PatrickWong_sg

I am a sinner through and through and it is most comforting to know that I have a Father God who love me unconditionally enough that He made available a redeemer to rescue me from the consequences that is justifiably mine to be. That redeemer is Jesus Christ and it is He who is daily keeping me from falling. As to whether I am specifically called by God is a priveledge which I will to believe. I will never know the answer until the day God review it me perhaps to do according to this bidding. For now, I am to continue to be a good and faithful steward of God in doing the things I am doing now.

Q5. (2 Peter 3:11-12, 14-16) What effect should a belief in Christ's return and coming judgment have on your life? What effect does an underemphasis on Christ's return have on a Christian's life? I know that there will be a day of reckoning. A time when I will have to stand before Christ to give an account of what I have or have not done. That is still not my biggest worry because I believe that all my sins has and will be forgiven. What is worrying is, I quote from Yancy Havner: "Judgement will come: Not in proportion to the sins we've committed but in the proportion of the light that we've rejected." More each is given, more is expected from him. My prayer is that I will not be found wanting in the gifts that has been given me.

2 Pe 2:19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. In what way can flagrant, defiant sin enslave a person? Practice make perfect. Conscience is thrown out through constant practice and it will no longer be seen as a sin by that person. Let us take lying for example. Perpectual lying will no longer be seen as wrong but merely a mistatement of fact to suit the situation. Thus, it will accumulate and finally enslave that person because the truth may have dire consequences. Is there any way out of these sins? If so, what is the path? Definitely yes, The conviction by the Holy Spirit releases us from bondage and change our whole attitude. The first step of course is to acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Lord & Saviour. The next step is to invite the Holy Spirit of God to transform us into the image of Christ. How can we truly love the sinner and hate the sin? How can we steer clear of a quick judgmental attitude toward those who sin? This is a tough question. Humanly speaking, we are all vindictive and would more frequently demand that justice be done. We are also very prone to associate the sinner with the sin. To detach ourselves, we really need to be reminded that we too are forgiven sinners redeemed by the blood of Christ. We have committed many similar sins but praise God, were given another chance. With that attitude it may be easier for us to view others in a more positive position.

Q2. (Jude 4) In what way does sexual sin deny Christ? If Paul is right in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, that persistent sexual sin is incompatible with salvation, why have we Christians become so complacent about it in our culture? It is very clearly stated in the bible that sexual sins are a no no issue. Why we are so very complacent is something that I really cannot put a finger to except to say that we are imperfect and disobedient. We live in a society that not only accept infidelity but even glamourise it. Therefore, as a born again believer, I must hold on very closely to all those things that will not distant me from my Lord. For those who knows of other who have been unfaithful, wouldn't it better to exercise grace and love in restoring such people rather than pass comments. I think we can learn alot from how Jesus dealt with the woman caught committing adultery.

Q1. (Jude 3) Why must we "contend for the faith"? What is the danger in not challenging the doctrines of false teachers? What is the danger inherent in challenging them? How can we keep the correct balance? When we acknowledge Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we are enlisted to become ambassadors for Christ. As Peter put it "I will constantly remind you to......." As ambassador, we are entrusted with the responsibility to promote the virtue and value of God. To show the benefit of kingdom living in line with what the bible teaches. Of course, there will be some who will manipulate the doctrine of the faith to promote personal agenda. Such people have to be corrected through healthy correction and discussion based on the word of God. I believe a truth practitioner of the word of God will alway be ready to accept correction in the spirit of unity and humility. Otherwise, it will be most fruitless to continue to try to say anything more because it will only lead to more disunity and worst still, causing some to forfeit the salvation given to them through Christ.

Q3. (2 Peter 1:20-21) How can a person be speaking and God be speaking, too? How does the image of a ship being moved by the wind help you understand this? (Greek pneuma means "spirit" and "wind.") The 6th chapter of the Gospel of John evidently shows that when one knows God and is doing his will, it will no longer be man's speech but God is speaking through that man. We are very often directed by what we believe. Therefore, who do we represent?

Q2. (2 Peter 1:19). In what ways do the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments act for you as "a light shining in a dark place"? What does the darkness represent? What does the light represent? The OT is Christ concealed and the NT is Christ revealed. Darkness is when the light is hidden and it suggest wondering and fondering for the truth. The light that is revealed gives hope and hope fulfilled brings salvation. That is the truth of the matter.

Q1. (2 Peter 1:13-15) Why does our culture avoid talking about death? How is describing your earthly body as a "tent" freeing and motivating? What is the significance of Peter referring to his death as a "departure" or "exodus"? In today's culture, death is seen as the end of existent. It is not talk about because many are unsure or even does not know what lies ahead. There is simply a lack of believe in the after life resulting in many pursuing the here and now mentality. The body as a tent can be interpreted as a shell that holds the million of cells together and at the expiry of this body, the tent is "dissolved" into nothingless. The resultant release of this tent set free the soul/spirit that permits the entry into heaven. Peter has as rightly suggested by Dr Ralph, a very old man who has fought the good fight entrusted to him and the impending departure is seen by him not as finite but to enter into infinity into the presence of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Q3. (2 Peter 1:7) Why do we imagine that "agape love" is easier than loving church members? If we avoid church because of our hurts at the hands of church members, can we mature fully in Christ? Why or why not? I do not think that the bible speaks about shades of love. Love is love, if there are any shades it is our own interpretation. Being hurts and wrong is not that uncommon. Wasn't Jesus being hurt all the time by the very people that he is trying to reach out to. I guess that if I want to take exception to every incident that happened whether inside or outside of church then I don't think I will ever be able to continue to maintain my faith in Christ.

Q2. (2 Peter 1:6) Why is a disciplined devotional life important to you? What happens when you forget or don't have time? What Christian disciplines do you employ to help you open your spirit to God's Spirit? Constant reflection internalise the virtues of God's principals into our life. There is a common saying that we are what we eat. What I gives priority to dictate the outcome. I am now living in a world that advocates individual upmanship and this requires greater effort for me to remain above mediocrity and to attain the real purpose for my existent in a failed society. God daily reminder at the start of each day prepares me for the struggle I face and the strength not to succumb to the temptation that befalled so many a great man throughout history. PS. As I look back, those day when I forget to talk to my Father in Heaven are those days that nothing seems to be right and I will end giving myself a kick in the back for the many wrong words, actions and reaction that I know I ought not to be doing.

Q1. (2 Peter 1:5-6) Which of these virtues so far has been the easiest for you to move into. Which has been the hardest for you? Why? Wow, difficult question to answer. Based on the scripture exposition on goodness, knowledge, self-control and perserverance, I find myself failing each and everyone of them, really. But if I am to encourage myself, I would say that knowledge would be the easiest one for me to move into. The more I desire to know God, the more I want to live my life in accordance to what God expect from me. Perhaps from this desire to want to practice and walk closer with Him will have positive spin off into the other 3 characteristics of goodness, self control and perserverance. But then again, the sinful man in me will cause me not to put practice to theory and for that I would have to say the biggest hurdle would be to continually exercise perseverance and self control to develop goodness in me.

A toe hold become a foot hold and a foot hold become a strangle hold. By giving in to the desire of my sinful nature, I will only satisfy my **** but if I focus on the glory of God and the promises that comes with faith through the reading and meditation of the word of God, I become strong and useful for the purposes that God has ready for me.

Q3. (2 Peter 1:3) What does it mean for you personally to be called "by his own glory and goodness"? How does God's glory and awesome Presence affect you? How does his goodness and moral excellence affect you? Jesus is our model and I strive to imitate him but I know that no matter how hard I may try I will never be able to come close to the perfection of the Father. But I am very glad to know that despite my fallen nature, He still consider me worthy to be His son.

Q2. (2 Peter 1:3) Meditate on this verse for a few minutes. It is a verse about provision. What are the scope and extent and boundaries of "everything we need for life and godliness"? What does "knowledge" or "knowing God" have to do with this promise? The bible tells us that we are created anew, all things has past away. That to me meant that when I receive Christ, I am also given all things promised to Christ which encompass physical, spiritual and intellectual abilities not just to live this life here and now but more importantly to become more Christlike in my demeanour as I walk my path to eternity. To achieve that, my knowledge or yada of God and His promises to me has to grow and grow evermore.

Q1. (2 Peter 1:1) What does "received a faith as precious as ours" mean in this verse? How does our faith compare to St. Peter's faith? Is our faith equal to his? Why or why not? How do you explain the discrepancy? I do not think that there are different kind of faith. All of us have the same faith i.e. faith in Christ for our salvation and redemption. Perhaps if any, there may be some differences in our level of faith as to what we think faith in Christ can accomplish for each of us such as in trust level for financial security, healings and understanding in some of the teachings in the bible. Now, if Ralph meant faith to be faith then I cannot see and discrepancy because we all share the same faith in Christ. But, if the question meant, the level of faith each has, then I would say, rather than making comparision, it would be more edifying if we all seek to understand the word of God and how it applies to us at our present level of understanding. I am excited to explore this book further as it contain many truth on how we can develop that deeper level of faith - Shalom