The work of a gospel preacher beautifully stated

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people...
To give light to them that sit in darkness...
To guide their feet into the way of peace. 

The work of a gospel preacher beautifully stated... 

 76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us.
79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. --- Luke 1

1. To give knowledge of salvation unto His people... not the information of how to get saved, but informing them the truth of their salvation by God's grace. 
- Knowledge of salvation can only be given to those already spiritually alive! Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. 
- Such knowledge is foolishness to the spiritually dead!

2. To give light to them that sit in darkness... light to expel the darkness of ignorance, and superstition and bondage to errors. 
- Only the living can be enlightened with the truth. The dead needs to be quickened!
- No one gives light to the dead... the dead needs no light!

3. To guide their feet into the way of peace... to know that God has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and to believe it is to enter into the way of peace with rut Father. 
- Again, only the living can be guided into the way of peace. The dead can't be guided; they need to be born by God. 

Their salvation is by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us.

And please note, "HATH VISITED US" ... not "will visit us" if or when we believe! The good news is what God HAS DONE to save us... it is not an offer of what God will do if/when we meet some conditions.

A Momentous Message Mindlessly Mangled!

 

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A Momentous Message Mindlessly Mangled!

"For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph. 2:8-9

This is such a glorious Scriptures declaring the grand truth of the gospel of grace!

The gift spoken of is salvation, which is by grace through faith.

'By grace' declares of the MANNER the gift is bestowed by God, i.e. freely, without any condition whatsoever.

'Through faith' states the BASIS or GROUND of that salvation, i.e. through the fidelity or the faithfulness of Jesus Christ in the work of redemption.

Take it any other way, that salvation would be by works of some sorts, and man has some good reason to boast.

Popular fable 1:
'Faith' speaks of the gift of God to the dead in trespasses and sins.
- They attribute stupidity to God... that He would even give the gift of faith to the dead in trespasses and sins!
- Maybe they give gifts to the dead too, expecting the dead to benefit from them!

Popular fable 2:
The dead in trespasses and sins are able to utilize the gift of faith to them, i.e. the spiritually dead can believe in order to be saved.
- So, their salvation is through their work of utilizing this gift.

Popular fable 3:
The dead in trespasses and sins utilize the gift of faith to believe in order to be saved are NOT work. They insisted the dead must do something to be saved!
- If they don't utilize the faith, there is no salvation for them!
- So their work of utilizing the gift is the determining factor in their salvation! But it is insisted that it is still by grace, and not of works!
- How weird! They insist there must be works but deny works are involved in the same breath!!! How confused and self-deceived!

Popular fable 4:
The dead in trespasses and sins cannot utilize faith in a vacuum.
- They need the preachers to do the works of preaching the gospel to them. Faith comes by hearing... hearing is work just as much as preaching the word is work!
- How weird! They insist there must be works but deny works are involved!!! How confused and self-deceived!

Ro 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Why is it so hard for those whom God HAS SAVED by His grace alone to confess and acknowledge that they have been saved by grace alone? Why do you need to sneak in their works somewhere into the equation of their salvation?

Works are activities of the living; works of righteousness like believing and preaching are activities of those whom God has saved, i.e. effectually called out of their native state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation!

Works of righteousness are the effects of salvation by grace; they are not the means unto salvation.

Rom 3
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Sins brought condemnation and death.
Righteousness secures justification and life.
No righteousness, no justification nor life!

That righteousness is secured either through your own obedience to the law or through Christ's obedience to the law. It is either the righteousness of God's provision or the righteousness of your own provision!

The righteousness of God's provision is through the PISTIS - FIDELITY / FAITHFULNESS of Christ in His work of redemption.

All are plainly stated in the Scriptures above!!!

See the intimate connection between: "For by grace are ye saved, through faith" and "being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus"?

Justification by God's grace [i.e not by your faith! that's a horrid lie from hell!] is the FIRST divine activity in the application of eternal salvation to an elect...

Justification by God removes condemnation, giving divine warrant for the Spirit to regenerate the one to whom God has applied the righteousness of Christ. One whom the Spirit regenerates, the Father adopts!

The effectual calling of an elect out of his native state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation requires these divine activities... in these NUMBER and LOGICAL ORDER (though chronologically simultaneous) because the effectual call is instantaneous by the direct and immediate act of God without any means.
- justification by the grace of God to deal with condemnation. (This is distinct from justification by the blood of Christ at the cross, and justification by the believer's faith at conversion) 
- regeneration by the Spirit of God to deal with death!
- adoption into the family of God, giving access to all the rights and privileges belonging to the sons of God.

When effectually called, an elect is perfectly fit for eternal glory.
The gospel ministry is ordained for God's children, i.e. those already born of God; it is essential for their temporal well being as God's child while he journeys through this world to his eternaal inheritance.

 

The Five Solas.

June 14, 2016
https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/10206594527677379

 

The popular sola shibboleths. 

I understand the 5 solas like this:

Sola Scriptura, by Scripture alone:
- Scriptures are the only infallible source of divine revelation on creation, providence and redemption.

Solus Christus, through Christ alone:
- Christ and His redemptive work are the sole BASIS and alone GROUND of eternal salvation.

Sola Gratia, by grace alone:
- Salvation secured by Jesus Christ alone for His people is bestowed upon each one of them by God's free and sovereign grace alone while they were still in their native state of sin and death, being wholly incapable of meeting any condition! (The manner salvation is bestowed - eternal salvation is bestowed at the effectual calling out of the native state of condemnation (through justification), death (through regeneration), and alienation (through adoption into the divine family)

Sola Fide, by faith alone:
- Believing in Christ is the only means God has appointed for His children (effectually called elect) to experience the salvation already freely bestowed upon them by God's sovereign grace.
- Faith is a saving grace worked in the child of God. Faith manifests the eternal salvation already bestowed by God's free and sovereign grace.
- "The reason why any are justified IS NOT that they have faith, but the reason why they have faith IS that they are justified."
- Justification freely by God's grace is the cause, faith is the effect and fruit of it. It is NOT the other way round!!!

Soli Deo Gloria, glory to God alone:
- God purposed salvation; Jesus Christ secured salvation, the Holy Spirit applies the salvation to each elect while still in their native state of condemnation and death... making them perfectly fit for eternal glory... thus all glory to the Triune God alone. Anything that man can do is the effect of the eternal salvation ALREADY freely bestowed. 

"Him that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."

That's my understanding. What's yours?

 ===========

Reggie Lee
I cannot come against any of these words with a rebuttal. I cannot find a hole by which to shoot arrows of corrections at you. I even examined Sola Fide closely, in hopes of accusing you of gospel regeneration, yet even this failed by way of the last statement in that clause.

This shield 🛡️ has been tested by all the arrows I had for you, to destroy your post. You are safe.😁😇... for now🤣

Did Jonah die and was resurrected?

Jonah 1:17¶ Now the LORD had prepared a great fish
to swallow up Jonah.
 And Jonah was in the belly of the fish
three days and three nights.

Lowe asked, Did Jonah died and resurrected based on the passage below?

"Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.  But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matthew 12:38-40 KJV

-----

sing
I don't read of anything that indicates Jonah died and was resurrected in the whale's belly. Jonah 2 records Jonah's liveliness in the whale's belly - consciously and actively communicating with the Lord.

The comparison is the 3d3n - one in the whale's belly and one in the heart of the earth.

Mt 12
39 ¶But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Lowe
The above verse on the sign of Jonah jolted me from my traditional view on Jonah's story embedded in me during my (and most?) childhood.
I first heard of it in the Christian Apologetics forum and mused on it before bringing it up on one Wednesday when you were expounding on the 3 days 3 nights timeline.

I'll (always) let God's scripture be true and if my traditional beliefs oppose it.. I'll tear down such stronghold.

There is a ":" between v39 and v40. And in v40 there's is the " as... so.." sentence construction.. which means in the same manner.. just like the one you preached last Sunday.

v40 is describing the sign of Jonah (v39).. use of ":" The "as... so" is in the context of the sign of Jonah.. (which we now know refers to the death and resurrection of Jesus). There are many saints who also resurrected on the 1st earthquake when Jesus died on the cross.. they stayed until Jesus was resurrected (2nd earthquake) before walking into the city. Therefore people cannot deny that there's no resurrection then. but theirs was in the earth's belly for much longer than 3d3n only Jesus' was 3d3n.

Job 17:14 I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.

I have to read Jonah 2 in the light of NT and not the other way around.

Jonah 2:6 & 7 used past tense "... brought up my life from corruption.." and "... my soul fainted..."

Both corruption and faint also means death (separation of one's spirit from body) eg Job 17:14

sing
@ There is a ":" between v39 and v40. And in v40 there's is the " as... so.." sentence construction.. which means in the same manner..
----
NOT in the same manner as imagined by sincere folks!

Here's the obvious not in the same manner.
Jonah was swallowed up alive and ended up in the whale's belly a living man; Jesus was a dead man and was placed in the heart of the earth - hardly in the same manner.

The only thing comparable is the common time factor, three days and three nights.

Lowe
In the context of the passage.. Jesus was asked to perform a sign. (I'm sure they are not expecting a peekaboo. ) so what is the sign which Jesus called as the sign of Jonah?

sing
The sign of Jonah is not going into the grave alive, then died inside, and made alive again - that what's needed if you insist "in the same manner."

The sign Jesus will perform: he will rise from the dead (rise up from the heart of the earth after being placed in it after three days and three nights. As I was trying to say, the like manner consists in the three-days-three-nights time aspect.

The point of connection is restricted to the time element. 
"as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly;
so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Lowe
In the passage, Jesus said, "... no sign.. but the sign of Jonah.." what was he talking about.. was he talking about his eventual death and resurrection in the context of the sign-in Jesus reply (simple question no insist anything..)

sing
They were expecting the usual miraculous signs... but no such signs for them; too many of them have been performed but they were too blind to see.  The sign of Jonah - they were familiar with the story of Jonah; it's part of their holy Scriptures. The sign of Jonah refers to Jesus being dead and buried in the heart of the earth and rise again on the third day.

Lowe
So the word "sign" in the phrase "the sign of the prophet Jonah" is figurative? ie there's no sign of the prophet Jonah but it actually means "sign of Jesus" (instead)

sing
They wanted a sign - a miracle. Jesus had performed so many but they were too blind to even notice. Another one of those would be one too many.

The sign or miracle of the prophet Jonah is that though he was swallowed up and remained in the whale's belly for three days and three nights, he was delivered and came forth from the whale's belly.

I'm done; otherwise, I would just be repeating! Thanks.

Lowe
Noted.. no problem.. just couldn't imagine surviving a fast (not eating or drinking) for 3d3n would be considered as a sign je.

Hmm.. many of these passages seem to have a colon in them somehow. haha.. btw.. I've just noticed it last night when corresponding with you. many thanks for responding.

sing
It's incredible that you would liken Jonah's three days and three nights in the whale's belly as merely fasting for 3d3n, and that fasting 3d3n and remained alive is a sign. No wonder you find it so difficult to understand plain passages.

Lowe
Haha.. that's my concession on the sign of Jonah.. not biblical..
The question is why would Jesus introduce the phrase sign of the prophet Jonah and linked it to his death and resurrection (which clearly is a sign)
No answer required.

Lowe
The Pharisees & Sadducees were rather insistent in asking for a sign.. after Mt 12.. in Mt 16 they did it once more.. Jesus's reply in 16:4 is similar to 12:39 (without its continuation or explanation in 12:40)

Based on the context of both the above the sign is definitely a miracle.. and based on the understanding of the intended audience (Pharisees.. as Sadducees didn't believe in resurrection) of Jesus's reply especially 16:39-40 (a named and timed prophecy) they understood it as Jesus's resurrection Matt 27:63

This is in contrast to the other prophecy of Jesus's death and resurrection using the metaphor of the temple that they didn't understand.

 As such I believe Jesus answer in 12:40 contains an ellipsis (missing word).. a common strategy of biblical writings mostly found in proverbs.. 12:40 could be understood as.

"For as Jonas was (dead) three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the  Son of man be (dead) three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

Being someplace (either in the whale's belly or heart of the earth) alive and coming out alive doesn't cut it as a sign (sign of the prophet Jonas) moreover we with hindsight knows what Jesus is referring to with this prophecy.

The OT are shadows and has to be understood with the light of NT.. not the other way around..

Having said that with regard to Jonah 2:6.. the word "corruption" in the bible is related one way or another to death.. can mean decaying.. a key to understand this verse.. "corruption" here is not a place or location.. as elsewhere in the bible

"... the earth with her bars was about me for ever:..." one would definitely stay dead (ie locked in the bars of earth for ever) unless God intervenes.. yes.. God did.. "... yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God."

Side note on the Jesus "saw no corruption" that's because he was prepared for burial (embalmed) when he was still alive.. Matt 26:12

Makes sense to me.. hope it does to you too.. (from the insistent inquirer)

sing
Lowe@ "Being someplace (either in the whale's belly or heart of the earth) alive and coming out alive doesn't cut it as a sign (sign of the prophet Jonas) moreover, we with hindsight knows what Jesus is referring to with this prophecy..."
----------

Being swallowed alive, and remained alive in the whale's belly for three days and three nights, and was spat out alive doesn't qualify it as a sign???

There's nothing more to say. We just need to disagree. Thanks.

Sad... Lowe can read these plain words and still ask such a "profound" question!
"as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly;
so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Lowe is likely afflicted with the colonitis disorder! (LOOOOOOOOOOOL).

After the above exchanges, I asked the question here: 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/PrimitiveBaptistgroup/permalink/4336045376446895/

Some astute comments were made. 

Individuality and Community

#Corporate_Solidarity_n_Covenant_Consciousness

#plurality_in_unity

#individuality_n_community

Achanitis is more dreadful than COVID-19!
Achanitis - a serious disease of individualism, a mindset that says ‘what I do is my own business, and I couldn’t care less how it may affect others, even those associated with me.’

Joshua 7:1
But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.

Achan's individual sin in the context of corporate solidarity (as a member of Israel) EQUALS "children of Israel committed a trespass."

Achan's individual sin in the context of corporate solidarity EXPLAINS why "the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel."

Joshua 7:15
And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.

Achan's individual sin of transgressing the covenant of the LORD in the context of corporate solidarity (as the head of his house) INVOLVED him and all his household!

Achan's individual sin of transgressing the covenant of the LORD in the context of corporate solidarity (as the head of his house) IMPLICATED "all that he hath shall be burnt with fire."

How many members of churches today care about these solemn matters of their corporate solidarity with their churches, and their families?

How many members of churches today have the covenant consciousness of their corporate solidarity with the church of their membership????????

Beware, my dear brethren, beware lest the wrath of the LORD, the covenant-keeping God, is kindled against your church, and your FAMILY!!! The fact that there is no longer stoning under the new covenant does not diminish the truth of the matter.

May our Lord guard our steps. Amen.

p/s  1
Concerning the picture Part-Whole

Joshua 7
17 And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken:
18 And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.

A - Israel
B - Judah and family
C - Zabdi and family
D - Carmi and family
E - Achan and family

p/s 2
The part-whole principle in the NT

1Cor 12:12 "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ."

(written on 31 May 2014)

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