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To Brother James, Brother Chin Beng and those in the Dispatch,
Before I go into what I about evangelising, do let me quote what I think about the relevant scriptures:
5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. (1 Cor 4:5NKJ)
The background to this verse is just this. The corinthians are splitting up in accordance to the teachers they follow and the whole letter of Paul is to admonish the corinthians to follow the one true message, that is the Christ who is sacrificed for us.
Before I go further, this verse does not end here it continues "And then God will give whatever praise is due" (NLT) or "and then shall every man have praise of God."(KJV) or " Then each one's praise will come from God.(NKJV) "
So the whole verse is saying this: "We are not to judge who is faithful than the others until the Lord comes who will make known what is in our hearts. After His Judgement, He will give us praise. Look and read...God is not coming down to Christians with CONDEMNATION. He is just going to judge us according to our hearts and because of the work on the cross, we can safely say with faith that God has taken it (sins) away when Jesus judges and what's left is only the good things. That's why He will give us praise!
Now how much praise you want from Jesus is in accordance to what He has given you and how we faithfully use it but be rest assured, no bad things will come to you. Jesus promised!
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. (1 Cor 3:11-14 NKJ)
Again the completed verses of 1 Cor 3:9-15
9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Cor 3:9-15)
The main thrust of the message is that the work we are to do for the Lord has Jesus as our foundation. Some of us do work for the Lord that range in terms of value (gold, silver, hay, straw etc). But a lot of things we do for Jesus and Abba is of value to God! Not necessarily only evangelising but there are other activities that we can do as a tribute to God that the work will bring glory to His name on high.
What if the work you do is not what God wants you to do? Then fear not for the above verse already shared: If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; (NOTE) but he himself WILL BE SAVED, yet so as through fire.
No matter what, true Christians will be saved despite them NOT doing completely anything for the Lord (which I doubt so because the Lord gives us talents for us to use and we do use them knowingly or not).
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. 12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to glory on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. (2 Cor 5:10-12 NKJ)
Paul here is sharing that he would rather be out of the body, in spirit with God than to dwell in this body. Nevertheless, we will be judged in accordance to what we have done in the body. Let's revisit the main tenets of the Bible:
(a) Christ has died for us so that we have the forgiveness of sin and the redemption from the effects of sin (Ephesians 1:7)
(b) that there shall be no more condemnation for those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1)
(c) "For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; (1 Peter 3:18) "
So in the context about Judgement, think about the work of Christ. Will God judge your sins after what His Son has done? Will God make you unrighteous because of what WE did? Obviously not! Or else, the blood of Jesus Christ is no better than the blood of bulls and goats!
Therefore the things we done in the body, has already being forgiven by God because of the cross. And because of this work on the cross, that we may boldly boast about God so that we can answer those "who boast in appearance and not in heart"!
What does the last sentence say? It says that those who tries to earn salvation through works in their body will not have the answer for those who receive Christ and receive salvation because of His work on the cross! Remember again, spiritual renewal that leads to a New Creation in Christ is the ultimate work of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life (for none shall go to heaven except through Christ the ONLY way).
What ever happens in the world and when we see that the world is accepting God and His Son Jesus Christ, then it is high time for us to be rejoicing! I agree that Malaysia and Singapore are not exactly Christian nations but we are called to be in this countries so that we can be the salt of our worlds.
Yes we are supposed to spread God good news but how can we spread them if we do not believe in the news in the first place? Why the we spread the good news if all we do is to spread fear into fellow Christians? That God will punish Christians who do not do their homework?
Would you buy a product if a sales person do not trust in the product he sells? Would you buy a car that the owner of the car does not have 'good review'? Of course NOT!
So why would the gospel be of good news if the recipients of the gospel are gloomy, defeated or just plain lack of fire for the Lord? The reason is that they do not understand the full meaning of being a Christian and that nothing they do will make them better Christians or even cause God to bless them more!
Now if we are to do the great commission, we should do it with joyful graciousness with gratitude for God's grace and NOT the threat of God's judgement (for there is only good judgements...the judgement of how big our golden crown in heaven would be)
Before I go into what I about evangelising, do let me quote what I think about the relevant scriptures:
5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. (1 Cor 4:5NKJ)
The background to this verse is just this. The corinthians are splitting up in accordance to the teachers they follow and the whole letter of Paul is to admonish the corinthians to follow the one true message, that is the Christ who is sacrificed for us.
Before I go further, this verse does not end here it continues "And then God will give whatever praise is due" (NLT) or "and then shall every man have praise of God."(KJV) or " Then each one's praise will come from God.(NKJV) "
So the whole verse is saying this: "We are not to judge who is faithful than the others until the Lord comes who will make known what is in our hearts. After His Judgement, He will give us praise. Look and read...God is not coming down to Christians with CONDEMNATION. He is just going to judge us according to our hearts and because of the work on the cross, we can safely say with faith that God has taken it (sins) away when Jesus judges and what's left is only the good things. That's why He will give us praise!
Now how much praise you want from Jesus is in accordance to what He has given you and how we faithfully use it but be rest assured, no bad things will come to you. Jesus promised!
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. (1 Cor 3:11-14 NKJ)
Again the completed verses of 1 Cor 3:9-15
9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Cor 3:9-15)
The main thrust of the message is that the work we are to do for the Lord has Jesus as our foundation. Some of us do work for the Lord that range in terms of value (gold, silver, hay, straw etc). But a lot of things we do for Jesus and Abba is of value to God! Not necessarily only evangelising but there are other activities that we can do as a tribute to God that the work will bring glory to His name on high.
What if the work you do is not what God wants you to do? Then fear not for the above verse already shared: If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; (NOTE) but he himself WILL BE SAVED, yet so as through fire.
No matter what, true Christians will be saved despite them NOT doing completely anything for the Lord (which I doubt so because the Lord gives us talents for us to use and we do use them knowingly or not).
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. 12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to glory on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. (2 Cor 5:10-12 NKJ)
Paul here is sharing that he would rather be out of the body, in spirit with God than to dwell in this body. Nevertheless, we will be judged in accordance to what we have done in the body. Let's revisit the main tenets of the Bible:
(a) Christ has died for us so that we have the forgiveness of sin and the redemption from the effects of sin (Ephesians 1:7)
(b) that there shall be no more condemnation for those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1)
(c) "For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; (1 Peter 3:18) "
So in the context about Judgement, think about the work of Christ. Will God judge your sins after what His Son has done? Will God make you unrighteous because of what WE did? Obviously not! Or else, the blood of Jesus Christ is no better than the blood of bulls and goats!
Therefore the things we done in the body, has already being forgiven by God because of the cross. And because of this work on the cross, that we may boldly boast about God so that we can answer those "who boast in appearance and not in heart"!
What does the last sentence say? It says that those who tries to earn salvation through works in their body will not have the answer for those who receive Christ and receive salvation because of His work on the cross! Remember again, spiritual renewal that leads to a New Creation in Christ is the ultimate work of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life (for none shall go to heaven except through Christ the ONLY way).
What ever happens in the world and when we see that the world is accepting God and His Son Jesus Christ, then it is high time for us to be rejoicing! I agree that Malaysia and Singapore are not exactly Christian nations but we are called to be in this countries so that we can be the salt of our worlds.
Yes we are supposed to spread God good news but how can we spread them if we do not believe in the news in the first place? Why the we spread the good news if all we do is to spread fear into fellow Christians? That God will punish Christians who do not do their homework?
Would you buy a product if a sales person do not trust in the product he sells? Would you buy a car that the owner of the car does not have 'good review'? Of course NOT!
So why would the gospel be of good news if the recipients of the gospel are gloomy, defeated or just plain lack of fire for the Lord? The reason is that they do not understand the full meaning of being a Christian and that nothing they do will make them better Christians or even cause God to bless them more!
Now if we are to do the great commission, we should do it with joyful graciousness with gratitude for God's grace and NOT the threat of God's judgement (for there is only good judgements...the judgement of how big our golden crown in heaven would be)
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