Bikers Theological Discussion

[edwardlong]

.... with built-in CD player to listen to sermon messages on the Harman/Kardon sound system too

 

ya man.... thats what i need

[ChaoPuzzy1968]

ya man.... thats what i need

 

you were saying to give up your bike:angel:

[EddyMeng]

you were saying to give up your bike:angel:

 

no ... edward saying that he enjoy riding the HD with Harman/Kardon sound system in the arcade game

[edwardlong]

no ... edward saying that he enjoy riding the HD with Harman/Kardon sound system in the arcade game

 

ya lor....50cents i get to ride again and again....

[ChaoPuzzy1968]

The Tenth Persecution, Under Diocletian, A.D. 303

Under the Roman emperors, commonly called the Era of the Martyrs, was occasioned partly by the

increasing number and luxury of the Christians, and the hatred of Galerius, the adopted son of Diocletian,

who, being stimulated by his mother, a bigoted pagan, never ceased persuading the emperor to enter upon the

persecution, until he had accomplished his purpose.

The fatal day fixed upon to commence the bloody work, was the twenty-third of February, A.D. 303, that

being the day in which the Terminalia were celebrated, and on which, as the cruel pagans boasted, they

hoped to put a termination to Christianity. On the appointed day, the persecution began in Nicomedia, on the

morning of which the prefect of that city repaired, with a great number of officers and assistants, to the

church of the Christians, where, having forced open the doors, they seized upon all the sacred books, and

committed them to the flames.

The whole of this transaction was in the presence of Diocletian and Galerius, who, not contented with

burning the books, had the church levelled with the ground. This was followed by a severe edict,

commanding the destruction of all other Christian churches and books; and an order soon succeeded, to

render Christians of all denomination outlaws.

The publication of this edict occasioned an immediate martyrdom, for a bold Christian not only tore it down

from the place to which it was affixed, but execrated the name of the emperor for his injustice. A provocation

like this was sufficient to call down pagan vengeance upon his head; he was accordingly seized, severely

tortured, and then burned alive.

All the Christians were apprehended and imprisoned; and Galerius privately ordered the imperial palace to

be set on fire, that the Christians might be charged as the incendiaries, and a plausible pretence given for

carrying on the persecution with the greater severities. A general sacrifice was commenced, which

occasioned various martyrdoms. No distinction was made of age or sex; the name of Christian was so

obnoxious to the pagans that all indiscriminately fell sacrifices to their opinions. Many houses were set on

fire, and whole Christian families perished in the flames; and others had stones fastened about their necks,

and being tied together were driven into the sea. The persecution became general in all the Roman provinces,

but more particularly in the east; and as it lasted ten years, it is impossible to ascertain the numbers martyred,

or to enumerate the various modes of martyrdom.

Racks, scourges, swords, daggers, crosses, poison, and famine, were made use of in various parts to dispatch

the Christians; and invention was exhausted to devise tortures against such as had no crime, but thinking

differently from the votaries of superstition.

A city of Phrygia, consisting entirely of Christians, was burnt, and all the inhabitants perished in the flames.

Tired with slaughter, at length, several governors of provinces represented to the imperial court, the

impropriety of such conduct. Hence many were respited from execution, but, though they were not put to

death, as much as possible was done to render their lives miserable, many of them having their ears cut off,

their noses slit, their right eyes put out, their limbs rendered useless by dreadful dislocations, and their flesh

seared in conspicuous places with red-hot irons.

It is necessary now to particularize the most conspicious persons who laid down their lives in martyrdom in

this bloody persecution.

Sebastian, a celebrated martyr, was born at Narbonne, in Gaul, instructed in the principles of Christianity at

Milan, and afterward became an officer of the emperor's guard at Rome. He remained a true Christian in the

midst of idolatry; unallured by the splendors of a court, untained by evil examples, and uncontaminated by

the hopes of preferment. Refusing to be a pagan, the emperor ordered him to be taken to a field near the city,

termed the Campus Martius, and there to be shot to death with arrows; which sentence was executed

accordingly. Some pious Christians coming to the place of execution, in order to give his body burial,

perceived signs of life in him, and immediately moving him to a place of security, they, in a short time

effected his recovery, and prepared him for a second martyrdom; for, as soon as he was able to go out, he

placed himself intentionally in the emperor's way as he was going to the temple, and reprehended him for his

various cruelties and unreasonable prejudices against Christianity. As soon as Diocletian had overcome his

surprise, he ordered Sebastian to be seized, and carried to a place near the palace, and beaten to death; and,

that the Christians should not either use means again to recover or bury his body, he ordered that it should be

thrown into the common sewer. Nevertheless, a Christian lady named Lucina, found means to remove it from

the sewer, and bury it in the catacombs, or repositories of the dead.

The Christians, about this time, upon mature consideration, thought it unlawful to bear arms under a heathen

emperor. Maximilian, the son of Fabius Victor, was the first beheaded under this regulation.

Vitus, a Sicilian of considerable family, was brought up a Christian; when his virtues increased with his

years, his constancy supported him under all afflictions, and his faith was superior to the most dangerous

perils. His father, Hylas, who was a pagan, finding that he had been instructed in the principles of

Christianity by the nurse who brought him up, used all his endeavors to bring him back to paganism, and at

length sacrificed his son to the idols, June 14, A.D. 303.

Victor was a Christian of a good family at Marseilles, in France; he spent a great part of the night in visiting

the afflicted, and confirming the weak; which pious work he could not, consistently with his own safety,

perform in the daytime; and his fortune he spent in relieving the distresses of poor Christians. He was at

length, however, seized by the emperor Maximian's decree, who ordered him to be bound, and dragged

through the streets. During the execution of this order, he was treated with all manner of cruelties and

indignities by the enraged populace. Remaining still inflexible, his courage was deemed obstinacy. Being by

order stretched upon the rack, he turned his eyes toward heaven, and prayed to God to endue him with

patience, after which he underwent the tortures with most admirable fortitude. After the executioners were

tired with inflicting torments on him, he was conveyed to a dungeon. In his confinement, he converted his

jailers, named Alexander, Felician, and Longinus. This affair coming to the ears of the emperor, he ordered

them immediately to be put to death, and the jailers were accordingly beheaded. Victor was then again put to

the rack, unmercifully beaten with batoons, and again sent to prison. Being a third time examined concerning

his religion, he persevered in his principles; a small altar was then brought, and he was commanded to offer

incense upon it immediately. Fired with indignation at the request, he boldly stepped forward, and with his

foot overthrew both altar and idol. This so enraged the emperor Maximian, who was present, that he ordered

the foot with which he had kicked the altar to be immediately cut off; and Victor was thrown into a mill, and

crushed to pieces with the stones, A.D. 303.

Maximus, governor of Cilicia, being at Tarsus, three Christians were brought before him; their names were

Tarachus, an aged man, Probus, and Andronicus. After repeated tortures and exhortations to recant, they, at

length, were ordered for execution.

Being brought to the amphitheater, several beasts were let loose upon them; but none of the animals, though

hungry, would touch them. The keeper then brought out a large bear, that had that very day destroyed three

men; but this voracious creature and a fierce lioness both refused to touch the prisoners. Finding the design

of destroying them by the means of wild beasts ineffectual, Maximus ordered them to be slain by the sword,

on October 11, A.D. 303.

Romanus, a native of Palestine, was deacon of the church of Caesarea at the time of the commencement of

Diocletian's persecution. Being condemned for his faith at Antioch, he was scourged, put to the rack, his

body torn with hooks, his flesh cut with knives, his face scarified, his teeth beaten from their sockets, and his

hair plucked up by the roots. Soon after he was ordered to be strangled, November 17, A.D. 303.

Susanna, the niece of Caius, bishop of Rome, was pressed by the emperor Diocletian to marry a noble pagan,

who was nearly related to him. Refusing the honor intended her, she was beheaded by the emperor's order.

Dorotheus, the high chamberlain of the household to Diocletian, was a Christian, and took great pains to

make converts. In his religious labors, he was joined by Gorgonius, another Christian, and one belonging to

the palace. They were first tortured and then strangled.

Peter, a eunuch belonging to the emperor, was a Christian of singular modesty and humility. He was laid on

a gridiron, and broiled over a slow fire until he expired.

Cyprian, known by the title of the magician, to distinguish him from Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, was a

native of Natioch. He received a liberal education in his youth, and particularly applied himself to astrology;

after which he traveled for improvement through Greece, Egypt, India, etc. In the course of time he became

acquainted with Justina, a young lady of Antioch, whose birth, beauty, and accomplishments, rendered her

the admiration of all who knew her. A pagan gentleman applied to Cyprian, to promote his suit with the

beautiful Justina; this he undertook, but soon himself became converted, burnt his books of astrology and

magic, received baptism, and felt animated with a powerful spirit of grace. The conversion of Cyprian had a

great effect on the pagan gentleman who paid his addresses to Justina, and he in a short time embraced

Christianity. During the persecutions of Diocletian, Cyprian and Justina were seized upon as Chrisitans, the

former was torn with pincers, and the latter chastised; and, after suffering other torments, both were

beheaded.

Eulalia, a Spanish lady of a Christian family, was remarkable in her youth for sweetness of temper, and

solidity of understanding seldom found in the capriciousness of juvenile years. Being apprehended as a

Christian, the magistrate attempted by the mildest means, to bring her over to paganism, but she ridiculed the

pagan deities with such asperity, that the judge, incensed at her behavior, ordered her to be tortured. Her

sides were accordingly torn by hooks, and her breasts burnt in the most shocking manner, until she expired

by the violence of the flames, December, A.D. 303.

In the year 304, when the persecution reached Spain, Dacian, the governor of Terragona, ordered Valerius

the bishop, and Vincent the deacon, to be seized, loaded with irons, and imprisoned. The prisoners being

firm in their resolution, Valerius was banished, and Vincent was racked, his limbs dislocated, his flesh torn

with hooks, and he was laid on a gridiron, which had not only a fire placed under it, but spikes at the top,

which ran into his flesh. These torments neither destroying him, nor changing his resolutions, he was

remanded to prison, and confined ina small, loathsome, dark dungeon, strewed with sharp flints, and pieces

of broken glass, where he died, January 22, 304. His body was thrown into the river.

The persecution of Diocletian began particularly to rage in A.D. 304, when many Christians were put to

cruel tortures and the most painful and ignominious deaths; the most eminent and paritcular of whom we

shall enumerate.

Saturninus, a priest of Albitina, a town of Africa, after being tortured, was remanded to prison, and there

starved to death. His four children, after being variously tormented, shared the same fate with their father.

Dativas, a noble Roman senator; Thelico, a pious Christian;

Victoria, a young lady of considerable family and fortune, with some others of less consideration, all auditors

of Saturninus, were tortured in a similar manner, and perished by the same means.

Agrape, Chionia, and Irene, three sisters, were seized upon at Thessalonica, when Diocletian's persecution

reached Greece. They were burnt, and received the crown of martyrdom in the flames, March 25, A.D. 304.

The governor, finding that he could make no impression on Irene, ordered her to be exposed naked in the

streets, which shameful order having been executed, a fire was kindled near the city wall, amidst whose

flames her spirit ascended beyond the reach of man's cruelty.

Agatho, a man of a pious turn of mind, with Cassice, Philippa, and Eutychia, were martyred about the same

time; but the particulars have not been transmitted to us.

Marcellinus, bishop of Rome, who succeeded Caius in that see, having strongly opposed paying divine

honors to Diocletian, suffered martyrdom, by a variety of tortures, in the year 324, conforting his soul until

he expired with the prospect of these glorious rewards it would receive by the tortures suffered in the body.

Victorius, Carpophorus, Severus, and Severianus, were brothers, and all four employed in places of great

trust and honor in the city of Rome. Having exclaimed against the worship of idols, they were apprehended,

and scourged, with the plumbetae, or scourges, to the ends of which were fastened leaden balls. This

punishment was exercised with such excess of cruelty that the pious brothers fell martyrs to its severity.

Timothy, a deacon of Mauritania, and Maura his wife, had not been united together by the bands of wedlock

above three weeks, when they were separated from each other by the persecution. Timothy, being

apprehended, as a Christian, was carried before Arrianus, the governor of Thebais, who, knowing that he had

the keeping of the Holy Scriptures, commanded him to deliver them up to be burnt; to which he answered,

"Had I children, I would sooner deliver them up to be sacrificed, than part with the Word of God." The

governor being much incensed at this reply, ordered his eyes to be put out, with red-hot irons, saying, "The

books shall at least be useless to you, for you shall not see to read them." His patience under the operation

was so great that the governor grew more exasperated; he, therefore, in order, if possible, to overcome his

fortitude, ordered him to be hung up by the feet, with a weight tied about his neck, and a gag in his mouth. In

this state, Maura his wife, tenderly urged him for her sake to recant; but, when the gag was taken out of his

mouth, instead of consenting to his wife's entreaties, he greatly blamed her mistaken love, and declared his

resolution of dying for the faith. The consequence was, that Maura resolved to imitate his courage and

fidelity and either to accompany or follow him to glory. The governor, after trying in vain to alter her

resolution, ordered her to be tortured, which was executed with great severity. After this, Timothy and Maura

were crucified near each other, A.D. 304.

Sabinus, bishop of Assisium, refusing to sacrifice to Jupiter, and pushing the idol from him, had his hand cut

off by the order of the governor of Tuscany. While in prison, he converted the governor and his family, all of

whom suffered martyrdom for the faith. Soon after their execution, Sabinus himself was scourged to death,

December, A.D. 304.

Tired with the farce of state and public business, the emperor Diocletian resigned the imperial diadem, and

was succeeded by Constantius and Galerius; the former a prince of the most mild and humane disposition

and the latter equally remarkable for his cruelty and tyranny. These divided the empire into two equal

governments, Galerius ruling in the east, and Constantius in the west; and the people in the two governments

felt the effects of the dispositions of the two emperors; for those in the west were governed in the mildest

manner, but such as resided in the east felt all the miseries of oppression and lengthened tortures.

Among the many martyred by the order of Galerius, we shall enumerate the most eminent.

Amphianus was a gentleman of eminence in Lucia, and a scholar of Eusebius; Julitta, a Lycaonian of royal

descent, but more celebrated for her virtues than noble blood. While on the rack, her child was killed before

her face. Julitta, of Cappadocia, was a lady of distinguished capacity, great virtue, and uncommon courage.

To complete the execution, Julitta had boiling pitch poured on her feet, her sides torn with hooks, and

received the conclusion of her martyrdom, by being beheaded, April 16, A.D. 305.

Hermolaus, a venerable and pious Christian, or a great age, and an intimate acquaintance of Panteleon's,

suffered martyrdom for the faith on the same day, and in the same manner as Panteleon.

Eustratius, secretary to the governor of Armina, was thrown into a fiery furnace for exhorting some

Christians who had been apprehended, to persevere in their faith.

Nicander and Marcian, two eminent Roman military officers, were apprehended on account of their faith. As

they were both men of great abilities in their profession, the utmost means were used to induce them to

renounce Christianity; but these endeavors being found ineffectual, they were beheaded.

In the kingdom of Naples, several martyrdoms took place, in particular, Januaries, bishop of Beneventum;

Sosius, deacon of Misene; Proculus, another deacon; Eutyches and Acutius, two laymen; Festus, a deacon;

and Desiderius, a reader; all, on account of being Christians, were condemned by the governor of Campania

to be devoured by the wild beasts. The savage animals, however, would not touch them, and so they were

beheaded.

Quirinus, bishop of Siscia, being carried before Matenius, the governor, was ordered to sacrifice to the pagan

deities, agreeably to the edicts of various Roman emperors. The governor, perceiving his constancy, sent him

to jail, and ordered him to be heavily ironed; flattering himself, that the hardships of a jail, some occasional

tortures and the weight of chains, might overcome his resolution. Being decided in his principles, he was sent

to Amantius, the principal governor of Pannonia, now Hungary, who loaded him with chains, and carried

him through the principal towns of the Danube, exposing him to ridicule wherever he went. Arriving at

length at Sabaria, and finding that Quirinus would not renounce his faith, he ordered him to be cast into a

river, with a stone fastened about his neck. This sentence being put into execution, Quirinus floated about for

some time, and, exhorting the people in the most pious terms, concluded his admonitions with this prayer: "It

is no new thing, O all-powerful Jesus, for Thee to stop the course of rivers, or to cause a man to walk upon

the water, as Thou didst Thy servant Peter; the people have already seen the proof of Thy power in me; grant

me now to lay down my life for Thy sake, O my God." On pronouncing the last words he immediately sank,

and died, June 4, A.D. 308. His body was afterwards taken up, and buried by some pious Christians.

Pamphilus, a native of Phoenicia, of a considerable family, was a man of such extensive learning that he was

called a second Origen. He was received into the body of the clergy at Caesarea, where he established a

public library and spent his time in the practice of every Christian virtue. He copied the greatest part of the

works of Origen with his own hand, and, assisted by Eusebius, gave a correct copy of the Old Testament,

which had suffered greatly by the ignorance or negligence of former transcribers. In the year 307, he was

apprehended, and suffered torture and martyrdom.

Marcellus, bishop of Rome, being banished on account of his faith, fell a martyr to the miseries he suffered

in exile, January 16, A.D. 310.

Peter, the sixteenth bishop of Alexandria, was martyred November 25, A.D. 311, by order of Maximus

Caesar, who reigned in the east.

Agnes, a virgin of only thirteen years of age, was beheaded for being a Christian; as was Serene, the empress

of Diocletian. Valentine, a priest, suffered the same fate at Rome; and Erasmus, a bishop, was martyred in

Campania.

Soon after this the persecution abated in the middle parts of the empire, as well as in the west; and

Providence at length began to manifest vengeance on the persecutors. Maximian endeavored to corrupt his

daughter Fausta to murder Constantine her husband; which she discovered, and Constantine forced him to

choose his own death, when he preferred the ignominious death of hanging after being an emperor near

twenty years.

Constantine was the good and virtuous child of a good and virtuous father, born in Britain. His mother was

named Helena, daughter of King Coilus. He was a most bountiful and gracious prince, having a desire to

nourish learning and good arts, and did oftentimes use to read, write, and study himself. He had marvellous

good success and prosperous achieving of all things he took in hand, which then was (and truly) supposed to

proceed of this, for that he was so great a favorer of the Christian faith. Which faith when he had once

embraced, he did ever after most devoutly and religiously reverence.

Thus Constantine, sufficiently appointed with strength of men but especially with strength of God, entered

his journey coming towards Italy, which was about the last year of the persecution, A.D. 313. Maxentius,

understanding of the coming of Constantine, and trusting more to his devilish art of magic than to the good

will of his subjects, which he little deserved, durst not show himself out of the city, nor encounter him in the

open field, but with privy garrisons laid wait for him by the way in sundry straits, as he should come; with

whom Constantine had divers skirmishes, and by the power of the Lord did ever vanquish them and put them

to flight.

Notwithstanding, Constantine yet was in no great comfort, but in great care and dread in his mind

(approaching now near unto Rome) for the magical charms and sorceries of Maxentius, wherewith he had

vanquished before Severus, sent by Galerius against him. Wherefore, being in great doubt and perplexity in

himself, and revolving many things in his mind, what help he might have against the operations of his

charming, Constantine, in his journey drawing toward the city, and casting up his eyes many times to heaven,

in the south part, about the going down of the sun, saw a great brightness in heaven, appearing in the

similitude of a cross, giving this inscription, In hoc vince, that is, "In this overcome."

Eusebius Pamphilus doth witness that he had heard the said Constantine himself oftentimes report, and also

to swear this to be true and certain, which he did see with his own eyes in heaven, and also his soldiers about

him. At the sight whereof when he was greatly astonished, and consulting with his men upon the meaning

thereof, behold, in the night season in his sleep, Christ appeared to him with the sign of the same cross which

he had seen before, bidding him to make the figuration thereof, and to carry it in his wars before him, and so

should we have the victory.

Constantine so established the peace of the Church that for the space of a thousand years we read of no set

persecution against the Christians, unto the time of John Wickliffe.

So happy, so glorious was this victory of Constantine, surnamed the Great! For the joy and gladness

whereof, the citizens who had sent for him before, with exceeding triumph brought him into the city of

Rome, where he was most honorably received, and celebrated the space of seven days together; having,

moreover, in the market place, his image set up, holding in his right hand the sign of the cross, with this

inscription:

"With this wholesome sign, the true token of fortitude, I have rescued and delivered our city from the yoke

of the tyrant.

We shall conclude our account of the tenth and last general persecution with the death of St. George, the

titular saint and patron of England. St. George was born in Cappadocia, of Christian parents; and giving

proofs of his courage, was promoted in the army of the emperor Diocletian. During the persecution, St.

George threw up his command, went boldly to the senate house, and avowed his being a Christian, taking

occasion at the same time to remonstrate against paganism, and point out the absurdity of worshipping idols.

This freedom so greatly provoked the senate that St. George was ordered to be tortured, and by the emperor's

orders was dragged through the streets, and beheaded the next day.

The legend of the dragon, which is associated with this martyr, is usually illustrated by representing St.

George seated upon a charging horse and transfixing the monster with his spear. This fiery dragon

symbolizes the devil, who was vanquished by St. George's steadfast faith in Christ, which remained

unshaken in spite of torture and death.

 

ref fox's book of martyr

[EddyMeng]

theory ... may not always work and could be wrong

 

but when you rely on the principle; aka law of faith ... it will work for sure

 

how does one rely on the law of faith ?

hmmmmm any "lawyers" ... or any one wish to shed his light here

[ChaoPuzzy1968]

theory ... may not always work and could be wrong

 

but when you rely on the principle; aka law of faith ... it will work for sure

 

how does one rely on the law of faith ?

hmmmmm any "lawyers" ... or any one wish to shed his light here

 

ooi you law man arh

 

this this law and faith how to link ....

 

Faith is a Belief system

 

Law is a Behavior System

 

you want to do Behaviour Modification Theraphy?

 

 

•FAITH Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain

statement is true (Phil. 1:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:13). Its primary idea is

trust. A thing is true, and therefore worthy of trust. It admits of many

degrees up to full assurance of faith, in accordance with the evidence on

which it rests.

 

Faith is the result of teaching (Romans 10:14-17). Knowledge is an

essential element in all faith, and is sometimes spoken of as an equivalent

to faith (John 10:38; 1 John 2:3). Yet the two are distinguished in this

respect, that faith includes in it assent, which is an act of the will in

addition to the act of the understanding. Assent to the truth is of the

essence of faith, and the ultimate ground on which our assent to any

revealed truth rests is the veracity of God.

 

Historical faith is the apprehension of and assent to certain statements

which are regarded as mere facts of history.

 

Temporary faith is that state of mind which is awakened in men (e.g.,

Felix) by the exhibition of the truth and by the influence of religious

sympathy, or by what is sometimes styled the common operation of the

Holy Spirit.

 

Saving faith is so called because it has eternal life inseparably connected

with it. It cannot be better defined than in the words of the Assembly’s

Shorter Catechism: “Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we

receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the

gospel.”

 

The object of saving faith is the whole revealed Word of God. Faith

accepts and believes it as the very truth most sure. But the special act of

faith which unites to Christ has as its object the person and the work of

the Lord Jesus Christ (John 7:38; Acts 16:31). This is the specific act of

faith by which a sinner is justified before God (Romans 3:22, 25; Galatians

2:16; Phil. 3:9; John 3:16-36; Acts 10:43; 16:31). In this act of faith the

believer appropriates and rests on Christ alone as Mediator in all his

offices.

 

This assent to or belief in the truth received upon the divine testimony has

always associated with it a deep sense of sin, a distinct view of Christ, a

consenting will, and a loving heart, together with a reliance on, a trusting in,or resting in Christ. It is that state of mind in which a poor sinner,

conscious of his sin, flees from his guilty self to Christ his Saviour, and

rolls over the burden of all his sins on him. It consists chiefly, not in the

assent given to the testimony of God in his Word, but in embracing with

fiducial reliance and trust the one and only Saviour whom God reveals.

This trust and reliance is of the essence of faith. By faith the believer

directly and immediately appropriates Christ as his own. Faith in its direct

act makes Christ ours. It is not a work which God graciously accepts

instead of perfect obedience, but is only the hand by which we take hold

of the person and work of our Redeemer as the only ground of our

salvation.

 

Saving faith is a moral act, as it proceeds from a renewed will, and a

renewed will is necessary to believing assent to the truth of God (1

Corinthians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 4:4). Faith, therefore, has its seat in the

moral part of our nature fully as much as in the intellectual. The mind must

first be enlightened by divine teaching (John 6:44; Acts 13:48; 2Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 1:17, 18) before it can discern the things of theSpirit.

 

Faith is necessary to our salvation (Mark 16:16), not because there is any

merit in it, but simply because it is the sinner’s taking the place assigned

him by God, his falling in with what God is doing.

 

The warrant or ground of faith is the divine testimony, not the

reasonableness of what God says, but the simple fact that he says it. Faith rests immediately on, “Thus saith the Lord.” But in order to this faith the veracity, sincerity, and truth of God must be owned and appreciated,

together with his unchangeableness. God’s word encourages and

emboldens the sinner personally to transact with Christ as God’s gift, to

close with him, embrace him, give himself to Christ, and take Christ as his.

That word comes with power, for it is the word of God who has revealed

himself in his works, and especially in the cross. God is to be believed for

his word’s sake, but also for his name’s sake.

 

Faith in Christ secures for the believer freedom from condemnation, or

justification before God; a participation in the life that is in Christ, the

divine life (John 14:19; Romans 6:4-10; Ephesians 4:15,16, etc.); “peace

with God” (Romans 5:1); and sanctification (Acts 26:18; Galatians 5:6;

Acts 15:9).

 

All who thus believe in Christ will certainly be saved (John 6:37, 40;

10:27, 28; Romans 8:1).

 

The faith=the gospel (Acts 6:7; Romans 1:5; Galatians 1:23; 1 Timothy

3:9; Jude 1:3).

 

•LAW a rule of action. (1.) The Law of Nature is the will of God as to

human conduct, founded on the moral difference of things, and

discoverable by natural light (Romans 1:20; 2:14, 15). This law binds all

men at all times. It is generally designated by the term conscience, or the

capacity of being influenced by the moral relations of things.

(2.) The Ceremonial Law prescribes under the Old Testament the rites and

ceremonies of worship. This law was obligatory only till Christ, of whom

these rites were typical, had finished his work (Hebrews 7:9, 11; 10:1;

Ephesians 2:16). It was fulfilled rather than abrogated by the gospel.

(3.) The Judicial Law, the law which directed the civil policy of the

Hebrew nation.

(4.) The Moral Law is the revealed will of God as to human conduct,

binding on all men to the end of time. It was promulgated at Sinai. It is

perfect (Psalm 19:7), perpetual (Matthew 5:17, 18), holy (Romans 7:12),

good, spiritual (14), and exceeding broad (Psalm 119:96). Although bindingon all, we are not under it as a covenant of works (Galatians 3:17). (SeeCOMMANDMENTS.)

(5.) Positive Laws are precepts founded only on the will of God. They are

right because God commands them.

(6.) Moral positive laws are commanded by God because they are right.

 

 

ref easton bible dictionary

[EddyMeng]

ooi you law man arh

 

this this law and faith how to link ....

 

Faith is a Belief system

 

Law is a Behavior System

 

you want to do Behaviour Modification Theraphy?

 

lawman lor ...

 

i asking "the law of faith" aka "the principle of faith" ; meaning how faith works in biblical terms lah

[ChaoPuzzy1968]

lawman lor ...

 

i asking "the law of faith" aka "the principle of faith" ; meaning how faith works in biblical terms lah

 

Very simple basically for us gentiles as pual wrote in roman 10....goyhim only 1 the belief in the gospel.

[EddyMeng]

Very simple basically for us gentiles as pual wrote in roman 10....goyhim only 1 the belief in the gospel.

 

Roman 10 ...

 

4 submit themselves to God's righteousness

5 Christ is the end of the Law

17 faith comes by hearing

 

Hence, faith comes by hearing the correct preaching of the gospel ...

what is THE gospel ... one may ask

What men call Balance; God looks at it as Mixture ... and we need THE gospel.

 

How to distinguish if one is preaching "rojak' or THE gospel ???

THE true gospel consists of 2 major components - ref Romans 5:17 (New King James Version)

1) abundance of grace

2) the gift of righteousness

 

hope this writing will increase the awareness of how to discern THE gospel from "rojak preaching"

[ChaoPuzzy1968]

Roman 10 ...

 

4 submit themselves to God's righteousness

5 Christ is the end of the Law

17 faith comes by hearing

 

Hence, faith comes by hearing the correct preaching of the gospel ...

what is THE gospel ... one may ask

What men call Balance; God looks at it as Mixture ... and we need THE gospel.

 

How to distinguish if one is preaching "rojak' or THE gospel ???

THE true gospel consists of 2 major components - ref Romans 5:17 (New King James Version)

1) abundance of grace

2) the gift of righteousness

 

hope this writing will increase the awareness of how to discern THE gospel from "rojak preaching"

 

you forgot also ....must eat durian!!!!

[EddyMeng]

you forgot also ....must eat durian!!!!

sometime also muz taste rojak ... so that would not forget how it taste like

tonight i might be going to BY

[ChaoPuzzy1968]

sometime also muz taste rojak ... so that would not forget how it taste like

tonight i might be going to BY

 

I perfer durian better... the chaopu55y smell

[EddyMeng]

I perfer durian better... the chaopu55y smell

 

i love the top grade "mao shan wang"

[ChaoPuzzy1968]

CHAPTER III - Persecutions of the Christians

in Persia

The Gospel having spread itself into Persia, the pagan priests, who worshipped the sun, were greatly

alarmed, and dreaded the loss of that influence they had hitherto maintained over the people's minds and

properties. Hence they thought it expedient to complain to the emperor that the Christians were enemies to

the state, and held a treasonable correspondence with the Romans, the great enemies of Persia.

The emperor Sapores, being naturally averse to Christianity, easily believed what was said against the

Christians, and gave orders to persecute them in all parts of his empire. On account of this mandate, many

eminent persons in the church and state fell martyrs to the ignorance and ferocity of the pagans.

Constantine the Great being informed of the persecutions in Persia, wrote a long letter to the Persian

monarch, in which he recounts the vengeance that had fallen on persecutors, and the great success that had

attended those who had refrained from persecuting the Christians.

Speaking of his victories over rival emperors of his own time, he said, "I subdued these solely by faith in

Christ; for which God was my helper, who gave me victory in battle, and made me triumph over my

enemies. He hath likewise so enlarged to me the bounds of the Roman Empire, that it extends from the

Western Ocean almost to the uttermost parts of the East: for this domain I neither offered sacrifices to the

ancient deities, nor made use of charm or divination; but only offered up prayers to the Almighty God, and

followed the cross of Christ. Rejoiced should I be if the throne of Persia found glory also, by embracing the

Christians: that so you with me, and they with you, may enjoy all happiness.

In consequence of this appeal, the persecution ended for the time, but it was renewed in later years when

another king succeeded to the throne of Persia.

Persecutions Under the Arian Heretics

The author of the Arian heresy was Arius, a native of Lybia, and a priest of Alexandria, who, in A.D. 318,

began to publish his errors. He was condemned by a council of Lybian and Egyptian bishops, and that

sentence was confirmed by the Council of Nice, A.D. 325. After the death of Constantine the Great, the

Arians found means to ingratiate themselves into the favor of the emperor Constantinus, his son and

successor in the east; and hence a persecution was raised against the orthodox bishops and clergy. The

celebrated Athanasius, and other bishops, were banished, and their sees filled with Arians.

In Egypt and Lybia, thirty bishops were martyred, and many other Christians cruelly tormented; and, A.D.

386, George, the Arian bishop of Alexandria, under the authority of the emperor, began a persecution in that

city and its environs, and carried it on with the most infernal severity. He was assisted in his diabolical

malice by Catophonius, governor of Egypt; Sebastian, general of the Egyptian forces;

Faustinus, the treasurer; and Heraclius, a Roman officer.

The persecutions now raged in such a manner that the clergy were driven from Alexandria, their churches

were shut, and the severities practiced by the Arian heretics were as great as those that had been practiced by

the pagan idolaters. If a man, accused of being a Christian, made his escape, then his whole family were

massacred, and his effects confiscated.

Persecution Under Julian the Apostate

This emperor was the son of Julius Constantius, and the nephew of Constantine the Great. He studied the

rudiments of grammar under the inspection of Mardonius, a eunuch, and a heathen of Constantinople. His

father sent him some time after to Nicomedia, to be instructed in the Christian religion, by the bishop of

Eusebius, his kinsman, but his principles were corrupted by the pernicious doctrines of Ecebolius the

rhetorician, and Maximus the magician.

Constantius, dying the year 361, Julian succeeded him, and had no sooner attained the imperial dignity than

he renounced Christianity and embraced paganism, which had for some years fallen into great disrepute.

Though he restored the idolatrous worship, he made no public edicts against Christianity. He recalled all

banished pagans, allowed the free exercise of religion to every sect, but deprived all Christians of offices at

court, in the magistracy, or in the army. He was chaste, temperate, vigilant, laborious, and pious; yet he

prohibited any Christian from keeping a school or public seminary of learning, and deprived all the Christian

clergy of the privileges granted them by Constantine the Great.

Biship Basil made himself first famous by his opposition to Arianism, which brought upon him the

vengeance of the Arian bishop of Constantinople; he equally opposed paganism. The emperor's agents in

vain tampered with Basil by means of promises, threats, and racks, he was firm in the faith, and remained in

prison to undergo some other sufferings, when the emperor came accidentally to Ancyra. Julian determined

to examine Basil himself, when that holy man being brought before him, the emperor did every thing in his

power to dissuade him from persevering in the faith. Basil not only continued as firm as ever, but, with a

prophetic spirit foretold the death of the emperor, and that he should be tormented in the other life. Enraged

at what he heard, Julian commanded that the body of Basil should be torn every day in seven different parts,

until his skin and flesh were entirely mangled. This inhuman sentence was executed with rigor, and the

martyr expired under its severities, on June 28, A.D. 362.

Donatus, bishop of Arezzo, and Hilarinus, a hermit, suffered about the same time; also Gordian, a Roman

magistrate. Artemius, commander in chief of the Roman forces in Egypt, being a Christian, was deprived of

his commission, then of his estate, and lastly of his head.

The persecution raged dreadfully about the latter end of the year 363; but, as many of the particulars have not

been handed down to us, it is necessary to remark in general, that in Palestine many were burnt alive, others

were dragged by their feet through the streets naked until they expired; some were scalded to death, many

stoned, and great numbers had their brains beaten out with clubs. In Alexandria, innumerable were the

martyrs who suffered by the sword, burning, crucifixion and stoning. In Arethusa, several were ripped open,

and corn being put into their bellies, swine were brought to feed therein, which, in devouring the grain,

likewise devoured the entrails of the martyrs, and in Thrace, Emilianus was burnt at a stake; and Domitius

murdered in a cave, whither he had fled for refuge.

The emperor, Julian the apostate, died of a wound which he received in his Persian expedition, A.D. 363, and

even while expiring, uttered the most horrid blasphemies. He was succeeded by Jovian, who restored peace

to the Church.

After the decease of Jovian, Valentinian succeeded to the empire, and associated to himself Valens, who had

the command in the east, and was an Arian and of an unrelenting and persecuting disposition.

 

REF fOX BOOK OF MARTYR

[ChaoPuzzy1968]

Church wins suit to evict bible college

01 Jul 2010

 

Source: The Straits Times

 

A DIFFERENCE in religious doctrines led to a dispute between the Life Bible-Presbyterian Church and the Far Eastern Bible College, which had shared the same premises in Gilstead Road since the 1960s.

 

REF http://thecourtroom.stomp.com.sg/stomp/courtroom/case_of_the_day/404862/church_wins_suit_to_evict_bible_college.html

 

http://www.febc.edu.sg/assets/images/weekly/letter-revtow.jpg

Edited July 2, 2010 by ChaoPuzzy1968

[EddyMeng]

Church wins suit to evict bible college

01 Jul 2010

 

Source: The Straits Times

 

A DIFFERENCE in religious doctrines led to a dispute between the Life Bible-Presbyterian Church and the Far Eastern Bible College, which had shared the same premises in Gilstead Road since the 1960s.

 

REF http://thecourtroom.stomp.com.sg/stomp/courtroom/case_of_the_day/404862/church_wins_suit_to_evict_bible_college.html

 

what happen to the brotherly love as mentioned in:

 

Eph 4:2 Living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another {and} making allowances because you love one another.

 

Eph 5:2 And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.

[edwardlong]

Church wins suit to evict bible college

01 Jul 2010

 

Source: The Straits Times

 

A DIFFERENCE in religious doctrines led to a dispute between the Life Bible-Presbyterian Church and the Far Eastern Bible College, which had shared the same premises in Gilstead Road since the 1960s.

 

REF http://thecourtroom.stomp.com.sg/stomp/courtroom/case_of_the_day/404862/church_wins_suit_to_evict_bible_college.html

 

http://www.febc.edu.sg/assets/images/weekly/letter-revtow.jpg

 

Mc...you never apply to be the new pastor ah?

 

 

[ChaoPuzzy1968]

what happen to the brotherly love

 

B-P leh!!!!

 

Mc...you never apply to be the new pastor ah?

 

Onli after you Pillion your Father and i Pillion Nellie:angel:

[EddyMeng]

Posted by EddyMeng

what happen to the brotherly love

 

B-P leh!!!!

 

1 Cor 6:1 DOES ANY of you dare, when he has a matter of complaint against another [brother], to go to law before unrighteous men [men neither upright nor right with God, laying it before them] instead of before the saints (the people of God)?

 

BP now change to SPC oready

[ChaoPuzzy1968]

Posted by EddyMeng

what happen to the brotherly love

 

 

BP now change to SPC oready

 

Nope

 

it added a C to BP....BPC

 

Beyond Parental Control:faint:

[EddyMeng]

Onli after you Pillion your Father and i Pillion Nellie:angel:

 

Edward ... quickly

then pasta mordy will arise

[ChaoPuzzy1968]

Edward ... quickly

then pasta mordy will arise

 

hello , you knowif he pillion his father and i pillion nellie , what you want 'arise'

[edwardlong]

Nope

 

it added a C to BP....BPC

 

Beyond Parental Control:faint:

 

BPC.....thats me....

 

Edward ... quickly

then pasta mordy will arise

 

Hello, you think i so generous let my nellie pillion on someone else's bike? :dot:

[ChaoPuzzy1968]

BPC.....thats me....

 

 

 

Hello, you think i so generous let my nellie pillion on someone else's bike? :dot:

 

hello if pastor JP want to pillion nellie you say no:sian: