Immanuel. It is not because Adam unexpectedly failed in the garden of Eden. God’s plan has always been in His only begotten Son and the church (bride of Christ).

Matthew, like other Apostles, emphasizes on the salvation from sins. It is not only about the past sins committed by Adam and ourselves, but Christ changes the status of His people by His death and resurrection. He bought us with a price and unite with us by the Holy Spirit. This is the will of the Triune God. Salvation is the work of the Triune God. So, we are no longer rejected and hated by God. Rather, we are now the children of God and God never stops loving us despite our weaknesses.

On that day you will ask in My name, and I am not saying to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. (John 16:26)

When I started to understand God’s words, I found that the Book of Matthew and the Book of John give much knowledge about God and His Kingdom. The Father was pleased to manifest Himself through His Son (Word and Truth). And knowing the Son is the key to understand God and the Kingdom.

Historically, these two books were considered important by the Waldensians during the pre-Reformation era. I read that they trained themselves to memorize them by heart. They faced horrific deaths by God’s enemies just like other prophets did. It is sad the Waldensians now no longer follow sound doctrines and have turned to work-based salvation. This shows no single denomination or church stays orthodox for long as we read in Christ’s message to the church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7. God plants His saints in various places at different times. They remain loyal to God by the Holy Spirit although their visible churches fall away.

Understanding the Bible as a whole is essential. I do not want to repeat what other scholars have written in various study Bibles or study aids. You can easily do your own studies by using various study aids available online for free.

What Matthew 1:1-17 shows is two things: Christ as Truth and God’s will regarding the woman (church)

Unlike the genealogy written in Luke 3:23-38, Matthew deliberately emphasized on the number 14. There are mysteries hidden in numbers that we have not yet fully grasped. I cannot say I know what all those numbers mean. Number 5 has been repeatedly emphasized in my dreams. And I found that it means grace.

So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. (Matthew 1:17)

Some say the Hebrew word David is to do with number 14. I do not disagree. But the Hebrew word associated with number 14 is Emet (or Emeth), which means truth. The word consists of the first, the middle, and the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. And the gap between two letters is 14. This first, the middle, and the last pattern is also shown in creation: light-light-Sabbath. This is also the pattern of the Bible: Beginning (Genesis) -Wisdom books -End (Revelation). I believe Calvin once said Christ is the beginning, the end, and the center. John also starts his gospel talking about the Word, which is Truth. The Word (Truth) was in the beginning with God. And the Word is the wisdom of God.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. (John 17:17)

but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:24)

Matthew included some women in the genealogy. They are Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, the wife of Uriah (Bathsheba) and Mary. Study aids explain extensively about these women so I will not repeat. I believe the inclusion of those women means God’s will in the woman as a whole rather than individual woman. Church is often referred as a bride or our mother. Thus, the devil who had much knowledge, approaches Eve first, not Adam, because he knew that God’s will was in the woman and her Seed.

In the Reformed this idea of church being the mother is very strong. I think in some denominations especially in the Reformed church, the notion has gone too far. Some explain as if the mother (church) can save people by having the key of David, but it is always Christ who holds the key of David.

…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)

Only saints who have received the Holy Spirit can minister before God on the earth. Therefore, only the invisible church can use the key of David by God’s will.

Because of church traditions, women are often despised in churches. It is true women prophets were rare in the Bible. But there is no distinction between women and men in God’s world. That does not mean I promote women taking church office roles. There are certain earthly orders within churches that we need to keep until Christ comes.

When it comes to teaching, everyone must work according to the gift given to each. People often quote this verse to silence the woman or women who rebuke the wrongdoings of church leaders.

But I do not allow a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. (1 Timothy 2:12)

One must discern by the words of God and the Spirit when interpreting this verse. God gave authority to some women to judge, rebuke, and prophesy in the past. And He still does. People who are blind will reject God’s rebukes because they misunderstand God.

my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6)

We must also be aware of the fact that many people follow false prophets.

But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. (Revelation 2:20)

In the Book of Proverbs, there appear Wisdom and the woman of folly. (see Proverbs chapter 7-9). There are more women (and men) of folly than those who are wise. Saints must discern. And the only way to survive is to read and learn God’s words and pray for God’s mercy. Saints must not seek the approval of many people (or the world).

Now I invite you to read the Bible with me. As I go through the Bible, I will share my understandings of the words of God. My thoughts are not perfect, but you read the Bible together and make your own conclusions. There are certain things God clarifies in this reformation. If we have the same Spirit, we will have the same understandings.

We are now reliving the Israel’s history written in the OT. Jesus was named after Joshua who led the Israelite to the promised land. Jesus also opened the gate, and many were invited. But just as the prophecies were told in the OT, only the remnants are saved. Circumcision was a proof of being God’s people in the OT. It was replaced by ceremonial baptism after Christ was risen. But not all who received the circumcision were saved. True circumcision is the circumcision of the heart. And true baptism is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Both circumcision and baptism are shadows of the real seal – the Holy Spirit. The prophets in the OT spoke about both the end of the Israel nations and the Day of the Lord. Babylon invaded Israel and she reappears at the end as we read in Revelation 19. There are many similarities.

When I joined a Reformed church, I was astonished that the minds of the elders were very similar to those of the Pharisees written in the four gospels. They believe that they are chosen. They believe their authorities are given by God. They want to protect their blood lines. They believe the Law gives righteousness. I believe this is the result of the Reformed Puritanism. I heard this criticism is not new. There have been theologians who complained the Reformed puritans’ moral and federal view of the covenants. The Protestant (Reformed) churches have gone beyond repair. The wound is incurable. The words that the Apostles wrote after the death and resurrection of Christ are very relevant now.

The Bible consists of 66 books. In fact, it has 70 books because the Psalms consists of 5 books. Number 6 is a man’s number (Revelation 13:18). Some consider the Bible is full of men’s ideas. Others think the Bible is the words of God. I consider that the Bible tells us everything that we need to know about God. Yes, I do dream but they are not telling new things about God. The knowledge of God is in the 70 books. There are people who think the Apocrypha needs to be included as divine words of God. I think it is not wise to read them when you have not understood all truths from the 70 books. If they tell you anything other than what the 70 books teach you, then they are not the words of God. If they tell you the same things as the 70 books, then you do not need to waste your time.

When Calvin wrote commentaries on almost all books of the Bible and numerous sermons, it was not because he was a genius. Calvin understood the works of the Holy Spirit. Some call him a theologian of the Holy Spirit. A certain knowledge/logic of God was allowed to him by God’s will. With the knowledge, He understood the Bible and could write commentaries and sermons. Although his knowledge had limits and so does mine, we understand certain things revealed through the knowledge given to us. Luther was not given the same amount of knowledge as Calvin because he played a different role. Yet, we all are saved by faith given by God. But it is necessary the church understands and confesses the truths. Our knowledge of God never stops growing and we should not uphold church traditions like the Pharisees. God’s reformation did not stop. What has gone wrong must be corrected for the church to grow.

I have no doubt the knowledge of God will be very clear in the last generation. But as always, more knowledge means more persecutions and trials. Zwingli, Calvin, Luther, and all God’s servants did not live a good and happy life as the world desires.

I talked a little bit about theology. There are other important topics that I’d like to write about such as the role of the Holy Spirit and the meaning of the Law. Instead of writing them separately, I’d like to go through a few books of the Bible to explain them. Before I start, I’d like to mention briefly about Christianity and the gospel.

Gospel is not about going to heaven after death. Death and the afterlife have been the interest of many. People go to a church thinking they will go to heaven if they die as a Christian.

Gospel is about being a part of the Kingdom, God’s eternal dwelling. It is about being one with God. It is about knowing God, understanding God, and loving God. It is God who does everything to build His Kingdom. Men can do nothing as we see in the case of Adam and Eve.

But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more. (Jeremiah 31:33-34)

Christianity has gone very strange, and I see many people call themselves Christians and yet, have no understanding of Christ. If you visit any church, you are likely to see people saying “Christ is my only king and savior. I love him!” but they have no interest in reading the Bible. They say, “I am not interested in theology stuffs.” Theology is about the knowledge of God. There is no true faith without knowing God. Even in the Reformed the knowledge got crooked. There are ministers saying Christ is the Creator. Although the Triune God created all things, it brings confusion when one says Christ is the Creator. We do not say Christ is the Creator, but the world was made by the Father through His Son.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind. (John1:1-4)

The Father was pleased to manifest Himself through His Son and gave all authorities to the Son. The Father was pleased to manifest Himself through His words and they speak about His Son. All His words are summed up in the Word. The knowledge is so deep, and I can never say I know it all. Only I can see the glimpse of the mystery when I read the Bible again and again. The reason I emphasize on the Trinity doctrine is that it holds the essential knowledge of God. When one understands the mystery, the two natures of Christ can be understood. The ecumenical Creeds are useful in teaching people about Trinity and the two natures of Christ as I mentioned before.

This is what I have learnt so far.

God created the world for a specific purpose and that is His eternal dwelling. The dwelling is not a place but people. He could have made them like angels, but He chose not to because they had to be trained through sufferings so that they could be refined. They go through the preservation process by salt. God knows the benefit of sufferings. The devil was made as a necessary tool. The devil hates God, His plans, and most of all, His elect people. The devil disguises as a friend and an ally but he wants God’s elect to fail. God sometimes let His people to fall into temptations when they need to be disciplined. As in the case of King David, falling into a temptation brings disastrous events. Yet, God forgives His people. The world was made as the training place for His elect people. Once the elect people are fully trained, there is no need for the former worlds to exist. God will destroy all things and make everything new. Heaven and earth will pass away.  And new heaven and new earth will come. The gospel is therefore only for the elect people. For others it is the death sentence. They consider God unfair and cruel. They want a different king and serve the beast. God sees them as His enemies. God’s people are hated by His enemies because of God.

Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. (Revelation 6:15-16)

Lastly, I heard that the Reformed theologians bring up Thomas Aquinas a lot in their discussions. Some boast that they read Summa Theologica in Latin. I think it is a waste of time. This trend is not surprising because John Owen was influenced by Thomism. He was called “Reformed Catholic”. And we can easily see where his heart was in terms of theology. Both Owen and Aquinas developed theology for the mass public. Owen combined TULIP and the ideas of Aquinas. For the sake of external piety and social/political stability, he weakened Sola Gratia by adopting Thomist ideas so that all people can be ruled under the new Protestant church. Because of his efforts, the Protestant church is no different from the Roman Catholic. I came across a man confessing that he is now a Muslim after going to a Protestant church and reading many theology books. He said he was a reborn Christian. And there are a lot to talk about how the Protestant churches define “Reborn”. But I will do it some other time.

The Roman Catholic church upholds the teachings of Aquinas. The reason the Roman Catholic church became corrupt is not because they were generous towards immoralities. They abandoned the grace-only doctrine, which Augustine had taught, to bring many people into their church. They promoted a men-made idol, and it led to other corruptions. Aquinas learnt theology based on human philosophies. He was greatly influenced by Islam because of the Crusades. And Islam is believed to be influenced by Aristotle and Arianism. Aquinas’ theology can never explain Trinity right. And his understanding of Christ is therefore crooked. Then people would say I should read this and that to know his theology. There is no need because Aquinas himself stopped writing at the end saying all his writings were like straws. The only thing we can learn from Aquinas is that his writings are rubbish. He himself denied at the end he knew anything about God. What is the point of studying his writings?

Why do people seek after pagan gods made by pagan philosophers when there is God who manifests Himself through the Bible? The answer is because they have not received the Holy Spirit. Yet or never.

Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? (2 King 1:3)

Saints receive the seal of God because they mourn over the abominations happening in churches. Sealing of the saints comes first and then the rest receive the mark of the beast.