11 Aug 2022 Acts 9:1-19 (NIV)
1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
10 Aug 2022 Jeremiah 29:11-14 (NIV)
11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
12Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
13You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
14I will be found by you,” declares the Lord , “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord , “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
9 Aug 2022 Genesis 1:1-31, Genesis 2:1 (NIV)
Genesis 1
1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
4God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.
5God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning-the first day.
6And God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water.”
7So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so.
8God called the expanse “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning-the second day.
9And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so.
10God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.
11Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so.
12The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
13And there was evening, and there was morning-the third day.
14And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years,
15and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so.
16God made two great lights-the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.
17God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth,
18to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.
19And there was evening, and there was morning-the fourth day.
20And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.”
21So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
22God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.”
23And there was evening, and there was morning-the fifth day.
24And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so.
25God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
26Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
28God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
29Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.
30And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground-everything that has the breath of life in it-I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.
31God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning-the sixth day.
Genesis 2
1Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
Reflection
Today is Singapore National Day celebrating our 57 year of indepence. We need to remember Singapore is created by God. All countries, all the things in the world people, animals, plants, trees, land, sea, sky, rain, river and so many things are all created by God as stated in Genesis 1 & 2. Is not man own strength, capabilities that make a country successful. God can make a country be blessed or cause the country to fall. Do not take for granted the blessings God has given to our nation. We need to seek God how to govern our country, hear His word, instructions to direct our steps. Ministers, government staff, all people in the countries must not be proud when they see success thinking is their own work, capabilities. God is the one who cause people to succeed or fail. Seek God. Put all the credit of our success to His name. All Glory To Him. Whether we are poor or rich, everyone of us are God’s creation. His children. We need to seek after Him and pray to Him for creating us and all the blessings He has given us. We need to thank Him and ask Him to continue to watch over us, provide for us, protect our nation. Let’s pray.
Dear Heavenly Father,
How wonderful to know that you are the one that created us. Our country Singapore was struggling to know what to do after we left Malaysia. It was you who guided our leaders to know what to do. It was you who appointed our former Prime Minister Lee Kwan Yew 57 years ago to lead us to become a successful country. You are the one who gave wisdom to our leaders, you are the one who open doors for us to reach out to other countries to come and invest in our country. Every step has been planned by you that was written in your book. You are the one who gave people to our country. Why we are staying in Singapore is all because you have make the arrangement for us to be born here. How marvelous you are. How wonderful you are for letting us be born here in Singapore. Also I am thankful that you have created me to be born a few days before our National Day. Every year I get to celebrate with our nation. In fact my mum, my brother and me the 3 of us are all born in August. We get to celebrate with our country together. Also is a reminder of the day I accepted your son Jesus Christ into my life 1 day after National day. This year will be my 8th year as Christian. Thank you for coming into my life on a very special synificant occasion. I still remember the past blessed years of celebrating with Singapore National Day. May you continue to be with us in our lives watching over us, providing over us, protecting us.
In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Janice Ong
8 Aug 2022 Isaiah 55: 1-3, Ephesians 2:1-9, Romans 1:17 (NIV 1984)
Isaiah 55: 1-3 (NIV 1984)
1“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
2Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
3Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.
Ephesians 2:1-9 (NIV 1984)
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved.
6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
9not by works, so that no one can boast
Romans 1:17 (NIV 1984)
For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Wrong Teaching & Practices of Unification Church in Japan & Korea. This article talks about the wrong doing of the Unification Church. What is God’s truth? What is true church?
With the murder of former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe, news started to talk about the cause of the murder. The murderer Tetsuya Yamagami hated Unification Church in Japan as they caused his mum to become bankrupt for giving away around US$1 Million to that church. His teen years were marred by his mother’s overspending, family disruption and bankruptcy. In 2005, Yamagami reportedly attempted suicide after his mother’s bankruptcy, hoping his siblings would receive an insurance payout. His older brother, a childhood cancer survivor, died by suicide a decade later. He believed that the former prime minister supported that church.
Unification Church was started in Korea before going to Japan. Members of that church are pressurized to give donation every day. They were told that if they don’t give donations they may not be able to be save themselves. They talked about karma one’s own deeds in order to be able to save yourself for future. One must give large donations and buy spiritual blessings to atone for their own sins. That church offered “spiritual sales” of exorbitantly priced items books, vases, statuette claiming to be spiritual blessings that can give them good fortune, atone their sins, save them, absolve them or their ancestors. All these practices, belief are totally wrong. The bondage of needing to give to receive salvation is totally wrong. There is no karma in Christianity teaching. Christianity is not about karma. Don’t fall into the trap, don’t become lost, losing money, lives. Don’t harm your family, your loved ones and others by following a false church that doesn’t teach God’s word. Is not a true church. They preach unchristian doctrine. Is not a Christian Church at all. Please don’t associate Christian Churches to them. True Bible preaching Christian Churches don’t do what Unification Church does.
What is the right teaching from God? God who is Jesus Christ has told us in the Bible is salvation by grace with His death. He has atone us of our sins, those who truly believe in Him will be saved. He is son of God the Father, with His death and resurrection from the dead, we are saved. He has defeated death. God the Father sacrifice His son Jesus Christ to come to earth as man to die at the cross for our sins. No need to buy any thing, no need to pay anything to be saved. It is by His grace that you are saved for those who believe in Him. This is written in many places in the Bible. Some of the verses in the Bible showing these evidence are:
Isaiah 55: 1-3 (NIV 1984)
1“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
2Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
3Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.
You can read more about Isaiah 55 in my sermon at Christ Unite on Rescue. Food From God to understand further.
Ephesians 2:1-9 New International Version (NIV 1984)
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved.
6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
9not by works, so that no one can boast
In Ephesians 2, we can see that God says it is by grace through faith that you have been saved. It is a gift of God, not by works.
Unification Church talks about karma needing to do works to atone one own sins and for their loved ones. True church don’t teach this. Is not from God, as is written in the bible, clearly God said is not by works is by grace. In a way, what Unification Church is doing is like Buddhism that believes in works and karma. Is also similar to what the Catholic Church in the early church did during the 11th – 16th century selling indulgence to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for sins. Catholic Church teach about purgatory a place where one will go after pass away before they can go to heaven. They say that this is a place for purification, judgement, punishment for the sins while in earth. The Pope that time sold indulgence telling believers that they need to buy indulgence to reduce their own suffering and their loved ones those who had passed away from suffering in purgatory. Many people believed and bought indulgence. They kept buying as they were kept reminding by the Catholic Church they need to buy to reduce suffering. Time off from purgatory. This went on until Martin Luther a German monk from the Catholic Church in the 16th century realized that what the Catholic Church were doing were wrong and came up with 95 Theses in 1517 in which he said that salvation is by faith alone. Not by works. Don’t need to pay to atone for sins. Before this discovery, Luther was disillusioned, very discouraged by the immorality and corruption he saw among the Catholic priests. Luther also realized he didn’t have peace as he kept reminding of his sins and he kept going to his senior monk in the monastery and confess his sins. He kept worrying about the wrath of God. He later went to take theology studies at University of Erfurt and Wittenberg University and became Bible Professor at Wittenberg University. While lecturing, studying about Psalms and Romans from 1513-1516, Luther began to have better understanding about God. Psalm 22 speaks to him about Jesus Christ suffering for us by dying at the cross for our sins. He realized that salvation is by faith alone not by works in Romans 1:17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” When he realized this, he wrote 95 theses that dispute about the wrong doings of the Catholic Church and nailed it at Castle Church in Wittenberg. Below is the 95 Theses.
The 95 Theses
Out of love for the truth and from desire to elucidate it, the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and Sacred Theology, and ordinary lecturer therein at Wittenberg, intends to defend the following statements and to dispute on them in that place. Therefore he asks that those who cannot be present and dispute with him orally shall do so in their absence by letter. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
-
- When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, “Repent” (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.
- This word cannot be understood as referring to the sacrament of penance, that is, confession and satisfaction, as administered by the clergy.
- Yet it does not mean solely inner repentance; such inner repentance is worthless unless it produces various outward mortification of the flesh.
- The penalty of sin remains as long as the hatred of self (that is, true inner repentance), namely till our entrance into the kingdom of heaven.
- The pope neither desires nor is able to remit any penalties except those imposed by his own authority or that of the canons.
- The pope cannot remit any guilt, except by declaring and showing that it has been remitted by God; or, to be sure, by remitting guilt in cases reserved to his judgment. If his right to grant remission in these cases were disregarded, the guilt would certainly remain unforgiven.
- God remits guilt to no one unless at the same time he humbles him in all things and makes him submissive to the vicar, the priest.
- The penitential canons are imposed only on the living, and, according to the canons themselves, nothing should be imposed on the dying.
- Therefore the Holy Spirit through the pope is kind to us insofar as the pope in his decrees always makes exception of the article of death and of necessity.
- Those priests act ignorantly and wickedly who, in the case of the dying, reserve canonical penalties for purgatory.
- Those tares of changing the canonical penalty to the penalty of purgatory were evidently sown while the bishops slept (Mt 13:25).
- In former times canonical penalties were imposed, not after, but before absolution, as tests of true contrition.
- The dying are freed by death from all penalties, are already dead as far as the canon laws are concerned, and have a right to be released from them.
- Imperfect piety or love on the part of the dying person necessarily brings with it great fear; and the smaller the love, the greater the fear.
- This fear or horror is sufficient in itself, to say nothing of other things, to constitute the penalty of purgatory, since it is very near to the horror of despair.
- Hell, purgatory, and heaven seem to differ the same as despair, fear, and assurance of salvation.
- It seems as though for the souls in purgatory fear should necessarily decrease and love increase.
- Furthermore, it does not seem proved, either by reason or by Scripture, that souls in purgatory are outside the state of merit, that is, unable to grow in love.
- Nor does it seem proved that souls in purgatory, at least not all of them, are certain and assured of their own salvation, even if we ourselves may be entirely certain of it.
- Therefore the pope, when he uses the words “plenary remission of all penalties,” does not actually mean “all penalties,” but only those imposed by himself.
- Thus those indulgence preachers are in error who say that a man is absolved from every penalty and saved by papal indulgences.
- As a matter of fact, the pope remits to souls in purgatory no penalty which, according to canon law, they should have paid in this life.
- If remission of all penalties whatsoever could be granted to anyone at all, certainly it would be granted only to the most perfect, that is, to very few.
- For this reason most people are necessarily deceived by that indiscriminate and high-sounding promise of release from penalty.
- That power which the pope has in general over purgatory corresponds to the power which any bishop or curate has in a particular way in his own diocese and parish.
- The pope does very well when he grants remission to souls in purgatory, not by the power of the keys, which he does not have, but by way of intercession for them.
- They preach only human doctrines who say that as soon as the money clinks into the money chest, the soul flies out of purgatory.
- It is certain that when money clinks in the money chest, greed and avarice can be increased; but when the church intercedes, the result is in the hands of God alone.
- Who knows whether all souls in purgatory wish to be redeemed, since we have exceptions in St. Severinus and St. Paschal, as related in a legend.
- No one is sure of the integrity of his own contrition, much less of having received plenary remission.
- The man who actually buys indulgences is as rare as he who is really penitent; indeed, he is exceedingly rare.
- Those who believe that they can be certain of their salvation because they have indulgence letters will be eternally damned, together with their teachers.
- Men must especially be on guard against those who say that the pope’s pardons are that inestimable gift of God by which man is reconciled to him.
- For the graces of indulgences are concerned only with the penalties of sacramental satisfaction established by man.
- They who teach that contrition is not necessary on the part of those who intend to buy souls out of purgatory or to buy confessional privileges preach unchristian doctrine.
- Any truly repentant Christian has a right to full remission of penalty and guilt, even without indulgence letters.
- Any true Christian, whether living or dead, participates in all the blessings of Christ and the church; and this is granted him by God, even without indulgence letters.
- Nevertheless, papal remission and blessing are by no means to be disregarded, for they are, as I have said (Thesis 6), the proclamation of the divine remission.
- It is very difficult, even for the most learned theologians, at one and the same time to commend to the people the bounty of indulgences and the need of true contrition.
- A Christian who is truly contrite seeks and loves to pay penalties for his sins; the bounty of indulgences, however, relaxes penalties and causes men to hate them — at least it furnishes occasion for hating them.
- Papal indulgences must be preached with caution, lest people erroneously think that they are preferable to other good works of love.
- Christians are to be taught that the pope does not intend that the buying of indulgences should in any way be compared with works of mercy.
- Christians are to be taught that he who gives to the poor or lends to the needy does a better deed than he who buys indulgences.
- Because love grows by works of love, man thereby becomes better. Man does not, however, become better by means of indulgences but is merely freed from penalties.
- Christians are to be taught that he who sees a needy man and passes him by, yet gives his money for indulgences, does not buy papal indulgences but God’s wrath.
- Christians are to be taught that, unless they have more than they need, they must reserve enough for their family needs and by no means squander it on indulgences.
- Christians are to be taught that they buying of indulgences is a matter of free choice, not commanded.
- Christians are to be taught that the pope, in granting indulgences, needs and thus desires their devout prayer more than their money.
- Christians are to be taught that papal indulgences are useful only if they do not put their trust in them, but very harmful if they lose their fear of God because of them.
- Christians are to be taught that if the pope knew the exactions of the indulgence preachers, he would rather that the basilica of St. Peter were burned to ashes than built up with the skin, flesh, and bones of his sheep.
- Christians are to be taught that the pope would and should wish to give of his own money, even though he had to sell the basilica of St. Peter, to many of those from whom certain hawkers of indulgences cajole money.
- It is vain to trust in salvation by indulgence letters, even though the indulgence commissary, or even the pope, were to offer his soul as security.
- They are the enemies of Christ and the pope who forbid altogether the preaching of the Word of God in some churches in order that indulgences may be preached in others.
- Injury is done to the Word of God when, in the same sermon, an equal or larger amount of time is devoted to indulgences than to the Word.
- It is certainly the pope’s sentiment that if indulgences, which are a very insignificant thing, are celebrated with one bell, one procession, and one ceremony, then the gospel, which is the very greatest thing, should be preached with a hundred bells, a hundred processions, a hundred ceremonies.
- The true treasures of the church, out of which the pope distributes indulgences, are not sufficiently discussed or known among the people of Christ.
- That indulgences are not temporal treasures is certainly clear, for many indulgence sellers do not distribute them freely but only gather them.
- Nor are they the merits of Christ and the saints, for, even without the pope, the latter always work grace for the inner man, and the cross, death, and hell for the outer man.
- St. Lawrence said that the poor of the church were the treasures of the church, but he spoke according to the usage of the word in his own time.
- Without want of consideration we say that the keys of the church, given by the merits of Christ, are that treasure.
- For it is clear that the pope’s power is of itself sufficient for the remission of penalties and cases reserved by himself.
- The true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God.
- But this treasure is naturally most odious, for it makes the first to be last (Mt. 20:16).
- On the other hand, the treasure of indulgences is naturally most acceptable, for it makes the last to be first.
- Therefore the treasures of the gospel are nets with which one formerly fished for men of wealth.
- The treasures of indulgences are nets with which one now fishes for the wealth of men.
- The indulgences which the demagogues acclaim as the greatest graces are actually understood to be such only insofar as they promote gain.
- They are nevertheless in truth the most insignificant graces when compared with the grace of God and the piety of the cross.
- Bishops and curates are bound to admit the commissaries of papal indulgences with all reverence.
- But they are much more bound to strain their eyes and ears lest these men preach their own dreams instead of what the pope has commissioned.
- Let him who speaks against the truth concerning papal indulgences be anathema and accursed.
- But let him who guards against the lust and license of the indulgence preachers be blessed.
- Just as the pope justly thunders against those who by any means whatever contrive harm to the sale of indulgences.
- Much more does he intend to thunder against those who use indulgences as a pretext to contrive harm to holy love and truth.
- To consider papal indulgences so great that they could absolve a man even if he had done the impossible and had violated the mother of God is madness.
- We say on the contrary that papal indulgences cannot remove the very least of venial sins as far as guilt is concerned.
- To say that even St. Peter if he were now pope, could not grant greater graces is blasphemy against St. Peter and the pope.
- We say on the contrary that even the present pope, or any pope whatsoever, has greater graces at his disposal, that is, the gospel, spiritual powers, gifts of healing, etc., as it is written. (1 Co 12[:28])
- To say that the cross emblazoned with the papal coat of arms, and set up by the indulgence preachers is equal in worth to the cross of Christ is blasphemy.
- The bishops, curates, and theologians who permit such talk to be spread among the people will have to answer for this.
- This unbridled preaching of indulgences makes it difficult even for learned men to rescue the reverence which is due the pope from slander or from the shrewd questions of the laity.
- Such as: “Why does not the pope empty purgatory for the sake of holy love and the dire need of the souls that are there if he redeems an infinite number of souls for the sake of miserable money with which to build a church?” The former reason would be most just; the latter is most trivial.
- Again, “Why are funeral and anniversary masses for the dead continued and why does he not return or permit the withdrawal of the endowments founded for them, since it is wrong to pray for the redeemed?”
- Again, “What is this new piety of God and the pope that for a consideration of money they permit a man who is impious and their enemy to buy out of purgatory the pious soul of a friend of God and do not rather, because of the need of that pious and beloved soul, free it for pure love’s sake?”
- Again, “Why are the penitential canons, long since abrogated and dead in actual fact and through disuse, now satisfied by the granting of indulgences as though they were still alive and in force?”
- Again, “Why does not the pope, whose wealth is today greater than the wealth of the richest Crassus, build this one basilica of St. Peter with his own money rather than with the money of poor believers?”
- Again, “What does the pope remit or grant to those who by perfect contrition already have a right to full remission and blessings?”
- Again, “What greater blessing could come to the church than if the pope were to bestow these remissions and blessings on every believer a hundred times a day, as he now does but once?”
- “Since the pope seeks the salvation of souls rather than money by his indulgences, why does he suspend the indulgences and pardons previously granted when they have equal efficacy?”
- To repress these very sharp arguments of the laity by force alone, and not to resolve them by giving reasons, is to expose the church and the pope to the ridicule of their enemies and to make Christians unhappy.
- If, therefore, indulgences were preached according to the spirit and intention of the pope, all these doubts would be readily resolved. Indeed, they would not exist.
- Away, then, with all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, “Peace, peace,” and there is no peace! (Jer 6:14)
- Blessed be all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, “Cross, cross,” and there is no cross!
- Christians should be exhorted to be diligent in following Christ, their Head, through penalties, death and hell.
- And thus be confident of entering into heaven through many tribulations rather than through the false security of peace (Acts 14:22).
Hope you understand the 95 theses Martin Luther wrote. Is a long passage.
After Luther wrote this theses, then came the reformation of the church. Protestant Church was started. Christian Churches today are mainly Protestant Church. The Protestant Church don’t preach about giving of indulgence to receive salvation. We do not believe there is purgatory for Christian to be cleanse, punish first for their sins before they can go to heaven after Christian died. We believe in salvation is by grace alone not by works.
There is another thing that I like to highlight about the wrong doings of Unification Church. Beside the spiritual blessings sale, they also arrange their members to marry strangers whom they never know. It can be from overseas foreigner anyone. That church arrange mass weddings and marry them saying God wanted them to get married. This is totally wrong. God never told anyone to arrange marriage. Is the founder own thought, own words, own doing. Is totally not from God. Beware.
I hope after reading the 95 theses and what I have written so far, you will realize that salvation is my faith alone by believing in Jesus Christ and not by works. If you like to believe Jesus Christ and accept Him into your life, please pray this prayer.
Dear Lord Jesus, I admit I am a sinner and I ask for Your forgiveness. I have done, said and thought many wrong things that are basically going against You and Your Will. I turn from my sins in repentance. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. Thank You for dying at the Cross for my sins. I invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior the rest of my life. In Your Name I pray. Amen.
If you have prayed this prayer and accept Jesus Christ into your life, congratulations to your new born life. I like to encourage you to read the Bible. You can downlad a free soft copy of the NIV 1984 Bible at Christ Unite. Start off with reading the 40 Days Bible Reading Plan for New Christians Believers which you can download at Christ Unite. Do visit a true Bible teaching church near you and tell your Christian friends about your new faith. They will love to hear the good news and guide you in your journey. Do contact me if you like to share the good news too.
I leave you now with this song Amazing Grace.
Amazing Grace Lyrics
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now I’m found,
Was blind but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come.
’Tis grace that brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
When we’ve been here ten thousand years,
Bright, shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now I’m found,
Was blind but now I see.
Serving the Lord Jesus Christ
Janice Ong
Christ Unite
Japanese Translation:
日本と韓国における統一教会の間違った教えと実践。 この記事は、統一教会の間違った行いについて語っています。 神の真実とは？ 真の教会とは？
Korean Translation 韓国語翻訳
한일통일교회의 잘못된 가르침과 관행. 하나님의 진리는 무엇입니까? 참된 교회란 무엇인가?
7 Aug 2022 1 Kings 8:57-61 (NIV)
57May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us.
58May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave our fathers.
59And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the Lord , be near to the Lord our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need,
60so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other.
61But your hearts must be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.”
6 Aug 2022 James 4:17 (ESV, NIV)
James 4:17 (ESV)
So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
James 4:17 (NIV)
If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
5 Aug 2022 Proverbs 15 (NIV)1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
3The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
4The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
5A fool spurns his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.
6The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings them trouble.
7The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.
8The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
9The Lord detests the way of the wicked but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
10Stern discipline awaits him who leaves the path; he who hates correction will die.
11Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord – how much more the hearts of men!
12A mocker resents correction; he will not consult the wise.
13A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.
14The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
15All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.
17Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.
18A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.
19The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.
20A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
21Folly delights a man who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding keeps a straight course.
22Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
23A man finds joy in giving an apt reply- and how good is a timely word!
24The path of life leads upward for the wise to keep him from going down to the grave.
25The Lord tears down the proud man’s house but he keeps the widow’s boundaries intact.
26The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him.
27A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live.
28The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.
29The Lord is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.
31He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise.
32He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.
33The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
4 Aug 2022 Psalm 139:1-18 (NIV), Philippians 4:8 (NIV), 1 John 4:7-21 (NIV)
Psalm 139:1-18 (NIV)
1O Lord , you have searched me and you know me.
2You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord .
5You hem me in-behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
7Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
11If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”
12even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
13For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
17How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
18Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
1 John 4:7-21 (NIV)
7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
13We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
15If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.
16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.
18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19We love because he first loved us.
20If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
21And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
3 Aug 2022 Ephesians 4:29-32 (NIV), Matthew 5:23-24 (NIV), Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
Ephesians 4:29-32 (NIV)
29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Matthew 5:23-24 (NIV)
23“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
2 Aug 2022 Matthew 18:20 (NIV)
For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
1 Aug 2022 Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity