Posted by: thaishin | September 14, 2025

Do You Possess the Marks of the New Birth? By J.C. Ryle

Would we know what the marks of the new birth are? We shall find them already written for our learning in the First Epistle of John. The person born of God “believes that Jesus is the Christ,” – “does not commit sin,” – “does righteousness,” – “loves the brethren,” – “overcomes the world,” – “keeps himself from the wicked one.” This is the person born of the Spirit! Where these fruits are to be seen, there is the new birth of which our Lord is speaking. They that lacks these marks, is yet dead in trespasses and sins. (1 John 5:1; 3:9; 2:29; 3:14; 5:4; 5:18).

1 John 5

1Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.

1 John 3

9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

1 John 2

29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

1 John 3

14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.

1 John 5

4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

1 John 5

18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.

Source: http://www.jcryle.info

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Posted in Regeneration, Salvation

Posted by: thaishin | September 7, 2025

God’s Jealousy

Open Line 30th August 2025 Hour 1@2:20

Question from Listener:

I have always found Exodus 20 verse 5 which says “You shall not bow them to them (idols) or worship them for I the Lord your God is a jealous God, punishing the children for the father’s sins to the third and fourth generation for those who hate me.” I have always found this to be a difficult verse because the word ‘jealous’ has so many negative connotations and I suffer from God having negative traits, so can you explain the proper translation of this verb and is it related to zealous or are they different?

Answer from Dr Michael Rydelnik:

https://www.moodyradio.org/radioplayer.aspx?episode=653333&hour=1

Summary of answer:

The Hebrew word that is used here can be translated as ‘jealous’ or ‘zealous’. The real issue is: “Is it a negative trait to be jealous?” There is human trait of feeling jealousy which is unmerited, undeserved but it is appropriate, for example, for a spouse to feel jealousy if the husband or wife is acting in a way that is inappropriate. The result will be that the spouse is jealous and that’s appropriate. The word jealous as it is used here is about exclusivity: There is one God and He is exclusively God and going after false gods will stir up that jealousy. The same idea is used in other places in the New Testament, for example, Romans 11:11, to make Jewish people jealous because salvation rightfully belongs to them and now it’s been given to someone else. So, if it is a rightful jealousy, it is perfectly okay.

Scripture:

Exodus 20

5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, -nkjv

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; -kjv

5 You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, inflicting the punishment of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, -nasb

5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, -niv

Romans 11

11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. -nkjv

11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. -kjv

11 I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? Far from it! But by their wrongdoing salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. -nasb

11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. -niv

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Posted by: thaishin | August 30, 2025

Summary of 5 Marks of Salvation by J.C. Ryle

  1. 1st Mark of Salvation: Forgiven souls hate Sin
  2. 2nd Mark of Salvation: Forgiven souls love Christ
  3. 3rd Mark of Salvation: Forgiven souls are Humble
  4. 4th Mark of Salvation: Forgiven souls are Holy
  5. 5th Mark of Salvation: Forgiven souls are Forgiving

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Posted in Salvation

Posted by: thaishin | August 25, 2025

Was Ehud’s right hand paralyzed?

Open Line Radio on August 16, 2025 Hour 2@2:04

Listener:

I am going through a study of Judges right now. In this study, it’s about Ehud. Judges 3:15 literally says that Ehud was unable to use his right hand and that he was possibly paralyzed or disabled in someway. Yet, in all the translations of the bible I looked at only says that he was left handed. So, I am wondering where that comes from?

Answer from Dr Michael Rydelnik:

https://www.moodyradio.org/radioplayer.aspx?episode=652519&hour=2

Summary of answer:

The suggestion of the paralysis of Ehud’s right hand is written in a published book titled “Judges for you” edited from a study by Timothy Keller, said the listener. Dr Michael Rydelnik says that all he can say is Ehud is a left handed Benjamite. “Benjamin” means son of my right hand, my strength and it is kind of an ironic thing that he is a left handed Benjamite. The fact that Ehud is a left handed Benjamite should not be unusual as there were many left handed people from the tribe of Benjamites as illustrated in Judges 20.

Judges 3

15 But when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab. -nkjv

15 But when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab. -kjv

15 But when the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for them, Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. And the sons of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab.  -nasb

15 Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he gave them a deliverer—Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab.  -niv

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Posted by: thaishin | August 18, 2025

5th Mark of Salvation: Forgiven Souls Are Forgiving by J.C. Ryle

Forgiven souls are FORGIVING. They do as they have been done by. They look over the offenses of their brethren. They endeavor to “walk in love, as Christ loved them, and gave Himself for them.” (Eph. 5:2.) They remember how God for Christ’s sake forgave them, and endeavor to do the same towards their fellow-creatures.
Has He forgiven them pounds, and shall they not forgive a few pence? Doubtless in this, as in everything else, they come short—but this is their desire and their aim. A spiteful, quarrelsome Christian is a scandal to his profession. Forgiveness is the way by which every saved soul enters heaven. Forgiveness is the eternal subject of song with all the redeemed who inhabit heaven. Surely an unforgiving soul in heaven would find his heart completely out of tune. Surely we know nothing of Christ’s love to us but the name of it, if we do not love our brethren.

Ephesians 5

2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. -nkjv

2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. -kjv

2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. -nasb

2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. -niv

Source: http://www.jcryle.info

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Posted in Forgiveness, Salvation

Posted by: thaishin | August 11, 2025

What are the roles of deacons?

Open Line Radio on August 2, 2025 Hour 2 @1:44

Question:

In Acts when they chose the seven men, did they choose deacons then or were they servers, which is also the definition of a deacon and are deacons called to preach the word?

Answer from Dr Michael Rydelnik:

https://www.moodyradio.org/radioplayer.aspx?episode=651232&hour=2

Summary of the answer:

In Acts 6, the bible did not use the noun, instead it uses the verb and is the same root word. What we have here are what would be precursors to be deacons. The choosing of the seven is taken from the synagogue structure. The synagogue have seven men who were overseeing the everyday working of the synagogue. They would care for the poor, the burial society that every synagogue had, the widows … . In Acts 6, the controversy was because there were Jews from the “diaspora”, the Hellenistic Jews and the Jews who were living in Israel and they were trying to get their communities all together.

If you read 1Timothy 3, the bible states that deacons are tasked to do the management of the congregation and elders are the ones who are the normal teachers of the word.

Scripture:

Acts 6

2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. -nkjv

2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. -kjv

2 So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.  -nasb

2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. -niv

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Posted by: thaishin | July 31, 2025

4th mark of Salvation: Forgiven Souls are Holy by J.C. Ryle

Forgiven souls are HOLY. Their chief desire is to please Him who has saved them, to do His will, to glorify Him in body and in Spirit, which are His. “What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits?”
(Ps. 116:12), is a leading principle in a pardoned heart. It was the remembrance of Jesus showing mercy that made Paul in labors so abundant, and in doing good so unwearied. If anyone points out to me believers who are in a carnal, slothful state of soul, I reply in the words of Peter, “They have forgotten they were purged from their old sins.” (2 Pet. 1:9.)

But if you show me a man deliberately living an unholy and licentious life, and yet boasting that his sins are forgiven, I answer, “He is under a ruinous delusion, and is not forgiven at all.” I would not believe he is forgiven if an angel from heaven affirmed it, and I charge you not to believe it too. Pardon of sin and love of sin are like oil and water—they will never go together. All who are washed in the blood of Christ, are also sanctified by the Spirit of Christ.

Source: www. jcryle.info

Scriptures:

Psalm 116:12

What shall I render to the Lord
For all His benefits toward me? -nkjv

12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? -kjv

What shall I repay to the Lord
For all His benefits to me? -nasb

What shall I return to the Lord
    for all his goodness to me? -niv

2 Peter 1:9

9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. -nkjv

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. -kjv

9 For the one who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. -nasb

9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. -niv

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Posted in Holiness, Salvation

Posted by: thaishin | July 25, 2025

Sharing our faith

Open Line Hour 1 July 19, 2025

In the opening remarks on hour 1 of Open Line program, Dr Michael Rydelnik emphasized 3 keys to effective faith sharing:

  1. We need to tell our faith story (Paul tells his faith story in Acts 22, Acts 23, Acts 26)
  2. We need to communicate according to culture
  3. We need to keep the main thing the main thing (i.e the Gospel)

Exact words from Dr Michael Rydelnik:

https://www.moodyradio.org/radioplayer.aspx?episode=650216&hour=1

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Posted in Evangelism

Posted by: thaishin | May 21, 2025

3rd Mark of Salvation: Forgiven Souls Are Humble by J.C. Ryle

Forgiven souls are HUMBLE. They cannot forget that they owe all they have and hope for to free grace, and this keeps them lowly.
They are brands plucked from the fire—debtors who could not pay for themselves—captives who must have remained in prison forever—but for undeserved mercy—wandering sheep who were ready to perish when the Shepherd found them! What right then have they to be proud? I do not deny that there are proud saints. But this I do say—they are of all God’s creatures the most inconsistent, and of all God’s children the most likely to stumble and pierce themselves with many sorrows. We have nothing we can call our own–but sin and weakness. Surely there is no garment that befits us so well, as humility.

Source: http://www.jcryle.info

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Posted in Christian Walk, Salvation

Posted by: thaishin | May 11, 2025

Discussion of whether Peter is the first Pope and are his bones buried at the Vatican now?

Open Line on May 3, 2025 Hour 2 @2:45

Listener:

With the Pope being in passing, being placed over what they say, he was lying in State, above the Saint Peters, who was supposedly the first Catholic Pope, his bones were buried and I found out that Peter never went to Rome at all and he was married. I don’t think he started the Catholic Church. I was reading James, the half brother of Jesus, was actually the head of the Church in Jerusalem. Straighten this out for me, where were the bones and I don’t think Peter became a Catholic.

Answer from Dr Michael Rydelnik:

https://www.moodyradio.org/radioplayer.aspx?episode=643730&hour=2

Summary of the answer:

Acts 12 is where the transfer of leadership from Peter to James occurred. That’s when Peter was released from Prison. Acts 12 tells of how the angels rescued Peter from prison and Acts 12:17 says report these things to James and the brothers. At the point in Acts 12 when Peter is ready to go travelling, James takes over from Peter.

1Peter 5:13 mentions that a lady from Babylon greets Peter. Some people think that Babylon is code for Rome and according to early church history, Peter did go to Rome.

According to MBI church historian Brian Litfin, in his book “After Acts”, he makes the case that the bones of Apostle Peter is likely to have been buried in the Vatican.

One point to note: Dr Michael Rydelnik never explicitly admit that Peter is the first Pope.

Acts 12

17 But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place. -nkjv

17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place. -kjv

17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James and the brothers.” Then he left and went to another place. -nasb

17 Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place. -niv

1 Peter 5

13 She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son.

-nkjv

13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son. -kjv

13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark. -nasb

13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. -niv

Correction:

There was a correction to the title and an addition of an observation statement at the end of the summary.

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