09/20
Therefore we conclude that a person is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Romans 3:28
Faith Alone
Faith alone makes a person righteous. Not by rites, not by flesh and blood, not by titles, not by knowledge, and not by acts, but only by belief in Jesus of Nazareth who suffered from the despise and death of the Cross is the truth of the truth. It may sound superstition for someone, but this is the surest truth of human experiences. I believe in this, not because the Bible teaches so, but because my whole self answers it. My experience proves this. History confirms this. Nature teaches this. Yes, faith. Outside of faith, there is no way for human salvation.
09/21
I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18
If he shall neglect to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he neglects to hear the church, let him be to you as a heathen and a tax-collector. Matthew 18:17
Jesus and Church
It is certain that Jesus had no idea of founding what we mean by the Church. He expected the "little flock" that he had gathered around him to endure as such, but only till the Father's purpose "to give them the Nation" was fulfilled. . . . The word "Church" never occurs in the gospels, save in two passages of Matthew, one textually doubtful, both recognized by all modern scholars as belonging to that element of Matthew which is latest and has the least claim to authenticity.
09/22
As the hart longs after the water brooks, so my soul longs after You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God? Psalms 42: 1-2
My Soul Longs God
The time to lament is not when I am poor, not when I am neglected by the people, not when I spend days alone and excluded, not when I am ridiculed by my ignorance. But the time to lament is when my inner eyes lose sight of God; when the face of the One whom I adore is veiled in the mist of doubt. Millions of treasures, then, would not rejoice me. Fame of my name, then, throughout the world, would not satisfy me. I would then feel myself wandering in the darkest night, even though the sun shines bright on my head. Once the sight of God were lost, I should be nothing better than a corpse. My Love, Devotion and Treasure, more precious than my life, is my God.
09/23
I delight in the law of God after the inward man; But I see another law in my members, opposing the law of my heart, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am. Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Romans 7:22-24
Prisoner of Flesh
The flesh is a kind of prison. To abide in the flesh means a confinement. Human cannot have perfect liberty while in the flesh. His freedom cannot be completed until the spirit is released from the bondage of flesh through death. "Life's fetters can only be broken by death." Thus, death is the greatest emancipator, only by which the slave of flesh shall be redeemed into the world of liberty. True lovers of freedom, therefore, shall welcome death in the same sense as Washington and Lincoln looked for liberty.
09/24
And the son arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight, and am no more worthy to be called your son. Luke 15:20-21
Return to Father
Upon wasting, after my baptism, more than ten years in silly experiments and failures, expiring my innate power of body and brain to no purpose, I was obliged to bring myself, sinful as I am, back to my Father's house, relying alone on His mercy. Without reasoning and without justifying, I had to only look up to the redemption of God's Lamb, which my God had prepared for me since the beginning of the world. Oh God, I believe because I have no way. Pardon my unpardonable sins by the power of the cross of Jesus Christ. I have none of my good deeds to offer before You. I now have none of my righteousness to boast before You. My offering is this worn out body and soul, this broken heart.
09/25
I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me. John 17:23
Person of Christ
Christianity is not a system, not a Church, not creed, not dogma, not theology, not the Bible, and not even the words of Christ. But Christianity is a living Person of Jesus Christ our Lord, who never changes yesterday, today and tomorrow. If He does not abide forever, Christianity would then be nothing. Christianity is not a history. When Christianity is deprived of history, Churches will lose their professed authority. Directly I go to Him. Not through the Church; not by the Pope; not by the clergy; and not by any institution. "I in them am they in Me," says Christ to His disciples.
09/26
I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her Husband. . . And one of the seven angels who had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife. Revelation 21: 2, 9
Preparation for Citizen of God
A believer is God's servant as well as His loving child. God awaits one's growth. God will not call him or her a friend until he or she becomes a citizen of the Heavenly Nation. As long as he or she is on earth, a believer has to prepare one's self as sinless for standing before the Lord. He or she shall not be ready to leave the world until this preparation is done. Neither will God let him or her get out of the world. But he or she may be allowed to leave the world any time upon completion of the preparation, as when the bride is adorned and ready to welcome the bridegroom, the Lamb. It does not matter whether we live long or short. Perfected or not of the preparation is the question. Fully prepared for the bridegroom, the bride eyes quickening the joy in his bosom.
09/27
I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. Luke 12: 4
Friends in Christ
I do not have to have any teachers but one. I wish them all to be my friends. I do not want to have my disciples. I like them all to be my friends. The noblest relation is that of friend, and not that of teacher and disciple. Even Christ Himself called His disciples His friends (Luke 12:4; John 15:14). We the disciples of Christ must be friends each other. Friends are equal. They help and they are helped. They teach and they are taught. They love each other and do not worship any other than the Lord. The Oriental conception of teacher and disciple may be precious but will have to perish eventually. Imperishable, however, are "the friends in Christ."
09/28
As concerning the gospel, Jews are enemies for your sakes; but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as you in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief; Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God has concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all. Romans 11:28-32
Universal Salvation
If ever God elected me to salvation, it must not be that I alone might be saved and the rest be lost, but that through me as a chief of sinners, many, if not all, be saved. I can be sure of my salvation only upon the condition that God is willing and able to save all sinners, that there never was, and is, and will be a sinner that God is not willing and able to save. Universal salvation as a dogma may be an offense to some particular theologians and ecclesiastics, but as an individual conviction and assurance for one's final salvation, it is an extremely comforting doctrine. If God is going to save all, I am sure and certain that I too shall be saved.
09/29
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves has been born of God, and knows God. The one who does not love has not known God. For God is love. 1 John 4: 7-8
Ability to Love
"Love is of God, and everyone who loves has been born of God, and knows God." A great and wonderful saying. One who loves is of God, whether one be called a Unitarian, a Rationalist, a Heretic, or a Heathen; and one who loves not is not of God, whether he be called a Christian, an orthodox, a reverend, a missionary, a theologian, a minister, a father, a pastor, or a bishop. Love is the test of life, and whatever one's confessions and professions, only one who loves sincerely and spontaneously is of God and Truth. Ability to love is the greatest attainment of life; it is the unmistakable sign of the possession of eternal life.
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