Making Money by Attacking Christ

Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo

 

The Bible warns of false preachers who will use the name of Christ to make money out of people: “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you” (2 Pet 2:1-3). Attacking God and the Bible is lucrative business. The movie-making and publishing industries are cashing in on the antichristian spirit of the age, raking in millions from heretical movies like “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “The Last Temptation of Christ,” and “The Passion of the Christ,” and books like “The Da Vinci Code” and “Misquoting Jesus.”

The profusion of modern Bible versions (NIV, TNIV, RSV, NRSV, ASV, NASV, TEV, CEV, ESV, NKJV and whatever more ‘V’s that will follow) only fuels the confusion of the postmodernistic world today where truth and morals are relative and subjective. Nothing is absolute, nothing is certain, the Sacred is ridiculed and the Bible is despised. Any movement back to the doctrinal and spiritual ethos of the Great 16th Century Protestant Reformation, and the Bible of the Reformation (Traditional Hebrew Masoretic Text, Greek Textus Receptus, and the Authorised Version or King James Bible) is deemed retrogressive, schismatic, cultish and even heretical! Christians today are naively buying up any and every modern perversion of the Bible that rolls off the press, and smugly writing off any who dare to uphold and defend the good old Authorised Version as “eccentric old uncles” or “pseudo-scholars.” It is no wonder that the Church today is confused, while publishers are laughing all the way to the bank. How applicable the words of the Prophet Hanani to King Jehoshaphat for the Christians of this  merry-making and men-pleasing age, “Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD” (2 Chron 19:2). Let us follow rather King David, a man after God’s own heart, who said, “Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies” (Ps 139:21-22).

One blasphemous denial of Christ comes from James Cameron, the director of the Oscar-winning movie—“Titanic”—who had just made a film to “prove” that Jesus was a fraud. Here is Rev Dennis Kwok’s refutation of Cameron’s “titanic” attack against Christ:

THE LOST TOMB OF JESUS?
(From the Desk of Dennis, Apr 1, 2007, www.truthbpc.com)

THE CLAIM: 10 small caskets (or ossuaries) discovered in 1980 in a Jerusalem suburb, may have held the bones of Jesus and His family. One of the caskets bears the title, “Judah, son of Jesus,” implying that Jesus had a son.

On 26 February 2007 at the New York press conference, the Academy Award-winning director James Cameron (of “Titanic” and “The Terminator”) publicly challenged the fundamental tenets of Christianity. He and his team contend that they can produce new evidence that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and fathered a son named Judah. And that their bodies were buried together.

The devil did it again! Today is Palm Sunday and we are nearing Good Friday and Easter; such a recent highlighting of the “discovery” seeks to undermine the historical faith and belief of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. If the bones of Jesus have been discovered, it would be time for Christians to hang up their faith and give up Christianity altogether. Is this not what Satan wants? How would you answer such blatant lies about our living Saviour? 1 Corinthians 15:17 tells us, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” In Greek, Paul literally wrote “vain or worthless your faith is,” placing the word “vain” first in the clause for emphasis! Do you believe that Christ has risen from the dead for you? If not, you are not saved at all!

There were nearly 1,000 ossuaries found in Jerusalem over the centuries. At least 22 of them have the name “Jesus” inscribed on them and two have “Jesus, son of Joseph.” The recent discovery of 10 ossuaries contained the names of Jesus, Mary, Judah, Joseph and Matthew. These are popular names of ancient times and even today. Mary was the most common female name in Jesus’ time, and there are at least six women by that name in the New Testament. Joseph was the second most common male name, Judah was the fourth and Matthew the ninth. Therefore, to find ossuaries that contain these names is not surprising or impressive at all.

Let not your simple, childlike faith in the resurrected Christ be shaken at all. Always remember: if Christ be not raised from the dead, your faith is vain and worthless; you are still in your sins! Be sure Jesus’ tomb will always be empty because He has risen from the dead. Amen.

 

Testimony of Mother’s Salvation
Mrs Jessie Lam

Praise the Lord! My mum accepted the Lord Jesus Christ. Rev Ronny Khoo presented the Gospel in Hokkien and led her in saying the sinner’s prayer. Rev Ronny explained to her that accepting Jesus as her Saviour and Lord does not mean that all her physical sufferings will disappear. God willing, He will heal and deliver her. She can however pray for wisdom from God in taking care of her health and seeing a good doctor to help her with her conditions. The most important thing is her soul is saved eternally and her hope is in heaven where she will have eternal life without pain and sufferings.

I thank God for His mercy upon my mum and preserving her life for this day. Indeed, the Lord has been merciful to her and in His own timing, she is now saved. When I asked her a month ago if I could have someone visit her and share the Gospel to her, to my surprise she readily agreed. She told me that some years ago a stranger said to her that only Jesus can save her!

I want to thank all of you for your prayer support and share our joy and thanksgiving to God for her salvation. Please continue to pray for her, that she will not waver in her faith but be steadfast and not be affected by what her relatives and friends will say about her belief in Jesus Christ. I am now looking for a church nearby which conducts Hokkien service. Please also pray that I will be able to resolve the transport problem in fetching her to church.

Glory to His Name!

 

God’s Word is Truth
(A testimony by Mr Philip Goh who took the course on “What is Bible-Presbyterianism?” at FEBC, Apr 30-May 5, 2007)

I am very thankful to God for allowing me this opportunity to attend this course on “What is Bible-Presbyterianism?”  What impresses me most was the sincerity and truthfulness of heart which comes from the lecturers in faithfully teaching the biblical truth of the many important doctrines that come from the Holy Word of God. Scripture verses like Psalm 12:6-7 and Matthew 4:4 and many other important verses are precious and true to the very heart of true B-Pism. It brings joy to every child of God. “O how love I thy law!” says King David. The main emphasis in true B-P teachings and beliefs is the craving for the understanding of God’s Word. “What saith the Scriptures …,” “Search the Scriptures …,” “Tremble at the Word of God,” “Thus saith the Lord …”!

Thank God for Rev Timothy Tow, for founding the Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC) which aims to preach and teach the whole counsel of God. He has taught the B-P Truth to faithful men in these last days. God’s truth is faithfully preached and taught in FEBC and we give Him all the glory and praise. The Lord has bestowed upon FEBC and its lecturers His Spirit of Truth. God will never leave His children comfortless. His wonderful gift that He has given us is the knowledge and revelation of His Truth. The Holy Spirit is indeed with us. Each day as I come for the classes, I see the joy and brotherly love evident everywhere among the brethren. The power of the Holy Spirit is evidently seen in the lecturers as they deliver their messages in truth.

This course has indeed enriched my understanding of the Truth. The joy and the warmth of the Holy Spirit have filled my heart. Only the things of God bring me joy. My love for His Word and my Lord will always take first place in my heart. No one can take it away from me. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Ps 119:11).

Praise and thank God for His Truth that is taught in this course. God is indeed pleased when He sees His children walking in the Truth. This course has indeed served its true purpose by upholding the Word of Life. God’s Word is Truth.