Bible Study on 14th May 08 2 Corinthians 5:17

How might the world identify a person who is a Christian? People think Christian as someone who has got religion; someone goes to Church in regular basis; someone believe in the bible message; someone different from me. What conversions have taken place? What changes a person would experience when he is in Christ?

Tonight, we will focus on the verse 17 from 2 Corinthians 5:

Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation: the old has gone, the new had come.
Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (KJV)

Human once were new creature when God by His mighty created power created the heaven and earth and all within. All have sinned and for short of glory of God. Sin has separated human from God. God is love, by His great mercy and infinite grace, all believers have been in right relation again with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, His death, burial and resurrection and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. God has infinite power to create the infinite universe; the infinite and all in its ordered universe require infinite power to be created. God has the infinite power to create the vast universe, moon, sun and all the glaciers, therefore, God also in no doubt has the power to renew us from our sin, and we are called new creature when we are in Christ! It is wonderful news for everyone who believes in Christ, isn't it? We are renewed by God' infinite power through Christ. Only Christ is worthy, able and willing to bear the sins of the world.

I. In Christ, we are new creature. What means by in Christ?

In John 15, Jesus talked about the Vine and the Branches. ‘Remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.’ If we are in Christ, He is in us. If He is in us, we then can bear fruit, the fruit of truth and love.
In Him, we have redemption. Ephesians 1:7 "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.". "In fact the law requires that nearly every things be cleansed with Blood and without the shedding of Blood there is no forgiveness." (Hebrews 9:22)
In him, our sins God remembers no more and we are not under God’s wrath but His Grace. Hebrew 10:11-17”…..”. His death is once for all. As our sins have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin needed. Romans 8:1-2 declares: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.....'.
1 John 1:8 and Paul’s illustration of “our struggling with sin” in Roman 7. Sins are still dwelling in us but not overrule us, sin has lost its power and authority, Roman 8:9 (Spirit in control if we are in Christ) because Colossians 2:13-15. Rome 6:22 “But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. “
Not only our sins are forgiven, but we are holy and blameless in God's sight if we are in Christ. Ephesians 1: 4 “For He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Col. 1:22 “Yet now He has brought you back as His friends. He has done this through His death on the cross in His own human body. As a result, He has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault. “
In Christ, we are co-heir with Christ. Romans 8:17: “Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and CO-HEIRS with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.”

II. In Christ, we are new creature.
There are two Greek words with meaning 'New'. One is Neos: new in general. The other is Kinos: brand new, freshly developed, and wonderfully renewed. Here the new is the Greek word Kinos implies the transformation is complete and it is totally change by God. How? 1 Peter 1: 3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” I like the example of Butterfly. Butterfly looks so different after the transformation taken place. It has been totally changed from the looking of a caterpillars to the looking of butterfly. Which one you like? Or you like non of them. However, when we are converted, we change inwardly--- we became a totally new man, old things passed away and behold, new things have come. If we are truly in Christ, we will have a heart for the Lord, hunger for His spiritual food, thirst for His divine word and want to live a holy life to please Him. Outwardly, we are old we, still in our perishable body, but inside, God is living in our heart if we are in Christ.
And, what are the contrasts between old and new.

1. Walk in the light, but not in the darkness.
1 John 1: 5-7 'This is the message we have heard...., purifies us from all sin.'

2. Suffer for Christ sake and for His glory, but not for our own.
1 John 3: 13, 1 Peter 1:1, 6-7 and John 16:19-24, blessings are in disguise.

3. Not love the world but love Trinity God and love one another.
Psalm 73:25 'Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire beside you.' 1 John 2: 15 ',....’ The greatest commandment Mark 12: 30-31, 1 John 4:7-12.

4. Have confidence and faith in God rather than in our own.
Hebrews 11:1 'Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see'. Hebrews 11:6.

Our faith in God is based on the divine character of God, on what he has done for us, so great and immeasurable, for sinner like me He forsake his one and only son to die for me so that our sins could be forgiven. Our confidence in God comes from the fact that 2 Corinthians 1: 20. Before we were converted, we have confident in our own, believe our own strength. But, there is far more mighty, far more great, far more wise than we are, the trinity God, He is mighty in power and abundant in love, who we could firmly rely on.

In Christ, we are new creatures. It is like: Once we were lost and now we are found. Once we were walking in the darkness and now we are walking in the light. Once we were blind and now we see. He who is in Him is born again, born of spirit and not of flesh.

Sermon on 1 peter 4: 12-19

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? 19 Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

Why we would be surprised when we are suffering? Because, we wish not to suffer and we know sufferings are painful, unpleasant experience. We do pray to the Lord: Lord let me, my family or friends not to suffer. But, we or our friends do suffer. We wonder or surprised why God permit suffering. We got confused. Why bad things happen to good people. Today, I want to tell you a Chinese story: The Story of 赛翁失马 A blessing in disguise. Peter tells us in advance we should not be surprised when persecution or trial comes if we are doing things according to God's will and for the name of Christ.

Trials are inevitable for Christian as we are strangers in this world (1 peter 1: 1).“All who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” 2 Timothy 3:12. In John 15: 18-20. Persecution and trials will come at some point if you are true believers of Christ as true believer hates what is evil and love what is good. The world promotes evil as you could see from TV, Movie, and Internet. Bad things become popular and highly promoted.

If we are still doing what is right according to God's word, we are going to suffer verbal attack at least from the world.

We tend to comfortably believe God when all things go well, but when tragedy strikes; we can quickly doubt His very existence. Where is God? Why these things happened? Why bad things happened to good people? God has His sovereign purpose on what we are suffering. He wants us to grow up, to be mature by knowing His very existence, and by experiencing His love, His tenderness, His care through the trials which is due to the evilness of the world. To build us up, more like Christ and mature in Spirit but not an infant, to refine us as 1 peter 1: 6-7. God is not finished with us. We are still His workmanship. He is creating in us “righteousness and true holiness”—His character. Ephesians’ 4: 22-24. God has promise that “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it” 1 Corinthian 10:13. Job is a good example, if you think suffering and trial think about Job. Read Job. You will find not only how faithful he is, but also how lovely is our God.

If the young birds are to survive, they must step away from the nest. Frequently, this means a few hard falls to the ground followed a long trip back to the safety of the nest. Pain, agony and complaining, discouraging, Mum, why you let me to fallen down and I want to stay in my warm and cosy nest, and to receive the food from you. If the Mum bird does so, one day the young bird will die because her spoil and will be easily become prey of its predators. But after all, the young bird will rejoice until the time it can fly freely in the sky, see the beauty of God' creation. I hope they do see the beauty and smile. Do you want only Fish or skill to fish? We are prey of Satan, but we are also in God's hand. But we do, we will rejoice after grief and trial, Satan will be defeated as Job experienced and Jesus triumphed over death and sin. An illustration is given by Jesus in John 16:19-24. Trial (pain) and glory comes together.

Resurrection of Jesus Christ

If death is our final destination, we should all be terrified every moment in our life as we will face it one day and you don't know when it would happen. What people thinking about death?......

People were and are trying their very best to extend their life length even to eternity. But they failed and are going to fail...

The wonderful news Today I am going to share with you is the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was dead, buried and rose again on the thrid day.  

The truth of the resurrection is intrinsic, vital and fundamental to everything that we believe as Christian as our faith is based on His resurrection.

I will share with you the evidence which could prove that He is indeed dead on the cross, then resurrection.

 

If any of you have watched 'the Passion of the Christ', you will get the taste of brutality, the intense of suffering... 

The aweful of this kind of torture was realized by Rome's most famous orator, Marcus Tullius Cicero, who said,'even the mere word, cross, must remain far not only from the lips of the citizens of Rome, but also from their thoughts, their eyes, and their ears.' 

For indeed a death by crucifixion seems to include all the pain and death can have of horrible and ghastly-dizziness, cramp, thirst, shame, horror of anticipation, mortification of untended wound. 

After suffering the most intense forms of physical punishment, Christ also had to endure the journey (about 4 kilometers)  to the place of crucifixion-Golgotha.  What is waiting for Him? Nail go through wrist or palm of hands, and bones of leg. 

There are many evidence could prove that He is dead. One evidence is the soldier's spear that was the means to exhibting to the world that His death was due to a cardiac rupture as Professor Day state in one of his article. (John 19:32-34) Another article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (is the most widely circulated medical journal in the world according to Wikipedia) concluded from the Gospel accounts that Jesus certainly had died before He was removed from the cross:" Clearly, the weight of historical and medical evidence indicates that Jesus was dead before the wound to His side was inflicted and supports the traditional view that the spear, thrust between His right ribs, probably perforated not only the right lang but also the pericardium and heart and thereby ensure his death. Accordingly, interpretations based on the assumption that Jesus did not die on the cross appear to be at odds with modern medical knowledge."

The great Physiologist from the University of Dublin, Samuel Houghton: repeated observation and experiments made upon men and animals have led him to the following results, when the left side is freely pierced after death by a large knife comparable in size with a Roman spear, three distinct cases may be noted:

The frist case: No flow of any kind follows the wound, except a slight trickling of blood. This is that which usually occurs after death; 

Second case is that: A copious flow of blood only follows wound. This case is found in cases of death by drowning and by strychnia, may be demonstrated by destroying an animal with the poison, and it can be proved to be the natural case of a crucified person; 

and the third case is found in cases of death from pleurisy, pericarditis, and rupture of heart. With the forgoing cases most anatomists who have devoted their attention to this subject are familiar; 

but the following two cases are explicable on physiological principals which are recorded in John 19:32-34: A copious flow of water, succeeded by a copious flow of blood, follows the wound or A copious flow of blood, succeeded by a copious flow of water, follows the wound. 

Death by crucifixion causes a condition of blood in the lungs similar to that produced by drowning and strychnia ; the fourth one would occur in a crucified person who had previously to crucificion suffered from pleuritic effusion; and the fifth one would occur in a crucified person, who had died upon the cross from rupture of the ehart. 

The history of the day preceeding our Lord's crucifixion effetually excludes the supposition of pleurisy, which is also out of the question if blood first and water afterwards followed the wound. There remains, therefore, no supposition possible to explain the recorded phonomenon except the ombinaiton of the crucifixion and rupture of the heart. Blood and water came out ... is evidence of massive clotting of the blood in the main arteries, and is excpetionally strong medical proof of death. He is dead.

Regarding to the time constrain, I would not talk about the truth of His burial.

He is risen. Jesus not only predicted His resurrection but also emphasized that His rising from the dead would be the sigh to authenticate His claims to be the Messiah. (Matt 12)

First evidence: Transforming life of Followers: 

Transforming life of James half brother of Jesus, who does not believe the gospel before His death, but believed after His resurrection. After three time denial during the trial of Jesus, Peter was willing to die for Christ after His Resurrection. Transforming life of many others even nowdays. 

Second evidence: the old testament prophecies have been fulfilled in Christ regarding to death, resurrection.

He would be sold for 30 piece of Silver:

Old Testament (Zechariah 11:12) says:I told them, "If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it." So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.

New Testament (Matthew 26:14-15) says:Then one of the Twelve--the one called Judas Iscariot--went to the chief priests and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins.

The Messiah would be wounded by His enemies:

Old Testament (Isaiah 53:5) says:But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

New Testament (Matthew 27:26) says:Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. Psaml 22：17-18,

The Messiah would have his hands and feet pierced:

Old Testament (Psalm 22:16) says:Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet.

New Testament (Luke 23:33) says:When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals--one on his right, the other on his left.

No bones broken:

Psalm 34:20.... John 19:32-36. - Ps 34:20 He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. (Ex 12:46) - 

Jn 19:33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.

His side pierced:

Zechariah 12:10.... John 19:34. - Zec.12:10 They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. 

- Jn 19:34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.

Resurrection of Jesus:

Hosea 6:2, Psalms 16:10, 49:15..... Luke 24:6-7, Mark.16:6-7. - Hos.6:2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 

- Lk.24:6-7 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

There have been described in the Old testament 300 prophecies of the first coming of the Messiah and 500 of the second coming, all of them made hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus and fulfilled by Jesus, the Messiah.  Bryan does not give me enough time...^^

George Heron, a French mathematician, calculated that the probability of one man fulfilling only 40 of those prophecies are 1 in 10 to the power of 157. That is a 1 followed by 157 zeros. Compare it to this; the possibility on winning lottery are 14 followed by 6 zeros.

Another mathematician, Dr. Peter S. Ruckman, claims the odds of being fulfilled only 60 of them by the only person who claimed to be the Son of God, and who died on a "tree" on Calvary, and who rose the 3rd day are astronomical!... not just one in one trillion, but one out of ten to the 895th power. That is a one over a one followed by 895 zeros.

The third evidence: Eyewitness. 

What can change faithless Disciple from Scard rabbits into confident saints, world changing missionaries, courageous martyrs and joy-filled touring embassadors for Christ.

The apostles were dejected and depressed in their conclusion that Christ was not their expected Messiah (Luke 24:21). In such a condition, they can hardly be considered the subjests of hopeful visions and hallucinations. 

These were not men ready to believe.

The very fact that Christ rebuked them for their unbelief indicates that Thomas was not the only one who was a hardheaded skeptic. At one time or another Jesus rebuked all of the eleven aposles for their unbelief in His resurrection (Matt 28:17, Luke 24:25-27, John 20: 24-27). This prove they were finally convinced against their will.

As Gospel shows that they rejected the first reports of Jesus's resurrection. It was only after Jesus appeared to them again and again., talking with them, encouraging them to touch Him , to see that He ahs a physical body, showing them the wounds in His hands and His side, that they became convinced (john 29:20-27).

If they have expected a resurrection, they would have been waiting for it. But they were not, and they needed a lot of convicing when it did happen. (Acts: 1:3).

What evident is so convincing?------------------------Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The bones of Abraham, muhammand, and budda and confucius, Lao-Tzu and Zoroaster are still here on earth but Jeus's womb is empty. Not only the tomb is empty, or He has fulfilled so many old testament prophecies, but alos His appearence to so many eye witness. I am fully convinced.

Do you think life is with purpose or we are borned to die? Is it worth to get to know more about Jesus, His love, life, Death and resurrection ?

I would like to end with John 11:25  Jesus said to her" I am the resurrection  and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives  and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

Ireland

Engagement

订婚

真爱永远

献给 孙煦（未婚妻）

26/04/2007

你是我最亲爱的女郎，

是神赐予的最珍贵而圣洁的礼物。

相逢，相知，相恋--------神安排了这一切！

如此美妙，是神的恩典。

多少辛酸，甘甜，磨合，温情--------铭刻在我心！

性格迥然不同的你我，在主里找到了真爱，合一！

多么奇妙，多少感恩！

我最亲爱的女郎，

我会象耶稣爱他的教会那般呵护你，

度过人生的风雨坎坷，数算神的恩典！

你是我的唯一女郎，

主是我们的见证，

爱你到永永远远！

（未婚夫）王庆丰 献上

Trip to London

It is Easter Holiday. I have a month off, for Xu she has a week off. We went to London on 16th April. After arrived in London, we sperated at train station for Xu has to give a presentation at Philips research centre in UK at that day. She first went to Redhill where Philips research centre is located. I myself walked through the centre of London starting from St Pancras Station to Victoria Station via Oxford road. That took me more than 2 hours walking. That was bit exhausted experience, however, I enjoyed sightseeing while walking.

(耶稣）复活节是顾名思义是纪念耶稣复活的节日。煦和我都有假，她比我可怜，只有1个星期的假而已，我可有一个月叻（学校很阔气吧）。我们早开始盘算假期要怎么玩，她比我爱玩，要不是她逼着我准出个家里蹲的计划出来。拗不过她，她逼我小，得让着她不是。最重要的事想有个安宁，太平祥和的小天地。煦得到飞利浦在英国的研究中心做个演讲，研究中心离伦敦很近，伦敦我们也不曾好好的玩过。英格兰的首府，当然是要去的。因为有很多景点的缘故，我们计在伦敦呆3个晚上玩4天。

我们的行程从4月16开始，那天一大早我们和刘清庭夫妇一起到房屋中介提交了申请材料，然后急急忙忙赶上去伦敦的火车。到伦敦的时候是中午了。天气异常的好，感谢主。煦和我在 St. Pancras 火车站分开因为她要先去飞利浦的缘故。我接下来的是等待我要步行2小时的路程，起于 St. Pancras 火车站到唯独利亚火车站。步行的好处不光在于省钱，更重要的是对伦敦有个比较全面地了解，融入到当地人节拍中，何况路边的风景我也没有漏过。

Xu backed to London (Victoria station) from Redhill around 4pm. We first decided to put our luggage in Colliner Hotel which we booked in advance as our hotel is only 10 minutes walking from Victoria. Then, to visit Queen's Royal Galary and Buckingham palace , they both are within walking distance from Victoria station.

我独自一人穿过了伦敦一区，我满早就到了维多利亚火车站，白金汉宫里维多利亚很近，接下来我马不停蹄的从维多利亚感到白金汉宫。给我影响很深的是白金汉宫前的雕像，白金汉宫外部并不很惹眼，换岗的侍卫也是一道风景，可惜只是可远观而已。有些累了，坐在金色雕像前休息劳累的双脚。煦在4点左右回到伦敦，我们在维多利亚碰头，先是包裹放在我们预订好的旅馆，定的旅馆有些让人失望，很简陋而且房间也很小，或许这就伦敦吧。放了包，我带煦到白金汉宫，女王是不能见到，女王的门警倒是代女王和我们拍了照以示留念。灾区白金汉宫的途中我们路过了女王的画廊，私家珍藏，我们没有进去因为女王要价太高了.

*********************Queen's Gallery (女王画廊) *************

Visit probably is not right word to use here, as for both The Queen's Gallery and Buckingham palace we did not get into or we were not willing to pay for the ticket which are quite expensive for us. But, we did took some nice pictures. Here are pictures for The Queen's Gallery . Where Xu and I standing is the entrance of Queen's Gallery. The Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace is a permanent space dedicated to changing exhibitions of items from the Royal Collection, the wide-ranging collection of art and treasures held in trust by The Queen for the Nation. Constructed forty years ago on the west front of Buckingham Palace out of the bomb-damaged ruins of the former private chapel, the Gallery has recently been redeveloped. It was reopened by The Queen on 21 May 2002 and is now open to the public on a daily basis.

Pictures for Burckingham Palace: (白金汉宫)
Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of Britain's sovereigns since 1837. It evolved from a town house that was owned from the beginning of the eighteenth century by the Dukes of Buckingham. Today it is The Queen's official residence, with 775 rooms.
Although in use for the many official events and receptions held by The Queen, areas of Buckingham Palace are opened to visitors on a regular basis.
The State Rooms of the Palace are open to visitors during the Annual Summer Opening in August and September. They are lavishly furnished with some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection - paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer, Poussin, Canaletto and Claude; sculpture by Canova and Chantrey; exquisite examples of Sèvres porcelain; and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world。

Next famous site is London Eye: (伦顿眼)

伦敦眼目前是世界最高最大的转盘。一个摩天大转盘，高达450英尺（135米）。当然，更重要的事实是，它每天不停地转啊转啊，卷进了成千上万的观光客，现在已名列伦敦各旅游点榜首，为伦敦旅游业赚进了天文数字的收入。

House of Parliament:(国会和大笨钟)

大笨钟(Big Ben) 以它巨大的钟面闻名，大钟于1859年建成，是英国最大的钟.塔起码有320英尺高(约合97.5米），分针有14英尺长（约合4.27米），大笨钟用人工发条，国会开会期间，钟面会发出光芒，每隔一小时报时一次。

British museum: (大英博物馆)

大英博物馆（British Museum）又称不列顛博物馆，是一位于英国伦敦的综合博物馆，也是世界上规模最大、最著名的博物館之一，成立於1753年。目前博物館擁有藏品1300多万件。由与空间的限制，目前还有大批藏品未能公开展出。博物館在1759年1月15日起正式对公众开放。

博物馆入口：

埃及馆

罗马，希腊馆 瓷器 造币机 很漂亮的珠宝 走啰

Tower of London & London Bridge

Downing Street (首相府)

National Gallery
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/

英国国家画廊是当今世界上拥有西欧绘画作品最多、最全面、最具代表性的画廊之一。它创立于1824年，经过不断地扩建，已拥有4个展览馆和60余个展室，收藏了1260年至1920年间西欧各画派的作品，包括从马加利多到毕加索的不朽名作。可惜不让给名画拍照, 不过在网上给找了一些.

Venus and MarsSunflowerThe Fighting TemeraireArnolfini PortraitThe Supper at EmmausSeaport with Embarkation of saint UrsulaThe Rokeby VenusThe Amazement of gods