Block Diagram and Outline: 1 John 3:11-18

 "True Christians Love One Another Truly"

Two Truths that will help you love one another: 1. By knowing who your Father is - God, not Serpent, 2. By knowing who your Captain is - Christ, not Cain

Hopeful Living in a Worsening World

 “And with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” – 2Thessalonians2:10-12

        Sometimes we feel that the world is getting better, other times we feel it is getting worse, which is truer between these two perceptions? God created a good world, but then, upon the entrance of sin, God cursed the world, and one day the world will be annihilated. Sin (depravity) is getting worse day by day. And the Scriptures prophesy that Satan will grow to be very powerful just before the end. Oh! Then, what hope do we have for the present and the future? This passage reveals how we can live in hope and be rich in good works even when the present world looks defeating (you may read v9-17 for the context).

        First, Satan has power only over the non-believers. He can only deceive the perishing ones. Sure, his schemes can trouble us physically and even emotionally; but our faith, our hope, and our salvation have been established by Jesus. Nobody can snatch us, nor separate us from the love of Christ. We will not be shaken.

        Second, the destruction of the wicked along with Satan is sure. Those claiming to be wise, ridiculing us to be fools, are actually the real fools, being deceived by Satan. And their deception will increase because God allowed them for their destruction. We will be vindicated by God’s righteous condemnation of the wicked.

        Third, the very persistent nature of Satan should challenge us to be not complacent in good works or in rescuing the perishing. Satan never slumbers, is never discouraged, and is never satisfied. He hunts for his prey prowling the earth to and fro. Satan and the anti-Christ come to deceive the non-believers that they may be condemned eternally. Jesus comes to save the believers that they may live before God forever.

        Is it not comforting to realize these truths that God is preserving us in all situations? Has not our Lord himself promised that His church will prevail no matter what? Let us then live not as the world without hope, but rejoice for the gift of faith and His salvation, and anticipate His return!

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Block Diagram and Outline of 1John 3:19-24

"Confidence before God"

Three Truths about God that will guarantee Confidence before God: 1. God Affirms Our Obedience – Keep Loving, 2.  God Answers Our Prayers – Keep Praying, 3. God Abides in Us – Keep Living by the Spirit.

Heavenly Citizens

"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ"

– Philippians 3:20

Exposition:

        It is natural for us to be more comfortable at home and to be longing for home when we are in a distant land. I still remember even the food I ate when I was growing up and would like to have them again. Home is where we belong. Apostle Paul in this verse reminds Christians that this present earth is not our home. Those who set their minds on earthly things are not the citizens of heaven, they are the enemies of Christ, the King of Heaven.

        The Triune God created this world, continues to preserve it, but one day it will pass away (Rev.21:1). Our Lord Jesus came from heaven into our world to deliver us from the wrath to come, and He ascended to heaven to prepare for us a place to live with Him. Heaven is a place wherein God dwells. We are not only created by God for Him, but we are also bought by the blood of Jesus Christ again; twice we belong to God, and we must be where we belong.

        Every Christian is a citizen of heaven. A citizen of heaven is a heavenly minded person. A heavenly minded person is one who looks forward to being conformed to the likeness of Christ. Apostle John says that whoever has this hope purifies himself, which means that he endeavours to live a life of holiness and righteousness. A worldly person lives and works for money, praise, and pleasure; and would do anything to obtain them. A Christian, even though he might need them, would choose to obtain them in righteousness, because he ultimately lives and works for the glory of God.

Personal Reflection:

·       Do I cultivate personal holiness in anticipation of the return of my Saviour?

·       Do I always rejoice in Him who had justified me and sanctifies me now that He will surely glorify me at His appearing?

Personal Commitment:

·       I must live for the cause of Christ and be delighted even in all the trials of life because God is my dwelling place.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, King of my life, help me to delight in You more than in anything of this world, Amen!

Block Diagram and Outline: 1 John 4:1-6

"Discerning False Prophets"

Discernment fosters Assurance. 3 Layers of commitment to foster discernment: 1. Be Cautious of Teachers (Fair-minded, not open-minded), 2. Be Clinging to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, 3. Be Coming to Church (Keep listening to sound teaching) 

 

I saw you!

 “Nathanael answered and said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.””

– John1:48

        “I saw you!” Jesus not only saw Nathaniel but knew him through and through because Jesus is God. There was nothing Nathaniel could hide from Jesus, either his thoughts or actions of past and present. Fortunately for Nathaniel, Jesus chose to declare him righteous. Indeed, God sees and knows everything. He knows us long before we were born, nay, before we were formed in our mother’s womb.  On the contrary, we don't know even who we are, particularly how sinful we are. The Lord searches the heart and understands who exactly we are. Bad news: our hearts are deceitful above all things, even our best deeds are like filthy rags; we are all depraved sinners.

        Yesterday I was so annoyed with my slow laptop, I hit my keyboard once, running out of patience. Then I realized a neighbour could be seeing me because my window and door were left open. I was so relieved that nobody saw it. Yet, I knew I should have exercised more patience publicly or privately. Sometimes, we, sinners, are okay with sins, and reluctant to repent if nobody sees our sins. When we do that, we are acting as if God does not see us.

        We love the praises of man and sometimes would do anything to get them. The greatest and sweetest praise of man achieves nothing if God does not approve of us. Even our conscience will torment us if we have a double-standard life: one in private and the other in public. God demands that we live for Him alone. We do not live for man’s approval. We do not live even for our self-approval. Remember, God is always watching us. If we are Christians, God sees us in Christ, and therefore He will declare us righteous no matter what. Yet if we sin, He will surely chasten us because God chastens whom He loves. Would you practice the presence of God at all times?

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Working for Christ

"because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me."

– Philippians 2:30

Exposition:

        According to what is revealed in the book of Philippians, one of the principal ways how Epaphroditus laboured for the work of Christ is his service toward Apostle Paul (Phil. 2:25, 30). He brought gifts from Philippi to Rome, where Paul was imprisoned (Phil.4:15, 18; 1:13). We may be tempted to think delivering a gift was not a big deal, well, there were no aeroplanes those days, the journey alone must have been a hard one. Furthermore, Apostle Paul wrote about him quite favourably contrary to what he thought of a man like Demas.

        Epaphroditus could have done a lot of things for the furtherance of the Gospel, but what we know for certain is his service to Paul, and in doing so, he even got sick almost unto death (Phil. 2:27). The work of Christ, we are called to do, is not only to proclaim the Gospel to those who are lost. In fact, God has given the church gifted people to proclaim His words to the unreached, and not many of us are called to do this. Each one of us is given a gift from Christ for His work. We have to use our gift diligently and joyfully. Any work we do in the ministry for the edification of the body of Christ is a legitimate work for Christ.

        Are you accompanying a fiery preacher in a revival? Are you attending the needs of a sick brother at home or in a hospital? Are you raising funds for the cause of ministry? Are you sweeping the floor of a church? Are those not for the work of Christ? We have seen it from Epaphroditus.

Personal Reflection:

·       Am I delighted with any work of the ministry as much as in preaching God's word to a lost sinner?

·       Am I treating every worker of the ministry as a specialist (masterpiece) of God?

Personal Commitment:

·       I must practice not only to appreciate all kind of works in a ministry but also to delight in any work I come across.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to do my work to please You, and not to please the eyes of man, Amen!

Considering Other's Right

“But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.”

– Philemon 14

“Absolute power corrupts absolutely” is unfortunately what we see in the world, but Apostle Paul has modelled for us in honesty, equity, and modesty in this verse. Onesimus, a runaway slave of Philemon encountered Paul in a prison, became a Christian, and ministered to him. Paul considered the whole episode to be the providence of God, and therefore, would like to keep Onesimus with him for the sake of ministry, especially seeing that he is fulfilling what his master Philemon would want to do for Paul.

Onesimus, like anyone, needed conversion. Paul needed somebody to minister to him in a prison. Apostle Paul considered Philemon, his convert, to be a brother and partner in the gospel. Onesimus being a Christian now must be considered a brother by Philemon also, even as a partner, since he served Paul on his behalf. Apostle Paul, with all his wisdom, authority, and the providence of God, could have kept Onesimus without consulting Philemon, or even commanded him what to do. Instead, Paul asked him to receive Onesimus like it was him. Paul didn't even tell Philemon what other good deeds he should be doing, although he gave him hints — to send Onesimus back to him. Paul did not annul the authority of Philemon, rather he entrusted him to do what seemed best, trusting his voluntary decision.

Are you a one-man leader or do you consult the consent (not to mention the wisdom) of other workers in a decision-making process? It's okay to expect others to do the right thing; it's better if they do it voluntarily; it's wonderful if they do it voluntarily and gladly. Would you practice considering the rights of others as well, and not being obsessed with your own rights?

My Bible Reading Plan (Rongmei Version/Translation)

Importance of Good Works

“This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.”

– Titus 3:8

Some people have accused Christians that we are so heavenly-minded that we have not done any earthly good. That is a lie. Indeed, Christians are the only people free from the power of sin to do all good works to the glory of God. Paul instructed Titus to remind believers that we are to be ready for and be diligent in every good work. It is not because we will be saved by good works, rather we are already saved from our evil and sinful deeds by the kindness of God. We are already made new and therefore our works must be good as evidence of our conversion.

We are to constantly remind ourselves that the wrath of God is upon the evil workers. We aren't supposed to be doing the things which God has saved us from. There is no neutral ground: either our work is good and pleasing to God or evil and grieves the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, good works are profitable for all people, both believers and unbelievers. Good works serve as a great testimony for evangelism, because our good works aren't done for our self-accolades, but because we know it is the will of God. They strike the conscience of people because unbelievers live for their own pleasures according to their own standard of righteousness.

On the negative side, those who aren't cultivating good works are mere professors. They profess to know God but deny Him in their works. They are to be warned, and even be rejected in accordance with their works. Faithful Christianity maintains good works; false Christianity oppresses others for its selfish gain. Are we growing weary in good works? Remember, we are made for them. Professor, is there a change of desire, a change of pursuit, a change of fruit, and a change of hope of eternal life after your profession of faith? Examine yourself whether you are a true believer or not!