The Holiness of God as Our Assurance that Evil and Corruption Will Be Eradicated Soon

There may be others but I could only think of three reasons why political leaders fail to eradicate graft and corruption:

1. Lack of political Will
 
2. Limitation in power-- corruption is deeply embeded in the system that it takes absolute power to eradicate it.
 
3. The political leaders themselves are wicked-- Ironically, if you fill what is lacking in #2-- that is if you grant absolute power to a political leader to enable him to fight corruption, he might turn out to be the problem himself. Remember the maxim, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

In God's kingdom, the three things mentioned above doesn't exist.

1st, God rules with perfect political will. He says "Surely, as I have planned, so will it be; As I have puposed, it will stand" (Isa. 14:24)

2nd, God is unlimited in power. It is written, "For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, who can turn it back?"

3rd, the maxim stated above doesn't apply to God. His absolute power will not corrupt him because God is light and in him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). There will never be an iota of dirt in the character of God. He alone can combine absolute power with absolute holiness.

Since the three problems in human governments are absent in God's rule, evil and corruption will not exist in the King's abode.

1 Cor. 6:9-10 "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."
 

"Woe is me! Will I be outside the gate?"

When I was a university student, there was a sign I see daily. It was posted at the gate: No ID, No Entry. What is required for us to enter God's abode is perfect righteousness. The heavenly policy is: No Perfect righteousness, No Entry

Revelation 21:27 "Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful..."

We also know that none among us possesses this requirement. Romans 3:10 "There is no one righteous, not even one"

Will we be then outside the gate?

The complete Revelation 21:27 reads "Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life."

Though many will not be able to enter in, the Lamb keeps a book of names-- names of those who will be richly welcomed in God's dwelling place. I list here three aspects of what the Lamb has secured when he was sacrificed at the cross:

1. By the Lamb's sacrifice, believers were made POSITIONALLY holy. That is they are not actually holy, but "God justifies the wicked" (Romans 4:5) as they receive by faith what Christ did for them at the cross. In theological jargon, this is JUSTIFICATION.

2. By the Lamb's sacrifice, believers are PROGRESSIVELY being made holy. Here we are "being transformed into his likeness" (2 Cor. 3:18). In theological jargon, this is SANCTIFICATION. Believers will be excited to enter heaven because they have experienced the joys of holy living here on earth.

3. By the Lamb's sacrifice, we will be made INSTANTLY holy. 1 John 3:2 says that when Christ appears the second time, we will be like him. Because God is holy, he will not leave those whom he loved in their sinful state. When time ends and eternity begins, there will not even be a hint of sin on the present bad boy Manny. In theological jargon, this is GLORIFICATION.

So we should be glad that this dreaded holiness of God is our assurance that our future dwelling place will be free from all evil and corruption-- including the evil and corruption presently in us.
 

The Holiness of God as Our Assurance that He Will Fulfill His Promises

A neighbor preparing for his birthday banquet comes to you and says: "May I borrow your large cooking pot? I will return it tomorrow after the banquet." After a dozen tomorrows, he still keeps your large cooking pot.

Men are unholy. They don't honor their word. They place little value on integrity. But God is not like unholy men. He is absolutely holy. Thus, when God promises something, he will surely fulfill it. In Psalm 89:35, he says: 

 "Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness--

and I will not lie to David--"

Such is the character of God. You cannot find any hint of falsehood in him.

You know that he promised that he will never leave you or forsake you (Heb. 13:5). Because he is holy, we have the assurance that in the most difficult circumstances, he is with those whom he has redeemed. "Is he a million miles away?" No! He is a God so near.

You know that he has promised that whoever hears his word and believes will no longer face judgment (John 5:24). Because he is holy, he will fulfill it. You don't have to worry about paying for your own sins. No condemnation awaits you for you are in him.

He promised that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). Because he is holy, he will fulfill it. You don't have to be anxious about that present trouble ruining you. It will only be for your welfare to bring you closer to God.

Numbers 23:19---"God is not a man, that he should lie,
    nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.
  Does he speak and then not act?    Does he promise and not fulfill?" (NIV)

The Holiness of God as a Source of Comfort

The holiness of God is one of the less popular topics for a sinful generation. It certainly doesn't tickle their itching ears. They don't want to be told that the shows they watch, the music they listen to, the sites they visit and the magazines they browse are abominable before the pure eyes of God. They will really be offended when you tell them that the thoughts that cross their minds, the words they speak and the life they live are repugnant before the holy God. They find no comfort in the fact that God is holy.

For the next two posts, I will discuss two things about the holiness of God that brings comfort to believers:

1st, The Holiness of God as Our Assurance that He Will Fulfill His Promises

2nd, The Holiness of God as Our Assurance that Evil and Corruption Will Be Eradicated Soon

Tomorrow, I will touch on the first one and on Saturday, the second one.

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Suggested Reading:

 The Holiness of God (R.C. Sproul)

Not all critics of Harold Camping are on the side of righteousness. Many of them are just scoffers.

Photo Credit: thefreedictionary.com

On the day Harold Camping's "Bible-guaranteed" prediction failed, I went to his Facebook page to see what's happening on the wall. Those responses that call for his repentance are proper. Camping must be told about his folly.

Yet on Camping's wall, you could also read posts from wicked men. One such post is from a man named Ron Holden. He posted:

"The bible guarentees it" - You mean that work of FICTION that was LOOSELY based on hear-say that happened 300 YEARS before it was written?? You mindless, ignorant fuckin' lemmings. Drink the kool-aid and get off my planet.

Let's list what Holden believes about the Bible.
 i. it is a "work of FICTION"
 ii. the Bible was not written by first century eyewitness but a product of hearsay-- written in the 4th century.
 iii. its believers are as mindless and ignorant as a certain kind of rodent.

Another post, by Matin Sabz asserts:

Jesus was a bastard kid, his mom got knocked out before marriage and blamed it on G0d, 2011 years later, there are morons out there who believe this fairytale...

Sabz believes that:
i. Jesus was not Virgin-born
ii. he was a product of  pre-marital sexual relations
iii. Jesus' mother was a liar who claimed that the baby in her womb was from God.

iv. those who believe in the virgin birth are morons

So not all who criticize Harold Camping are on the side of righteousness. They don't know it, but false teachers like Camping and mockers like Holden and Sabz are on the same side-- the Devil's side. Long ago, the Apostle Peter prophesied about the advent of such mockers. He wrote:

"First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this `coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." (2 Pet. 3:3-4 NIV)

These mockers think that life will go on and on and on the same way. They reject the idea of a righteous God acting in history to judge the wickedness of men. Peter then assures his readers that just as the wicked world in Noah's day was judged by God through a cataclysmic global flood, this present world that mocks Christianity will also face God's judgment, this time not by water by fire.

Nobody listened to Noah, the Preacher of Righteousness during his time (2 Pet. 2:5). In every day that passes, life seems to be normal for the wicked. They were eating and drinking. Businessmen were selling. Consumers were buying. Lovers were getting married. Perhaps with mocking they talk about Noah, "that crazy old man is buiding an ark-- he is expecting a great flood" and together the wicked laugh out loud (LOL). But the day of the Lord came like a thief and destroyed them all-- except that family of eight inside the ark who believed the word of God.

And so will it be the same when the true judgment time comes.

"He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power" (2 Thess.1:8-9)

But what about us? What shall we do? The Bible instructs us not to join the mockers (Psalm 1:1). Instead, we are to believe and proclaim the gospel. We must warn everyone that God has set a day when he will judge the world (Acts 17:31).

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Bad Anthropology from that Facebook App

Mensahe daw ng Diyos...

"... that there are no bad people, only people with bad ideas. Have compassion towards such people, and help them sober up from the influence of bad ideas."

On the contrary, people are already bad by nature even before they have conceived any idea. The Bible reveals our sinful nature even while we were still in our mothers' womb. Psalm 51:5 says "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me." (NIV)

And because we are sinners by nature, our inclination is not to love godly ideas but to hate and suppress them (Rom.1:18). This is the reason why we need redemption that is in Christ Jesus-- the redemption that brings light to our darkened minds (2 Cor. 4:6)
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Related Post: Mensahe Daw ng Diyos...

Ang Diyos at ang Pako sa Sapatos ng Kabayo

Photo Credit: Absolute Astronomy

Hindi maayos ang pagkakapako sa sapatos ng isang kabayo. Iyan ang nagdulot ng pagkasawi ng pinakamahusay na mandirigma. At dahil nasawi ang kanilang pinakamahusay na mandirigma, natalo sa digmaan ang isang bansa.

Ayon sa isang dayuhang kasabihan: "Para sa isang taong nakasuot ng salamin na kulay luntian, ang lahat ng bagay ay kulay luntian". Para sa isang taong nakasuot ng salamin na kulay ateismo (atheism), ang lahat ng kanyang makikita ay kulay ateismo. Babasahin niya ang mga aklat kasaysayan (history books) at ganito ang kanyang makikita: NAGKATAON lang na hindi maayos ang pagkakapako sa sapatos ng kabayo. NAGKATAON lang na ang kabayong iyon ay pag-aari ng pinakamahusay na mandirigma. NAGKATAON lang na nadisgrasya siya dahil sa isang maliit na pako. NAGKATAON lang na natalo ang isang bansa sa digmaan. NAGKATAON lang.

Ang suot kong salamin ay kulay bibliya; dahil dito lahat ng aking natatanaw ay sinisikap kong ilagay sa balangkas ng Teolohiyang Kristiyano. Sa tuwing nagbabasa ako ng diyaryo o mga aklat kasaysayan, nakikita ko ang kamay ng Diyos. Ayon sa Efeso 1:11, ang Diyos ang nagsasagawa ng lahat ng bagay ayon sa kanyang pasya at kalooban. Ang Diyos ang kumikilos upang maganap ang maliliit na bagay tulad ng pagkatangay ng alikabok sa hangin hanggang sa pagdapo nito sa likod ng kalabaw. Ang Diyos rin ang kumikilos upang maganap ang malalaking bagay tulad ng pagbagsak ng isang hari mula sa kanyang trono.

Mula sa isang biblikal na pananaw, ang Diyos ang sanhi kung bakit hindi maayos ang pagkakapako sa sapatos ng kabayo. Siya rin ang sanhi kung bakit naaksidente ang pinakamahusay sa mandirigma. Siya ang sanhi kung bakit nasawi sa digmaan ang isang bansa.

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Babala: Mag-ingat kay Charles Capps

 Minabuti ng Diyos na ako ay makapasyal sa PCBS-Dagupan noong nagdaang araw ng Huwebes. Sa kagandahang-loob niya ay naka-diskuwento ako  sa ilang mga aklat.

Agaw-pansin naman ang mga aklat ni Charles Capps. Marami ang stock kaya't sa wari ko ay maraming naghahanap at bumubili ng mga aklat na iyon. Nakakalungkot sapagkat si Capps ay isang mapanganib na guro. Ang layunin ng paskil na ito ay bigyang babala ang mga mambabasa.

1. Si Capps ay isa sa mga tagapagturo ng Word of Faith Movement. Sa sistemang ito, ang mga sinasabi ng Diyos ay nagkakatotoo hindi dahil sa siya ay Makapangyarihan kundi dahil sa kanyang pananampalataya. Sa kanilang salin ng Mark 11:22, ito raw ay "Have the faith of God". Ang tanong diya eh, Kung ay Diyos ay may pananampalataya, kanino siya nananampalataya?

2. Tayo bilang mga tao ay may taglay ring kapangyarihan sa ating mga sinasambit. Kung ano raw yung sinabi mo, yun ang magkakatotoo. Kung Positive Confession ang sinabi mo tulad ng "Ako ay magkakaroon ng BMW", magkakatotoo nga 'yan.  Kung Negative Confession naman ang sinabi mo tulad ng "Malapit na akong mamatay", 'yan ang magkakatotoo.

3. Maging ang Diyos ay WALANG MAGAGAWA upang bigyang lunas ang bunga ng iyong Negative Confession. Sa kanyang aklat na The Tongue- A Creative Force, sinabi raw sa kanaya Diyos:

"Ikaw ay sinasalakay ng diyablo at WALA AKONG MAGAGAWA. Ako ay IGINAPOS ng iyong mga sinabi."

4. Sa kanyang aklat na Authority in Three Worlds, Isinulat ni Capps na ang Diyos ang namamahala sa daigdig noon; subalit nang magkasala si Adan, nalipat ang kapangyarihan kay Satanas. Hindi makakilos ang Diyos sa daigdig. Ang tanging paraan para makakilos ang Diyos sa daigdig ay gumawa ng mga hakbang na LEGAL ayon sa pananaw ng "SUPREME COURT OF THE UNIVERSE". Sa aral ni Capps, ang Diyos ay hindi ang Kataas-taasang Hukom; kailangan niyang magpasakop sa isang mas mataas na korte-- Ang "Supreme Court of the Universe"

Hindi ganito ang Diyos na ipinakikilala ng Bibliya. Ang Diyos ng bibliya ang siyang pinakamataas at pinakamakapangyarihan. Malaya niyang ginagawa ang lahat ng kanyang maibigan (Awit 115:3)

Cabaret (Liza Minnelli)

Rico Yan, 27

Marky Cielo, 20

AJ Perez, 18

Julie Vega, almost 17

KC De Venecia 16

Hindi nagkukulang ng paalala ang Diyos tungkol sa katotohanang maiksi ang buhay ng tao. Subalit sadyang hindi basta basta natututo ang tao. Hindi sapat ang leksyon na maiksi ang buhay upang tayo ay magkaroon ng sigasig sa kabanalan.

Sa isa sa mga awitin ng sanlibutan, may mga ganitong linya:

Start by admitting

From cradle to tomb

Isn't that long a stay

Alam ng sanlibutan na maiksi ang pagitan ng ating pagiging sanggol (cradle) at ng ating kamatayan (tomb). Subalit batay sa katotohanang iyan ay ganito ang prinsipiyo na kanilang binuo:

"Life is a cabaret. old chum

Only a cabaret. old chum

I love a cabaret"

Ang mensahe ng awitin, dahil maiksi an buhay, lubos-lubusin na natin ang paglilibang. Dahil hindi tatagal ang buhay, mag-inuman at magtugtugan na lang tayo. Maiksi ang buhay kaya "Let us Party Pilipinas!". 

Basahin ang buong lyrics ng Cabaret sa link na ito.

Ipinaskil ko ang munting sulatin na ito sa mismong araw ng muling pagkabuhay ng ating Panginoong Hesus sapagkat ang katotohanan ng muling pagkabuhay ang siyang lunas natin panlaban sa Buhay Cabaret ng Sanlibutan. Sa 1 Cor. 15:32, ganito ang isinulat ni Apostol Pablo "... Kung hindi rin lamang bubuhaying muli ang mga patay, mabuti pa'y sundin na lamang natin ang kasabihang ito, 'Kumain tayo at uminom, sapagkat bukas tayo'y mamamatay.'" (Revised MBB)

Samakatuwid, ang buhay Cabaret ay para sa mga taong walang inaasahan na kabilang buhay. Ang mahalaga ay ngayon, ngayon, ngayon at baka wala nang bukas. Salungat diyan ang prinsipiyo ng mga taong may inaasahang muling pagkabuhay. Dahil sa tiyak ang tagumpay natin mula sa kamatayan at pagkabulok, ang habilin na kasunod sa v. 58 ay "Kaya nga, mga minamahal kong kapatid, magpakatatag kayo at huwag matinag. Maging masipag kayo sa paglilingkod sa Panginoon, dahil alam ninyong hindi masasayang ang inyong paghihirap para sa kanya."

Ituro mo sa akin ang isang mananampalatayang masigasig sa kabanalan at ituturo ko sa iyo ang isang mananampalatayang nasasabik sa langit.