(Gospel e-Letter - December 2009)
The Bible is a collection of old writings by several authors over a span of many centuries, originally addressed to the Jews or the early Christians. Why should we put our confidence in this old book? Is it still relevant to us today?
The Lord Jesus gives us a good insight on the value of the Scriptures. During a debate with the Sadducees (who denied the resurrection), Jesus said, ‘But about the resurrection of the dead -- have you not read what God said to you, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?” He is not the God of the dead but of the living’ (Matt 22:31, 32).
Let us focus on the very significant phrase, ‘Have you not read what God said to you?’
We learn, first of all, that Jesus regarded God as the author of the Bible. He knew of course that the book of Exodus, from which he quoted, was written by Moses. But Jesus looked beyond the human author. ‘Have you not read,’ he asked, ‘what God said to you?’
God is the ultimate author of the Bible, for as the apostle Peter explains, ‘prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit’ (2 Peter 1:21).
So the Bible is not merely a human work – if it were so, we would be fools to hang our eternal destiny on its message. The Bible is ‘God-breathed’ – the words coming out of the mouth of God. Therefore we can trust the Scripture because God, its author, cannot err or deceive us.
We learn, moreover, that Jesus taught that the Bible was not written only to the original audience but to others as well. The book of Exodus was originally written to the Jews that came out of Egypt. Yet Jesus told the first century Jews that through that book, God was speaking to them also: ‘Have you not read what God said’ – not to your forefathers, but – ‘to you?’
Even though that scripture had been written fifteen centuries before, Jesus told the people of his generation that God was communicating with them in their day. Through the Bible, God speaks today. The Scripture is ever relevant and up-to-date. ‘The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever’ (1 Peter 1:24, 25).
Similarly, the apostle Paul, speaking to Christians about the events recorded in Scripture, wrote, ‘These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us’ (1 Cor 10:11); and again, ‘For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us’ (Rom 15:4). God had us in mind when he composed the Bible, and when we read it, God speaks to us!
This then is what Jesus taught. God is the author of the Bible, and he wrote it to all people in every generation. The Scriptures transcend culture and time. Through the written Word, God speaks; God speaks to us; God speaks to us today!
If we truly desire to correct our errors and to know God’s message, the Lord Jesus counsels, ‘Have you not read what God said to you?’
30 November 2009
28 November 2009
Opinion Poll - for Catholics only
Did Christ die in place of his people to pay the penalty for their sins?
Comment
This poll was reserved for Roman Catholics. Thankfully most affirmed that Christ died in place of his people to pay the penalty for their sins. A few, who know better their Catholic religion, denied this precious truth. I thank God that many Catholics are influenced by evangelicals and have come to know this blessed truth about Jesus' work on the cross.
- Yes 60 (90%)
- No 4 (6%)
- Don't know 2 (3%)
Comment
This poll was reserved for Roman Catholics. Thankfully most affirmed that Christ died in place of his people to pay the penalty for their sins. A few, who know better their Catholic religion, denied this precious truth. I thank God that many Catholics are influenced by evangelicals and have come to know this blessed truth about Jesus' work on the cross.
Opinion Poll - November 2009
Historically the Catholic Church forbade the laity to read the vernacular translations of the Bible.
Comment
This example should suffice...
"Since it is clear from experience that if the Sacred Books are permitted everywhere and without discrimination in the vernacular, there will by reason of the boldness of men arise therefrom more harm than good, the matter is in this respect left to the judgment of the bishop or inquisitor, who may with the advice of the pastor or confessor permit the reading of the Sacred Books translated into the vernacular by Catholic authors to those who they know will derive from such reading no harm but rather an increase of faith and piety, which permission they must have in writing. Those, however, who presume to read or possess them without such permission may not receive absolution from their sins till they have handed them over to the ordinary. Bookdealers who sell or in any other way supply Bibles written in the vernacular to anyone who has not this permission, shall lose the price of the books, which is to be applied by the bishop to pious purposes, and in keeping with the nature of the crime they shall be subject to other penalties which are left to the judgment of the same bishop. Regulars who have not the permission of their superiors may not read or purchase them." (Council of Trent: Rules on Prohibited Books, approved by Pope Pius IV, 1564).
Thank God the modern Catholic Church encourages its members to read the Bible in their language. May God be pleased that through the reading of his Word, many dear Catholic people will discover the gospel of salvation by faith in Christ Jesus.
- True 50 (62%)
- False 28 (35%)
- Don't Know 2 (2%)
Comment
This example should suffice...
"Since it is clear from experience that if the Sacred Books are permitted everywhere and without discrimination in the vernacular, there will by reason of the boldness of men arise therefrom more harm than good, the matter is in this respect left to the judgment of the bishop or inquisitor, who may with the advice of the pastor or confessor permit the reading of the Sacred Books translated into the vernacular by Catholic authors to those who they know will derive from such reading no harm but rather an increase of faith and piety, which permission they must have in writing. Those, however, who presume to read or possess them without such permission may not receive absolution from their sins till they have handed them over to the ordinary. Bookdealers who sell or in any other way supply Bibles written in the vernacular to anyone who has not this permission, shall lose the price of the books, which is to be applied by the bishop to pious purposes, and in keeping with the nature of the crime they shall be subject to other penalties which are left to the judgment of the same bishop. Regulars who have not the permission of their superiors may not read or purchase them." (Council of Trent: Rules on Prohibited Books, approved by Pope Pius IV, 1564).
Thank God the modern Catholic Church encourages its members to read the Bible in their language. May God be pleased that through the reading of his Word, many dear Catholic people will discover the gospel of salvation by faith in Christ Jesus.
23 November 2009
The Birth of Our Daughter, Elisabeth
Dear Friends,
My wife and I would like to share our joy with you for the birth of our daughter, Elisabeth! She was born this morning 23rd November 2009 at 11 am, at 39 weeks gestation, weighing 3 kg. She cried immediately and within a couple of minutes she was already breast-feeding.
We are so thankful to God for his wonderful gift; we now dedicate her to Him. Our desire is that she may grow to know and love the Lord Jesus Christ, her Saviour.
Her name, Elisabeth, means ‘The Promise of My God’ – a reminder that God promises eternal life to all of us who believe in His Son. Praise his holy name!
Joe, Joanne ... John and ELISABETH
2 November 2009
Open Letter to Anglicans
The Vatican has opened an express way to Anglicans, unhappy about your church’s policy on woman bishops and gay clergy – to convert to the Roman Catholic Church. Many Anglicans were stunned, others were angered by the Pope’s move.
You shouldn’t be. All the ecumenical talk is but a façade to the Vatican’s ultimate aim, namely, to lure Christians in other denominations to Rome. It couldn’t be otherwise. The Roman magisterium has never changed the claim that the Roman Catholic Church is the one and only true church of Jesus Christ. The Catholic magisterium is simply being consistent with its fundamental beliefs.
What should Anglicans do?
Over the years I have observed the sad decline in the Anglican and Episcopalian churches. The Anglican church has fallen away from its historic stand on the sufficiency and authority of Scripture. The Thirty Nine Articles states:
However you will not be helped by joining the Roman Catholic Church. Rome officially rejects 'Sola Scriptura' - not only by the addition of an undefined body of 'Holy Tradition', but by sitting in absolute authority over all people as the only authentic interpreter of the Word of God. In effect, by joining the Catholic Church you will be bound to submit your mind and will to the teaching of the Vatican.
In particular, consider the doctrine of justification, for this article is the heart of the gospel message. Historically, the Anglican Church taught that:
Yet Rome categorically denies this blessed gospel truth. In the Roman Church you will be told to work and do religious deeds to merit grace and to merit eternal life; you will be required to do penance to make satisfaction for you sin.
As for me, and I hope you too, dear brethren in the Church of England, we stand by faith alone on Christ alone for justification. He is our merit, our righteousness and our satisfaction for sin. We are justified by God’s grace alone and not on account of our deeds. Having renounced all confidence in ourselves, acknowledging our guilt and demerit, we wholly lean on the Lord Jesus by faith. He has never lost one of his sheep!
As for church membership, make sure that your local church is "a congregation of faithful men, in which the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments be duly ministered according to Christ's ordinance". If your local Anglican church fits this description, remain therein, while praying fervently and working earnestly for its reformation. If not, seek and join a local congregation of believers that uphold the teaching of the Bible on justification and the other precious doctrines of the Gospel.
I have been praying for the Anglican church these past days, may God raise people like Thomas Cranmer and J.C. Ryle to reform the Anglican Church. May the remnant of God’s people in the Anglican community be preserved and vindicated by their Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
You shouldn’t be. All the ecumenical talk is but a façade to the Vatican’s ultimate aim, namely, to lure Christians in other denominations to Rome. It couldn’t be otherwise. The Roman magisterium has never changed the claim that the Roman Catholic Church is the one and only true church of Jesus Christ. The Catholic magisterium is simply being consistent with its fundamental beliefs.
What should Anglicans do?
Over the years I have observed the sad decline in the Anglican and Episcopalian churches. The Anglican church has fallen away from its historic stand on the sufficiency and authority of Scripture. The Thirty Nine Articles states:
Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.The God-inspired Scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation by faith in Christ Jesus. Please ask yourself whether the Anglican church has largely ignored the teaching of the Bible on moral issues – the ordination of woman and the acceptance of homosexual bishops are but symptomatic of the substitution of the Word of God for the humanistic opinions of our godless culture.
However you will not be helped by joining the Roman Catholic Church. Rome officially rejects 'Sola Scriptura' - not only by the addition of an undefined body of 'Holy Tradition', but by sitting in absolute authority over all people as the only authentic interpreter of the Word of God. In effect, by joining the Catholic Church you will be bound to submit your mind and will to the teaching of the Vatican.
In particular, consider the doctrine of justification, for this article is the heart of the gospel message. Historically, the Anglican Church taught that:
We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by Faith, and not for our own works or deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by Faith only, is a most wholesome Doctrine, and very full of comfort.This is the great gospel truth cherished by Anglicans and all Protestants. We are accounted righteous ONLY for the merit of our Lord Jesus, and not on account of any good works of ours. Moreover we are justified through faith ALONE, and not through some other mediator, be it the Catholic priest, the intercession of Mary, rituals or the fire of Purgatory.
Yet Rome categorically denies this blessed gospel truth. In the Roman Church you will be told to work and do religious deeds to merit grace and to merit eternal life; you will be required to do penance to make satisfaction for you sin.
As for me, and I hope you too, dear brethren in the Church of England, we stand by faith alone on Christ alone for justification. He is our merit, our righteousness and our satisfaction for sin. We are justified by God’s grace alone and not on account of our deeds. Having renounced all confidence in ourselves, acknowledging our guilt and demerit, we wholly lean on the Lord Jesus by faith. He has never lost one of his sheep!
As for church membership, make sure that your local church is "a congregation of faithful men, in which the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments be duly ministered according to Christ's ordinance". If your local Anglican church fits this description, remain therein, while praying fervently and working earnestly for its reformation. If not, seek and join a local congregation of believers that uphold the teaching of the Bible on justification and the other precious doctrines of the Gospel.
I have been praying for the Anglican church these past days, may God raise people like Thomas Cranmer and J.C. Ryle to reform the Anglican Church. May the remnant of God’s people in the Anglican community be preserved and vindicated by their Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
1 November 2009
Christ the Sin Bearer
(Gospel e-Letter - November 2009)
Can God be merciful to sinners while being absolutely just and upright? Justice demands that sinners should be punished, while mercy allows the guilty to go free. If justice prevails, mercy is refused; but if mercy triumphs, justice is undone. Is there a solution to this dilemma?
Thank God, the gospel message is the answer! The Bible reveals God’s infinite wisdom in finding a way to be both just and the justifier of the ungodly who believes in Christ.
The Bible teaches that we were under God’s wrath because we are law-breaker. ‘All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law’ (Galatians 3:10). None of us obeyed God’s Law perfectly; therefore all of us were under divine condemnation.
But God sent his Son to the world to take away our sin. The sinless One became sin for us; the blessed Son became a curse for us. ‘Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree’ (Galatians 3:13). Christ redeemed – that is, he liberated us – from the curse imposed on us by the Law when he offered his life as a sacrifice. He took our curse upon himself. No curse remains anymore on those who believe in Christ, but rather the blessings of God.
Sadly many people do not accept the biblical teaching on the death of Christ. Someone wrote to me, ‘I just can’t understand the concept of person "A" committing a sin and having it transferred to person “B” who is punished instead of the other. If I rob a bank, the police don't arrest my daughter or my father. They arrest me. Yet the Bible teaches that Jesus died for our sins. This concept of transferring sin from a guilty party to an innocent party seems so immoral.’
Indeed it would be immoral if the punishment is imposed on an innocent person instead of the guilty party. But it would be an act of pure love and generosity, and certainly not immoral, if someone voluntarily accepts to pay the penalty for another.
I first understood this concept of transfer of punishment before I opened the pages of the Bible. It was my fifteenth birthday. Without permission and without a driving license, I drove my father's tractor on a busy road and I was involved in traffic accident. I caused hundreds of pounds worth of damages to the brand new van involved in the collision.
I was guilty; my father was not.
Yet my father paid all the damages for me. I did not pay a cent.
That is, in essence, what the Bible teaches about the meaning of Christ's death. I broke the Law; he paid the death penalty in my place. He bore my sins. He took away my curse. He took my punishment. And he did so voluntarily. ‘I lay down my life,’ Jesus said, ‘No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord’ (John 10:17-18).
The cross of Christ is the manifestation of the justice and the mercy of God in perfect unity.
Therefore with all God’s people I rejoice in the wonderful truth that Christ ‘was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed’ (Isaiah 53:5).
We acknowledge our guilt and that we deserve punishment; but we rejoice in the grace of God who spared us the punishment because he laid our penalty upon his suffering Servant, Jesus Christ.
Can God be merciful to sinners while being absolutely just and upright? Justice demands that sinners should be punished, while mercy allows the guilty to go free. If justice prevails, mercy is refused; but if mercy triumphs, justice is undone. Is there a solution to this dilemma?
Thank God, the gospel message is the answer! The Bible reveals God’s infinite wisdom in finding a way to be both just and the justifier of the ungodly who believes in Christ.
The Bible teaches that we were under God’s wrath because we are law-breaker. ‘All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law’ (Galatians 3:10). None of us obeyed God’s Law perfectly; therefore all of us were under divine condemnation.
But God sent his Son to the world to take away our sin. The sinless One became sin for us; the blessed Son became a curse for us. ‘Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree’ (Galatians 3:13). Christ redeemed – that is, he liberated us – from the curse imposed on us by the Law when he offered his life as a sacrifice. He took our curse upon himself. No curse remains anymore on those who believe in Christ, but rather the blessings of God.
Sadly many people do not accept the biblical teaching on the death of Christ. Someone wrote to me, ‘I just can’t understand the concept of person "A" committing a sin and having it transferred to person “B” who is punished instead of the other. If I rob a bank, the police don't arrest my daughter or my father. They arrest me. Yet the Bible teaches that Jesus died for our sins. This concept of transferring sin from a guilty party to an innocent party seems so immoral.’
Indeed it would be immoral if the punishment is imposed on an innocent person instead of the guilty party. But it would be an act of pure love and generosity, and certainly not immoral, if someone voluntarily accepts to pay the penalty for another.
I first understood this concept of transfer of punishment before I opened the pages of the Bible. It was my fifteenth birthday. Without permission and without a driving license, I drove my father's tractor on a busy road and I was involved in traffic accident. I caused hundreds of pounds worth of damages to the brand new van involved in the collision.
I was guilty; my father was not.
Yet my father paid all the damages for me. I did not pay a cent.
That is, in essence, what the Bible teaches about the meaning of Christ's death. I broke the Law; he paid the death penalty in my place. He bore my sins. He took away my curse. He took my punishment. And he did so voluntarily. ‘I lay down my life,’ Jesus said, ‘No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord’ (John 10:17-18).
The cross of Christ is the manifestation of the justice and the mercy of God in perfect unity.
Therefore with all God’s people I rejoice in the wonderful truth that Christ ‘was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed’ (Isaiah 53:5).
We acknowledge our guilt and that we deserve punishment; but we rejoice in the grace of God who spared us the punishment because he laid our penalty upon his suffering Servant, Jesus Christ.
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