Friday, November 27, 2009

Is God Able To Lead You To Repentance?

Man’s words, “…All humanity is invited and enabled by the Spirit to experience a radical change of mind away from sinful egoistic self-centeredness and toward God and his love experienced in union with Jesus Christ.”

Actually, those who are teaching that all humanity — according to them, every person in the world — are “enabled by they Spirit to experience a radical change of mind…” or to “repent” — are also saying that because of our human free will, others would also refuse to repent!

Just think about if this is Biblical or even logical: God would enable a person to repent, yet he could still unable to do it. Where is “enabling” there?

Besides, you cannot find a verse that shows God is enabling every person to repent!

Should we not accept God’s Word and realize that “…God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?” (Rom. 2:4, NIV.)

Many, however, would prefer to extol the human free will and would be comfortable with the humanistic reasoning: God has enabled everyone to repent, yet others remain to be unable to do it!

Could we not bow down before the Sovereign Will of God as we accept that He determines whom He wants to lead or grant repentance? And if He leads you to it, you’ll be able to really have it?

Monday, July 20, 2009

Can You Call God, "Father"?

While others claim that everyone is the child of God, God’s Word declares in Romans 8:14-16:


“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” {NKJV).


Who are the “sons of God”?


The Bible says, “…as many as are led by the Spirit of God.” You cannot find a sentence or phrase in the Bible which says, everyone in the world is led by or has received the Spirit of God.


And we, who have received the Spirit, we are able to cry out “Abba, Father.”
We are able to call God as “Father” not because we have just an ideal physical father in this world.


Wether we grow up without knowing any father, or we have an undesirable earthly father, we can still call God, “Father” — not just from our throat, not just from our lips, but even from the heart, because of His Spirit who enables us!


As we also read in Galatians 4:4-6:


“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’”


You may be able to call God, “Abba, Father” from the heart, not because you just decide, or you exercise your human will to do so. But God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your heart. And as God’s Word tells us in Romans 5:5:


“…the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”


God’s Spirit does not force us to say, “Father.” Through His Spirit, genuine love for Him blossoms in our hearts that we are able to affectionately call upon Him, “Abba,” or “Papa,” or “Daddy,” etc

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Ninoy Aquino "Had Seen" God!!

Ninoy Aquino, the Filipino Senator who is now regarded as a Philippine hero, had known God during his solitary confinement in the Martial Law days in the Philippines.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

My God, My God, WHY Have You Allowed Your Word To Be "Twisted"?

“Ignorant... unstable” twisted your Holy Word (2 Pet. 3:16)!
Lord, why have You allowed it to be twisted?
Isn’t it tho many plans are in our heart,
It’s Your Sovereign purpose that prevails (Prov. 19:21)?

Tho we make plans, it’s You Who determine our steps (Prov. 16:9).
Even hearts’ desires and longings of a king,
You direct wherever You please (Prov. 21:1).
Yet, why allowed Your Word to be twisted?

You do what You please with the powers of heaven
And the peoples of the earth (Dan. 4:35).
And those who walk in pride You are able to humble (Dan. 4:37).
Yet, why allowed Your Word to be twisted?

Tho Your Word declares, You chose us who believe (1 Thess. 1:4-5),
But why allowed others teach everyone are chosen?
You say believers are saved and justified (Rom. 1:16-17; 3:38).
Why let others preach everyone is justified and will be saved?

You declare nothing is impossible with You (Luke 1:37).
But why let others imply it’s not possible for You
To create a new heart, a willingness that one may accept Your Gift?
Why allowed Your Word to be twisted?

Holy, Holy, Holy, are You, according to Your Word (Rev. 4:8 ).
So, Just are You in bringing wrath (Rom. 3:5)
On those “who are self-seeking... who reject the truth…” (Rom. 2:8.)
Why let others, as if, to say, You are Love, Love, and Love?

My God, my God, why have You .… ...? But …!
Didn’t You allow even the Personal Word,
Your Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to be crucified?!
Truly,You work out “everything in conformity” with Your Will (Eph. 1:11).

And the Word that goes out from Your mouth,
Will not return to You empty,
Will accomplish what You desire
And achieve the purpose for which You sent it (Isa. 55:11).

Like Your Son, Your Literal Word triumphs
Over misinterpretations and mistakes!
Forever it endures in spite of those who want to destroy it!
So grateful, Oh Lord, for the joy and peace Your Word gives!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

MERCY Or "Foreknowledge"?

Recently, I realized that someone "embraced" Arminianism, because she is "uncomfortable" with or could not just accept God's Word which says, "Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden" (Rom. 9:18, NIV).

She opted to believe how Arminians define "foreknowlege" -- God gives His Spirit to those He has chosen to be saved, because He knows beforehand that they would accept His offer.

I just don't know if she is also aware that the Reformed view of predestination did NOT just start from Calvin, but you could also read it in the book, City of God by Augustine -- not only in the letters of Paul.

Anyway, last time, we had a brief encounter. I told her, "I have something for you. It's Titus 3:5-6..."

And I continued to recite it, "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His..." -- "foreknowledge?" I asked her.

She was nodding in approval. But I shook my head and slowly quoted God's Word, "... according to His mercy..."

Our conversation was stopped, however, because someone had called her attention and talked with her for other matters. She just told me that she would look up the verse later.

If I could have continued, not only I would finish quoting Titus 3:5-6, but I would also tell her about a good illustration of mercy in the New Testament: the Samaritan who had mercy on the victim of the robbers (Luke 10:30-37).

The victim was "half-dead" -- unconscious -- and the Samaritan did not bother to ask, if he wanted to be helped. He just extended his mercy to him. And the victim had no ability to refuse the help of a Samaritan and prefer the assistance from a Jew. He did not have even the consciousness to ask for help.

We are victims of Satan -- spiritually dead -- totally helpless. Without the Spirit of God to enable us to draw near to Christ, we would not have any desire to follow Him. Even if we have the so-called freedom of the will, we could not exercise it for we are spiritually unconscious!

We read in Romans 8:6-8, "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God."

Thus, if not for God's mercy, we would not or we are unable to receive His Spirit and be saved. It's by God's grace.

Could we not submit and bow down to the glorious weight of God's Word: "It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy" (Rom. 9:16)?

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Sunday, January 18, 2009

WHY Others Are Not Attracted To God?

It is a popular belief or teaching that others are not attracted to God, refuse to follow Him, or find more pleasure in sin than God, because of our so-called free will.

And because of our human choice, others also believe that we are able to resist or disregard His Call.

BUT, what did the Word of God say?

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, told the Samaritan woman, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him..." (John 4:10, NKJV.)

If we really knew Who Jesus is, our reaction or choice would not be to reject or refuse Him or what He is offering!

Others reject God or refuse His Word because of their ignorance, or false or incomplete understanding of God. It is not just because of their choice.

But if we really knew Him, our immediate reaction is to admire, adore and worship Him -- not because we are forced, but because we are attracted to Him.