更正:  關於十一奉獻。這衹是聖靈引導我瞭解十一奉獻的真諦過程中的一次，我在「2142 十一奉獻的真諦和不要認撒但為父」，講述了整個五次的過程。 我在油管和相應的文章中，並沒有個別的更新，而是用更正的方式引用了正確的「2142」，保留了這過程，希望別人不會和我犯下同樣的錯誤。其他的部份沒有問題。謝謝。

我們從三方面簡單的談談這個問題。雅各書 1:22 說得很清楚，『只是你們要行道，不要單單聽道，自己欺哄自己。』在我們一但因信稱義後 [1]，就需要走上成聖的路，模成耶穌的形像 [2]。首先我們不要忘記，神有絕對主權的事實，『因他對摩西說：「我要憐憫誰，就憐憫誰；要恩待誰，就恩待誰。」』 (羅馬書 9:15) 我們不可能在這短文中談到所有關於行道的事情，這必須要看聖經，因此我們只是指出幾個重點。

首先我們看到聖經告訴我們，『我賜給你們一條新命令，乃是叫你們彼此相愛；我怎樣愛你們，你們也要怎樣相愛。你們若有彼此相愛的心，眾人因此就認出你們是我的門徒了。」 (約翰福音 13:34-35) 弟兄相愛是我們可做的，而且『你們務要常存弟兄相愛的心。』 (希伯來書 13:1)

新舊約都說，神是愛的神，也是公義的神。新約很清楚的告訴我們，『於是，耶穌對門徒說：「若有人要跟從我，就當捨己，背起他的十字架來跟從我。』 (馬太福音 16:24) 在模成耶穌形像的過程中，我們要背主量給我們的十字架(不是自找苦吃)，這就是神對祂子民的公義。同時祂也給了我們這樣的應許，『我將這些事告訴你們，是要叫你們在我裏面有平安。在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。』 (約翰福音 16:33) 而且『你們所遇見的試探，無非是人所能受的。神是信實的，必不叫你們受試探過於所能受的。在受試探的時候，總要給你們開一條出路，叫你們能忍受得住。』 (哥林多前書 10:13) 我們要查考聖經，不只可以知道有其他這樣的應許，更能『穿上了新人。這新人在知識上漸漸更新，正如造他主的形像。』 (歌羅西書 3:10)

第二，在約翰福音 5:39-40，耶穌說：『你們查考聖經，因你們以為內中有永生；給我作見證的就是這經。然而你們不肯到我這裏來得生命。』 (約翰福音 5:39-40) 所以查考聖經的目的是要得生命，而不只是知識上的得著。接著我們就簡單的討論一下如何得生命這個話題。

首先要知道的是生命從神來。『我栽種了，亞波羅澆灌了，惟有神叫他生長。可見栽種的算不得甚麼，澆灌的也算不得甚麼，只在那叫他生長的神。』 (哥林多前書 3:6-7) 所以要想瞭解聖經，就要像聖經在路加福音 24:45 所說：『於是耶穌開他們的心竅 (G3563, 希臘原文是Nous)，使他們能明白聖經。』[3]

在新約的時代，我們可以像保羅一樣的祈求，『求我們主耶穌基督的神，榮耀的父，將那賜人智慧和啓示的靈賞給你們，使你們真知道他。』 (以弗所書 1:17) 啓示的靈會帶領我們查經，告訴我們該知道的。請注意，啓示不只是指超自然的事，有時是藉著別人的話語，有時是藉著聖經的話語，等等。神有絕對主權，我們怎麼可能侷限的說祂一定要採取某種固定的方式，要知道：『耶和華說：「我的意念非同你們的意念，我的道路非同你們的道路。天怎樣高過地，照樣，我的道路高過你們的道路，我的意念高過你們的意念。』 (以賽亞書 55:8-9) 我們要做的就是：『不要消滅聖靈的感動。』 (帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:19) 要相信三位一體的神是又真又活的神，是有憐憫有恩典的神，會賜給我們啓示。在希伯來書 7:25 有這樣的應許：『凡靠着他(耶穌)進到神面前的人，他都能拯救到底，因為他是長遠活着，替他們祈求。』 我們要持續地以信心住在基督耶穌裏，這是神定規瞭解聖經和得生命的道路。

最後我們要談到聖經如何說願神家有糧的奉獻問題。關於這，我們首先要問的是舊約對奉獻的教導是什麼？很顯然，第一個是要甘心樂意，這就像摩西建會幕時耶和華告訴他的一樣 [4]。 也很清楚的說到了十分之一是耶和華的 [5]。就像在瑪拉基書說的一樣，奉獻的目的是要使神家有糧 [6]。那麼舊約時代到底要奉獻多少呢？看律法或從瑪拉基書 3:8 就很清楚。『…就是你們在當納的十分之一和當獻的供物上。』簡言之，在舊約的時代要求是要甘心樂意的奉獻超過十分之一。這就是所謂的從聖經的角度看，也就是聖經怎麼說就算數。因為聖經都是神所默示的 [7]，這也是從神(作者)的角度看。請注意，不能說從神的角度看就是從聖經的角度看，因為反過來講是不對的。

那麼從聖經的角度看，新約對奉獻的教導是什麼？直接的教導只有耶穌稱讚窮寡婦的兩個小錢。『因為眾人都是自己有餘，拿出來投在捐項裏；但這寡婦是自己不足，把她一切養生的都投上了。』 (路加福音 21:4) 因此對這個問題的回答很單純，因人有自由意志，奉獻的多少是看和神的關係如何，自己可以做決定的。在新約的時代，是不可能有明文規定的講、要至少要奉獻十分之一的律法的。因為只遵守這樣，新約明說是耶穌所討厭的。[8]

我們不能說，在瑪拉基書所提到的當獻的供物都和獻祭有關，因此在新約的時代，獻祭沒有了，所以只剩下了要奉獻十分之一。新約沒有這樣講，這是加上了人的邏輯，也就是所謂的從人的角度看。請注意，我沒有說不到十分之一的奉獻就是和神關係不好，因為不見得每個人都有資源可奉獻十分之一的。要強調的是，新約的時代沒有十分之一的規定，十分之一最多只是參考！如果真沒有足夠的資源，神大概也會告訴這個人，不必去遵守律法，神要看的是這顆心。 [9]

這不是把福音和金錢連在一起，而是講和神的關係！如果一個人關心另一個人，自然會希望那一個人夠吃夠用，同樣，如果關心神，自然會想到要神家有糧，金錢只不過是簡單的方法之一而已！還有其他的事奉。新約强調的是甘心樂意，絕對不像舊約一樣有訂下規則的律法。

但新舊約都是一位神，舊約說到十分之一是屬神的，這從來就沒有改變過，新約的時候沒有這樣律法的要求，如果和神關係好，自然會儘可能想要還給神屬於祂的東西。

我們最後用兩個別人的見証作為結束。第一個見証是有一位弟兄在講到神的信實時，透露了他的奉獻是超過十分之一。那位弟兄本來是沒有辦法奉獻到超過十分之一的，但有這個心，神是信實的，他最終能在金錢上奉獻超過十分之一，加上了更多其他的事奉。

另一位姊妹的見証是她在傳道時談到了奉獻的問題，突然在那年報稅時意識到超過百分之五十不能減稅。我查過網路的訊息，知道不同的非盈利機構有不同的上限，現在最高的是教會的上限為百分之六十。這個見証一個主要的目的是說法律有個上限，她的奉獻程度，我想都不會想！

一些相關的經文

[1] 我們既因信稱義，就藉着我們的主耶穌基督得與神相和。(羅馬書 5:1)

[2] 因為他預先所知道的人，就預先定下效法(模成 to be conformed 被動語氣)他兒子的模樣(形像 image)，使他兒子在許多弟兄中作長子。 (羅馬書 8:29)

[3]『心竅』這辭，和合本只出現兩次，另一處為：『惟獨長大成人的，才能吃乾糧，他們的心竅習練得通達，就能分辨好歹了。』 (希伯來書 5:14) 這地方的『心竅』是 G145，不是 nous。

[4] 耶和華曉諭摩西說：「你告訴以色列人當為我送禮物來，凡甘心樂意的，你們就可以收下歸我。 (出埃及記 25:1-2)

[5] 地上所有的，無論是地上的種子是樹上的果子，十分之一是耶和華的，是歸給耶和華為聖的。(利未記 27:30)

[6] 萬軍之耶和華說：「你們要將當納的十分之一全然送入倉庫，使我家有糧，以此試試我是否為你們敞開天上的窗戶，傾福與你們，甚至無處可容。」(瑪拉基書 3:10)

 [7] 『聖經都是神所默示的，…』 (提摩太後書 3:16) 雖然新約在保羅這樣說的時候並沒有完成，如啓示錄還沒開始寫，但基督徒相信整本聖經都是神所默示的。

[8] 你們這假冒為善的文士和法利賽人有禍了！因為你們將薄荷、茴香、芹菜獻上十分之一，那律法上更重的事，就是公義、憐憫、信實，反倒不行了。這更重的是你們當行的，那也是不可不行的。(馬太福音 23:23)

[9] 耶和華卻對撒母耳說：「不要看他的外貌和他身材高大，我不揀選他。因為耶和華不像人看人：人是看外貌，耶和華是看內心。」 (撒母耳記上 16:7)

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到這網站後要按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。)

救恩的計劃基本的概念就是代贖。就像我們在第一部所提的，代贖的概念從亞當犯罪後神用皮子為他們做衣服時就有 [1]，亞伯拉罕獻以撒也是講到代贖 [2]，在新約時代耶穌釘十字架成為了我們的代罪羔羊。

我們首先看到神是照祂的形像造亞當和夏娃 [3]。因為亞當不順服神而墮落 [4]，所以罪就因此沾汚了亞當而進入了這世界 [5]，他也就因此有了被罪沾汚的神的形像。

耶穌是由聖靈感孕 [6]，是無罪的，因而祂有被罪沾汚前人的形像。祂虛己，在道成肉身這段時間中，虛空神的本性這部分 [7]。祂在地上完全順服聖靈的帶領，沒有犯罪 [8]，和父合一 [9]，看見了祂就是看見了神 [10]。

世人都被罪沾汚了，只有耶穌道成肉身，才有機會回到從前沒有被罪沾汚時的情景。罪的工價是死 [11]，救贖的計劃就是由耶穌代替我們受死開始，使我們能因信稱義 [12]，讓我們有個機會模成耶穌的形像 [13]。神愛世人，道成肉身實在是神拯救世人的唯一的路，給了世人一個機會 [14]。

人是由靈、魂、體三者構成 [15]，因信稱義只是開始，這時我們有一個新靈 [16]，聖靈內住在我們裏面 [17]，我們已有了靈的得救。關於體的拯救，則要等到耶穌再來的日子 [18]。至於魂的得救，我們在信而受浸時，就已經在地位上成聖了 [19]。但經驗告訴我們，成聖之路是需要一生之久，因為我們不能立刻被模成耶穌的形像，即使保羅，仍在年老時往標竿直奔 [20]。請注意，我們是被動的被模成，因為生命是從神來 [21]。

在成聖的過程中，我們要十分小心，要警醒 [22]，不要落入假裝光明天使的撒但差役手中[23]。但要記住耶穌已勝了這世界 [24] ，且在希伯來書 7:25我們有這樣的應許，『凡靠着他進到神面前的人，他都能拯救到底，因為他是長遠活着，替他們祈求。』   我們要持續地住在基督耶穌裏。在耶穌基督裏，我們就能在每一次的試探中有力量遵行神的旨意，因為在約翰福音 8:36 中說得很清楚，『所以天父的兒子若叫你們自由，你們就真自由了。』

一些相關的經文

[1] 『耶和華神為亞當和他妻子用皮子做衣服，給他們穿。』 (創世記 3:21)

[2] 『亞伯拉罕舉目觀看，不料，有一隻公羊，兩角扣在稠密的小樹中，亞伯拉罕就取了那隻公羊來，獻為燔祭，代替他的兒子。』 (創世記 22:13)

[3] 『神就照着自己的形像造人，乃是照着他的形像造男造女。』 (創世記 1:27)

[4] 『耶和華神吩咐他說：「園中各樣樹上的果子，你可以隨意吃，只是分別善惡樹上的果子，你不可吃，因為你吃的日子必定死。」』 (創世記 2:16-17)  『於是，女人見那棵樹的果子好作食物，也悅人的眼目，且是可喜愛的，能使人有智慧，就摘下果子來吃了；又給她丈夫，她丈夫也吃了。』(創世記 3:6)

[5]  『這就如罪是從一人入了世界，死又是從罪來的，於是死就臨到眾人，因為眾人都犯了罪。』(羅馬書 5:12)

[6] 『正思念這事的時候，有主的使者向他夢中顯現，說：「大衞的子孫約瑟，不要怕，只管娶過你的妻子馬利亞來，因她所懷的孕是從聖靈來的。』 (馬太福音 1:20)

[7] 『反倒虛己，取了奴僕的形像，成為人的樣式。既有人的樣子，就自己卑微，存心順服，以至於死，且死在十字架上。』 (腓立比書 2:7-8)

[8] 『因我們的大祭司並非不能體恤我們的軟弱，他也曾凡事受過試探，與我們一樣，只是他沒有犯罪。』 (希伯來書 4:15)

[9] 『你所賜給我的榮耀，我已賜給他們，使他們合而為一，像我們合而為一。』 (約翰福音 17:22)

[10] 『耶穌對他說：「腓力，我與你們同在這樣長久，你還不認識我嗎？人看見了我，就是看見了父，你怎麼說『將父顯給我們看』呢？』 (約翰福音 14:9)

[11] 『因為罪的工價乃是死，惟有神的恩賜，在我們的主基督耶穌裏，乃是永生。』 (羅馬書 6:23)

[12] 『我們既因信稱義，就藉着我們的主耶穌基督得與神相和。』 (羅馬書 5:1)

[13] 『因為他預先所知道的人，就預先定下效法(模成  be conformed 被動語氣)他兒子的模樣(形像 image)，使他兒子在許多弟兄中作長子。』(羅馬書 8:29)

[14] 『神愛世人，甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們，叫一切信他的，不至滅亡，反得永生。因為神差他的兒子降世，不是要定世人的罪，乃是要叫世人因他得救。信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已經定了，因為他不信神獨生子的名。』 (約翰福音 3:16-18)

[15] 『願賜平安的神親自使你們全然成聖。又願你們的靈與魂與身子得蒙保守，在我主耶穌基督降臨的時候，完全無可指摘。』 (帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:23)

[16] 『「『我也要賜給你們一個新心，將新靈放在你們裏面。又從你們的肉體中除掉石心，賜給你們肉心。我必將我的靈放在你們裏面，使你們順從我的律例，謹守遵行我的典章。』 (以西結書 36:26-27)

[17] 『豈不知你們的身子就是聖靈的殿嗎？這聖靈是從神而來，住在你們裏頭的；並且你們不是自己的人，』 (哥林多前書 6:19)

[18] 『我如今把一件奧秘的事告訴你們：我們不是都要睡覺，乃是都要改變，就在一霎時，眨眼之間，號筒末次吹響的時候。因號筒要響，死人要復活，成為不朽壞的，我們也要改變。這必朽壞的總要變成不朽壞的，這必死的總要變成不死的。』 (哥林多前書 15:51-53)

[19] 『我們憑這旨意，靠耶穌基督只一次獻上他的身體，就得以成聖。』 (希伯來書 10:10)

[20] 『弟兄們，我不是以為自己已經得着了，我只有一件事，就是忘記背後，努力面前的，向着標竿直跑，要得神在基督耶穌裏從上面召我來得的獎賞。』 (腓立比書 3:13-14)

[21] 『我栽種了，亞波羅澆灌了，惟有神叫他生長。可見栽種的算不得甚麼，澆灌的也算不得甚麼，只在那叫他生長的神。』 (哥林多前書 3:6)

[22] 『務要謹守、警醒，因為你們的仇敵魔鬼，如同吼叫的獅子，遍地遊行，尋找可吞吃的人。』 (彼得前書 5:8)

[23] 『那等人是假使徒，行事詭詐，裝作基督使徒的模樣。這也不足為怪，因為連撒但也裝作光明的天使。』 (哥林多後書 11:13-14)

[24] 『我將這些事告訴你們，是要叫你們在我裏面有平安。在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。』 (約翰福音 16:33)

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到這網站後要按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。)

我們來看一看部份神原先的旨意。在創世記第一章就提示到神是三位一體的神，雖然聖經在新舊約都一致的告訴我們這點，我們也在信心中知道是這樣的，但這仍是一個奧秘。

如果我們看創世記第一章，就知道神原先的計劃是『各從其類』。因此冠狀病毒能從蝙蝠到人是很可怕的，我們看到了不是各從其類。

在創世記 1:26，很清楚的說到人是按著神的形像和樣式造的 [1]。首先請注意到，形像和樣式是兩個字。從腓立比書 2:5-7，我們看到了耶穌有人的樣式 [2] ，也看到耶穌就是看到了神 [3] ，我們要被模成耶穌的形像如在羅馬書 8:29 所說，『因為他預先所知道的人，就預先定下效法 (模成 to be conformed) 他兒子的模樣 (形像 image)，使他兒子在許多弟兄中作長子。』

神原先要亞當的就是信靠順服，他要做的事就是修理看守伊甸園，他只需遵守一個命令，就是分別善惡樹上的果子不可吃，因為吃的日子必定死 [4]，但是他選擇了不順服而吃了那果子。可是在創世記 5:3 說，『亞當活到一百三十歲，生了一個兒子，形像樣式和自己相似，就給他起名叫塞特。』難道神是說謊的嗎？絕對不是的。新約中很清楚的在帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:23 告訴我們，人由靈、魂、體三部份構成的 [5] 。因此在時間上是靈立刻就死了，其餘的還存活了一段時間。

在這裏我們要強調一點的是，引用經文不要斷章取義，一定要看整本聖經如何說，我雖然不能號稱整本聖經絕對有一致性，但我所看見的有限的例子，都是如此。也請注意一點，塞特是形像樣式都和被罪沾汚後的亞當相似，因此所有亞當的後代包括我們在內都是如此的被罪沾汚。

 在犯罪前，亞當的靈是可以和神交通而知道要做什麼的，然後靈告訴魂，體就執行魂的命令。如果亞當好好地遵守命令和做對了選擇，他是可以不死的 [6]。

在犯罪後，靈死了，魂有著被罪沾汚後神的形像，體付代價因此會死 [7] ，這都在亞當不遵守神的命令時同時發生了。那時，他們被趕出了伊甸園 [8]，但創世記 3:21 說：『耶和華神為亞當和他妻子用皮子做衣服，給他們穿。』這說明有動物為他們流血而死，代贖的概念在那時就有。『耶和華說：「我的意念非同你們的意念，我的道路非同你們的道路。天怎樣高過地，照樣，我的道路高過你們的道路，我的意念高過你們的意念。』 (以賽亞書 55:8-9)

一些相關的經文和知識

[1] 神說：「我們要照着我們的形像，按着我們的樣式造人，使他們管理海裏的魚、空中的鳥、地上的牲畜和全地，並地上所爬的一切昆蟲。」 (創世記 1:26)

[2] 你們當以基督耶穌的心為心。他本有神的形像，不以自己與神同等為強奪的，反倒虛己，取了奴僕的形像，成為人的樣式。 (腓立比書 2:5-7)

[3] 耶穌對他說：「腓力，我與你們同在這樣長久，你還不認識我嗎？人看見了我，就是看見了父，你怎麼說『將父顯給我們看』呢？ (約翰福音 14:9)

[4] 耶和華神將那人安置在伊甸園，使他修理看守。耶和華神吩咐他說：「園中各樣樹上的果子，你可以隨意吃，只是分別善惡樹上的果子，你不可吃，因為你吃的日子必定死。」 (創世記 2:15-17)

[5] 願賜平安的神親自使你們全然成聖。又願你們的靈與魂與身子得蒙保守，在我主耶穌基督降臨的時候，完全無可指摘。 (帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:23)

[6] 耶和華神說：「那人已經與我們相似，能知道善惡。現在恐怕他伸手又摘生命樹的果子吃，就永遠活着。」 (創世記 3:22)

[7] 你必汗流滿面才得餬口，直到你歸了土，因為你是從土而出的。你本是塵土，仍要歸於塵土。 (創世記 3:19)

[8] 於是把他趕出去了。又在伊甸園的東邊安設基路伯，和四面轉動發火焰的劍，要把守生命樹的道路。 (創世記 3:24)

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到這網站後要按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。)

Correction: Regarding tithing. This is just one instance of the Holy Spirit’s guidance in my understanding of the true meaning of tithing. I recounted the entire five-fold process in “1142 True meaning of tithing and don’t acknowledge Satan as father.” I haven’t updated the individual parts of the corresponding articles or on YouTube. Instead, I’ve included the corrected version of “1142” and preserved the process, hoping others won’t make the same mistake I did. The rest of the content is fine. Thank you.

We discuss briefly this topic using three subtopics. James 1:22 says clearly, “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” Once we are justified [1], we need to be sanctified become conformed to the image of His Son [2]. First, let us acknowledge the fact that God has absolute authority as Romans 9:15 mentioned: For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” It is impossible for us to talk about every aspect of the doer in this short article. For this, we need to study the Bible. Therefore, we merely point out certain issues.

First, we can see that the Bible in John 13:34-35 says: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. Furthermore, Hebrews 13:1 says, “Let love of the brethren continue.”

Both New and Old Testaments not only say that God is the God of love, but also the God of justice. New Testament in Matthew 16:24 tells us clearly: Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” In the process of sanctification, we must deny ourselves and take up the cross which is given to us by Him. It is not a cross if we initiate tribulation by ourselves. That is the justice that God gives His children. Meanwhile, He also gives us the promise, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) And, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) Through studying the Bible, not only will we learn promises like these, but we also “…have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.” (Colossians 3:10)

Secondly, Jesus says in John 5:39-40, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.” Having life is the real goal of studying the Bible, not merely gaining knowledge. In the following, we’ll briefly discuss some issues about having life.

We need to know first that the life comes from God as 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 says, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.; So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.” Therefore, to understand the Bible, we need to read what Luke 24:45 says, “Then He (Jesus) opened their minds (G3563, Greek nous) to understand the Scriptures.” In the era of New Testament, this can only be done by Holy Spirit. 

In the era of New Testament, we can pray like Apostle Paul in Ephesians 1:17, NIV to have a Spirit of revelation, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” [3] The Spirit of revelation will lead us to do the Bible study and tell us what we need to know. Please notice, revelation is not only by supernatural things, but also through other means such as others’ and the Bible’s words, and so on. God has absolute authority, so how could one say that there are only certain ways to know things? We must know: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.”  (Isaiah 55:8-9) What we need to do is “Do not quench the Spirit.”  (1 Thessalonians 5:19) Believe that Holy Trinity is the true and living God, and is full of mercy and grace. He will give us the revelation to lead us. ln Hebrews 7:25, we see such a promise “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” We just need to continuously abide in Christ Jesus in faith. This is the only way we can understand the Bible and have life.

Thirdly and lastly, we will discuss the issues involved in the offerings regarding having enough food in God’s house. The first question we want to ask is what the offering system in Old Testament is? Apparently, like when Moses built Tabernacle, contributions had to come from every man whose heart moved him [4]. It is also said clearly that one tenth of our earnings belongs to God [5]. Like what Malachi 3:10 says, the goal of offering is to give the house of God enough food [6]. Then, how much is required in the offering system of Old Testament? Let us examine the law or from Malachi 3:8, “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.” In short, in the era of Old Testament, it is required that every man moves to offer more than one-tenth. This is what we mean when we say to look at things in aspect of the Bible. That means, whatever the Bible says counts. Because the Bible is inspired by God [7], this also means we are looking at things in the aspect of God or the author. Please notice that we cannot say both are equivalent since it is not true to look at things in aspect of the Bible is sufficient to fully understand all aspects of God.

Then, what does the New Testament teach us about offerings? Direct teaching on this is only that Jesus approved of the offering of the poor widow in Luke 21:4, “for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on.” Thus, the answer to this question is very simple. Since man has free will about how much he offers which depends upon the relationship he has with God, man can determine the offering amount by himself. In the era of the New Testament, it is impossible to have a law saying something like one has to offer at least one-tenth. Jesus says clearly that He didn’t approve obeying any such law. [8]

We shouldn’t say that the offerings mentioned in Malachi 3:8 are all related to sacrifices and thus they don’t matter in the era of New Testament. As a result of this thinking, are tithes the only sacrifice left and do we need to offer one-tenth in the era of New Testament? No, the New Testament doesn’t say so. By this way of thinking, logic not derived from the Bible is added on top of what New Testament says. This is what it means to look at things in the aspect of a human. 

Please notice that I don’t say that giving less than one-tenth of your earnings as an offering means your relationship with God is poor.  Not everyone has the resources to offer one-tenth, even if they have a good relationship with God. What I want to emphasize is the fact that there is not a requirement of an offering of one-tenth in the era of the New Testament. It can be used as a reference. That’s all. If one person thinks about offering one-tenth but does not have adequate resources, God might tell that person in His way that there is no need to obey such a law like in the era of Old Testament. The Lord looks at the heart. [9]

This is not to connect the Gospel with money, but instead we are talking about the relationship with God. If a person cares about the welfare of an another, he will naturally think about the other person, who should have sufficient foods to eat. Likewise, if someone cares about God’s house, shouldn’t he ensure that it has sufficient foods? Offering money is just one among the simple ways to serve God. There are definitely other ways to serve. The era of New Testament is to emphasize our heart should move us to offer, not obey the rules in the law like in the era of Old Testament.

But the God in New and Old Testament is one. The one-tenth belonging to God is still true and will not change. There is no such requirement in the era of New Testament. If one has a good relationship with God, that person will endeavor to give back to God what belongs to Him.

We end these discussions with two testimonies of others. The first testimony is about one brother who was talking about that God’s faithfulness, he accidentally revealed at the same time that he offered over one-tenth. He at that time originally has no way to offer one-tenth but had the heart to pray about doing it. God is faithful, and he eventually can offer more than one-tenth.

The second testimony is about one sister. When she preached about offerings, she mentioned that she suddenly realized that over 50% offering to her organizations cannot deduct taxes. After checking online, I realized that there are different upper limits for various nonprofit organizations. The highest one is the offering to churches, which is 60%. One purpose of this testimony is to tell everyone that there is a limit in the law for offering to churches. Of course, I never think about such offering in the past and dare not to think about it in the future.

Some related verses and knowledge

[1] Romans 5:1, Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

[2] Romans 8:29, For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.

[3] In James 1:5, NASB, it says “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” It is clear from this verse, if we want to get wisdom, we need God working on us. In the era of New Testament, Holy Spirit will do the work. That is why we uses NIV for Ephesians 1:17, since NASB is translated as “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.” From the consistency of the Bible, we have to use Bigger letter Spirit, not our spirit.

[4] Exodus 25:1-2, Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution.”

[5] Leviticus 27:30, Thus all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord.

[6] Malachi 3:10, Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.

[7] 2 Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, …” Although the New Testament was not finished at the time when Paul said so, Christians believe that it is true for the whole Bible. For example, Book Revelation is not finished for sure at that time.

[8] Matthew 23:23, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.”

[9] 1 Samuel 16:7, But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

  (Verses refer to those in NASB unless otherwise specified.)

(You can get all articles in “https://a-christian-voice.com/” under “On spiritual understanding about life.”)

The basic idea of the plan of salvation is substitution. Like what we said in part 1, the idea of the substitution was already there when Adam fell and God made coats of skins [1]. Abraham offering Isaac as a sacrifice also talks about the substitution [2]. In the era of the New Testament, Jesus was crucified and became the sacrificial lamb to substitute our death penalty, as the price of sin is death.

First, we see that God created Adam and Eve in His own image [3]. Because Adam disobeyed God, he fell [4]. Therefore, Adam was contaminated by sin and sin entered the world [5].  Adam was made in the image of God but was contaminated by sin.

Jesus was begotten by Holy Spirit [7] and is sinless. Thus, He has the image of a human before sin contaminated the world. He emptied Himself when He was here on earth [7]. That is, He emptied the portion of His nature as God. When He was on earth, He totally obeyed the leading of the Holy Spirit, and didn’t sin [8].  He was united with God [9], and thus seeing Him is the same as seeing God [10].

All humans are contaminated by sin, and only Jesus coming to earth can give us a chance to go back to that time when sin has not contaminated the world. The wages of sin are death [11].   The plan of salvation is to have Jesus be substituted for us to pay the death penalty. In this way, we can be declared to be righteous due to faith [12], which let’s have a chance to be conformed to the image of Jesus [13].  God loves us. Jesus coming to the earth is the only way that God can save us by giving us an opportunity [14]. 

Man consists of three portions – spirit, soul, and body [15]. Even when we are declared to be righteous because of faith, it is only a beginning. At that time, we will have a new soul [16], and Holy Spirit will abide in us [17]. Therefore, we already have the salvation of spirit. Regarding the salvation of body, we have to wait until Jesus comes again [18]. In terms of the salvation of soul we are already sanctified and are declared as righteous [19] although our experience tells us that the road to be fully sanctified takes a lifetime. It is because we can’t be conformed to the image of Jesus right away. Even Apostle Paul made an effort to reach the goal [20]. Notice that the passive tense is used when being conformed in the image of Jesus, since only God can give the increase of life [21]. 

In the process of sanctification, we have to be very careful. Be sober [22], and not fall into the hand of the servant of the devil who pretends to be an angel of light [23]. But remember that Jesus has overcome the world [24]. Furthermore, we have the promise in Hebrews 7:25, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” We have to keep on abiding in Christ Jesus. In Jesus Christ, we are able to have the power in every trial to obey the will of God. It is clearly said in John 8:36, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

Some related verses

[1] Genesis 3:21, Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

[2] Genesis 22:13, And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

[3] Genesis 1:27, So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

[4] Genesis 2:16-17, 『And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.』 Genesis 3:6, 『And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.』

[5] Romans 5:12, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

[6] Matthew 1:20, But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

[7] Philippians 2:7-8, But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

[8] Hebrews 4:15, For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

[9] John 17:22, And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 

[10] John 14:9, Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 

[11] Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

[12] Romans 5:1, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

[13] Romans 8:29, For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

[14] John 3:16-18, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

[15] 1 Thessalonians 5:23, And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[16] Ezekiel 36:26-27, A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

[17] 1 Corinthians 6:19, What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

[18] 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

[19] Hebrews 10:10, By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

[20] Philippians 3:13-14, Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

[21] 1 Corinthians 3:6, I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

[22] 1 Peter 5:8, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

[23] 2 Corinthians 11:13-14, For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

[24] John 16:33, These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. 

 (Verses refer to those in King James Version – KJV unless otherwise specified.)

(You can get all articles in “https://a-christian-voice.com/” under “On spiritual understanding about life.”)

Let us take a look at part of the original will of God. In Genesis 1, it already indicates that God is the Holy Trinity. Although the Bible consistently says so in both New and Old Testaments and we believe that because of faith, it is still a mystery.

If we examine Genesis 1, we can see that the original will of God is to have all living things “after their kind” and that Covid-19 is awful since it can propagate from bats to humans which is apparently not “after their kind”.

In Genesis 1:26, it is clear that man is made in God’s image and likeness [1].  First, please notice “image” and “likeness” are two different words. From Philippians 2:5-7, we can see that Jesus was made in the likeness of men [2]. We also see that anyone who has seen Jesus has seen the Father [3]. And we need to be conformed to the image of Jesus as Romans 8:29 says, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

The original will of God is to want Adam to trust and obey, and his original duty is to dress the garden of Eden and to keep it [4]. He has only one command to obey, which is not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Unfortunately, he chose not to obey and ate its fruit. But in Genesis 5:3, it says “And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth.” Is God lying? No, definitely not. In 1 Thessalonians 5:23, it says clearly that man definitely consists of three parts – spirit, soul, and body [5]. Thus, it is the spirit that died immediately and the other two have survived longer. 

Here, we want to emphasize that one has to look at the whole Bible when quoting. With the limited examples I have encountered, I cannot claim that I know that the whole Bible is absolutely consistent. But with what I have encountered so far, it is always consistent. Please also notice that Seth has the likeness and the image of Adam after he was contaminated by sin. So do Adam’s offspring, including us. 

Before sin came, Adam could communicate with God in spirit and know what to do. The spirit then passed the knowledge to soul, and body listens the command of the soul to perform whatever tasks asked. If Adam followed his command and made a right choice, he would have lived forever [6].

After the sin entered the world, the spirit died. The soul is still in the image of God but was contaminated by sin. The body paid the price, and died eventually [7].  At that time, they were also driven out of the garden of Eden [8].  Nevertheless, in Genesis 3:21, it says “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” Thus, animals died because of them. The concept of the substitution of salvation even exists at that time. It is really consistent with what in Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Some related verses

[1] Genesis 1:26, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

[2] Philippians 2:5-7, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.”

[3] John 14:9, “Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? “

[4] Genesis 2:15-17, “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

[5] 1 Thessalonians 5:23, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

[6] Genesis 3:22, “And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever.”

[7] Genesis 3:19, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

[8] Genesis 3:24, “So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”

 (Verses refer to those in King James Version – KJV unless otherwise specified.)

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