Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Musings about this difficult and perplexing question has gone on for centuries. Thankfully though, the consequences for an incorrect answer are not particularly severe. Life goes on regardless.

But there’s an area of study in Christian theology called soteriology (the study of what the Bible teaches regarding salvation), and within that context, how we answer the question as to “which came first?” has far more significant impact. I am speaking here of the order of salvation; namely

*does a person have faith and then is born again, OR
*are they born again and then have faith?*

Is Divine election based upon God foreseeing us putting our faith in Christ, OR
*do we have faith in Christ because God first elected us?

I believe Scripture emphatically teaches that man is spiritually dead like a corpse (nekros) in sin and trespasses and without Sovereign election, evangelism would be the most futile activity imaginable. It would be much like a salesman trying to sell his products in a graveyard. The dead need to be raised to life before a salesman can make a sale! The dead have no interest in skin cream products, double glazed windows, hair loss prevention treatments, air purifiers or the latest and greatest vacuum cleaner. They are not moved by even the greatest of sales pitches! Why? Well that’s pretty obvious, isn’t it? Its because the dead are, in a word…. dead!

The same is true regarding a person coming to Christ. We need to be born again, or born from above, before we can even see or enter the kingdom of God (John 3). We need to be brought to life before we can actually do anything spiritually. There’s a logical order involved. Theologians refer to this as the ordo salutis, which is Latin for “the order of salvation.” Though being born again and exercising faith may be instantaneous in terms of our awareness in time, logically, one thing has to come before the other. It is a logical rather than a temporal distinction. When someone is dead, resurrection needs to take place before a person can even think about moving a muscle, or walking in a certain direction. It is not the walking that takes place before the resurrection. No, it is the other way around. Dead people don’t walk, living people do. In the same way, spiritually speaking, regeneration (being made alive, or born again) must precede faith. A person needs to be raised from the dead before they can take any steps towards Him.

Remember Lazarus, as a lifeless corpse in the tomb? He did not cooperate with Christ with regard to his own resurrection. He did not because he could not. Jesus simply called out “Lazarus come forth!” and this call was an effectual call because it was sufficient in and of itself to bring dead Lazarus back to life. No other help was necessary. The call was powerful enough to do the job all by itself!

Christ did not interview the dead man Lazarus and ask if he would like to be resurrected - then once having got the “all clear” from Lazarus went ahead with His plan. Christ did not need any kind of assistance from Lazarus to raise him from death. Certainly, Lazarus’ will was not a factor in the miracle. Nor did Lazarus, once brought back to life, immediately escort Jesus to the local court in an attempt to sue Him for violating his free will - his libertarian rights as a dead man to stay dead! No, for the rest of his earthly life, Lazarus was deeply grateful for the unspeakable mercy he had received from the Master.

Lazarus’ resurrection from physical death provides a beautiful picture of what God does in our regeneration from spiritual death. Once receiving this grace of resurrection, Lazarus was able to walk out of the tomb. Once the elect receive the grace of regeneration, once given a new heart, they repent, they believe and they come to Christ.

From the monergism section on this theme, John Hendryx writes:
“Historically in the Church there has been disagreement about the order of salvation, especially between those in the Reformed and Arminian camps. The following two perspectives of God’s order in carrying out His redemptive work reveals the stark contrast between these two main historic views. Keep in mind that both viewpoints are based on the redemptive work which Christ accomplished for His people in history:

In the Reformed camp, the ordo salutis is
1) election
2) predestination
3) gospel call
4) inward call
5) regeneration
6) conversion (faith & repentance)
7) justification sanctification
9) glorification (Rom 8:29-30)

In the Arminian camp, the ordo salutis is
1) outward call
2) faith/election
3) repentance
4) regeneration
5) justification
6) perseverance
7) glorification

Notice the crucial difference in the orders of regeneration and faith. While the Reformed position believes spiritual life is a prerequisite for the existence of the other aspects of salvation, the Arminians believe that fallen, natural man retains the moral capacity to receive or reject the gospel of his own power. Even with the help of grace he still must find it within himself to believe or reject Christ. This has broad implications and raises questions like why does one man believe and not another? You might also notice that, according to Arminians, election is dependent on faith, not the other way around. This is no small matter … understanding the biblical order, while keeping in mind its unitary process, is crucial and has a profound impact on how one views God, the gospel, and the Bible as a whole.”

I would urge you, if you have not done so already, to seriously study this issue, and I would like to recommend the articles concerning the order of salvation found at the monergism site.

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This article, originally titled “Which came first?” was written by Pastor John Smason. I agree and affirm (t)his theological position on the order of salvation. See also the article by R.C. Sproul of the same title.

Two Questions Based on Romans 8:30:
“And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” Romans 8:30, ESV

Q. In light of the above verse, how many who were called, were also justified?
A. Answer: ___________________

10Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions–if he comes to you, welcome him), 11and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. 15Give my greetings to the brothers^[d] at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

 18I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

—Why ESV? http://www.desiringgod.org/library/topics/word_god/esv.html —

Reading all these names of fellow servants of Paul, it’s amazing to read about what great works God was doing through all these people.  Imagine, one of us writting a letter to Christians in a far of place, say Somalia….and mentioning the names of us who are praying for them, still remembering those whom we’ve touched in the past: it’s quite an encouragement.

There is signifiance I find in verse 17.  We’ve all been taught throughout our years as young Christians that our ministry given to us from the Lord, but in the end, it is up to us to perform it. And just like many of todays issues in this Christian life, we must see that God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility need to work hand in hand.  When God calls us to ministry, it is upto us, as the fruit of being graced by Him, to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.  From faith, to serve Him obediently with our hands and feet as He’s called us.

Consider your own call to this year’s CC ministry.  I’ve been considering my own, and also in the process, screening candidates for Worship Team.  Many have been graced with the “gifts” of ministry (and musical worship), but only those who are specifically “called” by God will be serving.  Without the call from God, we don’t serve by faith, and anything done without faith is sin.  But knowing we are called to serve and being affirmed of the calling from brothers and sisters, let us obediently let God use us as He rightfully requires.

Gung hey fat choy ;-P

I think over lunch my brain was really ticking and I had a bunch of things to say, but I think a lot of it has slipped into my unconscious already… 

Today, was the 1st day of the Chinese New Year, year of the Dog.  I led the first English Worship @ church the 1st Sunday of the solar New Year, and just led the first English Worship of the lunar New Year… so it’s been quite a privilege to lead my church at such monumental times of the calendar.  Recently, since I took over lead worshipping on our team from Nathan (English Worship Coordinator, Deaon and PK pastor’s kid of our Senior Pastor Rev.William Yung)…week after week, I’ve gotten many words of encouragement and thanx for leading, “good job leading today.”  I’ve always taken a humble attitude towards it, and still continue to do so.  My response: “Yeh, it was alright today, thanx;-1″  Coz honestly, this week, I didnt feel the groove.  Songs I picked out early, and had a theme moving–Lost in the Wonder + Wondering about the Lost.  Friday’s practice everybodyelse was a bit late, so we didnt have much time to rehearse, and didn’t really learn “God of Justice (We Must Go)”, so this morning I ended up counting it out of the set first thing in the morning.

Nevertheless, things turned out gloriously despite my not-totally hotness, maybe because I felt very unprepared even though everything was prepared.  The set went fairly smoothly, the Psalm reading inbetween songs was good, as was the Prayer….and the last song before Dan’s sermon, “I Stand Amazed In The Presence” we ended up singing verse1 + chorus accappella at the end, and then as planned I left everybody standing for like 10seconds in silence after the voices faded out before walking off the stage.  I think I coulda and maybe shoulda left it hanging for a bit longer…but still, the standing in amazement of God was quite an act of worship.

Sharon played fairly well;-2 We haven’t played together for the past 2 times our team was up to lead; her cousin Catherine took over.  On Friday’s practice, it kinda seemed like she wasn’t totally in the groove yet either, but today she sounded much better, I guess after a bit more practice.  We’ve missed her on the team; we’ve got lots to work on for the rest of the term as a team of lead worshippers.  I hope to dialogue more with our team, and with the other worship teams too…in order to figure out a general strategy, a direction we are moving towards, in terms of musical worship.  coz a lot of the times, i’ve a hard time trying to figure it out.  I tried asking the other teams for set lists from the past 6months–and Holly’s team doesn’t have a record…which to me, ain’t too good.  In order to figure out where we are going right now, we need to know where we’ve been.  In terms of songs, especially new ones, it is especially a sign of unpreparedness if we for the reasons of bad communication and not being on the same pag” overly repeat various songs, or for new songs, there is no continuation from the other teams.  All in all, we just need to dialogue I think…to bounce ideas of each other, to plan together (also with Pastor Arthur).

I’ve also been UNinvited to the English Ministry visioning meeting coming Saturday.  apparently, Pastor Arthur & our Elder Jody had a bit of miscommunication, and the meeting is for “English Planning Committee” members only.  and as Cat rightfully noted, I’m not on the Committee!  At first I just thought of it as an invite coz of all that I’ve done for the church, being quite an influential member of the English congregation…but Arthur talked to me a bit today, and clarified that he’s inviting me to join a new committee–the “Think Tank”, strategizing /visioning committee that would come up with / figure out conceptually where God is leading us.  I am humbled, and should take some time to pray/think it through before accepting the invitation…but already, I know God is leading me towards this.

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Have mention this, some good links here on a Southern Baptist perspective and McLaren’s on homosexuality.  Quite the contrast I would say.

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Anywayz, with all the talk in Sunday School on Paul’s theology in Romans…It’s all got me thinking more and more, trying to understand God’s message to us His chosen people.  I’ve got so much input into my heart mind and soul right now, that I need an outlet.  I feel like I can explode.  I don’t have anybody close right now to unleash my heart-thoughts on, nobody whom I’ve found that I can be truly free and open to trust.  I think this is the part that hurts most.  A lot of the times, during a meal, after everybody else is finished and it’s just me sitting there–I ponder and think, but have nobody infront of me to share all THIS that God’s put on my heart.  And with what my mother just wished me, for Chinese New Years…it’s funny, and just ~sighs~ agreeable.

I am praying for an outlet to share my life with somebody, best friend, who would understand me, and support me in all that I am and all that I’ve been called to do.
*I’m praying that it would be you, and for opportunities to share with you.

Colossians 1:24-29

24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

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At its very core, God does not ask you or me to live out this great Christian life.

What He is saying though is that ‘I want to give you the life of Christ on the inside, and He–Jesus–in you and through you is able to do what I know already that you can’t do.’ See.. God is not up there in heaven getting His own satisfaction in humouring Himself with our constant failures and inadequacies; it’s not like He’s trying to condemn us more and more for failing to obey Him and all that He’s commanded us. It’s not a saddist game He’s trying to play with us–He’s not asking us to do it! There’s only one guy in the whole world throughout its entire existence that has ever successfully 100% pulled off the Christian life–and He was so good at it, they named it after Him!! < --His name is Jesus.

And so, Christ is saying to you, and He's saying to me: I want to live in you, I want to be life within you;-! It is Christ in us that's gonna make this life of ours work...it is the only way we can ever be acceptable sons and daughters of the Father: through His son Jesus living inside of us.

What is your hope of glory? what makes you complete? Is it Christ in you, the hope of glory? Or is that which makes you whole and supremely satisfied something else?!? Coz what I see, is that we’ve had a lot of other “hopes” in this vaporous existence of ours…this world that we live in has a lot of other hopes of glory, but it’s all external hope.