Permaisuri

Permaisuri, dalam Mazmur 45:10 Melambangkan gereja, khususnya para pemenang, sebagai istri unik Kristus.
Dalam Wahyu 19:7 dan 9a, istri Anak Domba adalah mempelai perempuan korporat yang tersusun dari kaum beriman pemenang yang diundang ke perjamuan kawin Anak Domba. Demikian juga, dalam mazmur ini permaisuri tidak melambangkan individu; sebaliknya, ia melambangkan kesatuan korporat yang menyusun semua rekan-rekannya: putri-putri raja sebagai perempuan terhormat dan anak-anak dara sebagai teman-temannya (ay. 15).
Maka, dalam mazmur ini raja Salomo dengan banyak istri dan gundiknya, yang adalah putri-putri, anak perempuan raja-raja kafir (1Raj. 11:1, 1Raj. 11:3), dipakai dalam pengertian positif untuk melambangkan Kristus sebagai Raja dengan istri korporat-Nya, gereja (Yoh. 3:29; Ef. 5:24-25,31-32), yang tersusun dari kaum beriman dari segala suku, bahasa, kaum, dan bangsa (Why. 5:9).
Dalam ay. 9 gereja dilambangkan oleh istana gading, bangunan, dan dalam ayat ini gereja digambarkan sebagai permaisuri, istri. Di seluruh Kitab Suci dua lambang ini-bangunan dan mempelai perempuan-dipakai untuk melambangkan gereja (cf. Kej. 2:22 ).
Di satu pihak, gereja adalah bangunan, rumah Allah (1Tit. 3:15), dan di pihak lain gereja adalah mempelai perempuan, istri Kristus (2 Kor. 11:2).

Permaisuri berpakaian emas melambangkan penampilan gereja dalam sifat ilahi. "Emas" yang menutupi gereja adalah Kristus, Sang ilahi, sebagai kebenaran kaum beriman untuk pembenarannya (Luk. 15:22; 1Kor. 1:30). Ini adalah lapisan pertama penutup gereja.

Yesus Seorang Manusia- Allah

Sebagai seorang manusia-Allah dengan esens insani dan esens ilahi, kehidupan Yesus adalah luhur sampai puncaknya. Kehidupan-Nya mencapai standar yang tertinggi, standar yang Allah tetapkan bagi manusia ketika Dia pertama menciptakan manusia. Yesus mencapai standar ini karena Dia adalah seorang manusia-Allah, seorang yang memiliki status ganda sebagai Allah dan manusia.
Di dalam Yesus, atribut-atribut ilahi berbaur dengan kebajikan-kebajikan insani. Perbauran ini memampukan Dia menempuh hidup menurut standar moralitas yang tertinggi. Ini adalah kehidupan bermoral yang tertinggi yang melayakkan Dia untuk menjadi Penyelamat kita. Dia mampu menyelamatkan kita tidak hanya sekedar karena Dia adalah Allah. Dia mampu menyelamatkan kita karena Dia adalah seorang manusia-Allah. Kita tidak hanya diselamatkan oleh Allah; kita juga diselamatkan oleh seorang manusia, seorang manusia-Alah yang menempuh hidup menurut standar moralitas yang tertinggi.
Standar kehidupan yang tertinggi ini dinamis dan penuh kuasa. Ini adalah satu kehidupan yang dinamis, penuh kekuatan dan tenaga.

We Need to Deal with Our Hearts

Then according to Luke 8:4-15, we need to deal with our hearts.
In dealing with our hearts, we should keep our hearts away from worldly traffic. This means that our hearts should not be occupied with the business of making a
living. Instead, we should live a simple life. However, many are slaves to earning a living. The more they increase their living expenses, the more they need to labor.
The more they uplift their standard of living, the more they need to work. Some even work two jobs in order to maintain a high standard of living. We, on the contrary, should simplify our living. If we simplify our life, our hearts will be kept away from worldly traffic.
We also need to deal with all the rocks, the obstacles hidden within us. These hidden things may include hidden sins or hidden desires. As an example of a hidden desire, we may mention the desire common among young people
to have a good car. The desire for a certain kind of new car may become a "rock" in our hearts, a rock that makes it difficult for Christ to grow within us.
In addition to dealing with worldly traffic and the hidden rocks, we also need to deal with the "thorns" of anxieties, the deceitfulness of riches, and the pleasures of
life. Some, after graduating from college, worry about getting married or about saving money to buy a house.
Parents may worry about taking care of their children. These anxieties are related to the cares of this life. If our hearts are filled with anxieties, how can Christ grow in us?
In order for Him to grow within us, our hearts need to be free from anxiety, the deceitfulness of riches, and the pleasures of life.
The sequence in 7:36--8:15 shows that after we have been forgiven, we live a life of peace. As we follow the Lord and minister to Him, we need to grow in life. For the growth in life we need to have a good heart for the Lord to grow within us. A good heart is a heart that is kept away from the worldly traffic, that has all rocks cleared away, and that does not have the thorns of anxiety, the deceitfulness of riches, and the pleasures of life.

4 Kinds of Hearts

In Luke 8:11-15 we see four kinds of hearts into which the seed is sown. The first kind of heart is likened to the soil "beside the road" (v. 5). Concerning this, the Lord says in verse 12, "Those beside the road are those who heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they may not believe and be saved." The earth beside the road is the earth on the wayside. This earth has been hardened by a great deal of traffic. As a result, wheat cannot grow in that kind of soil.
A heart that is like the wayside, like the soil beside the road, is a heart in which there is too much traffic of worldly business. If our heart is occupied with making a living, there will be too much traffic in our heart. The result will be that our heart will not be the proper soil for the growing of Christ, for it will be a heart hardened by worldly traffic.
A second kind of heart is likened to rocky ground (8:6,13). This kind of ground has soil on the surface, but underneath it is full of rocks. It is not possible for Christ to
grow in this kind of heart. A person with such a heart may receive Christ and be saved; however, it will be difficult for him to grow in life. Because of the rocks, it is difficult for Christ to grow in the heart signified by the rocky ground.
Matthew 13:5 describes this kind of heart as rocky places, which do not have much earth. This signifies the heart that is shallow in receiving the Lord's word. Such a heart is shallow because deep within are "rocks"--hidden sins, personal desires, self-seeking, and self-pity--which frustrate the seed from gaining root in the depths of the heart.
Luke 8:7 says. "And other seed fell in the midst of the thorns, and the thorns sprouted up with it and choked it." Concerning this, verse 14 explains: "And that which fell into the thorns, these are those who heard, and they are choked by the on going anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and do not bring any fruit to maturity." Here we see clearly that the "thorns" signify anxieties riches (in particular, the deceitfulness of riches--Matt. 13:22), and the pleasures of life. These things choke the word and prevent it from growing in the heart and becoming fruitful.
The fourth kind of heart is that signified by the good earth: "And other seed fell into the good earth, and having sprouted up, it produced fruit a hundredfold" (v. 8). In verse 15 the Lord explains, "But that in the good earth, these are those who in a noble and good heart hear the word. and hold it fast, and bear fruit with endurance." This good earth signifies the good heart, a heart that is not hardened by worldly traffic, that does not have hidden sins. and that is without the anxiety of the age, the deceitfulness of riches, and the pleasures of life. Such a heart gives all the ground to receiving the word so that the word may grow, bear fruit, and produce even a hundredfold.
A heart without worldly traffic, rocks, and thorns is a purified heart. This kind of heart is good for growing Christ. After we have been forgiven and have begun to live a life in peace, we should follow the Lord and minister to Him.

The Incarnation of the Forgiving God

In Luke 7 : 48 the Man-Savior said to the woman, "Your sins have been forgiven." Both this case and the case of the widow's son in Nain (7:11-17) are found only in this Gospel.
This shows the Savior's tender care for the dead and sinful, and it conveys the principle of morality as the unique characteristic of this Gospel.
Verse 49 says, "And those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say among themselves, Who is this who even forgives sins?" Simon did not realize that
this Man-Savior was the very God, the One who has authority to forgive man's sin. The Man-Savior was the incarnation of the forgiving God.

Blind, Lame, Deaf, Poor

In spiritual significance, the blind receiving sight is also first. In the Lord's salvation He first opens our eyes (Acts 26:18). Then we can receive Him and walk to follow Him.
The lame signifies those who cannot walk in God's way. After being saved, the lame can walk by new life (John 5:8-9).
The deaf signifies those who cannot hear God. After being saved, they can hear the Lord's voice (John 10:27). The dead signifies those who are dead in sins (Eph. 2:1,
5), unable to contact God. After being regenerated, they can fellowship with God with their regenerated spirit.
The poor signifies everyone without Christ, without God, who have no hope in the world (Eph. 2:12). Upon receiving the gospel, they are made rich in Christ (2 Cor. 8:9; Eph. 3:8).

MISKIN

Dalam Lukas 6: 20 Tuhan Yesus berkata, "Berbahagialah, hai kamu yang miskin, karena kamulah yang punya Kerajaan Allah." Istilah "miskin" dalam ayat ini memiliki dua makna. Pertama, kata ini bermakna miskin dalam hal materi; kedua, bermakna miskin dalam hal rohani. Karena itu, istilah "miskin" di sini berarti miskin dalam hal bumiah, hal materi, juga miskin dalam hal surgawi, hal rohani.
Sering kali sulit bagi orang-orang yang kaya dalam hal bumiah, materi untuk menjadi miskin dalam hal surgawi, rohani. Jika orang yang dipilih dan dipanggil oleh Allah itu kaya dalam hal materi, maka mungkin orang itu akan sangat sulit menjadi miskin dalam hal rohani. Bahkan Allah mungkin perlu mengambil kekayaan materi orang itu agar dia dapat menjadi miskin dalam hal rohani.
Jika kita ingin menjadi orang yang diberkati, kita perlu menjadi miskin. Terutama kita perlu menjadi miskin dalam hal rohani, dalam hal surgawi. Mengenai hal rohani, kita harus merasa bahwa kita tidak memiliki apa-apa, kita miskin.
Matius 5:3 membicarakan perihal menjadi miskin dalam roh. Miskin dalam roh itu bukan hanya menjadi rendah hati, tetapi juga dikosongkan dalam roh kita, di dalam lubuk batin kita, tidak mempertahankan hal-hal yang usang. Miskin dalam roh juga berarti dikosongkan dari hal-hal yang usang untuk menerima hal-hal yang baru.
Roh insani kita, bagian yang terdalam dari diri kita, adalah organ kita untuk mengontak Allah dan memahami hal-hal rohani. Kita perlu menjadi miskin, dikosongkan dari hal-hal yang usang dalam diri kita, supaya kita dapat memahami dan memiliki Kerajaan Allah. Setiap waktu kita perlu menjadi miskin dalam roh, memiliki perasaan yang dalam bahwa kita miskin dalam hal-hal rohani, dalam hal-hal mengenai Allah. Jika kita miskin sedemikian dan merendahkan diri, maka Kerajaan Allah segera menjadi berkat kita.

Kasihilah Musuhmu

"Tetapi kamu, kasihilah musuhmu dan berbuatlah baik kepada mereka dan pinjamkan tanpa mengharapkan balasan, maka upahmu akan besar dan kamu akan menjadi anak-anak Allah Yang Mahatinggi, sebab Ia baik terhadap orang-orang yang tidak tahu berterima kasih dan terhadap orang-orang jahat." Dalam ayat ini kita nampak rahasia menempuh kehidupan yang digambarkan di sini. Rahasianya adalah hayat Allah. Jika kita ingin menggenapkan semua prinsip ini, kita harus memiliki hayat Allah. Kita harus dilahirkan dari Yang Mahatinggi, dari Allah, dan dengan demikian kita menjadi anak-anak Allah yang Mahatinggi.
Sebagai orang-orang yang telah dilahirkan dari Allah, kita dapat mengasihi musuh-musuh kita. Allah mengasihi kita bahkan sewaktu kita masih menjadi musuh-musuh-Nya (Rm. 5:8). Kita perlu terkesan dengan fakta bahwa Allah mengasihi kita sewaktu kita menjadi musuh-musuh-Nya. Sekarang kasih-Nya telah disalurkan kepada kita. Karena itu, kasih yang dengannya kita mengasihi orang lain adalah kasih Allah Bapa kita.

Who is this

“Who is this who speaks blasphemies? “
Scribes and Pharisees say “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? “ Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (Luk. 5: 21).

The Man-Savior was the very God incarnated, not regarding equality with God a
thing to be grasped.
He was outwardly in the likeness and fashion of man, but inwardly He was God (Phil. 2:6-7). He was the Man-Savior and the God-Savior as well.

Statement of Faith

Holding the Bible as the complete and only divine revelation, we strongly believe that God is eternally one and also eternally the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, the three being distinct but not separate.
We hold that Christ is both the complete God and the perfect man. Without abandoning His divinity, He was conceived in the womb of a human virgin, lived a genuine human life on earth, and died a vicarious and all-inclusive death on the cross. After three days He resurrected bodily and has ascended to the heavens. He is now in glory, fully God but still fully man. We look to His imminent return with the kingdom of God, by which He will reign over the earth in the millennium and in eternity.
We confess that the third of the Trinity, the Spirit, is equally God. All that the Father has and is, is expressed by the Son; and all that the Son has and is, is realized as the Spirit.
We further believe that mankind is in need of God's salvation. Though we were absolutely unable to fulfill the heavy demands of God's righteousness, holiness, and glory, Christ fulfilled all the requirements through His death on the cross. Because of Christ's death, God has forgiven us of our sins, reconciled us to Himself, and justified us by making Christ our righteousness.
Based on Christ's redemption, God regenerates the redeemed with His Spirit to consummate His salvation, that they may become His children. Now possessing God's life and nature, the believers enjoy a daily salvation in His Body in this age and the eternal salvation in the coming age and in eternity.
In eternity we will dwell with God in the New Jerusalem, the consummation of God's salvation of His elect.

Yesus Adalah Roti Hayat untuk di Makan