Month: September 2018

The Development of Religion According to the Bible

In the New Testament, the word “religion” is recorded in five verses. Curiously, the word “religion” is not found in the Old Testament. This does not however imply the absence of religion since the beginning of time.

Before the fall of Adam, both Adam and Eve knew God intimately. Religion in an institutionalized form as a system of beliefs to compel them to approach and worship God wasn’t necessary. Even after the fall of Adam, none of them were compelled strictly as a matter of form in their approach to God.

The incident of Cain is a case in point. When he approached God in his own way, God simply dismissed and ignored his offering. God didn’t rebuke him. God just didn’t accept his sacrifice and that was all. There wasn’t any penalty for approaching God in a way that was unacceptable to the Creator God.

This wasn’t the case after Moses showed up to deliver an institutionalized format of worship. The moment Aaron’s sons tried to be funny and offered strange fire, they were executed immediately on the spot.

Leviticus 10:1: And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.

Leviticus 10:2: And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

Numbers 26:61: And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD.

Hence, religion is a serious business and not to be taken lightly. Until Moses showed up, religion before the Global Flood was still free and easy. It was up to men to approach God in an acceptable way with animal sacrifice given to Adam after his fall to cover his nakedness. Unfortunately as the human race progressed, they got further and further away from God.

Notwithstanding, there were still men seeking after the God of Creation, in particular, Noah found grace in God’s sight and were spared together with his family from the destruction of the entire world.

Genesis 4:25: And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.

Genesis 4:26: And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

After the flood, the way to approach God didn’t really change much. Noah continued with the same worship with animal sacrifice and was accepted by God.

Genesis 8:20: And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Everyone from Noah’s family knew God and knew the way to approach God. There wasn’t any need to regurgitate an acceptable format in this regard.

After the flood however, additional laws were given. Capital punishment came into effect for murder while before the flood, even after Cain killed Abel, he wasn’t put to death immediately but allowed to die like every other man on earth. So killing and lawlessness became rampant before the flood with no penalty and deterrence to compel men to exercise self-restraint. Continue reading The Development of Religion According to the Bible

The Talking Earth

Fallen men consider the creation account in the Bible as a myth. At the same time, the Big Bang Theory and Evolution are recognized as science which scientists cannot demonstrate nor prove to be true. Whether the Bible account of creation or fallen men’s theory concerning this universe, both require faith to hold fast to one such model.

According to the psalmist, he wrote about the universe praising and giving glory to the God of Creation. It is impossible for Big Bang Theory proponents and Evolutionists to attribute any praise and thanksgiving to their invisible and non existent creator while they live under the mercies of the Creator God who gives them life and breath until they are taken away from this world. Psalm 19 illustrates the beautiful exaltation of God’s creation rejoicing before the Creator God who brings forth life in this universe.

Psalms 19:1: The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Psalms 19:2: Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

Psalms 19:3: There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

Psalms 19:4: Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

Psalms 19:5: Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

Psalms 19:6: His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

Of course Bible critics and skeptics as well as pseudo scientists will dismiss such writings as a creative description of the universe according to the myth of Judaism and Christianity. Writings as such can be allowed under poetic license of the writer just like any other literature here on earth. Sadly, even among those who believe the Holy Book, some would not take such writings literally. Only some devotional and spiritual applications should be derived from them they so insist.

But the psalmist was dead serious. He wasn’t kidding when he wrote Psalm 19 where God’s creation could talk whether fallen men could understand their speech. Fallen men are not spiritually tuned so the Holy Bible is a myth to them. The psalmist went further to command God’s creatures whether on earth or in heaven to praise God.

Psalms 148:1: Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.

Psalms 148:2: Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.

Psalms 148:3: Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.

Psalms 148:4: Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.

Psalms 148:5: Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.

Psalms 148:6: He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

Psalms 148:7: Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:

Psalms 148:8: Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

Psalms 148:9: Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:

Psalms 148:10: Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:

Psalms 148:11: Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:

Psalms 148:12: Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:

Psalms 148:13: Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.

Psalms 148:14: He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.

The psalmist was under no illusion that God’s creature and creation not only could talk, they could praise God too. But such privilege of knowing God’s creation could talk is not given to those who hate God and reject His revelation given to this world in the Holy Bible. The Holy Bible is full of incidents where the earth could talk.

The first incident occurred after Cain killed his brother Abel. When God confronted Cain, it was mentioned that blood could cry from the ground.

Genesis 4:10: And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.

It was God Himself who made that claim and not some man high on drugs made that suggestion. It was God who heard Abel’s blood crying from the ground. The language of the blood crying out from the ground might not be a known form of human language but God certainly got the message. How could God who created this world not given His creatures ability to feedback to Him!

During the rebellion at the Tower of Babel, God confounded the language of men. Notwithstanding men could still talk to one another in their own language. Not only talking with each other, some believe elements on earth could record events and bear witness to incidents that happen on earth. When call upon to testify, the earth could of course talk.

The quarrel between Jacob and his father-in-law Laban comes to mind here. Continue reading The Talking Earth

The Agonizing Saviour

The Lord’s agonizing prayer in the garden of Gethsemane is recorded in the gospel of Matthew, Mark and Luke. The gospel of John however did not record the Lord’s travail during prayers to His Father in heaven. In fact even the name of the garden was omitted. The other three gospel accounts vividly described the Lord’s agony and travail when He prayed before heading to the cross of Calvary.

This was the end stage where Lord was dealing with His calling and mission to come into this world for the express purpose to save sinners from their sins. As the drama for the redemption of fallen men was heading into its epilogue, the intensity of the Lord’s conflict and sorrows became manifest just prior to His arrest and subsequent road to Golgotha Hill for His eventual crucifixion.

Matthew 26:36: Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

Matthew 26:37: And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

Matthew 26:38: Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

Matthew 26:39: And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Matthew 26:40: And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

Matthew 26:41: Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Matthew 26:42: He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

Matthew 26:43: And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

Matthew 26:44: And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Matthew 26:45: Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Throughout the Lord’s earthly ministry, He had never been exposed to be weak other than prior to entering the ministry during the forty days fasting tempted by Satan. The heart wrenching episode here before the Lord went to the cross fully manifested the severe burden with regard to the Lord’s mission to save lost sinners. Never had the Lord asked His disciples to keep Him company and share His burden and sorrows other than during this occasion.

The Lord’s request was reasonable and even very simple. It was not something requiring enormous resources or exceptional effort. It was simply just to watch the Lord while He prayed. Yet they failed Him!

The disciples failure was really tragic. In fact, they failed the Lord on three consecutive occasions in that short time span. Whatever happened to their empty boasting just prior to this incident in the garden of Gethsemane?

Matthew 26:30: And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

Matthew 26:31: Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

Matthew 26:32: But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

Matthew 26:33: Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

Matthew 26:34: Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Matthew 26:35: Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

Peter boasted he would be the last man standing even when everyone else denied the Lord. He went as far as claiming he would give up his life for the Lord. But he could not even stay awake to watch over the Lord during His time of need.

So when the Lord found them asleep, He spoke to Peter who boasted earlier and still Peter could not rise to the occasion. He was asleep again when the Lord returned the second time after pouring His heart out to His Father in heaven.

The Lord already told Peter he would deny Him three times before the cock crow. Right here Peter had already failed the Lord three times. Of course the rest was history when he denied he knew the Lord three times after the Lord was arrested and being judged by the religious authority of the day.

Likewise the other disciples who also boasted they would not deny the Lord and would die for Him also failed completely. This illustrated how weak human flesh is! Hence the Psalmist advice is always current.

Psalms 118:8: It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

Even before the Lord began praying, He already told His disciples He was exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. Didn’t they get the message? Did they empathize with the Lord? That was before they fell asleep. Continue reading The Agonizing Saviour