"Your God is selfish...!"

The Saviour is asking this beggar for his permission to save him!

A friend posted the above-captioned picture on his FB and asked me privately...

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(Anyone who possesses in-depth knowledge of the BIBLE out there cares to respond to this? Please go one step further to explain to others what SALVATION is all about. My schoolmate from another different "religious" culture could not accept this "selfish" behaviour of people who follow CHRIST. He alleged that the "Christians" are selfish. As their GOD only "saves" own people and abandons others. THAT IS NOT " LOVE " AT ALL!.

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So, I gave him my HUMBLE answer.

Sing

Sir, NO in-depth knowledge needed... just read the PLAIN SCRIPTURES with its plain meaning!

The TRAGIC problem is people who claim themselves Christians DON'T READ the Book. They are not the people of the Book!

Which do you prefer:

a. The SELFISH God who should have justly left the whole human race to PERISH in their sins and suffer the just eternal damnation, or

b. The gracious and merciful God who HAS chosen to save some out of that justly condemned race and made them His people?

Many SELFISH people would rather that God be selfish and has nothing to do with the rebels and enemies, leave every one of the whole human race to perish... that God saves NO ONE. Their perverted mind and wicked heart charge God as selfish when God actually show grace and mercy and SOVEREIGNLY has chosen to save many BUT not all.

The wicked are angry with God because He exercised His sovereignty, and has chosen to save whom He will! They are wise and prudent when they exercise their choices! Brass-faced hypocrites. 

Some fools want to RESTRICT God's freedom to act, and charge Him as selfish! When they themselves act in the same way, they see themselves as wisely exercise freedom of choice!

Rom 9:14-21

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Sing

Mat 1:21

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Who are His people?

Those whom the Father has chosen out of the fallen and cursed race of Adam, and given to Christ to redeem...

John 6:38-39

For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day.

Jesus was born, and then sent when 30 years old... NOT to do any preacher's or any idiot's will. He was sent to do His Father's will. Men who don't get this should just hold their peace, instead of speaking as fools!

 Run Joggy Run

So..here again we come to the same point again. NOT ALL ARE CHOSEN. SOME ARE JUST BYPASSED AND IGNORED. (unless they cry for salvation and want it badly themselves, or sudden life events happen to them and they want salvation. Even so..they may not want it. Because in the first place..their name was not in the BOOK OF LIFE before the foundation of the world).

So..based on Roman 9. man ..the size of a grain of sand..can do nothing but be thankful for being in the chosen group of GOD's child. Eph 1.4

THEN HOW AM I SO SURE THAT I AM IN THE CHOSEN GROUP? (Eph 1.4)

I may think that I AM CHOSEN when I may not be at all.

THIS PART ..no one individual can tell the other the answer..though all may think that "they are in" the Kingdom.

Sing

God would still be perfectly just if He had bypassed all the justly condemned, justly condemned by their own sins!

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So..here again we come to the same point again. NOT ALL ARE CHOSEN. SOME ARE JUST BYPASSED AND IGNORED. (unless they cry for salvation and want it badly themselves, or sudden life events happen to them and they want salvation. Even so..they may not want it. Because in the first place..their name was not in the BOOK OF LIFE before the foundation of the world).

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The "unless part" is illogical. Those in their native state of sin and spiritual deadness can never perform the "unless" bit. It is as nonsensical as saying "unless the dead man would wink his eyes and smile at you..."

A man dead in trespasses and sins is in ENMITY AGAINST God, in rebellion against God... how could such a man want salvation? You better start reading and Bible and actually believe what it says about a man in his native state of sin and death!!! That's where we must begin!

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THEN HOW AM I SO SURE THAT I AM IN THE CHOSEN GROUP? (Eph 1.4)

I may think that I AM CHOSEN when I may not be at all.

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2Pe 1:10

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.

READ and STUDY what verses 5-9 says.

Your perplexity is answered by the Scriptures.

Sing 

"Can I save you?"

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Interesting question!

I assume it is the Saviour asking the question, obviously to an unsaved man, a man still in his native state of sin and death.

To whom is this question intended?

To an UNsaved man, OBVIOUSLY, i.e. a man who is still in his NATIVE state of sin and death, still UNSAVED.

Do you expect such a man to be able to answer the inquiry?

If such a man is able to respond to the inquiry, what would the response be?

Also, is the question asking about the ABILITY of the inquirer to save; or is the question asking an unsaved man (i.e. still in his native state of sin and death) for his permission to save him?

Do you believe what the Bible says about an unsaved man, a man in his native state - conceived in sin, born in sin... in the state of sin and death - spiritually dead, completely incapable of perceiving any spiritual things, nor performing any spiritual activity.

You either don't believe what Christ stated, or you just don't understand at all... "Verily, verily, I say unto thee (second person, singular), Except a man be born again, he CANNOT see the kingdom of God,...he CANNOT enter the kingdom of God."

Which is which - you don't understand such plain simple declaration of truth, or you just DON'T believe such plain truth??

You have been fed JUNK for toooooooooo long!

I'm not being rude with you, just speaking plainly with a friend.

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Run Joggy Run is an example of this indictment:

2Ti 3:7 "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."

Thou hast revealed them unto babes... to teach an old man!

Luke 10:21
In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

Our gracious and infinitely wise God has His mysterious ways of teaching His servant.

After giving four messages, and listening to one ministered by Brother Adam Well - all related to the subject of "Run the race set before you", the Lord ministered to me in this unique manner. The Lord has most certainly blessed the fellowship of the saints over the three days.

Little MK, a 3 year young lad, usually a shy boy, became quite friendly with me during lunch after the morning worship service. Having had his lunch, he came to me and sat on my lap while I was finishing mine. To say the least, I was delighted with his friendship!

After I had finished my lunch, MK tugged at me and led me out of the church hall to the common corridor, and he started to run at his kiddy pace, along the common corridor surrounding the 22units of 50'x20' shop-lots, with a wide break between lot 11 and lot 12. (The church occupies lot 11, on the 1st floor). He ran, and ran; keeping a distance of about 3m ahead of me. I wanted to hold his hand and just walk along, but he would not let me get near to him.

He ran, and ran, and came to the spot where he had first started his run... that's at least a 1000ft-circuit! He saw his maternal grandmother waiting for him at the church door, so he turned around and continued to run the other way, and covered another 1000 ft! He was having so much fun. I thought he would stop after two complete rounds around the block! But no, he continued! And he went for another half round, and would have kept on...... but his big loving daddy saw him, and swept him off his feet, and said, "that's enough for now!"

What a living demonstration to me on running the race. I too will run till my heavenly Father whisk me off my feet! I rejoice at the message the Lord delivered to me through this babe!

Thank you MK. May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you richly. Amen.

Indications concerning the time of Christ’s birth

For unto you is born this day
in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

(below is adapted from an article I read in an email... don't have the source.)

The Scriptures gives sufficient indications concerning the time of Christ’s birth.

Let’s study them.

1. The birth of John the Baptist

a. The first passage we will consider begins with the father of John the Baptist, Zacharias:

- Luke 1:5 “There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the

course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course… 23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. 24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived…” Zacharias was of the "course" of Abia.

b. The 24 courses of the temple priesthood:

- King David on God's instructions (1 Chr 28:11-13) had divided the sons of Aaron into 24 groups (1 Chr

24:1-4), to setup a schedule by which the Temple of the Lord could be staffed with priests all year round in an orderly manner. After the 24 groups of priests were established, lots were drawn to determine the sequence in which each group would serve in the Temple. 1Chr 24: 7-19 list the sequence of the 24 courses.

- Each one of the 24 "courses" of priests would begin and end their service in the Temple on the Sabbath, a tour of duty being for one week (2 Chr 23:8, 1 Chr 9:25).

- On three occasions during the year, all the men of Israel were required to travel to Jerusalem for festivals of the Lord, so on those occasions all the priests would be needed in the Temple to accommodate the crowds.

- Those three festivals were Unleavened Bread (3rd week), Pentecost (9th week), and Tabernacles (27th week) (Deut 16:16).

c. The Jewish lunar calendar

The Jewish lunar calendar

- The Jewish calendar begins in the spring, during the month of Nisan, so the first "course" of priests, would be that of the family of Jehoiarib, who would serve for one week, Sabbath to Sabbath. The second week would then be the responsibility of the family of Jedaiah.

- The third week would be the feast of Unleavened Bread, and all priests would be present for service. Then the schedule would resume with the third course of priests, the family of Harim. By this plan, when the 24^th course was completed, the general cycle of courses would repeat. This schedule would cover 51 (24x2 + 3) weeks or 357 days, enough for the lunar Jewish calendar (about 354 days).

- So, in a period of a year, each group of priests would serve in the Temple twice on their scheduled course, in addition to the 3 major festivals, for a total of about five weeks of duty.

- The course of Abia would serve in week 3 (Unleavened Bread), week 9 (Pentecost), week 10 (the 8th course of the 24 courses); then week 27 (Tabernacles), and week 35 (the 8th course of the 2nd round of the 24 courses) – a total of 5 weeks of duty.

d. The Conception of John the Baptist.

- Luke 1:23 “And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. 24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived…” [This is understandable – Zachariah had abstained from sex for weeks because of his duty. So when he departed to his own house after the tour of duty, the child was fathered! As soon as the days of his administration, after those days of his administration, his wife conceived.]

- Beginning with the first month, Nisan, in the spring (March-April), the schedule of the priest's courses would result with Zacharias serving during the 10th week of the year. This is because he was a member of the course of Abia (Abijah), the 8th course, and both the Feast of Unleavened Bread (15-21 Nisan) and

Pentecost (6 Sivan) would have occurred before his scheduled duty. This places Zacharias' administration in the Temple as beginning on the second Sabbath of the third month, Sivan (May-June).

- Having completed his Temple service on the third Sabbath of Sivan, Zacharias returned home and soon conceived his son John. So John the Baptist was probably conceived shortly after the third Sabbath of the month of Sivan.

2. The Birth of Jesus Christ.

a. Now the reason that the information about John is important, is because according to Luke, Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the sixth month of Elisabeth's pregnancy:

- Luke 1:24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months… 26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth…36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her…”

- Now working from the information about John's conception late in the third month, Sivan, and advancing six months, we arrive late in the 9th month of Kislev (Nov-Dec) for the time frame for the conception of Jesus.

- It is notable here that the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is celebrated on the 25th of Kislev, and Jesus is called the light of the world (John 8:12, 9:5, 12:46). Interesting connection!

- This does not appear to be a mere coincidence. In the book of John, Hanukkah is called the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22). Hanukkah is an eight day festival of rejoicing, celebrating deliverance from enemies by the relighting of the menorah in the rededicated Temple.

b. The birth of John the Baptist.

- Based on a conception shortly after the third Sabbath of the month of Sivan, projecting forward an average term of about 10 lunar months (40 weeks), we arrive in the month of Nisan. It would appear that John the Baptist may have been born in the middle of the month, which would coincide with Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. So then, the Feast of Unleavened Bread begins on the 15th day of the 1st month, Nisan, and this is a likely date for the birth of John the Baptist, the expected "Elijah".

c. The birth of Jesus Christ.

- Since Jesus was conceived 6 months after John the Baptist, and we have established a likely date for John's birth, we need only move six months farther down the Jewish calendar to arrive at a likely date for the birth of Jesus. From the 15th day of the 1st month, Nisan, we go to the 15th day of the 7th month, Tishri.

- And what do we find on that date? It is the festival of Tabernacles! The 15th day of Tishri begins the third and last festival of the year to which all the men of Israel were to gather in Jerusalem for Temple services. (Lev 23:34)

- Immanuel means "God with us". The Son of God had come to dwell with, or tabernacle on earth with His people. John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

- The Feast of Tabernacles, occurs five days after the Day of Atonement, and is a festival of rejoicing and celebration of deliverance from slavery in Egypt (Leviticus 23:42-43).

Luke 2:7 “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

- Why was there no room at the inn? Bethlehem is only about 5 miles from Jerusalem, and all the men of

Israel had come to attend the festival of Tabernacles as required by the law of Moses. Every room for miles around Jerusalem would have been already taken by pilgrims, so all that Mary and Joseph could find for shelter was a stable. During Tabernacles, everyone was to live in temporary booths (Sukkot), as a memorial to Israel's pilgrimage out of Egypt - Lev. 23:42-43.

- The birth of the Savior, in what amounted to a temporary dwelling rather than a house, signaled the coming deliverance of God's people from slavery to sin, and their departing for the promised land, which is symbolized by Tabernacles.

d. Jesus died on the Passover day.
- He began his ministry at 30 (Lk 3:23) and ministered for 3 and 1/2years. Moving back 6 months from Passover would be the time of Christ’s birth, i.e. mid Tishri.

- Christ’s ministry involved at least 4 Passover: John 2:13, Luke 6:1, John 6:4, John 19:14 (his last).

Based on the scriptural information and the significance of various OT feasts, a case can be made that Jesus Christ was born on the 15th day of the month of Tishri, on the first day of the Feast of

Tabernacles, which corresponds to the September - October timeframe of our present calendar!

(The full moon of the 15^th day of Tishri also explains why the shepherds could make haste to find the Saviour in the inn in the night!!!)

The Babe, and The Young Child - the Saviour, Christ the Lord

And when they were come into the HOUSE,
they saw the YOUNG CHILD with Mary his mother,
and fell down, and worshipped him:
and when they had opened their treasures,
they presented unto him gifts;
gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

To the humble Jewish shepherds : The Babe - Saviour, Christ the Lord;
To the wise gentiles of the east : The Young Child - King of the Jews

The shepherds saw the BABE in the manger. 
The wise men from the east met the YOUNG CHILD in the home of Joseph and Mary.

Luke 2
11 For unto you is born THIS DAY in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the BABE wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us NOW go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the BABE lying in a MANGER.

Matthew 2
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the YOUNG CHILD; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the YOUNG CHILD was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the HOUSE, they saw the YOUNG CHILD with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
18 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from TWO YEARS OLD AND BELOW, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

Behold those lowly village shepherds...

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,
and the glory of the Lord shone round about them:
and they were sore afraid.

Behold those lowly village shepherds...

Luke 2
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Consider the responses of the lowly village shepherds to the glad tidings the Lord had made known to them. Are you of their kindred? They wholeheartedly believed the glad tidings brought to them. Initially they were overcame by the majestic appearance of the angels but once they recovered from that they sprang into action.

- "Let us NOW go even unto Bethlehem..." there was this sense of urgency to meet the new born Saviour, Christ the Lord. To them, everything else can wait. To many, it is "what's the rush. Christ can wait!"

- "Let us go to see this thing which IS COME TO PASS..." The Saviour, Christ the Lord, whom they had been expecting has finally arrived. These simple village folks were expecting their Messiah, foretold by the prophets! They must see for themselves this wonderful fulfillment!

- "Let us see the thing which the Lord hath made known to us." To them, it is the Lord Himself who had made known the glad tidings to us, though it was delivered through the angel of the Lord.

- "And they came with haste..." They rushed from the field to the inn. How earnest and eager they were to meet their Saviour. There was full moon - in the middle of the month of Tishri - adiding them.

- "And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying..." They were eye-witnesses. They not only believed what the Lord has made known to them, they actually witnessed the truth of it, and they bore witness to what they had seen!

- "The shepherds... glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them." The lowly shepherds rejoiced in the great honour the Lord God of heaven had bestowed upon them; they glory in the coming of the Saviour, Christ the Lord; and praise God for the fulfillment of the great promise.

What is your reaction to the glad tidings brought to you?
- Are you like these lowly shepherds?
- Or are you like Herod the king and his fellow urbanites of Jerusalem, of New York, London, Putrajaya, or Timbaktu?
- "When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him."

Matthew 2
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Are you TROUBLED by glad tidings concerning the Saviour, Christ the Lord, the King of the Jews? 
Little kings are indeed troubled by the coming of the King of kings!

The wages of sin vs. the gift of God

The wages of sin vs. the gift of God

Wages are earned, dues for the works done;

They are owed you, who laboured for them.

Sin will not defraud you of your just dues;

You shall be paid your wages, in full.

The gift is bestowed, freely by the gracious giver;

It is not what you have worked for nor earned.

God alone gives this gift, by His free grace alone;

He bestows this gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ.

O Lord, what an infinitely wise, and fitting gift! What other gift is relevant to a man who has earned DEATH, the wages of sin? What does a man dead in trespasses and sin stand in need of most? Eternal life in Jesus Christ, and this freely bestowed upon him, who is NOT ONLY completely unable to do anything to earn or deserve the eternal life - Jesus Christ has done it all - BUT ALSO actively in enmity against God in his native state.

Mat 1:21

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Saving His people from their sins is saving them from their wages of sin, i.e. death. Jesus secured eternal life for them, through His sinless life of perfect obedience unto all of God's law, and their His sacrificial death - both on behalf of the sinners He came to save!