Romans 6: 12-14
Now that we have died to sin and have been raised in righteousness, how should we respond to it? We are called to no longer offer our bodies to sin but to offer our bodies as instruments of righteousness. It sounds easy but it is a great challenge. Lets look at the different parts of our bodies.
Mind
It starts from here. The mind controls the body’s actions. Further in Romans 12:1, Paul says we are to offer ourselves to God by being renewed in the mind. Basically, what you do with your mind determines what you will become as a Christian. If our minds are occupied with secular things like money, career advancement, material gain, fame, etc, we will live our lives according to it. But if we fill our minds with the things of God, by being disciplined in reading the bible, reading Christian literature, have godly conversations, we will realise that there’s no better way to learn biblical truths than this. Then we will grow in godliness.
Eyes and Ears
Calculate the amount of time you spend watching trashy soap operas and listening to secular music that teach all the wrong ideas. How many secular books or magazines have we turned to for self-help? Honestly, all the help we need is from the bible. If you haven’t realised by now, these secular media bombard you with godless ideas. Their messages build around personal gratification and self-worship. In other words, they deny and oppose God. How is anyone to grow spiritually if all he or she does is watch or read all these secular material? How many hours do we spend exposing ourselves to such secularism? How can we claim to contend for the faith if we get caught up with these wrong beliefs? What if we commit the same amount of time to praying and studying the bible?
Tongues
The tongue might look small and meek but it is the deadliest organ in the body (James 3:5-6). As a matter of fact, it can potentially cause a war between countries. The first sin we commit with our tongues is boasting. We proclaim about our own strengths and not the greatness of God. Then we use our tongues to lie to escape consequences or have something done our way. Then we gossip and spread malice among members of the body, compromising the unity of the body of Christ. How many times have our very words hurt the feelings of others? If we can memorise the lyrics of so many secular songs, there is no reason for us to not be able to worship God the same way, by singing his praises and reciting scripture. If we have the time to participate in idle chatter, how is it that we do not have time to tell others about Jesus? Remember our purpose, now that we are no longer in sin. Every Christian has a calling, and it is to witness (Acts 1:8).
Hands and Feet
Our hands and feet determine what we do and where we go. Paul mentions in 1 The 4:11-12 that we are to use our hands profitably, so that we may win the respect of outsiders and not be dependent on anybody. In Eph 4:28, Paul says that we are to do something useful with our hands so that we have something to share. We do not only want to avoid idleness but also, we are to allow others to benefit from our profits. Where do we allow our feet to take us? Do we spend most of our time in entertainment areas or attending social parties? Do these take precedence over the time we should spend worshipping God or studying his word? Here’s a challenge. For every secular function we attend, are we able to spend the same amount of time attending a Christian function or reading the bible? If we absorb ourselves more into the world, we will have the tendency to follow its ways and desires.
Dear friends, we have been made alive in Christ and sin should no longer have mastery over us. Take heed and do not be influenced into secularism and be fooled into thinking your spiritual life is doing well. When we promised to follow God, we promised to use our bodies for his purpose (Remember Romans 12:1 and 1Cor 6:19). And it is by grace that we are able to offer ourselves. We will do well by not taking it for granted.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Farewell Katet of Gilead
Gone are the days of Katet, we are moving on.
I never knew these people mean a bunch to me. Now that we're all moving on, my heart seems heavy laden. We're like a bunch of students graduating and possibly not seeing each other ever again.
We shared many hard moments and wonderful victories.
I never knew these people mean a bunch to me. Now that we're all moving on, my heart seems heavy laden. We're like a bunch of students graduating and possibly not seeing each other ever again.
We shared many hard moments and wonderful victories.
This was a photo taken 2 years back. We celebrated Wintersday 2005 together. It was a blast really.
I’ll miss you all.
I’ll miss you all.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Guild Wars - Sugar Rush
It's always the little things in Guild Wars that make me happy. This time it's the sweet things that bring a smile.
In the world of Tyria, the citizens celebrate many festivities and there're sweets to go along with it! How cool is that?
This is the Birthday Cupcake which was made available during the Guild Wars 2nd Birthday event. Random foes drop it in every continent. It is also exchangeable for 10 victory tokens from any Zaishen Supply Master.
The Candy Apple is only available during Halloween. It is really very cute. However, I'm anti-halloween and I don't celebrate this festivity.
No prizes for guessing where the Chocolate Bunny comes from. It's Easter of course! And you can only get this item during the Easter weekend. They drop by any monster at random.
The Crème Brûlée can be bought for 10 victory tokens. Otherwise, it can be found from Zaishen Chest, which can only be opened with a Zaishen key. In my Guild Wars posts to come, I'll talk about keys.
The Fruit Cake is obtainable only during Wintersday that just came and gone. Sadly, it is also available only during the season. It is also a possible reward from the chest at the end of the dungeon Secret Lair of the Snowmen.
The Honeycomb is an item that can only by found in the Guild Wars Expansion, Eye of The North. It is a quest reward for A Hunter's Pride. It can also be obtained by exchanging 8 Stone crawl necklaces.
The only sweet that's easily obtained, the Red Bean Cake can be bought at any merchant in Cantha for 400g. It can also be obtained from the Dragon Festival as a Festive Prize.
These are just 6 kinds of sweets out of many more found in Tyria. And these add to the Sweet Tooth title. Different sweets also have different uses in-game, though some can only be consumed in an outpost.
And that's it for this post on Guild Wars.
In the world of Tyria, the citizens celebrate many festivities and there're sweets to go along with it! How cool is that?
This is the Birthday Cupcake which was made available during the Guild Wars 2nd Birthday event. Random foes drop it in every continent. It is also exchangeable for 10 victory tokens from any Zaishen Supply Master. The Candy Apple is only available during Halloween. It is really very cute. However, I'm anti-halloween and I don't celebrate this festivity.No prizes for guessing where the Chocolate Bunny comes from. It's Easter of course! And you can only get this item during the Easter weekend. They drop by any monster at random. The Crème Brûlée can be bought for 10 victory tokens. Otherwise, it can be found from Zaishen Chest, which can only be opened with a Zaishen key. In my Guild Wars posts to come, I'll talk about keys.The Fruit Cake is obtainable only during Wintersday that just came and gone. Sadly, it is also available only during the season. It is also a possible reward from the chest at the end of the dungeon Secret Lair of the Snowmen. The Honeycomb is an item that can only by found in the Guild Wars Expansion, Eye of The North. It is a quest reward for A Hunter's Pride. It can also be obtained by exchanging 8 Stone crawl necklaces. The only sweet that's easily obtained, the Red Bean Cake can be bought at any merchant in Cantha for 400g. It can also be obtained from the Dragon Festival as a Festive Prize.These are just 6 kinds of sweets out of many more found in Tyria. And these add to the Sweet Tooth title. Different sweets also have different uses in-game, though some can only be consumed in an outpost.
And that's it for this post on Guild Wars.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Le Grand Chef
It's one dramatic film that reminds me of Ratatouille, with all the hunger-evoking scenes of food. However, the movie begins with a really graphic scene of how sashimi is being prepared, in this case blow fish sashimi. But watching the chef end the fish's life by decapitating the head and then disemboweling it, some might have sworn not to eat sashimi ever. It didn’t bother me though.
Competition runs throughout the show, particularly between 2 chefs vying for an artifact, a blade belonging to the Royal Chef generations ago. Much family history had implicated this generation and all these are revealed in flashbacks that occur almost too often. And that is the basic plot for you.
There is light-heartedness in the film with some very emotional moments and it’s possibly the factor that makes the film dramatically enthralling. I’ve learnt that food is not just food in itself. Good food is prepared with emotion and a cheerful heart.
Oh, and chefs make pretty good artists.
Competition runs throughout the show, particularly between 2 chefs vying for an artifact, a blade belonging to the Royal Chef generations ago. Much family history had implicated this generation and all these are revealed in flashbacks that occur almost too often. And that is the basic plot for you.
There is light-heartedness in the film with some very emotional moments and it’s possibly the factor that makes the film dramatically enthralling. I’ve learnt that food is not just food in itself. Good food is prepared with emotion and a cheerful heart.
Oh, and chefs make pretty good artists.
Le Grand Chef
Saturday, January 19, 2008
2 Years!
We hit 2 years. How time flies, cliche as it sounds. Through the ups and downs, my insecurities and shortcomings, you have remained true and still as in love as the first day. My pray is against what was prophesised in Genesis 3. May this partnership be God-glorifying.
I love you.
I love you.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Summary of Romans Part #5
Romans 6: 1-11
Now that we have the grace of God, what do we do with it? There are 2 ways. First is to live in the fear of the Lord, offering our lives to Him. The second is to misuse the grace given to us like the godless men mentioned in Jude. Why should we not go on sinning? It is simple. If we can go on sinning, then we contradict God’s purpose of salvation. We are supposed to be saved from sin and not be given reason to sin any longer. Paul’s explanation of why is quite clear.
In verse 2, Paul says that we have “died to sin”. If we died to sin, how can we be part of it any longer? Paul mentions about our death in almost every verse.
Verse 2 – We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
Verse 3 – all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death
Verse 4 – We were therefore buried with him though baptism into death
Verse 5 – we have been united with him in his death
Verse 6 – our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with
Verse 7 – anyone who has died has been freed from sin
In order that we might live a new life, our old sinful nature has to be put to death. It has to be destroyed like bacteria in our bodies that make us sick. When you are suffering from an infection, you seek treatment until it’s totally gone. In the same way, when we died to sin, we eradicated all desire to sin and changed it to a desire to living a pleasing life to God. Going back to the sinful lifestyle is like going to the grave of your sins and digging them back up. Were they so enticing that you want to go back and dig the grave for them again?
In this passage, Paul uses the word ‘we’ as well. ‘We’ refers to those who have been crucified with Christ and have died to sin. We have the identity as transformed people and this is our uniqueness. We are Christians. So should we sin any further and be like those who are still in Adam and not in Christ?
Paul also said we “died”. We are not ‘dying’. When we believed and made the decision to join the allegiance of Jesus, we have put ourselves to death. Neither does he say we “ought to die to sin” because our death to sin is what God has done for us and not what we can do.
Just as we are united with Christ in his death, we also have unity with him in his resurrection. Because of Christ’s victory over sin, we who believed share the victory. This is the hope we have, the sure hope that has been given to us. So now that we are dead to sin and alive in Christ, Paul says in verse 12, “do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires”. This makes our first response as those who are dead to sin. In order not to let sin reign in us, we flee from it. We guard ourselves against it by equipping ourselves with the armour of God.
The next response is to offer ourselves to God “as instruments of righteousness” As we have a new life, our purposes become God-centred and not self-centred. We seek to please God and not to satisfy the sinful desires or our own ambition. For fulfilled ambitions only last for a fleeting moment but God’s purpose lasts forever. Though we are physically alive, we are spiritually dead to sin and then resurrected. In Gal 2:20, we are called now to “live by faith in the Son of God”. This involves applying Luke 9:23 again. To live for Christ, we have to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him.
Are you dead to sin? One indication is your purpose in life. Who are you living for?
Now that we have the grace of God, what do we do with it? There are 2 ways. First is to live in the fear of the Lord, offering our lives to Him. The second is to misuse the grace given to us like the godless men mentioned in Jude. Why should we not go on sinning? It is simple. If we can go on sinning, then we contradict God’s purpose of salvation. We are supposed to be saved from sin and not be given reason to sin any longer. Paul’s explanation of why is quite clear.
In verse 2, Paul says that we have “died to sin”. If we died to sin, how can we be part of it any longer? Paul mentions about our death in almost every verse.
Verse 2 – We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
Verse 3 – all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death
Verse 4 – We were therefore buried with him though baptism into death
Verse 5 – we have been united with him in his death
Verse 6 – our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with
Verse 7 – anyone who has died has been freed from sin
In order that we might live a new life, our old sinful nature has to be put to death. It has to be destroyed like bacteria in our bodies that make us sick. When you are suffering from an infection, you seek treatment until it’s totally gone. In the same way, when we died to sin, we eradicated all desire to sin and changed it to a desire to living a pleasing life to God. Going back to the sinful lifestyle is like going to the grave of your sins and digging them back up. Were they so enticing that you want to go back and dig the grave for them again?
In this passage, Paul uses the word ‘we’ as well. ‘We’ refers to those who have been crucified with Christ and have died to sin. We have the identity as transformed people and this is our uniqueness. We are Christians. So should we sin any further and be like those who are still in Adam and not in Christ?
Paul also said we “died”. We are not ‘dying’. When we believed and made the decision to join the allegiance of Jesus, we have put ourselves to death. Neither does he say we “ought to die to sin” because our death to sin is what God has done for us and not what we can do.
Just as we are united with Christ in his death, we also have unity with him in his resurrection. Because of Christ’s victory over sin, we who believed share the victory. This is the hope we have, the sure hope that has been given to us. So now that we are dead to sin and alive in Christ, Paul says in verse 12, “do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires”. This makes our first response as those who are dead to sin. In order not to let sin reign in us, we flee from it. We guard ourselves against it by equipping ourselves with the armour of God.
The next response is to offer ourselves to God “as instruments of righteousness” As we have a new life, our purposes become God-centred and not self-centred. We seek to please God and not to satisfy the sinful desires or our own ambition. For fulfilled ambitions only last for a fleeting moment but God’s purpose lasts forever. Though we are physically alive, we are spiritually dead to sin and then resurrected. In Gal 2:20, we are called now to “live by faith in the Son of God”. This involves applying Luke 9:23 again. To live for Christ, we have to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him.
Are you dead to sin? One indication is your purpose in life. Who are you living for?
Monday, January 14, 2008
Alien vs Predator Requiem
Don't ask how I ended catching this movie. And I even caught the previous one before, all the result of relentless persuasion and some peer pressure. Not being cynical or anything like that but sitting down to watch the conflict of 2 outer space monster races implicate humans isn’t my idea of appealing.
I have to admit that I had absolutely nil desire to sit in a cinema and watch grotesque scenes of aliens savagely killing humans, not to mention the facehuggers. But this time round, a superior addition joins the ranks of the aliens, the Predalien, a monstrous hybrid between the alien and predator. There were some assumptions that she’s the queen of the alien race.
In contrast to the previous setting in the Antarctica, Requiem takes place closer to home, which spells more trouble and destruction. The Predator’s craft crashes in Colorado Woods, sending facehuggers scurrying into the woods and eventually multiplying in the city.
And that’s the plot and show for you. Most of the movie is not so much about advancing the story but displaying scenes of alien horror. I have to commend that the scene distribution was pretty good, although most of the acting was bad. Maybe they were trying to cut down on the screaming but I don’t think an average human would be so calm seeing his subordinate hanged on a tree skinned. How most of the people in the movie manage to stay so calm after their alien encounters left me quite incredulous.
Only AvP fans would enjoy the gore but it’s not my idea of an enjoyable movie. Still I guess it’s worth catching with friends.
I have to admit that I had absolutely nil desire to sit in a cinema and watch grotesque scenes of aliens savagely killing humans, not to mention the facehuggers. But this time round, a superior addition joins the ranks of the aliens, the Predalien, a monstrous hybrid between the alien and predator. There were some assumptions that she’s the queen of the alien race.
In contrast to the previous setting in the Antarctica, Requiem takes place closer to home, which spells more trouble and destruction. The Predator’s craft crashes in Colorado Woods, sending facehuggers scurrying into the woods and eventually multiplying in the city.
And that’s the plot and show for you. Most of the movie is not so much about advancing the story but displaying scenes of alien horror. I have to commend that the scene distribution was pretty good, although most of the acting was bad. Maybe they were trying to cut down on the screaming but I don’t think an average human would be so calm seeing his subordinate hanged on a tree skinned. How most of the people in the movie manage to stay so calm after their alien encounters left me quite incredulous.
Only AvP fans would enjoy the gore but it’s not my idea of an enjoyable movie. Still I guess it’s worth catching with friends.
Alien vs Predator: Requiem
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Summary of Romans Part #4
Romans 5:12-21
There are 2 significant people in this section, Adam and Christ. The simple truth here is that we are in sin and death from our first ever forefather Adam. Secular people do not deny that there is sin and death but their explanation is that sin is an imperfection, soon to be overcome. It is just something which makes a person less desirable. With regards to death, a secularist’s explanation will be that death is natural. We are made to die. Christians however, do not hold to this view. Sin is disobedience to God, something far graver than just mere imperfection. And death is the consequence, a penalty for sin. We were not made to die. Death is the result of sin.
From just one act of sin on Adam’s part, the human race is being condemned to death. Even unborn infants are dead in sin before they are born. Though newborns or children have not consciously sinned, they are still sinners, having inherited the sinful nature of Adam and then death because of sin. Adam was made the first man that ever existed and a representative of the human race. As such, his sin brought judgement down on us. This is not to say that we are all perfect except Adam because we adopted the sinful nature and lived according to its desires.
Just as Adam’s one act brought down the whole race, Christ’s’ act of obedience to the cross brought righteousness. There are many contrasts between Adam and Christ:
- the trespass of Adam vs the gift of God
- death caused by sin vs eternal life
- condemnation vs justification
- sin vs righteousness
- the disobedience of Adam vs the obedience of Christ
- law vs grace
This brings to attention the victory of grace over law. Grace is God’s favour toward the undeserving. In fact, we deserve the exact opposite. Most of us know grace as God’s Riches At Christ Expense. We have been justified by grace. Everyday, we receive something that we do not deserve and that is our right standing before God. How will that change the way you live?
When there was already sin the world, the law was added so that man is conscious of sin. We have knowledge of what is right and what is wrong. The law is what defines sin, reveals its nature and exposes its power. As such, the law also convicts us of our sin. But the greatest of all is “when sin increased, grace increased all the more”. There is no sin too big for forgiveness. In other versions of the bible, the words “abound”, “multiplied” and “immeasurably exceeded” were used. Our sins can be counted but God’s grace is immeasurable. Further to this, we tend to see grace as a positive attitude but it is more than that. Grace is the power that reaches into the pit and pulls us up. Grace sees us staggering and comes to bear us up. Grace sees us dying and gives us eternal life. Grace sees us destitute and gives us access to God’s inexhaustible riches. There is no greater triumph than the triumph of grace over sin.
There are 2 significant people in this section, Adam and Christ. The simple truth here is that we are in sin and death from our first ever forefather Adam. Secular people do not deny that there is sin and death but their explanation is that sin is an imperfection, soon to be overcome. It is just something which makes a person less desirable. With regards to death, a secularist’s explanation will be that death is natural. We are made to die. Christians however, do not hold to this view. Sin is disobedience to God, something far graver than just mere imperfection. And death is the consequence, a penalty for sin. We were not made to die. Death is the result of sin.
From just one act of sin on Adam’s part, the human race is being condemned to death. Even unborn infants are dead in sin before they are born. Though newborns or children have not consciously sinned, they are still sinners, having inherited the sinful nature of Adam and then death because of sin. Adam was made the first man that ever existed and a representative of the human race. As such, his sin brought judgement down on us. This is not to say that we are all perfect except Adam because we adopted the sinful nature and lived according to its desires.
Just as Adam’s one act brought down the whole race, Christ’s’ act of obedience to the cross brought righteousness. There are many contrasts between Adam and Christ:
- the trespass of Adam vs the gift of God
- death caused by sin vs eternal life
- condemnation vs justification
- sin vs righteousness
- the disobedience of Adam vs the obedience of Christ
- law vs grace
This brings to attention the victory of grace over law. Grace is God’s favour toward the undeserving. In fact, we deserve the exact opposite. Most of us know grace as God’s Riches At Christ Expense. We have been justified by grace. Everyday, we receive something that we do not deserve and that is our right standing before God. How will that change the way you live?
When there was already sin the world, the law was added so that man is conscious of sin. We have knowledge of what is right and what is wrong. The law is what defines sin, reveals its nature and exposes its power. As such, the law also convicts us of our sin. But the greatest of all is “when sin increased, grace increased all the more”. There is no sin too big for forgiveness. In other versions of the bible, the words “abound”, “multiplied” and “immeasurably exceeded” were used. Our sins can be counted but God’s grace is immeasurable. Further to this, we tend to see grace as a positive attitude but it is more than that. Grace is the power that reaches into the pit and pulls us up. Grace sees us staggering and comes to bear us up. Grace sees us dying and gives us eternal life. Grace sees us destitute and gives us access to God’s inexhaustible riches. There is no greater triumph than the triumph of grace over sin.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Summary of Romans Part #3
Romans 5:1-11
There are 3 parts to this section: Fruits of justification, God’s purpose in suffering and the perfect love of God.
In the previous chapter, we learnt that God justified by grace through faith. As a result, we are now at peace with God. The opposite meaning of “at peace” would be “at war”. Therefore, we were living under his wrath, when we were at war with God. Like Adam and Eve who were banished from the Garden of Eden, we were banished from salvation.
But through Jesus, whom we believe and have faith in, we now stand under grace. We have gained salvation; we stand in the grace of God. And faith is believing that Jesus has the power to change our status of being at war to the status of being at peace with God. Faith is believing that we now live under God’s grace. We are under God’s unmerited favour. Once you are firmly grounded in this believe, you will naturally not take your own works into account of salvation because God is the perfect atonement that brought us favour that we do not deserve. There is no room for works or rituals or what-nots.
From gaining access to the riches of God, we now live with the hope of the glory of God. Christians will see God and this hope to see God is the climax of our faith. And such is only given to those who are justified. The word “hope” in today’s language culture and usage pretty much undermines its meaning. Take for example; someone says “I hope I’ll do well for my exams.” The word hope can easily be replaced with the word “wish”. This makes the meaning of “hope” something that is uncertain, or wishing for something not guaranteed to happen. But the hope we have in Christ is sure. It is believing with full assurance that it will happen. If we do not have this hope, then are you sure your faith is placed in Christ? Or do you even believe that Christ is the perfect means to God’s grace?
So we rejoice in hope and we are also called to rejoice in sufferings. We have touched on this many times. A Christian is to hold a different view from the world about sufferings. Pagans believe that sufferings are the punishments for sins or the result of bad luck. These are foolish beliefs. We know from Isaiah 53:5 that the “punishment that brought us peace was upon Him”. Therefore, Jesus has paid the full price for us to be forgiven. There is no need for us to endure punishment because earlier on we already learn that we are justified by faith and not by works. Nothing we do can buy us salvation. Also, if we have to be punished to appease God, then Jesus’ death and resurrection is rendered imperfect. It is insufficient to propitiate so we need to be punished as well. So if someone were to tell you that we must suffer punishment for sin or we won’t be forgiven, be warned. That is false teaching.
Paul gave us God’s purpose in making us grow spiritually through suffering. Suffering produces character and hope. While suffering, we cling to God for security because he is firm pillar that never falls. If we do not face suffering, we miss opportunities to cling on to God. We may perhaps forget that he is the firm foundation. We start to take our day-to-day walk for granted and become complacent. We may even forget the true meaning of rejoicing and hoping. Since all is well, what is there to rejoice about? I’m living well now, do I need hope? God simply puts us through not-so-bright days so that we are being drawn to depend on Him. So before you turn and run from your trial, think of what you will miss out not going through it.
And now we come to God’s love. Paul says that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This is love from God, undeserved. To fully appreciate the meaning of his love, we have to look at ourselves in God’s eyes. We are “powerless”, “ungodly”, “sinners” and “enemies” of God. If we think of ourselves desirable, lovely or worthy (which we are not), then perhaps God’s love isn’t so great anymore because it’s easy to love those who are lovely. But yet God chose to love us when we are sinners, those who fall short of His glory. We were enemies at war with him but he chose to make peace with us. In Ps 103:4, God “redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion”. In Jude 1:1, we are called, loved and kept by God.
If you haven’t realised by now, God does all the work. He paid the atonement for our sin. He justified and reconciled us to him. He allowed us to go through sufferings and cling on to him. He loved us first. All we are called to do in this passage is rejoice (v2,3,11). Are you rejoicing?
There are 3 parts to this section: Fruits of justification, God’s purpose in suffering and the perfect love of God.
In the previous chapter, we learnt that God justified by grace through faith. As a result, we are now at peace with God. The opposite meaning of “at peace” would be “at war”. Therefore, we were living under his wrath, when we were at war with God. Like Adam and Eve who were banished from the Garden of Eden, we were banished from salvation.
But through Jesus, whom we believe and have faith in, we now stand under grace. We have gained salvation; we stand in the grace of God. And faith is believing that Jesus has the power to change our status of being at war to the status of being at peace with God. Faith is believing that we now live under God’s grace. We are under God’s unmerited favour. Once you are firmly grounded in this believe, you will naturally not take your own works into account of salvation because God is the perfect atonement that brought us favour that we do not deserve. There is no room for works or rituals or what-nots.
From gaining access to the riches of God, we now live with the hope of the glory of God. Christians will see God and this hope to see God is the climax of our faith. And such is only given to those who are justified. The word “hope” in today’s language culture and usage pretty much undermines its meaning. Take for example; someone says “I hope I’ll do well for my exams.” The word hope can easily be replaced with the word “wish”. This makes the meaning of “hope” something that is uncertain, or wishing for something not guaranteed to happen. But the hope we have in Christ is sure. It is believing with full assurance that it will happen. If we do not have this hope, then are you sure your faith is placed in Christ? Or do you even believe that Christ is the perfect means to God’s grace?
So we rejoice in hope and we are also called to rejoice in sufferings. We have touched on this many times. A Christian is to hold a different view from the world about sufferings. Pagans believe that sufferings are the punishments for sins or the result of bad luck. These are foolish beliefs. We know from Isaiah 53:5 that the “punishment that brought us peace was upon Him”. Therefore, Jesus has paid the full price for us to be forgiven. There is no need for us to endure punishment because earlier on we already learn that we are justified by faith and not by works. Nothing we do can buy us salvation. Also, if we have to be punished to appease God, then Jesus’ death and resurrection is rendered imperfect. It is insufficient to propitiate so we need to be punished as well. So if someone were to tell you that we must suffer punishment for sin or we won’t be forgiven, be warned. That is false teaching.
Paul gave us God’s purpose in making us grow spiritually through suffering. Suffering produces character and hope. While suffering, we cling to God for security because he is firm pillar that never falls. If we do not face suffering, we miss opportunities to cling on to God. We may perhaps forget that he is the firm foundation. We start to take our day-to-day walk for granted and become complacent. We may even forget the true meaning of rejoicing and hoping. Since all is well, what is there to rejoice about? I’m living well now, do I need hope? God simply puts us through not-so-bright days so that we are being drawn to depend on Him. So before you turn and run from your trial, think of what you will miss out not going through it.
And now we come to God’s love. Paul says that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This is love from God, undeserved. To fully appreciate the meaning of his love, we have to look at ourselves in God’s eyes. We are “powerless”, “ungodly”, “sinners” and “enemies” of God. If we think of ourselves desirable, lovely or worthy (which we are not), then perhaps God’s love isn’t so great anymore because it’s easy to love those who are lovely. But yet God chose to love us when we are sinners, those who fall short of His glory. We were enemies at war with him but he chose to make peace with us. In Ps 103:4, God “redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion”. In Jude 1:1, we are called, loved and kept by God.
If you haven’t realised by now, God does all the work. He paid the atonement for our sin. He justified and reconciled us to him. He allowed us to go through sufferings and cling on to him. He loved us first. All we are called to do in this passage is rejoice (v2,3,11). Are you rejoicing?
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Wintersday 2007
I very seldom blog about Guild Wars events but this time the festivities were really cool. It was the same last year but I didn't appreciate it that much.
Well, the main towns of Tyria have been decorated nicely. I haven't forgotten my reaction when I first saw it. Anyway, Lion's Arch, Kamadan, Droknar's Forge and Old Ascalon are adorned beautifully with Wintersday jewels and it's basically Christmas themed decorations. And there's even snow falling everywhere!
Wintersday is a showdown between Dwayna and Grenth to see who should have control over the weather, so the citizens of Tyria has to vote. Personally, I vote for Dwayna cos she's female. Sexist, I know. The battle between these 2 occurs every 3 hours in Kamadan and
Lion's Arch and at the end of it, players are given a customised hat from either Dwayna or Grenth. These are the hats I've got. I missed out 2 which came out in last year's
Wintersday event.
And there're also special items to collect from Wintersday! These items are available only during Wintersday periods. Each item has it's unique use and they add to the 'Sweet Tooth' and 'Drunkard' titles.
And apart from these items, there's the annual Snowball Arena to pit ourselves against each other. In the arena, every character's skills are changed to snowball skills
which makes it even more like a snowball fight.
Each year, Wintersday gets really fun although many festivities are repeated. Next, I've looking forward to the Dragon Festival.
Well, the main towns of Tyria have been decorated nicely. I haven't forgotten my reaction when I first saw it. Anyway, Lion's Arch, Kamadan, Droknar's Forge and Old Ascalon are adorned beautifully with Wintersday jewels and it's basically Christmas themed decorations. And there's even snow falling everywhere!
Wintersday is a showdown between Dwayna and Grenth to see who should have control over the weather, so the citizens of Tyria has to vote. Personally, I vote for Dwayna cos she's female. Sexist, I know. The battle between these 2 occurs every 3 hours in Kamadan and
Lion's Arch and at the end of it, players are given a customised hat from either Dwayna or Grenth. These are the hats I've got. I missed out 2 which came out in last year's
Wintersday event.
And there're also special items to collect from Wintersday! These items are available only during Wintersday periods. Each item has it's unique use and they add to the 'Sweet Tooth' and 'Drunkard' titles.
And apart from these items, there's the annual Snowball Arena to pit ourselves against each other. In the arena, every character's skills are changed to snowball skills
which makes it even more like a snowball fight.
Each year, Wintersday gets really fun although many festivities are repeated. Next, I've looking forward to the Dragon Festival.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Happy New Year 2008!
Happy New Year folks!
Everyone's asking me bout new year's resolution but I haven't got any. Well, if you want to change something, why not change it immediately instead of putting it off to the next year? But after some thinking, I figured it would be good to think of areas to improve on in the coming year.
Therefore, I resolve to live a better life next year. Yea, a better life. A better life not by having only good events happen to me but a life made better by how I choose to live it. I'll like to show more faith than dismay. I'll like to believe more in Romans 8:28 that is.
Here's how we spent the eve...
Ah yes... A little too old for that you might think. On of the great discomforts of new year is that the whole world is going to be one year older. The comfort is the whole world is growing old with you.
The first few hours of the new year was spent cracking silly jokes and having pints of beer. What a great way.
Everyone's asking me bout new year's resolution but I haven't got any. Well, if you want to change something, why not change it immediately instead of putting it off to the next year? But after some thinking, I figured it would be good to think of areas to improve on in the coming year.
Therefore, I resolve to live a better life next year. Yea, a better life. A better life not by having only good events happen to me but a life made better by how I choose to live it. I'll like to show more faith than dismay. I'll like to believe more in Romans 8:28 that is.
Here's how we spent the eve...
Ah yes... A little too old for that you might think. On of the great discomforts of new year is that the whole world is going to be one year older. The comfort is the whole world is growing old with you.
The first few hours of the new year was spent cracking silly jokes and having pints of beer. What a great way.
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