Bible is a manual|Ahnsahnghong!

You finally bought the shiny, light and new model bicycle that everyone is talking about on your block. Excitedly, you haul it to your car with much enthusiasm and can't wait to get it home to show it off to the neighbors. As soon as you turn into your drive way, you open up the garage door, pop the trunk open and proudly haul it to your door. Since no one is home, you fiercely put all your energy in opening that big box. You carefully take out all its contents, one by one and lay them on the floor next to each other. After taking out the many pieces of styrofoam and plastic, you finally find the manual taped to the inside of the box. But wait! You hurry back to the garage because you needs those special tools to mount the bicycle. You pick up the manual again, only to find out it is not in your native language. All the more, after carefully recounting, you discover that some pieces are missing. And of course they are the most important pieces to the bicycle. You take a deep breath and call the manager of the store only to find out that it is a clearance item and was sold as is!

Ok, take a deep breath.....
According to the online Merriam- Webster dictionary, a manual is "a book that is conveniently handled; especially : handbook . If you click on handbook, the definition reads even more clearer: "a concise reference book covering a particular subject"
When I think of the Bible, it is a manual for our salvation. However, unlike the story mentioned above, the Bible is not heavy so it can be carried any and everywhere. One does not have to worry about its contents being missing because Elohim Gods' words are perfect. You don't special tools to put it together. God already put it together. The only special tools you will need are spiritual eyes and ears which God has blessed us with. Language is an not an issue because in any language the word of God remains the same. There's no need to return it! God's words are constantly reviving the soul because it is living and active. Lastly, like any manual, following each step one by one results in the final finished product. More importantly, carefully reading, understanding, accepting and obeying the words of God leads us to our final destination, the kingdom of heaven!
Thank you Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother for allowing me this understanding!

OT and New Testament Sabbath (6)

How, as the royal priesthood and chosen people of God do we work in the sanctuary? In following the example of Jesus Christ who came as the high priest in the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 6:20: where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek) let's understand how we should worship. In John 4:23-24 it reads, Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and truth. How do we worship? In Spirit and in truth! Where do we worship? At home? at the beach? In the temple! But how do we truly worhip in spirit and truth?The priesthood should follow the high priest no longer in the order of Aaron but in the order of the high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. The high priest is Jesus Christ! Let's see what example Jesus gave us. In Luke 4:16, it reads, He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. Here, Jesus Christ's custom was to go to the synagogue (church) on the Sabbath day. In verses17-18 "The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed.... Jesus Christ went to the synagogue every Sabbath as was his custom and read the scroll (scriptures) from the prophet Isaiah found in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, it was really hard to keep the Sabbath day and therefore was not perfect. However, when Jesus Christ fulfilled the law, his example is to worship in spirit and in truth every Sabbath at church while reading from the Bible. How much mercy does God have on us. Nowadays, not many people keep the Sabbath day because of wordly obligations. However, God allows us the opportunity to repent and worship correctly as the example Jesus Christ showed us 2000 years ago. Thank you God for your boundless mercy and grace.

OT and New Testament Sabbath (5)

How difficult it was to keep the regulations for Sabbath that were required in the Old Testament! Then in the New Testament how did Jesus Christ complete the law? Just like in the Old Testament, the priests were the only ones allowed to work and their work was done in the sanctuary. Who, then are the priests in the New Testament? In 1 Peter 2:9, But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. God said we are chosen! God said we are a royal priesthood! God said we are a holy nation! How are we made holy? By keeping the Sabbath day, Saturday, the 7th day of the week! If we continue in verse 10, Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God, once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. God allowed us so much mercy in keeping the Sabbath day as Jesus Christ taught us in the New Testament. God said we are a royal priesthood. Just like the priests who worked in the sancturay in the Old Testament, we as the royal priesthood also have to work. How do we work?

OT and New Testament Sabbath (4)

Previously, we learned that in the Old Testament, the Sabbath was kept by not doing work and by bringing two perfect year lambs without defect Sabbath after Sabbath. There was another offering that the Israelites were to bring Sabbath after Sabbath. In Leviticus, 24:5:7 it reads, Take fine flour and bake twelve loaves of bread, using two tenths of an ephah for each loaf. Set them in two rows, six in each row, on the table of pure gold before the Lord. Along each row put some pure incense as a memorial portion to represent the bread and to be an offering made to the Lord by fire.This bread is to be set out before the Lord regularly, Sabbath after Sabbath on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant. The twelve loaves of bread were to be presented before the Lord in two rows, six loaves in each row every Sabbath. Therefore, to review, on the Sabbath day: one could not work or else he was put to death, the offering of two perfect year lambs without defect and twelve loaves of bread, six loaves in each row. If we think about the offerings that were made, it does require some type of work. However, if we recall previously, God said no work was to be done on the Sabbath day. Let's see who was to present the offerings. In verse 9, It belongs to Aaron and his sons, who are to eat it in a holy place, because it is a most holy part of their regular share of the offerings made to the Lord by fire. Aaron was the high priest in the Levitical priesthood who presented the offerings to the Lord. Aaron's sons were part of the Levitical priesthood. The priesthood always worked in the sanctuary. In the Old Testament, only the priests worked. In the New Testament, who are the priests?

OT and New Testament Sabbath (3)

What does God consider work on the Sabbath day? In Numbers 15:32-36, it reads, While the Israelites were in the desert, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day. Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him. Then the Lord said to Moses, "The man must die. The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp." So the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the Lord commanded Moses. On the Sabbath day, a man was gathering wood and as a result God told the Israelites to stone him to death. If we think about the situation, the man may have been gathering wood to cook for his family or to start a fire in order to keep warm. However, God deemed it as work and the result was death. How difficult and strict was it to keep from doing any work? But because God said, it was necessary to follow. Not only could you not work on the Sabbath but there was another regulation in keeping the Sabbath.
In Numbers 28: 9-10, it reads, On the Sabbath day, make an offering of two lambs a year old without defect, together with its drink offering and grain offering of two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil. This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.
They were to bring two perfect lambs every Sabbath. In mathematical terms, 2 lambs every Sabbath multiplied by 52 weeks or Sabbaths in a year is 104 perfect one year lambs a year. How difficult! Not only did the lambs have to be without blemish but they also needed to be one year old and brought every Sabbath. We understand to this point that they couldn't do any work or be put to death and also two perfect year old lambs were to be brought every Sabbath. There was another offering....

OT and New Testament Sabbath (2)

Since the priesthood changed from the order of Aaron to the order of Melchizedek, what else changed? In Hebrews 7:12, it reads, For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. As we can see, something changed not abolished. When we can think about the word "order" as in the order of Melchizedek, what does it signify? Basically, the way or manner it which something was kept from the Old Testament to the New Testament. In order to understand the change, we need to understand how it changed from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Then, in order to understand how Sabbath is kept in accordance with the example that Jesus Christ taught us, we need to understand how it was kept in the Old Testament.
In Exodus 31:12-13, it reads, Then the Lord said to Moses, Say to the Israelites, you must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between you and Me for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy. At this time, Jehovah God gave the Israelites a command. God did not suggest or ask for them to observe His Sabbaths but He said you Must observe Sabbaths. Why? By keeping God's Sabbaths we get a sign between God and us. Recalling God's messsage in Genesis 2:1-3, God promised rest, blessings and holiness on the 7th Sabbath (Saturday). How amazing because we also realize that God also promised a sign between us and Him by observing the Sabbath. God acknowledges us on the Sabbath day! If we continue in verses 14-15, it reads, Observe the Sabbath becuase it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death;whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from His people. For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. In verse 14, anyone who desecrates the Sabbath, is put to death. In verse 15, whoever works on the Sabbath day is put to death. Hence, to desecrate the Sabbath is to work on the Sabbath. However, what is work? If I move a pencil from one end of the table to the other end, is that what God considers work? Although it does not require a lot of effort, we need to understand and accept God's viewpoint on what work is.

OT and New Testament

Jesus Christ, 2000 years ago, showed us Christians many examples as He said in John 13:15, I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. In one of my first blogs, we saw thru the Bible, that the Sabbath day not Sunday is the true day of worship. God's promises rest, blessings and holiness on the the 7th day (Saturday) as mentioned in Genesis 2:1-3. However in keeping the Sabbath day, many think that it was abolished by Jesus Christ 2000 years ago. We have to get confirmation thru the Bible if Jesus abolished the Sabbath or did He do somthing else.
In the book of Matthew 5:17-18 it reads, Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Jesus said that He did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them. The Law and the Prophets is found in the Old Testament. He didn't come to abolish the Old Testament but fulfill it. Therefore, the status of the Old Testament was unfulfilled, incomplete and imperfect. When Jesus Christ came, He came to fulfill, complete and make perfect the law in the New Testament. We need to understand what happened to the law of the Sabbath. In Hebrews 7:11, it reads, If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood( for on the bais of it the law was given to the people) why was there still need for another priest to come-one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? In the beginning of this verse, we see a condition, IF. The Levitical priesthood found in the Old Testament was given through the order of Aaron , the high priest and the law was given to the people. However, if the Levitical priesthood was not perfect, then what happened? Another priest came not in the order of Aaron but in the order of Melchizedek. Then, who came as the the high priest in the order of Melchizedek?

The Truth..Soul cont'd (8)

In the book of Luke, let's see Jesus Christ's mind in celebrating the Passover. Luke 21:7-8, Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover Lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John saying, " Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover. If we continue in verse 13, When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, " I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer..." Jesus Christ eagerly desired to celebrate the Passover. Why? Does Jesus need forgiveness of sins? Absolutely not! Does he not have eternal life? He is eternal life! But he humbled himself in the flesh to give the one thing sinners need in order to have eternal life and go back to the kingdom of heaven! Thank you God for this great understanding. How happy would Jesus be if we celebrate the Passover? In Luke 15:7, I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents that over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. How does a sinner repent? By partaking in the Passover! How much rejoicing there is in heaven for one sinner who repents! Please keep the true Passover as testified in the Bible so that we can go back to the kingdom of heaven rejoicing day after day by God's side as heavenly angels!

The Truth..Soul cont'd (7)

How can we receive forgiveness of our sins? In Ephesians 1:7, it reads, In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. Who do we receive the forgiveness of sins from? If you read verse 3, it says, Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Jesus Christ, we receive forgiveness or redemption of our sins through His blood. Since we need Jesus Christ's blood in order to be forgiven of our sins, how can we partake in His blood? Did Jesus tell us how can we partake in His blood? And, once we are forgiven of our sins, then what goes away? In Matthew 26:17-19, On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?" He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, "The Teacher says My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with My disciples at your house." So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. As we can see, the disciples were preparing to celebrate the Passover with Jesus Christ at the appointed time. How is the Passover celebrated? In verse 26, While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying "Take and eat; this is my body." The Passover bread is Jesus Christ's body. In verses 27-28, Then He took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. The Passover wine is Jesus Christ's blood by which He promises the forgiveness of sins! If we partake in the Passover as Jesus directed his disciples, we get redemption or forgiveness of our sins. The wages of sin is death but we are forgiven through Jesus Christ body and blood by celebrating the Passover. Therefore, if there is no more sin, then there is no more death. If we have no death what remains is eternal life! How amazing! The Bible clearly tells us that only through the PASSOVER that Jesus Christ celebrated, can we get forgiveness of our sins. Not through Euchrist.Not through Communion. The Bible never mentions this. Only through the Passover as tesstified in the Bible! What was Jesus Christ's mind in celebrating the Passover?

The Truth..Soul cont'd (6)

We all want to go to the kingdom of heaven to be with God Almighty. However, we cannot go back to heaven full of sin. In Romans 6:23, the wages of sin is death. No one on this earth, regardless of age, race or background can escape the one thing that is inevitable. Thru the Bible, we saw that Job and King Solomon testified that we were in heaven before with God. We were heavenly angels! Then why are we here on this earth where there is no escaping the sorrow, pain suffering and agony? No one would volunteer to come to this earth full of trouble and despair knowing that we delighted with God day after day. Then if we long for the kingdom of heaven, how do we get rid of our sin? Thru the testimony of Jesus Christ, let's understand why He came 2,000 years ago.
In the book of Luke 19:10 it reads, For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. Who is the Son of Man? According to John 9:35-37, the Son of Man is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ came to seek and save the lost. Jesus Christ, who was in the kingdom of heaven, came to this earth in the flesh to seek and save the lost. Who, then are the lost? If we think about it, our spirits were in the kingdom of heaven but we are on the earth in the flesh. Jesus Christ, left His heavenly throne and came to the earth in the flesh to seek and save something very valuable- the lost. Therefore, we are the lost from heaven. But why are we lost? In Matthew 9:13, Jesus said, But go and learn what this means, I desire mercy not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous but sinners. According to the Bible, no one on this earth is righteous, not even one (Romans 3:10). We are all sinners because we all have to face death. Where, then did we commit sin? On earth? In heaven? Actually, if we think of a criminal, the criminal commits a crime and as a result is put into jail. When we think of a jail cell, we don't automatically picture a bright and cheerful place. On the contrary, it's cold, lonely, sorrowful and painful---- just like this earth. This earth is a prison where sinners dwell. We were cast down to this earth because we committed grevious sins against God in heaven (Please reference to Ezekiel 28:11-17 an Isaiah 14:12-15). We tried to raise our throne above God's... We became proud and sinned against God. Sin cannot remain in heaven and as such we were all cast down to the earth waiting for our penalty of death. I'm so sorry to God for this! But God, full of mercy and grace allows us sinners to get forgiveness for our sins. How can we can forgiveness of our sins?