OUR DIVINE JOURNEY

1 PETER 1:3 - 9

1 PETER ONE3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,

1 PETER ONE7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

MATTHEW 13Parable of the Listener

18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. 20 The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away..”

PARABLE OF LISTENER b22 And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty

HUMAN HISTORY IS HIS STORY FOR MAN• Man is created in God’s image:

– A Relationship, or Fellowship is our Destiny

–Death was the end of this relationship• Through Adam, came a humanity of

sinners– God plans to restore His fellowship with

Man– Through a nation, a descendant of David

will bring a Savior• Jesus is the Christ, God’s Savior for Man.– He suffered and died on a cross, for

forgiveness of our sins– Historically, this happened 2000 years

ago.• Salvation is available to all who believes– You are invited to “COME” to the Father

FINDING THE LIVING GOD

• The greatest find in life, is to find God– The greatest find is not money, fame, careers.– The purpose in educating our young people are those

• The Living God created all you see, and yourself.– He is not physical, which means you don’t do it with

your body. Like the young men in the Middle East.– It is by your spirit that you must seek Him

• The Good News, is that He can be found by those who seek Him with all their hearts

• Furthermore, you can Know Him and have a relationship with Him.

PSALM ONE

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,Nor stand in the path of sinners,Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,And in His law he meditates day and night.3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its seasonAnd its leaf does not wither;And in whatever he does, he prospers.

PSALM ONEb

4 The wicked are not so,But they are like chaff which the wind drives away.5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,But the way of the wicked will perish.

WALKING BY TRUTH

1 JOHN 1

1 JOHN 1

1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.

1 JOHN 1b5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

MEDITATE TO DISCERN TRUTH

3Jn.1:4 “I have no greater joy than this,

to hear of my children walking in the truth.”

The Apostle John’s highest priority for Christians; to Walk by TruthHow do we Walk (live) in the Truth?Truth has a Purpose, (?) to reveal for our comprehension.Discerning Reality with God’s truth is the Goal for our meditation.

Introduction to the New Covenant

• “For the Law was given through Moses;”

John 1:17

• “ grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.”

Jn.8:31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

WALKING ACCORDING TO TRUTH

• Truth is an accurate description of a Reality.

• The purpose for truth is to enable our comprehension of a reality.

• The fundamental issue to learn in life is Reality. What is it? or Is that real?

• Instinctively we will walk in harmony with the reality we perceive.

1 JOHN 3Truth is not the same as Reality

1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

We must learn to practice this transition, to “renew our minds.”

ROMANS 12How Does Truth Work in Us?

1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

TRUTH

DESIGN

PURPOSEThe Goals, End for Being

Relationship - Function - Role

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INVISIBLE

R E A L I T Y

by Joseph C. Wong ’03

∆ ∆= An Accurate Description of Reality

VISIBLE

Knowing the Truth provides Our Knowledge of Reality

USING THE TRUTH

• It does not need to describe the whole reality, but it needs to be accurate.

• To comprehend the whole, we must combine, synthesize the several truths to grasp the scope of the reality. (DM Joy)

• Monitor carefully the amount of speculations you will allow yourself to pursue.

• Chose your accepted reliable source for truth.

RELIABLETRUTH?

EXPERIENCE CONCLUSION

OBJECTIVE SOURCE

SUBJECTIVE SOURCE

MANENCOUNTERS

EXAMINE, REFLECT

INTERPRETE

BIAS BELIEFS PEERS

CREATOR

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by Joseph C. Wong '00

CreatedREALITY

OUR FOUNDATION FOR LIVING

Insights for Truth-based Living: by Joseph C Wong

Jn.8:31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

3 Jn.1:4 “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”

WALKING BY THE SPIRIT

ROMANS 8:4-8

WHY NEED TO WALK BY THE SPIRIT

• Result of Regeneration– Rom.3:21 But now apart from the Law the

righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe;

– Jn.3:3, “unless one.. Ezk.11:19, “heart of flesh”

– 2 Cor.5:17, “.he is a new creature..”• Desires to Achieve the Good– Rom. 7:19 For the good that I want, I do not do,

but I practice the very evil that I do not want.

ROMANS 320 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

A CHRISTIAN IS…

• A CHILD OF GOD– Jn.1:12-13, 1Jn.3:1f

• A NEW HEART of flesh– Ezk.11:19

• BORN OF GOD, AS A NEW CREATURE– Jn.3:3, 2Cor.5:17

• IF A CHRISTIAN IS RIGHTEOUS, WHY DOES HE STILL SIN?

OBSTACLES TO GODLY LIVING Rom.7:14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

ROMANS 721 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

SOLUTION TO THE FLESHRom.8:4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the spirit. 5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the spirit, the things of the spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but **the mind set on the spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

1 CORINTHIANS 212 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.

1 CORINTHIANS 3

1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?

ie: “walking by the flesh.”

THINGS THAT ARE SPIRITUALCol.1:16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

Mtt.15:15 Peter said to Him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 Jesus said, “Are you still lacking in understanding also? 17 Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? 18 But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. 20 These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.”

CHARACTER OF JESUS’ WORD

Jn.6:63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.”– πνεῦμά ἐστιν τὸ ζωοποιοῦν ;

spirit it is giving life

– Christians often discuss and argue over things of the flesh, is walking by the flesh.

JOHN CALVIN’S INSTITUTEOn the contrary, a man will be justified by faith when, excluded from the righteousness of works, he by faith lays hold of the righteousness of Christ, and clothed in it appears in the sight of God not as a sinner, but as righteous. Thus we simply interpret justification, as the acceptance with which God receives us into his favor as if we were righteous; and we say that this justification consists in the forgiveness of sins and the imputation of the righteousness of Christ

MARTIN LUTHER alá KOLB

“a precise distinction between two kinds of righteousness, the active and the passive, so that… secular society and religion may not be confused.”

“Secular society” describes behavior, based on law, as righteous; a “human righteousness”“Religion” describes character, given by grace, as righteous, “God’s righteousness,” given through faith.

ROMANS 10

2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. 3 For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

WALKING BY FAITH

HEBREWS 11:1-3

WHAT IS “FAITH?”HEBREWS 11

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old gained approval.3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

‘Faith,’ is comprehension,.. to know, especially that which is spiritual.“by it” we know and, rebuking fear, we can act.

EFFECTS OF FAITH

Heb. 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

LUKE 7:2-102 And a centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die. 3 When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his slave. 4 When they came to Jesus, they earnestly implored Him, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this to him; 5 for he loves our nation and it was he who built us our synagogue.” 6 Now Jesus started on His way with them; and when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof;

Lk.7:7 for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 9 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.” 10 When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

How does his words indicate Great Faith?

MATTHEW 1522 And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.” 23 But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us.” 24 But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 26 And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 But she said, “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once.

FROM WHENCE COMES FAITH?The Source for Faith

Rom.10:16 However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

The Word of Christ, being reliable Truth, reveals spiritual realities, which our faith recognize as Real.

FREEDOM TO FORGIVE

GENESIS 50:15-21

FOUR STATIONS IN JOSEPH’S LIFE

• The Favorite Son– Being privileged produces envy and

hatred– Abused by family, destroyed his future

• Slave in Egyptian’s Household• Success produced admiration• Slander destroys his comfort

• A Political Prisoner– Served freely, but forgotten– Spent two more years in prison

• Premier of Egypt–Ministering to offenders

JOSEPH’S UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE

Gen.50:16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father charged before he died, saying, 17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph, “Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.”

UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE-b19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. 21 So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them

RE-AFFIRMED IN NEW TESTAMENT

Rom. 8: 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Can evil happen to a Christian who loves God?What is the Reality?

THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRISTCol.1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.

Phil.1:29 For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,

Two kinds of Sufferings: for my own sins, and for the sins of others.Is this Real? A view to help me accept sufferings from others

SUFFERINGS WHICH BENEFITS OTHERS

2Cor.1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

SUFFERINGS WHICH ARE REDEMPTIVE

2Cor.1:6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; 7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.Is this Reality, a “comfort,” if our sufferings is for the redemption of others?

GOD’S PLAN FROM THE BEGINNING

• The Purpose for Man– To fellowship with God– To crown with glory – exalt him

• The Reason for Male and Female– Complementing Characteristics–Marriage, or “one flesh.”

• The Reason for Children• The Ekklesia – “called out”– A New creation; God’s Kingdom– The Family of God

DIVINE RELATIONSHIPS• God created Man to have relationships.

– Created in God’s Image = (not what?, but why?) for relationship

• The Helper for Adam was not with animals.– Created from Adam, for a relationship with him.– To become “one flesh,” uniting both genders.

• Designed to have children, to become a community• In Christ, God’s Spirit created the Church, God’s Kingdom.

– Jesus Christ is the husband and head– A community of Love– Multi-gifted to serve each other

– With, or without children, “join” a community of faith

Created from Adam, for a relationship with him.

MICAH 6

8 He has told you, O man, what is good;

And what does the LORD require of you

• But to do justice, • to love kindness,

And • to walk humbly with your God?

ISAIAH 55:8-9

8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.

9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.