TESTIMONY OF SALVATION

A friend asked:  "How did you come to where you are now instead of remaining in the Roman Catholic Church?"

My answer:
I was a serious Catholic.
I went to confess my sins to a priest and every time I sensed that I have sinned, there was a burden in my heart, and my conscience alerted me that I had a blackened heart, and there is an awareness of danger that if ever I would die, I might be thrown into hell.  So I would hurry to the next chance to confess my sins.

One day, I was so tired, timid, ashamed of going to confession that led me into thinking, "There must be a better way"

I even prayed to an image of Jesus, and I said, "Please help me know how all my sins will be forgiven and be sure that I will go to heaven when I die."

One day, someone approached me, telling me that all my sins can be forgiven, past, present and future, if I would just receive Christ into my heart because although I know Christ, He was outside my life.

That illustration stuck in my mind.

After many years, I was alone in my room, and I took Christ at His word.  I told him "Lord, if I have never truly received you before, now I am making it firm, please come to my heart and be my Savior"  From that moment, I knew that Christ truly came.  I look around and observed the room if there will be some light or sound that will show me that Christ was with me, but nothing of that sort happened.  So I just told myself, even if no physical thing happened, Christ is in the Spirit and I know He is now in my heart.

I have always loved reading books, but this time reading the Bible was different because it talked to me as if I was being personally instructed and I can relate the experiences written there.  Then I was immersed by Pastor Abante Sr. and since then I always visited his library.  I read the books of John Rice, Charles Spurgeon, and the booklets of Leroy Shelton.  Somehow, the books of Spurgeon made sense to me although it was in hard English.  It was on those books that I learned how Christ was sent of the Father according to the scriptures, they showed me how Jesus, as the only begotten Son of God died for me as my substitute to cover all my sins with His blood.

Because all of those teachings were in Scriptures, I readily understood them and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as my substitute.

Another preacher came and told me that I am not saved by the sinner's prayer, but by the sacrifice of Christ alone, and I believed that, because it is in scripture.

Another preacher and another book explained to me some more about how I have no part in my salvation, but God planned it before the foundation of the world.  And so I give glory to God all the more because He chose me to be saved.

SOUL WINNING EXPERIENCE

LAST FRIDAY

I asked a Catholic how he deals with criticism of the Black Nazarene. He said, "it hurts him personally"

Then I showed him a verse from scripture.  Exodus 20:4-5

I asked him if he understood the verse. Then I asked him if he would follow God's instructions to him, God being his creator and he is only a creature.

He reasoned, "But, isn't it also good to follow where you have been brought up, the traditions of your community and family, which does not hurt anyone?"

Then I asked him again if he understood that it was God himself speaking in that passage.  He said "Yes"

So I said, "Now you are telling me or you are thinking, that both can be true, even if they are contrary to each other?  Isn't that not reasonable?  God says don't make, don't bow, don't serve; and traditions and family says, it is ok and good, so let us make, let us bow, let us serve"

Now you have to make to make a choice.  Will you follow the truth?  Will you follow God's command?  Or, will you follow your own understanding, religion, and family tradition?

If you follow your own way, your family, your tradition, then you are free to do it, but you must also know, that God said the opposite of what you want to do.

But more than this issue, Christ died on the cross for sinners, and you are a sinner. John 3:16 tells us - Christ is the only way you can have eternal life, forgiveness of sins, and to enjoy God forever. You must trust Christ alone and turn away from trusting all other names and things in your life.

Do you understand this?

PANGKALAHATANG KABULUKAN NG TAO

PANINIWALA SA TOTAL DEPRAVITY, o “PANGKALAHATANG KABULUKAN” NG TAONG NASA KASALANAN

ISINALIN MULA SA INGLES, SULAT NG BEREA BAPTIST BANNER NOBYEMBRE 5, 1999

Ang salitang, “pangkalahatan” ay nangangahulugan ng buong-buo, sagaran, at ang salitang “Kabulukan” ay tumutukoy sa kalikasan ng tao, kasama na diyan ang puso, kaluluwa, desisyon, konsiyensya, pag-iisip tungo sa katwiran, kabanalan, kadakilaan ng Diyos.  

Samakatwid, kapag sinabi natin na ang buong sangkatauhan ay lubog sa “pangkalahatang kabulukan”, naniniwala tayo na bawat isa ay makasalanan, walang matuwid kahit isa, at lahat ay nasa estado ng rebelyon laban sa Manlilikha.  Kaya ang tingin sa tao ng Manlilikha ay marumi.  At ang karumihan na ito ay kalat sa kanyang buong pagkatao.  Dahil dito, ang isang taong nasa kasalanan ay walang kakayanang sumunod sa Diyos.

Ang kabulukang ito ay umaabot sa bawat kagustuhan ng puso at isipan. (Boyce)

Ngunit sabi ng iba, “hindi iuutos ng Diyos sa tao ang hindi niya kayang gawain”  Ang kaisipang ito ay taliwas sa katotohanang tanging si Kristo lamang ang nakasunod ng LAHAT ng Kautusan ng Diyos.  Sa Kanyang pakikipag usap kay Nikodemo, sinabi Niya, “Katotohanan, katotohanan, sinasabi ko sa iyo, maliban ang isang tao ay ipanganak na muli, hindi niya makikita ang kaharian ng Diyos” (Juan 3:3)  Sinabi Niya rin sa mga Pariseo, “Bakit hindi ninyo naiintindihan ang aking mga sinasabi?  Sapagkat hindi ninyo marinig ang aking mga salita” (Juan 8:43).

Ang mga taong hindi pa ipinanganak sa Espiritu, ay tanging ang kanilang pisikal na kakayanan lamang ang magagamit sa pakikinig, kaya di nila maiintindihan o magagagap ang salita ng Diyos.  Ito ay sapagkat ang salita ng Diyos ay pumapatungkol sa mga bagay na spiritwal at ang laman ay walang kakayanang umakyat mula sa kamulatang pang-laman.

Dahil ang tao ay may “PANGKALAHATANG KABULUKAN” may alitan sa pagitan ng Manlilikha at ng tao kaya nga’t ang wika ni Hesus ay ganito, “Walang taong makakalapit sa akin, maliban ang aking Ama na nagsugo sa akin ay hilahin siya: at akin siyang ibabangon sa huling araw” (Juan 6:44).  Sinabi pa ng Panginoong Hesus, “Ang Espiritu ang nagbibigay-buhay; ang laman ay walang napapakinabangan:  ang mga salitang winiwika ko sa inyo, ang mga ito ay espiritu, at ang mga ito ay buhay.” (Juan 6:63-65)

Maaari nating sabihin na ang pagbibigay-buhay ng Espiritu ay tumutukoy sa Kanyang pagkilos na kung saan ang mga taong may sakit ng “PANGKALAHATANG KABULUKAN” ay lumilipat “mula sa kamatayan tungo sa pagkabuhay” (Juan 5:24).  Sabi pa nga ng Panginoon, “Gaya rin na ang aking Ama ay ibinabangon ang mga patay, at binibigyang buhay sila; gayon din naman ang Anak ay nagbibigay buhay sa sinumang gusto Niya” (Juan 5:21)

Samakatwid ay maaari nating sabihin na ang pagbibigay-buhay at ang pag-hila ay tumutukoy sa iisang bagay.  Ang radyo o telebisyon ay di makakatanggap ng programang nakapalibot dito mula sa hangin, kung ito ay patay.  Gayon din naman ang isang tao ay walang matatanggap na bunga ng kaligtasan mula sa Diyos kung siya ay hindi pa binibigyang buhay sa kanyang espiritu.  At ito ang aral ng 1 Korinto 2:14, “ang taong nasa kalikasan niya, ay hindi tumatanggap ng mga bagay ukol sa Espirito ng Diyos: sapagkat kahangalan lamang ang mga ito sa kanya:  ni hindi niya ito kayang alamin, sapagkat ang mga ito ay naiintindihan sa espiritu.”  At sinabi pa sa Roma 8:7 na “ang isipang sa laman ay kaaway ng Diyos, sapagkat hindi ito nagpapasakop sa batas ng Diyos, hindi kailanman”.  At si Apostol Pablo ay binigyang-diin ang mga ito sa pagsasabing, “Walang taong magsasabing si Hesus ay Panginoon, maliban sa Banal na Espiritu” 1 Korinto 12:3.  Ang ating Panginoon ay may sinabi din kay Pedro na, “Pinagpala ka Simon na anak ni Jonas:  sapagkat hindi laman at dugo ang naghayag sa iyo nito, kundi ang Aking Ama na nasa langit” (Mat 16:16-17)

Sa ating lipunan, sinuman na may kapansanang pangkalahatan ay hindi inaasahang magtrabaho.  Humahanap sila ng ibang paraan para makapagpatuloy sa buhay.  Gayundin naman, ang taong may “PANGKALAHATANG KABULUKAN” ay dapat lamang ilayo ang tingin nila sa kanilang sarili at ibaling ang kanilang pagtingin sa Panginoong Hesus, na Siyang gumawa ng lahat ng bagay


Sa usaping ito, ang sinabi ni Pablo ay, “Sapagkat sa biyaya kayo nangaligtas sa pamamaraang pananampalataya, at hindi mula sa inyong sarili:  ito ay regalo ng Diyos: hindi mula sa gawa, upang walang sinuman ang magmalaki.” (Efeso 2:8,9)

Kapag sinuri ang salita ng Diyos ukol sa “PANGKALAHATANG KABULUKAN” malilinawan na ang isang taong nasa kasalanan ay hindi makakaita (Juan 3:3-7) hindi makakapasok sa kaharian ng Diyos kung walang bagong kapanganakan (Juan 3:3-7); hindi makakarinig ng salita ng Diyos (Juan 8:43); hindi lalapit kay Kristo (Juan 6:44); hindi kayang sumampalataya kay Kristo (Juan 12:39-40) hindi magpapasakop sa kautusan ng Diyos (Rom. 8:7) hindi kayang makaintindi ng mga katotohanang espiritwal (I Cor. 2:14); hindi kayang magsabi na si Hesus ay Panginoon (I Cor. 12:3) hindi kayang makapagbigay ng katuwaan sa Diyos (juan 3:6; Rom. 8:8).

Samakatwid, ang mga nasa kasalanan ay nasa kalagayang nakatanikala at pagka-alipin at walang kakayanang palayain ang kanilang sarili.  Ang kanilang tanging pag-asa ay nakasalalay kay Kristo Hesus.

Ang totoo, sinasabi ng banal na kasulatan na “Sapagka't ang kautusan ng Espiritu ng buhay na kay Cristo Jesus ay pinalaya ako sa kautusan ng kasalanan at ng kamatayan.” Romans 8:2

THE HIGHEST KIND OF LOVE IN THE UNIVERSE

WHY DID I SAY THAT THE HIGHEST LOVE IS THAT BETWEEN THE FATHER AND THE SON?

God loves the Son

He made all things for Him (Col. 1:16)

He loves  him fom eternity to eternity

Even in His forsaking in the cross it was for His glory

Whatever is His Son's is loved by God

Does God hate the sin but loves the sinner?

Proverbs 15:26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.  

God hates the sin but loves the sinners?

I don't think so.
— Nilo del Mundo (@baptistinriyadh) December 16, 2013

GLEANINGS FROM THE INSTITUTE

THREE BIG BASIC QUESTIONS OF LIFE

1. Where did I come from?
2. Why am I here?
3. Where am I going?

What your answers are determine your world view

YESTERDAY
We understood a concept of sin
Federal, Seminal, and combination of both

We talked about the HOLY THING placed by the HOLY GHOST inside Mary's womb
It was not a combination egg cell sperm cell.
It was a whole Son of Man, Son of God, Holy living thing already whole and placed inside a woman's womb for sustenance by natural gestation periods of a human being.

We also talked about the concept, the reality, the people thrown in hell for all eternity that will give glory to God

In what way?  God's execution of perfect justice glorifies Him


The title Theotokos
1. Adoption at the Third Ecumenical Council
As a title for the Virgin Mary, Theotokos was recognized by the Orthodox Church at Third Ecumenical Council held at Ephesus in 431. It had already been in use for some time in the devotional and liturgical life of the Church. The theological significance of the title is to emphasize that Mary's son, Jesus, is fully God, as well as fully human, and that Jesus' two natures (divine and human) were united in a single Person of the Trinity. The competing view at that council was that Mary should be called Christotokos instead, meaning "Birth-giver to Christ." This was the view advocated by Nestorius, then Patriarch of Constantinople. The intent behind calling her Christotokos was to restrict her role to be only the mother of "Christ's humanity" and not his divine nature.

Kaylan kaya? hay pic.twitter.com/B6Op1usAT6

— Nilo del Mundo (@baptistinriyadh) December 13, 2013