The Eternal Sovereignty of God (Final Part Three)

The Eternal Sovereignty of God (Final Part Three)

Khen Lim

Is God in control or is this just coincidental natural beauty? (Image source: sunlakesaeroclub.org)

Our freedom or His control?

Scripture is very clear on the fact that God knows as much what happens today as He does at any time in the future all the way to the End of Time (Mt 6:8, Ps 139:1-4). He has, after all, complete sovereignty over everything in life (Col 1:16-17, Dan 4:35). 

Yet none of us can ever imagine how such a holy God moulds and shapes the will of man. It doesn’t even sound logical and all of this is reconcilable but in God’s power and authority, nothing has to sound logical because in the end, He, not anyone of us, is God.        

The Eternal Sovereignty of God (Part Two)

The Eternal Sovereignty of God (Part Two)

Khen Lim

Image source: acuerdos.cl

Understanding God’s Kingship

By and large, God’s sovereignty claims is not up for debate. After all, every Protestant Christian denomination unequivocally agrees that God is preeminent in both absolute power and uncontested authority. It is His divinity in sovereignty that defines the natural consequence of why He is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent. 

In other words, here is a God – with a capital G – who knows way beyond what we know, who is more than powerful enough to create and destroy at anytime, anywhere and anyhow, and who can be present everywhere at the same time to exert His Godship. By that qualification alone, no earthly king comes even remotely close to matching.

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (Jn 1:1, NIV)

The Eternal Sovereignty of God (Part One)

The Eternal Sovereignty of God (Part One)

Khen Lim

Image source: Musings in Christ

Introduction

There are many royal monarchies that rule different parts of the world. Some are long gone. Their families were either killed and the remaining members in exile or in hiding. A few faced succession crises because of a lack of direct male offspring. Not all the monarchies are benevolent. In fact, many have been malevolent instead.

According to Wikipedia, there are currently twenty-nine (29) monarchies ruling (or overseeing) forty-seven (47) nations in the world. That’s a little less than one-quarter of the two-hundred countries* in the world. While most of today’s sovereignties are constitutional in form (meaning ceremonial roles for the royalties and not much more), there is a minority with absolute powers.

* Including Taiwan, Macau, and Hong Kong with England, Scotland, Wales, Eire and Northern Ireland counted individually

Redemptive Conception

Is pagan background the best we can do in explaining the origins of Christmas? 

Khen Lim



Image source: humanizingthevacuum.wordpress.com

Strange as it may be, there could be another way we can consider the origins of Christmas being on December 25. That key could lie in the way we have come to working out the date of Jesus’ death at Passover. This was first mooted by French scholar Louis Dechesne in the early twentieth century but was better articulated later – and hence popularised – by Thomas Talley. Even so, this idea certainly has earlier roots.

The Man Who Prayed But Was Too Blind to See

In this story, we discover that a village was rapidly flooding as the nearby river breaks its bunds.

By Khen Lim



Image Source: windsorstar.com

Water was flowing into the village so quickly that many people resorted to either beating a hasty retreat to higher ground or remaining put where they climbed trees or worked themselves to the roofs.

One of them was a man who decided to go into prayer and asked God to save him from being drowned. In other words, he was looking for a miracle.

Have We Typecast Jesus?

By Khen Lim



Image Source: wernerschwartz.wordpress.com

Do you know what it’s like to be given special treatment? Does it make you feel different? Does it give you the impression that you’ve been picked out to be exclusive? Is the attention given to you unique? Imagine for a moment that everyone else is waiting in a long queue to get tickets for a very popular concert when your special connection turns up and takes you to the front of the line. 

The Political Crucible of the New Testament

The Importance of the Second Temple Judaism to Understanding the New Testament

By Khen Lim

Introduction

In this story, we discover that a village was rapidly flooding as the nearby river breaks its bunds. Water was flowing into the village so quickly that many people resorted to either beating a hasty retreat to higher lands or remaining put where they climbed trees or worked themselves to the roofs. One of them was a person who decided to go into prayer and asked God to save him from being drowned. In other words, he was looking for a miracle.

As he perched himself on the rooftop of a house, the flood level slowly rose. Time was running out but he remained faithful, trusting that God would answer him. Out of the blue, a boat arrived at his rooftop and as others began to board, he decided against it. He recognised the person manning the boat and recalled how he disliked his behaviour and detested the way he conducted himself. So he waved the boat away, confident that the boat wasn’t sent by God.

Twenty minutes later, the flood level was now past the top of the window frames. In less than two hours, it would reach the roofline. Around the corner, another boat already with passengers arrived. There was still room for him to climb onboard but he found the boat dirty and felt uncomfortable with some of the passengers. He recognised them from the village up the hillock, a community he found unfriendly to him. So even though there was one seat ready for him to take, he refused the offer.

Another boat would come by and he would find something else wrong with it. Yet another would come and there would be yet another reason not to go with them. Inevitably there was nowhere to run. The flood engulfed all the rooftops in the village and since he couldn’t swim, he drowned.

Book Review - The Historical Christ and the Theological Jesus (Allison Jr, Dale C, 2009)

By Khen Lim

For quest to bring a "modern" interpretation of Jesus has been going on for some time now but everytime someone or some media network attempts to give Christ a fresh coat of paint, something horrible happens. Christians feel looted of the Christ they cherish. Historians gloat that they "discover" something new in Jesus that thwarts the way we view and love Him. 

Dale C Allison Jr's 2009 book called "The Historical Christ and the Theological Jesus" is one of many books that attempt to tackle the many exploits of reconciling the Christ we know with the Jesus that the modern historian wants us to believe in. Does it work? 

God's Many Incredible Names Worth Knowing

By Khen Lim



Image Source: americanvision.org

From the early days of the Bible right through to the New Testament, scriptural leaders have been finding new and inspiring ways to identify God for as much of His lovingkindness as in His enormous might and power and the manner in which He responds to His people. Since a far larger proportion of these names appear in the Old Testament, they are normally given in Hebrew.

Contrary to what some assume, knowing these names isn’t just about enriching your theological understanding. Those who know will tell you that they help to shape your prayers with a greater sense of purpose and impact. When you know better how to address God, you will also be able to appeal to the very side of Him that is relevant in your prayer.

These names accord God a very high level of respect, honour, reverence and thanksgiving. They define the many facets of the Lord for in the Bible, we witness God in just as many situations in which He wields not just His almighty power but also His awesome love.

In terms of eloquence, one of the best examples in the Bible is David. We encourage you to spend some time reading the Book of Psalm where David lets his heart genuinely express his desire to praise God to the highest no matter what the situation was for him.

From experience, we are certain you will be able to draw precious inspiration from the following of God’s wonderful names:

1. Adonai (“My Lord, O Lord”)

Gen 18:3, 15:2; Jdg 6:15

Can be used in place of YHWH. While YHWH is used in God’s dealings with the Jews, Adonai is when God deals with the Gentiles.

2. Ehyah Asher Ehyeh (“I Am Who I Am”)

Ex 3:14

Has also been interpreted as a single ‘Hayah.’ This name is forever and historically linked to Moses.

3. El Gibhor (“Mighty God”)

Isa 9:6, Rev 19:15

Used to describe the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ as a powerful warrior to destroy God’s enemies and rule with a rod of iron.

4. El Olam (“Everlasting God”)

Ps 90:1-3

Describes God as of no beginnings and no ends, limitless, free of constraints and a God from everlasting to everlasting.

5. El Roi (“God of Seeing”)

Gen 16:13

Name given by Hagar in recognition of the Angel of the Lord she encountered while in the desert with Ishmael.

6. El Shaddai (“God Almighty”)

Gen 17:1, 49:24; Ps 132:2,5

Taken to mean a God that is complete and perfect.

7. Eloah (“God the Mighty, Strong, Prominent”)

Gen 7:1, Isa 9:6

Also called simply ‘El,’ which means ‘mighty.’

8. Elohim (“God the Creator, the Lord God, the Judge”)

Gen 1:1, 17:7; Jer 31:33

The full name is Jehovah Elohim. Note that Elohim is the plural form of Eloah, to signify the presence of the Holy Trinity.

9. Elohim Israel (“The Lord, God of Israel”)

Isa 17:6, Jud 5:3

The full name is Jehovah Elohim Israel, a name used to identify the God of Israel in contrast against the false gods of the nations.

10. Immanuel (“God With Us”)

Isa 7-8; Matt 1:22-23

The name denotes the prophecy assuring King Ahaz of Judah of God’s protection against enemy kings.

11. Jehovah Elohay (“God, My God”)

Zec 14:5

Taken to denote a personal God with a personal relationship with us.

12. Jehovah Elyon (“The Lord Most High”)

Ps 7:17; Deut 26:19

Also expressed as Jehovah Heleyon to mean exalted in the highest, a God with absolute right to absolute lordship.

13. Jehovah Jireh (“God the Provider”)

Gen 22:14

Best memorialised by Abraham to honour His provisions including Isaac.

14. Jehovah M’kaddesh (“The Lord Who Sanctifies”)

Ex 31:13; Lev 20:7-8, Ezek 37:8

Also written as Maccaddeshcem to describe a God that makes holy.

15. Jehovah Nissi (“The Lord Our Banner”)

Ex 17:15

‘Banner’ is taken to mean victory to commemorate the defeat of the Amalekites in the desert war.

16. Jehovah Qanna (“The Jealous God”)

Ex 20:5, 34:14; Deut 4:24, 5:9, 6:15

A God who wants all our praises to Himself and no one else.

17. Jehovah Rapha (“God the Healer”)

Ex 15:26

18. Jehovah Rohi (“The Lord, Our Shepherd”)

Ps 23:1

Based on David’s affirmation of his relationship with God.

19. Jehovah Sabaoth (“Lord of Hosts”)

1 Sam 1:3; Isa 1:24; Ps 46:7

‘Hosts’ means ‘hordes,’ which here, includes both angels and men, in heaven and on earth, Jews and Gentiles, the rich and the poor, the masters and the slaves.

20. Jehovah Shalom (“Lord of Peace”)

Jdg 6:24

This is a Name given by Gideon.

21. Jehovah Shamah (“The Ever Present God”)

Ezek 48:35, cc8-11, 44:1-4

Name ascribed to Jerusalem and the Temple to declare the return of the once-departed glory of God.

22. Jehovah Tsidkenu (“The Lord, Our Righteousness”)

Jer 23:5,6, 33:16; 2 Cor 5:21

Also called the God of Saving Justice.

23. Yah (“The Lord Who Rides Through Deserts”)

Ps 68:4

24. Yeshua (“The Lord is Salvation”)

Possibly Isa 26:1,18 (taken to mean ‘that which is delivered, safe’)

The name itself is found 27 times in the Bible (eg Num 13:8)

The commonly known Hebrew name of Jesus, meaning ‘to rescue’ or ‘to deliver.’ The English version is spelt Joshua. When translated into Greek, it becomes Iesous (Latin is Iesus) and from there, the Anglicised translation ends up becoming Jesus. Interestingly both the names Joshua and Isaiah are the same as Yeshua in Hebrew. Yeshua is also known as Yehoshuah. From the tetragrammaton YHVH, it is possible that it could stand for ‘Yeshua HaNazarei Vemelekh HaYehudim,’ which would make it the equivalent of the Latinate INRI, which according to Pilate's instruction, means ‘Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum’ to mean ‘Jesus the Nazerene, King of the Jews.’

25. Yahweh (“The LORD”)

Deut 6:4; Dan 9:14

Take note that it is in full caps as opposed to ‘Lord’ as in Adonai. In other words, when you see the name in full caps in your Bible, there is a specific meaning to it; that the name when translated back to its original language, is Yahweh. Can also be interpreted as YHWH or Jehovah.