Our Glorious Christ!

Jesus Christ is so pure. He has no blemish, stain, spot of sin, defilement, lying, deception, corruption, error, or imperfection (1 Pet 1:18-20)

Jesus Christ is so complete that there is no other God besides Him (Isa 45:5); He is the only begotten Son (John 1:14, 18); all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Him (Col 2:3); the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily in Him (Col 2:9); He is the heir of all things(Heb 1:2); He created all things and all things were made by Him, through Him, and for Him (Col 1:16); He upholds all things by the word of His power (Col 1:17; Heb 1:3); He is the firstborn of all creation (Col 1:15); He is the exact representation of God (Heb 1:3).

He is the only Mediator between God and Man; He is the Sun that enlightens; the Physician that heals; the Wall of Fire that defends; the Friend that comforts; the Pearl that enriches; the Ark that supports; and the Rock to sustain under the heaviest of pressures; He is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty on high (Heb 1:3; 8:1); He is better than the angels (Heb 1:4-14); better than Moses; better than Aaron; better than Joshua; better than Melchizedek; better than all the prophets; greater than Satan (Luke 4:1-12); and stronger than death (1 Cor 15:55).

He has no beginning and no end (Rev 1:17, 18); He is the spotless Lamb of God; He is our Peace (Eph 2:14); He is our Hope (1 Tim 1:1); He is our Life (Col 3:4); He is the living and true Way (John 14:6); He is the strength of Israel (1 Sam 15:29); He is the Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star (Rev 12:16); He is Faithful and True (Rev 19:11); He is the Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb 12:1-2); He is the Captain of our salvation (Heb 2:10); He is the Champion; He is the Elect One (Isa 42:1); He is the Apostle and High-Priest of our confession (Heb 3:1); He is the Righteous Servant (Isa 53:11).

He is the Lord of Hosts, the Redeemer-the Holy One of Israel, the God of the whole earth (Isa 54:5); He is the Man of Sorrows (Isa 53:3); He is the Light; He is the Son of Man (Matt 20:28); He is the Vine; He is the Bread of Life; He is the Door; He is Lord (Phil 2:10-13); He is prophet, Priest and King (Heb 1:1-3); He is our Sabbath rest (Heb 4:9); He is our Righteousness (Jer 23:6); He is the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6); He is the Chief Shepherd (1 Pet 5:4); He is Lord God of hosts; He is Lord of the nations; He is the Loin of Judah; the Living Word; the Rock of Salvation; the Eternal Spirit; He is the Ancient of Days; Creator and Comforter; Messiah; and He is the great I AM (John 8:58)!

Ref: John MacArthur Study Bible, 1997, p 1831-The Glories of Christ

Happy New Year 2016

Happy New Year 2016! Be blessed through these most precious words of God!

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV- 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Galatians 2:20 NIV-

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Philippians 3:13-14 NIV-

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 

O My Crucified Lord and Savior!

One question that has bothered me this past year has been how we can help those of us who are suffering especially when they think that no one understands them, not even God in Heaven. Well, God has ministered unto me powerfully through a story which I just came across on this very Christmas morning.

The story is from the playlet titled “The Long Silence”. I cannot wait to share it. Here we go:

At the end of time, billions of people were scattered on a great plain before God’s throne.

Most shrank back from the brilliant light before them. But some groups near the front talked heatedly-not with cringing shame, but with belligerence.

“Can God judge us? How can he know about suffering?” snapped a pert young brunette. She ripped open a sleeve to reveal a tattooed number from a Nazi concentration camp. “We endured terror…beatings…torture…death!”

In another group a Negro boy lowered his collar. “What about this?’ he demanded, showing an ugly rope burn. “lynched… for no crime but being black!”

In another crowd, a pregnant schoolgirl with sullen eyes. “Why should I suffer” she murmured, “It wasn’t my fault.”

Far out across the plain there were hundreds of such groups. Each had a complaint against God for the evil and suffering He permitted in His world. How lucky God was to live in Heaven where all was sweetness and light, where there was no weeping or fear, no hunger or hatred. What did God know of all that man had been forced to endure in this world? For God leads a pretty sheltered life, they said.

So each of these groups sent forth their leader, chosen because he had suffered the most. A Jew, a Negro, a person from Hiroshima, a horribly deformed arthritic, a thalidomide child. In the center of the plain they consulted with each other. At last they were ready to present their case. It was rather clever.

Before God could be qualified to be their judge, He must endure what they had endured. Their decision was that God should be sentenced to live on earth- as a man!

“Let him be born a Jew. Let the legitimacy of his birth be doubted. Give him a work so difficult that even his family will think him out of his mind when he tries to do it. Let him be betrayed by his closest friends. Let him face false charges, be tried by a prejudiced jury and convicted by a cowardly judge. Let him be tortured.

“At the last, let him see what it means to be terribly alone. Then let him die. Let him die so that there can be no doubt that he died. Let there be a great host of witnesses to verify it.”

As each leader announced his portion of the sentence, loud murmurs of approval went up from the throng of people assembled.

And when the last had finished pronouncing sentence, there was a long silence. No one moved. For suddenly all knew that God had already served His sentence.

This was indeed a most touching illustration to me! I am encouraged to carry on with my pilgrimage together with my crucified Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as we move forward into the New Year 2016 and beyond.

Brothers and sisters, like the apostle Paul said: "I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Be one as there is one God and one body of Christ!

  ⁶ yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.(1 Corinthians 8:6 NIV) 

⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; (Ephesians 4:4-5 NIV)

¹ How good and pleasant it is
    when God’s people live together in unity!

² It is like precious oil poured on the head,
    running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
    down on the collar of his robe.
³ It is as if the dew of Hermon
    were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore. (Psalm 133 NIV)

 

 

Thanksgiving 2015

I just want to thank God. I just want to thank the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Without God, I am nothing and can do nothing. He is the vine and I am one of His branches.

When I consider my life, I just have to thank my God for everything. He has created me through my dear parents. He has raised me up through them and the rest of my family, my neighborhood, friends, classmates, teachers, relatives, and authorities. God has watched and protected me along the whole process of my growing up. He has been and is and will be my perfect heavenly Father.

Jesus Christ has been my most faithful friend and companion throughout my life to this day. I am never alone. God is always with me wherever I am, wherever I go. I lack nothing because my God provides to all my needs. He is indeed my Good Shepherd and I shall not want (Psalm 23).

No matter what danger I go through, I will not be afraid because my God is my Protector! I have been living a good long time already in His sweet presence. He never fails. He is absolutely perfect.

I am full of the Joy of my Lord. I rejoice in Him always. He is my Strength and my Courage. His Holy Spirit leads and guides me at all times. Praise His Holy Name!

My God is so wonderful. I can always talk to Him whenever I need and whenever I want. He is always available and He listens patiently, kindly, lovingly, and compassionately. He is so merciful and gracious. O how I love my God!

Be glorified, O my Holy God! Be exalted! Be praised and adored! I worship You...

Abba Father/Notre Père

Notre Père qui est aux cieux,
Que Ton Nom soit sanctifié,
Que Ton Règne vienne;
Que Ta Volonté soit faite
Sur la terre et comme au ciel....
Donne-nous aujourd'hui notre pain de ce jour.
Pardonne-nous nos offenses
Comme nous pardonnons aussi à ceux
Qui nous ont offensé.
Et ne nous soumet pas à la tentation,
Mais délivre-nous du mal.
À Toi soit le Règne, la Puissance, et la Gloire
Maintenant et pour les siècles et des siècles. Amen. (Matthieu 6:9-13)

Our Father in Heaven
Hallowed be Thy Name
Thy Kingdom come
Thy Will be done
On Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory
Now and forever and ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)

Run the Race, not loving the world system!

 Hebrews 12:1-2 New International Version (NIV)

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 John 2:15-17 New International Version (NIV)

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Let us love one another, for God is Love.

⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
¹³ This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴ And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. ¹⁵ If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. ¹⁶ And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. ¹⁷ This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
¹⁹ We love because he first loved us. ²⁰ Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. ²¹ And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
 (1 John 4:7-21 NIV)

13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:1-14 NIV) 

³ We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. ⁴ Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. ⁵ But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: ⁶ Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
⁷ Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. ⁸ Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.
⁹ Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. ¹⁰ Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. ¹¹ But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.       (1 John 2:3-11 NIV)

¹⁰ This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. ¹¹ For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. ¹² Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. ¹³ Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. ¹⁴ We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. ¹⁵ Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
¹⁶ This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? ¹⁸ Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
¹⁹ This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: ²⁰ If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. ²¹ Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God ²² and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. ²³ And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. ²⁴ The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
 (1 John 3:10-24 NIV)

Final Step in Church discipline towards the persistently unrepentant ones.

Matthew 18 principle has been carefully followed to reach to the level of the church and the person is persistently unrepentant. What to do now? Matthew 18:17 tells us to let him/her be like an unbeliever to us. 

Based upon the Word of God in 2 Thessalonians 3, we are to keep away from them (V 6). We take note of such people but do not associate with them, so that they may be ashamed (V 14). Yet, we must not treat them as enemies, but we are to warn them as brethren (V 15). 

Is this practicing God's love? Yes, it is actually practicing agape love because God kind of love does not delight in iniquity/unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth (1 Cor 13:6).

Pros and cons of Congregationalism

Baptists are congregationalists. Congregationalism is a pure democracy, that is, government by the people under the absolute Lordship of their King of kings Jesus Christ, of God Himself.

The pros and cons of congregationalism are:

Pros:
1. Congregationalism is scriptural. (Matt 20:25-26; 1 Pet 5:3)
2. Discourages centralization.

Cons:
1. If members are not faithfully walking closely with the Lord, congregationalism may breed strife, confusion, and division.
2. The majority is usually right in decision-making if they are walking closely with the Lord. However, if they fail to obey God in their daily personal walk, the vote of the majority in the church matters may not be the good will of the Lord. The church may eventually be led astray, if they do not get back on track promptly.

Ways churches can support missions

Thank God for women like Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong who were mighty instruments of God to raise most significant support for missions so that today we have an IMB and a NAMB which are financially prosperous. Ten ways our churches can continue to grow support of missions are by:

-Regular exegesis and exposition of God's Great Commission.
-Regular teaching on "Giving".
-Promoting the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program.
-Prayer and intercession for missions.
-Organization of mission trips.
-Organization of Mission Day or Week or Month.
-Testimonies and sharing by visiting missionaries.
-Testimonies of those who have been on short mission trips.
-Promotion of literature and films on missions.
-Seminars and Training courses on missions.

The Southern Baptist Cooperative Program is a good program that can help called disciples of Christ to study at seminary level. Without the Cooperative program such chosen vessels of God would have to struggle and stress themselves to earn enough to pay for their expenses as seminary students preparing themselves for God's missions. The fees are costly and without enough support provided by the Cooperative program, some students might have to quit or postpone their studies which is sad.

May God touch the hearts of His people to give faithfully towards the Cooperative Program and missions. Thanks and blessings to all faithful donors towards the Cooperative Program.

I may add that churches can also make use of technology (websites, blogs, emails, Skype...) to communicate with others and grow support for missions too.

May our Lord raise up a great army of missionaries for the advancement of His Kingdom unto His eternal Glory! Amen.

Baptist Convention Model v/s Society Model

Convention Model

It is composed of cooperating churches whose purpose is to support foreign missions, home missions, publications, and theological education. It is a centralized denomination system with a trustful attitude among the churches serving together. 

The pros are:

-Elimination of duplication effort.

-Elimination of duplication of many organized societies.

-Provides opportunity for a centralized budget.

-A way of affirming that God’s primary instrument for accomplishing His Mission in the world is the local church, not just individuals.

-Synergy manifestation: Churches working together manifest that they are all members of the same One Body of Christ, smaller churches being helped by larger ones.

The cons are:

-Tension may occur over churches vying for which ministry is most important.

-Can decrease or reduce the sense of individual participation.

Society Model

 It practices an Individual-based approach with a Single ministry focus. It is composed of individuals or churches who support one particular ministry.

Pros:

-Simpler, less involved denominational structure

-Clearer focus and a committed supporting membership, defined by participation.

-Easier to raise support for one particular visible ministry than for a whole lot of ministries under a generic name (Convention model).

Cons:

-May de-emphasize the role and centrality of the local church.

-May elevate sensational ministries at the expense of more important ministries.

Baptists would enjoy the advantages of both systems if they can have a system of convention composed of societies, if possible.

Love in the Truth!

Landmarkism and Ecumenism are two opposite extremes. The former is overstrict while the latter is overlenient. Landmarkism is too literalistic in its Bible interpretation whereas Ecumenism is over liberal. The former believes that no one will go to Heaven except themselves. The latter believes that everyone will go to Heaven, even those who openly reject Christ and God. My conviction is the right biblical stand is an optimal point in between Landmarkism and Ecumenism. And I think that the Baptist Confession is around that optimal area. More importantly though, Baptists must live out their confession genuinely throughout.

The extent of working alongside or doing ministry with churches of different confessions than the Baptist Confession depends on the extent of the difference:

In Essentials, Unity
In Non-Essentials, Liberty
In All things, Charity

Charity is agape love which covers a multitude of sins (1 Pet 4:8). Love of God (Matt 22:37-38) and others (Matt 5:43-48; 7:12; 22:39) must always prevail in any and every circumstance. Of all christian doctrines, the Commandment of Love is one of the greatest, if not the greatest 'practical doctrine'. 1 Corinthians 13 reminds us of the primordial position of agape love in christian living. Let's uphold the Truth of our Baptist Confession absolutely in Love! (ICor13:6).

Let's always Love in the Truth!

Local Church Fund-raising

Local church fund-raising has both pros and cons. The pros of local church fund-raising are:

1. A means or opportunity of applying the Word of God which teaches about Giving. (2 Cor 9:7-10)
2. A way of raising funds for the poor and needy. (Prov 28:27)
3. A way to provide to the needs of the full-time ministers of the Word.(1 Tim 5:17-18)
4. An opportunity to exercise the gift of giving. (Rom 12:8)
5. A way to provide for the needs of missions and missionaries as they execute the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20)

The cons of local church fund-raising are:

1. If the money is mismanaged and misused, the fund-raising would have caused more harm than good.

Appropriate way to do local church fund-raising:

1. It must be free-will offering not pressured. No manipulation. Giving must be out of a heart of love. (1 Cor 13:3)
2. It must be discreet, not a show or show-off. (Matt 6:1-4)

The Southern Baptist Cooperative Program is a most appropriate way to raise fund towards the execution of the Great Commission. This Program inculcates among Baptists, the spirit of:

-Cooperation and Unity
-Loving and Giving to others
-Blessing God and others
-Association and inter-church fellowship.

The Cooperative Program also alleviates the stress of IMB missionaries having to raise their own financial support like in some other missionary-sending agencies. And Baptist seminary students certainly benefit from the Cooperative Program which allows them to pursue their theological studies. 

May God guide local church fund-raising unto His Glory!

Always obey God first!

The same chapter 13 of the Book of Romans which speaks of submission to Government/State in its first part concludes with the following:

"So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. ¹⁴ Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.^{" NIV}
 

Thus, we are not to commit immorality and sins.

If the Government/State issues a law that tells us to celebrate sexual immorality, how can we do so without disobeying God and His Word? We must obey God before obeying Man.

Furthermore, this same chapter of Romans 13 also teaches us to love one another :

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. ⁹ The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰ Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. NIV

Love does not delight in evil but delights in the Truth (1 Cor 13:6). If the Government or State rejects the Truth and issues a law that tells us to delight in evil or iniquity, how can we do so? Our conscience would not allow us.

When we have no other choice but to obey God first before anyone else including Government/State. We are to submit to the Government/State as long as it does not rebel against our King of kings, the Almighty Creator God. If our Government/State decides to knowingly defy and rebel against the Lord God and His Holy Word, we have to rebel* and choose and honor Our God more than ever faithfully even unto death. So, help us, God. Amen.

* By Christian "rebellion", we do not mean the violent way that the world does it but doing it like in the book of Daniel in the Old Testament (Dan 3:16-18;6:10) and like Peter and John in the New Testament (Acts 4:19-20). This is the kind of stand that honors and glorifies God.

The Christian Mission and Christ's New Commandment

The Christian Mission is the Great Commission of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:16-20). Besides, baptizing the new believers, Christians are to teach them to observe all things that Christ has commanded His disciples. 

A New Commandment of Love (John 13:34-35) was what Jesus gave to His disciples on His Last Supper with His twelve disciples on the eve of His Crucifixion. On this most solemn occasion Christ demonstrated to His disciples how much He loved them through humbling Himself washing and drying their dirty feet (John 13:1-17). Right afterwards, the Lord told them that He has set an example for them to follow (John 13: 12-17). He commanded them to love one another sacrificially even unto death, if necessary (John 15:12-17). 

Therefore, loving one another sacrificially even unto death is what Christians have to exemplify and to teach new disciples to observe and obey.  Our Christian mission is to make disciples, that is people who love one another sacrificially even unto death.

Walk in love without compromising the truth!

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth (1 Cor 13:6 NIV)

And Jesus is the Truth. In John 14:6 NIV, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

God's Word is Truth too. In John 17:17b NIV, Jesus declared in His prayer to Father God: Your word is Truth 

We see in Apostle John and Apostle Paul, and above all in the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, perfect examples of those who live out and practise BOTH Love AND Truth. They did not practise one while neglecting the other. Neither did they emphasize Truth alone forsaking Love nor did they emphasize Love alone forsaking Truth. They lived in both Love AND Truth. So should we. Love walks hand in hand with Truth. We must walk in love always without ever compromising the truth.

Yes, Love does not delight in evil (lies, falsehood, immorality, corruption...) but rejoices in the truth (1 Cor 13:6 NIV).

Unity, Liberty, and Charity

Among all churches, let there be: 

Unity in Essentials
Liberty in Non-Essentials
Charity in all things!

Examples of Essentials:
-One God in three persons-The Holy Trinity
-The perfect humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ
-Christ's Virgin Birth
-Christ's miracles, crucifixion, death, resurrection, ascension, and second coming
-Inerrancy and infallibility of God's Holy Word

Examples of Non-Essentials:
-Worship style
-Languages used
-Carpet and Curtain Color in church buildings
-The physical elements used in the Holy Communion
-Missions Strategies
-Evangelism approaches
-Different leaders'personalities

Value of cooperating with other Baptist congregations

There is great positive value in cooperating with other congregations on the conditions that they all share a common commitment:

-To love God with all their hearts, minds and strength, and to love one another as Christ loved them.

-To the Gospel.

-To the fundamental Baptist distinctives such as Regenerate church membership, Believers' baptism, congressional baptist polity, church discipline, Lord's Supper as solemn remembrance of the Lord, religious freedom, and separation of church and state.

-To serve together in the execution of the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20).

The topmost primordial prerequisite for a most fruitful God-pleasing and God-glorifying cooperative endeavor among Baptist congregations is loving God absolutely and one another sacrificially unto death (Matt 22:36-40; John 13:34-35; 15:12,17; 1 John 3:16).

Gospel invitation in the church worship service

Integrity and purity of motive of the preacher is most important when issuing a public invitation following the preaching of the Word. There is the danger of falsely assuring those who come in front of the church that their walking up, or emotional response, or tears proves their conversion. On the other hand, not offering the invitation is missing an opportunity for a public response to the Gospel. So, the real problem does not lie in the invitation (done in pure motive) itself, but rather in false assurance of guarantee of salvation.

As the Word of God is powerful and effective unto salvation ( 1 Cor 1:18) and following Christ is, in fact, a public endeavor and lifestyle, it is appropriate to provide the opportunity for a lost soul to respond without delay following the hearing of the Good News of Salvation. The key is integrity and pure motivation from the preacher and sincerity from the heart of the lost soul. The meaning and significance of becoming a true disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ should be clearly explained to the one who walks up in front. Well-organized follow-up ministry is also essential to those who would respond positively.

Who can limit the Sovereign omnipotent omniscient God? He has saved people truly by both private and public invitations, and otherwise. We must not exaggerate or be in any extreme but rather be balanced.

Let's just make sure that everything is done in purity, integrity, and true faith (Rom 14:23). We must certainly not neglect the power of prayers in all ministries.

God is absolutely sovereign. He is omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent. Who dare to restrict Him in His move? We need to recognize also that we are nothing and can do nothing without Him (John 15:4-5). No evangelism or invitation must be done in the flesh. We are to do it only when led by the Holy Spirit, not otherwise. This is why it is essential that we abide in Christ continually so that we become discerning too (John 15:1-9).

The Lord's Supper

 The Lord Jesus declared in I Cor 11:24-26 (NASB)

²⁴ and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” ²⁵ In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” ²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

The Lord's Supper is a commemorative ordinance to be observed by the Scriptural Church in memory of the Savior whose body was broken and whose blood was shed on our behalf (1 Cor 11:24).

Only baptized believers have a right to partake of the Lord's Supper. The Great Commission of Our Lord in Matthew 28:18-20 commands that the new disciples be baptized and then be taught to observe all things that Christ has commanded His disciples. And one important thing the Lord had commanded was the partaking of His Memorial Supper. To partake of the Lord's Supper before baptism is to disobey this God-given order. And if we encourage anyone to violate the Lord's instruction on this matter we shall be partakers of their sin. It is a sin to invite unbaptized people to partake of the Lord's Supper.

In Acts 2:41-42 (NKJV), please note the order:

1. gladly received His Word -Disciples
2. were baptized - Baptized disciples
3. that day... were added to them- Church members
4. continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine - Sound in faith
5. and fellowship - United in love and faith
6. breaking of bread, and in prayers - Partaking of the the Lord's Supper

This is the divine order: Close Communion.

By close, I mean participants must be those who have experienced the believers' baptism. And the invitation is made by the celebrant specifying this condition for participation + self-examination (1 Cor 11:27-34). 

Everything must be done with a pure heart in solemn remembrance of the precious Lord Jesus Christ. It is most important that the partakers of the Holy Communion be regenerated Christians (I Cor 10:14-21; 11:23-26) and who are walking truly in love of God and one another as the Lord commanded during His Last Supper (John 13:34-35). They must not be in disunity (I Cor 11:18-22; John 17:20-23) and guilty of sin as they run the terrible risk of being judged by the Almighty God (I Cor 11:27-34). This could be fatal. Thus, it is so important to self-examine oneself carefully before partaking of the Holy Communion with other believers.

We are to teach the truth of the Word of God, to admonish, to exhort, to warn one another-all in love, but it is Our Sovereign Holy God who is the final Righteous Judge of a person's real inner heart and spiritual condition though.

Dealing with false teaching in local churches

False teaching is dangerous and can lead people astray if not checked. 

For example, 1 John was addressed to the believers (1 John 2:12-14, 19; 3:1; 5:13) of the churches of Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Some years earlier, in A.D 85, John had written his Gospel to show that Jesus was the Christ (John 20:31). Meanwhile, the heresy of Gnosticism which denies the Incarnation and the Atonement has infiltrated the churches. The deceived followers had left the church causing a schism and crisis (1 John 2:19). Consequently, John wrote his epistle to expose and combat the heretics (1 John 2:26), and to give assurance of salvation to the believers (1 John 5:13).

Right in the very beginning of his message (1 John 1:1-4), Apostle John testifies courageously of the Incarnation. He proclaims that the Word of Life, who was at the very beginning of time (John 1:1), has been revealed in human flesh. The invisible God has manifested Himself in visible human flesh through the Incarnation of His Son Jesus Christ. 

We need to follow Apostle John's example of combating courageously any false teaching that can deceive the children of God. We must not be afraid to always speak up and stand up for the holy truth of Our Most Holy God everywhere and especially in our local churches.

 Apostle John was the apostle of love. He was the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 13:23; 21;20). He was Jesus' closest disciple. In his epistle 1 John, he spoke and instructed his recipients on loving one another a lot ( 1 John 3:14,16-17; 4:7, 11-12, 17-18, 21; 5:1). He, the apostle who centers on love, also stood firmly upon the truth and combated false teachings most courageously. Love does not condone lies and falsehood but rather rejoices in the truth (1 Cor 13:6). By the way, John was a very elderly man when the issue arose. Even so, he stood up to the challenge and defended the Truth bravely. What an inspiring example to us! And what an infinite blessing is the First epistle of John down through all the centuries to this day! 

I see in Apostle John (and Apostle Paul, and above all the Lord Jesus Christ Himself) as perfect examples of living out and practicing BOTH Love/Unity AND Truth. They did not practice one neglecting the other. They did not emphasize Truth alone forsaking Love/Unity. They did not emphasize Love/Unity alone forsaking the Truth. So, should we! Love/Unity walk hand in hand with Truth. Love does not delight in evil (lies, falsehood...) but rejoices in the truth (1 Cor 13:6).

Missions and Evangelism by the local church

Missions and evangelism is very important in the local church because God has commanded it (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8). No one can be saved without receiving the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Savior (John 3:16). 

God declares through Apostle Paul in Romans 10: 13, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Then, the Apostle continues in verse 14 and 15: " How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Saved members in local churches must be so filled with thanksgiving and gratitude to their Savior that they are determined to consecrate the rest of their lives to love and serve God and others. God wants no one to perish but everyone to come to repentance and faith in Him (2 Peter 3:9). So, all regenerated local churches must actively do missions and evangelism until Jesus Christ returns. 

Loving and obeying God through biblical ecclesiological practice

We will be blessed by God if we do all we can to practise the right biblical doctrines and ecclesiology faithfully:-

-Lordship of Jesus Christ
-Authority of the inspired and inerrant Holy Scriptures
-Regenerate church membership
-Believers' baptism
-Church discipline
-Pure Holy Communion
-Congregationalist Polity
-Text-driven expository preaching
-Execution of the Great Commission
-Liberty of conscience
-Separation of Church and State

Obedience to God and His Holy Word is an evidence and manifestation of loving God (Matt 22:36-40). And we thank God and celebrate with all churches who do practice biblically sound doctrines and ecclesiology. Concerning those who do not know these truths, we pray for them and trust God that they will be enlightened in due time. This would be a way of loving our neighbor as God requires of us.

May God's Love always prevail!

Baptists seem to have got the right biblical doctrines about:

-Regenerate church membership
-Believers' Baptism by immersion
-Theo-democracy/Congregationalism
-Church Discipline
-The Lord's Supper symbolizing the body and blood of Christ

If a church is indeed practising all the right doctrines, the brethren must make sure that they are doing so in godly love, because there is the danger of practicing all the biblical doctrines in a legalistic fashion without the Holy Spirit anointing and Christ's servant attitude. Our Lord's New Commandment of loving one another sacrificially unto death (John 13:34-35; I John 3:16-18) should always be prevailing in all our ecclesiological practice.

May all our choices and decisions we make concerning Membership, Baptism, Confession, Holy communion, etc..., be motivated by and done in obedience to God's Greatest Commandment of Love upon which Our Lord said, depend all the law and the Prophets (Matt 22:37-40)!

Doctrinal Confessions

The aim of confessions are twofold: to those outside, they explain, defend, and clarify the Baptist Faith. To those within the Baptist fold, the confessions educate, unify, and confirm the faithful.
Most of the confessions are timely, in the sense that they addressed issues of intense concern at that time, but which may be of less interest today (e.g hymn singing, laying of hands on new converts). By the same token, many issues of urgent concern to Baptists today were not included in the early confessions, probably not even thought of by early Baptists. (Ref. Leon McBeth, The Baptist Heritage pp 68-69)

 
At all levels of ministry: local church, associations, national, and international organizations, we must always uphold the Holy Scriptures! It must be absolutely clear to everyone that Confessions are man-made in contrast to the Holy Bible which is God's Divine Word (II Timothy 3:16). It is inerrant and infallible from Genesis to Revelation.

We do value Doctrinal Confessions as long as they do not contradict God's Word. They must always be tested with the Holy Bible as the Absolute Reference and Standard. Confessions should always be subjected to change if proven unbiblical, but not the Bible (Revelation 22:18-19). The Bible is divinely inspired through the Holy Spirit and is complete! Amen.

Biblical Baptism

Baptism signifies forgiveness of sins, inner transformation of mind and heart, and a pledge of a life of obedient discipleship. By receiving baptism, the believer declares publicly that one has submitted oneself to one's brothers and sisters, that is the church. If one transgresses, they have the power to admonish, punish, exclude, and restore (Matthew 18:15-17). 

So, believers' baptism should be reserved for committed disciples only. It has no meaning where faith in Christ is absent. Baptism by water should never be administered without prior profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Baptism in water is not what cleanses the soul, but the 'yes' of a good conscience toward God, given inwardly by faith. Baptism for the believer symbolizes his newness of life and his determination to follow Christ even unto death.

It was to the Church that the Great Commission was given. Only the Church has authority to baptize. All baptisms administered without the scriptural church authority are null and void. 

Scriptural baptism is the water immersion of a saved person by the authority of a scriptural church. And water baptism by immersion is a beautiful symbol of our identification with Our Lord's death, burial, and resurrection.

The value of a regenerate church membership

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who is the absolute Head of His Church taught in John 3:3,7 that we must be born again to see the kingdom of God. He also taught that we can do nothing without Him (John 15:5). So, rebirth or regeneration is the very beginning or starting point for a christian life. The true church is made up of such born-again or regenerated believers, not unregenerate ones!

The value of regenerate church membership in the local church is enormous. Through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit received through rebirth/regeneration, the church can experience:

-True love and unity
-True discernment and wisdom
-Patience, Gentleness, Kindness, Humility, Self-Control, Meekness...

In other words, the manifestation of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is facilitated (Galatians 5:22-23). On the other hand, an unregenerate "church" would manifest the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21).

Furthermore, Baptism, being a public declaration of Christian Faith and a solemn pledge of obedient discipleship (Matthew 28:18-20), and the Lord's Supper, being a true expression of agape love (John 13: 1-17; 31-35) would find their rightful meaning, significance, and expression in a regenerate church membership.

A regenerate church membership would be more obedient to the Lord's New Commandment of Love agape (John 13:34-35) and be more united in Christ (John 17:21-23). Such a body of believers would be more effective in executing the Great Commission of Our Lord (Matthew 28:18-20).

A regenerate church membership is most significant in value. It is a church composed of born-again believers who got the Holy Spirit in them. Without the Holy Spirit one cannot really live out the New Commandment of Christ (John 13:35). How can unregenerate sinners love one another as Christ has loved His disciples sacrificially unto death on the Cross? This kind of agape love does require a divine enabling power, the Holy Spirit, to manifest Himself. Thus, it is vital that the Body of Christ, the Church, is a regenerate one. Otherwise, it is a mixture of spiritually dead members mingled among the saved ones. Would this not be an unnecessary tough handicap for Church Ministry and Mission (Matthew 28:18-20)?

Be healed in the Name of Our Lord God!

1. (Exodus 15:26 NKJV) and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you."

2. (Deuteronomy 32:39 NKJV) 'Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.

3. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV) "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

4. (Psalms 30:2 NKJV) O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.

5. (Psalms 6:2 NKJV) Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled.

6. (Psalms 103:1-4 NKJV) Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! {2} Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: {3} Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, {4} Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

7. (Psalms 107:20 NKJV) He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.

8. (Psalms 147:3 NKJV) He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.

9. (Proverbs 3:7-8 NKJV) Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. {8} It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.

10. (Proverbs 4:20-22 NKJV) My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. {21} Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; {22} For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.

11. (Isaiah 53:5 NKJV) But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

12. (Isaiah 58:8 NKJV) Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

13. (Isaiah 61:1 NKJV) "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

14. (Jeremiah 3:22 NKJV) "Return, you backsliding children, And I will heal your backslidings." "Indeed we do come to You, For You are the LORD our God.

15. (Jeremiah 17:14 NKJV) Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise.

16. (Jeremiah 30:17 NKJV) For I will restore health to you And heal you of your wounds,' says the LORD, 'Because they called you an outcast saying: "This is Zion; No one seeks her."'

17. (Jeremiah 33:6 NKJV) 'Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth.

18. (Hosea 6:1 NKJV) Come, and let us return to the LORD; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up.

19. (Hosea 14:4 NKJV) "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, For My anger has turned away from him.

20. (Malachi 4:2 NKJV) But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.

21. (Matthew 4:23 NKJV) And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

22. (Matthew 8:13 NKJV) Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you." And his servant was healed that same hour.

23. (Matthew 8:16 NKJV) When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,

24. (Matthew 9:35 NKJV) Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

25. (Matthew 10:1 NKJV) And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

26. (Matthew 10:8 NKJV) "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

27. (Matthew 12:22 NKJV) Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.

28. (Matthew 14:14 NKJV) And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

29. (Luke 6:19 NKJV) And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.

30. (Luke 9:6 NKJV) So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.(The twelve are sent out)

31. (Luke 10:8-9 NKJV) "Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. {9} "And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'(The seventy are sent out)

32. (Luke 17:15 NKJV) And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God,(The story of the ten lepers)

33. (Acts 3:12 NKJV) So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

34. (Healing of the lame man at the Gate Beautiful) (Acts 4:29-31 NKJV) "Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, {30} "by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." {31} And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

35. (1 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV) to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,

36. (James 5:14-16 NKJV) Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. {15} And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. {16} Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

37. (Revelation 22:2 NKJV) In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

38. (Luke 8:47 NKJV) Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.

39. (Luke 8:48 NKJV) And He said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace."

40. (Luke 5:17 NKJV) Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

Ref. Copied from the Internet on 05/19/2015