Jump to content
  • Welcome Guest

    For an ad free experience on Online Baptist, Please login or register for free

Devotionals

  • entries
    128
  • comments
    288
  • views
    47,620

Contributors to this sermon

Analyzing the Chinese word, 'Righteousness.'


Alan

3,817 views

 

Analyzing the Chinese word Righteousness

「義的分析」

by Alan

Introduction

The Chinese written language is very unique. The Chinese words are called, “Characters,” and use a visual, or pictograph, series of lines, called, “strokes,” that represent a word, or a thought, or an action.

 

In written Chinese, we have an example of the righteousness of God through His Son, the Lord Jesus, in the word, “righteousness.” In Chinese, the word righteousness is written as, The Chinese word righteousness is composed of two major words; the word Lambon the top and the word Me or Us 「我們」on the bottom. The word Me or Us 「我們」is composed of two words: the hand 「手」 and a spear

 

Righteousness is very important. God is holy and will not allow sin into heaven. A person needs to be reconciled to God, or to become righteous, in the sight of God, in order to escape the punishment of hell and enter into everlasting life in heaven. Before a person is a Christian in the sight of God he is unrighteous. The Apostle Paul said, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” Romans 3:10 Therefore, in order for a person to have eternal life in heaven, in the presence of God, he must be righteous. He must have his sins forgiven.

 

We will analyze the Chinese word for righteousness and look at an example of how we can become righteous by God’s principles. In order to understand righteousness in the sight of God, we must turn to the word of God; the Bible. The Bible is God’s word and we can trust it.

First 「羊」 A Lamb

A sinless sacrifice must be made to forgive sins. And, it must be according to what God says. The Bible says that the blood of animals cannot take away the sins of mankind. Hebrews 10:4 says, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.” The animal sacrifices of the world cannot take away a persons sins. This includes the Muslims in the Middle East, and the sacrifices of the Buddhist, Confucianists and Taoists of the East. Hebrews 10:4, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” The sacrificial lambs that God required by the Jews under the Law of Moses in the Old Testament did not take away sins; they were an object lesson of the sacrificial sacrifice for sins by the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. They were a guide, or a teacher, for the sacrifice of Christ. Galatians 3:24, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

 

The Lord Jesus was sinless and perfect. In contrasting the sacrifices of the Jews under the Levitical law, the Old Testament, and the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus as our priest and sacrifice for sins, the author of the book of Hebrews makes this statement. By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. … For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,and made higher than the heavens. Who needed not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for his he did once, when he offered up himself.” Hebrews 7:22, 26 & 27

 

The Lord Jesus was sinless and totally righteous. A Chinese proverb says,義刑於色Translated, that means, “Righteousness manifested in one's appearance.”

 

Wang Ming-Tao says, “Yes, our Lord is completely holy. You can not find anything that He did without any blemish or unrighteousness. When He was on the earth no matter if it was a disciple, or if it was an enemy, including anybody else that had anything to do with Him, they all gave a clear testimony that He did not have even a little bit of sin or unrighteousness. 王明道:「是、我們的主就是那樣完全聖潔。你不能在他的身上找出一點污穢不義來。他在世上行走的時候、無論是他的門徒、他的仇敵、以及與他毫無關係的人、都證明他沒有少許的罪惡不義。」i A free translation by the author.

 

The Lord Jesus was like a lamb sacrificed for us. John the Baptist said, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29 The Lord Jesus died on the cross, like a harmless lamb, and shed His blood as a sacrifice.

 

As with the Jews in the Old Testament the eternal salvation of the soul is by the imputation of righteousness the moment a person, by faith, trusts in God. When a person realizes that he has sinned against God, and deserves to spend eternity in hell, and believes by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as his payment for sins, than God imputes, or gives, His righteousness to that individual. For what saith the scriptures? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” Romans 4:3

Second 「我」 Me,  「我們」or Us

Why did Jesus become a sacrifice? In order to redeem us. So we can obtain eternal salvation. To reconcile us to God. Before a person is saved he is a sinner and His relationship with God is severed . The sacrifice of the Lord Jesus is the only way we can be reconciled with God. The Lord Jesus was sinless. He became sin for us while on the cross in order for us to become righteous.2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For he [God] hath made him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Third 「手」The Hand

God made us. He made our hands. We can use our hands for good or for evil. God gave us the ability, the will, to either serve Him or the Devil. The decision is ours. Matthew 27:1&2, When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontus Pilate the governor.”

 

Because of our sins, the hand of man apprehended the Lord Jesus Christ. The hand of man hit Jesus. The hand of man took a whip and whipped Jesus. The hand of man took a nail in one hand and a hammer in the other hand and nailed Jesus on the cross. The hand of man caused the blood of Jesus to be shed. The Lord Jesus allowed men to crucify Him so His blood could be shed for our sins.

 

The apostle Peter testified, “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.” Acts 2:23 We can either use our hands for good or for wickedness.

Fourth「戈」 A Spear

The hand of man took a spear and pierced the side of Jesus and more blood flowed from the body of Jesus. John 19:34 says, “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.” Jesus died for us! The Lord Jesus became a sacrificial lamb to die for the penalty of our sins on the cross of Calvary.

 

John 3:16 says, “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.” We need to have a repentant heart and believe on the Lord Jesus as our Saviour!

Conclusion

The Lord Jesus was righteous in every aspect. When a person repents and trust in Jesus as their Saviour then God imputes the righteousness of Jesus to that person. The Lord Jesus becomes our righteousness. 1 Corinthians 1:30 says, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”

 

Because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary we can have forgiveness of our sins, escape the punishment of hell, and obtain eternal life in heaven. The Lord Jesus left the glory of heaven, became a man, to die on the cross as a sacrificial lamb, to shed His blood, so we could be saved and the righteousness of God imputed to us. So we can be reconciled with God.

 

i Wang Ming Tao, Treasuries of Wang Ming Tao, Volume II The Hard Road, (Touliu, Taiwan: Conservative Baptist Press, 1996), Page 93. 王明道,王明道文庫,第二冊,小徑(臺灣斗六:浸宣出版社,1996),93頁。

9 Comments


Recommended Comments

  • Administrators

If all of that is contained in the characters of what we would call one "word", what a wonderful language it must be. The lesson, as you have laid it out is the heart and core of the Gospel message to all mankind, regardless of race or language. Thank  you for using this wonderful example to teach of the perfect sacrifice of God in the person of Jesus Christ. Your post reminded me of what I write below, which I consider a high point in my life.

Twenty years ago I had the privilege of working with a brilliant Chinese scientist who had been a professor of Plasma Physics at the University of Beijing. His name was Wu Cheng and we became very close during the time he and I worked together at a remote research site in Alaska. His English was poor and he felt a need to learn the language better so that he could communicate better with our staff and researchers. This resulted in my offering to teach him English and he, in return would teach me Chinese. lol...the result was a 50% success rate, he learned English and I failed in Chinese miserably.

But through our friendship we became close friends, with him visiting my house for dinners and casual conversation about each others lives. He was able to teach me many things in regard to Chinese culture and I was able to do the same for him. I have had very few friends in this life that were as close as he and I became. This friendship and mutual sharing of cultural differences and similarities led him to become extremely interested in my life as a Christian and Christianity in general. He attended church with me on Sundays as well as mid-week services.

In our time together we had many many opportunities to not only talk about my faith, but to actually hold Bible studies, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Before long his interest in my religion and walk with our Lord bore fruit. Our friendship, his keen interest in Christianity, as well as his professional thirst for truth as a scientist, was the mechanism that God used to bring him to Christ. His conversion was very obvious to me; he developed an insatiable thirst for God's Word as well as a burning desire to be able to take God's word to the Chinese people once he returned to China. He spent a lot of time devising ways to be able to bring Bibles back with him when he finally had to return to China.

I thank God for the opportunity to use a working environment to develop a friendship resulting in the salvation of a soul that had never heard the Gospel message. Wu Cheng went to be with our Lord shortly after his return to China. I will miss him here, but rejoice that our parting is but for a short time. We will renew our friendship and fellowship once again in the land that is fairer than day, for death has given way to victory. 

Edited by Jim_Alaska
Link to comment
  • Members

Jim,

Thank you for your testimony concerning your relationship with Wu Cheng. We are very thankful that you were able to led him to a salvation experience with the Lord Jesus. Sometimes, as with Wu Cheng, due to their background, culture, religion, ancestor worship, and other situations, their salvation experience is often dramatic and life changing.

It was also a blessing to hear that your personal relationship with Wu Cheng was a blessing in your heart and life. I am sure that you were a blessing to Wu Cheng as he was to you. A Christian Chinese as a friend is a wonderful blessing.

Chinese is a very hard language to learn: both spoken and written. Deep within the history of the Chinese race is the work of God among them to bring them to Christ. Although written Chinese is a complex language; as you said, it is a wonderful language, and God has His hand in it in order to show His love to the Chinese race. In eternity we will understand the work of God in all of the races of the world and spend eternity renewing friendships as you had with Wu Cheng.

I am sure that all of us enjoyed hearing your testimony.

Alan

 

 

 

Link to comment
  • Members

A Ranch in the Colorado Mountains near Guffey, Colorado

59e9d250bf556_1Corinthians1.30DevotionRighteousnessGuffeyColoradoRanch.thumb.JPG.5180f1f889b2d87b740f498325ae79f1.JPG

 

 

Linux - GIMP 2.8

Photo by Alan

May the Lord bless all of you.

Alan

Edited by Alan
Link to comment
  • Members

Thank you for the Chinese lesson as well as the teaching, brother Alan.

And brother Jim, What a wonderful joy to have been used of the Lord to help lead Wu Cheng to salvation in Jesus! It's been a while since I have felt that thrill of exhilaration and pure joy that we get when someone isn't just interested, but actually believes and accepts Christ, even more when they (as had did) has the desire to evangelize his Chinese friends and family. (And as you said, his thirst for God's word being insatiable, you knew he truly had come to Christ). While there have been several people take an interest in God's word lately as I witness to the unsaved world, sadly, they are soon "turned off" (so to speak) when they find out that God isn't going to guarantee to grant their every wish nor fix all their worldly problems. 

I spent a good deal of time answering (with scripture) questions from a secular  friend. She had (sadly) been watching a TV evangelist and was under the belief she would be healed and receive riches and prosperity in this life if she found a "prayer partner" to "pray in agreement" with her. It angers me greatly the harm that these false teachers and wolves have done. It was rather a long ordeal trying to deprogram her. And so I first started with the gospel. Sadly, she wanted to SKIP that.... and as you know we can't do that. Over the course of a few weeks, I then also explained to her that God doesn't work like waving a wand over us and fixing all our problems here on earth... but rather I took her to the scripture pertaining to eternal rewards instead. There is much more to this account, but in a short summation she really wasn't interested in eternal salvation, she (sadly) still was of the belief she is a "good person", even though I'd used much scripture to explain to her that we are all sinners in need of a savior, and all our good works of what we call righteousness are like filthy rags to God. I explained Rom.3:10 to her, and many others. I also explained that Jesus was the one and only acceptable propitiation (payment) for our sins, etc.  She just wanted interested... she wanted immediate gratification, and all her worldly problems fixed "right now". She'd been brainwashed by the TV evangelist into believing if she just had someone to "pray in agreement" with her, all her worldly woes would be over :(   She wanted immediate health and wealth... she didn't want to admit she was a sinner in need of  savior, and there are no short-cuts to that! She wasn't willing to believe that Jesus died for her sins, was buried and rose the third day (1 Cor.15:1-4), in fact as long as she still thinks she is a "good person", it's not likely she will see her need for salvation at all, no matter the scriptural warnings. 

And that is one of the "better" experience I've had of late... most often I am cussed out, threatened, given "facebook jail" (24-72 hour bans) for posting Bible verses that offends anyone, and mocking... always the mocking from those who believe their "god" is false science (1 Tim.6:20). I truly hope it is not this way for everyone, and that there are still some coming to Christ in the world. These are truly the perilous last days forewarned of in 2 Tim.3:1-7,13. Not just that, but a marked increase in those whom God Himself has turned over to a reprobate mind (Rom.1:18-32).  Receptivity of the unsaved is at an all time low that I've ever seen in my lifetime. And hostility towards the gospel, or even any of God's word, is also increasing greatly. Nonetheless I will keep posting the gospel and scripture to the unsaved world in the places they most need to hear it, it may be that I plant or water, and it's up to God whether there be an increase. 

Maranatha!

Link to comment
  • Members

Ronda,

Thank you very much for your comments. It is a blessing to my heart to know that the devotion was a blessing to you.

I also appreciate your dedication in trying to bring others to Christ and His righteousness. As you stated, so many in the Charismatic Movement (the leaders and the followers),  as so caught up in emotions, seeking wealth, health, and the things of the world, they miss the eternal blessings of salvation and the righteousness of Christ.

Keep up the good work in witnessing; in person and online.

As always, I do enjoy your comments and testimony on how the Lord is using you in these last days.

May the Lord bless and keep you.

Alan and the Mrs.

Link to comment
  • Members

Chinese, to me, is the most difficult language to learn in the entire world; not to mention the variety of dialects such as Mandarin, Cantonese, etc. I'm thrilled that more churches are being planted in China, and I have seen them prosper mightily in the Lord.

God Bless!

Link to comment
  • Members
On 9/18/2017 at 9:10 AM, Jim_Alaska said:

If all of that is contained in the characters of what we would call one "word", what a wonderful language it must be.

I have seen the beauty and depth in Hebrew ,   where much more Yahweh's Life is Revealed, Present, Conveyed, as the Father in Heaven Reveals to little children.  Some things difficult or argued about in English,  became perfectly simple truth in Hebrew, when read and God Gave Understanding as His Word Says He Delights To Do.

"The Lord Jesus was sinless and totally righteous. A Chinese proverb says,義刑於色Translated, that means, “Righteousness manifested in one's appearance.”"

This may be of note - the underground, persecuted, martyrs in the house churches/meetings in China were almost the only ones I've ever heard of or read about or met

who lived totally changed lives abiding in Jesus the 'same' as did the Apostles and disciples and ekklesia (set apart ones) in the first century/ in Scripture described with God's Revealed Description. 

They lived such lives that "without a word" observers of their remarkably different lives were converted to be born again believers.   To be converted for them, to be born again,  also meant and still means today a potential beating, arrest, imprisonment, and executions.  They , the ekklesia in China,  knew this before being converted,  and chose to repent and be immersed in Jesus' Name instead of pretending to be saved quietly so their hearts were indeed and in truth circumcised by the Father in heaven in a circumcision not made with hands.  They received a brand new heart and He created in them a clean spirit (i.e. re King David, a man after God's Own Heart).

Link to comment

Join the conversation

You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Add a comment...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Sermon Stats

    • Total Sermons
      67
    • Total Entries
      376
  • Sermons & Devotions

  • Blog Comments

    • Poems with Power to Strengthen the Soul by Mudge   samples here: https://archive.org/details/poemswithpowerto01mudg/page/174/mode/2up?ref=ol&view=theater
    • Please check out this thread again. I updated it with new (good) versions of the PDF books. Explanation above.
    • The Song Of The Redeemed I like it when something in a passage gets explained and it opens up. I’m sure I knew some of this before (though this old brain gets forgetful), but it struck me more today. Rahab, when used as a symbol through the Old Testament, refers to Egypt. Now read this: Isaiah 51:9-10 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon? Art thou not
    • Thy Gentleness Hath Made Me Great Was just reading some poetry by king David, and came across one of my favourite verses again. Focus on the last part of this verse: Psalms 18:35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. In the world’s eyes, we may not be much or accomplish much, but in God’s eyes, we are great - because of Him. Who we are in Christ never changes from day to day, so we can alwa
    • In The Day When I Cried Sometimes we think it is presumption to ask the Lord to answer a prayer today. Though if a prayer does seem more urgent, we may have asked the Lord to perfect (complete) that which concerneth us (from Psalm 138:8). If we have a need or a trouble, we may pray for it, expecting God to answer it in His own timing. But what happens if the need seems more urgent, if the trouble we are facing seems more dire, perhaps even time-sensitive? Is it presumptuous to pray, asking
    • Does God Delight In You? Psalms 18:19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. If you have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation, you are accepted in Him by the Father - and you therefore become a child that He delights in. Proverbs 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. We may not like the application of this second verse to ourselves, but He corrects us beca
    • Reading The Scriptures   There are two main words for know (and its forms) in the New Testament.   1) Strong’s #1492, eido. This word basically has the idea of head knowledge, knowing about something.   2) Strong’s #1097, ginosko (from the root word, gnosis, knowledge). This word has the idea of knowing about something personally, personally experiencing what you know about.   Looking up every time the word know (or a form thereof) occurs in the NT (with these ba
    • Good to see the two studies on this theme still here in the Sermons section. My websites got repeatedly hacked two years ago. We lost all content and had to rebuild from scratch. These two were ones I still hadn't put up again. A bit of copy and paste, and there we go!
    • DRAW NEAR TO GOD   Song of Songs 1:4 Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.   The above verse is a prayer or desire of the believer desiring to fellowship with her Lord.   I love how the Word of God uses the idea of God drawing us to Himself.   Firstly, through His death on the cross and the preaching of the G
    • No debate. God told the first man and woman,  husband and wife,  that they would die if they disobeyed Him. They disobeyed Him. They died.  The time that passed before this was physically observed was considerably longer than 75 years, right ?  So also today,  do not look at what is seen with the eyes, nor listen to what is heard with the ears (carnal, fleshly, worldly, physical),  rather trust ABBA YHVH.
×
×
  • Create New...