September 2024: The Kingdom, the King and His Forerunner
Published on 09/01/2024 by Dr-Shirley-Cheng.
What's God's plan for the world?
In the Tanakh, Yahweh described His plans for humanity, and those plans revolve around one figure (the Messiah) and one place (the Kingdom of God). He plans for all the righteous remnant to inherit the Kingdom of God, and only the Messiah can bring that about as His anointed King.
In the Hebrew Scriptures, the identity of Messiah is shrouded in secrecy, though this does not mean that Yahweh didn't give any clues. On the contrary, through His prophets, Yahweh pronounced hundreds of prophecies regarding His Messiah to help His people recognize him when …...Read more
August 2024: The Beginning Before Time
Published on 08/01/2024 by Dr-Shirley-Cheng.
Intro to the Gospels
"Gospel" means "good news." The particular good news that the Gospels speak of is the good news of Yahweh's gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. This good news is the best gospel ever because anyone who accepts it will receive eternal life with Yahweh and His Son in the Kingdom of God. "Jesus" means "Yahweh's salvation." As his name suggests, Jesus is the Agent whom Yahweh anointed or appointed to bring salvation to us. "Christ" means "anointed one," and its Hebrew is "Messiah." It is not Jesus' last name.
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke …...Read more
July 2024: Is Your Saving Faith at Work?
Published on 07/01/2024 by Dr-Shirley-Cheng.
What must we have to please God? It is faith, as we learned in Hebrews 11.
This faith is what both pleases God and what saves us. This faith is an active faith that does not rest. It actively seeks after God. It actively does what honors Him. It actively obeys. So while we're not justified by good works, good works are evidence of saving faith. To conclude his epistle, the writer of Hebrews shows some of the ways we should live out that saving faith.
Hebrews 13 - Chapter Thirteen of the Epistle to the Hebrew Christians
"Let brotherly …...Read more
June 2024: Being Disciplined? Be Thankful
Published on 06/01/2024 by Dr-Shirley-Cheng.
In this world, we're bound to have trials. This is the truth that our Lord pointed out. Our trials come in various shapes and sizes due to different reasons, and one of those reason is our own sins.
Many Christians are surprised that we continue to experience trials in the form of discipline when Jesus' sacrifice already made atonement for our sins. How should we respond or feel when God disciplines us for our sins? Does it mean He no longer loves us but is instead wrathful toward us? Let us consider these issues as we resume our study of …...Read more
May 2024: Enter into the Hall of Faith
Published on 05/01/2024 by Dr-Shirley-Cheng.
If a complete stranger walks up to you with a crying baby in her arms and asks you, "Please care for my baby for the week while I go away awhile. You give me good vibes. I believe I can trust you," what would you think of her? Pretty foolish or naive, wouldn't she be to you?
But if she's your close friend and says, "I know I can trust you, as you cared for my kids before," that would make her a sensible woman who knows the reasons for her solid trust in you, wouldn't it?
When it comes …...Read more
April 2024: Glory Through the Torn Body
Published on 04/01/2024 by Dr-Shirley-Cheng.
The cost of sin is hefty.
When we tell lies, we ruin friendships. When we fornicate, we catch STDs that can make us infertile. When we steal, we're locked up, leaving our children without a parent.
Ultimately, sin kills us. Sin results in death, as God ordained death for any sin. Since every person is born a sinner, we are all destined to die, and that death would have been forever if it weren't for Christ's death on our behalf.
Before Christ came, God opened a path to temporary forgiveness to His people through animal sacrifices. Instead of dying for …...Read more
March 2024: Resurrection of the Righteous or the Wicked - Which Will You Join?
Published on 03/01/2024 by Dr-Shirley-Cheng.
How is Jesus' ministry going to affect your eternal destiny?
In the wilderness, God fellowshipped with His people via the tabernacle. The tabernacle, which Israel constructed after exiting Egypt, was a large portable tent-like structure that Israel could carry wherever they went. Throughout their journey, God manifested Himself as a cloud over the tabernacle. At night, that cloud was a pillar of fire. Whether by day or night, God was always present with His people.
God making Himself accessible to His people for personal interaction and fellowship is mind boggling. Think about it. It was in the garden of Eden …...Read more
February 2024: From Shadow to Reality
Published on 02/01/2024 by Dr-Shirley-Cheng.
Do you realize that everything in the Old Testament pointed to our Lord Jesus Christ?
Too many Christians, I'm sad to say, shrug off the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament), except the Psalms and Proverbs and some inspirational passages here and there. Without studying the Old Testament, we won't fully understand the severity of our sins, of our plight, nor would we fully appreciate what Christ has done for us.
Our sin separates us from God like an ocean that separates two continents; it bars us from having fellowship with our Creator. He is so holy that no person in …...Read more
January 2024: The Supremacy of Christ - How Will You Respond?
Published on 01/01/2024 by Dr-Shirley-Cheng.
Angels are glorious heavenly servants of God. But Jesus is far superior. Moses is the greatest prophet of all times. Yet Jesus is much greater. The priests held the highest spiritual position in Israel. But Jesus is far higher.
In proving Christ's superiority over all institutions, the book of Hebrews is sending this loud message to us: heed the divine revelation through Jesus and esteem him above all the messengers of God, whether spiritual or physical. Jesus is the ultimate Revealer of Yahweh God to humanity. He represents God fully to man, both in his essence and action. He showed …...Read more
December 2023: Growth or Apostacy
Published on 12/01/2023 by Dr-Shirley-Cheng.
How do you rate your spiritual growth?
Spiritual growth is a must for Christians, and all Christians must not fall away from God's grace. In the section of his epistle we'll study today, the writer strung these two truths together: spiritual growth is a must because apostasy is a real danger that we must all guard against. When we fail to grow, we risk becoming slack in our spiritual walk and could eventually fall permanently away, and those who fall away won't meet a pretty fate. Let us do ourselves an eternal favor by heeding the inspired writer's exhortations and …...Read more
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