Ephesians 1:3-4 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ and I believe the first blessing of all is being chosen. Not only are we amazingly chosen by the grace of the Almighty God who created the whole universe and every creation in existence, we were chosen even before we were born! This is very reassuring for me especially when I am weak in faith, in doubt of my value and in fear of the inevitable uncertainty of my future. The word of God reminds us that God truly loves us enough to have chosen us “in Christ” even before our birth – the only way to belong to Him in this lifetime and for eternity!
The great thing about knowing that God had chosen and created us, is not only that we feel assured of our existence but to know the purpose He planned and designed us for. Just as there are reasons for choices, there are purposes for choices. And God’s purpose for us is to be holy and blameless in His sight! Although this seems impossible, Jesus affirmed us to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5: 48) and it can be done as we continue to live in Him! The Holy Spirit is to sanctify us to be in His likeness and guide us by His strength to live day by day under His rule! It is not by good deeds or moral value before God but by faith and obedience as a way of life in close relationship with God our Father and Creator. This is the purpose God wants us to live by!
God knows we are weak and struggles with our weaknesses as we strive to be holy. Thus when we live in obedience and being accountable to God in the way we live our life, by His grace, that is being holy and blameless in His sight. As we are assured that God created us before the creation of the world for this purpose, we can be assured that we are safe in His Sovereign hands as He will faithfully work in us as we work towards His purpose for us. It should give us great confident, faith and passion to continue to serve and live for Christ as His plans for us will prevail. Amen!
(off topic - again)
Why did God give us freewill if He knows that we are sinful?
haha... anonymous? i'm quite interesting to know who r u.. xD
by the way josh, do u think it's better if u add a chat box at your blog where people ask u questions that are not related? cuz oh, now we have to open the comment one by one ler.. if got the chat box, people can straight away see there, and u can answer us through your 'new post' instead of replying in comment.. know wat?not everyone'll go see the comment also.. just a suggestion..
i also got another off topic question. xD
Gen37.. why joseph dreams so? btw, joseph is the chosen one after jacob rite? is the dream a sign of joseph'll be sold/joseph'll help them after he is in egypt? Judah suggest that they sell joseph, is he has any heart to save joseph from being killed?or he don even hav that intention?
Gen38.. i tot God created man and woman to unite as 1?as in why they can marry so many wifes?in old testament there are alot man that married several wifes. is concubines also allowed ka? then the rule of marry the brother's wife, is that God's order? why they wanna do so ler? and tamar also, she trick judah because she cannot marry shelah. but why judah say she is more righteous than him because he din arrange the marriage of her with shelah? blur case d... judah also isn't a righteous person because of what he did.
lol.. you can answer this in point form bro!
Lavynce,
Thanks for suggestion. But I still prefer the questions and answers to be in the comment that it will be easier to view, track and not to disturb the main post. It would be confusing then as it would be "everywhere" without a systematic series of lessons.
Besides, it isn't hard to open the comment separately in tabs and leave the main post in your first tab. It shouldn't be a problem :)
Glad you are a keen learner and student of His Word, remember not only to learn the answer to a question as mine is only one perspective of the many possible biblical interpretation, so learn the way to grasp the principles and insights of a chapter or paragraph.
Learn the way to analyse, discern and interpret according to your maturity. Not to forget that the Holy Spirit is here to help us understand His Word as we read it maturely and read between the lines. Perhaps I may ask you a question then you try answer, you can learn to apply it then and be a Bible teacher of your own :)
- Gen37.. why joseph dreams so?
As we follow through the Bible account of Joseph’s life, we could recognised that the dream is about Joseph’s destiny where he will literally reign over his family as the second most powerful in command apart from Pharaoh who rules the land. The dream is of God for Joseph to hold on to and believe in when he went through a series of very very tough life where God seems to have abandon him. Joseph did not lose faith in God perhaps of this dream of God’s promise to him.
- btw, joseph is the chosen one after jacob rite?
No, in the sense that Judah is the one who will inherit the leadership of Jacob and to continue the family line to the Messiah Jesus. Refer to Matthew 1:1-3
A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of JUDAH and his brothers, 3 JUDAH the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram,
As to why Reuben is not the chosen one (he is the firstborn and supposing the leader) and how Judah was chosen instead. Refer to http://www.chabad.org/magazine/article_cdo/aid/36017/jewish/Reuben-and-Judah.htm for a good explanation of it. Pastor Ding is right, don’t know anything just google it hehe..
Yes, in the sense that Joseph was chosen by God to preserve the family under the rule of Egypt until they are ready to be a nation and led out by Moses.Read Acts 7. The family line to Jesus must be preserved and this shows the faithfulness of God and the Sovereignty of God over history.
(FYI to bear in mind, Old Testament is the history of the New Testament, if the NT is about Christ, then OT is about how Christ comes about, both reveals the redemptive plan of God after Adam’s fall. This is the main storyline of the Bible which connects OT and NT.)
- is the dream a sign of joseph'll be sold/joseph'll help them after he is in egypt?
Yes, the dream is a prophecy of Joseph’s destiny of how he would one day reign over his family.
- Judah suggest that they sell joseph, is he has any heart to save joseph from being killed?or he don even hav that intention?
No, we can safely assumed Judah have no intention to save Joseph as the Bible did not record so, unlike the case with Reuben. Judah’s suggestion might seem righteous as he did not want to kill him but it is not right in the eyes of God. Lesser of two evils is still evil, it does not make it right.
You might rightfully ask why then God chose him to be the head of Israel if he is so corrupted. Besides the grace of God as with ALL the Biblical characters who are flawed in one way of another, Judah learned obedience and righteousness as he got older.
Read on Genesis and you will soon learn it is true. He was humbled and corrected of his sins in Genesis 38.
- Gen38.. i tot God created man and woman to unite as 1?as in why they can marry so many wifes?in old testament there are alot man that married several wifes. is concubines also allowed ka?
Yes, marriage between only one man and one woman is God’s original constitution for us. God never condone polygamy and Bible contains many verses to support monogamy and warning against polygamy :
1 Timothy 3:12
Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.
1 Timothy 3:2
Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
Titus 1:6
If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.
Ephesians 5:31
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” (God’s original and still the original plan for marriage)
1 Corinthians 7:2
But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. (notice it’s singular, not plural)
Deuteronomy 17:17
And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.
Then why Old Testament people had many wives and concubines? Simple, it was a cultural practice during that time especially with kings. The more wives a king had, the more “glorious”, “powerful” and “rich” he seems to be, similar like the Ancient Chinese Emperors. A note to remember, although the Bible contains record about certain things even the actions of righteous people, it does not mean God condones it. The Bible contains the evil things man did but God did not condone those actions right? So don’t be too quick to jump into conclusion.
Since polygamy was a common cultural practices at that time, the Jews practices the same. And since it wasn’t evil or against God’s direct command at that time, God allowed His people to go about their culture at that time though God had always monogamy in mind. (Notice God took special care, provide comfort and kind to the other wives and concubines of whom a man neclect.)
In allowing polygamy at that time, don’t misunderstand that God is not righteous or so but God respects the cultures at that time that aren’t against His direct teaching. He slowly guides His people back to His original plan thus New Testament had so many teachings about monogamy. This isn’t unusual of God, He did the same with the issue of slavery.
- then the rule of marry the brother's wife, is that God's order? why they wanna do so ler?
Yes, it is God's law. When a man died without a son, his brother had to marry the widow and produce children to care for her and allow the family line to continue. The first son of this marriage was considered the heir of the dead man. Which also means this son is the son of the dead man, not the current man who fathered the child.
This is why Tamar had to do what she did as Judah did not fulfill his duty as a brother in law.
Deuteronomy 25:5-10 5 If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband's brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her. 6 The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel. 7 However, if a man does not want to marry his brother's wife, she shall go to the elders at the town gate and say, "My husband's brother refuses to carry on his brother's name in Israel. He will not fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to me." 8 Then the elders of his town shall summon him and talk to him. If he persists in saying, "I do not want to marry her," 9 his brother's widow shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, take off one of his sandals, spit in his face and say, "This is what is done to the man who will not build up his brother's family line." 10 That man's line shall be known in Israel as The Family of the Unsandaled.
Correction :
This is why Tamar had to do what she did as Judah did not allow his son Shelah to fulfill his duty as a brother in law.
- and tamar also, she trick judah because she cannot marry shelah. but why judah say she is more righteous than him because he din arrange the marriage of her with shelah? blur case d... judah also isn't a righteous person because of what he did.
By understanding the law and the context of Deuteronomy 25:5-10, you would know that Tamar was being obedient to God’s law while Judah was not. He was more concerned for his son Shelah than God’s commandments and his duty to uphold the law. Although her ways are not honest and was deceitful (she got no choice as Judah denied her), but she was willing to go to great extend (but not evil) to fully God’s law and her duty to bring forth a child to carry on the family line of the Jews.
She could have been pregnant by anyone but she choose to remain attach to the Hebrews as she must have knew they were God’s chosen people (she knew the law thus knew it was God who gave the law). Thus by faith in God, she was credited as righteous. Not her ways as righteous. (Old Testament often used the word righteous to refer to obedience to God’s law, not on action of righteousness. Unlike New Testament as well.)
Moreover Tamar was a Canaanite yet she fulfilled the law which Judah as a Hebrew should have fulfilled. Thus she was more righteous (in faith and obedience) than Judah in this sense. Not their actions as both were immoral. Similar with the case of Ruth where she was a Moabite yet chose to be a Hebrew by attaching herself to the Hebrew family through marriage and faithful to this family.
Both were rarely included in Jesus’ genealogy of ancestors (only four women – Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba) and this shows that if one would be obedient, faithful and greatly desire to be part of God’s family, He would accept them. Only now it is fulfilled in Jesus, not the Law. (Bear in mind ONLY the Hebrews were God’s people at that time, Gentiles like us were ONLY “officially” accepted when Jesus came as Saviour of all).
Matthew 1:1-3 A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was TAMAR, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Matthew 1:5 5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was RUTH, Obed the father of Jesse,
..my freewill question? T_T
Hallooo :)
(Your answer can be found in the main blog)
Pardon as I have been busy during the
weekends to answer your brilliant question. In fact, I have been pondering your question for a long time as it has many implications and even possible answers. I have hard time constructing the best answer. As from the answer, it can also open up to a lot of other complex question that deals with theology of God, humanity and sin.
Yet I have chosen to remain simple and give you the answer from my point of view. I am satisfied with the answer as I know God. I know Him not because I understand everything about Him but I know His love and Sovereignty enough not to question Him and go beyond my human intellectual understanding of things which He has yet revealed clearly to us. But truth is never denied of us and we can understand Him as much as our intellect allows us too. Blur of what I am trying to say? Haha..
Then read this article for more deeper insight and understanding of the complex issues involved at
http://www.challies.com/archives/articles/a-word-about-free-will.php
May I have your name please? Thank you for visiting my blog and don’t forget to get close to Him daily ;)
Not really, I did understand.. thanks for your insight. NO worries brother, getting close to Him daily :)
- Will forever remain,
Anonymous
mysterious huh? -.-"
hey josh, thanks anyway. :)
about the website u show me.. it says the right doesnt belong to Reuben because he sin against his father. what did he do? i din notice anything in the bible before joseph was sold to pharoah. is Gen37:29 records Reuben's sin? is that the one?
err.. God is love as the common saying says, then if God had chosen people before creation, how about those that hasn't accepted him? wouldn't it be not fair?
In John, how come the Jews called Jesus a samaritan? I know the Jews didn't want anything to do with them, then did Jesus did/say sth to be compared to them?
Lavynce,
Good question, keep up the curious mind to seek deeper His Word. Rather than me giving you the answer which is pretty straight forward in the Bible. Try google it under "reuben bible" and look for the answer in wikipedia.
Once you know the sin (e.g. incest, adultery), seek more under "reuben incest/adultery" and discover what other christian website says. Then you become the teacher of your own unless the answer isn't direct. Then tell me what was Reuben sin k :) It is more effective for you this way.
Anonymous March 12,
May you clarify what you mean and why it isn't fair? I have yet to see your point or connection between God's choice and those who haven't believe. Yes, God is love and He chosen people to be holy before creation. So what about those that haven't accepted him? You mean if God chose them, why they haven't believe thus it isn't fair? Is this what you are asking?
I could say that if God had chosen them to know Him then in time they will. God created, chosen and work to draw people to Him even to the point of Jesus' death. What is fair to Him? He works it all out for us since the beginning. He owe us nothing, we owe Him everything. He gave us everything precious, we given Him nothing in comparison. He has all to lose, we have all to gain. Yet God still wills it to be so out of love and grace beyond our comprehension. Fair? If God plays fair, we have no standing at all.
Jedi-die-ah,
May you give me the Bible reference where the Jews called Jesus a Samaritan? It is better for me to interpret it in context and answer you according to it rather than to go through the historical background of the Jews and Samaritans. The Jews hated the Samaritans for many reasons and linking Jesus with them as a form of insult is common besides the many possible other reasons.
Thank you so much, I will reply you all soon after you reply to me :)
swt ==
anyway, its when they where calling him demon-possessed also.. so yea, might be an actual insult. john 8:48~