Category: Doctrine

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Doctrine Gospel Theology

The Mystery Behind the Primeval

The story of creation and the beginnings of humanity is one of the most profound mysteries ever revealed to mankind. The certainty of God creating the whole universe in six days and resting on the seventh is not a matter open to scientific theories, philosophical arguments, or archaeological investigations. It is divine truth, divinely communicated. The Primeval story (Genesis 1–11) stands as the foundation of all history, faith, and human destiny.

God, in His providence, chose Moses as the vessel through which the revelation of the beginnings would come. Though born a Hebrew, Moses was raised in Pharaoh’s palace in Egypt—the cradle of ancient civilization. There he received the best education available, preparing him to record and communicate God’s revelation. On Mount Sinai, God unveiled to Moses the primeval history so that humanity might understand its origin, purpose, and the lessons embedded within the earliest chapters of existence.

Exegetical Lessons from Genesis 1–11

  1. God as the Sovereign Creator (Genesis 1–2)

Genesis opens with the majestic declaration: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” This is the starting point of all reality. Creation was not a random accident or the product of cosmic chaos, but an intentional, ordered act of God. The six days of creation reveal His power, wisdom, and order. Each stage builds toward the climax: the creation of man in His image, male and female, to glorify Him.

Genesis 2 zooms in on humanity, showing God’s personal involvement—forming Adam from dust, breathing life into him, and fashioning Eve from his side. Humanity’s dignity, value, and purpose all flow from being created in God’s image.

Lesson: The universe belongs to God; He owns it, sustains it, and created man to worship and serve Him.

  1. The Entrance of Sin (Genesis 3)

The mystery of the fall is revealed in the tragic account of Adam and Eve’s disobedience. Through Satan’s deception, humanity doubted God’s word, grasped for autonomy, and fell into sin. The result was separation from God, spiritual death, and the curse on creation. Yet even here, God revealed hope: the promise of the seed of the woman who would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15).

Lesson: Sin is the root of all human misery, but God’s redemptive plan was revealed from the very beginning.

  1. The Spread of Sin and God’s Judgment (Genesis 4–6)

Cain’s murder of Abel shows how quickly sin corrupts humanity. From there, evil multiplied until God declared: “Every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). Yet in the midst of wickedness, Noah found grace.

Lesson: God is just and must judge sin, yet His grace provides salvation for those who walk with Him.

  1. The Flood and Covenant with Noah (Genesis 6–9)

The flood demonstrates God’s sovereignty over creation, His hatred of sin, and His power to cleanse the earth. Yet God preserved Noah and his family, establishing a covenant with him and giving the rainbow as a sign of His promise never again to destroy the earth with water.

Lesson: God controls the universe. He judges sin but establishes covenants of grace with His people.

  1. The Tower of Babel (Genesis 10–11)

Human pride once again rose as men sought to build a tower to make a name for themselves. God confused their language and scattered them over the earth. This explains the origin of nations and languages.

Lesson: God alone deserves glory. Any human effort to exalt self above Him ends in confusion and futility.

The Mystery in the Beginnings

The primeval history reveals deep mysteries:

God alone is eternal; everything else had a beginning.

Humanity, though fallen, bears the image of God and is created for fellowship with Him.

Sin corrupts, but God’s mercy always provides a way of salvation.

History is not random; it unfolds according to God’s sovereign plan.

These mysteries call us to humility, reverence, and worship. They also call us to draw near to God, the Author of life, rather than rebel against Him.

Concluding Reflections and Call

We are created in the image of God—is your life bringing glory to His name?
He is the ultimate source of life—have you accepted His offer of everlasting life through Jesus Christ?
He orderly designed and sustains the universe—is your life ordered according to His precepts?

If not, the time is now. God calls all men everywhere to repent and believe the Gospel. Jesus Christ, the promised seed of the woman, has crushed the serpent’s head through His death and resurrection. He offers forgiveness, peace, and eternal life to all who put their trust in Him.

And if you once walked with God but have drifted away, hear His loving call: “Return unto Me, and I will return unto you” (Malachi 3:7).

Final Appeal

The mystery behind the primeval is no longer hidden; it has been revealed for our instruction. The God who created, controls, and upholds the universe is calling you today. Will you surrender, repent, and trust Christ as Savior? Will you align your life with His divine order and live to glorify His holy name?

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Doctrine Gospel

The Morn of Rapture

The Blessed Hope of the Saints

The rapture is one of the most profound mysteries revealed in the Word of God. It is the blessed hope of all true believers, the moment when Christ shall come suddenly to take His Church away from this present evil world. Paul declares, “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17).

This glorious event will not be announced to the world beforehand. It will come suddenly and unexpectedly, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump” (1 Corinthians 15:52). Jesus Himself warns, “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (Matthew 24:42). The morn of rapture will be a day of joy for the faithful, but a day of sorrow, confusion, and despair for the careless and unprepared.

The Qualification of Those Who Will Be Raptured

The Bible is clear that not all who profess Christ will be taken up in the rapture. Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

Those who will partake in the rapture must:

  1. Be Born Again:
    Jesus emphasized, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). New birth through faith in Christ is the entry point.
  2. Live in Holiness and Purity:
    Hebrews 12:14 says, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” Only the pure in heart shall see God (Matthew 5:8).
  3. Be Watchful and Ready:
    The parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1–13) shows that only those who were ready entered with the Bridegroom. The careless virgins were shut out.
  4. Walk in Love and Righteousness:
    Ephesians 5:1–2 urges us to “walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us.” John further adds, “He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous” (1 John 3:7).
  5. Endure in Faith Till the End:
    Jesus warns, “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13). A half-hearted or backslidden Christian cannot qualify.

If the Rapture Tarries – The Inevitable Reality of Death

If God in His wisdom delays the rapture, death becomes inevitable for every human being. Hebrews 9:27 affirms, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” However, for the righteous, death is not a tragedy but a transition into glory.

The Psalmist testifies, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” (Psalm 116:15). Paul echoes this joy, saying, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). The righteous who die in Christ enter into eternal rest: “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord… that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Revelation 14:13).

Thus, whether by rapture or by death, the faithful believer’s end is everlasting joy in the presence of the Lord.

Heaven: A Prepared Place for a Prepared People

Jesus comforted His disciples with these words: “In my Father’s house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself” (John 14:2–3). Heaven is a prepared place, but only for prepared people.

Preparation begins with reconciliation to God through faith in His only Son, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 declares, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” This requires repentance from sin (Acts 3:19), forgiveness through Christ’s blood (Ephesians 1:7), and justification by His grace (Romans 3:24).

From that point, believers must live in holiness, serve God faithfully, and walk in obedience to His Word. Paul urges, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). Without adequate preparation, the door will be shut as it was for the foolish virgins (Matthew 25:10).

A Solemn Warning and Call to Readiness

The Scripture gives strong warnings about the suddenness of the rapture and the uncertainty of life. “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:44).

Believers must:

Hold fast the word of life (Philippians 2:16).

Live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Remain steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58).

The morn of rapture will separate the wise from the foolish, the ready from the careless, the holy from the unholy. It is a call to vigilance, purity, and perseverance.

Conclusion

The morn of rapture will dawn suddenly. For the faithful, it will be the greatest joy of all ages; for the unprepared, it will be eternal sorrow. Whether Christ comes today or delays and calls us home through death, the only safe position is readiness.

Therefore, be watchful, be vigilant, and be steadfast. Believe the gospel, repent of sin, embrace the grace of God through Christ, and live daily in holiness and service. For surely, “yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry” (Hebrews 10:37).

Categories
Doctrine Gospel History Theology

Unmasking the Mystery Behind the Rechabite’s Conviction

Throughout the pages of the Old Testament, we encounter groups and individuals whose lives speak volumes even without many words. One of such remarkable families is the Rechabites, whose story is recorded in Jeremiah 35.

The Rechabites were descendants of the Kenites, a nomadic tribe with deep roots in Israel’s history. Their ancestor Jonadab son of Rechab, lived during the time of King Jehu of Israel (2 Kings 10:15-28). He was a man zealous for the Lord, committed to purity, and determined to keep his lineage separated from the corrupting influences of the land. Jonadab charged his descendants never to drink wine, build houses, sow seed, or plant vineyards, but to live in tents all their days. His intent was to preserve them from compromise and assimilation into the sinful practices of surrounding nations.

Generations passed, yet the Rechabites tenaciously held fast to their father’s command. Even when invited by the prophet Jeremiah into the temple and offered wine, they boldly responded: “We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever.” (Jeremiah 35:6).

Their conviction was not rooted in convenience but in obedience. They lived as pilgrims in their own land, strangers among their own people, but loyal to the command passed down to them.

The Mystery of Their Conviction

The astonishing part of the Rechabites’ story is that God Himself took notice of their obedience. He instructed Jeremiah to use their loyalty as a lesson to faithless Judah. Israel had the living Word of God, yet they would not listen. The Rechabites only had the instruction of their earthly father, and they obeyed it for generations without wavering.

This is the mystery: if men could so steadfastly uphold the teaching of their earthly father, how much more should we, who have received the eternal Word of the living God, remain unshaken in our faith? Their lives expose the inconsistency of those who claim to know God but refuse His Word.

God honored the Rechabites with a promise that their lineage would never lack a man to stand before Him (Jeremiah 35:19). What a testimony! Their conviction echoed beyond their lifetime, sealed with God’s approval.

A Call to Unwavering Conviction

Beloved, you have seen the example of earnestly contending for the faith through the lens of the Rechabites. Now the question comes to you:

  • Do you have any conviction to stay with the Word of God, the doctrine of the Scriptures till the end?
  • Are you easily carried away by confused teachings claiming revelation contrary to the revealed Word of God?
  • Do you follow every wind of doctrine, or does your anchor hold firmly on Christ, the Rock of Ages?
  • Can you, like the Rechabites, refuse to compromise even when end-time carnal preachers promise you “freedom” outside of Christ in the name of religion?

The days are nearer, the time is short, and the privilege to repent will not stay forever. Draw near to God today. Hold fast your conviction in Christ.

Prayer of Faith

If you are not yet in the Lord, or you have drifted away, pray this prayer of faith sincerely from your heart:

“Lord Jesus, I thank You for loving me. I confess that I am a sinner in need of Your mercy. I believe You died for me and rose again for my salvation. Today, I repent of my sins and invite You into my life as my Lord and Savior. Give me grace to walk in Your Word and never turn back. Thank You for saving me. Amen.”

Friend, if you prayed this prayer sincerely, you are now a child of God. Hold fast your conviction in Christ as the Rechabites did with their father’s command. Only this time, you are standing on the unshakable Word of the Eternal Father.

Categories
Doctrine Wisdom

The Pursuit and Possession of a Clean Heart and Right Spirit: A Worthwhile Journey

In the spiritual journey of life, the quest for a clean heart and a right spirit is not just a noble aspiration; it is a divine mandate. The Bible underscores the significance of purity in heart and spirit, urging believers to seek transformation through God’s grace. This article explores the scriptural basis for pursuing a clean heart and a right spirit, contrasts it with the profound blessings of such a pursuit, and calls for an urgent response to flee from the weights that hinder this journey.

The Biblical Call to a Clean Heart and Right Spirit

1. Psalms 51:10-12

David’s heartfelt plea in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me,” encapsulates the essence of repentance and renewal. Here, David acknowledges his sin and seeks God’s intervention to cleanse and restore him. The emphasis on a clean heart reflects the understanding that true purity stems from within.

2. Matthew 5:8

Jesus declares, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” This beatitude highlights the spiritual reward of purity. A clean heart not only brings inner peace but also positions believers to experience God’s presence more profoundly.

3. Proverbs 4:23

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” This verse stresses the importance of guarding one’s heart against impurities and distractions, reinforcing that a pure heart is foundational for a fruitful life.

4. Ezekiel 36:26

God promises, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.” This prophetic declaration indicates that the ability to obtain a clean heart and right spirit is a gift from God. It is an act of divine grace that transforms believers from within.

5. Colossians 3:2

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” This exhortation encourages believers to focus on heavenly matters, which is essential for cultivating a clean heart and right spirit.

The Blessedness of Pursuing a Clean Heart and Right Spirit

The pursuit of a clean heart and right spirit is not without its rewards. The Scriptures reveal various blessings that accompany this journey:

1. Seeing God

As mentioned in Matthew 5:8, the pure in heart are promised the profound blessing of seeing God. This is not merely a future hope; it is a present reality experienced through intimacy with God. Those who pursue purity are granted deeper revelations of His character and presence.

2. Dwelling in the Hills of God

In Psalms 24:3-4, the psalmist asks, “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart.” The blessedness of dwelling in God’s presence is reserved for those who seek purity, allowing them to experience His glory.

3. Divine Blessings

Psalm 41:1-3 speaks of the blessings that come to those who consider the poor and act with a pure heart. Such individuals are promised God’s protection and healing—a testament to the holistic nature of divine blessings that stem from a clean heart.

The Urgent Call to Flee from Weights

In these end times, the urgency for believers to pursue and possess a clean heart and right spirit is greater than ever. The world is rife with distractions and weights that threaten to hinder this pursuit:

  • Hebrews 12:1 urges us to “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely.” We are called to discern what in our lives may be impeding our spiritual growth and to reject it.
  • 1 John 2:15-17 warns against loving the world, for the desires of the flesh and the eyes can lead us away from a pure heart.

A Solemn Call

As we navigate the complexities of life, let us heed the call to flee from anything that hinders our pursuit of a clean heart and right spirit. This is not merely about personal holiness; it is about aligning ourselves with God’s will and experiencing the fullness of His blessings.

In conclusion, the pursuit of a clean heart and right spirit is not just worthwhile; it is essential. It opens the door to divine encounters, blessings of protection, and the joy of dwelling in God’s presence. Let us actively seek this transformation, laying aside every weight, and pressing onward in faith, so that we may truly experience the richness of life in Christ.

Categories
Doctrine Theology Wisdom

Marriage: The Best Gift to Humanity

Marriage is often viewed through the lens of personal experiences, cultural backgrounds, and societal expectations. Yet, the ultimate truth about marriage is that it is a divine gift to humanity. God intentionally instituted marriage in a triangular form, where each corner represents a vital component: God at the top, the husband on one side, and the wife on the other. This sacred structure highlights that without one of the parties, the essence and joy of marriage are incomplete.

The Divine Triangle of Marriage

In this triangular model, the apex represents God, the creator and author of marriage. The left side symbolizes the wife, while the right side signifies the husband. This configuration illustrates that a thriving marriage requires the active involvement of all three parties. When both spouses draw closer to God, they also draw closer to each other, fostering a strong, loving bond.

Biblical Foundations

The Bible provides numerous insights into the significance of marriage. For instance, in Genesis 2:24, it is stated, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” This passage emphasizes the unity and commitment that marriage entails.

Furthermore, Ephesians 5:25 instructs husbands to love their wives just as Christ loved the church, highlighting the sacrificial love that should characterize the marital relationship. Similarly, in Proverbs 18:22, it notes, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord.” This scripture underscores the blessings that come with a loving partnership.

The Importance of Divine Fellowship

When challenges arise in a marriage, it is crucial for both spouses to turn to God. The triangle serves as a reminder that God is the ultimate problem-solver. When the husband seeks God, and the wife does the same, they can find resolution and peace. This divine fellowship not only strengthens their bond but also infuses their relationship with joy and purpose.

If you find yourself close to God but distant from your spouse, it is essential to maintain the integrity of the triangle. Engage in prayer together, share your struggles, and seek divine guidance. By doing so, you can experience the fullness of the gift that marriage offers.

Conclusion

Marriage is indeed one of the greatest gifts to humanity, designed to bring joy, fulfillment, and companionship. By recognizing the importance of the divine triangle—God, husband, and wife—you can cultivate a relationship that withstands the tests of time.

As you reflect on your own marriage, ask yourself: How can I bring God into the center of our relationship? Remember, a marriage that includes God at its core can overcome any obstacle, leading to a life filled with love, laughter, and mutual respect.

Let us embrace this beautiful gift and work together to strengthen the bonds of marriage, celebrating the joy it brings to our lives and the lives of those around us.