Reading the Bible: Identifying the Most Crucial Issues

As we discussed Chapter 3 of Galatians, many questions arose. The discussion seemed to dwell on literal interpretations. However, once we delve into literal interpretations, we encounter significant confusion and trouble. Why? Because the more we focus on literal interpretations, the less we understand, and the more questions arise. I am not saying your questions are not valid; they are. But pursuing them further may lead you astray from Paul's original intent.

So, what is Chapter 3 of Galatians about? Where do we begin? This chapter introduces Abraham, a real historical figure written about in Genesis. Abraham did not write Genesis; Moses did, over four hundred years later. Moses, who wrote Genesis, also penned Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and so on. What was Moses doing? Genesis shows us that we are justified by faith. Yet, he also wrote Leviticus and Deuteronomy, books of law. Is it justification by faith or by law? This is a critical question we must answer.

We must understand Moses' viewpoint: is it based on faith or law? I tell you, Moses believed in faith as the foundation! That is why Genesis precedes the other four books of law. Later, Jesus came to fulfill this gospel of faith – salvation. What problem does this salvation address? And was Jesus qualified to solve it? Chapter 3 addresses this. After resolving the issue of salvation, we can receive the inheritance. What is this inheritance? Today, we will unearth it and understand the essence of the gospel Paul preached.

Let me first state that Moses was clear. He wrote Genesis; how could he not be? So, when reading the Bible, do not get the priorities inverted. Identify what is most important, what is second most important, and so on. If you disregard the primary importance and focus on the insignificant, you will become confused.

Here, I will digress slightly to discuss learning. In learning, you must grasp what is most important. When I was involved in project management, my project manager would come to me with a project plan. If what I needed was not there, he would be in trouble. My first question would be: what are the most critical aspects of this project? The second most critical? The third? If you could not articulate these, it was back to the drawing board.

Why? Because if you miss the first critical aspect, the entire project fails. The same is true for the second. Writing a lot of unimportant things wastes my time; I have to read and revise it. Then I end up doing your work. Am I wasting my time? Did I hire you to waste my time? That is trouble. So, in whatever you do, know what you are doing. In project management, there must be a priority order.

Which is more important, Genesis or Deuteronomy? Genesis, of course! Genesis is the foundation, preaching the gospel of justification by faith. What does Deuteronomy do? Do you know what Deuteronomy does? I have discussed it in Bible study. Deuteronomy discusses what happens when someone's ox gores another person's child to death, right? Would such a thing happen to someone blessed by God? Who is this for? It is for those who are not blessed at all. The law is written for those under the curse.

Write this in your Bibles: the law is written for those under the curse. Only those who sin need the law, right? The law punishes those who sin. Isn't it simple? Justification by faith is receiving blessings, receiving God's promises. Moses established this foundation from the beginning: God's promises. Those who receive God's promises become like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God is called the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, all who received promises through faith. The law was added because of transgressions.

Receiving the Promised Holy Spirit Through Faith

The Apostle Paul challenges the Galatians: did you receive the Holy Spirit by believing the gospel or by obeying the law? Does the Holy Spirit perform miracles through you because you believe the gospel or because you obey the law? Why ask this? Because receiving the Holy Spirit and performing miracles through the Spirit are key parts of the gospel.

I ask you today, when you first came among us, had your behavior changed? No, you were still selfish, weren't you? But because you began to believe in God, you experienced the Holy Spirit's fullness, didn't you? Almost everyone among us has experienced this! That is grace! If we had to become saints before being filled with the Holy Spirit, we would never receive it, even if we died. When each of us was filled with the Holy Spirit, had our behavior changed? No. Were we still a mess? Yes. Do not be surprised or think I am looking down on anyone.

I myself am a mess, and so are we all. But because we have faith, we receive the promise of the Holy Spirit's fullness. Then, by the Spirit, our behavior changes. Then begins the process of sanctification. Isn't this a wonderful grace? It is because we are God's workmanship. Faith allows God to enter our lives to work and fix us. Then we become holy. Some churches teach that you must be spiritually mature before the Holy Spirit fills you. This is unbiblical.

So, Paul was very upset when he wrote Chapter 3 of Galatians. Those among us who have experienced God's grace, who have received the Holy Spirit's fullness by believing the gospel, have experienced God. Then they believe a gospel that is not the one Paul preached. Wouldn't you be upset? I think to myself, I knelt there and prayed for you for hours and you were delivered. My legs were numb. I put so much effort in, and then you believed a different gospel. I would sadly say: you foolish Galatians! Aren't they foolish? With the slightest bit of sense, they would not think of something so foolish!

The logic is simple. Paul preached the gospel to the Galatians, and they received the promised Holy Spirit, who began to perform miracles through them. So, Paul challenges them: I ask you, did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law or by believing the gospel? By believing the gospel, of course! You had not yet obeyed the law, right? You received the promised Holy Spirit, were filled with the Spirit, before obeying the law. Then what? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now trying to be perfected by the flesh? The way of the flesh is a cursed way. Being perfected by the Spirit is the way of blessing. It is simple. So, he says, how can you Galatians be so foolish?

Verse 5: So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? (Galatians 3:5, NIV). Brothers and sisters, we must be careful today, very careful, because Christians often use behavior to preach the gospel. This is a mistake. If anyone among us holds the idea: I will use my life to preach the gospel – I tell you, you cannot! You must preach the gospel with your faith, with the power of the Holy Spirit, not with your behavior. People can find many faults in you, right? If you say: aren't I doing better now? Your parents will say: not nearly enough. This way of thinking will not work! You cannot preach the gospel through behavior! That is a lie!

So Paul says to believe the gospel. A sister who recently came spoke well: believing in Jesus is good, so why not believe? If believing in Jesus is good, then it must be good. You do not receive the benefit after changing your behavior; you receive the benefit because you believe. It is that simple! If you wait until you change your behavior to receive the benefit, you will never receive it, even if you die! With faith comes the beginning of faith, receiving the Holy Spirit, receiving power, and changing behavior! How can you change without the Spirit's help? You cannot be perfected by the flesh!

The Gospel is Inseparable from Receiving the Holy Spirit and Performing Miracles Through the Spirit

In Chapter 3 of Galatians, what is Paul saying? Paul is saying that this gospel is inseparable from receiving the Holy Spirit (the fullness of the Holy Spirit) and the work of the Holy Spirit. Do you understand? If you hear a gospel without the Holy Spirit, what kind of gospel is that? It is a different gospel from the one Paul spoke of and preached. Some preach the gospel and only talk about Jesus being crucified for the forgiveness of sins. This is not a problem. But if they deliberately omit receiving the Holy Spirit, that is a problem! Is it still the gospel if receiving the Holy Spirit is removed? It is not the gospel! It is not the gospel Paul preached.

Galatians itself illustrates this point! Because Galatians is a book about the purity of the gospel. When we read it, we know that Paul's gospel has an important concept: when you hear the gospel, you receive the Holy Spirit. Because Jesus was crucified, there is grace to receive the Holy Spirit! This is what the Lord Jesus taught. Because you believe that Jesus was crucified, you put on Jesus Christ. Your sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit can dwell in you. The Holy Spirit cannot dwell in unbelievers, only in those who believe in Jesus. So, if you believe in Jesus but do not want to receive the Holy Spirit, or do not thirst to receive the Holy Spirit, don't you think that is strange? That is the devil's trick.

The devil wants to corrupt people this way, turning a powerful faith into a powerless doctrine. Because of wrong teachings, and because of not paying attention to these key verses when reading the Bible, there are countless Christians today who have not received the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, without peace, without power, how can they think that is normal? If you read Galatians, you should ask yourself if it is a serious problem that the church cannot do what the Lord Jesus did, or that the church cannot do what Paul did!

Through sight alone, we cannot know if they have received the Holy Spirit. But I know that after receiving the Holy Spirit, miracles begin to be manifested through your hands. That is part of the gospel Paul preached. That is what Paul said: receiving the Holy Spirit and the power to perform miracles are inseparable. These are done by the Holy Spirit himself, through you and me. We are all instruments of the Spirit. Paul means that receiving the Holy Spirit and performing miracles are a key part of the gospel. We live in a generation that desperately needs a gospel that can perform miracles. When we face someone who is collapsing, we need God's miraculous intervention, not human words. When we encounter people on the brink of collapse, there is nothing better than to impart the Holy Spirit to them! Thank God, in the past, through the power of the Holy Spirit, many people on the brink of collapse have experienced miraculous turnarounds! The Holy Spirit descends upon them, and God's power does marvelous things in them. The speed of change is unimaginable, incredibly fast. Do not doubt God's power.

I am not saying anything else; I am saying that in Paul's gospel, besides the Lord Jesus being crucified for the forgiveness of sins, there is also the reception of the Holy Spirit. Receiving the Holy Spirit is the key to the gospel! It is what makes the gospel we believe in a powerful gospel. The descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, making the disciples powerful, is a clear proof.

The Holy Spirit is our treasure! Jesus said so. Jesus said: “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13, NIV). What is the inheritance today? The Lord God is my inheritance, right? The Holy Spirit is our inheritance. The Holy Spirit enters us, and we receive the inheritance. If we receive the Holy Spirit and receive God, do we not receive the inheritance? In heaven or on earth, the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance. The Holy Spirit is God himself. If you receive God, you receive everything. If you receive the Holy Spirit, you receive everything. It's that simple.

What is the inheritance? The inheritance is God. The Lord God is our inheritance. He is what we are to receive, not something tangible, but Jesus Christ. I want to receive Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus Christ. I want to receive the Holy Spirit, which is God himself. I receive all that God has, which is receiving the inheritance!

What challenges did Paul face? The Galatians were misled by some who believed that Deuteronomy was also the word of God and must be obeyed; circumcision was also required by God and must be observed. This touches on a very important question: how should we read the Bible? Paul was arguing vehemently that God's promise to Abraham in Genesis could not be superseded by the Mosaic Law four hundred and thirty years later. In other words, there is a sequence, a matter of priorities. Our priorities must be right. To replace the important with the secondary is what Jesus criticised the Pharisees for doing. So when we read the Bible, we must know what is important and what is secondary. We need both, but we must distinguish between the primary and the secondary. A failure to distinguish between the primary and secondary is a very serious matter.

Having had the promise given to Abraham, why was there the Mosaic Law later? It was added because of sin. Much of Deuteronomy, written by Moses, is about curses. For example, if someone's ox gores someone's child to death, or someone's ox eats up someone's field, then what happens? Are these words the words of God - yes, they are, but they are written for those under a curse. If you and I are determined not to be under a curse, determined to be blessed, to inherit God's inheritance, then these words are not needed. Doesn't Deuteronomy contain many words of blessing? That's what we want. So Paul says the law was added because of transgressions. Now that we have the Lord Jesus, who has accomplished salvation, bringing the grace of the Holy Spirit, God himself becoming our strength, our rock, our help, advancing to a higher level by faith, completely transcending the level of the law, why should we return to the law? If we still return to the law, the grace of Jesus Christ is of no avail to you!

Receiving the Holy Spirit, Receiving Jehovah God

How is this path trodden? It is that Jesus Christ died for us, and died on the cross, bearing your and my curses. Those curses under the law that we should have borne are now all upon Jesus. Is this not a good thing? All the good things you receive, the bad things Jesus bears. Is this not the Gospel? The curse, Jesus bears for you, then the promise you take for yourself. Yet some people do not want it. I am also surprised. In Paul's words, they are ignorant people! Ignorant, are they not? Today, many ignorant people think that my preaching the Gospel to them is for the sake of increasing the membership of the church. I do not care about that at all. What I care about is that those who come among us should receive the promise of Jehovah God. Paul himself says that the promise given is the promised Holy Spirit. Do you know how important the Holy Spirit is in our generation? Many believe in Jesus, but do not know that Jesus baptises us with the Holy Spirit, and have not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. These people still say that the Holy Spirit dwells in me. Confused! Confused! Do you know the whole process? You must return to the Bible.

Actually, I do not like to do things outside the Bible, because I cannot find what the Bible says, so I do not like to do that. Some people misunderstand. For example, some people like to do social work. Doing social work is good, very good. But I find that what is written in the Bible, what Jesus did, is more righteous than social work! Because I clearly see the transformation of people's lives! I also want to do what Jesus did: heal the sick, release the captives, release the oppressed, remove people's curses, and lead people into blessing!

Today, we must know how important this Holy Spirit is in you and me. How important is it? So important that it is almost all of the Gospel. What did Jesus say? Jesus said this: Do not leave Jerusalem - do nothing, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you have heard me speak of. John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5). He also said: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you (Acts 1:8). Without the Holy Spirit coming on you, whatever you do is in vain. Already very hard, and have to carry an extra social work on your back. Nothing can be transformed! Right? I ask you, you who come among us, experiencing God's grace, do you need me to say a few nice words to you? No. Is it that I give you some money? No. What you need is a transformation of life. When you return to your work, you will see the whole environment changing! You do not need me to give you a box lunch. You do not need these worldly, carnal things. What you need is God, you need God to begin to work in your life.

How to be Filled with the Holy Spirit

Before that, when Jesus came to the Jordan River to be baptised, what did John the Baptist say? I baptise you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8). You say that the Gospel of Jesus Christ does not include the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Is this not strange? Later, Peter, John, Paul, and others, wherever they went, they preached the Gospel of the fullness of the Holy Spirit. If we were to return to that time today, and meet Peter, Paul, John, they would surely ask you: Do you believe in Jesus? Yes. Have you been baptised? Yes, I have been baptised with water. Have you received the Holy Spirit? If you have not yet heard the Holy Spirit come down, they will teach you to receive the Holy Spirit. You can check the Bible to see if this is the case. Later, I learned a trick. I tell you, I began to study the Bible. I began to learn to do: what Paul did, we do.

At first, I did not understand: this is a bit of a cliffhanger! Peter, Paul, do not teach people what the fullness of the Holy Spirit is, what praying in tongues is, but directly say, come, I will fill you with the Holy Spirit. I said, is this Paul doing this, is it okay? I later realised: it is okay for Paul to do this, it should be okay. If we do not do it, that is the problem! Until today, there are still many pastors who try to explain to you what the fullness of the Holy Spirit is, and then pray for you. Originally, the Bible was not done this way. Can’t explain it clearly.

Later I learned: Oh, it’s good to be filled with the Holy Spirit! Good, very good! Must get it! I probably just said this: Come, let me pray for you, follow me in prayer. Come, Hallelujah, Holy Spirit fill me, Holy Spirit fill me, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah... Can't speak? Follow and speak together! He got grace. After a few tries, thank the Lord, what Paul and Peter did, I can also do! Those people get grace. Life is quickly turned upside down! The Spirit of God is truly God!

Later I felt that this kind of copycat is particularly good, you just imitate it. And then today I go back to see, to see those people, must give people a clear explanation, and then lead people to pray, this matter is not in accordance with the Bible. I began to feel that if a person has experienced it, you say, does he still need to ask you those questions? Those questions disappear by themselves, don't they? People didn't have those questions in the first place, you lead him to be filled with the Holy Spirit. If it is because you don't dare to believe in God inside, you dare not believe that God can do this work, and then you want to use your own way to do this thing, originally there was no question, but create a lot of questions, right? Do you have this question? I have it. Do you have that question? Ah, yes. Then you can't be filled with the Holy Spirit, you get more questions. Those questions really can't be explained, can they be explained? Not explainable. I think the best way is not to explain clearly, but to take people to try the road. According to what Paul and Peter did, go and do it, and start to leave the road of speculation and enter the road of practicing God's words. That itself is also a practice of faith in God.

Later I found that a lot of things are not explained clearly by explanation. For example, Abraham, the Abraham recorded in the Bible, he received the promise by faith. Not by understanding, not by explanation. But faith. With faith, all problems are solved at once. Faith is the foundation. Leaving faith, taking the road of speculation is a dead end, and taking the road of law is also a dead end. This is obvious. Because that law appeared more than four hundred and thirty years after Abraham. The law that appeared four hundred and thirty years later cannot abolish the covenant that Abraham made with God, right? This reason is very simple. However, this promise that Abraham inherited refers to Jesus Christ.

Now Jesus Christ is here. In the generation of Abraham, Jesus Christ did not come, but in that promise, it foretold that there would be a descendant of Abraham, and this person is Jesus Christ. And this one person is not an ordinary person, but Jesus Christ who was conceived by the Holy Spirit from the virgin Mary and born. He himself is God, and he became a man, and then he can be a mediator.

So there is a key here. What is the key? If someone says that Jesus is not a man, he is God, then that is heresy, because this view cannot represent our victory. Because he is a man, like us, he has walked the road of life. And he is God, so he can be a mediator. How to be a mediator? Because he is a man. He is a man, so he pays all the price for man. How to pay? He suffered the whiplash and shed blood and sacrificed on the cross. That is the flesh, it hurts when you prick it, it also howls, do you understand? That's also flesh! That's not to say, there's nothing, and you don't feel it when you prick it. No. All the pain is the same as ours. That is why he paid the price, and he willingly paid the price. So the Bible says: Like a sheep silent before its shearers, so he did not open his mouth (Isaiah 53:7). Why? Because I am willing, I want to pay this price. He is God and also man, so he can be a mediator, and he carries all our debts through the cross. He carries all the debts on his body. So today, in the name of Jesus Christ, we can cast out demons; in the name of Jesus Christ, we can heal the sick; in the name of Jesus Christ, we can see the Spirit of God come down and do wonderful works in us.

Be a Blessed Person and Receive the Inheritance God Has Given

The Jews read the Bible and find all the problems. They are in a mess. Today, when we read the Bible, we must avoid learning the way the Jews read the Bible. Their question is: What is the law for? The law is prepared for those who are cursed. So today, brothers and sisters, we must change a concept. Don't think that if you believe in Jesus, you can not keep the law. In fact, we are not only keeping that law, but we must go far beyond that law. We must become like Jesus Christ, like God. It's not a matter of whose ox gores someone to death and how much to compensate, it's not such a thing. It is that our whole mind is beginning to be like God. If our minds are like God's, then the way we live is no longer a matter of whose ox gores someone to death and dealing with those odds and ends. But we are willing to carry our own cross and walk this heavenly road. What does it matter if we suffer a little loss in the world? It doesn’t matter if you suffer a small loss in the world. In the past, we couldn't stand it when we suffered a little loss, so we needed the law. How much money do I really have to pay you back? You say, check the law to see how much land an ox has gored and how much to pay you back. Once it is found out, you cannot give me one more cent.

So today we believe in Jesus Christ. You and I are people with the Holy Spirit, we are people with an inheritance, and we are extremely rich people. Do you want it? If you want it, I'll give it to you. So Jesus said: If someone takes your coat, let him have your shirt as well (Luke 6:29). Give everything to you, take it! What do you care about that thing if you are such a rich person? If a person has the image of God and the richness of God, he will not be poor. It will not become poor because you give something to people. No. It is because you are very stingy that God has no way to give you, so you become poor. So why has our church become such a wonderful church today? It is because everyone gives. The first time he believed in Jesus: Ah, pastor, how can I donate? He is far away in Guangxi, how do I know how he donates? I said you have to wait. He doesn't even have a job yet, and he wants to ask about donating. What am I saying? This is the wonderful thing God has done. What about everyone? They all began to change their whole minds, no longer a poor person, but a rich person. Only rich people are willing to donate.

Renewing Our Lives in the Holy Spirit

So today we really thank God. So today we know that this promise is given to Abraham and his descendants. And Jesus Christ is that one descendant. Attributed to the name of Jesus Christ, he inherited the promise that Abraham received. What a wonderful thing! That's how it is. To receive what Abraham promised is to be a true Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, and to inherit the inheritance according to the promise. Now I ask you, what is that inheritance? It's God. You say that being filled with the Holy Spirit is receiving the inheritance! Right? After being filled with the Holy Spirit, people's lives are really different, their minds are being renewed, and the whole person is changing. We have become works in God's hands, showing God's glory! This is the original intention of the gospel.