Misery not due to sin but to display the work of God who sent Jesus
John 9:1-12
Most cultures including Buddhism teach ‘retribution’ as the cause of the misery. But in Jesus, the misery can be transformed to the glory to God by doing the work of God who sent Jesus. Jesus is the Light of the World, who makes this possible.
Your misery may be given by God to display the work of God in your life! And the time will come when you overcome your misery in the light of Jesus and that will glorify God.
In the true light Jesus, there is no fate. Anything can be changed… because of Jesus and God almighty. Don’t listen to the fortune tellers. As written in Acts 16:16, fortune telling is done by a person possessed by a spirit and it will defile you as written in Leviticus 19:31.
Hallelujah!
Jesus is the light of the world! In Him, our negative and dark mind can become positive and bright, and misery can become glory to God!
I pray we all may experience this transformation in the light of the world, Jesus.
Also let us transform people’s life as well as ours by doing the work of God who sent Jesus.
Amen.
a self-righteous religious man who didn’t ask God’s forgiveness
Verses in the Holy Bible particularly interesting to me would be interesting to Buddhists because I read the Holy Bible as an ex-Buddhist. So, if I share what interested me, it will help Buddhists. One of them is ‘The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector’.
The reason I didn’t understand the parable well initially was because I had the problem like the Pharisee and I knew many Buddhists would have the same problem. I think this Parable may help Buddhists. So, I want to share this Parable today so that Buddhists may hear about it and learn from it.
Verses from the Holy Bible quoted in this video:
Luke 18:9 – 14
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
John 3:16 – 21
“16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”
[References]
http://www.ccel.org/contrib/exec_outlines/pa/pa_33.htm
God’s calling to be a blessing
I was called to be a Christian after I had been a Buddhist. It was God’s calling. God called Abram in Genesis 12. I shared about God’s calling and ‘being a blessing’ (Genesis 12:2). I also shared about ‘without God’ and ‘being a curse’. The thief (the devil) comes only to steal and kill and destroy (John 10:10). God calls us to be a blessing. When we obey God’s calling, others are also blessed through us.
Regarding to the song “Pass it on”, please refer to https://comnc.org/?page_id=1812
Verses from the Holy Bible quoted in this video:
Matthew 5:14-16
14 ‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
John 14:6
6 Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Acts 4:12
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.’
Genesis 12:1–3
1 The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
2 ‘I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.’
John 10:10–11
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
[Reference]
The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition.). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
Come & See Smartphone App has been released!!
Exciting announcement!
Come & See App (Android version) has been released!
As for iPhone version (available via the link in the next paragraph), Apple requires to meet their own standard and it can take time for full release. We work toward the full release of Come & See iPhone App ASAP.
If you give me your email, I can send you the link to the TestFlight version of Come & See iPhone App. Alternatively, Come & See iPhone App (Ad Hoc distribution version, same to the one for TestFlight) is available at https://i.diawi.com/h77BFm.
While installing, you may not see the installation progress as usual, but the new app icon (grey colour) will be added to your iPhone and the icon will be changed to Come & See app icon 
after finishing the download & installation.
Dying in order to live
John 12:24 – 25
Happy Easter!
In John 11:25, Jesus declared, “I am the resurrection and the life.”
In John 11:43, when Jesus called, ‘Lazarus, come out!’, the four-day-long dead man came out alive.
Jesus Himself rose from the dead in 3 days after the crucifixion. What does the Resurrection mean to us?
See 1 Corinthians 15:22.
22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
At the last trumpet, the dead will be raised and we will be changed (1 Corinthians 15:52).
And our new body will be imperishable, glorious, powerful, and spiritual (1 Corinthians 15:42 – 44).
They will rise either to live or to be condemned
See John 5:28 – 29.
28 ‘Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.
The way of eternal life
In John 12:24 – 25, Jesus taught us the paradox of the way of eternal life.
24 Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
In v24, we are compared to a grain of wheat.
A grain of wheat contains three layers: bran, endosperm, and germ.
- The bran is the fibre-rich outer layer that protects the grain.
- The endosperm is the middle layer that provides energy for the germ.
- The germ is the nutrient-rich inner part that is the embryo of the grain.
Water breaks down the bran. Then, water breaks down the endosperm to be consumed by the germ to sprout.
The germ continues to grow using water, light, and nutrient in the soil.
When Jesus said, “a grain of wheat … dies”, I think it refers to the breaking down of the bran & the endosperm in the soil & water of the ground.
Without being sown in the ground of a proper environment (e.g., water and soil), the outer layers of the grain will not break down (die), and the grain remains only a single seed.
V24 is followed by v25.
| V24 | V25 |
| “unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies” | “Anyone who loves their life” |
| “it remains only a single seed.” | “will lose it” |
| “But if it dies” | “while anyone who hates their life in this world” |
| “it produces many seeds” | “will keep it for eternal life” |
Let us study the meaning of “loves his own life” and “hates his own life” in v25.
“loves his own life”
- may be expressed as “lives just for himself”, or “keeps hanging onto his own life” [1].
- the egoism that clings to the outward life of appearance, and lives for that, loses its true life which is conditional on surrender to God. [6]
- “does its unseemly desires, gratifies it where he ought not”. So, it will destroy you since it leads away from the path leading to virtue [3].
- If people decide that their lives are more important than God’s will, then they will forfeit the type of life God wants to give them—a life of relationship with Him now and in eternity [4].
“hates his own life”
- may be expressed as “rather lives for others”, or “lets go of his own life” [1].
- self-giving servitude. self-sacrifice [5]
- the spirit of sacrifice which does not cleave to its life of self, nay, which hates it in its old form in this old world, i.e., joyfully sacrifices it, the sooner the better, and even hates it, if it be about to become a hindrance—regains it unto a higher, eternal life. [6]
- means “hate” when the issue is between Christ and the dearest things of life as happens when the choice is between martyrdom and apostasy [2].
- “does not yield to it when it commands what is pernicious”. And Jesus did not say, “he who does not yield to it,” but, “he who hates it”; for as we cannot endure even to hear the voice of those we hate, nor to look upon them with pleasure, so from the soul also we must turn away with vehemence, when it commands things contrary to what is pleasing to God [3].
- Jesus asks people to forfeit their usual wants and desires for the sake of God’s will [4].
List of similar verses
Matthew 16:25 (NIV (Anglicised, 2011))
25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.
Matthew 10:37–39 (NIV (Anglicised, 2011))
37 ‘Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Luke 9:23 (NIV (Anglicised, 2011))
23 Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
Luke 9:24 (NIV (Anglicised, 2011))
24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.
Luke 14:26 (NIV (Anglicised, 2011))
26 ‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.
Mark 8:35 (NIV (Anglicised, 2011))
35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
References
[1] Newman, B. M., & Nida, E. A. (1993). A handbook on the Gospel of John (p. 406). New York: United Bible Societies.
[2] Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Jn 12:25). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.
[3] John Chrysostom. (1889). Homilies of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, on the Gospel of St. John. In P. Schaff (Ed.), G. T. Stupart (Trans.), Saint Chrysostom: Homilies on the Gospel of St. John and Epistle to the Hebrews (Vol. 14, p. 248). New York: Christian Literature Company.
[4] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Jn 12:25). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[5] Borchert, G. L. (2002). John 12–21 (Vol. 25B, p. 52). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[6] Lange, J. P., & Schaff, P. (2008). A commentary on the Holy Scriptures: John (p. 384). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
Our activity & event during O-Week 2018
Our club demonstrated our biblical VR game during O-Week 2018. We share some of photos taken during the event.
Our VR game was created based on “The Armour of God” shown in Ephesians 6:10-17.
O-Week 2018
Come & See club during O-Week 2018
- Monday 19 Feb 2018 10AM-4PM Stall 4 of Bookshop Lawn (BL4): Including our Virtual Reality (VR) Demo
- Tuesday 20 Feb 2018 10AM-4PM Goldstein G05: our Virtual Reality (VR) & Green Screen Demo
- Friday 23 Feb 2018 10AM-4PM Stall 2 of Bookshop Lawn (BL2): Including our Virtual Reality (VR) Demo
Our members are prize winners in House With No Steps Immersive Technology Hackathon 2017. Come & see our progress in the following two days.
- Wednesday 21 Feb 2018 10AM-4PM Goldstein G05: Virtual Reality (VR)
- Thursday 22 Feb 2018 10AM-4PM Goldstein G05: Virtual Reality (VR)
The gospel not of human origin but by revelation
Galatians 1:11-24
Key verses: Galatians 1:11, 12 11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
I came across these verses recently, was mindful of them and decided to share today.
Paul continues in verses 13 – 24 that his life was dramatically changed from the persecutor to the preacher.
See verse 23.
23 They only heard the report: ‘The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.’
After he was changed dramatically, he didn’t consult any human being (16). He received the gospel not by education but by revelation (12).
Paul was not one of 12 apostles of Jesus, but he was recognized by them. See Galatians 2:7-8.
7 On the contrary, they recognised that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised. 8 For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles.
If the gospel can be known by revelation, why do I make effort to teach the gospel?
I. God is pleased with evangelism
See 1 Corinthians 1:21.
21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
God is pleased with our evangelism and uses it to save them!
II. It is God’s command
See Matthew 28:18-20.
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition.). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
The Grace of Giving
2 Corinthians 8:1–15
2 Corinthians 8 and 9 teach on the Grace of Giving.
This is a part of Paul’s letters to Corinthian Church and simply reading 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 will help you understand the teaching.
Today, let us study 2 Corinthians 8:1-15.
I. Rich generosity
Paul announces an amazing news @ Macedonia. See verse 2.
2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
Paul said they gave “even beyond their ability” as well as “as much as they were able” (3).
How can people in their extreme poverty be richly generous?
They considered “sharing in this service to the Lord’s people” to be the “privilege” (4).
“They exceeded our expectations.” (5a)
This is explained in 5b.
“they gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.”
Paul calls it the “act of grace” (6). Paul encourages the Corinthians to excel in this “grace of giving” (7).
II. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
Let us look at Jesus who became poor to make us rich in 2 Corinthians 8:9 as below.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
III. The goal is equality
Let us study some key points shown in verses 13 – 15.
13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written: ‘The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.’
“Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed” (13a) explains what Paul means by “there might be equality” (13b). He repeats in verse 14, “The goal is equality” (14b).
See 14a.
At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need.
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition.). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
