Jude 5 - 7

Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. (Jude 1:5-7)

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Introduction
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We continue with our study on the letter of Jude. (Link: Introduction, Part 1, and Part 2). Let me provide for us some reminders about this letter. We want to be reminded that the theme of Jude is that "the church must contend for the one true faith once for all delivered to the saints and people of faith must persevere to the end by resisting the false teachers and following the truth." (ESV Study Bible, Introduction to Jude) The purpose for which Jude wrote this letter is found in verse 3, where believers are to "contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints." With thoughtful and careful biblical exegesis, and biblical hermeneutics, we will today examine the three stories that Jude uses in the OT as an example of judgments for apostasy and false teachers for his contemporaries.
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Jude 5 - 7
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Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.

After presenting the purpose of his letter, which comes because of false teacher and apostasy, Jude builds his case by reminding his audience about something that they already knew. His audience would most likely be Jewish because he uses OT stories as an example for his contemporaries. 

The first story that he uses is the Exodus. After the Israelites have been rescued from slavery, and after they have crossed through the Red Sea, they are on their way to the Promised Land. The wilderness would be the most dramatic part of the story. The Jews, or the Israelites, disobeyed God and did not believe in Him (for many reasons). Because of their rebellion against God, God said that the same generation (twenty years old and upward) who was led out of Egypt would not see the Promised Land, except for Joshua and Caleb (see Numbers 14:20-38). After having been rescued from Egypt, having followed God's way, and then turning to rebellion against Him and turning away from Him is a form of apostasy. As a result, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. This part of the OT history and narrative Jude uses is an example of an apostasy.

When reading Numbers, it is very obvious that it was God, YHWH who destroyed those who did not believe. His act of judgement is well-defined and reasonable as I have explained briefly. However, Jude says it was "Iesous" (in Greek) that did it. Other translations say it was "the Lord" (kyrios). But, a number of Greek manuscripts have the Greek word for Jesus. It was Jesus who destroyed those who did not believe. Similarly, Paul speaks about a similar point in 1 Corinthians 10:4-10. 

And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day

The second example that Jude uses is not clear and is a bit confusing. The first and third example (Sodom and Gomorrah) are more apparent. It is apparent that the angels had been entrusted with a certain authority by God, but they have abandoned their proper dwelling place by rebelling against God. God has kept these beings in eternal chains ever since. Scholars suggest that this event relates to Genesis 6:1-4. Whatever the case is, angels can't be redeemed. Christ did not come to earth to help the angels, but to help the elect (Hebrews 2:16), who are human beings. Therefore, whenever the judgement of the great day is, the are angels destined for destruction. We will elaborate more on this subject in Jude 14-15.

just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.


Jude transitions from the rebellious angels to the event in Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18 - 19), where the inhabitants practiced fornication and homosexual acts - "pursued unnatural desire". The people in those cities wanted to have sex with the angels, not with the daughters that Lot wanted to give them to (which was also a horrendous thing). But it does not imply that the men knew that it was angels they were seeking to have sex with. After Abraham rescued Lot, God punished those cities by destroying them with sulfur and fire that came out from the sky. Therefore, Jude associates God's judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah with the homosexual practices of their inhabitants. They served as an example of those who suffer the punishment from God.
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Application
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This topic is hard to swallow because it speaks about homosexuality, which is a sensitive issue. In the modern "sexual revolution", homosexuality has been accepted and tolerated in our society within a short period of time. Because most people tolerate and accept it, homosexuality is considered to be a "normal" thing. 

Christians struggle with these changes and we are not immune. We are affected by changes in culture in many different ways. Churches are attempting or tempted to re-evaluate their views on homosexuality. Secular society brands the church as homophobic and in err for calling it a sin. Some Christian scholars and Christian activists see the consideration of homosexuality as a sin to be a misunderstanding of what the New Testament teaches on the matter. Because society and culture are changing, they would rationalize the texts in the Bible to make homosexuality an acceptable act and not a sin.

On a wider scope of the teachings of the Bible, Paul teaches that homosexuality is a sin (Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:9-10). In the example of Jude 7, those who practice homosexuality will also suffer the punishment of eternal fire if they do not repent. 

People who are homosexuals will find this entry offensive and will think I am being intolerant. You may have been hurt by Christians and the churches, such as Westboro Baptist Church. Because of them, you do not want to have anything to do with Christians and the churches, nor with God. 

Let me clarify myself by saying this: I do love you even though we differ. I am called to love my enemies, which I genuinely do. I am not simply talking about homosexuals alone. The Scriptures that I presented above do not only speak about the practice of homosexuality, but also about other sins such as adultery, fornication, idolatry, greed and etc. Those who rebel against God will not inherit eternal life, like the example of the Israelites in the wilderness illustrates. 

People go to hell not simply because they do not believe in Jesus Christ, although that's implied (John 3:36), but because they chose to be there (if you read C.S Lewis' writings) and because they are sinners, since sin separates us from God (Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23). That's the bottom line. Whether if you are a homosexual, a porn addict, murderer, greedy, selfish, prideful, adulterer, fornicator, and etc (Galatians 5:19-21), you are a sinner who is in dire need of receiving God's love and grace through Jesus Christ. 

The same goes for me. Because of sin, we are all sexually broken one way or the other. However, I found someone who healed and transformed me from being sexually broken to being sexually pure although it may be not be an immediate process.

God can heal and God can transform a person who had been hooked onto pornography into a person who is no longer an addict, which is a very difficult change. God can heal and transform a person who was an alcoholic or a drug-addict into a person who is no longer an addict, which is a very challenging change. God can transform a person who is greedy into person who is giving, which involves a lot of struggle in the change. Surely, God can heal and transform a homosexual into a heterosexual, which may be a struggle and which may take a lot of time. Scripture teaches that in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. An encounter with Christ produces radical transformation to those who did practice those sins. 

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

The Sophos (May 30th)

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What is it?
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"The Sophos" (Sage) would be a topic where I share wise and edifying words from Pastors, Theologians, the Puritans and the characters in Scripture. May you find this entry encouraging.
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The Sophos
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"Life, death, hell, and worlds unknown, hang on the preaching and the hearing of a sermon." - Charles Haddon Spurgeon

"For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps." - The Apostle Paul 

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments." - Jesus Christ 

"There is nothing more irreligious than self-absorbed religion." - J.I. Packer

"The Scriptures teach us the best way of living, the noblest way of suffering, and the most comfortable way of dying." - John Flavel 

What Is Judging? (Part 1)

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Introduction
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Tolerance is on the rise in our society. Everything is relative. There is no absolute morality. People can decide to do both what feels right and what feels wrong. "Everyone [does] what [is] right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). One of the arguments that secular society makes against Christians is that they are judgmental or intolerant. Judgement happens when Christians make a response against a behavior or a lifestyle that God hates and sees as sin (Proverbs 6:16-19; Romans 1:18-32). And ironically, those who judge Christians are already considered "judgmental". And ironically, those who put Christians on the pedestal of intolerance also make themselves out to be intolerant. 

Do Christians have the right to judge? On what basis? Judging seems to be a taboo word in our society. What gives them the right to judge? In this part, I want to specifically talk about what is good judgement and what is bad judgement, according to the teaching of the Bible. 
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What The Bible Says
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Matthew 7:1-5
Verse 1 should be crowned as the most cited and the most misinterpreted verse in history by Christians and non-Christians, I think. "Judge not, that you be not judged" (ESV) or "Do not judge, or you too will be judged" (NIV). When people/Christians make a judgement, the other party would respond, "Hey, don't you dare judge me or else you too will be judged." 

In the given context, the passage does not teach that we should rule out judgement. It teaches us what is appropriate and inappropriate judgement. Inappropriate judgement is when a person judges out of hypocrisy, self-righteousness or pride. Jesus does rule out prideful or self-righteous judgement that views oneself as better than others. 

Jesus is not teaching us to forbid all evaluation or even judgment of others, for we are told to recognize and discern the fruit of others (Matthew 7:16-20). Appropriate judgement happens when, ultimately, the one who feels humbled and sees his/her own sin can lovingly help remove the “speck” from others.
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Conclusion
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The lesson that we want to take away is to pray and ask God to help us make appropriate judgement, as the next passage teaches us about prayer (7-11). We are also instructed to pray and discern the fruit of false teachers (15-19). Ultimately, it is not our job to judge someone's eternal destiny because that is God's job. 

It is right to examine ourselves first and repent of our sins before we pluck the "speck" from the other person's eye. 

Church Without Walls

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Theology of Disciple-Making
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This week has been intense as an Immerse Student. I have been greatly challenged, reminded, encouraged and inspired to continue to fulfill the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:18-20) 

On Tuesday and Wednesday, I participated in a seminar called "Theology of Disciple-Making". I will go into more details as I will be developing a philosophy of disciple-making for myself and for the church. It was intense sitting under the teaching of the staffs in the Fellowship Pacific. There were at least 10 pages of information that I had to absorb, but a BIG IDEA that I took away from the seminar was to pray and be INTENTIONAL in disciple-making. The chief end goal for disciple-making is that disciples would be conformed more and more into the image of Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:29) If we are not seeing people becoming more like Jesus, then we have failed in disciple-making. 
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IMPACT 2014
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On Thursday and Friday, I was a delegate for my church to attend the Fellowship Pacific Convention or IMPACT. The theme for this year is called "Church Without Walls". Do not take it too literally, although you can. What are some "walls" that we are creating that prevent people from meeting Jesus? Is it tradition? Is it the style of music? Is it the negative way we see the lost - such as smokers, prostitutes, drug addicts? Is it the way we dress? Who are we welcoming and not welcoming? What are those "walls" that we need to break down in order for the lost to worship and meet Jesus? As Christians who believe in the Bible and follow Jesus, Jesus had no "walls". Pharisees put up "walls". Jesus ate with sinners. Pharisees despise sinners. Jesus was a friend of sinners. I challenge every church to reflect on the theme. 
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Alan Hirsch
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It was my first time ever attending the convention. I believe one of my greatest experiences in this convention was meeting Pastors and Ministry Workers in the Fellowship Baptist Denomination. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing stories of what God is doing in this world that almost made me shed some tears. Furthermore, the speaker for the Convention was Alan Hirsch. I was greatly convicted and disturbed, in a good way, by his lessons on Missiology and the reason why churches are declining. I highly recommend him to speak at conferences. He challenged us to go back to these four things, mainly the first one: Re-Jesus, Re-Disciple, Re-Mission, and Re-Organize. 
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Conclusion
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To be honest, it felt like a retreat to me. I have a stronger focus for the work that God has given me to do. 

The Significance Of The Resurrection: 21 Reasons

My beloved, today we celebrate our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who has risen from the dead 2000 years ago. 

"He has risen! He has risen, indeed!"

This is a very significant day - not simply just for Christians - for Christ. The entire Bible points to this important moment. The Old Testament forth-tell this event. The New Testament (after the Gospels) points back to this event, and points toward the future hope that Christians have with Christ. 

I'm going to provide a list of verses and reasons (not exhaustive) that shows why this day is significant.
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What Is The Significance?
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The Significance Of The Resurrection Is That:

1. The Faith Of The Saints Is Not Futile (1 Corinthians 15:17)
2. The Faith Of The Saints Is Real (1 Corinthians 15:14)
3. There Is Forgiveness of Sin (1 Corinthians 15:17)
4. True Followers Of Jesus Christ Are Not False Witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:15)
5. The Saints Can Have Hope (1 Corinthians 15:18-19)
6. The Saints Will Be United With Christ In A Resurrection Like His (Romans 6:5; 2 Corinthians 4:14)
7. The Saints Are Made Alive By God Together With Christ (Ephesians 2:4-5)
8. Whether dead in Christ Or Alive At His Coming, The Saints Will Receive A Glorified Bodies. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
9. The Saints Will Avoid The Future Wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10)
10. The Saints Have A Good News To Proclaim To The World (Acts; Matthew 28:28-20)
11. Christ's Resurrection Was Physical (Luke 24:36-43)
12. Christ's Prophecy Has Been Fulfilled (Luke 18:13)
13. Christ Poured Out The Holy Spirit (Acts 2:32-33)
14. Christ Is Victorious Over Sin and Death (1 Corinthians 15:56)
15. Christ Will Never Die Again (Romans 6:9)
16. Death Will Be Completely Defeated (1 Corinthians 15:26; Revelations 20:14)
17. Satan Is Crushed And Will Be In The Lake Of Fire Along With His Followers (Genesis 3:15; Romans 16:20; 1 John 3:8; Hebrews 2:14; Colossians 2:15; Revelations 20:7-15)
18. Christ Is Glorified And Highly Exalted (Philippians 2:9-11)
19. Christ Is Seated At The Right Hand Of The Father (Ephesians 1:20; Acts 2:33)
20. Christ Will Make All Things New (Revelations 21:5)
21. Christ Will Get His Bride (Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelations 19:6-10)

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SONGS
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This day needs to be celebrated with joyful singing for our triumphal Lord and Savior! 

• Christ the Lord is Risen Today (Good Hymn)
• Happy Day
• Mighty To Save
• Because He Lives
• My Redeemer Lives
• All Hail The Power Of Jesus Name
• Crown Him With Many Crowns

Reflection Questions For The Easter Weekend

As we are approaching the Easter weekend, I highly encourage us to reflect on questions regarding the person and work of Jesus (death and resurrection) whether if you are doing a personal devotion or in a small group or seeking. I separated the questions into two categories: Theological, and Personal Application. 

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Theological
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1. What is the Gospel - the Good News?
2. Regarding salvation, was it necessary for Jesus to die in order for people's sin to be forgiven? 
3. Explain what redemption is. How does redemption connect to Expiation, Propiation, Reconciliation, Ransom, Justification and Atonement? 
4. How was Jesus the perfect sacrifice?
5. What is "Penal Substitutionary Atonement", and how was that accomplish through Jesus?
6. There is a profound question, I think, by Anselm: Why did God become man? Check out this website for more questions.
7. What does Jesus' resurrection mean? Why is this so significant?
8. How does the resurrection speak to our eternal life in Christ?

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Personal Application
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1. We are saved and made right with God only because of Jesus, not our good deeds. Do you believe that Jesus' death and resurrection were enough to pay for your sins? 
2. Was it fair for Jesus to pay for your sins?
3. What is grace? Do you struggle to understand God's love for you? How should it affect our daily lives?
4. People attempted to explain away the resurrection. Why is that? What is the most compelling evidence of the resurrection?
5. In what ways does the resurrection give you hope and change the way you live?

Maundy Thursday

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Maundy Thursday?
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What is "Maundy Thursday"? Why do we call it "Maundy"? Maundy, in Latin, means "command" or "commandment". This day could also be called "Holy Thursday", one day before Good Friday. 

Unlike the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke), almost 25% of the Gospel of John is focused on "Maundy Thursday" where Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples in the upper room, which was also known as the "Last Supper" (chapters 13-17). This was a very significant evening as "Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father." (John 13:1) I will be focusing on chapter 13 on this entry.
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Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet
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When he knew his hour had come, he "loved [his own who were in the world] to the end." (John 13:1) It was on this day, Jesus demonstrated great humility as He washed his disciples feet, a duty that was not fitting for a Rabbi to do. 

Even Peter said, "You shall never wash my feet." This is not right. You should not be doing this! I should be the one washing your feet, Jesus. Peter did not understand. Peter's refusal has a strong connotation, which could also mean, "Never in this life will you do this to me!" Peter missed out on the deeper meaning of what Jesus was doing. "Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me." 
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Spiritual Cleanness
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To have "no share" with Jesus means that one does not belong to him. The purpose of the washing of the feet has a tremendous gospel meaning. It symbolizes the washing necessary for the forgiveness of sins, in anticipation of Jesus’ death for his people, by which sins are washed away.

In Scripture, it is apparent that Jesus washed all of his disciples' feet, but only Judas, figuratively speaking, was not clean because Judas plotted to betray Jesus. Judas, apparently, had no share with Jesus, but I won't focus on him on this post.
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A Commandment And An Example
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After the washing of the feet, Jesus said, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand." (John 13:7) What Jesus did signifies both a command and an example to follow because Jesus said, "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." (John 13:14-15)

The disciples had a dispute on who is the "greatest" (Luke 22:24-30). Jesus' other purpose for the feet-washing was to establish a model for a servant love for each other - "let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves." (Luke 22:26) Furthermore, Jesus, later on, said, "a new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35) "Just as" Jesus loved points back to John 13:1, the washing of the feet and teaching them the symbolic meaning to it. 
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Conclusion
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Jesus, in humility and love, laid down His life for sinners - His enemies (Romans 5:8).  It is an amazing lesson and commandment that we could take away from on "Maundy Thursday" - it is a "command/commandment" Thursday. It is a powerful reminder for followers of Jesus to love each other in humility because it is a testimony to the world that we are His disciples.

Recommended Book: A Christian's Pocket Guide to Jesus Christ

In the book, "A Christian's Pocket Guide to Jesus Christ", Mark Jones carefully spells out, in 76 pages, the person and work of Jesus Christ - Christology. Christology is also the discussion about the divine and human nature of Jesus Christ. He unpacks the historical and theological view on this subject. Surely, Jones treatment on Christology on this book may be tiny, since it is an introduction, yet it contains treasure.

He provides different views (Catholic, Lutheran, and Reformed) on Christology, and he is a proponent of the Reformed view. He hammers down his argument through the support of Scripture as a whole - he carefully performs exegesis - and the works of John Owen and Thomas Goodwin and etc. - the Puritans. His writing and theology do resemble the works of the Puritans, so you might have to re-read it a couple of times in order to grasp what Jones is talking about. 

Here are some questions that the book answers (I still have to ponder and carefully think about them):

1.) Did Jesus have one or two wills?
2.) Did Jesus need to pray?
3.) Did Joseph have to teach Jesus how to be a carpenter?
4.) Did Jesus need to have faith?
5.) Was it possible for Jesus to sin? 

Check out this review and consider getting one. 

He Must Increase, but Lin Must Decrease

When I was in high school, I started picking up basketball and played three years of intramural basketball. I wasn't very good at it, but practicing with my friends paid off a bit. I enjoyed shooting hoops and I practiced my 3-points shot a lot. When it comes to actually playing in a real game, my confidence decreases (it happened in high school). Nonetheless, I do miss playing basketball. When I try playing again, the result of it would lead me to having blisters on my foot. The last time I played basketball was during my missions trip. It brought back a lot of memories, but the skills that I had were pretty much gone.

For the past 12 days, the rising of the NBA point-guard player, Jeremy Lin, leads the New York Knicks to 7 straight victory. Sports center and media around the world are noticing this young talented player. It's an uproar because a lot of people are talking about him, even my mom. It's the internet viral! He's been called "Lin-Sanity". After watching many of his games, I get excited watching the NBA again because I get to see my brother and soldier in Christ fighting hard for the glory of God as an NBA player. I'm very happy for Jeremy in what he's doing.

However, let's not forget why he's doing this. After post-games and interviews, he would praise Jesus Christ. Indeed, it is for the glory of God. Also, remember that he is proclaiming the name of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to the world! Just like the time when John the Baptist although he wasn't an NBA player, but he was a prophet, a messenger, whom a lot of people knew and looked up to. He baptized a lot of people and proclaim, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." The priests and the Levites asked if he was the Christ, but he confessed that he was not. He exalts Jesus Christ in John 3:30, "He must increase, but I must decrease."  John the Baptist was a messenger who was preparing the way of the Lord.

Jeremy Lin has been an encouragement and inspiration to a lot of people in the world. I believe that Lin strives to make Jesus known to the media and sports network. He's a team player and not a selfish player. He's very bold despite a lot oppositions are coming along his way, but may we, as Christians, continue to pray for him that he would continue his spiritual warfare against the evil one by the power of the Holy Spirit, that he would humble himself before God and fight against the perils of pride, and that God would use him mightily for His kingdom and His glory.

Amen!