Included By Grace

Reason for having Happy New Year...

2012-01-03T22:43:00.000-08:00

As 2012 starts, we feel that we are now older than last year!
Though, in our humanity, we let ourselves be affected by time, yet in eternity time as no effect. In fact, it is even timeless.
There are many reasons to be inspired and face this new year with faith. BUT our greatest joy is in knowing that we are not far from God. We are in communion with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Again, there is no need for us to call on God as if he is not with us. We just need to reflect:

- Who keeps us safe the past year?
- Who gives us good health?
- Who loves us dearly?
- Who unites our family?
- Who put is our heart our enjoyment of sunrise and sunset?

The lists of questions may be endless but the same answer: The Father, Son and Holy Spirit did all and will do it again in our lives this 2012.

Our Lord Jesus Christ loves us, likes us, embraces us and includes into the communion of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. That's the reason for having a Happy New Year.!

You Pray Because You are Connected ...

2011-10-20T22:05:00.000-07:00

Look at your cell phone. I am sure you have a SIGNAL of the Network you have chosen to subscribed. If you are recieving the signal - you are connected!

NOW... look at the names of people in your phonebook. I am sure all of these people also have signals in their cellphones.

The reality which seems not obvious is that OBJECTIVELY you are already connected to every person registered in your phonebook, but SUBJECTIVELY you need to call each of them for you to be able to relate.

By our UNION with our Lord Jesus Christ we are objectively connected to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All humanity has the signal. That is why we can Pray with confidence and faith that God hears our prayers always. Our prayers need not travel a long distance to reach God's throne in a far heaven.

Moreover we Pray because we are connected not because we were cut off from God because of our sins and we need to pray so that we will be connected again.

Thank God our connection is IN Christ... it is therefore permanent not on and off . Our connection does not depend on us or on what we do or do not do.

The Original Plan - ADOPTION

2011-07-14T18:58:00.000-07:00

In the last post we have seen that there was NO eternal decree that God will choose to saved some and roasts others to hell. So, what was/is the mind of God in the beginning? Why did He create humanity?

There was a Plan - that is ADOPTION

For all eternity even before the foundation of the world, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are enjoying and savoring the sweetness of an eternal communion. They want to INCLUDE "others" into that relationship.
But who could that "others" be? Angels? Animals? Plants?

Then God said " Let Us make man in our image, according to our likeness..." Genesis 1:26

Of all His creation... God created man after His own image so that humanity could enter or participate or be included into the fellowship of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

"He PREDESTINED us to adoption through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will." Ephesians 1:5

We are created to be adopted - that is the original plan. HOW? Through Jesus Christ. No one will decide on his free will to volunteer to be adopted. it is through and only through Jesus Christ.

HOW will Jesus Christ do it? Is it some act that he will do? or does it have something to do with Jesus person and being?

The answer is it happens through Jesus by his INCARNATION. Our being adopted is because of the PERSON and BEING of Christ. He is both God and Man. In him all humanity is vicariously represented and substituted. He came for us to unite us in Him. He came for our adoption.

Most people fail to understand this because the look only on the Work of Christ , at what He did on the cross . They must really see WHO JESUS IS. As God -Man as the Second Adam that in His Person and Being - We are included in his relationship and communion to the His Father and the Holy Spirit.

There is NO Divine Decree

2011-06-23T06:06:00.000-07:00

There is NO Divine Decree before the foundation of the world - that some people will believe while others will be lost.

If such decree exists , it would make Christ death on the cross unnecessary because even if he did not die, some were decreed to be saved anyway.

Throughout the thousand years history of the Old Testament , no such decree was explicitly mentioned. Even in the New Testament no such decree was mentioned either.

Such decree was only a product of deductive thinking and logic of some people.

They reasoned: That since the Bible mentioned some people will go to hell then, not all people will be saved. If not all people will be saved, therefore Jesus did not die for all. He did not die for all because God limited his atonement to a chosen few by an eternal decree before the foundation of the world. He chose some to be saved to demonstrate his love. Others will be roasted in hell because He is just.

That might be a very good reasoning and logic. The problem is, it is not Biblical and it is wrong theologically. People who believe this way may be sincere ... and sincerely wrong.

It is sad when people claims to believe in God's sovereignty when they are actually believing in the superiority of their thinking not recognizing the true identity of God as Trinity and not knowing Jesus Christ as the Second Adam that reversed the effect of the fall in the life of humanity.

What logic can refute the following explicit verses from the Bible:

John 12:32: “I [Jesus], when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.”
2 Corinthians 5:14: “Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.”
Colossians 1:19-20: “God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
1 Timothy 2:3-6: “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men.”
1 Timothy 4:9-10: “This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance…that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.”
Hebrews 2:9: “We see Jesus, who…suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.”
1 John 2:2: “[Jesus is] the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
See also John 1:29; 3:17; Romans 8:32; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Titus 2:11; and 1 John 4:14.

These passages make it plain that Jesus died for all humanity. The Bible is very clear .

ONLY the twisted logic and reasoning of man will interpret those verses to mean something, it does not mean.

Are unbelievers included?

2011-06-05T20:40:00.000-07:00

We are proclaiming the "Gospel" - the good news that God loves all mankind both believers and unbelievers. It is sad, however, that some people are opposing this message and can not really believe the extent of God's grace. They even claimed that when the Bible speaks of God's love it is exclusively for believers only.

When Paul went to Athens, he met UNBELIEVERS, his spirit was provoked because the city was full of idols.He reasoned in the synagogues and in marketplace. Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were there too (Acts 17:16-21)

He stood in the midst of Areopagus addressed the Men of Athens who are very religious and yet are idolaters. They even have an altar: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. (verses 22 - 23 )

He explained that this Unknown God is the Creator - that He gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.(verses 24-25). That they should seek God , in the hope that they might feel their way toward Him and find Him. (v 27)

YET...Is God distant to this unbelievers of Athens?

YET he is actually NOT FAR from each one of US. ( Paul and everybody there listening to him, most of them are unbelievers) verse 27

"In him we live and move and have our being" and even some of YOUR own poets have said. " For we are indeed his offspring." ( verse 28 )

Being then God's offspring we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone an image formed by the art and imagination of man... (verse 29 )

Let us make that more simple:

Being then God's offspring, let us gave up idolatry. Because the unbelievers of Athens are God's offspring (children), they must gave up idolatry.

Paul told them their real identity ( God's offspring ) , Who they are already in Christ. And because of their identity, he made them realized their having idols is not appropriate for who they are so they must repent of it.

Paul NEVER said, You must give up idolatry SO THAT you will become God's offspring.

As a result of knowing and believing their identity "Some men joined him and believed among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them . (verse 34 )

THE GOOD NEWS is for unbelievers , DO NOT BE DECEIVED when others say that the Bible is for BELIEVERS only, for how can you evangelize, how do you do mission when you can not quote from the Bible because you were made to believe that unbelievers can not apply those verses to themselves.

The news is really good - you are included by grace...

What is your morning prayer?

2011-05-24T15:50:00.000-07:00

Prayer is an expression of our communion with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We pray because we are connected - we do not pray to be connected.

Every morning some people pray like this way:

" Father , thank you for this day, please be with me in all my activities , work and where ever I may be. Bless my plans and please come and be with me. In Jesus name , Amen"

Hmm ... of course God answers prayer not scrutinizing every word that we used but he answers it by grace. However the words we say in our prayers reflects our understanding about who God is and who we are in Him.

Consider the following truths:

1. You are in the presence of God all the time. it is not on and off presence. This is a reality because of our union with Christ.

2. When you slept last night. after saying your prayer. God did not go home in heaven and left you alone soundly asleep,planning to go back before you wake up or when you call Him back.

3. When you wake up in the morning. you just need to acknowledge that God is there and did not leave. He is the first Person who greets you good morning and you do not need to call him back from heaven to be with you again for that new day.

You may say something like this :

" Father thank you for watching me as I rest through your gift of sleep. I was safe all along because you embrace me while asleep. I have a very good morning because my day starts with you and as always, you will be with me because I am united to you in your beloved Son, Jesus Christ in the communion of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Prayer is very important... because in prayer we commune... Let us live a life of prayer...

How close are you to God ?

2011-05-14T15:29:00.000-07:00

We have known and believed that our God is a relational God. This is why the Bible says "God is love".
Because our Creator is relational, each of us is also born with a desire to relate and be close to someone. We will be hurt if we are rejected by someone that we want to relate with.

Deep in our hearts, each individual , even those whom we see and label as bad or worst sinners have that longing to relate with God, they just do not know how or they judged themselves as too bad to be able to relate. But for sure they want to be close.

Christians of course understand the essence of relationship. That is why we are taught by some preachers that when we read the Bible God is talking to us, and when we pray we talk to God. Understood in the right perspective, our relationship with God is what really matters in our Christian life. Even what we call "Christian Living" or "Christian Ethics" will be taken cared of if we are conscious of our relationship with God.

The most important question then is: How close is God to us and how close are we to Him?

Do not be too sure you know.... the answer may surprise you....

"In that day... you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you." John 14:20

In our humanity, we know what it means to be closer to someone. yet we understand it to be in terms of " togetherness" . We know we are close to each other when we are together. and the degree of closeness is tantamount to the frequency of togetherness.

To simplify it, we say , we want to be WITH each other: it is a "with-ness" relationship.

Our Lord Jesus, however, did not say that He is simply with us.... it is much closer than that... He is in us...

And how many of us run towards God and want to be with Him.?

Do you know that you are closer than being with Him , You are IN Him.

That is the GOOD NEWS: In Christ you we are adopted into the communion of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. YES you are closer than you could ever think.

REJOICE ALWAYS: You are closer than close because you are included by grace....

Talk to Strangers....

2011-05-02T20:17:00.000-07:00

There was a saying "Do Not Talk To Strangers". This is said with the intention that now a days we do not really know the purpose of anyone who might be talking to us. So, for our protection, we were advised that way.

However, if we are Christians we need to talk to strangers for several reasons but there is one important reason

We need to talk to people because we are Trinitarians. Ohhhh .... I do not mean that every time you talk to anyone you have to explain that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. No No No. BUT as Trinitarians we know and believe that our God is a RELATIONAL God. Since eternity each Person relate to the other, they communicate and love each other. That's the purpose WHY we are ADOPTED so that we are now included into that Triune relationship.

So... If we are to tell people people WHO the Trinity is. We do not always need to talk about that truth in a very religious way. but most importantly in a very RELATIONAL way. in other words BE RELATIONAL.

That stranger beside you in a bus, or anywhere may not yet know yet that he/she is now included into the relationship of the Son to His Father. You do not need to explain at once theologically this truth. You do not need to open your Bible at once and show several verses. BUT here is what you can do.
TALK ... COMMUNICATE... RELATE...

Your topic may be anything about family, work, friends, nature, foods, music , hobbies and others... that is all right because everything in this life is included by Grace...

Why a new one? The birth of "facebible"

2011-04-30T20:09:00.000-07:00

Starting today I decided to address deeper theological perspective on a new Blog called Facebible. I believe Trinitarian Theology is not only Dogmatics / Doctrinal but most importantly RELATIONAL.

My original intent when I created Included by Grace is that relational aspect How the Trinitarian Theology is significant in the ordinary circumstances of our life. When you are with your family, at your work or simply conversing with a stranger.

Most Christians say they are Trinitarians simply because they believe that God is .Father, Son and Holy Spirit. but how does knowing the Triune God affect their daily lives? their being a husband, housewife, doctor, teacher? That's what we will be talking in this site.

Since I notice that the theme have somewhat shifted on the original purpose, I created Facebible for those who are Doctrinally interested. That site will be dealing with deeper apologetics and exposing controversial errors.

Meanwhile , Included by Grace will continue serving you on Relational matters so that you will know that you are embraced by His Grace.

The Neglected Subject of Romans 3:24...

2011-04-29T08:32:00.000-07:00

Most Christians when they are evengelizing unbelievers will qoute Romans 3:23 " for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." They are saying this to prove that the person they are talking with, no matter how he may think of himself will be able to know and admit that he is a sinner because "all" have sinned.

Since the Christian is supposed to be the bringer of the "gospel" or good news, he will now proclaim that after admitting that he is a sinner, the person must now repent, say the sinners prayer SO THAT he will be justified of his sins only after sincerely doing the given conditions....

BUT WAIT....

The GOOD NEWS is in Romans 3:24. which unfortunately most preachers do not quote.

" and are JUSTIFIED by his grace as a gift, through Christ Jesus..." Romans 3:24

AHA...

Who are justified ( past tense ) by his grace ? What is the subject of " are justified ?

OPPS... Don't be too sure you know.....

Let us put verses 23 and 24 : " for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and ARE JUSTIFIED by his grace as a gift through Christ Jesus...

The GOOD NEWS: ALL have sinned... ALL are justified...

Our salvation , our justification is all Centered in Christ..

For Few ..or for All ... Who is Right? (Understanding the Person and Work of Christ )

2011-04-22T00:34:00.000-07:00

That Jesus died on the Cross is the reality that every Christian is reflecting this Lenten Season. It is one of the most important events in history...

Every person may be asking " How can I be benefited in what Christ did at the cross?"

One Christian may answer: "You are surely benefited because Christ died for all, and that includes you."

Another Christian may answer: You may be benefited because Christ died for select few. Well as of now we do not know if you are among the elect or not... but just in case, you try your best to understand the gospel because if you did understand and believe, hmm that might be the sign that you are elect. Because you will not believe anyway, if you are not among the elect. But of course you have to prove for a lifetime that you are really elect by the fruits of your life. But do not worry because you can not be snatched from the Father and Jesus hands IF you are really an elect. You may fall several times but you will always come back if you are among the chosen. However, if after several years of faithfulness you fall down and never come back.. hmmmm... well you really did not believe after all. You really is not a Christian, because if you were a true Christian , you will not fall back permanently. So all those years you just deceive your self and others that you are a believer when in fact you are not.You failed to overcome until the end and so you are a reprobate.

WHY the difference in answer as to whether Jesus died for few or for all ?

The Christian who answered that " You are surely benefited because Christ died for all and that includes you"
is looking NOT only at what Jesus did on the Cross (He died), but looks at the same time on WHO Jesus is...the Second Adam (Romans 5). He understands that the Cross should not be isolated from the Incarnation of the Son of God as if he became human only for the reason of dying.

In the beginning God - Father , Son and Holy Spirit enjoys a communion. There is relationship of Love. The Father loves the Son and the Son loves the Father through the communion of the Holy Spirit. They created humanity for adoption into this communion. For humans to be able to enter into that relationship the Son will have to be made flesh so that in him is both humanity and divinity. a union of God and man.

"...even as he chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption through Christ according to the purpose of his will " Ephesians 1: 4-5

Because Adam fell into sin , all are under condemnation so Jesus also is the Second Adam the one new man so that he reversed the effect of the fall. as vicarious man.

"Therefore, as one tresspass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. ( Romans 5:18).

When he died, all died when he was raised all are raised. That is the Person and and Being of the Son of God which should be the foundation of our understanding of what he did.

HOW about the one who answered Jesus died for the few and not for all?

That Christian separated the Person of Christ from his Work. He focused only from what Christ did. ( He died ) and then proceeded with the HOW and the WHY. He used a logico-causal connection principle that was discussed in the former post.

Here is how it goes: If Christ died for all, then all must necessarily be saved, but since some will go to hell, then he did not die for all. His death is sufficient for all but efficient only for some.

To explain this they arrived at a view of Predestination that there was an eternal decree in the past in which God will protect this decree by his sovereignty. The decree is the reason why Christ came and died for the predestined elect. ( in which some of their critics argued that if there is such decree, even if Jesus will not come and die, they will be saved anyway because there was already a decree that God in his sovereignty will make it come to pass ) So they resulted to another reason that Jesus must die so that there will be justice. Jesus suffered the wrath of the Father on our behalf.

WHO finally is right?

The differences are presented to you.

1. Those who believe he died for all are looking not only on what Jesus did but for WHO Jesus is.
2. Those who believe he died for few based in from logico-causal connections, a little Greek word-study and a unique hermeneutics in which the words ALL in the Bible will mean "not all".

What Other Christians Fail to See... Let Us See

2011-04-18T08:47:00.000-07:00

When you talk to some Christians , they will always bring you to their concept of election. That some elected some people for salvation, while others for damnation.

Where did they get this idea? Actually not from the Scriptures directly ( though they will argue that they did )

They are actually using the " logico- causal connection" in their interpretation. This led them to conclude that the atonement of Jesus is "sufficient" for all but "efficient" only for some.

As explained by Martin Davis, professor of Theology , All Nations Seminary "According to this argument, if the atoning death of Christ applies to all men, then logically and causally all men must of necessity be saved, on the other hand if some perish in hell, then logically and causally the efficacy of the atonement does not reach them."

Sadly... the "logico - causal connection" interpretation did not come originally from John Calvin (which this Christians claim to follow ) but from Theodore Beza the successor of Calvin after he died.

" Beza appears the perfect pupil and alter-ego of Calvin. His view of life is deterministic and the basis of his religious thinking is the predistinate recognition of the necessity of all temporal existence as an effect of the absolute, eternal, and immutable will of God. So that even the fall of human race appears to him essential to the divine plan of God" (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Beza)

NOW... What did they fail to see...

These Christians focused on what Christ did and failed to see who Jesus is...
They focused on the Work of Christ and separated it from the Person of Christ...

The Trinitarian/ Incarnational Theology approach

As we look at Christ death we must not separate the identity of the one who died on the Cross. He is Jesus - the Son of God and the Son of Man.

"In regard to the... doctrine of limited atonement, there is a " disjunction" or dualism that bifurcates the divine and human natures of Christ, divides his being and his acts, and consequently separates the incarnation from the atonement", (Martin Davis, TF Torrance: The Atonement,pt 8 )

Yes - Jesus humanity is the key to understanding whom did he die for... He is not an ordinary man. He is a vicarious man .He is the Second Adam. Romans 5 clearly explains that just as what happened to Adam effected to all humanity, what happened to the Second Adam effected also to all humanity.

Before the foundation of the world, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit plans to adopt humanity into their communion. It was a plan of inclusion rather than exclusion. To say that Jesus died for some while excluding the others is failing to see his Person as the Second Adam - the vicarious man. To say that God ,by a divine decree, elects some to be saved while the rest are not is not understanding the original purpose of the Trinity.

" Therefore as one tresspass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men." Romans 5:18 ESV

Another Problem with wrong Theology...(Why Most People Rely on Works..).

2011-04-15T18:25:00.000-07:00

   In the last post, we have seen that starting our Theology with Why and How will bring more problems... The real question must be Who... Knowing Jesus - the greatest revelation of God is the key to understanding.

   Another problem is when we start with the "gospel" of Separation...(Maybe your first time to hear this, but it really exists)

   Many people think that they are preaching a good news for people. But when they see a person they will announce that he is separated from God. That God is angry/ wrathful and is waiting an opportunity to punished humanity and likes to roasts them in hell UNLESS (here is the catch ) something will be done in order to appease God of his wrath.That unless the person will not recite a sinners prayer or affirm some creeds, he is not yet reconciled...

   Here is the reason why most people rely on works for their salvation.. Because they have been taught that they are separated from God and therefore they need to do something to bring them near to a far God.They are even thought that even if they began a relationship with God, it is an on and off relationship, based on performance

   The reality is that humanity can not by themselves bridge the gap, that is why 2000 years ago Jesus was born as the vicarious man to bring us in his relationship to the Father. We are adopted and can now have a relationship with God. Of course we need to believe we are reconciled but our belief did not start the reconciliation, Jesus did it already. We believe so that we can now participate in that relationship personally.

   No one is separated anymore... Everyone is included by grace...

   So Where are we in relation to God? He is a God who is near....We are near Him and He is embracing us...

Is Your Theology Bringing More Problems Than Answers?

2011-04-09T07:11:00.000-07:00

   My Christian friend asked me this question :" If God loves all humanity and Jesus died for all - WHY will not all be saved?"

   Then, he proceeded to explain, HOW to solve the problem, by concluding that Jesus did not die for all - but only for the elect. He tried to convince me that "all" does not really mean all but "some".

   THE PROBLEM with this kind of Theological approach is the wrong question being asked. or shall we say an obviously wrong starting point.

   If we start our theology with the WHY and HOW - by all means it will bring lot more whys and hows until we really get confused.

   THE SOLUTION is to have a proper starting point of a theology - by asking WHO?

   Who is Jesus Christ? He is the complete revelation of who God really is...

   Instead of forming conclusions based from logical deductions and weird interpretations - we must look to Jesus who revealed the Father who so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son...

   We must look to Jesus who is both God and Man. His birth, life, death , resurrection and ascension is primarily for humanity..

   If we start our Theology with WHO - we will fully understand WHO is God and WHO we are in Him.

The Cross - Just ONE event to remember...

2011-04-07T06:31:00.000-07:00

As we are in the Lenten season, we are remembering the sufferings/passion of Christ. The Cross is indeed a very important event in Christian history. Jesus died on the cross for us- for our redemption.

The real question however is --- Did Jesus came ONLY to die?

The purpose of the Incarnation is not only the Cross. It is much more than we ever think. The birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ must be remembered and appreciated with equal and balance significance.

Before the foundation of the world there was a plan...

1. Jesus came for our Adoption

"...even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. ( Ephesians 1:4-5)

2.Jesus came for our Redemption

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace. " ( Ephesians 1:7)

3. Jesus came for reconciliation of all things in him

"as a plan for the fullness of time to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth." Ephesians 1:10

All this things he was able to accomplished not only at the cross but by his birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension.

YES the Cross is very important -- as important as the others that Jesus is...

"Thou Shalt Nots" versus " I Am with you always.."

2010-10-06T03:04:00.000-07:00

   A child was told by his father NOT to get cookies from the jar. That was a command - an order which was stated clearly. It was also clear to the child that a punishment awaits disobedience. But then, the cookies are on the table, and he was tempted to get at leasts one. He knew it was wrong, but he checked if the parents were in the house or not. When he was sure that the parents were OUT... he slowly went near the table and... got one.
   A few minutes passed...the child wanted to get another piece. He again remembered the command, there was an struggle not to do it again, but approached the table anyway. However, he heard a noise nearby and was made AWARE of the parents PRESENCE inside the house ... and so he did not get a piece of cookies but ran away from the table as fast as he could.

   The story illustrates an important point. The command (even though known to the child) has no power to make him "not to get the cookies". What really determines the child's behavior is his awareness of the PRESENCE or ABSENCE of the parents in the house.

   In reality, what actually determines whether a person will sin or not is not the LAW in his mind or even in his heart, BUT his AWARENESS of God's presence wherever he is.

   Many Legalists today criticize New Covenant churches when the latter preach that we are not under the Law but under grace. These legalists are afraid that if we gave up the Law, we all will become wayward and immoral.

   Legalists embraced the LAW, but they FAIL to see the reality of God's moment by moment presence in the lives of humanity. They believed that humanity is separated from God UNTIL you begin to obey the LAW.

   The Bible teaches that the FALL of MAN in Adam was ALREADY REVERSED by the Second Adam Jesus Christ ( Romans 5:18 ) . Because of that truth, ALL humanity are included in Christ.

   YES, Sin is serious not because there is a law but because every sin is committed in God's presence.

   Every sin happens when a person FORGETS that he is in God's presence. So in our life what is important is not having the law but being aware of God's presence. We are not only with Him but we are IN Him and He is IN us. That is called Communion with the Triune God.

   In conclusion, the best way to fight sin is not having a lists of " Thou shalt nots" but knowing and believing that we are always in God's presence because he said " I am with you always... "

Trinitarian Leadership - What is it?

2010-04-23T23:06:00.000-07:00

     There was a time when a model called SERVANT LEADERSHIP was promoted. Around the world thousands of dollars were spent holding seminars for Pastors and Church Leaders in almost all denominations.

     Servant Leadership simply means that when we became leaders we must have the HUMILITY to serve people.That we are not above them. It based on Jesus' principle that leaders must come to serve not to be served. Servant leadership is great and it helps a lot of churches
.
      But then even among churches that practice servant leadership, there seems to be great problems among those who lead the flock. The problem is those in leadership do not COMMUNICATE among each other as often as possible.

     What is needed today is more than Servant Leadership... We need TRINITARIAN LEADERSHIP..

The Premise: Our God is Trinity : Father, Son and Holy Spirit. From eternity there is a moment by moment communion among them. The Father talks to the Son , The Son talks to the Father. They enjoy communicating in the Spirit.. for all eternity. They do that every day, every moment.

The Challenge: Pastors, Elders, Supervisors Ministry heads and all servant leaders occupying leadership position in the Church should communicate ALL the time as much as possible as every opportunity arises.

Only if this happens can we truly say that we are modeling a Trinitarian Leadership. We do not need to talk about "spiritual matters" , meetings, conferences, seminars, church programs all the time. We could talk about LIFE. We do not share only theological perspectives. We apply theology in practical life. We share LIFE among each other because that is the reason why Jesus came.

If the members of the Church can SEE among their leaders the closeness, the openness, as they constantly COMMUNICATE, they will be drawn closer also to that relationship, it is only then that the LOVE we always preached will be manifested in the community where we are.

In as much as Jesus say: "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another"

It is also true: By this shall all men know that we are his leaders, if we communicate among each other"

The mark of true leaders is NOT only how they relate to the members, but how they relate to their fellow leaders...

The Music of the Gospel ... The Melody of Grace

2010-04-22T07:16:00.000-07:00

   Almost every person in every culture loves music. We can say that music indeed is one of the wonderful gifts God gives to us.

   One of the mysteries of music is that it moves people to action. It is very rare for a person to enjoy the music and be inactive or stagnant.at the same time. The natural effect of music to people is that it makes a person naturally move his finger, tap the table with his hand and eventually to dance..The music moves them naturally.. no rules, no procedures..They just respond to the melody of the music.

   When a person dances this also attracts other people who naturally want to join in the dance until several people enjoys the rhythm and behold the beauty of looking at people moved at the same time by the music.

   The Gospel in Perspective - The Gospel is the good news. God is Trinity. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit eternally enjoys a Communion that can be compared to a a GREAT DANCE. In Christ all humanity is included in that relationship.

   The Gospel is being heard by people.. Like music it aims to move people to respond to move their finger, to tap their hands and eventually to dance...

   YES.. the melody of grace will touch the hearts of people. It is an invitation to arise.. stand.. and join the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in communion with humanity to DANCE the dance of LIFE.

Christian Living 101

2010-03-25T06:45:00.000-07:00

"Now I know that I am saved! I am now included into the fellowship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit... Now Tell me how do I live my life... Preach to me Christian Living ... I need to be patient, honest, forgiving etc..."

So now let us talk about Christian Living...

1.Christian Living is NOT a Plan - You do not wake up in the morning and PLAN to be patient, PLAN to be honest, PLAN to be forgiving... etc...

When you plan to live the Christian life it is self centered. You draw the power to yourself. In most circumstances you will fail. This seems good, but the focus is on the virtue.The focus is on being good.

2. Christian Living is NOT a Program - It is not 7 steps to be patient , 10 rules to be honest, 50 ways to forgive. When our Christian life is a by product of programs it will not survive the test of time and challenge. It is still self centered and effort motivated. Even if such steps is backed up by Scriptures . it still is not the right motivation for Christian Living.

WHAT CHRISTIAN LIVING IS...

1. Christian Living is COMMUNION

As we participate in the Kingdom life, being fully aware of our moment by moment union and communion with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We will be patient, honest, forgiving etc... EVEN without us thinking and planning about it. Even without someone saying to us... even without programs... BECAUSE this qualities are the FRUITS of the Holy Spirit IN us. Jesus is the one who is patient, who is honest who is forgiving and our life is in Him.

2. Christian Living is DANCE

When you hear your most favorite music and you are inspired to dance.. Do you count your steps while in the dance floor. Do you need someone to dictate the steps? Do you get from your pocket the 50 steps on how to dance? NO NO NO and NO. because if you do that you are not actually dancing and you can not dance.

Christian living is dancing with the Triune God. It is rejoicing in communion. When the MUSIC of the Gospel of Grace is played. You can not help but stand and D A N C E...

This is Christian Living.... This is Living in the Spirit...

Grace says "No"

2010-03-03T13:14:00.000-08:00

" For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self controlled, upright and godly lives in the "present age" waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works." ( Titus 2:11-14 )

The grace of God appeared...

1) Bringing salvation for all people -
   No matter what people think in their minds, it does not change the truth that the grace of God brings salvation for all people. Through the Incarnation of the Son of God Jesus Christ, all humanity are now reconciled to God. This is the objective truth which of course we have to believe so that we can participate in that reality. No one is unwanted, rejected. Everyone is included, beloved and embraced by the Triune God.

2) Training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions...
   Why are people afraid that when there is too much emphasis on grace , people will become wayward, unholy and will do every bad thing they want to do?
   The Bible is so clear... "Grace teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions..." (NIV)

   Properly understood, Grace connects you to God in Christ. In Jesus you are not separated from God. You have a relationship with him. Aha! What kind of relationship? It is not a "long distance relationship". Jesus is not "up there" watching us "from a distance" while he gave us lists of rules to follow while He is away.
   The relationship that was made possible by Jesus Christ is closer that you can ever think. It is communion with God 24 hours a day 7 days a week. It includes everything you do. There is no such thing as secular and spiritual. You are in Christ and He is in you... ( John 14:20 )
   How can people ever think of doing bad things when they believe on the reality that they have a moment by moment communion with God?
   Of course people in this life still sin but the grace of God surely do not encourage them to sin.

God did not go home last Sunday… You don’t need to invite Him next week…

2010-03-02T07:22:00.000-08:00

People sometimes assemble themselves in a particular place and then invite God to come down and join them. The assembly is considered to be holy because God attended. After the closing prayer, when the people go home, God will also go home… up there…

This is the common view of a typical worship service. Initiated by men and God is just a guest… waiting an invitation?

True worship however is not defined by time and space. Our life must be a life of worship. It involves everything we do even in ordinary circumstances of our lives.

Corporate worship service is a celebration. We celebrate because we are already in communion with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We celebrate because we know we are already adopted. We celebrate a reality, not a potential.

We do not initiate worship and then call God to join. We do not need to shout, and perform the right rituals, so that he will come down to join us .He is already present and His presence is the reason why we celebrate. His presence is the reason why we are assembled in the first place.

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit does not come and go.

Jesus said: “… In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. (John 14:20)

In deeper perspective … We worship because we are in Christ and He is the true worshipper. We are just participating in the Son’s worship to His Father in the Spirit.

There is more reason to rejoice in knowing that after the worship service … God does not go home… up there.

Repentance - in real sense...

2010-02-28T06:43:00.000-08:00

Some people warn us to repent. What they mean is actually to stop us in doing things they consider sins.
Many people responded. They stop doing bad things for a while, but then find themselves doing the same things again and again and again until they lost hope of trying to change...

This people taught they have repented... but what they encountered is only MORALITY campaign.

Yes... people may stop from doing bad things but it remains only a form of morality because it is actually grounded on LEGALISM.

True repentance is change of mind a METANOIA..

Change of mind about : Who God is... and who we are in Him...

People do bad things because they do not know who God really is. They believed in God who is Wrathful. A God who is policeman always waiting for a time to strike them when they commit mistakes. A God who created humanity but is detatched and separated from them.

Moreover, people believed that they are bad and hopeless. They were made to believed that they are separated from God. That they are so dirty. Hopeless, worthy of hell.

To truly repent is to believe that God is love. He is Trinity. He is relational. In Christ, every person is now included into the divine fellowship. No one is outside. Because of this, every human is important. worthy and beloved of God.

BUT WAIT.. what about our bad behaviors... our bad acts..

Many people testified that when they really believed Who God is and Who they are in Christ, they experienced INNER TRANSFORMATION. Even without anyone pointing out their specific sins..They recieved a conviction to change. They do not enjoy anymore what they used to do.

This happens because they are now conscious of the reality that Christ is in them and they are in Christ...

Jesus is Lord...

2009-10-01T18:05:00.000-07:00

     Jesus is Lord - this is really true. But what do we mean by the Lordship of Jesus Christ?

     Many people have been told that they must " accept" Jesus to be Lord of their life. For what? So that, He can now "start" to have control over their lives. So that " he will now reign".

     Whoa! As IF the Lordship of Jesus is dependent on one's acceptance/ decision. This is "anthropocentric" or man centered. It actually exalts human decision over the reign of Jesus.

    The Bible portrays that Jesus is Lord because Jesus is God! He is exalted and was given a name above all names by the Father. We do not "make" Jesus as "Lord".He is Lord. He reigns forevermore. His Lordship is a reality that we have to believe. But our belief does not start or commence His Lordship not even in our personal life. He is Lord of our life even in the times we did not believe yet. He reigns in the life of all humanity and the whole creation.

     That is what we should believe! That is the good news!

Are You Trinitarian?

2009-02-09T06:01:00.000-08:00

When Christians are asked if they are Trinitarian , most will answer YES. How about you? Are you a Trinitarian? Perhaps you believe in the Trinity that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but do you understand even simple matters of what you believe.

You are not Trinitarian if...

1. You believe that the Father , Son and Holy Spirit does not exists at the same time and all of the time.

2. You believe that Jesus is in your life but you do not yet have the Holy Spirit.

3. You believe that the Father and the Son have different character and attitude towards mankind. That the Father is an Angry God while Jesus is a Loving God.

These may sound simple but... it matters... Each of these will be explained Scripturally and Theologically in the future posts in this blog.

What the Church Fathers say? ( Athanasius )

2009-02-06T23:36:00.000-08:00

Athanasius contribution to Christianity is the explanation that there is a relationship among the Trinity.
John Piper got it right when he wrote "The relationships between the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit had not received formal statement in any representative council before the time of Athanasius.(http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Biographies/1532_Contending_for_Our_All/)
In the same article John Piper also qoutes from the famous work of Athanasius On the Incarnation of the Word. This words affirm the teaching of the early church that Jesus incarnation is for ALL people and not just for few.
Here is the quote from John Piper ...

the deity of the incarnate Son of God is essential because the gospel of our salvation is essential. There is no salvation if Jesus Christ was not God. It’s true that Athanasius deals with salvation mainly in terms of restoring the image of God in man by Christ’s taking human nature into union with the divine nature. But Athanasius does not emphasize this to the exclusion of the death of Christ and the atonement. You hear both in this passage from On The Incarnation of the Word:

For the Word, perceiving that no otherwise could the corruption of men be undone save by death as a necessary condition, while it was impossible for the Word to suffer death, being immortal, and Son of the Father; to this end He takes to Himself a body capable of death, that it, by partaking of the Word Who is above all, might be worthy to die in the stead of all, and might, because of the Word which was come to dwell in it, remain incorruptible, and that thenceforth corruption might be stayed from all by the Grace of the Resurrection. Whence, by offering unto death the body He Himself had taken, as an offering and sacrifice free from any stain, straightway He put away death from all His peers by the offering of an equivalent. For being over all, the Word of God naturally by offering His own temple and corporeal instrument for the life of all satisfied the debt by His death. And thus He, the incorruptible Son of God, being conjoined with all by a like nature, naturally clothed all with incorruption, by the promise of the resurrection.”
FROM :http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Biographies/1532_Contending_for_Our_All/
Hmm... does John piper really believes in limited atonement ( just asking...)

What the Church Fathers say? ( Irenaeus )

2009-02-06T23:02:00.000-08:00

Irenaeus was a student of Polycarp who was a student of John the writer of Revelation. It is to be noted that Irenaeus wrote about the identity of Jesus Christ as our federal/vicarious representative. What was true to Adam happened to all humanity, even if we are not in the Garden of Eden. Likewise Jesus is the second Adam. What was true to Him is true to all humanity.

Here is an exceprt to what was posted in www.theopedia.com about the teachings of Irenaeus...

Recapitulation Irenaeus followed Pauline theology in utilizing the first and second Adam theme found within the Apostle Paul’s writing to the Corinthians and Romans.^[1] Irenaeus believed that humanity was represented federally and covenantally in Adam, and that the Garden of Eden was eschatologically alluding to the reality of the second Adam. Irenaeus explains, “that as in Adam we do all die, as being of an animal nature, in Christ we may all live, as being spiritual, not laying aside God's handiwork, but the lusts of the flesh, and receiving the Holy Spirit.”^[2] When Adam fell in the Garden, humanity fell with him, and the only redemption is based upon the work of the eschatological Adam, that being Jesus Christ. Therefore, for Irenaeus the protological Adam was indicative of the eschatological Adam. The eschatological focus within redemptive history displays Irenaeus’ understanding of the nature of revelation and the culmination of it in Christ Jesus.

Irenaeus’ understanding of salvation is revealed in light of his biblical theology, especially within his doctrine of recapitulation. He believed that as the culmination of redemptive history, the incarnate Son of God recovered what was lost in the first Adam. Some theologians erroneously declare that Irenaeus is articulating a view of universalism in his doctrine of recapitulation.^[3] However, Irenaeus held recapitulation to be the “summing up” of all history and humanity in Christ Jesus as the conclusion of the drama of redemption.^[4] Furthermore, his belief is that in Christ, the saved are justified through his eschatological work as he is “both waging war against our enemy, and crushing him who had at the beginning led us captives in Adam, and trampled upon his head.” ^[5] Thus he draws a parallel with Christ and the promised seed of Adam and Eve in the book of Genesis. Therefore, the summing up of all things is the fulfilling victory of Christ, the reverse of the curse, and the salvation for those who are covenantally in Christ as opposed to Adam. This understanding of the soteriological and eschatological elements within redemptive history was Irenaeus’ evangelical, apologetical, and theological emphasis. Irenaeus used this doctrinal understanding within his ministry to spread the gospel and to edify and defend the early church.

↑ Cf. 1 Corinthians 15, Romans 5.
↑ Adversus Haereses, 5. 12 (ANF p. 943)
↑ See D. Jeffrey Bingham and L. van Rompay's Irenaeus' Use of Matthew's Gospel in Adversus Haereses: In Adversus Haereses (Peeters Publishers: 1998) p. 182.
↑ Adversus Haereses, 5. 20 (ANF p. 561)
↑ Ibid, 5. 21 (ANF p. 561)