Romans 3:21 (NKJV): But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets.
In King James Version, it's written this way: But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets. The word 'righteousness' here is 'dikaiosune' (meaning 'justification') in Greek, from the word 'dikaios', which means 'right, justice, innocent, holy'. 'Apart from the law' because Jesus has already satisfied and fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17) when He died on the cross, witnessed by the law and the prophecies from of old (say, from the prophet Isaiah).
Romans 3:22-24 then follows, '... even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ...'
The word 'justified' here is 'dikaioo' in Greek (also from the word 'dikaios'), meaning 'to render you (or regard you) as innocent, just, free'. Imagine the judge in the court of law giving you a verdict, and pronounces you innocent and free. That's exactly who you are in God's eyes today! And this is all because of what Jesus Christ has done for you on the cross some 2,000 years ago! He took upon Himself your sins and your punishment, so that in exchange, you have His 'dikaiosune'. Now, does He deserve all these? No! Do you deserve His 'dikaiosune'? No! For all have sinned and 'fallen short'! A sin is a sin, and a sin has to be punished! Yet, knowing that you cannot save yourself (for the wages of sin is death - Romans 6:23), and because of His great love for you, He was willing to send His only begotten Son (Jesus) to die for you, so that His Son would take upon Himself your sin and punishment instead (John 3:16, Isaiah 53).
Romans 5:8-9 says, 'But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified ('dikaioo') by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him (Christ)'. So, today, as a believer, know that God is not angry with you any more, because you are in Christ! The Bible also says this is a gift from God (Romans 5:17-19), to be received by faith (i.e. a believing heart), knowing that we cannot earn it by ourselves.
Jesus Himself has also become the propitiation (i.e. mercy seat) for you (Romans 3:25-26). This word 'propitiation' can be translated as 'an atoning victim'. In other words, when Jesus died for you on the cross, He has also become the 'atoning victim' for you, so that you can be 'at-one' (reconciled and in right standing) again with God! (See also Leviticus 16:14-16 for the 'typology')
2 Corinthians 5:21 says, 'For He made Him (Christ) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness ('dikaiosune') of God in Him (Christ)'. King David saw this truth long before Jesus came, saying, "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin." (see Romans 4:7-8, Psalm 32:1-2) And today, as a believer, you are one of those whom King David spoke of those days!
Let's now cross-refer to the Old Testament. Isaiah 54:14 says, 'In righteousness, you shall be established; (and therefore) you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you'. Isaiah 54:17 then says, 'No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment, you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me (the Lord)'.
Isaiah 41:10 (KJV) says, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness." This word 'righteousness' is 'tsedeq' in Hebrew, meaning 'right, just' (from the word 'tsadaq' meaning 'to be forgiven, made right, justified, clear, cleansed'). Also, 'right hand' here means 'the stronger part'. You know what? Today, this prophecy has come to pass, and He is now showing Himself strong to you and for you! And if He is for you, who can be against you? (Romans 8:31)
So, if you are believing God for healing to your body today, believe first that you are righteous (i.e. forgiven, made right, justified, clear, cleansed), and your healing shall flow (see also Psalm 103:3 - notice that forgiveness comes first, then healing). Guilt blocks healing to flow. Why are some people not getting healed? And sometimes even after confessing many healing verses from the Bible? The answer lies in the sense of guilt within that person (that sub-consciously causes him to think that he deserves his punishment). In short, a guilt-free life leads to a victorious life! So, let go of your past guilt, no matter how difficult it is to let go. His grace is sufficient for you, and He's here to help you (Isaiah 41:10).
Proverbs 4:18 then gives you a tremendous promise, saying, '... the path of the just (from the same word 'tsadaq') is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day' (KJV). The New International Version says it this way: 'The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day'. And that's exactly what you'll see happening in your life, as you continue to be 'righteous-conscious', instead of 'guilt-conscious'!
No wonder Jesus Himself said these words: "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness ('dikaiosune'), and all these things (i.e. all good things flowing) shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33) Believing, you'll have it. Amen!
Note: Being 'righteous-conscious' here is different from being 'self-righteous'. To be 'righteous-conscious' is also to know that it's by faith (believing heart) that we are made righteous (i.e. justified). It's His righteousness being imputed on us (i.e. laid upon us), not self-earned; and it's by His grace (His ability) that we have it, not ours.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit
Matthew 27:45-46 (NKJV): Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?"
A sin is a sin, and a sin has to be punished! This is God's unchanging 'standard'. Yet, knowing that you cannot save yourself from eternal damnation and punishment (for all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory - see Romans 3:23, and the wages of sin is death - see Romans 6:23), and because of His great love for you, He was willing to send His only begotten Son (Jesus) to die for you, so that His Son would take upon Himself your sin and punishment instead (see John 3:16, Isaiah 53).
God the Father and God the Son are inseparable. But yet, because of God's great love for you, they had to separate (Matthew 27:45-46). Again, sin is sin, and sin cannot 'mix' with the holiness of God. But Jesus took upon Himself all your sins (2 Corinthians 5:21), and therefore He had to be separated (forsaken) from God the Father. At that time, darkness also hovered over all the land (Matthew 27:45). Indeed, what happened in the spiritual realm (between God the Father and God the Son) was also reflected in the physical realm then and there. In other words, the 'sun' lost its 'light' (i.e. glory)!
If the 'sun' represents God the Father, then 'light' represents God the Son. Imagine you wake up in the morning one day, and the 'sun' doesn't shine! The truth is the 'sun' without its 'light' is no 'sun' at all! The same also goes with 'heat'. Imagine you wake up in the morning again, and the 'sun' fails to release heat! The 'sun' without its 'heat' is also no 'sun' at all!
So, again, if the 'sun' represents God the Father, and 'light' represents God the Son, then surely 'heat' therefore represents God the Holy Spirit. These three are One, and inseparable. As a matter of fact, without any of these three, the 'sun' is no 'sun' at all! This is indeed a clear reflection of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit! As a matter of fact, what is in the spiritual realm is reflected in the physical realm.
Now God forbid that we Christians worship the physical sun (for the physical sun is only a creation of God), but yet God has also given us a clear 'sign' in the form of the physical sun, so that we'll understand who our God is, 'Three in One', but One God. Amen!
A sin is a sin, and a sin has to be punished! This is God's unchanging 'standard'. Yet, knowing that you cannot save yourself from eternal damnation and punishment (for all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory - see Romans 3:23, and the wages of sin is death - see Romans 6:23), and because of His great love for you, He was willing to send His only begotten Son (Jesus) to die for you, so that His Son would take upon Himself your sin and punishment instead (see John 3:16, Isaiah 53).
God the Father and God the Son are inseparable. But yet, because of God's great love for you, they had to separate (Matthew 27:45-46). Again, sin is sin, and sin cannot 'mix' with the holiness of God. But Jesus took upon Himself all your sins (2 Corinthians 5:21), and therefore He had to be separated (forsaken) from God the Father. At that time, darkness also hovered over all the land (Matthew 27:45). Indeed, what happened in the spiritual realm (between God the Father and God the Son) was also reflected in the physical realm then and there. In other words, the 'sun' lost its 'light' (i.e. glory)!
If the 'sun' represents God the Father, then 'light' represents God the Son. Imagine you wake up in the morning one day, and the 'sun' doesn't shine! The truth is the 'sun' without its 'light' is no 'sun' at all! The same also goes with 'heat'. Imagine you wake up in the morning again, and the 'sun' fails to release heat! The 'sun' without its 'heat' is also no 'sun' at all!
So, again, if the 'sun' represents God the Father, and 'light' represents God the Son, then surely 'heat' therefore represents God the Holy Spirit. These three are One, and inseparable. As a matter of fact, without any of these three, the 'sun' is no 'sun' at all! This is indeed a clear reflection of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit! As a matter of fact, what is in the spiritual realm is reflected in the physical realm.
Now God forbid that we Christians worship the physical sun (for the physical sun is only a creation of God), but yet God has also given us a clear 'sign' in the form of the physical sun, so that we'll understand who our God is, 'Three in One', but One God. Amen!
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
God is good to you in the widest sense!
Psalm 34:8 (NKJV): Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
The word 'good' in this verse is 'towb' in Hebrew, and it can mean 'beautiful, bountiful, cheerful, wellness (health), favor, kindness, grace, prosperity, wealth, welfare, pleasure, sweetness'. As you can see, this word 'towb' speaks of God's goodness for you in the widest sense! In other words, 'Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good to you in the widest sense!'
Psalm 34:9-10 follows: 'Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing'. The word 'good' here is also translated as 'towb' in Hebrew. So, in other words, those who seek the Lord shall not lack any of God's goodness ('towb') in the widest sense. Hallelujah!
Note: 'To fear Him' in this context is 'to have a deep reverence and respect for Him, knowing that He is the One Great, 'All-possible', and Almighty God who loves and cares for you'. As a child of God, you can therefore put all your trust in Him when you look to Him and seek Him.
Let's go on a little further. Psalm 34:11-12 then says, 'Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?' Again, this word 'good' is also the same word 'towb'. You know what? Those who seek Him, listen to Him (as the sheep listens to the Shepherd's voice - John 10:27), and desire 'life' (He is the way, the truth, and the life) shall see His goodness ('towb') in the widest sense. In cross-reference, Psalm 91:16 says, 'With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation'.
Let's now move on to Psalm 23:1. It says, 'The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want'. While the young lions may still lack and suffer hunger (Psalm 34:10), those who look to Him and trust Him (as sheep to the Shepherd) 'shall not want', and of course, 'shall not be found wanting'!
As you look to Him as your Shepherd (YHWH Raah), Psalm 23 then ends with this promise: 'Surely goodness ('towb') and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life; and you shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever' (see Psalm 23:6). Amazingly, the word 'follow' here in Hebrew actually means 'to run after, to chase, to pursue, or to hunt after'! So, I can paraphrase Psalm 23:6 this way: 'Surely His goodness ('towb') and mercy shall run after you, chase you, pursue you, and hunt after you all the days of your life'!
Just study the life of David and you'll see the evidence. Even at some of his lowest ebbs of his life, God's goodness still never failed to 'hunt after' him (wherever he escaped to) in spite of whatever Saul tried to do to him. From his very hiding in the Adullam cave (1 Samuel 22:1), he then raised up an army among the distressed, those who were in debt, and the bitter of soul (1 Samuel 22:2-5), and eventually went on to become the King of Judah! Note: 'Cave' here speaks of 'a refuge that was not to be, out in the cold', whereas 'Judah' speaks of 'celebration, praises, worship'.
People of God, whatever your situation may be at the moment, like David, you too are not meant to be in the 'cave' for long, but you are meant to be in 'the land of Judah'!
Elsewhere in the Bible, the same word 'towb' is also mentioned in Exodus 33:18-19. Here, Moses said to the Lord, "Please, show me Your glory." The Lord then answered, "I will make all My goodness ('towb') pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you." Notice the word 'all' here?
Do you see it clearer now? Indeed, God is good to you in the widest sense! And not just that, His goodness ('towb') also goes before you (Exodus 33:19) and after you (Psalm 23:6). Hallelujah!
"But, pastor, this is too good to be true! You are just preaching a 'feel-good' message that sounds pleasing to the ear!" No, I'm just preaching the unadulterated Word of God, as it is.
People of God, God's goodness begins with you seeking Him and trusting in Him, instead of men or organizations. In turbulent, uncertain, and changing times like this, believe that you can still 'taste and see' that the Lord is good to you (in the widest sense), because the truth is your God hasn't changed, and His Word for you hasn't changed either. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
So, let's take Him at His Word, and as it is, no matter what you see happening in the world today. Blessed are you indeed, because Jeremiah 17:7-8 says, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes, but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit." Believing, you'll have it. Amen!
The word 'good' in this verse is 'towb' in Hebrew, and it can mean 'beautiful, bountiful, cheerful, wellness (health), favor, kindness, grace, prosperity, wealth, welfare, pleasure, sweetness'. As you can see, this word 'towb' speaks of God's goodness for you in the widest sense! In other words, 'Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good to you in the widest sense!'
Psalm 34:9-10 follows: 'Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing'. The word 'good' here is also translated as 'towb' in Hebrew. So, in other words, those who seek the Lord shall not lack any of God's goodness ('towb') in the widest sense. Hallelujah!
Note: 'To fear Him' in this context is 'to have a deep reverence and respect for Him, knowing that He is the One Great, 'All-possible', and Almighty God who loves and cares for you'. As a child of God, you can therefore put all your trust in Him when you look to Him and seek Him.
Let's go on a little further. Psalm 34:11-12 then says, 'Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?' Again, this word 'good' is also the same word 'towb'. You know what? Those who seek Him, listen to Him (as the sheep listens to the Shepherd's voice - John 10:27), and desire 'life' (He is the way, the truth, and the life) shall see His goodness ('towb') in the widest sense. In cross-reference, Psalm 91:16 says, 'With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation'.
Let's now move on to Psalm 23:1. It says, 'The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want'. While the young lions may still lack and suffer hunger (Psalm 34:10), those who look to Him and trust Him (as sheep to the Shepherd) 'shall not want', and of course, 'shall not be found wanting'!
As you look to Him as your Shepherd (YHWH Raah), Psalm 23 then ends with this promise: 'Surely goodness ('towb') and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life; and you shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever' (see Psalm 23:6). Amazingly, the word 'follow' here in Hebrew actually means 'to run after, to chase, to pursue, or to hunt after'! So, I can paraphrase Psalm 23:6 this way: 'Surely His goodness ('towb') and mercy shall run after you, chase you, pursue you, and hunt after you all the days of your life'!
Just study the life of David and you'll see the evidence. Even at some of his lowest ebbs of his life, God's goodness still never failed to 'hunt after' him (wherever he escaped to) in spite of whatever Saul tried to do to him. From his very hiding in the Adullam cave (1 Samuel 22:1), he then raised up an army among the distressed, those who were in debt, and the bitter of soul (1 Samuel 22:2-5), and eventually went on to become the King of Judah! Note: 'Cave' here speaks of 'a refuge that was not to be, out in the cold', whereas 'Judah' speaks of 'celebration, praises, worship'.
People of God, whatever your situation may be at the moment, like David, you too are not meant to be in the 'cave' for long, but you are meant to be in 'the land of Judah'!
Elsewhere in the Bible, the same word 'towb' is also mentioned in Exodus 33:18-19. Here, Moses said to the Lord, "Please, show me Your glory." The Lord then answered, "I will make all My goodness ('towb') pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you." Notice the word 'all' here?
Do you see it clearer now? Indeed, God is good to you in the widest sense! And not just that, His goodness ('towb') also goes before you (Exodus 33:19) and after you (Psalm 23:6). Hallelujah!
"But, pastor, this is too good to be true! You are just preaching a 'feel-good' message that sounds pleasing to the ear!" No, I'm just preaching the unadulterated Word of God, as it is.
People of God, God's goodness begins with you seeking Him and trusting in Him, instead of men or organizations. In turbulent, uncertain, and changing times like this, believe that you can still 'taste and see' that the Lord is good to you (in the widest sense), because the truth is your God hasn't changed, and His Word for you hasn't changed either. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
So, let's take Him at His Word, and as it is, no matter what you see happening in the world today. Blessed are you indeed, because Jeremiah 17:7-8 says, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes, but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit." Believing, you'll have it. Amen!
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