Weekly Message: Unbind him and let him go (John 11:44) By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

 

Weekly Message:  Unbind him and let him go (John 11:44)

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce                                                                                            5/22/2024

Christian Arts Ministries:  Biblical precepts & Gospel Music; Pastoral ministry & counseling

 

  Jesus spoke life into the dead Lazarus and commanded him to come forth to a new life. Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with bandages, and his face wrapped with a cloth, Jesus said to them, "Unbind him and let him go.” (John11: 38-44) Although Jesus had spoken life into Lazarus, let him came to life, however, he was still bound in his grave clothes, with a veil over his face. So Jesus told the people who were there to unbind him and let him go. This is the condition of many believers today. They have received eternal life from Jesus, but they remain bound by the trappings of their dead life. These trappings may be old self, old habit patterns, old thoughts, and bandage of sins, quilt, fears and human traditions. Therefore, Jesus has to speak another word: “Unbind him, and let him go.”

  Today, Jesus calls us to come free from the limits and habit patterns of our old manner of life to walk fully into the new life He opens before us.  It is not enough simply to receive the new resurrection life within us. Jesus wants to give us a whole new way of living, and to open up an entirely new set of possibilities for us. How unfortunate when many who have been filled with resurrection life are unable to walk free and walk away from their past way of living into the fullness of their new life.  Jesus’ command however, gives us power not only to come alive, but to walk free from all the evil controls and influences of our old life.

 Christians, those who have received the resurrection life of Jesus into themselves, do not have to be bound and held by the sins, the traumas and the limitations of the past. We can simply leave those things behind and walk away from them. Today many struggle and wrestle with problems that held them bound in their old life. They spend their time exploring and comparing one another’s bandages, and in the process they get entangled with their old problems. Jesus calls us to drop our bandages and to walk away from the binding habits, patterns and attitudes of our old life. He has made us alive, when we were dead, so that we can walk free with Christ in a wonderful new way of living.

   Have you had some messy problems in your past?  Are there old attitudes from your past life that caused you trouble and vexation?  Are there influences in your past life that have caught you in a negative psychological chain reaction? Then remember you are a new creation if Christ becomes your life, and the old things need not hold you anymore or control you anymore. You are a new person; walk free from the old habits, and disadvantages, hurts, and sins, of the past. He has empowered you for a new life. Ignore your old bandages, walk away from them, leave them buried and covered in the tomb.  

          Christians’ life needs to be aware of Satan’s scheme which is to remind you constantly about your past old life, wrong, wound, hurt, mistakes, shame, regret and bondages of sins. It results in you living in the sense of a quilt. You need not to accept Satan’s reminding but declare that you are a new person in Christ Jesus, and received a new Spirit of God, and a new life of freedom. Old man has gone, new has come, you are a new man. As Apostle Paul urged Ephesians, “That you put off as regards your former manner of life, the old man, which is being corrupted according to the lusts of the deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind and put on the new man, which was created according to God in righteousness and holiness of the reality.” (Eph.4:22-24)   

   There is a wrong methodology that the methods used in particular counseling of study and activity which is a caregiver (or minister) constantly remind a care receiver’s (or a person’s) past old life, sometimes, it results in that person bitter, regrets of life, and struggles of old bandages of sin. To those who want to learn to be a counselor, a comforter or a caregiver, you need to be aware of your care receiver’s past life, old bandages of sorrow, and sins. Some may have a hurtful past life, wound, or unpleasant past or youth life, and he or she does not want to dwell on the past, nor be reminded over again and again about the past. Remember Jesus commanded, ‘Unbind him and let him go.” (John 11:44) In another word, Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” When the dead man came out, his hands and feet were wrapped with strips of linen and a cloth around his face.” The dead man “Lazarus” received the resurrection life, however, he needs someone to take off the grave clothes, unbind him, untie him, unchain him,  and help him to walk free from the bandages of old life, old pattern of thinking, habits, sins, attitudes, wound, hurts, and old ways of life. The Lord said in Isaiah 43: 18, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past, see, I am doing new things. Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”   

My friends, perhaps, you just like Lazarus, have received the resurrection life of Christ Jesus, yet, your siblings (or friends) constantly remind about your old man, past, former manner of life that caused you feel trouble, irritation, annoyance, frustration, vexation, disgrace, guilt and misunderstood. You shall stand up for yourselves, say “no” and refuse to be reminded of the old man's past pattern of life again and again. And declare as Apostle Paul said, “I am no longer living, the life I live, Christ lives in me, I am a new man, old has gone, new has come.” 

Bibliography,

Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3^rd Chicago: The University of Chicago press, 2000.

Brown, Robert, Philip W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.

Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1^st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

 Strong, James. Strong’s: the expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010

 

Weekly Message: Abraham was justified by faith not by works By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Weekly Message: Abraham was justified by faith not by works     

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

 God’s election, righteousness vindicated, it is not of man’s works, but of the Lord who calls and of His mercy and sovereignty. Christ provides righteousness based on God’s grace in response to faith.  At the present time there is remnant chosen by grace and if by grace then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. (Roman 11:5-6) Romans Chapter 9 Apostle Paul discussed perplexing questions about the Jewish people. Why were they refusing the gospel? How does this new scheme of righteousness apart from the law relate to the privileged position of the Jews? Have the promises contained in their covenants failed?

Ø  God’s sovereignty, of God who call and His election

 God’s economy in His election, all Jews are born of Israel, but not all of them have been selected by God. Only Isaac and a part of His descendants have been selected by God and reckoned as the children of God. This election is not of man’s works but of the Lord who calls and of His mercy (Romans 9:11,16)

Ø  Abraham’s faith was apart from works

Apostle Paul points out the faith-righteousness principle is not new, and he uses Abraham as proof. Abraham was justified by faith not by works (Gen.15:6)

            When then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about –but not before God. What does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. (Romans 4:1-3).

 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. (Romans 4:4-5)

David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.” (Romans 4:6-8)

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood. He did this to demonstrate His justice, because in His forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished. He did it to demonstrate His justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:22-26)

 To justify was a legal term meaning to secure a favorable verdict, to acquit, to vindicate, to declare righteous (Deut.25:1). It is an act of God (Rom.8:33) who take the initiative and provides the means through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. The sinner who believes in Christ receives God’s gift of righteousness (Rom 5:17), which then enables God to pronounce him righteous.

Ø  Apostle Paul stated the children of the promise who are Abraham’s offering

 “It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are His descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. For this was how the promise was stated. ‘At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.’” (Romans 9:6-9).

Ø  Apostle Paul stated, not by works but by Him who calls

  Rebekah’s children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: Not by works but by Him who calls. She was told, “The older will serve the younger.”

Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all!

For He says to Moses,

“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort but on God’s mercy.

 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh:

“I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” Therefore: God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. (Romans 9:10-18).

 One of you will say to me “then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?” But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, “ why did you make me like this?” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? What if God, choosing to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the objects of His wrath—prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of His glory known to the objects of His mercy, whom He prepared in advance for glory- even us, whom He also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? (Romans 9:19-24)

As He says in Hosea:

“I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people; and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one.” And “it will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called sons of the living God.” (Romans 9: 25-26)

Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:

“Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved. For the Lord will carry out His sentence on earth with speed and finality.”  It is just as Isaiah said previously: “Unless the Lord Almighty had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.”

 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. As it is written:

“See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.”  (Romans 9:30-33)

 Apostle Paul expresses his deep longing for the salvation of Israel (Romans 10:1), who tried to substitute law-righteousness for faith –righteousness (Romans 10:2-4), though the latter was universally available (vv.5-13). God gave the Jews every opportunity to receive the gospel, but they had not responded in faith (vv.14-21).

Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. (Roman10:4) Christ is the termination of the law. It could not provide righteousness based on merit, but Christ provides righteousness based on God’s grace in response to faith (Romans 3:20; Acts13:30).

God’s economy in His election, Israel’s unbelief affects their relationship with God. Nevertheless, since the calling of God is irrevocable (Romans11:29), Israel is still the beloved people of God positionally.

              Apostle Paul points out, “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited. Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in and so all Israel will be saved, as it’s written, “The deliver will come from Zion, he will turn godlessness away from Jacob and this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” (Romans11:25-26)  

           Simon has described to us how God at first showed His concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: “After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the remnant of men may seek the Lord and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things that have been known for ages.”  (Acts 15:14,16-18). The full number of the Gentiles who will be saved (Acts15:14). After that God will turn again to the Jews and will save all 

Israel at the Lord’s return. (Rom.11:26).

 

          Amos 9:11-12 repeatedly stated, “In that day I will restore David’s fallen tent. I will repair its broken places, restore its ruins, and build it as it used to be, so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear my name.” declares the Lord, who will do these things.” In that day, the aspect of the Day of the Lord known as the Millennium. David’s fallen tent the dynasty of David through humbled for a time will be reinstated in rule over all the world. (Acts15:15-17) the millennial kingdom will be characterized by fertility with Israel permanently possessing the land promised in Gen.15:18:21. 

  

  Bibliography,

Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3^rd Chicago: The University of Chicago press, 2000.

Brown, Robert, Philip W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.

Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1^st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

 Strong, James. Strong’s: the expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010

Weekly Message: From the Mosaic Law to the Law of Spirit of Life through Christ Jesus By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

 Weekly Message: From the Mosaic Law to the Law of Spirit of Life through Christ Jesus

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce                                                                  Date: 5/11/2024

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling                                                                                                         

Ø  Reflection of spiritual retreat Gospel outreach  

Gospel outreach mission –Spiritual retreat went well, many customers said, “Thank you for doing this.” Some smiled at me while I was worshiping and praising the Lord.  The goal today, is to restore people’s faith in Christ, renew the spirit, pray and bless the land we stand, and draw the soul back to Jesus Christ our Lord.  I thank God for this opportunity that the owner and few employees of Mei-Supermarket are believers who accept Jesus as Savior and go to the church. They open the door for me to do Spiritual retreat. It takes courage to do the Gospel outreach to Asian Supermarket; for there are many customers who are unbelievers, such as Buddhism and Hinduism. After the sermon and worship service, a woman came to me to ask if Jesus is the only Messiah? She strongly opposes the theology that “believes in Jesus, confess your sin, your sin will be forgiven.” and “By grace you are saved, through faith in Christ Jesus”. She kept talking about “work and talk”.  I didn’t debate nor argue with her, for the Gospel is an invitation, it’s her free will to reject or accept Jesus’ invitation. It is the Holy Spirit to convict, convert, and convince people, not me. But I pray for her that God will open her heart and mind to salvation and Jesus may unveil the truth to her by the Holy Spirit. 

Ø  The argument from the Law –

Apostle Paul wrote letter to Galatians 3:10-4:11

 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written:” Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because “The righteous will live by faith.” The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, the man who does these things will live by them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the laws by becoming a curse for us, for it is written.” Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. …So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now the faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew, or Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir…”

The transition from Moses to Jesus does not mean that the just standards of the law have been abandoned; Jesus calls us to an even higher standard of righteousness than Moses. It simply means that through the gift of the Spirit the law of external rules and ordinances is being replaced by the writing of the law of the Spirit of Life in men’s hearts. This transition is for those who realize that through their conduct they were unable to establish their own righteousness under the law. We must recognize our need to receive the gift of forgiveness from all transgression along with a new heart of righteousness.

Ø  A new covenant declares the Lord

Jeremiah 31:31-34 indicate, “The time is coming,” declares the Lord, “When I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them.” declares the Lord. This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,” declare the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor or a man his brother, saying “Know the Lord.” because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.” declares the Lord. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”  (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Ø  Moses prophesied a prophet will raise up

Moses had prophesied: “That Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, for your own brothers. You must listen to him…I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I commend him. If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.” (Deut. 18:15,18-19)

Ø  Jesus’ transfiguration, Moses and Elijah witness Father’s voice “This is my Beloved Son”

And after six days, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. There He was transfigured before them; His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah, and Moses who were talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”  Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. (Mark 9:2-8).

At the Mountain of Transfiguration, Jesus unveils to His disciples that He is not simply a great prophet on an equal footing with Moses and Elijah, but that He completes them and supersedes them. They brought the nation to the threshold of the Kingdom of God and He will take all who follow Him closely into that Kingdom. We are to move from obedience to the Law of Moses to obedience to the law of the Spirit of life, the Law of Christ.

God is calling the Jewish people from the protection of the Law of Moses to the protection of the Messiah and is calling all men into this Kingdom. Our new obedience now is not to Moses and Elijah but to the Messiah Jesus who will take us the rest of the way to the Father. Jew and Gentile access to the fullness of God’s blessings is now through the grace of God purchased by Messiah Jesus. By faith Abraham was blessed and by faith his offspring shall receive blessings. On the Mount of transfiguration, the voice of God is heard saying that Jesus is the prophet to whom they must listen and with this the Law and the prophets agree. “This is my Beloved Son…listen to Him.”

Ø  Apostle Paul’s defense, no one came to support

 When Apostle Paul fulfilled Jesus’ mission, he wrote a letter to Timothy and Titus “At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:16-18). He urged Titus, “Avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.” (Titus 3:9-11). Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant not of the letter but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:5-6). Jesus said, “The Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. (John 6:63).

Ø         Jesus is the door (John10:1-9)

Truly, truly, I say to you, He who does not enter through the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up from somewhere else, he is a thief and a robber. But he who enters through the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him to doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice. And he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will be no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers. (John1-5)

This parable Jesus spoke to them, but they didn’t know what those things meant that He spoke to them. Jesus therefore said to them again, Truly, truly, I say to you that I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t hear them. I am the door if anyone enters through Me he shall be saved and shall go in and go out and shall find pasture. (John10:6-10)  

 The sheepfold signifies the law, or Judaism as the religion of the law, in which God’s chosen people were kept and guarded in custody until Christ came. Thieves and robbers signify those who came into Judaism, but not through Christ. Christ is the door not only for God’s elect to enter into the custody of the law, as did Moses, David, Isaiah, and Jeremiah in the Old Testament time, before Christ came, but also for God’s chosen people, such as Peter, John James, and Paul, to come out of the fold of the law now that Christ has come.

 Thus the Lord indicated here that He is the door not only through which God’s elect may go in but also through which God’s chosen people may go out. The pasture here signifies Christ as the feeding place for the sheep. When the pasture is not available (e.g., in the wintertime or at night), the sheep must be kept in the fold. When the pasture is ready, there is no further need for the sheep to remain in the fold. To be kept in the fold is transitional and temporary. To be in the pasture enjoying its riches is final and permanent.

Before Christ came, the law was a ward, and being under the law was transitional. Now that Christ has come, all God’s chosen people must come out of the law and come into Him to enjoy Him as their pasture (Gal.3:23-25;4:3-5). This should be final and permanent. Because they did not have such a revelation, the leaders in Judaism considered the law, on which Judaism was based, as permanent. As a result, they missed Christ and could not participate in Him as their pasture.

  Bibliography,

Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3^rd Chicago: The University of Chicago press, 2000.

Brown, Robert, Philip W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.

Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1^st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

 Strong, James. Strong’s: the expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010.