Isang Pagbubulay Matapos ang Halalan

Ilang mga botante mula sa Classes A, B and C ang dismayado sa resulta ng katatapos na halalan. Sa kanilang pananaw, may mga nakapasok sa Magic 12 na hindi naman karapat-dapat at merong mga karapat-dapat na malayo sa magic 12.

Ang kanilang sinisisi ay ang mga botante mula sa Classes D and E. Sila yung mga nasa pinakamababa sa mga antas ng lipunan.Karaniwan, sila ay may kakulangan sa edukasyon at hikahos sa buhay. Dahil sa kanilang kalagayan, marami sa kanila ay may mababaw na batayan sa pagpili ng mga iboboto: sayaw-awit sa mga patalastas sa telebisyon; matunog na apelyido mula sa mga angkan may dinastiyang politikal, mga pangalang kasali sa sampol ballot na iniabot ni Kapitan; at pinakamalala: mga kandidatong bumibili ng boto gamit ang salapi at groceries.

Upang ipakita ang pagkakaiba ng pagpili ng mga botanteng nagmula sa magkaibang antas ng lipunan, gagamitin natin ang datos mula sa exit polls ng Social Weather Stations noong 2010. Sa eleksyon na iyon, 15% lang ng mga botanteng nakatapos ng kolehiyo ang bumoto pabor sa kandidatong hinatulan ng hukuman sa kasong pandarambong. Pero sa mga botanteng elementarya ang tinapos, isang malaking hiwa na 31% ang bumoto para sa kanya.

Para sa mga botante mula sa Classes A, B, and C, ang mga kababayang mula sa Classes D and E ang nagpapapangit sa resulta ng mga halalan. Maaaring tama sila. Sa aking pagsang-ayon, hindi ko nilalahat ang mga mula sa Classes D and E. Meron din sa kanila ang matalino sa pagpili. Pero hindi maikakaila na napakarami mula sa antas na ito ang hindi marunong pumili ng mga taong dapat ihalal.

Subalit pagdating sa pagpili sa Diyos, ang lahat ay pantay-pantay. Walang kalamangan ang mga mula sa Classes A, B and C sa mga Classes D and E. Lahat sila ay pare-pareho ng saloobin. Lahat ng tao mula sa iba't ibang antas ng lipunan ay pare-parehong umaayaw sa Diyos. Ang lahat ay naghihimagsik laban sa kanya. Ayaw nilang kilalanin ang Diyos bilang Hari ng Daigdig.

Paano ko nasabi ito? Ito ay aking nasabi dahil sa nakasaad sa bibliya:

"Walang matuwid, wala kahit isa.
"Walang nakakaunawa, walang naghahanap sa Diyos.
Ang lahat ay lumihis ng landas at nagpakasama.
Walang gumagawa ng mabuti, wala kahit isa." Roma 3:10-12

Subalit dahil sa kanyang mayamang habag, nagliligtas ang Diyos mula sa Classes A, B, C, D and E. Yun nga lamang, ayon na rin sa kanyang perpektong karunungan, minarapat niya na mas marami ang kanyang ililigtas mula sa mga mas mababang mga antas. Sa anong layunin? Upang walang sinumang magmalaki sa kanyang harapan.

Ano kaya kung ganito ang iyong patotoo:

"Praise the Lord, naniwala ako sa ebanghelyo. Minsan lang ipinaliwanag sa akin, naunawaan ko agad. Buti na lang matalino ako. Hayaan na niyo yung mga tamatanggi sa ebanghelyo; Low I.Q. kasi ang mga 'yan."

Sino ang naparangalan? Sino ang naluwalhati? Ang Diyos ba? Hindi. Ikaw ang naparangalan. Ikaw ang naluwalhati. Ang galing-galing mo kasi.

Anu-ano ang nararapat na tugon sa katotohanang ito:

Una, PAGPAPAKUMBABA dahil nalaman natin na walang anumang katangiang taglay natin ang dahilan kung bakit tayo naligtas.

Ikalawa, PASASALAMAT dahil tayo, bagamat mga hindi karapat-dapat ay tumanggap ng masaganang pabor mula sa Panginoon.

Ikatlo, PAGLUWALHATI sa Diyos, dahil ito ang layunin niya sa pagliligtas sa atin-- ang matanyag ang kanyang dakilang ngalan.

1 Corinto 1:26-31: Mga kapatid, alalahanin ninyo ang inyong katayuan noong kayo'y tawagin ng Diyos. Iilan lamang sa inyo ang matatawag na marunong, makapangyarihan at maharlika sa paningin ng tao. Subalit pinili ng Diyos ang mga naturingang hangal sa sanlibutan upang hiyain ang marurunong, at pinili niya ang mga naturingang mahihina upang hiyain ang malalakas. Pinili niya ang mga pangkaraniwang tao, mga hampas lupa, at mga mahihina sa sanlibutang ito upang ipawalang saysay ang mga kinikilala ng sanlibutan. Kaya't walang sinumang makakapagmalaki sa harap ng Diyos. Sa kanya nagmula ang buhay na taglay ninyo dahil sa pakikipag-isa ninyo kay Cristo Jesus na siyang ginawang karunungan natin. Sa pamamagitan din niya, tayo'y itinuring na matuwid, ginawang banal at iniligtas ng Diyos. Kaya nga, tulad ng nasusulat, "Ang sinumang nais magmalaki, ang ipagmalaki niya'y ang ginawa ng Panginoon." (Ang Bagong Magandang Balita Bibliya)

The Curse and the Cross

May isang pangungusap na madalas kong marinig sa usapan ng ibat ibang tao. Tila ba halos lahat ng nasa paligid ay marunong magsabi ng "God bless you" o ang mas maiksing "God bless".

Kasabay ng kaway pamamaalam, sinasambit nila "God bless!"
Sa chat, "Sign-out na ako, 'God bless na lang'
Sa text messaging, "TY po! GBU" (pinaiksing thank you at God bless you)

Halos lahat yata ng bati ay ay puwedeng dugtungan nito.

"Happy Birthday, God bless!"
"Best Wishes, God bless!"
"Happy Graduation, God bless!"

Bukod sa pagsambit nito para sa mga indibiduwal, puwede rin ito para sa mga grupo. "God bless the PNP" o "God bless the AFP"


Naririnig ko ring sinasambit ito para sa mga bansa. Sa takot ng mga Kano matapos ang 9/11 terrorists attacks, madalas nilang sabihin "God bless America!" Mula naman kay Bro. Eddie Villanueva at sa mga tulad niyang walang kasawa-sawa sa pagpapapaniwala sa mga bulaang propetang nagsasabi na may "prophetic destiny" raw ng bansang Pilipinas, madalas kong marinig ang "God bless the Philippines!"

Tulad ng ibang mga pangungusap na bukambibig ng karamihan, maaaring sa iba ay "expression" na lang ito na hindi na napag-iisipan kung ano ang kahulugan. Subalit kung ito ay nauunawaan at sasambitin ng taos-puso para sa iyong kapwa, ito ay napakaganda. Nagpapahayag ito na nais mong maranasan ng iyong kapwa ang kabutihan, habag, pag-ibig at kagandahang-loob ng Diyos.

When we are sincere in saying "God bless you", two things could be said about us. First, we mirror the character of our God who is perfectly kind. Sa Genesis pa lang, makikita mo na agad na siya ay isang mapagpalang Diyos:
     a. In Creation-- 1:26-28
     b. In the Post-Flood world-- 9:1
     c. To Abraham and his descendants-- 12:1-2

Second, We fulfill the New Testament command "bless and do not curse"-- even to those who perseute us (Rom. 12:14)

Having mentioned Rom.12:14, I would like you to notice that an antonym for "bless" is right before us; it is the word "curse". The Greek word is kataraomi which is defined by Louw and Nida's lexicon as:

"to cause injury or harm by means of a statement regarded as having some supernatural power, often because a deity or supernatural force has been evoked."¹

In the ancient times, and even in the modern times, people believe that by uttering words, you either bring good or bad on other parties. We have a biblical example for this in Numbers 22 where Balak hired Balaam to curse Israel. We have pop-culture examples like Alice Bungisngis, the teenage witch whom  I saw on TV one day who said "Madapa ka sana!" at nadapa nga yung kaaway niya. And sadly we have examples from our own camp, professing evangelical Christians who adapted the lies of Positive confession (false) teachers like Kenneth Copeland who preaches messages like "You are the prophet of your own life" and Kenneth Hagin who tells his followers to declare "I am healed" no matter how severe the symptoms are.

However, one thing I am happy about is on the realization that man-made curses have no effect on those whom God has blessed (Num.22:12; Gen. 12:3). A dozen witches may form a coalition to cast spells against you but if you are blessed by God, no amount of man-made or even Satanic curses can harm you. For God is sovereign; when he stretches his hand, no one could turn it back (Isaiah 14:27)

But here is our real problem: the whole world is not under a man-made curse, but a curse from God himself.

All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." ~Gal.3:10

Objection Bro. Manny! God is love. God is good all the time; and all the time God is good. He gives blessings. He never curses.

Objection overruled (Gen. 3:19, 8:21, 9:11, 11:25, Deut. 28:15 ff.)

R. C. Sproul suggests the simplest way to understand what it means for a Jew to be cursed is to reverse the meaning of the priestly blessing in Numbers 6:24-26

The Priestly Blessing:

"The LORD bless you and keep you;

The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

 the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."

The Priestly Blessing reversed:

"May the LORD curse you and abandon you.

May the LORD keep you in darkness and give you only judgment without grace.

May the LORD turn his back upon you and remove his peace from you forever"²

To be cursed by God then is not just him withdrawing his favors but him working against you.

One key verse is Galatians 3:13: "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."

Sa mga karatig-talata nito, lumalabas na may mga bulaang guro na nakapasok sa iglesya sa Galacia; at kanilang ipinagkakalat na kung nais mong mapabilang at manatiling kabilang sa mga taong kinalulugdan ng Diyos, kinakailangang ikaw ay magpatuli at sundin ang mga nakasaad sa Mosaic Law. Kinagat ito ng mga tao.

Prideful man takes delight in the thought of being able to secure right standing before God by what he does. Human nature hasn't changed. This is confirmed by our experience in using Evangelism Explosion's diagnostic question #2: "Suppose you were to die today and stand before God and he were to say to you 'Why should I let you into my heaven?' What would you say?

Ang mga kadalasang sagot nila ay: "Sinisikap ko namang magpakabuti" o  "Wala naman akong tinatapakang tao" at iba pang works-based soteriology.

Paul saw such attitude as directly opposite to the gospel of grace. In verse 10, he asserts that those who rely on their merits measured by their adherence to the law are under a curse. He supports his assertion by quoting the law itself! (Deuteronomy 27:26). Thomas Schreiner reduced Paul's argument in a syllogism:

Those who don't do everything required by the law are cursed (v.10b)
 No one does everything required by the law (implied)

 Therefore, those who are of the works of the law are cursed (v.10a)³

James M. Boice comments:

“The law- is not a collection of stray and miscellaneous parts, some of which may be conveniently disregarded. It is a whole, and must be kept in all its parts if it is to be considered kept at all. The point is not that justification cannot come by keeping the law, at least theoretically, but that a curse is attached to any failure to keep it, no matter how small. Since all fail, all are under the curse. Paul is assuming the universality of sin in this quotation.”⁴

Woe is me! I am under God's curse. How can I escape from it?

Paul's answer is through Christ who gave his life on the cross to take the curse in behalf of those who would believe in him. The curse motif is very close to the penal substitution facet of the atonement. In my place, cursed he stood. The reversed priestly blessing was applied on Christ instead of being applied to me. He who has always been with the Father from eternity past, enjoying the sweetness of Trinitarian Fellowship was abandoned by his Father, because of the curse which was supposed to be upon us.

Moreover, he did not only rescue his people from the curse, he also placed them in a state of blessing (Galatians 3:14)

 -------------------- 

Footnotes:

1 J.P Louw and Eugene Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains

2 R.C. Sproul Sr., The Curse Motif of the Atonement, 2008 T4G Conference

3 Thomas Schreiner, Galatians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), p.204

4 James Boice, Galatians, Expositor's Bible Commentary

The Terrifying God and His Forsaken Son

He was terrifying when he wiped-out the world's population with a global flood.

He was terrifying when he showered Sodom with burning sulfur.

He was terrifying when fire came out from his presence to consume Nadab and Abihu for their experimental worship.

He was terrifying when he instantly struck Uzzah dead for rescuing the ark of the covenant from touching the soil.

The presence of the holy God then is not a safe place for us unholy ones. Isaiah understood this well that when he saw a vision of the Holy God, he thought his doom has come.

Yet when his beloved Son was arrested, none of the arresting team fell dead. Where is the terrifying God?

On trial, while answering the question of the High Priest, one of the officials struck him in the face and asked, "Is this the way you answer the high priest?". He was concerned about the honor of the High Priest yet trampled upon the honor of the Son of God. But he remained alive. Where is the terrifying God?

While on trial, a false witness appeared. He testified that Jesus forbids people from paying taxes. This was a big lie for when Jesus was asked on this very issue, he replied "Render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar..." Yet the liar remained alive. Where is the terrifying God?

They made him wear a mock royal robe; made him wear a crown of thorns. The King of glory was made a laughingstock. But they remained alive. Where is the terrifying God?

Blindfolded, they struck him repeatedly and asked, "Who struck you?". Yet they remained alive. Where is the terrifying God?

They spit on him. Probably some drops of saliva and phlegm landed on Jesus' face. Yet the offenders remained alive. Where is the terrifying God?

They stripped Jesus naked subjecting him to public shame. Nails were driven through his feet and wrists. Yet they remained alive. Where is the terrifying God?

The crowd taunted, "He saved others, but he can't save himself!". But no one in the crowd fell dead. Where is the terrifying God?

Where is the holy and terrifying Father who sent the global cataclysmic flood, burned Sodom, killed Uzzah and burned Aaron's sons?

He was there. In fact, the Heavenly Father was not passive in all these. He was actively involved:

This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. (Acts 2:23)

His wrath was poured out exclusively on his sin-bearing Son. When Jesus shouted "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?", he wasn't merely reciting the words of Psalm 22. This was a heartfelt outcry from an abandoned soul who for the first time since eternity past was separated from the presence of his Father to suffer for sins not his own. By this one sacrifice, we who believe won't have to fear the wrath of God anymore. The presence of God is now a safe place for those who believe in his Son. (Isaiah 53:3-6; Romans 3:25; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18)

Mata ng Diyos (Wolfgang)

Rev. 6:16

They called to the mountains and the rocks,

"Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!"

Mata ng Diyos

Wolfgang

Pagdilat ng kanyang mga mata, ang buong paligid ay makulay. Siya ay gumising sa umagang ubod ng ganda. Subalit ang kaligayahang kanyang nadarama ay biglang napalitan ng takot na walang kapantay. Ang sumira sa kanyang payapang araw: siya ay tinitigan ng Diyos na hukom.

Ipinakita sa kanya ang lahat ng kanyang pagkakasala at sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon ay kanyang napansin ang bahid ng dugo sa kanyang mga kuko. Kumaripas siya ng takbo papalayo mula sa mga nanlilisik na mata ng Diyos, ngunit sino nga ba ang makakaiwas sa presensya ng Diyos? Wala.

Ang Pahayag 6:12-16 ay pangunang-silip sa kung ano ang mangyayari sa oras na mabatid ng mga tao na ibubuhos na ng Diyos ang kanyang poot sa daigdig. Sa kaganapan ng dakilang lindol, pangingitim ng araw, pamumula ng buwan at pagkahulog ng mga tala, magigimbal sa takot ang mga 'di mananampalataya. Iiwanan nila ang kabihasnan at ikukubli ang kanilang mga sarili sa mga yungib at mga kabundukan . Ngunit higit sa lahat ng kanilang mga kinatatakutan ay ang pagharap nila sa Diyos Ama at sa kanyang Kordero. Mas nanaisin pa nila na sila ay bagsakan ng mga bato at bundok kaysa sila ay titigan ng napopoot na Diyos.

Iyan nga ang sasapitin ng lahat ng hindi nanampalataya sa Korderong Tagapagligtas. Subalit sa atin na pinagkalooban ng pananampalataya, walang tayong dapat ikatakot o ikabahala.

1. Sa mga mata ng Diyos, tayo ay napatawad na. Tayo ay katanggap-tanggap sa kanyang harapan. May kapayapaan na sa pagitan natin at ng Diyos (Roma 5:1)

2. Sa mga mata ng Diyos, tayo ay malinis na. Wala na ang bahid ng dugo sa ating mga kuko. Ang kanyang dugo ang siyang naglinis sa atin (Heb. 9:14)

3. Sa mga mata ng Diyos, tayo na mga makasalanan ay ibinilang bilang matuwid. Sa ating pakikipag-isa kay Kristo, ang kanyang katuwiran ay ibinilang na atin. (1 Cor.1:30; 2 Cor. 5:21)

4. Sa mga mata ng Diyos, tayo ay mga sinisintang anak. Hindi mga rebelde o mga kriminal na dapat puksain ang tingin niya sa atin. Malaya tayong tawagin siyang "Ama" (Juan 1:12; Gal. 4:6); tayo ay mga anak na kanyang inaalagaan, iniingatan at pamamanahan ng 'di mabilang at 'di masukat na mga pagpapala. Hindi panlilisik ng mata ang sasalubong sa atin kundi mga sulyap ng pag-ibig.

Things that Have Not Changed Before and After the Flood

The Revised and Expanded version of this post is found HERE.

4th Halo-halo Huwebes

MidTrib Out; PreWrath In

Zondervan has released a new edition of Three Views on the Rapture. The big surprise is that the MidTribulation Rapture position has been dropped in favor of the PreWrath view. Actually, it came not as a surprise to me anymore because I learned about the plan several months ago through a blog post by Alan Kurschner. I was then expecting Charles Cooper or Marvin Rosenthal to present and defend the position in this volume for they have been the primary advocates of the PreWrath view for nearly two decades now. What really came to me as a surprise is that the one chosen for the task is Alan Hultberg , a name I have not heard before. His profile at Talbot is found here. I am looking forward to Kurschner and Cooper's evaluation of Hultberg's presentation.

Douglas Moo who was also a contributor to the first edition returns to present and defend the PostTribulationism once again. Craig Blaising will stand for PreTribulationism. He is not new to the Counterpoints series since he stood for the PreMillenial position in the book Three Views on the Millenium and Beyond.

Watch Tower Vs. Watch Tower 

Because of this Christmas shopping advertisement in an old issue of Iglesia ni Cristo's (INC) Pasugo, I was reminded of two similar cases involving The Jehovah's Witnesses.

Case #1
The JW's believe and teach that Jesus was nailed on a stake, not a cross. They further believe that the cross is a pagan symbol and its use as a form of idolatry. Yet from January of 1891 to October of 1931, their publication Watch Tower displayed the cross symbol on the front covers.

case #2
The JW's believe and teach that saluting the flag is equal "to salute the Devil as the invisible god of the nation." Yet the May 15, 1917 issue of the Watch Tower contains this paragrah:

"Suppose the city or state officials should issue an order requiring, or even requesting that all persons display the American flag, what should we do? We answer, we think it would be right to display the flag in obedience to such an order or request. Everyone in America should take pleasure in displaying the American flag-- especially when requested so to do."
 

Sola Fide Safeguards Sola Gratia 

"The doctrine of free justification by faith only, which became the storm-centre of so much controversy during the Reformation Period, is often regarded as the heart of the Reformers' theology, but this is hardly accurate. The truth is that their thinking was really centered upon the contention of Paul, echoed with varying degrees of adequacy by Augustine, and Gottschalk, and Bradwardine, and Wycliffe, that the sinner's entire salvation is by free and sovereign grace only. The doctrine of justification by faith was important to them because it safeguarded the principle of sovereign grace."

 - J.I. Packer & O.R. Johnston

Historical and Theological Introduction

in Martin Luther's The Bondage of the Will

(Fleming H. Revell, 1957) p.58

Upon Hearing About a Friend's Death

"O, how I repent of our vain controversies when we last met, and we spoke so little of Jesus. O, that we had spoken more one to another! Lord, teach me to be always speaking as dying to dying."

-  Robert Murray McCheyne

Ecumenism in Heaven??? 

"Will there be in heaven saints saved according to a score sorts of gospel? Will these agree together to sing the same song? And what will the song be? Saved on different footings, and believing different doctrines, will they enjoy eternal concord, or will heaven itself be only a new arena for disputation between the varieties of faith."

            - Charles Spurgeon

Progressive Theology

Sword & Trowel (April, 1888)

Last Two Minutes

An Exposition of Luke 23:39-43

Sinusundan ko ang bawat laro

Ng koponan kong nanghihingalo

Sa bawat bolang binibitaw

'Di mapigilang mapapasigaw

Iyan ang mga panimulang linya ng likhang-awit ni Gary Granada, “'Pag Nananalo ang Ginebra” (tinig ni Bayang Barrios). Ito ay pagsasalarawan ng kasiyahang nadarama ng isang tipikal na basketball fan kapag nagwawagi ang kanyang paboritong team. Iyan din ang mga panimulang linya ng awitin niyang “'Pag Natatalo ang Ginebra”, pagsasalarawan naman ng damdamin ng isang tipikal na fan kapag nagkakalat ang kanyang paboritong koponan. Para sa mga hindi basketball fans, mahirap unawain iyan pero ganun po talaga. Ganyan ang damdamin ng mga fans. Masyado silang affected sa nangyayari sa hinahangaang koponan

Ngayon ay hindi na ako nanonood, pero pinagdaanan ko rin 'yan. Kapag natatambakan ang aking paborito, at nakikita kong nauubos na ang oras, nasasaktan ako. Lalo na kapag nakikita mong unti-unti nababakante ang mga upuan. Lumalabas na ng ULTRA o Araneta Colosseum ang mga manonood kasi tiyak silang hindi na makakahabol pa yung natatalong koponan-- at malamang marami sa kanila ay nasasaktan din tulad ko. Parang gusto ko na ngang patayin ang telebisyon kasi nga masakit sa damdamin.

Bihirang mangyari, subalit kung minsan ay nangyayari na yung hindi mo inaasahang makakahabol pa ay nakakahabol pa. Sunod-sunod ang turnovers ng kabilang team at nakaka-iskor naman sila. Makikita mo, yung mga lumalabas ng Colosseum at hindi pa nakakalayo ay biglang bumabalik sa kanilang mga upuan. Napasarap ulit ang laban. Akala mo wala nang pag-asa, meron pa pala.

Ang taong katabi ni Kristo sa kanyang pagkakapako sa krus ay aakalain mong wala nang pag-asang maligtas. Bakit?

Una, hindi siya isang relihiyosong tao. Siya ay isang kriminal. Kapag nanonood ako ng police report sa mga newscast, tinatanong ng reporter yung mga nahuling suspek, “matagal na ba ninyong gawain ito?” . Sagot ng suspek (habang tinatakpan ang kanyang mukha), “hindi po sir, ngayon lang po. Nayaya lang ako.” Kadalasan ay hindi kapani-paniwala, pero ibigay na natin. Meron naman talaga sigurong natukso lang, hindi naman talaga niya gawain. Sinubukan lang gumawa ng kalokohan- timbog agad.

Ang kriminal sa tabi ng Panginoon ay tinawag na kakourgos. Ganito ang depinisyon ng isang Greek lexicon sa salitang iyan:

"one who customarily engages in doing what is bad"

(Louw-Nida)

Hindi siya isang one time criminal na natimbog; siya ay isang professional criminal. Normal na sa buhay niya ang paggawa ng masama-- ito ang kanyang career. Hindi siya yung tipo ng tao na makikinig sa mga usaping ispirituwal.

Pangalawa, sa ulat nina Mateo at Marcos, noong una ay kasama siya sa mga kumukutya at lumalapastangan sa Diyos. Ang salitang “robbers” sa Matt. 27:41-44 at Mark 15:32 ay nasa plural form. Hindi isa kundi yung dalawang kriminal ang kumukutya at lumalapastangan sa Panginoon.

Isipin na lang ninyo ang kanyang kalagayan. Nakapako sa krus, marami siyang tinanggap na hagupit; marami siyang sugat. Sa bawat oras na dumaraan ay nanghihina siya. Slowly but surely, he is dying.

Pero saan niya ginagamit ang natitirang lakas? Ginagamit niya ito sa paglapastangan sa Diyos na may likha ng daigdig, laban sa Diyos na nagbigay ng buhay sa kanya at patuloy na bumubuhay sa kanya. Death is at the doorstep and he will soon face his Creator, and he is using the depleting energy in his body to mock the judge who has the authority to declare him justified or guilty.

Malapit na siyang malagutan ng hininga. Kumbaga ay last two minutes na ng kanyang buhay at kung mamasdan mo ang kanyang kalagayan, wala talaga siyang kapag-apag-asang maligtas.

Unexpected turn of events

Humirit ulit ng isa pang round ng pang-aalaska ang isang kriminal:

Luke 23:39- One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!".

Ang inaasahan niya, sasali ulit yung kapwa niya kriminal sa pang-iinsulto sa Panginoon. Pero ang tugon ng kanyang kapwa kriminal ay kagulat-gulat:

“ But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God..."

Marahil ay na-shock siya sa tugon ng kanyang kumpareng Kriminal-- “Anong nangyayari sa iyo pare?”

Makikita rin natin dito ang unang palatandaan ng isang taong binago ng Panginoon. Sabi niya “Don't you fear God”

But let me just say that these marks of conversion are not exhaustive. One must survey all the relevant accounts and deductive passages on conversion before we can present an exhaustive list of the Converts' marks. We will limit the marks to what we are seeing in Luke 23:39-43)

The first mark of conversion: fear of God.

Tulad ng lahat ng hindi pa mananampalataya, ang propesyonal na kriminal na ito ay walang takot sa Diyos. Ang pagsasalarawan ng bibliya sa lahat ng hindi pa mananampalataya ay "There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Rom 3:18). Subalit ngayon ay may malaking pagbabago-- biglang nagkaroon siya ng takot sa Diyos.'

Ika nga ni John Macarthur: “the first thing you see in a real conversion is a heightened awareness that God is a threat”

He is crucified; he is suffering from a cruel form of capital punishment in the ancient times. That is terrifying enough. Yet escaping from the cross is not his concern right now. For him there is something more terrifying than crucifixion.

The Roman government can only destroy his body. But there is a higher judge who can destroy not just the body but the soul as well.

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matt. 10:29)

He has fallen into the hands of Roman authorities, and that is dreadful. Yet that is not his concern at the moment. For him there is something more dreadful.

“ It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Heb. 10:31)

BTW, how do you evangelize? Is God a threat in your gospel presentation? Or do you have your own version of the gospel which offers a non-threatening God? Mag-ingat, baka hindi ebanghelyo yang ibinabahagi mo.

The second mark of conversion: a high view of Jesus Christ.

To the natural eyes, there is nothing impressive about Jesus. Even those who admired him in the early days demanded that he should be crucified during his trial. Christ is majestic in glory but he clothed it with frail humanity. As a result:

“He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,

nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.” (Isa.53:2 b)

The Pharisees, Saduccees, the Priests, Pilate, Herod and other authorities can't see his beauty. Moments ago, this criminal himself finds Jesus unattractive and unimpressive. He was mocking him moments ago. Yet there was a sudden change. His eyes were opened and he saw beyond what eyes could see.

a. He saw the sinlessness of Jesus.

Nakita niyang hindi nila ka-level si Hesus. They are rightly judged as criminals but this this man called Jesus is sinless. There is nothing in him that deserves this wicked punishment.

1 Peter 1:22- "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."

Heb. 4:15- "we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin"

b. He saw Jesus as a King

The crowd entertained themselves by placing a crown of thorns upon the head of Jesus. They nailed a sign which says ““This is the king of the Jews.””. Earlier, they put a mock royal robe on him. The irony is, the one whom they mocked is the true king who deserves more than the best robe the world can offer; he deserves the best crown which the world cannot give. He is not just the King of the Jews but the King of the entire universe and the heaven itself

This criminal however asked Jesus to remember him when he comes into his Kingdom. That is a recognition that Jesus is indeed King. For What is a kingdom without a King?

Namamangha ako sa lalim ng insights na ibinigay ng Diyos sa taong ito. In search for a similar case of conversion, John Macarthur says this criminal's conversion is close to Paul's. Pero sa ganang akin, mukhang malayo. You see, there was a miracle in the conversion of Paul. There was that blinding light. He even heard the audible voice of the Lord Jesus.on the way to Damascus. This man's conversion however was unaided by miracles.

When Jesus died, there was a violent earthquake; The temple veil was rended from top to button. The centurion who was guarding him were terrified by the earthquake and so they confessed, “"Surely he was the Son of God!".

Praise God for the salvation of that centurion; praise God for the conversion of Paul. However, the criminal's conversion was unaided by miracles and signs. All he saw was a wounded and dying man, yet he saw him as King.

The followers of Jesus along Emmaus road said “we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel (Luke 24:21)” – When Jesus died, their hopes for the Kingdom were shattered. But this man looks forward to the day when Christ will finally reign.

c. He saw Jesus' victory over death.

Again he saw something hidden from the eyes of others. In John 2:19-21, Jesus prophesied that when they shall murder him, he will rise again from the dead in three days. In verse 22, John reports that only after the resurrection did the the apostles understood the significance of Jesus' words about this resurrection. One apostle even said that he will not believe Christ's resurrection unless he can insert his fingers on Jesus' nail marks and his hand on Jesus wound by the side. These are men who benefited from Jesus' instruction and fellowship for three years.

~This criminal however did not have that privilege of walking with Jesus for three years. Ang mga Dabarkads niya sa nakaraang tatlong taon ay malamang mga kriminal din na kagaya niya. But he looks forward to the day when Jesus lives and reigns. Another unusually amazing deep insight from this man.

The third mark of Conversion: Willingness to be ridiculed for the cause of Christ.

The fact that it is written in the bible means that Luke's careful investigation (Luke 1:1-4) yielded eyewitnesses who heard of this confession. Just imagine the scene: the whole world is mocking Jesus. Everyone thinks he is a fraud. And out of that multitude of voices, you will confess Christ as King. For that reason, you will share the ridicule reserved only for Jesus.

~Charles Spurgeon comments: “Its easy to swim with the current, and hard to go against the flow”

Dear students, when the textbooks and the whole class assumes Darwinism (evolution), it will be easy for you if you will swim towards their direction. Life will be easier for you if you will just accept the assertion that molecules gradually change overtime to become man. But I'm telling you, God will be please if you can stand up for the Bible's teaching that man was instantly created by God in his image on the sixth day. Oh how I wish I could turn back time and be a maverick in the classroom.

When all the people around you think that homosexuality is okay, God will be pleased if you shall go against the flow at the risk of being labeled as a discriminator or an homophobic. Stand up for what the bible says about homosexuality.

Going against the flow not only pleases Christ, it is also a mark of true conversion, as demonstrated by that thief on the cross.

The fourth mark of conversion: his plea to be a recipient of mercy.

He knows he is a sinner; he knows what he deserves is punishment. Yet he sees Jesus as a merciful king and so he asked “Remember me”. That reminds me of the tax collector in Luke 18:13 who went to the temple yet stood at a distance. He can't even look up because of shame. And while beating his breast pleads “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

JESUS' Response

1. A Promise of Assurance

Aren't you glad there is certainty in Jesus promise? He said “you will be with me...” Ano kaya kung sinabi ni Hesus, Okay, you will be with me in paradise. Pero mag-ingat ka! May ilang oras ka pa para mabuhay. Baka magkasala sa last two minutes. Pagbabayaran mo sa purgatoryo ng sandaang taon. Magbilin ka na sa mga kamag-anak mo na mag-novena sila pagkamatay mo. Dapat ipagdasal ka nila tuwing death anniversary mo at All Soul's Days. No, Jesus gave a certain promise that he will be preserved for the remaining hours of his life so when he departs from this life, he will be in paradise.

Those who were faithful to the Lord for two minutes prior to death is just as safe as those who were faithful for the last twenty years. 


This ought to give us hope in sharing the gospel at someone's deathbed. Many times, our loved ones reject the gospel we offer. The rejection may last for decades, but God may still do something amazing in the last two minutes.


I'm also looking forward for surprises in heaven. We will see unexpected people there. "Nandito ka!!! "Di ba nagnakaw ka pa dalawang araw bago ka mamatay !!!"  We'll God granted him repentance before he took his last breathe.

2. Immediate fellowship

There are those who believe in Psychopannychy as an intermediate state, popularly called soul sleep . In this view, the soul is unconscious in between death and resurrection. This verse says that on that very day, the converted criminal will enjoy God's fellowship in paradise. The reunion of our souls with our bodies will wait until the resurrection--- John 6:44, “ I will raise him up on the last day” , but we will be in conscious fellowship with Jesus and other saints. Remember Lazarus with Abraham in Luke 16:19-31

Now if you think the doctrine of soul sleep is weird, there is something weirder. The Jehovah's Witnesses insist on this translation:

'Truly I tell you today, You will be with me in paradise." (New World Translation)

Other translations however read:

"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (NIV)

“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (ESV)

Legitimate bible translations place the comma before the word today; but the NWT places it after. That is strange because in other instances where the phrase “amen soi lego“ appears, the NWT always placed the break immediately after it. Luke 23:43 is the only exception. Why? As in other places where the NWT is controversial, they were translating out of theological bias.

NWT translated it that way to support a distinctive of the Jehovah's Witnesses: they believe that men cease to exist as persons at death. In their system the repentant criminal has been non-existent for the past 2000 years.

The following verses are proofs that we will enter into immediate fellowship with the Lord after death:

Acts 7:59

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

Phil 1:21-24

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.”

2 Cor. 5:6-8

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

This is not just to defend a doctrine. It is meant to give you hope that even death can do you no harm. All it can do to you is to bring you to immediate fellowship with your King.

CONCLUSION

Sa basketbol, ang isang koponan ay maaaring makahabol sa last two minutes malamang dahil sa husay ng mga manlalaro at sa strategy ng kanilang coach o di kaya ay dahil sa mga “lucky breaks”. Pero sa last two minutes salvation, hindi husay o suwerte ang batayan upang makahabol sa langit, kundi habag ng Diyos.

John 6:44 “"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

This is the story of two criminals. Both were notorious sinners. Both were deserving of eternal punishment. Both were unable to come to Jesus. The only difference is that God the Father has drawn one to come to his Son and the other was not. God's sovereignty and God's mercy were both displayed in this account of a salvation in the last two minutes.

William Paul Young: a Universalist ???!!!

In my post Biblical Exclusivism and the Destiny of the Unevangelized, I briefly discussed Pluralism and Inclusivism. For today's post, I would just like to mention another view that you must be aware (and beware) of.   This view is Universalism: " A belief which affirms that in the fullness of time all souls will be released from the penalties of sin and restored to God." (-David Eller in Elwell's Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 1st edition)        This post is prompted by the continuous success of The Shack, a book written by William Paul Young (from hereon, WPY). It's present  and strong in every bestsellers list: Amazon, USA Today, New York Times, ECPA-- name it        One controversial portion of that book (among many others) is when WPY's version of Jesus said: "Those who love me come from every system that exists. They were Buddhists or Mormons, Baptists or Muslims, Democrats, Republicans and many who don't vote or are not part of any Sunday morning or religious institutions."       WPY's Jesus says further: "I have no desire to make them Christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of my Papa, into my brothers and sisters, my Beloved." One man who claims to have known WPY for over a dozen years has recently written Burning Down The Shack in response to bestseller. His name is James De Young (from hereon, JDY), professor of New Testament Language and Literature at  Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon for over 30 years.        As a long time friend of WPY, JDY informs the readers that way back in April, 2004, WPY presented a 103-page paper defending a form of universalism. JDY defines this version of universalism this way: "Christian universalism (also known as universal reconciliation) asserts that love is the supreme attribute of God that trumps all others. His love reaches beyond the grave to save all those who refuse Christ throughout their lifetimes. Even fallen angels, and the Devil himself, will one day repent, be delivered from hell and enter heaven. There cannot be left in the universe any being whom the love of God does not conquer; hence the words, universal reconciliation. This view of future destinies claims many texts that seem to assert that the reconciliation Jesus accomplished on the cross extends to all creatures (Rom. 5:18; 2 Cor. 5:16-20; Col. 1:19-20), that all universally will confess him as Lord (Phil. 2:6-11), and that God's desire that all be saved (1 Tim. 2:4) will be accomplished. Nothing can thwart God's will and love."        JDY demonstrates that universalism is embedded within The Shack by comparing it to the creeds of universalism. You can read his list here. ----------------- More Reviews of The Shack from Respected Christian Personalities: Tim Challies- A Reader's Review of the Shack (pdf) Albert Mohler- The Shack — The Missing Art of Evangelical Discernment Albert Mohler- A Look at "The Shack" (mp3) Norman Geisler and Bill Roach- The Shack: Helpful or Heretical? Charles Colson- Stay Out of 'The Shack'

Isaiah's Christmas

Christmas Lessons from a Man Who Lived Seven Centuries Before Jesus' Birth


Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Israel is under the threat of Assyrian invasion. Assyria is God's instrument in bringing judgment to rebellious Israel (10:5-6).

God hides his face. He withdraws his favor upon the nation (8:17). Yet in their sinfulness, Israel did not seek God. Instead they hired mediums and necromancers so they could consult the dead (8:19)

And when the prophesied invasion, distress and famine came, they did not repent. Their response: they cursed God (8:21).

The Promised Light

Yet God in his mercy will send his light to subdue the darkness. Light will come (9:2). They will rejoice. They will be glad (9:3). As in the day of Midian, as in the time of Gideon, they will triumph over their oppressors (9:4). They will burn their battle boots and garments (9:5). They no longer need it for peace is coming.

God's cure for our horrors

God's cure for all their misery is--- a baby (9:6). The government shall be upon his shoulders and when he rules, he will be called:

1. Wonderful Counselor- His wisdom is greater than all other kings combined. He could never go wrong in his decisions. His knowledge is perfect.

2. Mighty God- He is powerful. He will never lose a war. He will subdue all his enemies.

3. Everlasting Father- His care for his people will be as tender as an affectionate father. Social injustice will never thrive when this king reigns.

4. Prince of Peace- He is able to bring peace. Not just absence of war, but he will cure the people of their sinfulness so that they will have peace with God (Romans 5:1)

This is Christmas according to Isaiah, that a God so zealous (9:7) to save a rebellious people sent a baby for us to be our king. Oh truly, this grace is amazing


Matthew 1:21
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

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