Philippine Asian News Today Vol 18 No 21 | Page 36

Wisdom from the Word
B12 FAITH AND RELIGION PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY November 1 - 15 , 2016
Wisdom from the Word
Ben Berto

THIS WE BELIEVE ABSOLUTELY : THE NATURE OF MAN 2

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us , that we should be called children of God ![ a ] Therefore the world does not know us ,[ b ] because it did not know Him . 2 Beloved , now we are children of God ; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be , but we know that when He is revealed , we shall be like Him , for we shall see Him as He is . 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself , just as He is pure . 1 John 3 : 1-3 NKJV
The only living creation on this world that knows what love is or how to love is Man . A lion protects his cubs just as a hen protects her chicks , but they don ’ t love them like a human being . God gave them a measure of intelligence and an instinct to protect and care but not to love . But try to harm the child of a Mangyan or an Igorot , and you will see how far a human being will go to protect her child and you will see what love is . M a n can turn his back on his family or country , but the Bible says that God never forgets the crowning act of His creation , that is Man himself . How can He when He made man in His own image ? This is why the Apostle John exclaimed , “ Behold what manner
of love the Father has bestowed on us , that we should be called children of God !” In Jeremiah , God said that He loved us with an everlasting love .
But we have one problem . We have been separated from God because of one three – letter word . That word is S-I-N , and it was caused by a twelve- letter word called DISOBEDIENCE . Man chose to believe what the snake told them in the Garden of Eden . You will not really die if you eat of this fruit . In fact , you will be like God to know good and evil . The snake , of course , being used as a medium by Satan was lying . So man lost his dominion , supplanted by the devil , and condemned to eternal death . That is the Law but this was where PLAN B was implemented . The remedy for sin . Satan ’ s joy was cut short when God intervened for mankind . In Job 33 : 24 , we read , “ Then He is gracious to him , and says ,‘ Deliver him from going down to the Pit ; I have found a ransom ’;” Who is the Ransom ?
We continue with the Denominational Statement of Beliefs ;
“ JESUS IS THE AN-
SWER “ But God , in Christ , reconciled the world to Himself , and
through His Spirit , He restores His image in us when we repent . He forgives our sins , frees us from the burden of guilt and shame , and restores us to companionship with Himself . ( 1 John 1 : 9 , 3 : 1 , 2 ) He deals with our sinful nature by transforming it ( Romans 12 : 1,2 ) making us new creatures ( Corinthinas 5 : 17 ) and thereby changing the way we live . This change is so radical that the Bible calls it a “ new birth ”. John 1 : 12 , 13 ; 3 : 3 )
“ Just as God warned , death was one of the results of sin that befell the human race .( Genesis 3:3 ). Humans became mortal , subject to death . Roamns 6 : 23 says that “ the wages of sin is death .” There are two kinds of death . Because of sin , everyone who is born into this world — even the most righteous person — is subject to the first death . However , this is not the ultimate death . The real “ wages of sin ” ( Roans 6 : 23 is the second death , which results in eternal annihilation . This is the opposite of eternal life . Fortunately , the only ones who will suffer this second eternal death are those who choose to continue their sinful life . For God has devised a plan by which sinful , mortal humans can escape the plague of death .
When we accept Jesus as our personal Saviour , we also accept the life that is His because He took upon Himself the death that is ours . As a result , those who accept Jesus may die the first death , but after that comes the resurrection , when they will be given immortality ( 1 Corinthians 15 : 51 , 57 , Revelation 21 : 4 )
“ The fall of Adam and Eve also affected their power of choice and that of their descendants . In Romans 6 : 12 , Paul ; speaks of sin that reign within our mortal bodies . WE are by nature the servants or slaves of sin ( Romans 6 : 17 ) WE are under the dominion of sin and death . We don ’ t have the option or power to resist . But when Jesus comes into our lives , He frees us from he power of sin and death so that once again we have the ability to choose freedom from sin . In place of death , we have the promise of eternal life . Romans 6 : 23 says , “ The wages of sin is death , but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord .”.”
My friends , who is our hope of obtaining eternal life ? It is Jesus Christ our Lord who is now ministering for us in the heavenly sanctuary . He is the Ransom . He defeated death at
the cross . A song says this ; “ My only Hope must be in Jesus To loose the burden of my sin ; There is no other power to help me Anew in life , I must begin . “ There is no other Saviour given No other Hope beyond the grave ; No other Name in earth or heaven , My guilty , dying soul to save ”.
Yes , only Jesus can do that for us . Will you accept Him as your Saviour ?
For prayer , questions and Bible study , call Ben at 604-581- 1278 , Junjun at 778-927-8040 , and Stanley at 604-700-3053 . You are invited to worship with us every Sabbath ( Saturday ) at the Abundant Life Community Seventh-day Adventist Church at 13062-104 Avenue , Surrey . Welcome .
Our new pastor has arrived . He is Pastor Leoma Macaraig . We welcome his wife Shiela , and their daughters Shekinah and Shiloh .

Moments

Fr , Jerry M . Orbos , SVD
The story is told about two good friends who were such basketball fanatics that they made a promise to each other that whoever would pass away first would find a way to communicate if there is basketball in Heaven . As fate would have it , the older one died ahead , and in keeping with their promise , he appeared to his friend and said : “ Friend , good news ! There is basketball in Heaven ! And you are playing center tomorrow !”
In today ’ s Gospel ( Luke 21:15-19 ), Jesus talks about the “ end times .” He reminds us that everything and everyone in this world will pass away . He also reminds us not to be proud of ourselves and our achievements . “ The days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down .”
Jesus also reminds us today that persecution is a part of our journey to Heaven . If we are not persecuted , it simply means that we are just playing it safe and are not really being true to our principles or upholding what
is right . It is okay to be persecuted . It is part of our faith . But woe to the persecutors . In time , they , too , will meet their fate .
Tim Orbos is our youngest brother , and his work as general manager of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is not easy . I pray a lot for him , and I ask other people to pray for him . In his difficult and thankless job , he is doing his best . And I know that he is a dedicated public servant . It pains me when he is persecuted and maligned for all his efforts , by people who magnify the negative and hardly see the positive in him . Be strong , Tim ! One with you .
Remember , insofar as we have inflicted pain of any sort on other people , we are persecutors . And remember , the evil one is the great accuser and persecutor . Insofar as we play his game , we become his instruments , and we help perpetuate his reign of sin and darkness .
It is so reassuring to know that truth and gladness will reign in the end . Let us hold on to

Till the end

this , our Lord ’ s promise . Let us not give up . Let us not lose our focus . God knows . God sees . God does not sleep .
“ By your perseverance , you will secure your lives .” The bottom line is that we make it to Heaven at the end of our lives . Remember , our journey is not so much about speed or power or style as about consistency , diligence and , yes , perseverance . Take the road less travelled . Take the road of prayer , humility , kindness and joy .
Next Sunday , Nov . 20 , is the Solemnity of Christ , the King of the universe . It is the fiesta of Christ the King Seminary on E . Rodriguez Sr . Avenue , Quezon City . It is also the Kristo Rey celebration in our hometown of Bani , Pangasinan , in the diocese of Alaminos . Wherever we will be on this day , remember to let Christ be the King , first and foremost in our hearts . Let Christ be our personal King . Amen !
Let me end with this story about a boy who said in class that his father ’ s name is Laughing , and his mother ’ s name is
WWW . PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY . COM
Smiling . Upon hearing this , his teacher told him that he must be kidding . Whereupon the boy said : “ No . Kidding is the name of my brother . I am Joking .” Remember , we who seek refuge in God can afford to smile in spite of trials , dangers , pain and persecution because we have God for our security and protection .
The Discalced Carmelite Fathers of the Philippines , together with the Notre Dame De Vie Secular Institute , will sponsor three talks to introduce Venerable Father Marie-Eugene of the Child Jesus , OCD ( born Henri Grialou ), who will be beatified in Avignon ,
France , on Nov . 19 . The talks will be held on Nov . 19 (“ Fr . Marie- Eugene : Friend of the Holy Spirit , Friend for all of Us ”), Dec . 3 (“ Fr . Marie-Eugene and St . Therese of the Child Jesus ”), and Dec . 10 (“ Fr . Marie-Eugene and the Mystery of the Church in Mission ”) at 10 a . m . at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Broadway , New Manila , Quezon City . The talks are open to the public . A moment with the Lord : Lord , help us to persevere in our mission till the end . Amen . ( Inquirer )