The blessed nation of God

Posted on February 21, 2023February 21, 2023 by pasugoeditor

The blessed nation of God

Being truly blessed is not based on a person's place of origin nor on what status in life he has. Rather, it is a matter of divine election.

By DENNIS G. DULAY

NO MATTER HOW GREAT or small a particular nation may be, its people usually feel that they have something that makes them distinct. This is why individuals from every walk of life, whether they be from a small island colony or a recognized superpower of the world, feel a sense of pride and patriotism. One thing is for sure: every group of people considers their being distinct as a blessing or as something special according to one’s own standards.

On who are truly blessed, the Holy Bible is the sole authority—and this is not based on where a person originates from or even what his status in life may be. Rather, it is a matter of divine election:

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.” (Ps. 33:12 New King James Version)

The divine election
One has to be chosen or elected by God for him or her to be counted among the people of His “nation” or the people who are truly special in the Lord’s sight. Those chosen by God are the ones who can rightfully call Him Lord.

What is promised to those who, by virtue of their divine calling, belong to God? The Bible further states:

“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (II Pet. 1:10–11 NKJV).

Thus, the chosen ones of God and of Christ are fortunate indeed! Their inheritance is the everlasting kingdom of the Lord.

The difference
Some people might find this matter about being elected by God offending and others may insist that any given nation or group of people is as good as the others. But biblically speaking, there is a difference between the chosen people of God and those who are not. Notice the statement of Apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:12:

“That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” (NKJV)

Thus, not all people are under the grace of God and not all people have the hope to receive His promised salvation. As written in the Bible, only those who have that covenant with Him are entitled to such great blessing.

The nation of God in these last days
The looming question now is, “Who are God’s chosen people in these last days?” What is the distinctive trait of those who truly belong to God, according to the Holy Scriptures? The apostles stated:

“And you also became God’s people when you heard the true message, the Good News that brought you salvation. You believed in Christ, and God put his stamp of ownership on you by giving you the Holy Spirit he had promised.” (Eph. 1:13 Good News Bible)

Thus, the people who belong to God are sealed with His stamp of ownership, the Holy Spirit. Because of this, Apostle Paul says they are known or recognized by God (Gal. 4:9). To be sealed with the Holy Spirit, one has to hear and firmly believe in the true gospel preached by God’s messengers or those whom He sent (Rom. 10:14–15).

In these last days, the one whom God used as His instrument, who would seal those whom He recognizes as His chosen people, is the “angel” or “messenger” spoken of (mentioned) in Revelation 7:2–3:

“Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, ‘Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.’” (NKJV)

Through the instrumentality of the “other angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God” who would preach the true gospel in these last days, those who believe would receive God’s Holy Spirit in their hearts as a mark or stamp of His ownership (II Cor. 1:21–22).

Notice that this prophesied angel (or “messenger” according to the Young’s Literal Translation of Revelation 7:2) would come from the “East.” The members of the Church Of Christ in these last days believe that the prophecy concerning the angel or messenger of God in this verse was fulfilled in the person of Brother Felix Y. Manalo. He began his preaching function in the Philippines, a country located in the Far East. This messenger of God was instrumental in the re-emergence of the true Church Of Christ in these last days which is, according to Christ, are His “other sheep” or those whom He acknowledged would be called in the future (John 10:16, Easy-to-Read Version).

Brother Felix Y. Manalo preached about the indispensability of the true Church Of Christ for the attainment of God’s grace of salvation. Becoming a true member of this Church, thus, entitles one to be sealed with the Holy Spirit and have the assurance of receiving God’s blessed reward.

An invitation to all
Christ invites all people from all walks of life to enter His Church. He declared:

“I am the door; anyone who comes into the fold through me will be safe …” (John 10:9 Revised English Bible, emphasis ours)

So, no matter what a person’s background may be or wherever he or she may have originated from, Christ encourages everyone to enter through Him in order to be saved. Where can we find those who have accepted His call? They are in the fold or flock which, according to the teachings of the apostles, is none other than the Church Of Christ:

“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.”
(Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation)

What did Christ mandate so that His invitation would be extended to all nations? The following is recorded in Matthew 28:19–20:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you …” (NKJV)

Therefore, baptism into the body or the Church is required by the Savior
(I Cor. 12:13; Col. 1:18). And as Christ promised, those who hear the gospel, believe in it, and are baptized will be saved (Mark 16:15–16).

In order to be counted among those truly fortunate, all people are being invited to join the Church Of Christ. As the blessed nation of God in these last days, the members of the Church Of Christ may not be the most affluent or prominent people in this world, but without a doubt they are truly the blessed ones because, as Apostle Paul proudly declared: “Our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20 NKJV).

This article was originally published in the Pasugo: God’s Message magazine.

For more articles, visit www.pasugo.com.ph

True worship

Posted on January 25, 2023January 25, 2023 by pasugoeditor

True worship

True Christian worship is so much more than just praising God through hymn-singing and prayers, or hearing the sermon or the preaching of the words of God.

By ROLAND A. AGUIRRE

CHRISTIAN WORSHIP IS often thought of as a form of religious practice with its creeds and rituals; or, a heartfelt reverence, admiration for or devotion and gratitude to a divine being; thus, singing hymns of praises is an essential part of the worship service and it is not uncommon for many to say, “I was really moved by the hymn-singing.” Another picture of such service is the sermon; and often people will emerge from the worship service saying, “The sermon was indeed wonderful and inspiring.”

Nevertheless, true worship is not confined to singing or hearing the sermon or the preaching of the words of God—although they are both parts of a congregational worship service (I Cor. 14:26, 15). True Christian worship is so much more than these things. One thing is clear though: all people—including all those who profess to be Christians who may differ in the manner they worship God because of their different doctrines and beliefs—are hoping that their worship is true and acceptable to God.

And so, who are the true Christians whose worship will be accepted by God? What are the components of a true worship of God? What manner of worship is acceptable to Him?

True worshipers
The ones whom God holds responsible to worship Him is His nation or the people whom He has elected:

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice.” (Ps. 95:6–7 New King James Version)

As the nation elected by God in these last days (Isa. 62:11–12; John 15:16; Col. 1:18; Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation), the Church Of Christ considers worshiping God as the primary obligation of every member. Moreover, to worship and serve God is to recognize that He is our Creator:

“Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” (Ps. 100:2–3 NKJV)

To worship God—who is just, perfect, and our Creator who gives us all we have—must be the primary focus of our worship services.

Of course, all of mankind has been created by God—everyone has the basic obligation to worship and serve Him. Yet the many people of the world reject and abandon this primary obligation of man: they do not recognize the Creator or fail to worship God. There are those who even though they belong to a religion or engage in worship, they “worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator”, the images of other humans, “and birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things”
(Rom. 1:21, 25, 23 NKJV).

Thus, we should not abandon our responsibility to worship our Lord God because He expects that we who are in His nation will fulfill this obligation. Turning away from this inherent obligation will result in His wrath to be revealed (Rom. 1:18, 28–31). Furthermore, because of this violation of God’s commandment to worship and serve Him, not only have the people of this world been given over to a debased mind to do those things that are not fitting—hence, many kinds of immorality and evil are now taking place in the world—but also they will be punished with everlasting destruction on Judgment Day (II Thess. 1:8–10).

Returning to God
For man to once again receive the right to worship and serve God, he must enter His gates:

“Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” (Ps. 100:2-4 NKJV)

Christ is the way so that man may come to the Father (John 14:6 nkjv). He also made clear that He is the door or the gate and that those who enter Him are in his fold (John 10:9 Revised English Bible). The fold or flock being referred to is the Church Of Christ:

“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.”
(Acts 20:28 Lamsa)

Therefore, it is in the Church Of Christ that we can find those who have entered Christ who is the door-way introduced by the Bible. So that man may receive the right to return to and worship God, he first needs to enter the Church Of Christ. Without a doubt, therefore, the Church of Christ is indispensable so that man may fulfill his basic duty to serve and worship God.

It goes without saying then that we who are already inside the Church Of Christ are expected by God to dedicate ourselves in fulfilling this obligation. We should not belittle nor take for granted, much less abandon this duty. Let us never fail God in what He expects of us: to worship and exalt His name together in His temple or in the house of worship
(Ps. 48:1, 9–10).

Offering true worship
We can surely glorify God in our congregational worship service if we offer true worship to Him. This can be accomplished if we offer ourselves as “a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to His service and pleasing to Him …” (Rom. 12:1 Good News Bible). The New King James rendition of the same verse states that “you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God …” Thus, we should shun all things that would make us unholy so that our worship service to God would be true and acceptable to Him. We should uphold righteous lives, resisting temptations and putting away sin from our lives.

And if we are already inside the house of worship, we should always observe holiness which befits the house of worship (Ps. 93:5). Needless to say, we should never sleep nor allow our minds to wander off during the congregational worship service especially during the sermon. Instead, we should be good listeners—doing or obeying, not forgetting what we have heard. Neither should we bring food, cellphones, etc. inside—among others, it is not a place for eating and engaging in meaningless conversation with anyone or sending instant messages to others. Nothing should distract us from our obligation to worship God. Any activity then that interferes with worshiping Him must be avoided; the sanctity and solemnity of the occasion must be respected.

Participating actively in the hymn-singing, listening intently during the preaching of God’s words, and expressing agreement with “Amen” at appropriate times during the congregational prayers are also a must in rendering true and acceptable worship to God.

In addition, God’s elect show their dedication to worshiping Him by fulfilling it “at all times” and praising Him “continually” (Ps. 34:1 NKJV). Amid escalating poverty, terrorism, pandemic diseases, disasters and other challenges of the 21st century, God’s children vow to be dedicated to the worship service. They show their dedication in praising God by adhering to the apostles’ strict instruction not to forsake it:

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.” (Heb. 10:25–27 NKJV)

Proper conduct and attitude
Moreover, in order for the congregational worship service to truly glorify God, and be true and acceptable to Him, it must be done “in a proper and orderly way” (I Cor. 14:40 GNB). Hence, we should heed the Church officers who see to it that proper conduct and attitude is being observed by the worshipers—from the time they enter, sit down and listen to the sermon, and until the time they leave the worship building—to show our respect to God.

We must put a premium on proper behavior during worship services for “God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (I Cor.14:33 New International Version). In worship, everything must be done in harmony and with order. Clearly, we will not feel His presence if there is disorder or confusion during our holy gathering.

Proper and appropriate attire must be observed as well:

“Worship the LORD in holy array; tremble before him, all the earth!” (Ps. 96:9 Revised Standard Version)

We should follow the instruction about the proper clothes to wear during congregational worship services to show we accord utmost respect to God.

Indeed, proper decorum during our worship services plays an important part in offering true worship to God and praising Him. On the other hand, worshipers who displease God are those who come near to Him with their mouth and honor Him with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him (Isa. 29:13). God wants wholehearted service be offered to Him: serving Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind (I Chr. 28:9), and to serve Him with gladness (Ps. 100:2). Undoubtedly, God demands nothing less than our full attention.

Therefore, we should prepare our hearts and minds for worship. Our worship service should not become routinary. It is not just another ordinary activity in a busy schedule; that we are just going through the motions, so to speak. Let us always remember that God is watching the heart of His servants who worship Him, expecting them to do what glorifies and pleases Him (Deut. 10:12).

Significance of the Holy Spirit
Showing that He also gives great importance to our congregational worship service, our Lord Jesus Christ had this promise:

“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matt. 18:20 NKJV)

This can be done through His spirit or the Holy Spirit which is also the “Comforter” which God sends into our hearts (Gal. 4:6; John 14:16–17 King James Version). The Holy Spirit is the power that strengthens us (Eph. 3:16–17).

Thus, even though this world has been filled with so much worries and troubles, we find comfort and strength when we feel the power of the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, the reason others are overcome by problems in life is that they do not feel the Holy Spirit in the worship service. That happens because they grieve the Holy Spirit with the works of the flesh—bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, and malice—that they do (Eph. 4:30–31).

So, let us make sure that we constantly feel the power of God or the Holy Spirit every time we come to worship Him. Let us lead a life of holiness in His sight. Let us never allow sin to take control of our lives.

Another significance of the Holy Spirit is that God pours out His love into our hearts through it during the worship services:

“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (Rom. 5:5 NIV)

More importantly, the Holy Spirit testifies that “we are God’s children” and thus, “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:16–17 NIV) because the seal of the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our being redeemed and of being God’s purchased possession (Eph. 1:13–14).

Immense blessings, such as experiencing the Holy Spirit as the most important, are indeed in store for us every time we worship God. Conversely, our worship services will not be complete, hence, meaningless if we do not feel the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Longing to worship
God’s servants long for Him every time they gather themselves together to worship Him:

“O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.” (Ps. 63:1–2 NKJV)

Furthermore, we should always remember His kindness everytime we gather together; and His goodness should inspire us to worship with thanksgiving and praise:

“Praise the Lord, my soul! All my being, praise his holy name! Praise the Lord, my soul, and do not forget how kind he is. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He keeps me from the grave and blesses me with love and mercy.” (Ps.103:1–4 GNB)

Even in the most trying times and amid the most difficult circumstances, we should never forget God and neglect the worship service—we should all the more put our hope in God and praise Him (Ps. 42:5–6). We should earnestly seek God in our worship service because it is during this holy gathering that He answers our prayers and delivers us from all our fears:

“I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. … I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. … Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”
(Ps. 34:1, 4, 8 NIV)

This article was originally published in the Pasugo: God’s Message magazine.

For more articles, visit www.pasugo.com.ph

Will Judgment Day come?

Posted on January 18, 2023January 18, 2023 by pasugoeditor

Will Judgment Day come?

By VENICIO T. BASCO

THE DAY OF JUDGMENT is something that people who want to receive the Lord God’s promised salvation look forward to. Blessed are the ones who will be saved on that day.

But there are those who ask: Will that day really come? If there are those who will be saved, what will happen to those who will not receive this blessing?

Judgment Day in the Bible
The pronouncement about the Day of Judgment dates back to the time of the patriarchs—long before our Lord Jesus Christ. According to Jude 1:14–15, Enoch, seventh from Adam, prophesied that “the Lord” will come “to execute judgment on all” (New King James Version). The One who will come is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. This was the statement of the Lord:

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1–3 NKJV)

Because of man’s sins before God, the Day of the Lord or Judgment Day was set when all the things in this world, including man will be devoured by fire (Zeph. 1:14–18).

Although there are those who are skeptic about the Day of Judgment, the Bible proves that just as death is experienced by man, so will the Day of Judgment happen because the One who appointed death is the same God Who appointed Judgment Day (Heb. 9:27). On the other hand, there are also many who believe that it will come, and some even made predictions of its fulfillment. But can just anyone predict or be able to determine the exact date of the world’s end? Our Lord answered this in Matthew 24:36:

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (NKJV)

No one knows the exact day and time of Judgment Day, not even the angels, not even Christ Himself who will be coming. Only the Lord God knows. It is only befitting then that man prepares for that day (Matt. 24:44).

Signs when Judgment Day is near
It is not only during our time but also during the time of Christ that people asked about Judgment Day:

“Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’

‘So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near at the doors!’

‘And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.’” (Matt. 24:3, 33, 6–8 NKJV)

While we know not the day and time, the Lord gave the signs that would be seen or would happen when His Second Advent is near. There would be wars and rumors of wars, nations and kingdom rising against each other, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, and sorrows. The wars being referred to were fulfilled when World War I and World War II broke out on July 27, 1914 and September 1, 1939, respectively. Famines, pestilences, and earthquakes that happened in the past are continuing up to the present, with more intensity and frequency. Thus, Judgment Day is truly very near.

Salvation come Judgment Day
The Bible made certain that there will be people who will be saved on Judgment Day (Heb. 9:27–28). Who are they? Apostle Paul explains, thus:

“But God has shown us how much he loves us, it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us! By his blood we are now put right with God; how much more, then, will we be saved by him from God’s anger!” (Rom. 5:8–9 NKJV)

Those who were forgiven from their sins through the blood of Christ are assured to be saved from God’s anger. Apostle Paul also proves that those who were purchased or redeemed with the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ are the members of the Church Of Christ:

“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” (Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation)

Those who belittle the importance of knowing who the true God is are committing a grave error. The absence of the true knowledge about God has been the cause of man’s present sorry state of life in this world:

“Because those people refuse to keep in mind the true knowledge about God, he has given them over to corrupted minds, so that they do the things that they should not do. They are filled with all kinds of wickedness, evil, greed, and vice; they are full of jealousy, murder, fighting, deceit, and malice. They gossip and speak evil of one another; they are hateful to God, insolent, proud, and boastful; they think of more ways to do evil; they disobey their parents; they have no conscience; they do not keep their promises, and they show no kindness or pity for others.” (Rom. 1:28-31 GNB)

All the wickedness and iniquities present in the world today are the consequence of man’s refusal to keep the true knowledge about God. The world has been cursed because of such people and God has given them over to corrupted minds and left them to do evil deeds. What misfortune awaits those who have not known God and have worshiped a god other than the true one? What will God do to them?

“In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” (II Thess. 1:8-9 NKJV)

God will exact vengeance on those who have not known and recognized Him. He will punish them with everlasting destruction on the Second Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ. Such eternal punishment will be in the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8).

Another distinction of those who will be saved is that their names are listed in the book of life in heaven (Dan. 12:1). Others might say that enlisting in a church has nothing to do with salvation. The apostles state:

“To the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect.” (Heb. 12:23 New International Version)

The apostles mentioned that the names of the members of the Church are written in heaven. Enlisting in just any church indeed does not lead to salvation, but joining the true Church does. The Church referred to that will reach the heavenly city is the Church Of Christ:

“But you have come into the reality (of which the symbols only pointed to), to Mount Zion, the New Jerusalem—the heavenly city of the living God—and you are part of that city. You have come to join millions upon millions of angels rejoicing in God’s presence, into the heavenly sanctuary—the true church of Christ—whose identities are stored in heaven. You have come to God—the source and standard of righteousness for all people; to the archived individualities of righteous human beings perfectly restored into Christlikeness of character.” (Heb. 12:22–23 The Remedy)

Therefore, those who will receive salvation on Judgment Day—which will truly come and is very near—are the members of the Church Of Christ. One must make sure then that he is a member of this Church on that blessed day.

This article was originally published in the Pasugo: God’s Message magazine.

For more articles, visit www.pasugo.com.ph

Got problems? Turn to God!

Posted on November 14, 2022November 14, 2022 by pasugoeditor

Got problems? Turn to God!

He who can expect God to help him as he deals with worries and problems is the one who puts his trust in Him. So, if we want God to help us, we must put our trust in Him.

By JOHNNY J. MARTIN

GOT PROBLEMS? You are not alone. In recent years, how many millions of people have had to deal with troubles associated with job loss, home loss, natural calamities, wars, etc.? When faced with difficulties, many have turned to other people, like government leaders, for aid. But whom should we really rely on for help with whatever problems we face?

Depend on God
We can solely depend on our Lord God for help because He cares about us. Apostle Peter said:

“God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him.”
(I Pet. 5:7 Contemporary English Version)

As we live in this world, there are times when we are worried about what will happen to us, especially nowadays with all the problems people face. Many have literally lost everything because of some calamities that struck them. It is thus comforting and encouraging to know that the Lord God truly cares about us.

However, he who can expect God to help him as he deals with worries and problems is the one who puts his trust in Him. So, if we want God to help us, we must put our trust in Him. King David said:

“Give yourself to the Lord; trust in him, and he will help you.” (Ps. 37:5 Good News Bible)

We should not hesitate to put our trust in God, because if He takes care of birds, flowers, or other living things He created, He will take care of us, for we are worth much more than them. Look at what our Lord Jesus Christ taught in Matthew 6:25–29:

“This is why I tell you: do not be worried about the food and drink you need in order to stay alive, or about clothes for your body. After all, isn’t life worth more than food? And isn’t the body worth more than clothes? Look at the birds: they do not plant seeds, gather a harvest and put it in barns; yet your Father in heaven takes care of them! Aren’t you worth much more than birds? Can any of you live a bit longer by worrying about it? And why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow: they do not work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that not even King Solomon with all his wealth had clothes as beautiful as one of these flowers.” (GNB)

Our Lord Jesus Christ shows here that man needs food and drink to stay alive and that he also needs clothes to put on his body. Although we need these things, He teaches us not to worry about them. He points out that life is more important than food and that the body is more important than clothing. Remember that we have our bodies and life because God created us and He can provide us with what we need to sustain our life in this world. Hence, our Lord Jesus Christ guides us to put our trust in the Lord God. We ought to be confident that God is Someone whom we can fully depend on.

What God can do
The extent of what God can do for us is revealed in Mark 10:27:

“But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible’.” (New King James Version)

Our Lord Jesus Christ says that while there are things that are impossible for men, all things are possible with God. No matter how wise, rich, and successful a man may be in this life, there are still things that are impossible for him to accomplish. For example, he cannot completely eliminate problems in life or stop death from ever coming. But with God, all things are possible. The Holy Scriptures show us that “God can do anything” (Luke 1:37 New Century Version).

For us to benefit from what God can do for us, we need to approach Him in prayer and ask Him for His help and blessing. This is what our Lord Jesus Christ taught us to do:

“Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks will receive, and anyone who seeks will find, and the door will be opened to those who knock. Would any of you who are fathers give your son a stone when he asks for bread? Or would you give him a snake when he asks for a fish? As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matt. 7:7–11 GNB)

Our Lord Jesus Christ shows us something that all parents can relate to. He shows us that if our own children would ask us for bread, we would give them bread, not a stone, and that if they would ask for fish, we would give them fish, not a snake. If we, who are sinful know how to give good things to our children, more so will God give good things to those who ask Him. But, it is not enough to just know that God is surely capable of providing our needs. We should approach Him and ask Him for what we need. And our Lord Jesus Christ assured us that we would receive what we are asking for.

Thus, prayer should be an important part of one’s life. While people put time into getting an education or earning a living—which are good things to do—we should always make time to talk with our Lord God by means of our prayers to Him. Those who pray to God show that they put their trust in Him.

Whom God does not hear
However, it is important to understand that although it is good for one to spend time in prayer, there are those whose prayers will not be heard by God. Those are the prayers offered by sinners. Isaiah 59:2 says this:

“It is because of your sins that he doesn’t hear you. It is your sins that separate you from God when you try to worship him.” (GNB)

Sin is the breaking of the law of God (I John 3:4). Everyone has sinned against God (Rom. 3:23). And sin has damaging effects upon man. As the verse cited above reveals, sin has caused man to be separated from God, and has resulted in his losing the right to worship Him and not being heard in his prayers. Isaiah 64:7 shows us that God hides Himself from people because of their sins:

“No one turns to you in prayer; no one goes to you for help. You have hidden yourself from us and have abandoned us because of our sins.” (GNB)

Therefore, God is not the one to be blamed if our prayers are not heard. If our prayers go unheard it is not because God is failing us or is it because He is weak or unreliable. It is man who is at fault for our own sins caused God not to hear us.

Whom God will hear
One may ask, “How can I be sure that my prayers will be heard and answered by God, if I am guilty of sins?” We need to have our sins forgiven and the forgiveness of sins is through the blood of Christ. This is what Apostle Paul said:

“But by the free gift of God’s grace all are put right with him through Christ Jesus, who sets them free. God offered him, so that by his blood he should become the means by which people’s sins are forgiven through their faith in him. God did this in order to demonstrate that he is righteous. In the past he was patient and overlooked people’s sins.” (Rom. 3:24–26 GNB)

If we want to have our sins be forgiven and our prayers be heard by God, then we should have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and we need to be redeemed by His blood. Notice what Apostle Paul says here about those who were redeemed by the blood of Christ:

“By his blood we are now put right with God; how much more, then, will we be saved by him from God’s anger! We were God’s enemies, but he made us his friends through the death of his Son. Now that we are God’s friends, how much more will we be saved by Christ’s life!” (Rom. 5:9–10 GNB)

The ones being referred to here by Apostle Paul as having been put right with God and forgiven of their sins through the blood of Christ are those who are inside the Church, which is Christ’s body. It is for this Church that Christ died. Here is what Apostle Paul said:

“For a husband has authority over his wife just as Christ has authority over the church; and Christ is himself the Savior of the church, his body … Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.” (Eph. 5:23, 25 GNB)

The name of this Church is the Church Of Christ:

“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.”
(Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation)

So, if we want to be sure that our prayers are being heard by God, then we should become members of the Church Of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo). Once we are inside this Church our sins shall be forgiven through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. God will now hear our prayers.

For those who are still outside the Church Of Christ, to have their prayers heard, they should heed the invitation of Christ to come into the fold or the Church:

“I am the door; anyone who comes into the fold through me will be safe …” (John 10:9 Revised English Bible)

This is why we, Church members, value our membership inside the Church Of Christ. Now that we are in this Church, we have benefited from the blood of Christ, which means that our sins have already been forgiven by our Lord God. And if our sins have now been pardoned, then we can be sure that God will hear our prayers. No matter what kind of problems we face or is thrown at us, we know that we can count on God to be there for us, to help us, and most of all to grant us salvation on the Day of Judgment.

This article was originally published in the Pasugo: God’s Message magazine.

For more articles, visit www.pasugo.com.ph

God’s watchman who strives for the welfare of His people day and night

Posted on September 7, 2022September 7, 2022 by pasugoeditor

Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, the Executive Minister of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) while preaching God's words

God’s watchman who strives for the welfare of His people day and night

As a watchman appointed by God over His nation, the one who administers the Church plays a crucial role in leading the Lord’s work and bringing the true Christians towards perfection and salvation.

By RONNIE H. MUTYA

TRULY A LEADER placed by God, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, the Executive Minister, has proven his heartfelt dedication to watching over the entire Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ).

September 7, 2022 marks the 13th year of his dynamic leadership and guardianship of the Church Of Christ. It is his earnest desire to see its members, who are the elect of God, continue fighting for their faith until the end.

How vital is Brother Eduardo Manalo’s God-given task of watching over His people in these last days? Why is it only fitting and proper for the members of the Church to abide by his administration as the Executive Minister?

A God-given task
To keep watch over His people and warn them of the impending dangers that may hinder them from gaining salvation, God places watchmen in His nation. During the time of ancient Israel, for instance, Prophet Ezekiel was among the watchmen appointed by God (Ezek. 3:17).

Such is also the case in the Church Of Christ in these last days. A prophecy about this Church says:

“On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put to the LORD in remembrance, take no rest.” (Isa. 62:6 English Standard Version)

“For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch.” (Isa. 62:1 ESV)

The “Zion” being referred to symbolizes the Church redeemed with the blood of Jesus Christ (Heb. 12:22–24)—the Church Of Christ (Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation; Master Study Bible, p. 1840) during the time of the apostles.

However, Prophet Isaiah also prophesied about the “daughter of Zion” that would emerge in the time period called “ends of the earth” (Isa. 62:11–12 King James Version 2000). The fulfillment of the prophesied “daughter of Zion” is the Church Of Christ that emerged in the time when the end of the world is near. This period of time was signified by, among others, the outbreak of the First World War on July 27, 1914 (Matt. 24:3, 33; footnote, Matt. 24:6–8 Last Days Bible).

Entrusted, therefore, with the noble task of looking after the welfare of every Church member, God’s “watchmen … all the day and all the night they shall never be silent.” This is the reason the “watchmen” not only tirelessly teach the “righteousness” or the words of God but they also strive to make it bright in the lives of the chosen ones by faithfully upholding His teachings so that our salvation will be like a “burning torch.”

In the Christian era, who serves as the watchman entrusted by God with the task of proclaiming His words and bringing His servants to perfection to ensure salvation? Apostle Paul taught in Colossians 1:25, 28–29:

“I have become its minister, according to God’s administration that was given to me for you, to make God’s message fully known … We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. I labor for this, striving with His strength that works powerfully in me.” (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Just as what He did with the first-century Church, God has also placed a minister in the Church Of Christ in our time whom He has given the administration of the Church and the authority to preach His truths that must shine brightly in us until we become mature in faith. Today, it is Brother Eduardo Manalo who administers the Church, thus, the watchman who ensures our faith is perfect by teaching God’s words. Among the watchmen whom God also placed to lead the entire Church were Brother Felix Y. Manalo, God’s messenger in these last days, and Brother Eraño G. Manalo.

We, therefore, have the responsibility to always obey what the Executive Minister teaches to us in order to reach the condition that God wants us to be in when Christ returns (Phil. 2:12, 15).

Giving utmost respect
As instructed by the apostles, it is also our duty to abide by the administration appointed by God to administer the Church Of Christ:

“Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.” (II Thess. 5:12–13 New Living Translation)

As a watchman appointed by God over His nation, the one who administers the Church plays a crucial role in leading the Lord’s work and bringing the true Christians towards perfection and salvation. Thus, it is only proper to give our “great respect and wholehearted love” to him. We know and see how Brother Eduardo Manalo works hard to give the spiritual nourishment that we truly need, most especially in these times of great sorrows. Hence, we must recognize his labors by according him respect and love. As taught by Apostle Paul, this is how we can show and prove our love to the Executive Minister:

“Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.” (Heb. 13:17 NLT)

The salvation of our souls is at stake if we do not obey our spiritual leader. Apostle Paul cannot emphasize enough how vital the role of the spiritual leader is in ensuring that we are well-guarded from anything that may keep us from dwelling in the heavenly abode. Hence, obedience and submission to God’s teachings in the Bible taught to us by the Executive Minister is essential to receiving eternal life.

Safeguarding the faithful
Fully aware of the trials that we go through day by day, the Executive Minister safeguards our faith so that we will not be defeated by our enemy. To be able to do so, he exhorts us the same way as Apostle Peter urged the brethren then to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (I Pet. 5:8–9 NKJV).

The devil, who is our enemy, is redoubling his efforts in deceiving and destroying our true faith to hinder us from achieving our goal. Now more than ever, we must be sober and vigilant because “the devil … is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short” (Rev. 12:12 New International Version).

As the time of the fulfillment of our redemption or salvation is getting closer and closer, the time for the devil to carry out his evil schemes is getting shorter and shorter as well. In deceiving people, he uses instruments, among them are false preachers:

“At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” (Matt. 24:10–12 NIV)

That is why Brother Eduardo Manalo never ceases to remind us to prioritize our worship of God and our services to Him. For when we constantly obey God’s true teachings, we are protected from evil and become more certain of our salvation.

Placing our faith in God
To help us receive what we ultimately hope for, another biblical teaching that we often hear from the Executive Minister is this advice given by Apostle Peter:

“Cast every worry you have upon Him, because He cares for you. … And God, the giver of every spiritual blessing, who through your union with Christ has called you to His eternal glory, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself make you perfect, firm, and strong.” (I Pet. 5:7, 10 Williams New Testament)

Apostle Peter’s counsel to the Christians back then is still relevant nowadays because many people are overtaken by worry and anxiety due to the worsening situation of the world. Thankfully, we often receive encouragement from our Executive Minister, through God’s words, by reminding us to cast our worries upon God.

Remember how the love of God was manifested in us by calling us into the true Church Of Christ. Thus, we can always cast our worries upon God who is the “giver of every spiritual blessing.” There is no reason for us to get weak even when obstacles abound in our journey toward the Holy City because God truly cares for us and will help us overcome all of these. When we are beset with woe, He will certainly make us “perfect, firm, and strong.”

The untiring efforts and loving concern of Brother Eduardo Manalo for the entire Church only shows that he is indeed the God-appointed watchman who strives day and night to bring us all to salvation. Thus, the Church members all over the world remain one with him in striving to live in obedience and holiness as God’s elect whom He will grant life eternal.

For more articles, visit www.pasugo.com.ph

God’s last work of salvation

Posted on July 25, 2022July 25, 2022 by pasugoeditor

God’s last work of salvation

God’s work of salvation continues. The Bible prophesies God’s work from a far country at the ends of the earth that will be led by His chosen servant. This would be the last religion on earth that belongs to Him.

By MANDY A. NEPOMUCENO

THE IGLESIA NI CRISTO (Church Of Christ) will celebrate its 108th anniversary on July 27, 2022. Church members are taught that the myriad triumphs that the Church continues to reap are the fulfillment of God's promises to His Messenger in the last days, Brother Felix Manalo, and to his mission. And those victories came despite the many challenges and the efforts of its detractors to derail its work. Its detractors never stop working through their schemes to make the faithful doubt their divine election and separate them from the Church. Meanwhile, this Church—the Church Of Christ, which emerged in the Philippines in 1914—will never stray away because it is God’s final work of salvation.

The Lord God chose the ancient Israel then and made them to be His own people (II Sam. 7:24). Among the many nations that existed before in their time, only Israel belonged to God (II Kings 5:15). But they turned away from Him (Dan. 9:11). When the Lord Jesus Christ was sent by God on earth, He built the Church of Christ in the first century (Matt. 16:18; Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation). Among the many people then, they were the only ones who belonged to God and were given the right to serve give praise to Him (I Pet. 2:9). But they departed from the faith (I Tim 4:1).

However, God’s work of salvation still continues. The Bible prophesies God’s work from a far country at the ends of the earth that will be led by His chosen servant (Isa. 46:11; 43:5–6). This would be the last religion on earth that belongs to Him.

The ends of the earth
For His last work of salvation, the Lord God prophesied about His sons and daughters whom He would bring from the east:

“Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west; I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’ Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth.” (Isa. 43:5–6 New King James Version)*

The east where they would come from is also described in the Bible verses mentioned as “afar;” and so, another translation of the same Bible verses renders it as “far east” (Moffatt Translation). It is no coincidence then that the Philippines, a country in the Far East, is the place where the Iglesia Ni Cristo started.

The prophecy specified not only the place of emergence of God’s children but also the time when He would bring them or start the mission: the prophecy states, “from the ends of the earth.”

The “ends of the earth” is not the end of the world, but the period preceding the latter. “Ends of the earth” is also rendered as “ends of the world” (Job 22:24 nkjv; Dhouay-Rheims). The said expression, which appears in I Corinthians 10:11 of King James Version, is rendered in other translations as the “time when the end is about to come” (Good News Bible) or, as the apostles usually referred to it, the “last days” (Living Bible). The Lord Jesus Christ called the time aptly as “at the doors” (Matt. 24:33 nkjv) to describe that the time is near the end.

Christ foretold the visible signs that people would see when the “ends of the earth” has come or when the end is near:

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (Matt. 24:6–8 NKJV)

Christ prophesied a war different from any that had happened before it—it would be rumored or the news about it would spread. The Lord Jesus Christ also forewarned of another war that will follow where “nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” That means there would be a war that would involve not only two opposing nations but many nations of the world. The wars would also be followed by widespread famines, pestilences, and earthquakes.

What would also make these prophesied wars distinct is the modern weapons of war that would be used. In a related prophecy, in Jeremiah 4:13 and 19, it states, thus:

“Behold, he shall come up like clouds, And his chariots like a whirlwind. His horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us, for we are plundered! … O my soul, my soul! I am pained in my very heart! My heart makes a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, Because you have heard, O my soul, The sound of the trumpet, The alarm of war.” (NKJV)*

Wars are not unusual, nor famines in the past. There were pestilences or disease epidemics recorded at various times in history. Earthquakes are common occurrences. However, Bible scholars testify that Christ prophesied a “specific time during which all of these phenomena would be in evidence at the same time;” and “the first such time in world history occurred during the years of World War I (1914-1918) and immediately following” (Matt 24:6–8 Last Days Bible, footnote).

Meanwhile, historians note that “the First World War was unlike any war in the past,” because “this was the first war in three dimensions.” Airplanes were first used as a war instrument, and they served as “winged warriors” who bombed cities from the air, and as scouts, “a kind of aerial ‘cavalry,’” (World History, Vol. II, pp. 478-479) akin to the prophetical pronouncements, “horses swifter than eagles.”

Also, during World War I, the tank was invented, a “land battleship—an armored automobile which could move on rough ground because it was built like a tractor” (World History, Vol. II, pp. 478-479), or as the prophecy describes, “chariots like whirlwind.” Another World War broke out in September 1, 1939, as the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 24:6–8.

When the First World War broke out on July 27, 1914, that signaled that the time of the world is at the “ends of the earth” or that the end of the world was near. On the same date, the Church Of Christ was registered with the government in the Philippines. Such is not a mere coincidence, but prophecies being fulfilled.

The time of harvest
What comes after the final work of salvation? This is what is revealed in another prophecy in the Bible, thus:

“Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.’ Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.” (Rev. 14:13–15 nkjv)

This is a prophecy about the work of the third angel, who is also God’s last messenger. The culmination of his work is the time of harvest, as the prophecy states: “The time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” The time of harvest is “the end of the age” (Matt. 13:39 nkjv). The end of the age is the end of the world, or the day when God will mete out His judgment to all. Indeed, God’s last work of salvation is man’s last opportunity, for after it comes the end.

The Church Of Christ, whose members are the fruits of the labors of God’s last messenger, Brother Felix Manalo, is God’s last work of salvation. What comes after is the end of the world.

The prophecy also states, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” Those who are “in the Lord” have “no condemnation,” after all, as the apostles taught:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (Rom. 8:1 NKJV)

Those who are in the Lord Jesus Christ are not those who merely declare that they are in Him, nor who merely profess their faith and knowledge in Him. Rather, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself claims them as His own. In Matthew 16:18, He pronounced that He built His Church, His own:

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.” (Revised Standard Version)

Christ called it His Church. His apostles followed His lead and called His Church by His Name—the Church Of Christ:

“And He appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets; some to be evangelists, others preachers or teachers. The common object of their labor was to bring the Christians maturity, to prepare them for Christian service and the building up of the Church of Christ.” (Eph. 4:12 Norlie’s Simplified New Testament)

The Church Of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo) that emerged in the Philippines is the continuation of the Church built by Christ when He was on earth. Those who joined the Church Of Christ today are included in God’s last work of salvation. And even though death may come to them first before the world ends, their hope will not perish—when they follow the lead of the faithful disciples of Christ, who completed their race:

“My life is coming to an end, and it is now time for me to be poured out as a sacrifice to God. I have fought the good fight. I have completed the race. I have kept the faith. The prize that shows I have God’s approval is now waiting for me. The Lord, who is a fair judge, will give me that prize on that day. He will give it not only to me but also to everyone who is eagerly waiting for him to come again.” (II Tim. 4:6–8 Names of God Bible).

Members of the Church Of Christ are always exhorted to maintain such resolve—fight the good fight, complete the race, keep the faith. In the end, what awaits them is the prize that shows they have God’s approval, for the Lord God is a fair judge. What lies ahead before them while they continue their journey in this world may be even more difficult; but even in the darkest moments of their lives they will never give up their divine election in the Church.

New challenges will confront the Church while it soldiers on to another year, however, whatever they may be, Church members echo the conviction of the servants of God before:

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Rom. 8:18 NKJV)

For more articles, visit www.pasugo.com.ph

Thanksgiving to God:
a vow we will never break

Posted on July 18, 2022July 18, 2022 by pasugoeditor

Thanksgiving to God: a vow we will never break

Church Of Christ members continue to give thanks to God despite everything that they encounter in life, for it is their vow or solemn promise which honors Him.

CONFLICTS BETWEEN nations, volcanic eruptions, violent earthquakes, wildfires, and destructive storms are but some of the events that devastated many lives this year. What made things worse is the global health crisis that caused infections to tens of millions of people and death to more than a million. Further aggravating the situation, the pandemic brought about the downward trend in the economies of many nations—not sparing even the wealthiest countries—which caused a spike in hunger and poverty rates worldwide. In the midst of these, many people have become disheartened, with some even resorting to suicide, thinking it was the best measure to end their miseries.

The servants of God—because they still sojourn in this world—also experience problems and difficulties. In one of his letters, Apostle Paul said:

“After we came to Macedonia, we didn’t have any chance to rest. We were faced with all kinds of problems. We were troubled by enemies and troubled by fears.” (II Cor. 7:5 Contemporary English Version)

Indeed, like the early Christians, members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) today endure troubles and hardships in this life. But through the help of God, they are able to overcome them. They never weaken in the midst of trials. Instead, they gladly face these, for they firmly believe that through trials, they prove that their faith is genuine (I Pet. 1:6-7 Good News Bible). As the trials they face get heavier, they cling to God all the more—and from Him, they receive the strength and the protection that they need.

Church Of Christ members continue to give thanks to God despite everything that they encounter in life. They do this for, like the early servants of God, it is their vow or solemn promise which honors Him:

“Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High.” (Ps. 50:14 New King James Version)

“Giving thanks is the sacrifice that honors me, and I will surely save all who obey me.” (Ps. 50:23 Good News Bible)

Also, being true servants of God, Church Of Christ members understand that one of the important parts of the vow to God that they must fulfill is the giving of thank-offerings. The Bible teaches, thus:

“So bring your thank offerings {to share with the other worshipers} and come to be with God. You made promises to God Most High, so give him the things you promised.” (Ps. 50:14 Easy-to-Read Version 2001)

Even during the time of the apostles, Church Of Christ members dedicatedly fulfill this part of their vow to God, regardless of the severity of the trials they face. A good example of dedication is like what the brethren in Macedonia did. Concerning this, Apostle Paul testified:

“Now, friends, I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in Macedonia province. Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts. I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could—far more than they could afford!” (II Cor. 8:1-3 The Message)

Similarly, despite the effects in the economy brought by the current global health crisis, Church Of Christ members make sure that they are not hindered from giving their thank-offerings, in fulfillment of their vow to God.

Church Of Christ members recognize that, however difficult the situation they find themselves in, the truth remains that they belong to Christ. They realize that their being among the people who belong to Christ is truly a great privilege, for what awaits them is an inheritance greater than any other. For that reason, they never fail to give thanks to God:

“… giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:12-14 NKJV)

Members of the Church Of Christ are the ones redeemed with the precious blood of Christ (Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation). Because of this redemption, they received the right to serve the Lord God (Heb. 9:14) and offer Him true worship (Rom. 12:1). And, they will receive God’s promised inheritance in the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 25:31-34).

With this certainty of belonging to Christ and being God’s people in these last days, Church Of Christ members uphold the same conviction as that of the early people of God:

“I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of his glories and grace. I will boast of all his kindness to me. Let all who are discouraged take heart.” (Ps. 34:1-2 Living Bible)

This year that is about to end may have brought untold hardships, problems, and troubles along the way but for God’s people, these will never hinder them from giving thanks to Him. In truth, they were able to surmount all these because of His help and protection. That is why they have the firm conviction that in the years ahead, God will again sufficiently provide for them His chosen ones:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. … And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7, 19 NKJV)

For more articles, visit www.pasugo.com.ph

Preparing for the worst disaster

Posted on July 11, 2022July 11, 2022 by pasugoeditor

Preparing for the worst disaster

As people strive to prepare for disasters that abound in this world, there is yet one catastrophic event that is the worst of all.

By ALEJANDRO R. SINO CRUZ JR.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS. It has been of utmost importance now more than ever. With all the severe calamities and disasters that are happening around the world, authorities devise safety measures with the aim of helping people avoid, as much as possible, harm and destruction. Agencies of all sorts are trying their best to inform and prepare the general public about the imminent dangers disasters, whether natural or man-made, will bring. Citing news from various parts of the globe, we can find calamities of horrific magnitude that led to loss of lives, leaving many homeless, and destruction of properties and infrastructures.

There are reports of floods, tornadoes, typhoons, and hurricanes causing widespread devastation. Earthquakes and volcanic explosions cause enormous damage to communities. Wildfires adversely affect the lives of people living nearby. As a matter of fact, lists of catastrophes have been bringing pain, distress, and despair to the lives of multitudes of people. Making things worse, there are man-made tragedies that also plague our society nowadays. Incidents of terrorist attacks, major accidents, and widespread killings abound, not only in places prone to danger and social unrest, but also in places that were once considered peaceful and safe to live in. Deadly diseases, several of which still have no cure, are also terrifying threats to people’s lives. Epidemics break out now and then in different places.

In the face of these perilous circumstances, people are trying their best to be fully prepared, so that in the event that any of these cataclysms hits their places, they may, at the most, be saved from utter destruction.

The most dreadful disaster
As people strive to be ready against disasters that abound in this world, there is yet one catastrophic event that is the worst of all. This is what people should all the more be prepared for. The Bible mentions of a day that the Lord God had appointed to take place:

“Because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained …” (Acts 17:31 New King James Version)

The day being referred to by this biblical pronouncement is none other than Judgment Day. Apostle Peter described how dreadful that day would be in II Peter 3:7, 10:

“But the heavens and the earth which now exist are kept in store, by the same word, reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” (NKJV)

So, if everything will be consumed by fire—“the earth and the works that are in it” and even the “heavens … and the elements will melt with fervent heat”—this only means that this is the worst disaster which is yet to come. If people exhaust every means to prepare for calamities, then all the more they should make the most important preparation for the inevitable day of Judgment.

The signs of its coming
An essential part of disaster-preparedness programs is the forecasting and warning that concerned agencies broadcast to inform the public of imminent danger. However, they could only warn people of natural calamities, not the impending day of Judgment. But the Savior Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ, during His ministry here on earth, had already warned about the coming of the day of great destruction. He mentioned the signs that people will see when the end of the age or the Day of Judgment, which is also His Second Coming, is “near” and “at the doors” (Matt. 24:3, 33 NKJV). Christ even specified the signs when He said that people “will hear of wars and rumors of wars” and “nation will rise against nation” as well as “kingdom against kingdom,” and that “there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places” (Matt. 24:6-8 NKJV).

It is a common knowledge that wars have been going on since the time of ancient civilizations. Likewise, throughout the course of history, there are many recorded cases of famines, earthquakes, pestilences or disease epidemics in various places. However, when the Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples about the events that will signal the coming of Judgment Day, He referred to “a specific time during which all of these phenomena would be in evidence at the same time. The first such time in world history occurred during the years of World War 1 (1914-1918)” (footnote, Matt. 24:6-8 Last Days Bible). Thus, the world now is in the time period “the last days” or the time when Judgment Day is near, at the doors.

There is no time to waste in preparing for the coming of Judgment Day since that day “is near—very near and coming fast!” (Zeph. 1:14 Good News Bible). On that day, the destruction will be so great that “the whole earth will be destroyed by the fire” and not even all “silver and gold” will be able to save the people from being destroyed (Zeph. 1:18 GNB). Hence, even wealth and riches cannot save the people of the world from the looming desolation.

People must prepare
People might ask, “How then can we prepare for that most dreaded day and when will it come?” Many have tried to predict when the day of Judgment will happen but to no avail. This is because “no one knows … when that day and hour will come” except the Father in heaven (Matt. 24:36 GNB). For this reason, the Savior Himself issued forewarnings, declaring what people should do. Christ exhorts all people to “always be ready” because His Second Advent will occur at a time when people are “not expecting Him” (Matt. 24:44 GNB).

If wealth and riches cannot save the people of this world from the fiery destruction, then how can they be ready for it? Apostle Peter further clarified that people should “do [their] best … to be at peace with him” (II Pet. 3:14 GNB). And those who are found to be at peace with the Lord God are the ones who “were called in one body” (Col. 3:15 NKJV).

Being called in one body
Although Judgment day is such a terrifying day to reckon with, the Bible clearly offers a solution for people to be saved. The apostles taught that people should do their best to be found at peace, that is to be called in one body. In Colossians 1:18, Apostle Paul taught that the body being referred to is the body of Christ, the Church (NKJV). He further specified the name of the Church that is the body of the Lord Jesus Christ:

“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood” (Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation).

No wonder the Church Of Christ that emerged in the Philippines in these last days has intensified its efforts in all of its endeavors, especially in the field of propagating God’s words to as many people as possible so they may also be called to enter the Church Of Christ. The day of Judgment is very near and coming fast. There is no preventing it. So, people should waste no time in doing their best to ready themselves.

However, it is very important to note that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself also taught how to complete the preparations to ensure salvation on Judgment Day. He made certain to the members of the Church Of Christ during the first century—that also applies to the members of the Church Of Christ in these last days—who among His disciples will be saved on Judgment Day: “But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matt. 24:13 NKJV).

Therefore, those who are prepared for the worst disaster and are sure to be saved from the eternal destruction that it will bring are those who became members of the Church Of Christ who remain until the end, whether the end of the world or the end of their life, whichever will come first.

This article was originally published in the Pasugo: God’s Message magazine, June 2016 issue.

For more articles, visit www.pasugo.com.ph

An invitation to a joyful gathering

Posted on June 21, 2022June 21, 2022 by pasugoeditor

An invitation to a joyful gathering

To make it to the joyful gathering in heaven, people should join the Church that is "composed of all those registered in heaven."

By SIEGFRED T. GOLLAYAN

IN THIS WORLD, there are many problems and difficulties that bring us sorrow and distress. There are also times when we fail in what we do, bringing us more pain. However, our Lord Jesus Christ mentioned that even though we are now sad and troubled, He will soon see us again and our hearts will be filled with gladness that no one can take away from us:

“That is how it is with you: now you are sad, but I will see you again, and your hearts will be filled with gladness, the kind of gladness that no one can take away from you.” (John 16:22 Good News Bible)

Because no less than our Savior is the One Who made this promise, it is what we should long for. We should not allow anything or anyone to hinder us from receiving that gladness or joy (New King James Version) that our Lord Jesus Christ promised.

The place of gathering
As to where that gladness or joy is, which each of us must strive to reach, the Bible enlightens us, thus:

“But you have come right up into Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the gathering of countless happy angels; and to the church, composed of all those registered in heaven; and to God who is Judge of all; and to the spirits of the redeemed in heaven, already made perfect; and to Jesus himself, who has brought us his wonderful new agreement; and to the sprinkled blood, which graciously forgives instead of crying out for vengeance as the blood of Abel did.” (Heb. 12:22-24 The Living Bible)

The place where we will have the gladness or joy Christ promised is in heaven. There in the city of the living God or the heavenly Jerusalem, a joyful gathering will take place. For people to be counted among those who will make it to that gathering, they should become members of the Church that is “composed of all those registered in heaven.”

Hence, to say that joining the Church is no longer needed is a grave mistake, an unbiblical teaching. It is not true that it is enough to merely profess faith in Christ to enter the kingdom of heaven. The Bible assures that those who will make it to the happy gathering in heaven are the members of the Church. But, it is not just any church that one should join to receive such great reward; rather, it is the Church that is “composed of all those registered in heaven.” And one of the qualities of that Church is that it is where “the redeemed” are.

The Church that was redeemed or purchased by Christ with His blood is the Church Of Christ:

“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.”
(Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation)

Thus, the joyful gathering in heaven is reserved for the members of the Church Of Christ. In order for one, therefore, to make it to that joyful gathering, he must become a member of the Church Of Christ.

A joyful gathering
Why the gathering that will take place in heaven is a joyful one is clear from the description of the Bible thus:

“Pay close attention now: I’m creating new heavens and a new earth. All the earlier troubles, chaos, and pain are things of the past, to be forgotten. Look ahead with joy. Anticipate what I’m creating: I’ll create Jerusalem as sheer joy, create my people as pure delight. I’ll take joy in Jerusalem, take delight in my people: No more sounds of weeping in the city, no cries of anguish.” (Isa. 65:17-19 The Message)

Sheer joy and pure delight will be felt in the new heaven and new earth or in the New Jerusalem, which is also the Holy City (Rev. 21:1-4). In that place, all the earlier troubles, chaos, and pain are things of the past and to be forgotten. In the Holy City, there are no more sounds of weeping and cries of anguish. A glorious life awaits us there.

We invite you dear readers to join the Church Of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo). We invite you to join its members in the joyful gathering in heaven.

For more articles, visit www.pasugo.com.ph

A life well spent

Posted on June 13, 2022June 14, 2022 by pasugoeditor

A life well spent

By SIEGFRED T. GOLLAYAN

THE WORLD IS in a state of flux—the only thing constant, people say, is change. At a time when a person feels totally in control of his life, something happens that alters his direction, a change occurs at an instant. What he considers predictable becomes unpredictable after all and he has no recourse but to adjust to these unexpected circumstances and situations.

As the cliché goes: “Life is a journey.” Indeed, as we go on in life, many things happen that turn out to be very different from what we had expected. We do plan, but the possibility of facing events beyond our control comes along the way. Financial analysts project economic growths only to be disappointed by a sudden slump that leads to an uncontrollable decline in the economy. A businessman may map out his business with optimism for the next few years but doesn’t get the revenues he had expected, probably due to inflation, unavailability of raw materials, or other reasons. We sometimes are unable to make it to our appointments because of a flat tire or heavy traffic. We promise our children to treat them out only to be sidelined by flu.

Use time wisely
Given that things are very uncertain, we should therefore make wise use of our time. The apostles, thus, advise us to “make every minute count” (Eph. 5:16 Contemporary English Version).

Just imagine: considering that a person needs to sleep an average of eight hours a day, that means that by the time he is 60, he would have already spent 20 years of his life in slumber. More or less, we only have two-thirds of our lifetime to spend productively. Hence, there is no gainsaying to ask ourselves, “How do we spend our lives here on earth?” and “How do we make use of our time?” We only have one life to live here. If we spend most of our time doing nothing good, indeed, a bleak future awaits us.

If we really care for our time here on earth, we will not waste the life we have been given. The Scriptures says that there is a time for everything under the sun:

“For everything there is an appointed time, and an appropriate time for every activity on earth.” (Eccles. 3:1 New English Translation)

Let us live our lives meaningfully. Let us work doing the best we can, make use of our full potentials, and treat important matters with a sense of urgency. If we do this, we help make living in this world less burdensome, even just in our own little way. Besides, the Bible instructs us, thus:

“Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days.” (Eph. 5:16 New Living Translation)

Hence, let us not skip the opportunity to do good to others—nothing fabulous, but many occasions to make life a bit more pleasant for others—a simple text or instant message to someone you love; giving a seat to an old lady aboard a bus; greeting the security guard; congratulating your secretary for a job well done; caring for our families well; and being of service to our community are some ways.

Spend life well
Most of all, for us to spend our life well, we should understand our very reason for being:

“After all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for.” (Eccles. 12:13 Today’s English Version)

Above all our everyday endeavors is what God wants us to do. If we are able to obey Him, like what the Lord Jesus did, we could also say to the Father: “I brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you told me to” (John 17:4 Living Bible).

Because of this, let us hasten to do what God bids us and do not let the life He gave us be spent in sluggishness. According to the Lord Jesus:

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matt. 6:33 NLT)

Hence, a life well spent is doing all that we can to surrender ourselves to the will of God—not only by living righteously, but first of all by seeking the kingdom in which man will have redemption and forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ (Col. 1:12-14 New King James Version). That kingdom is the Church Of Christ:

“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” (Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation)

If we consider that there will never be enough time for us to do all that we can do and be all that we can be, we will always live life to its fullest, with our spiritual well-being as the top priority. It is because of this that we advise you to join the Church Of Christ—now that there is still time.

For more articles, visit www.pasugo.com.ph

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