The LORD God in Ancient China - deeply embedded in the Chinese language

Please watch the insightful and informative video here:
https://youtu.be/DA-AkJzpKmg?si=Md6DwFdiiv04On3C

(Disclaimer: I do not share the same doctrinal perspective as the speaker in the video, but his demonstration of the creation story deeply embedded in the iconographic words of the Chinese language is spot on.)
=====================

Mark 
Very interesting! Thanks for sharing!

Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Some things are seen by all of creation. Some are seen only by those given spiritual eyes. Some texts leave it difficult to know exactly whom is addressed, but overall, Scripture makes it clear who can know and those who cannot.

(Matthew Ong deleted all his comments)

Sing
Matthew Ong, if you can't keep to the subject, hold your peace. Keep to the topic - biblical truth in the Chinese character. That is the subject... put away your machine gun... how many times have I said that!

If there is any part that you disagree with? Please give your reason. Keep to the subject.

You quoted "Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: "

Are they clearly seen by whom?

Who are without excuse... those who suppressed what are clearly seen... or those who acknowledge them?

Sing
Matthew, do you have a poll done on those ancient Chinese?
It would be interesting to see one!
Why are you looking for a 'national level of open repentance..." Are you looking for a national Israel? <LOL>

Sing
The core issue is this: showing the 21st century Chinese heathens (I use this word because I know you love it!) that Christianity is not a foreign religion to the Chinese... that the ancient Chinese did believe the God of the bible, and tha...t point is amply proven from their written language.

Why did the Chinese represent 'righteousness' as a 'lamb' on top of 'me' (first person singular pronoun) in their language? Where did that idea come from? Who revealed to them?

Sing
And please, the subject is. 'Chinese characters and how they relate to the Book of Genesis.'

I have no sympathy for the speaker's doctrine of salvation at all. So, don't even go into that. Save the bullets!!!

Mark
God reveals it to whom He will. That is the salient point. Who knows who and how many qualify as Jews to day either by Scripture or by 'post WWII' qualifications. I don't. I don't think any mortal man does. But God knoweth them that are His.

Mark
Forgive me if I bounded off the topic. I do find it interesting Bro. Sing, and fully within the power of God to do such.

PJ
Mamma taught me some of this in History class!

Sing
Please explain how Gen 11:9 give the Chinese such idea about righteousness - a lamb over me.

Explain your 'hence, God did clearly do what paul said even when paul did not visited china.' I don't understand. Thanks.

Mark
God reveals the knowledge He desires to reveal to all of His Children in varying measures that seem good unto Him. What they do with that knowledge varys as well. But the Lord will still carry home all that are His. And let everyone of them flee from iniquity as becometh children born to light.

Sing
Matthew, So, according to your argument, the whole world would have the same knowledge that 'righteousness' requires a 'lamb over me' - since they are came from the same source... Tower of babel.

You quoted "Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: "

Are clearly seen by whom?

Who are without excuse... those who suppressed what are clearly seen... or those who acknowledge them?

You have NOT answered these questions yet?

Mark
If there is someone with Scripture to fine tune it closer than that, please do let me hear from you.

Mark
I hope to always be ready to learn more.

The word 'desires' was not in my language.

Please quote me. Not quote AT ME.

God does as He deigns to do. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Sing
Matthew, do the sum total of all the evidences in the context of creation inform a man to that 'righteousness' requires a 'lamb over me'? Or is that knowledge a revelation of God to the ancient Chinese? Please don't bring in the commies, they came tooooo late1

Rom 1:21 Because that, when *they knew God*, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

So Matthew, did the ancient Chinese who knew God, as demonstrated in their Chinese character, did they worship the one God of heaven' or did they become vain in their imagination?

Sing
Matthew, can you please demonstrate how these passages exclude the fact that there were God's children among the ancient Chinese. Thanks. What is the basis of your 'doubt'?

Matthew, the knowledge that there is righteousness based on a sacrificial lamb of God's provision over me was already good news for God's children since Adam's time... good news to God's children among the Jews as well as the Gentiles.

Mark
Who can answer such a question???? How many??? God alone knows! Who am I to suggest such are not His???

These verses offer nothing to counter my reasoning.

The Lord knoweth them that are His. Blessed be the name of the Lord, our God and Saviour. He Alone!

I retire, beloved friends. Time to rest.

Sing
Matthew, you might as well conclude that God has no people outside of the Jews - "the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, *above all* people that are upon the face of the earth." That would make the abuse of Scriptures less obvious!

What that passage is declaring is this: the Jews alone were chosen as the vehicle to work out His redemptive purpose. But you abuse it to exclude God's people outside of Israel.

Mark
Every kindred, tongue, tribe, and people pre or post, whatever time considered. Out of all. Those without Christ as aliens are not yet regenerated in some cases. This will not suffice as an answer to all cases............

The very speaking of such in this manner precludes that they are now in a different status does it not?

Mark
"at that time"...............think it through.......

Sing
So tell, what is that CLEAR verse saying?

Mark
At that time "ye" were in one status............now 'ye' are in another. Goodnight or morning Matthew...........zzzzzzzzzzzz must retire now.

Mark
God's 'ye' include all humanity. More often than not. Snoring away.............zzzzzzzzz,

Sing
Continue your sleep talk please, Brother Mark Thomas.

Matthew, in discussion, you must be prepared to answer questions arising from your statements and quotes of Scriptures. If you are not prepared to do so, it is best not to make them.

Also, interact with the point brought up with respect to the statements and quotes you made...

Don't just keep moving, and repeating statements and quotes.

Mark
But ye that comprehend are different to ye that don't..........anyone sentient being the judge................

Mark
Sleep talk says...........who judges scale??? Man or God?

Mark
I have no clue as to status of Chinese who left no witness............who will judge such an absent testimony?? Me?? You?? or God? God be the judge. i dare not.

Sing
Please tell us what Paul is addressing in Tit 3:9.

How does that verse address the subject under consideration?

Was the culture of those ancient Chinese who worshiped the one Supreme Sovereign God of heaven heathenish?

Sniper gun Matthew, sniper gun.

Put away your machine guns that you so love!!!

Sing
Apostle Paul said this Romans 2:
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Who are those Gentiles spoken of in verses 14-15?

Are the ancient Chinese who worshipped one Supreme Sovereign God Shang Ti, among the Gentiles spoken of?

Mary 
Sing, I have listened to the video and find it most revealing. I have forwarded the web site to two PB gospel ministers - Elders Sonny Pyles & David Pyles. I will be interested in their response and will send to you. Neither is on FB. The video "makes sense" to me.

PJ
Many ancient cultures have these types of stories handed down through the generations. Perhaps at one time they were undefiled, but man's imagination makes them no better with time, but corrupts.

There is truth in a culture's ancient history; this video is proof of that.

Marty
We're sharing this, Bro. Sing! 😊
https://youtu.be/DA-AkJzpKmg?si=Md6DwFdiiv04On3C

========

Justification by faith is an act of God's free grace? Really?

Brethren, I read this question and answer (Westminster Larger Catechism) in an article on justification. What do you think of the answer? Is something quite jarring?
Your thought would be most appreciated.
What would be your answer to the same question?
Thank you.

========

Q. 71 How is justification an act of His free grace?
A. Although Christ, by His obedience and death, did make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God’s justice in the behalf of them that are justified; yet inasmuch as God accepts the satisfaction from a surety, which He might have demanded of them, and did provide this surety, His own only Son, imputing His righteousness to them, and requiring nothing of them for their justification but faith, which also is His gift, their justification is to them of free grace.
=========

Jamie
From Keach’s Baptist Catechism (1693) -

Q. 37. What is justification?
A. Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein He pardons all our sins, and accepts us as righteous in His sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone. (Rom. 3:24; Eph. 1:7; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 5:19; Phil. 3:9; Gal. 2:16)

Sing
"Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein He pardons all our sins, and accepts us as righteous in His sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone. (Rom. 3:24; Eph. 1:7; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 5:19; Phil. 3:9; Gal. 2:16)" - 1689.11 
------

The imputation of Christ's righteousness, being an act of God's free grace, necessarily precedes both logically and chronologically, and is independent of man's act of receiving it by faith alone.

This is vastly different from the words "... and requiring nothing of them for their justification but faith..."

In addition, the answer to Question 70 already EXCLUDED faith from the equation of justification by the free grace of God.

Q. 70 What is justification?

A. Justification is an act of God’s free grace unto sinners, in which He pardons all their sins, accepts and accounts their persons righteous in His sight; not for any thing wrought in them, or done by them, but only for the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Christ, by God imputed to them, and received by faith alone.

Faith is a saving grace WROUGHT in them...

"... not for anything wrought in them..." has excluded faith from God's free and gracious act of justifying the condemned.

Mark
Amen!

Dan
Faith is not a CONDITION of the covenant; faith is a PROVISION of the covenant.

The statement, "requiring nothing of them for their justification but faith" is a contradiction. It takes the form of "requiring nothing but something." That faith is God-given does not resolve the matter. This is a common error of many in the "Reformed" camp, IMO. Those who regularly trumpet "Justification by faith" and explain it as above, find themselves hogtied in logical contradictions. Setting some of their beliefs alongside one another makes the problem apparent:

1. Eternal salvation is monergistic.
2. Faith is the gift of God.
3. The exercise of faith is required for justification.
4. There is no eternal salvation without justification.
5. The exercise of faith is synergistic. "God does not believe for you." (RC Sproul)

Those affirmations cannot be reconciled. If salvation is monergistic, and the exercise of faith is required for justification, and justification is required for eternal salvation, and the exercise of faith is synergistic, then eternal salvation is likewise synergistic by logical consequence, which destroys the first affirmation. THIS is among the most glaring errors "Reformed" theology.

When confronted with this observation, it has been my experience that many of our "Reformed" brethren resort to "Hyper-Monergism" by insisting that our exercise of faith is a "monergistic act of God" citing the precepts of Absolutism in favor of that ludicrous notion. I won't belabor the argument against that here, but simply repeat the following:

Faith is not a CONDITION of the covenant; faith is a PROVISION of the covenant.

The gospel declares the justification of God's people at Calvary, not the conditional justification of people provided they believe it. Apart from pre-existing justification, faith has nothing upon which to lay hold. It follows that when properly defined by the bible, "justification by faith" intends that "faith is the evidence of things not seen - namely the preceding justification of one by Christ at Calvary and the preceding regeneration that gave the the capacity to believe." It does NOT intend that, "Man is not justified by Christ's blood UNTIL he exercises faith" as the "Reformed" so commonly promote.

Sing
Dan. enlightening. Thank you, Sir.

Subrina
Amen, absolutely

Micah
Because justification cannot take place upon any individual apart from election and regeneration which we are passive in and undeserving. I would agree at face value. Faith is related to us as an equivalent to regeneration. So all the justified possess faith, therefore the statement from Romans “it is of faith that it might be by grace” affirms that faith and grace are both necessary to the security of the elect this being inseparable from justification.

Sing
Micah @ "Because justification cannot take place upon any individual apart from election and regeneration..."
======

Is regeneration by the Spirit logically before justification?

Besides face value, what other value do you see?

Micah
Sing: regeneration and justification both are referred to in Rm 8:29-30. The order is irrelevant, but both are necessary to each other. In the specific text, calling (regeneration) takes place first as written, but I do not believe it is orderly dependent.

As it is written, I agree.

Micah
The reason I say as written is because I don’t know further intentions of the writer. I make a distinction between the gift of faith or possession (regeneration) and the profession of faith (Christian obedience) . He makes no distinction so as written I agree, further information may cause me to disagree.

Sing
Micah @ "regeneration and justification both are referred to in Rm 8:29-30."
=====

Do you understand the call equivalent to/same as regeneration?

Sing
"Faith is related to us as an equivalent to regeneration.."
=====
Please explain further. Thank you.

Sing
... “it is of faith that it might be by grace” affirms that faith and grace are both necessary to the security of the elect..."
=======
Please explain how it affirms that faith and grace are both necessary for the security of the elect.
Thank you.

Micah
Sing: due to the fact that “the promise might be sure to all the seed”

Sing
I see. Then of whose or what faith so that the promise might be sure to all the seed?
Thanks.

Micah
Sing: the gift of faith. which Abraham had no more ability to impart to himself than a dead man can life to himself. Also the same faith that no man can please or come unto him without. Referenced in Hebrews 11. The recognition of one’s own depraved state and the righteous authority of God to judge his works is nothing other than regenerations effect upon an individual. The Hebrew writer is declaring that faith is necessary for this recognition. It is distinguished from the profession of faith spoken of in Hebrews 10 which we must “hold fast” .

Sing
Micah: Sorry, I don't see faith as a gift; a gift comes from without. Salvation is a gift but faith is a spiritual grace worked within a child of God by the indwelling Spirit. Gal 5:22.

Micah
Sing: which is just the complicated way of saying it’s a gift.

Terry
Micah: from your comment I sorta got the idea , hope I haven't misunderstood, that as much as a measure of faith is given to man, then he must act on it. I have read that we were saved by the faith of Christ, again we were saved by grace through faith that not of ourselves, not of works least any man should boast.

Brother, if I have misunderstood, forgive my ignorance

Micah
Terry: Not what I’m trying to say.

Terry
Micah: Pardon me, I am glad I misunderstood

Mark
The jarring words are “but faith”. There is no ‘but’ in free grace. The only faith involved in justification before God is the faithfulness of the Surety - Christ Jesus.

The implication of the answer supplied above involves the faith of the sinner, which amounts to a destruction of grace -jarring indeed - and dead wrong.

Sing
Mark, I'm relieved I hear a SOUND PB speaking. THANK YOU, Sir. THANK YOU.

Mark
Sing, you are most welcome, Sir.

Sing
Thou art a sharpshooter; just one bullet and got the job done... others waste endless bullets.

Mark
Sing, the scriptural distinctions between justification before God and justification within the framework of one’s own conscience or justification before others are a hallmark of sound theology. All lovers of free grace should be careful to make those distinctions.

Sing
Amen. Gunsmithing makes a sharp man.

Jimmy
Mark amen!,

Joe
Not a bad answer if you leave out the “but faith which also is His gift.” In the eyes of God we are justified by the blood, in the eyes of others we are justified by our works, and it’s is by our faith that we are able see our own justification.

Sing
What is the issue with those 7 words? Thank you.

Elbert
Amen, you got it

Sing
Elbert, Amen to what, and who got what?
Honest questions. Thanks.

 

Eternal salvation is NOT offered

Eternal salvation is NOT offered;
there is NO offer of eternal salvation;
it is freely applied/bestowed to individual elect
when in their state of sin and death.

Initially posted here: 
https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/pfbid0jbJCeB34NyhoaHvCkLPKPZponPWLXAC46SCEACZyhgM5kKCwCjEX8gJN4dDnbWE9l

#folly_of_offer
#mock_not_the_dead
#eternal_salvation
#temporal_salvation

Eternal salvation is NOT offered; there is NO offer of eternal salvation; it is freely applied/bestowed to individual elect when in their state of sin and death.

Temporal salvation requires actively working out with fear and trembling, in obedience to the will of the Father.

Sinners dead in trespasses and sins have no ability whatsoever to accept the offer. Offering salvation to sinners is like offering a big-Mac to a dead man and expecting him to accept your kind offer and eat it, and become alive! Completely absurd, and moronic idea.

It is God who sovereignly and freely QUICKENS an elect in his native state of sin and death unto eternal life.

When God executes that gracious act in bestowing eternal life, it is irresistible; there is NOTHING the dead in trespasses and sins can do to resist God's gracious act. Dead Lazarus could do nothing to resist the life-giving summon of Christ, "Come forth, Lazarus!"

Divine acts in eternal salvation are always EFFECTUAL, yes 100% effectual, perfectly effectual every instant, for every elect; ALWAYS attaining the intent and purpose of God's grace in saving His people. Nothing less.

Let the misguided continue to offer their big-Mac to dead men and make a fool of themselves! If only the dead can speak, they will curse the living for making offers to them expecting them to receive them! NO amount of offering, no matter how sincere, earnest, and LOUD, can help at all.  If you get this, you begin to understand the saying "salvation by grace ALONE."
--------------

Reggie Lee
Stole it!
Just think of the Holy Spirit Being The God Father

Rolando Caquilala
Eternal salvation is not offered? Paano tong juan 3:16 diba malinaw na conditional vrs yan dahil sa words na that and whosoever?

Sing 
Rolando, Thanks. Show us why is John 3:16 a conditional offer.

Rolando Caquilala
Sing, it's conditional because of the words that and whoever, that whoever believes in his Son Jesus Christ will not be judged but will have eternal life..

Sing
Peruse this article: THINGS-NEW-AND-OLD.BLOGSPOT.COM
Is John 3:16 Prescriptive or Descriptive?
https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2020/10/is-john-316-prescriptive-or-descriptive.html

Sing 
Peruse this article: THINGS-NEW-AND-OLD.BLOGSPOT.COM
John 3:16 - How did God so love?
https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2008/02/john-316-how-did-god-so-love.html

Sing
Peruse this article: THINGS-NEW-AND-OLD.BLOGSPOT.COM
For God so loved the world...
https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2011/12/for-god-so-loved-world.html

Sing
If you read, "whosoever eats have life" - how would you understand these words?
Is it a statement of truth about those who eat, or is it a conditional offer to the dead?
Is it an offer to the dead, that whoever of the dead that eats, life will be given to them???

Rolando Caquilala
Sing, no Pastor, that's an offer to those Born again because when you look back to the context in verse 3-8 Jesus said except a man be born again he can't see the kingdom of God. That's why the eternal life is offered by God to those Born again people.

Sing
Rolando, some people offer eternal life to those ALREADY born again by God with eternal life. They show themselves STUPID, i.e. lacking common sense.
I think better things of you.

Sing
Peruse this article: THINGS-NEW-AND-OLD.BLOGSPOT.COM
Ye must be born again
https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2012/11/ye-must-be-born-again.html

Sing
And this: THINGS-NEW-AND-OLD.BLOGSPOT.COM
Some Big Standard Fables - BSF
https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2017/03/some-big-standard-fables-bsf.html

Sing
"Except a dead man be quickened, he cannot breathe" is a statement of fact about a dead man; it makes no offer to the dead man.

Isn't it basic common sense?
Whatever has happened to common sense?
There is a debilitating disease called soundbytitis; it destroys common sense.

Rolando Caquilala
Sing: being a Born again is not yet eternal life or eternal salvation, but like regeneration when it reconnects again in the relationship with God and Man who were separated before because of the marriages of Man. That's why the Man is called dead Because of the marriages, it's not you can compare to a dead physically that whatever you do to him he can't respond, but we are separated from the relationship with God, and through Christ we were raised again to God the Father with Christ from our deadness in marriages there. Romans 6:1-4. And through Christ we are reconnected or reconciled with God. Romans 5:8-10. Ephesians 2:4-8. Titus 3:4-7.. this is the pass salvation that is pure by Grace of God, the present salvation in our daily lives is accompanied by our salvation from people who are untoward Generation. Acts 2:40, and salvation from trouble by calling on the name of the Lord by prayer. Romans 10:13. . Psalms 91:14-15. But eternal salvation, that is future salvation and that is what God promised to the people born again or the elected who will continue to follow God's will and will not let go or retreat in following God. Hebrews 5:9.. Hebrews 10:38-39.. Titus 1:1-2.

Sing
Rolando. Thanks.
I understand you loud and clear: regenerated BUT without eternal life; the regenerated must believe in order to have eternal life.
Your are not alone. Take a look here: Believe to get eternal life. 
https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2008/02/is-eternal-life-given-at-regeneration.html

 Sing
Kindly peruse the several links provided above, then we will continue.
Thanks for your interest.

Of the Assurance of Faith - 1689.18

We know... and shall assure our hearts before Him

We know... and shall assure our hearts before Him

1John 3
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him...
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Bible study note on Chapter 18 of the 1689 CoF

Of the Assurance of Faith

Introduction

a. Assurance of salvation is knowing that one has eternal life and will enter eternal life on the last day.
- Faith is not assurance: the scriptural terms for faith clearly distinguish faith and assurance. Assurance includes the idea of trust and hope. Faith is a conviction of the truth of the gospel and allegiance to the Christ revealed in the Scriptures. The ground of faith is always the Scriptures.
- Assurance is knowing for oneself that one possesses salvation; assurance is of the essence of hope and trust.
- It is a personal, purifying, positive, confident expectation directed towards the unseen future, based on God and His word, the Scriptures. 
- Faith is inseparable from assurance: faith is the instrumental means of the assurance of salvation. In the heart of every believer, the seed of assurance has been planted.

1. Assurance of Salvation is Stated
a. The faith assurance acknowledged and dismissed
- "Although temporary believers, and other unregenerate men..."
- "... may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favour of God and in a state of salvation..."
- "... which hope of theirs shall perish."

b. The biblical assurance stated and affirmed
- "Yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love Him in sincerity..."
: "... endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before Him..."
- "... may in this life be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace..."
- "... and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."
- "… which hope shall never make them ashamed."

2. Assurance of salvation is infallible
a. The fact of its certainty or infallibility
- incapable of failing, not liable to disappoint or mislead.
- "… is NOT a bare conjectural or probable persuasion grounded upon a fallible hope."
- "… BUT is an infallible assurance of faith..."

b. The ground of its certainty/infallibility
- "It is... founded on the blood and righteousness of Christ revealed in the gospel."
- "… also upon the inward evidence of those graces of the Spirit unto which promises are made"
: "... the testimony of the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our spirits that we are children of God."

c. The effect of its certainty/infallibility
- “… a fruit thereof,” the effect of fruit of this assurance..."
- "... keep the hearts [of God’s children] both humble and holy."

3. Assurance of salvation is attainable
a. The error of automatic attainment denied

- "This infallible assurance does not belong to the essence of faith...”.
- It is NOT an automatic and inevitable experience joined to faith in Jesus Christ. It is distinct from saving faith.

b. The difficulty of attaining assurance of salvation
- "… true believer may wait long, and struggle with many difficulties before he be partaker of it."
- It is attainable in spite of all the real struggles with many difficulties.

c. The ordinary means of attaining assurance of salvation
- "… yet being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given to him by God..."

Knowledge of the gospel truth and of God are intimately bound up with attaining assurance.
: "... he may, without extraordinary revelation, in the right use of means, attain thereunto.”

It has nothing to do with extraordinary revelation; don’t be conned!
: “… in the right use of means.” Use the means appointed by God.

d. The solemn duty of attaining assurance of salvation
- "And therefore it is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure..."

This is practical theology at its most basic level.

e. The proper evidence of assurance
- "... that his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Spirit..."
- "... in love and thankfulness to God..."
- "... and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience."
- These are beautifully summed up here: “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2Pe 1:11
- These are “the proper fruits of this assurance.”
- “… so far is it from inclining men to looseness”: assurance of salvation does not incline men to slackness or negligence of gospel duties

4. Assurance of salvation is variable
a. The statement of this variableness
- "True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished or intermitted."
- There all sorts of things that can shake God’s children of their assurance.

b. The various causes for this variableness
- “…by negligence in preserving of it..."
- "... by their falling into some special sin which wounds the conscience and grieves the Spirit..."
- "... by some sudden or vehement temptation..."
- "... by God's withdrawing the light of His countenance..."

c. The effects of this variableness
- "... causing even such who fear Him to walk in darkness and to have no light."
- Even those who fear God may suffer an eclipse of their assurance of salvation; what about God’s children who don’t?

d. The limits of this variableness
i.  "YET they are never destitute of”, never left without...
: "... the seed of God and life of faith..."
: "... the love of Christ and the brethren..."
: "... that sincerity of heart and that conscience of duty."

ii.  Why are these so?
- "… by the operation of the Spirit..."
- "... this assurance may in due time be revived…”
- "... by the which, in the meantime, they are preserved from utter despair.”

What does “by the which” refer to? Are you reading and thinking?
Is this topic practical or doctrinal?
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Some, concerning faith, have made shipwreck

 

https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/pfbid02idA84RojNEsmtiiNW9Y3Te8UvTFQ84D96rynNNBXuf5hKyBZpLqMrUEtJAPHQDZPl

"This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck..."  

Even Timothy was not exempt from the danger of making a shipwreck of his faith. To avoid it, he needs to wage a good warfare, holding fast to faith and a good conscience!

-------

Sing
Some sincere and misguided folks sincerely believe that it is IMPOSSIBLE for God's children to make a shipwreck of their faith despite the fact being clear stated in the Scriptures.

They would rather believe that Apostle Paul was just wasting his words in his charge to Timothy, warning him against something which will never happen to him! They make Apostle Paul look foolish, warning of dangers that will never happen to God's children!

And where do they get such an idea from? They get such an idea from another big lie - 'the perseverance of the saints'. By this, they meant, "all true children of God will persevere in a life of faith and holiness. Those who do not can't possibly be God's children to begin with." They sincerely and with great conviction believe such a notion.

But that is a plain PERVERSION of what is taught in the Bible. Also, such a FABLE does not match the REALITY revealed to us in the Scriptures.

Sing
This is a common expression of such a FABLE: "In order to be saved and spend eternity enjoying God's presence, a person must persevere in faith to the end "

This is a MOST COMMON perversion of the biblical truth of perseverance. There is a very subtle and dangerous shift.

God, by His free and sovereign grace, EFFECTUALLY CALLS the elect out of their STATE of sin and death, in which they are by nature, into the STATE of grace and salvation.

A child of God will always IMMUTABLY REMAIN in that STATE of grace and salvation - nothing, absolutely nothing can remove him from that STATE into which God's free and sovereign grace has accomplished. The free and sovereign grace that BROUGHT him into that STATE will be the same free and sovereign grace to keep them in that STATE.

The Bible does not say that every child of God will persevere in faith - i.e. live a LIFE OF FAITH and HOLINESS.

Did Lot persevere to the end? Did Solomon persevere to the end?

Did those who make a shipwreck of their faith persevere to the end?

It is true, that the Bible exhorts and commands God's children to pursue holiness and live godly.

It is a serious error to turn that into a statement of fact, and conclude that every child of God will therefore live holy and godly, and that to the end, and therefore whoever does not meet that criteria was never a child of God! This is just a big lie!

God's grace does not guarantee a life of faith and holiness. That's something a child of God must work out for himself with fear and trembling, in obedient response to God's grace working in him.

Sing
This is a common expression of such a FABLE: "In order to be saved and spend eternity enjoying God's presence, a person must persevere in faith to the end"

This statement appears DAMNABLE because it NOT ONLY conditions the eternal bliss of a man on how well he perseveres, BUT ALSO whether he perseveres to the end!

It is just a subtle form of Arminianism trying hard to parade itself as Calvinism - and that is the Calvinism that is embraced by so many today.

Our eternal bliss is from beginning to end wholly, solely and completely purposed, applied, and to be consummated, by the free and sovereign grace of God alone, PLUS NOTHING.

The temporal bliss of God's children is CONDITIONED upon their obedience to the will of the Father.

Among God's children, there are many Lots, but there are few Abrahams. The Lots suffer great loss, they make a shipwreck of their faith.

This exhortation is addressed to disciples:
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Their manner of discipleship determines whether they find life or destruction here as a pilgrim. This passage has NOTHING to do with eternal salvation, unless they want to make eternal salvation conditioned upon how godly and righteously a man lives.

The life spoken of is NOT eternal life, and the destruction is not eternal destruction. Lot suffered great destruction but Abraham enjoyed an abundance of life.

Sing
Apostle Paul soberly cautioned himself: "And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

Even Paul was not exempt from becoming a CASTAWAY!

adokimos - reprobate 6, castaway 1, rejected 1; 8
1) not standing the test, not approved
    1a) properly used of metals and coins

2) that which does not prove itself such as it ought
    2a) unfit for, unproved, spurious, reprobate.

Obviously not a castaway in the eternal sense, because that is impossible with an elect. But if he is careless and negligent, not exercising vigilance and diligence, he failed in his calling as an apostle of Jesus Christ!

Don
Brother Sing, what you have written is the plain truth of the Bible even though there are so many preachers in this day trying to promote the opposite here in our country. Keep expounding on the Truth of scripture! We need your influence here in America!!

Sing
God's children being barren and unfruitful is not a fable or fiction. They are HARSH reality. They are real dangers that God's children are constantly warned against.

2Pet 1:
5 ¶ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

And Peter was writing to those he described as: "them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ... according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." All these concern the eternal salvation by the free and gracious acts of the Triune God.

But if God's children, already bestowed with eternal salvation, FAIL to work out their own salvation by giving all diligence... they shall be BARREN and UNFRUITFUL. Add to that what is said in verse 9!

What GREAT LOSS! Not only to themselves, but to others also. And to the Lord who redeemed them!

Sing
Instead of admitting such reality among God's children, and dealing with the problem, MANY choose to explain away the problem by saying that those people are NEVER God's children to begin with! What a TRAGEDY!

Don 
AMEN!

Charles
It is just a subtle form of Arminianism trying hard to parade itself as Calvinism - and that is the Calvinism that is embraced by many today - so very true - ex. John MacArthur

Jerry
Brother Sing, What a great Exegesis of the Scriptures...explained so that even a child could understand them...

Those who oppose themselves

Those who oppose themselves;
They kick at the truth. 

They refuse to acknowledge the truth.

These are God's children who are duty-bound to own the truth of their salvation but refuse to acknowledge it; they rather believe fables, like the Arminians, as well as the new school Calvinists do.

2 Timothy 2:25 KJT
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.

2 Timothy 4 KJT
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Rejecting the truth deprives you of the little that you have.

Heed this warning:
Matthew 13:12 KJT — For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Knowing the truth is a heaven-sent privilege and blessing; it is not a right; God does not owe anyone the truth... "if God peradventure will give them repentance..." Be careful.

Some soft skills to succeed in life

Soft skills to succeed in life

Initially posted here:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10214372307717019&set=a.10204411521703594

Soft skills to succeed in life

I remember seeing a post on Soft Skills in a WhatsApp group; I belong to two or three groups only; I'm not a 'groupy' man. People who recycle cyber junk to me do get a private tick off. Maybe what's ginseng to them is junk to me.

I have been told on not a few occasions that I lack soft skills; it dawns on me that this is probably why I'm stuck where I am. I'm reminded that I don't have communication skills, no finesse; I remembered the WhatsApp message on Soft Skills. So, I took a closer look.

Among the soft skills listed in the post for one to be successful are:

- Communication
- Leadership
- Teamwork
- Work Ethics
- Critical Thinking
- Conflict Resolution
- Professionalism

At the top is Communication; there are these subsets of skills captured in the screenshot above

Good Listener: I'm a poor listener; I read okay.

Public Speaking: I'm a poor public speaker; I know because I tend to send the audience to sleep; it's always a painful reminder. I speak by necessity; otherwise, I prefer quietness.

Writing Ability: I do write; most say I'm hard to understand.

Presenting Ability: I'm a boring presenter; the audience is put to sleep.

 Simplify Complex: I'm inclined to multiply to stupefy; what an idiot.

Adjust to Audience: Raising four children into adulthood - I missed the opportunity to learn this skill.

Stick to the Point: This I have a decent measure; I don't run amok in all directions; being lazy, I remain in one spot. I'm hopeless at multitasking, juggling many points at the same time.

Good Vocabulary: There are still many words I need to learn so that I don't need to resort to "very" in every other sentence.

Body Language: What's that? Don't expect much from a stiff, austere old man.

Clarity and Concise: I really need to work on this; I'm often 'agak-agak' and 'lawsaw.'

Sorry if I'm disappointing some of you.

Maybe gardening is bad for me; talking to plants and musing to myself is detrimental to cultivating communication skills.

Hard for an old dog to learn new tricks.
Let's look for a pedigree puppy and start all over again. Lord, help us.
Amen.