Category: Ramblings

(All the contents of this article is adapted or gleaned from the book, How To Get The Most From God’s Word by Dr John MacArthur, Jr.)

Revelation And Inspiration

Revelation is the message from God and Inspiration was the primary method of delivering that message to mankind.  Inspiration is the act of the Holy Spirit in revealing to human writers the message that God intended to comprise the Bible.  The inspiration was not only in concepts and in thoughts but also in the very words.

1 Cor 2:13.  We also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches.

1 Pet 1:10-11 NLT.  ¹⁰ This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. ¹¹ They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.

From 1 Pet 1:10,11,  it is amazing to note that when the apostles received the prophecy from God, they did not understand and they simply recorded what they were told.

How can the Bible be the Word of God and at the same time, for example, the words of Paul ?  God formed the personality of the writer.  God made Paul into the man He wanted him to be.  God controlled his heredity and his environment. When the writer reached the point that God intended, God directed and controlled the free choice of the man so that he wrote down the very words of God. God literally selected the words out of each author’s own life, out of his personality, his vocabulary, and his emotions.  The words were man’s words, but that man’s life had been so framed by God that they were God’s words as well.  So we can say that Paul wrote Romans, and we can say God wrote it. Both statements are correct.  2 Sam 23:2.

2 Tim 3:16. ESV.  ¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.  Just like how God spoke out of His mouth and breathed the universe into existence (Psalms 33:6),  God breathed the Bible into existence.

Canon

The word Canon means measuring rod or standard.  It was Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria who referred to the completed NT in AD 350 as the canon.  The final choice of the 27 NT books were held up by Athanasius and other early church fathers.

The following were the tests used by the early church fathers in deciding the final canon of the NT.

1. Was the book authored by an apostle or someone close to the apostle ?
2. Did the content square off with apostolic doctrine ?
3. Was the book widely read and used in the churches ?
4. Was the book recognized and used by the next generations after the early church ? (Polycarp, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Origen, Eusebius,  Athanasius, Jerome and Augustine.)

As for the OT,  Jewish tradition holds that the final compilers of the OT canon were part of the Great Synagogue, that school of scribes founded by Ezra after the Jews returned from captivity in Babylon. There were some apocryphal books not added into the OT canon because :

1. They were written long after the canon was completed about 400 BC.
2. None of these apocryphal books claim divine inspiration and some even openly disclaim it.
3. They contain errors of fact and teach questionable ethics and doctrines. For example, the writings justify suicide and assassination and also teach praying for the dead.

Infallibility, Inerrancy And Authoritativeness

The Chicago Statement, drafted at a summit conference called in October 1978 by the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy to affirm the authority of Scripture, explained well with this statement :

“Infallible signifies the quality of neither misleading nor being misled and so safeguards in categorical terms the truth that Holy Scripture is a sure, safe, and reliable rule and guide in all matters.  Similarly, inerrant signifies the quality of being free from all falsehood or mistake and so safeguard the truth that Holy Scripture is entirely true and trustworthy in all its assertions.”

If the Bible is infallible and inerrant, it must be the final word – the highest standard of authority – because it is God’s very Word.

James 3:16

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

Prov 3:31-32

Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways,  for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence.

Prov 6:34-35

For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge.   He will accept no compensation; he will refuse though you multiply gifts.

Prov 14:30

A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.

Prov 23:17-18

Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

Prov 24:1-2,19,20

Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them, for their hearts devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble…Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked, for the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

Prov 27:4

Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

Two of the terrible grinds in life are envy and jealousy.   They rob us of peace.  We often pray for the much coveted blessings of peace and joy from God, yet ironically we chase these blessings away through our own sinful desires.

There is a difference between Envy and Jealousy. Envy is like a man with his hands empty of achievements or possessions that he desires and he finds it hard to swallow about people who have what he does not have at the moment. Jealousy is like a man having full of achievements or possessions in his hands, yet he worries about losing out to others who are fast “catching up”, or he is not happy with others having more than him.

The jealous guy will always occupy his position without giving up.  He will always strive to have more.  He will always strive to stay ahead with a very competitive attitude.  He will grind himself into a nervous wreck without pausing to learn to enjoy all the intangible things like relationship, friendship, nature and arts.

The envious guy will curse, not bless, others hoping in his or her heart that others will lose their possessions one day.   He will strive to attain these achievements or possessions in the shortest possible time. He is so sewn up with himself because he feels bitter towards all who have what he does not have (unlike the jealous guy who only has that sour taste in his mouth with few in his circle).

Sadly we see envy and jealousy even in Christian ministry today.

When a brother is wise, he invites irrational backbiting.

When a brother is capable in his ministry, he invites undermining.

When a brother shares his testimony of receiving God’s amazing providence in his life, he invites disbelief.

There is no meaningful ministry for a believer consumed by envy and jealousy for a Christian knows to be the greatest in God’s kingdom, he has to be the least and servant of all.

Envy and jealousy eat away at one’s soul. Our Lord Jesus has exhorted in so many parables to be rich towards God and not towards things, and to store treasure in heaven rather than accumulate perishable treasure on earth.  True peace and joy is only found in our Lord.   Rom 14:17.

One who succumbs to envy and jealousy and pursue the world is at enmity with God.  He cannot be a true disciple who has to surrender all idols to God and let God reign in his life.

Contentment with godliness is the only antidote. 1 Tim 6:6-10.  Contentment freeds us from greed which will consume us and anxiety which will torment us.

Isaiah 53:4-6
Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

The general principles for Bible interpretation are, foremost, the literal interpretation followed by historical, grammatical and contextual interpretation.   Another major principle, Scripture-Interprets- Scripture Principle,  is to let other relevant Scripture passages interpret the passage under study.

Yet there is one overarching principle concerning the important doctrines and major prophecies which is very important.   I will call it the Harmonization Approach Principle.   When we say the Bible is infallible, we mean that the Bible is never wrong and is completely trustworthy as God is infallible.  2 Pet 1:19; 2 Tim 3:16-17.  So when we are interpreting a particular doctrine or prophecy with all relevant Scripture verses, we must believe all verses, including apparently antinomic verses, are true and without error.

This Principle will lead to either one of the following conclusions regarding paradoxical doctrine and major prophecies in my opinion.

1. Acceptance of Apparently Antinomic Beliefs By Faith In One Single Doctrine.  

Take the example of the Christology doctrine.   We find all relevant verses support both the premise that Jesus is 100% man and 100% God at all times.  Although it is paradoxical to our understanding, we accept this doctrine by faith.   Same for other paradoxes such as Predestination and Free Will.  Take another example in the Holy Trinity doctrine.  We find all relevant verses support both the premise that God is One and yet there are 3 distinct Divine Persons who are God individually.   The term Holy Trinity is thus given to accept this reality that there are 3 distinct Divine Persons in One Essential God-head.

2. The Belief That Can Best Accommodate All Relevant Scripture Passages As True. (Some theologians call it the Harmony Of Scripture Principle.)

Take the argument whether salvation is by faith alone;  or salvation is by faith and works together.   The belief that salvation is through faith alone by the grace of God and evidenced by works is that one single belief which can accept all relevant and apparently antinomic verses as true.

Take another example in the argument whether the prophecy of the coming of the Messiah or whether the Rapture and the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus is one single event or 2 separate events.  The belief of 2 separate events best accommodate all relevant verses pertaining to these 2 subjects.

Have you not noticed that for most paradoxical doctrines or prophecies,  we accept the 2-events prophecy and  2- positions stand –  even 2 apparently antinomic stand – which best accommodate all the relevant Scripture passages instead of holding on to one extreme position or stand ?

By saying  “best accommodate”,  I do not mean to come to a compromise or best guess position of all the verses.  On the contrary, I believe and accept all verses,  even apparently antinomic, to be true since it is God’s Word which is infallible or inerrant.  Besides,  human finiteness cannot fully explain the infiniteness of God and His ways.

Many believers do not take either extreme actually.  They are likely to agree on some points of each extreme.

** All information on this subject is gleaned from Gotquestions.org website.

Obedience without Faith is Legalism;
Faith without Obedience is Cheap Grace (aka hyper grace).

Recently I heard the following 2 arguments arguing for the belief of Unitarian God:

1. Arguing for literal interpretation hermeneutics, one must accept Jesus as the Son of God and that He can do nothing aside from God the Father as mentioned in the Scriptures;
2. Arguing for faithful adherence to the exact words from the Bible, there is no such term as Trinity mentioned in the Bible so one will be inviting a curse if one adds this new word into the Bible.

Arguing further since mutually exclusive events cannot possibly happen together, similarly it is impossible to have 3 distinct Persons in one Essential God, thus proving conclusively the Unitarian nature of God.  And that the doctrine of the Trinity of 3 distinct Persons in One God-head is mere tradition handed down the centuries.

As for me, I believe in the Holy Trinity – that God is 3 distinct Persons in one Essential God-head. And Jesus is 100% God and 100% man.

I will narrow the argument to only one very important question :

Is Jesus fully God?  

For our salvation is at stake if we believe a different Jesus.

The Unitarian-God belief essentially denies Jesus is God.

All the greatest scientific minds in the world cannot explain how Light can have dual nature in being particulate and wave in nature. But that contradiction does not deter scientists from accepting the observable truth and create new invention out of such knowledge.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave%E2%80%93particle_duality

It is not surprising that the article in the above link says this : “Although the use of the wave-particle duality has worked well in physics, the meaning or interpretation has not been satisfactorily resolved; see Interpretations of quantum mechanics.” And Niels Bohr regarded it as a duality paradox.

So likewise if we cannot explain satisfactorily how light can have dual mutually exclusive nature, are we to dismiss the doctrine of Christ being 100% God and 100% man as well due to our limited knowledge ?

I will also appeal to interpret Scripture literally as well for my argument that Jesus is fully God. Read these verses and consider whether Jesus is equal to God and is fully God.

John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the WORD WAS GOD.

Phil 2:5-7
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard EQUALITY WITH GOD a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

John 20:27-29
27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and MY GOD !” 29 Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

Rev 4: 9-11
9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and OUR GOD, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

Rev 3:14-19

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:

‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.  Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,  I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.

As the Laodicean church is mentioned last among the seven churches in Revelation,  it can very well be the state of the church in the last period of the last days.  The Laodicean church does seem to portray the church in the First World cities today.  The city of Laodicea had vibrant economy sectors in banking, education and manufacturing.   There were banks,  medical schools developing the Phrygian eye powders and clothing factories.  They were wealthy and self sufficient.  It is ironic that the citizens and the church saw themselves as rich, smart and lacking nothing as a result, but on the contrary, our Lord saw them as poor, blind and naked instead.

Wealth is deceitful and attempts to choke the life of the believer.  Affluent cities today are defying God’s moral laws and most live in dissipation.  Are not the global cities today reveling in making merry and money?  Are we not living in such cities focusing on such economy sectors and trusting our security solely on such wealth ?  How easily such affluence can make us poor, blind and naked with pride, self satisfaction and complacency instead.  We cannot serve both God and Mammon or we will end up being lukewarm.

The only way to get right healing from Christ our Lord for our spiritual sickness is to obey His exhortation to repent and be zealous in whole hearted devotion to Him.

Whenever  some believers talk about knowing God’s Will, what they actually mean is to know the correct decision they are making for a particular area of their lives, such as,  finding the right partner or job, or buying the right apartment or car at the right time.

Search for the words “God’s will” or “the Lord’s will”, or what does God wants for us in the Bible, you can find the following verses :

1. 2 Pet 3:9. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
2. Eph 5:15-18. Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
3. 1 Thess 4:3-5. It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honourable,  not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God.
4. 1 Pet 2:13-15. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority,or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
5. 1 Pet 4:12-19. Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.  However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

It is God’s predestinating purpose for us to be saved in Christ Jesus and to be a people growing in Christlikeness and eventually be perfect in Christ.  Eph 1:4-14, Titus 2:11-12,  Rom 8:28-29, Eph 2:8-10.

So from the Word of God above,  we can see it is the same purpose that God wants us to be saved in Christ Jesus (2 Pet 3:9),  be Spirit-filled (Eph 5:15-18), be sanctified (1 Thess 4:3-5), be submissive (1 Pet 2:13-15), and be willing to suffer for Christ’s sake and doing good (1 Pet 4:12-19).

If we are walking in these 5 areas according to God’s will, God is already controlling our wants and desires.  And when the Word of God dwells richly in you and the Spirit of Christ is filling you, you will prosper in whatever you do because you will make the right and wise decision for any area of your life.

Psalms 1:1-3

Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.

– Gleaned from the book, How To Get The Most From God’s Word, by Dr John MacArthur.

John 15:1-8

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

From the above passage,  it is clear that branches which do and do not bear fruit are both grafted onto the True Vine.  God, being the Vinedresser,  will prune those that bear fruit to bear even more fruit while cutting away those that do not.  This clearly illustrates that there are false and true believers staying together in Christendom and it will be futile for those that do not bear fruit to insist and claim to be in Christ to their own peril.

It is also clear from the above passage that every true believer in Christ will bear fruit as evidence of truly abiding in Him and so prove to be His disciple.

What is the fruit that a true believer will bear ?

Search the Bible for the word “fruit” and these defining verses will come up.

1. Gal 5:22.   The fruit of the Spirit.
2. Heb 13:15.   The fruit of our lips that bless His Holy Name.
3. Col 1:10.   Fruit in every good work.
4. John 4:35-38.  Gathering fruit (souls) for eternal life.

The question to ponder seriously is how to be the branch that bear fruit and do not end up as one that does not !

Abide in Christ and obey His Word !   John 15:4,7.  John 14:23-24

John  15:4,7

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me... If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.