Each of the many names of God describes a different aspect of His many-faceted character. Here are some of the better-known names of God in the Bible:
EL, ELOAH [el, el-oh-ah]: God "mighty, strong, prominent" (Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 139:19) – etymologically, Elappears to mean “power” and “might” (Genesis 31:29). El is associated with other qualities, such as integrity (Numbers 23:19), jealousy (Deuteronomy 5:9), and compassion (Nehemiah 9:31), but the root idea of “might” remains.
ELOHIM [el-oh-heem]: God “Creator, Mighty and Strong” (Genesis 17:7; Jeremiah 31:33) – the plural form of Eloah, which accommodates the doctrine of the Trinity. From the Bible’s first sentence, the superlative nature of God’s power is evident as God (Elohim) speaks the world into existence (Genesis 1:1).
EL SHADDAI [el-shah-dahy]: “God Almighty,” “The Mighty One of Jacob” (Genesis 49:24; Psalm 132:2,5) – speaks to God’s ultimate power over all.
ADONAI [ˌædɒˈnaɪ; ah-daw-nahy]: “Lord” (Genesis 15:2; Judges 6:15) – used in place of YHWH, which was thought by the Jews to be too sacred to be uttered by sinful men. In the Old Testament, YHWH is more often used in God’s dealings with His people, while Adonai is used more when He deals with the Gentiles.
YHWH / YAHWEH / JEHOVAH [yah-way / ji-hoh-veh]: “LORD” (Deuteronomy 6:4; Daniel 9:14) – strictly speaking, the only proper name for God. Translated in English Bibles “LORD” (all capitals) to distinguish it from Adonai, “Lord.” The revelation of the name is first given to Moses “I Am who I Am” (Exodus 3:14). This name specifies an immediacy, a presence. Yahweh is present, accessible, near to those who call on Him for deliverance (Psalm 107:13), forgiveness (Psalm 25:11) and guidance (Psalm 31:3).
YAHWEH-JIREH [yah-way-ji-reh]: "The Lord Will Provide" (Genesis 22:14) – the name memorialized by Abraham when God provided the ram to be sacrificed in place of Isaac.
Tuesday 31 October 2017
Ano ang sinasabi ng Bibliya tungkol sa pagtawag sa kaluluwa ng tao?
Nagwakas ang paghahari ng makapangyarihang hari ng Israel na si Saul ng tuluyan siyang tumalikod sa Diyos at sumangguni sa isang mangkukulam. Pinili ni Saul na humanap ng kasagutan mula sa isang mangkukulam ng hindi siya sinagot ng Diyos ng ayon sa kanyang kagustuhan. Sa 1 Samuel 28:6-20, hiniling ni Saul sa mangkukulam na tawagin ang espiritu ng propetang si Samuel. Ang malaking kasalanang ito ay binanggit kalaunan sa 1 Cronica 10:13, 14 kung saan binigyang diin ang ginawang pagkakamali ni Saul: “Namatay si Saul sapagkat hindi siya naging tapat kay Yahweh at sinuway niya ang kanyang mga utos; sumangguni pa siya sa kumakausap sa espiritu ng namatay na sa halip na kay Yahweh. Kaya siya'y pinatay ni Yahweh at ibinigay ang paghahari kay David na anak ni Jesse.”
Saturday 28 October 2017
The Tabernacle as a Type of Jesus Christ
Dr. John R. Sampey said, "A type may properly be defined as a person, institution, or event in the old dispensation which was designed to prefigure a corresponding person, institution, or event in the New."
The Old Testament institutions and ceremonies were powerless to save the souls of men. They were devised as types of Christ and the different phases of effectual salvation (Cf. Hebrews 7, 8, 9, 10). The Tabernacle and later the Temple typified the places and the manner in which Jehovah met with His people and dealt with their sins. They were a type of the Incarnate Christ and His ministry for men. The priesthood typified the one and only perfect priest, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Offerings, Feasts, and Ceremonies all typified things having to do with redemption through the Messiah and the life of the redeemed. The Old Testament people were a type of the New Testament people of faith. The places of the Old Covenant were typical of spiritual places or conditions. Even the land was a type of salvation to come through the Christ. The following are some of the main types found in the Tabernacle.
The HIGH PRIEST was by divine appointment (Exodus 28:1; Heb. 5:4-6; 7:20-24). Only the High Priest could make atonement (Lev. 16:1Â3; Heb. 7:27; 6:20; 8:3; 9:7, 12, 24-28; 10:12; 13:20;2:9; 1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; Ex. 28, 29; Lev. 8; Num. 3, 8; cf. Heb. 5, 7, 9). Jesus was the Great High Priest offering up Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sin debt.
The key to the TABERNACLE is Christ (Exodus 25-27). It symbolized the dwelling place of God in the midst of His people. As a type of Christ, it symbolized the meeting between God and man (Heb. 9:21-24; 2 Cor. 5:19; Col. 2:9; Heb. 10:5; Rev. 21:3; Jn. 1:14 2:13-22). The tabernacle is a symbol, picture and prophecy of the man in whom God should become incarnate. It is also a symbol of the Body of Christ, the Church (Col. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 12:13; Rom. 12:5; Eph. 2:21, 22).
The GOAT HAIR TENT COVER (Exodus 26:7ff) completely covered the Tabernacle. It is a symbol of the complete way in which the sacrificial death of Jesus covers the Body of Christ. Because of the death of Christ, and our acceptance of it, God cannot see our sins (Lev. 9:15; Num. 28:22; Isa. 53:10; Heb. 9:10, 14, 26, 28; Eph. 5:2; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Jn. 1:9; Ps. 32:1).
Count Your Blessings, Abraham
When God called Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3, he received several promises. The final element of the blessing is found in these words: "And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed" (Genesis 4:12b). It reaches back into the families being divided by sin in Adam's fall (Genesis 3), the deluge and the confusion of the languages at Babel. The curse of sin will be replaced by blessings. It will be a blessing so great that its effect will extend to "all the families of the earth."
Abraham took God at His word and believed Him. "For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness'" (Romans 4:3).
Let's bear in mind that Abraham did not merit God's special blessings. There was nothing in Abram that commended him to God. "There is no one righteous, not even one" declares the Word of God. Abram had an idolatrous background (Joshua 24:1-3). Even though he had a pagan ancestry God in mercy and grace reached down to Abram. The great blessings of God always begin with His grace. God saved him by grace.
This blessing can be thought of only in connection with the promised Savior. This promise to Abraham is definitely messianic and determines that the Messiah is to emerge from the line of Abraham. Only in the idea of the Messiah does the depth of the thought adequately display itself. All of the promises that followed in the Hebrew Scriptures were merely expansions, closer definitions and identifications of the salvation held out to the whole human race in this promise.
The Gospel writer Matthew, writing to Jewish people, began with these words from "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham" (Matthew 1:1).
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Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is Jehovah; the people He has chosen for His inheritance.
Friday 27 October 2017
Paano natin igagalang ang ating mga mapangabusong magulang?
Ang salitang “pangaabuso” ay may malawak na pakahulugan. Ang isang bata ay maaaring lumaki ng maayos at natutugunan ang mga pangangailangan maliban sa pangangailangan ng pag-ibig at pagtanggap. Maaaring walang pisikal na pananakit ang ginawa sa kanya, ngunit sa pagdaan ng panahon, ang kanyang espiritu ay nanghihina gaya ng kung paanong nalalanta ang halaman dahil sa kawalan ng sikat ng araw. Nagiging desperado siya maging sa mga maliliit na pagpapakita ng pagmamahal hanggang sa siya ay maging tulad sa isang normal na binata o dalaga, ngunit sa kanyang kaloob-looban, siya ay nanghihina at naparalisa dahil sa kawalan ng pagtanggap at pagsang-ayon ng kanyang mga magulang.
O kaya naman, ang espiritu ng isang bata ay maaring maparalisa sa kanyang murang edad – bagamat maaaring hindi siya magdanas ng pisikal na pangaabuso – sa pamamagitan ng patuloy na pagsasabi sa kanya ng kanyang mga magulang na siya ay walang halaga at walang mararating sa buhay. Ang lahat ng kanyang ginagawa ay pinagtatawanan hanggang sa siya ay sumuko na at hindi na sumubok na gumawa ng kahit ano. Dahil sa kanilang murang edad, natural na pinaniniwalaan ng mga bata ang sinasabi sa kanila ng kanilang mga magulang. Ang isang bata na dumanas ng ganitong pagtrato ay maaaring magkubli sa isang hindi nakikitang pader at mabuhay na lamang para kumain sa halip na kumain para mabuhay. Ito ang mga batang lumaki na hindi nagdanas ng pisikal na pangaabuso sa kamay ng kanilang mga magulang ngunit paralisado naman ang espiritu. Mahirap para sa kanila na magkaroon ng kaibigan at hindi nila kayang makipagrelasyon sa ibang tao sa kanilang pagtanda.
Awit ni Solomon
Panahon ng Pagkasulat: Maaaring isinulat ni Solomon ang awit na ito sa mga unang taon ng kanyang paghahari noong mga 965 B.C.
Layunin ng Sulat: Ang Awit ni Solomon ay isang tula na nilagyan ng liriko upang itanghal ang magandang pagsasamahan at wagas na pag-ibig sa pagitan ng mag-asawa. Ipinakikilala ng tula na ang pagaasawa ay disenyo ng Diyos. Dapat na mamuhay na magkasama ang babae at lalaki sa konteksto ng pagaasawa at dapat na magmahalan sa espiritwal, emosyonal at pisikal.
Binabantayan ng aklat ang dalawang maling paninwala: ang asetismo (pagtanggi sa lahat ng kasiyahan) at hedonismo, (ang paghahanap sa kasiyahan lamang). Ang pag-ibig na inilarawan sa Awit ni Solomon ay isang modelo sa pamamalasakit, pagtatalaga at kaligayahan.
Mga Susing Talata: Awit ni Solomon 2:7; 3:5; 8:4 - "Ang aming paglalambingan ay di n'yo gagambalain."
Awit ni Solomon 5:1 - "Nasa hardin ako ngayon, aking mahal, aking sinta, at ako ay nangunguha ng balsamo at ng mira, Nilalasap ko ang tamis nitong pulot ng pukyutan, Iniinom ko ang gatas at alak na malinamnam."
Awit ni Solomon 8:6-7 - "Kaya ako'y mahalin mo, sa bisig mo ay ikulong O kay lakas ng pag-ibig, panibugho man ay gayon. Sinlakas ng kamatayan, tumutupok, parang apoy. Kahit baha ay di kaya na pigilin ang paggiliw, buhusan man nitong tubig, di makuhang palamigin. Subukin mong ang pag-ibig ay sa yaman mo daaninbaka pa nga ang mangyari ay ikaw pa ang tuyain."
Maiksing pagbubuod: Ang tula ay tungkol usapan sa pagitan ng mag-asawa (ang hari) at ang kanyang asawa (ang babaeng Sunamita). Maaaring hatiin ang aklat sa tatlong bahagi: ang pagliligawan (1:1 - 3:5); ang kasalan (3:6 - 5:1); at ang pagsasama bilang magasawa (5:2 - 8:14).
Nagsimula ang awit bago ang kasal habang ang babaeng ikakasal ay naghihintay na makasama ng kanyang kasintahan at nananabik sa kanyang paglalambing. Gayunman, hinayaan niya na likas na mahubog ang kanyang damdamin para sa kasintahan sa tamang panahon. Pinuri ng hari ang angking kagandahan ng Sunamita upang hindi panghinaan ng loob ang babae tungkol sa kanyang hitsura. Nanaginip ang babaeng Sunamita na naghiwalay sila ni Solomon at hinanap niya ito sa buong siyudad. Sa tulong ng mga bantay, natagpuan niya ang kasintahan at kinapitan niya ito at dinala sa isang ligtas na lugar. Pagkagising, nagpasya siya na huwag ng ipilit ang kanyang pag-ibig.
Sa gabi ng kasal, muling pinuri ng lalaki ang kagandahan ng kanyang asawa at gamit ang mga simbolikong pananalita, niyaya ng babae ang kanyang asawa na angkinin ang lahat ng mayroon siya. Nagniig sila at pinagpala ng Diyos ang kanilang pagiging isang laman.
Habang lumalago ang kanilang pagsasama, dumaan ang mag-asawa sa isang mahirap na pagsubok na inilarawan sa isa pang panaginip. Sa ikalawang panaginip na ito, pinagsabihan ng babae ang kanyang asawa at umalis ang lalaki. Inusig siya ng kanyang budhi at muling hinanap ang kanyang asawa; ngunit sa pagkakataong ito, sa halip na tulungan siya ng mga bantay, sinaktan siya ng mga ito - na sumisimbolo sa kanyang nasaktang konsensya. Pagkatapos nagbalik ang lahat sa kasiyahan ng muli silang nagkita at nagkasundo.
Sa pagtatapos ng awit, ang magasawa ay nagtiwala sa pag-ibig ng bawat isa, inawit nila ang kalikasan ng tunay na pag-ibig at patuloy silang nanabik sa presensya ng bawat isa.
Mga pagtukoy kay Kristo: Nakikita ng ilang tagapagpaliwanag ng Bibliya sa Awit ni Solomon ang simbolo ng relasyon sa pagitan ni Kristo at ng iglesya. Si Krisfo ang representasyon ng hari, habang ang Sunamita naman ang simbolo ng iglesya. Habang naniniwala kami na dapat intindihin ang Aklat sa literal na paraan bilang paglalarawan sa pagaasawa, may ilang elemento na naglalarawan sa relasyon ng iglesya sa kanyang hari, ang Panginoong Hesu Kristo. Inilalarawan ng Awit ni Solomon 2:4 ang karanasan ng bawat mananampalataya na hinanap at binili ng dugo ng Panginoong Hesus. Nagtataglay tayo ng espiritwal na kayamanan at inibig Niya tayo ng gayon na lamang. Sinabi sa 2:16 ng aklat: "Talisuyo ko ay akin at ako nama'y kanya." Narito ang larawan hindi lamang ng katiyakan ng mananampalataya kay Kristo (Juan 10:28-29), kundi sa isang mabuting Pastol na nakikilala ang sa Kanya at nag-alay ng Kanyang buhay para sa atin (Juan 10:11). Dahil sa kanya, hindi na tayo marumi dahilan sa ating kasalanan dahil nilinis na tayo ng kanyang dugo (Awit ni Solomon 4:7; Efeso 5:27).
Praktikal na Aplikasyon: litong lito ang ating mundo tungkol sa tunay na esensya ng pagaasawa. Ang popularidad ng diborsyo at mga pagtatangka ng modernong panahon na baguhin ang kahulugan ng pagaasawa ay salungat sa mensahe ng Aklat ni Solomon. Sinabi ni Solomon na ang pagaasawa ay dapat ipagdiwang, igalang at pagmulan ng kasiyahan. Ang aklat na ito ay kapupulutan ng mga praktikal na tuntunin para sa pagpapanibagong sigla ng ating pagsasama bilang magasawa.
1) Ibigay mo sa iyong asawa ang atensyon na kanyang kinakailangan. Maglaan ng panahon upang tunay na makilala ang iyong asawa.
2) Ang pagpapalakas ng loob at papuri hindi ang kritisismo ang pangunahing sangkap ng isang matagumpay na pagsasama.
3) Masiyahan sa isa't isa. Magplano ng pagbibiyahe na magkasama. Maging malikhain. Masiyahan sa kaloob ng Diyos, ang kaloob ng pagaasawa.
4) Gawin ang lahat ng nararapat upang muling mabigyan ng katiyakan ang iyong asawa sa iyong pagtatalaga ng sarili sa kanya. Muling sumumpa sa isa't isa; pagusapan ng maayos ang anumang problema at huwag ikunsidera ang diborsyo bilang solusyon sa mga problema. Nais ng Diyos para sa bawat isa sa atin na mamuhay ng mapayapa at nakatitiyak sa pag-ibig ng bawat isa.
https://www.gotquestions.org
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Monday 23 October 2017
MY LIFE WAS FULL OF BROKEN PROMISES
Something happened to me...
I became full of hate, bitterness, and resentment.
I’m a fifty-one year old retired rodeo cowboy. My childhood was as normal as it could be for a kid with no father and a mother who battled alcoholism and depression.
I was raised by my grandparents. We lived on a small farm in Central Indiana and lived off the land with hunting, fishing, and lot's of hard work. My grandmother was the sweetest lady that I have ever met, and she never met a stranger. My grandfather was a good man who believed in working hard and handing out many chores to do. However, when he drank, he had a mean streak. We got along fine while I was a child, working, hunting, and fishing together. He would listen to my stories of someday being a rodeo cowboy.
My childhood ended when I was nine years old with a phone call from my mom. She was drunk and depressed. She wanted to talk to me, but my grandmother wouldn’t wake me because it was late. I woke up to the commotion on the phone. Just as I picked up the other line, I heard the gunshot. My mother took her life, and that was the end of my childhood.
I know my family meant well, but for the next few years my life was full of broken promises. One after another promised to take me into their family, when all I wanted was for things to be like they used to be.
I became full of hate, bitterness, and resentment. My relationship with my grandparents was never the same. I became very dark, isolating myself for hours and sometimes days in my room. I was so rebellious that my grandfather had no choice but to discipline me the only way he knew how; in the form of beating me with a fist, switch, or a whip. I will admit that most of them, I deserved.
I was fourteen when I left home the first time, chasing the dream of being a cowboy. I ended up working for a Wild West show and Rodeo, living like a “Carney” on the fair circuit. I was way too young and small to be on my own.
While hitchhiking that year, I was raped by a truck-driver. This fed my lack of trust and my anger, but
I never let it stop me. I would come home in the fall and fulfill the promise made to my grandmother to finish school, leaving again in the spring.
I never let it stop me. I would come home in the fall and fulfill the promise made to my grandmother to finish school, leaving again in the spring.
I loved being on the road and riding bareback -- horses, and bulls. The road became my escape. I had no idea how to find what I was looking for at that time in my life, so what I found was meth. I was fifteen years old, angry, bitter, and feeling rejected. The only thing that I found to kill my pain was drugs.
I continued on this path of destruction for the next few years, and then after some surgeries became addicted to Demerol and Morphine. I spiraled out of control for the next few years, chasing my dream of being a champion. I would do speed to wake me up so I could ride, then take pain killers to kill the pain. And of course, like my mother and grandfather, alcohol became a factor also.
I ended up being just like them. I was a mean drunk, full of hate, and I had no problem showing it. The void in my life was never going to be filled with drugs or alcohol.
I knew nothing of God or Jesus, other than cowboys praying before they would ride. These same cowboys would be in the bar chasing tail after the rodeo. In my eyes, they were a joke. I persecuted and made fun of them and their God.
I believe it was 1981, and I was twenty-one years old. I had been competing on the circuit riding bucking horses and bulls that year. I was riding with a lot of injuries that season, so I decided to enter a rodeo at Davey, Florida. Win, lose, or draw, I was going to take some time off to heal up.
I remember her well. After being thrown off, stomped, and dragged around, I found her standing in the crowd staring at me with her big blue eyes and blond hair. Her name was Jennifer, but I called her Jen. She was a dancer and loved cocaine. To be honest, I would snort, smoke, or ingest anything that would kill my pain and make me forget the past. She had unlimited access to this drug and turned me on to free-basing.
About one year later and fifty pounds lighter, I was forced to leave my source to this drug that I loved so much. I couldn’t work and had no money to support my drug habits. After trying my hand at a few robberies and other stupid things, there I lay under a pier in DT’s (withdrawls) with the homeless.
This was the last thing I remember until being kicked in the side and awakened. As I began to move, I realized that I couldn’t open my eyes. I felt something moving in my nose and mouth. Flies had begun to work on me, and I had maggots in my mouth and nose. The man who kicked me was a long haired fellow, and he explained to me that he checked for bodies under the piers and tried to help the homeless. He cleaned me up and bought me breakfast. His advice to me was to go back up north where people cared about me.
This made sense to me, so off I went hitchhiking to Indiana. I was jonesing for some cocaine, in DT’s and withdrawal from the morphine. I found myself under another bridge on the interstate close to Lakeland, Florida. The only thing left of my past was my rodeo gear bag, a cowboy hat, and of course the pain.
I remember being afraid to fall asleep because I might die. Then I heard brakes squealing. A young kid with a cowboy hat backed up to me. He asked if I was a cowboy and needed help.
I answered, “Not much of a cowboy; I need a fix.”
He took me to his step-dad’s church. His name was Mikey, and his step-dad’s name was Paul. Paul asked me a very important question that day. He asked if I believed that God could heal me and make me whole again.
As I studied the question, it came to me that if God could create the heavens and the earth, He could surely fix me. I spoke those words and was instantly healed. He led me through the sinner’s prayer, and I accepted Jesus into my heart that day. Hallelujah!
Ain’t it funny how God’s blessings are there for the taking? Without someone being obedient to God’s word and showing compassion to others, I might have died under a bridge that year. Instead, He met me just as I was and sent me three angels.
Over the next year, my faith grew. I began to learn that God loved me and that there was wonder-working power in the blood of Jesus.
While I lived in Lakeland and was surrounded by a group of believers, I was just fine. However, when I returned to Indiana I fell under condemnation and persecution. Even though I fully intended to do the will of God, Satan had too much fuel. The pain returned in my life, and I began self-medicating again. This time it was marijuana, speed, and pain pills. I stayed high and began drinking again. My life seemed to be like a movie that never ended -- no beginning and no end.
I had spurts of happiness over the next several years, moving from church to church and even from state to state … trying to forget my childhood and find peace. I still competed on the rodeo circuit and worked on ranches and farms throughout the years, but something was missing.
I began to believe that I needed to get married and settle down. I had two failed marriages and wasn’t much of a dad either. I wanted to do the right thing but couldn’t seem to love them properly. I had a mean streak, just like my grandfather, and couldn’t show anyone love or trust in their love for me.
God never left me and through all this, He healed me of a broken back. It was a miracle in my life that I will never forget. I will always give Him praise. He’s an awesome God.
I returned to my old lifestyle once again, and this time it was worse than ever. I not only began to use meth again, but this time I began to manufacture the drug.
In 2003, after violating probation and being on the run, I was involved in a chase which ended with me running into a house to hide. When forced with the situation of going to prison, I drew a gun and decided to let the police shoot me. They fired fourteen shots at me. I was only hit by a ricocheting bullet, which did not harm me.
I was found guilty of twelve felonies. This included two attempted murders, even though I never shot at anyone. I was suicidal, not homicidal. I was sentenced to one-hundred three years in prison.
I became very bitter and mad at God and myself. It seemed to me that I had failed at everything, even my suicide. I wanted nothing to do with God at the time. I turned my back on Him but never forgot what I had experienced and the love I felt in Christ Jesus.
The next two years were terrible. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer but never had a biopsy. I believed the report and accepted this curse. I lost about fifty pounds and was weakening.
I received a visit from my aunt and daughters one day and was reminded by them of all that God had done for me. Out of the mouth of babes came wisdom and strength.
When I returned to my cell, I cried out to God, repented for my disobedience, and rededicated my life to Christ. From that day, I found the will to live and began to thank God for my healing. I spoke healing and broke the curse of cancer in my life. Victory was mine, and I took it.
Over the next few years, I began to submit to God and resisted the devil. He began a great work in me in all areas of my life.
I went to a Christian retreat in 2008 and did something that changed my life. I forgave my mom, my grandfather, and everyone who had hurt me. I asked God to forgive me for my unforgivingness, and He healed my heart.
A load was lifted off me, and I began to feel love for everyone. I started a greeting ministry at my church to share God’s love with everyone else. This year, God blessed me with the opportunity to be in leadership and to share His Word, Love, and testimonies with the men in this prison.
God uses the most unlikely of men. He took a broken, hurt, and angry man, and is now using him for His glory. He can use you too. Hallelujah!
By: Cowboy
Thursday 19 October 2017
Totoo ba ang Diyos? Papaano ako lubusang makatitiyak na totoo ang Diyos?
Ang pinakasimpleng patunay na totoo ang Diyos ay ang Kanyang sangnilikha. "Mula pa nang likhain Niya ang sanlibutan, ang kalikasang di nakikita, ang kanyang walang hanggang kapangyarihan at pagka-Diyos ay maliwanag na inihahayag ng mga bagay na ginawa Niya. Kaya't wala na silang maidadahilan" (Roma 1:20). “Ang langit ay naghahayag na ang Diyos ay dakila! Malinaw na nagsasaad kung ano ang kanyang gawa (Awit 19:1)!”
Kung makakakita ako ng isang relo sa gitna ng bukid, hindi ko iisipin na ito ay lumitaw na lang ng kusa at wala itong pinagmulan o di kaya ang naturang relo ay nandoon na sa simula't simula pa. Base sa disenyo ng relo, iisipin kong mayroong matalinong lumikha dito. Subalit nakikita kong napakalayo ng kaibahan ng disenyo at pagkakatugma ng ating mundo kung ikukumpara sa isang relo. Ang sukat ng ating panahon ay hindi nakabase sa relong ating isinusuot, kung hindi sa gawa at kagustuhan ng Diyos, tulad ng regular na pag-ikot ng mundo. Ang buong sandaigdigan ay isang napakalaking disenyo at dahil dito, ito rin ay nangangailangan ng isang Dakilang manlilikha.
Kung makakakita ako ng isang mensaheng nakasulat sa pamamagitan ng mga simbolo, hahanap ako ng isang taong may kakayahang magbasa nito upang tulungan akong maunawaan ang nakatagong mensahe. Iisipin kong ang pinagmulan at ang sumulat ng naturang mensahe ay isang napakatalinong tao. Gaano ba kasalimuot ang "DNA Code" na dinadala natin sa bawat bahaging ating katawan? Hindi ba't ang pagiging kumplikado at pagkamasalimuot ng ating DNA ay nangangailangan din ng isang napakatalinong Manlilikha?
"Iniangkop Niya ang lahat ng bagay sa kapanahunan. Ang tao'y binigyan Niya ng pagnanasang alamin ang bukas ngunit hindi binigyan ng pagkaunawa sa ginawa ng Diyos mula sa pasimula hanggang sa wakas" (Mangangaral 3:11)
Likas sa tao ang kaisipan na mayroong nakahihigit sa lahat ng may buhay at sa nakikita lang ng mata at mayroon pang buhay na mas mataas kaysa sa buhay na nakagawian na natin dito sa mundo. Ang ating pandama sa mga bagay na walang hanggan ay nakikita sa dalawang paraan: Sa paggawa ng batas at pagsamba.
Ang bawat sibilisasyon sa kasaysayan ay may pinapahalagahang mga moral na batas, na nakapagtatakang kapareho ng iba't ibang mga kultura sa ibang panig ng mundo. Kagaya halimbawa na ang pagmamahal ay pinupuri sa buong mundo samantalang kinokondena naman ang pagsisinungaling. Ang naturang magkaparehong moralidad, ang pandaigdigang kaalaman kung ano ang tama at mali ay nagtuturo lamang na may isang Dakilang Manlilikha na nagbigay sa atin ng naturang kaalaman.
Ganoon din naman, ang lahat ng tao sa buong mundo, anuman ang kultura ay laging may iniingatang sistema ng pagsamba. Magkakaiba ang paraan ng pagsamaba at ang pinaguukulan nila ng pagsamba subalit ang pagkaalam na may isang Makapangyarihan sa lahat ay hindi maipagkakailang bahagi ng pagiging tao. Ang ating pagnanais na sumamba ay ayon sa katotohanang ginawa tayo ng Diyos ayon sa kanyang wangis (Genesis 1: 27).
Inihayag din ng Diyos ang Kanayang sarili sa pamamagitan ng Kanyang salita, Ang Bibliya. Sa buong Bibliya ang katotohanan ng Diyos ay itinuturing na hindi mapapasubaliang katotohanan (Genesis 1:1, Exodo 3:14). Nang isulat ni Benjamin Franklin ang kanyang talambuhay, hindi niya sinayang ang kanyang oras para patotohanan na siya ay totoo at siya ay nabubuhay. Kagaya nito, hindi rin nagsayang ng panahon ang Diyos para patotohanan na Siya ay totoo sa kanyang Aklat. Ang katangian ng Bibliya na magbago ng buhay ng tao, ang kanyang integridad at ang mga himalang nakasaad dito ay sapat ng dahilan para pagtuunan ito ng pansin.
Ang ikatlong paraan ng kapahayagan ng Diyos sa Kanyang sarili ay sa pamamagitan ng Kanyang Anak na si Hesus ( Juan 14:6-11) "Sa pasimula pa'y naroon na ang Salita. Kasama ng Diyos ang Salita at ang Salita ay Diyos"Naging tao ang Salita at Siya'y nanirahan sa piling natin" (Juan 1:1,14). "Sapagkat ang buong kalikasan ng Diyos ay na kay Kristo nang Siya'y maging tao" (Colosas 2:9).
Sa buong buhay ni Hesus, perpekto Niyang nasunod ang lahat ng kautusan sa Lumang Tipan at natupad ang mga propesiya na may kinalaman sa Mesiyas (Mateo 5:17). Maraming beses din na tinulungan ni Hesus ang kanyang kapwa at gumawa ng mga himala upang patotohanan ang Kanyang mensahe at ang Kanyang kabanalan (Juan 21:24-25). Pagkatapos ng tatlong araw matapos na Siya'y ipako sa krus, bumangon Siya mula sa libingan, isang pangyayari na pinatunayan ng daan-daang mga saksi (1 Corinto 15:6) Ang mga tala sa kasaysayan ay punong puno ng mga katibayan kung sino talaga si Hesus. Ayon pa kay Apostol Pablo, ang bagay na ito ay hindi ginawa lamang sa isang sulok ng sanlibutan (Gawa 26:26).
Ating napag-alaman na mayroon talagang mga taong nagdududa at may mga sariling ideya patungkol sa Diyos. "Wala namang Diyos!" ang sabi ng hangal, ito ang palagi nilang katuwiran; kaya naman ngayon ang kanilang buhay, kakila-kilabot at kasuklam-suklam; Masasamang gawa'y kanilang libangan, wala nang matuwid wala ni isa man" (Awit 14:1). Subalit ang lahat ay mauuwi lahat sa pananampalataya. "At hindi kinalulugdan ng Diyos ang hindi nananalig sa Kanya. Sapagkat ang sinumang lumalapit sa Diyos ay dapat maniwalang may Diyos, at Siya ang nagbibigay ng gantimpala sa mga humahanap sa Kanya" (Hebreo 11:6).
Sunday 15 October 2017
What does the Bible say about homosexuality? Is homosexuality a sin?
The Bible consistently tells us that homosexual activity is a sin (Genesis 19:1-13; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9). Romans 1:26-27 teaches specifically that homosexuality is a result of denying and disobeying God. When people continue in sin and unbelief, God “gives them over” to even more wicked and depraved sin in order to show them the futility and hopelessness of life apart from God. 1 Corinthians 6:9 proclaims that homosexual “offenders” will not inherit the kingdom of God.
God does not create a person with homosexual desires. The Bible tells us that people become homosexuals because of sin (Romans 1:24-27) and ultimately because of their own choice. A person may be born with a greater susceptibility to homosexuality, just as some people are born with a tendency to violence and other sins. That does not excuse the person’s choosing to sin by giving in to sinful desires. If a person is born with a greater susceptibility to anger/rage, does that make it right for him to give into those desires? Of course not! The same is true with homosexuality.
However, the Bible does not describe homosexuality as a “greater” sin than any other. All sin is offensive to God. Homosexuality is just one of the many things listed in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 that will keep a person from the kingdom of God. According to the Bible, God’s forgiveness is just as available to a homosexual as it is to an adulterer, idol worshipper, murderer, thief, etc. God also promises the strength for victory over sin, including homosexuality, to all those who will believe in Jesus Christ for their salvation (1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 4:13).
Recommended Resource: What Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality? by Kevin DeYoung and 101 Frequently Asked Questions About Homosexuality by Mike Haley
God does not create a person with homosexual desires. The Bible tells us that people become homosexuals because of sin (Romans 1:24-27) and ultimately because of their own choice. A person may be born with a greater susceptibility to homosexuality, just as some people are born with a tendency to violence and other sins. That does not excuse the person’s choosing to sin by giving in to sinful desires. If a person is born with a greater susceptibility to anger/rage, does that make it right for him to give into those desires? Of course not! The same is true with homosexuality.
However, the Bible does not describe homosexuality as a “greater” sin than any other. All sin is offensive to God. Homosexuality is just one of the many things listed in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 that will keep a person from the kingdom of God. According to the Bible, God’s forgiveness is just as available to a homosexual as it is to an adulterer, idol worshipper, murderer, thief, etc. God also promises the strength for victory over sin, including homosexuality, to all those who will believe in Jesus Christ for their salvation (1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 4:13).
Recommended Resource: What Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality? by Kevin DeYoung and 101 Frequently Asked Questions About Homosexuality by Mike Haley
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