4 Pillars of Spiritual Instruction

Spiritual Instruction must be a part of every home in order for each family to be strong. Following are the four pillars of Spiritual Instruction:

1. Sound Doctrine

This is the RULE OF TRUTH. It provides the RIGHT PERSPECTIVE in life.

Titus 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine.
2Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which you have heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
2Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

2. Strong Discipline

This is the RULE OF PATIENCE. It produces STRONG CHARACTER.

Proverbs 12:24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
Proverbs 22:29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
Proverbs 19:18 Discipline your son while there is hope; do not set your heart on his destruction.
Proverbs 22:15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Proverbs 23:13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.
Proverbs 29:17 Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.
2Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2Timothy 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
2Timothy 2:5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
Romans 5:4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope (RSV)

3. Spotless Devotion

This is the RULE OF LOVE. It guards the heart with PURE AFFECTIONS.

Galatians 5:6 faith which worketh by love.
2Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
2Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

4. Spiritual Deeds

This is the RULE OF ACTION. It accomplishes GOD'S WILL.

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
James 2:20 faith without works is dead
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

March 3, 2014
The above four rules anticipate the four pillars of education by UNESCO:
1. Learning to know: Rule of TRUTH (INFORMATION)
2. Learning to be: Rule of PATIENCE (holding on to character) (UNIQUENESS, SELF-ACTUALIZATION, VOICE, IDENTITY, CONSISTENCY)
3. Learning to live together: Rule of LOVE (SOCIAL RELATEDNESS)
4. Learning to do: Rule of ACTION (PRACTICAL WISDOM)
These are the same as the 4 Pillars of Faith.

Is Water Baptism Necessary Before Partaking in Lord's Supper

"Last Supper" by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (1750) Yes, it is. Water baptism identifies one with the redemption work of Jesus Christ, with His death, burial, and resurrection. It is anticipated of visible identification with Christ and His Church. Every person has the personal responsibility to examine him/herself before deciding to partake in the Lord's Table. The Bible makes it clear that those who chose not to be baptized were rejecting the counsel of God (Lk.7:30). In a mixed congregation, it is not possible to always know who is worthy to partake of the Table; however, the minister must encourage only those who have been baptized for remission of sins (not just as a ritual but by faith in Jesus Christ) to partake of the Table. Before Jesus sat down to dip bread in the cup, He washed His disciples' feet. He makes the statement that they are already "washed" and only need feet to be washed. Of course, this may not explicitly/only refer to their baptism, fo

Matthew 6:31-33

"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Mat 6:31-33) The original sense of nakedness was from that deep insecurity of autonomy that sprung from man's first alienation from God due to sin-- spiritual death. Seeking God marks man's refusal to stay alienated by turning towards His Maker in whom alone is Covering and true Security and no reason to be ashamed anymore.

Is it not cruel for God to kill His Son in place of us?

The doctrine of atonement is a stumbling block for some who feel that it not only exemplifies cruelty but also does away with human responsibility. The issue abounds with various questions and attempts to solution. Questions: 1. If God knew that man would sin and fall, why did He create man? 2. Why doesn't God, if He exists, intervene and stop evil; why just be Judge but not be Governor with proper police security system that minimises the possibility of transgression? 3. How can the death of one particular man atone for the sins of many particular men? 4. Isn't it not cruel to punish an innocent man for the sins of others so that they go free? Answers that challenge the Christian doctrine: 1. God does not require sacrifice in order to forgive, He can forgive by sovereign authority. 2. Every man must bear his own guilt so that he has a sense of responsibility and possess a genuine reason to pursue good and turn from evil. Biblical Responses: 1. God's knowledge of human Fall

Marbaniang, Domenic

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