In the 4th day of VBS, Darolyn accepted Christ.
I went through the materials with her again. It was quite complete and pretty standard, admitting herself as a sinner, acknowledging that Christ died for her sins and Christ is the only way to salvation and accepting Jesus as her personal saviour. I then asked her to pray again because I want to hear it. Although she was half reading half saying, when I see her praying gesture, I have a feeling that she really means it, and is very truthful. I was so touched and happy. Then, I asked the usual thing "do you know where you will go if you die now?" She yelled firmly "heaven!". Then I asked, do you know where daddy will go when daddy die? "Heaven!", she yelled. Then I asked, do you know where mommy will go when mommy die?" "Heaven!", she yelled happily and firmly. Then we all clapped and sang "congratulations and celebrations..." Then I told her that the bible says when a sinner repents, there are angels in heaven happily singing and celebrating. She is very happy about that, too.
Of course, God is the ultimate judge, but I do believe and I am certain that she is and she considers herself as Christian. And I think God will acknowledge her truthful and wholehearted conversion.
Then, I realized that the pray didn't invite the Holy Spirit to dwell in her (sort of like the story in Acts) and I felt that it is necessary to pray that. In fact, it is actually my privilege to pray for her asking the Holy Spirit, God the father and Jesus to live in her heart. I pray for with my palm on her heart. I prayed that may the Holy Spirit dwell in her to guide her and teach her to know right and wrong, may our heavenly father live in her heart to teach her and bless her, may our Lord Jesus dwell in her to love and be merciful to her. I felt the Holy Spirit has entered her heart while we prayed. The connectedness (if there is such a word) that I felt seems more and deeper than a father-daughter relationship. I am so thankful that God is so merciful to us.
As a parent, praying for my daughter to bless her and ask Father, Son and the Holy Spirit to dwell in her is such a great blessing. What other things can be a greater blessing?
Actually, several years ago, I had already asked her whether she believes in Jesus and she said yes. I asked whether she thinks accepting Jesus will have eternal life and she said yes. To her capacity then, I considered she truthfully believes that. So, at that time, I considered her as Christian already. As she grows and can understand more, it is important to keep teaching and experience Jesus.
I prayed that we can guide her with the help of the Holy Spirit. She will grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. And she will grow in reliance on God, the meaning of her Chinese name, Yee Wah.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
New creation vs 新造的人 (2 Cor 5:17)
2 Cor 5:17
NIV: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! [link]
新譯本: 如果有人在基督裡，他就是新造的人，舊事已經過去，你看，都變成新的了！[link]
For quite a long time, I thought "new creation", or in the Chinese version literally "new created human", refers to the character change after conversion. Upon reading the NIV version "new creation", I suddenly have a different feeling. Then, I read the context a bit and now I think it has a deeper meaning than that.
Verse 17 starts with "therefore", so reading verse 16 and other verses around it is important. 5:16 - "So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer." Okay, "so" means we should look further up. 5:15 - "And he [Jesus] died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."
Jesus died for all --> all should live for Him --> Regard no one from worldly point of view --> everyone in Christ is new creation.
Meaning, I am new creation, you are new creation, he is new creation, i.e. a community of new creation. In other words, the human who accepted Christ has joined the community of new creation. It is more than just personal character change. You also join the community of new creation. Also, the context is about reconciliation. That can be another evidence that this is about joining a community.
It seems to me there are 3 folds: 1) The one who accepted Christ joins the community of community. (You cannot just be a lone ranger Christian) 2) The one who are already in Christ should accept the new convert because he/she is also in Christ now and Christ died for him, too (regard no one from the worldly point of view). 3) Next step: ask other to join this community of new creation, reconciling to God and to each other.
Then, this part I am really not sure. Does this term new creation relate to "new heaven and new earth, new Jerusalem" in Revelation? The community of new creation on earth right now is a fore-shadow of the new heaven and new earth to come.
What does it mean to us now and here? I guess fellowship life. 1) For those who are different from the "worldly point of view", it may not be easy for us to accept them. However, we should. Christ died for him/her, too. 2) Sometimes, it may be hard for us to open up ourselves to join the community of faith for whatever "old creation" we have. Well, you know what, the old has passed and the new has come! 3) Be open. Fellowship should be "open concept" (I am not refering to Kitchen).
Why am I typing all these? I don't know. I just thought of something and felt like sharing it. Feel free to comment and/or agree and/or disagree.
NIV: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! [link]
新譯本: 如果有人在基督裡，他就是新造的人，舊事已經過去，你看，都變成新的了！[link]
For quite a long time, I thought "new creation", or in the Chinese version literally "new created human", refers to the character change after conversion. Upon reading the NIV version "new creation", I suddenly have a different feeling. Then, I read the context a bit and now I think it has a deeper meaning than that.
Verse 17 starts with "therefore", so reading verse 16 and other verses around it is important. 5:16 - "So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer." Okay, "so" means we should look further up. 5:15 - "And he [Jesus] died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."
Jesus died for all --> all should live for Him --> Regard no one from worldly point of view --> everyone in Christ is new creation.
Meaning, I am new creation, you are new creation, he is new creation, i.e. a community of new creation. In other words, the human who accepted Christ has joined the community of new creation. It is more than just personal character change. You also join the community of new creation. Also, the context is about reconciliation. That can be another evidence that this is about joining a community.
It seems to me there are 3 folds: 1) The one who accepted Christ joins the community of community. (You cannot just be a lone ranger Christian) 2) The one who are already in Christ should accept the new convert because he/she is also in Christ now and Christ died for him, too (regard no one from the worldly point of view). 3) Next step: ask other to join this community of new creation, reconciling to God and to each other.
Then, this part I am really not sure. Does this term new creation relate to "new heaven and new earth, new Jerusalem" in Revelation? The community of new creation on earth right now is a fore-shadow of the new heaven and new earth to come.
What does it mean to us now and here? I guess fellowship life. 1) For those who are different from the "worldly point of view", it may not be easy for us to accept them. However, we should. Christ died for him/her, too. 2) Sometimes, it may be hard for us to open up ourselves to join the community of faith for whatever "old creation" we have. Well, you know what, the old has passed and the new has come! 3) Be open. Fellowship should be "open concept" (I am not refering to Kitchen).
Why am I typing all these? I don't know. I just thought of something and felt like sharing it. Feel free to comment and/or agree and/or disagree.
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