What is the gospel?

What is the gospel?

One of the most interesting topic in spiritual issues is salvation. Saan ka tutungo pagdating sa iyo ng kamatayan? Have you asked yourself this question?

The word 'gospel' has been commonly used inside religions but the truth meaning and essence of it is not clearly discussed.

There is also misconceptions concerning this matter. Some lessens its power and others don't really believe its power to save.

THE TRUTH IS NOT EMPHASIZED
Most religion has their emphasis on something their religion believes and not on the gospel in which pictures what Jesus has done. The emphasis is on the individual who wants to go to heaven and not on the Lord Jesus who only can save.

Most religion teaches their audience to be good to be saved.

Question #1: What is the basis of that "good" works and what is the extent of that good works.

It is common to say, you need to do good works to be saved, but what and how?

For example: (Just to let you think) Good works varies depending on the person who looks at it. There are things that may be good in my perspectives and is not in others. Have you heard saying, "You cannot please everybody"? Maybe because everybody has his own standard of 'good'. Kaya po mahirap ang katuruan na kailangan gumawa ka ng mabuti upang ikaw ay maligtas.

Question #2: Ano ang mabuti na dapat gawin upang maligtas? Naitanong mo na ba sa nagtuturo kung ano yung mabuting bagay na iyong gagawing upang maligtas? Kung naitanong mo na, napag-isipan mo ba ang sagot?

Di ba ang mabuting gawain na sinasabi nila ay mga gawaing nakikinabang ang kanilang relihiyon na kahit mabait ka sa kapwa ngunit hindi ka kaanib ikaw ay hindi ligtas. Ibig sabihin hindi ligtas kung hindi ka mapapakinabangan ng relihiyon. Tama ba ang aking kuro-kuro?

Question #3: Ano ba ang batayan ng pagiging mabuti? ANG BIBLIYA. Kung ang Bibliya ang batayan patungkol sa kabutihan, ano naman ang sabi ng Bibliya?

Luke 18:18-19
18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

There is only one good and that is God.

Kahit pa sa kasaysayan sa Lukas 18, ang mayamang binata dito ay hindi naligtas bagaman sinabi niya sinunod na niya ang kautusan. Siya ay tumalikod kay Jesus at hindi kinilala ang salita ni Kristo. Sapagkat may sariling siyang pamantayan sa pagiging mabuti na iba sa pamantayan ni Kristo.

Good works is loudly emphasized and the gospel is not even mentioned in church that teaches salvation through membership and good works.

Have you ever noticed na dakilain si Kristo ang sarili ang itinataas para maligtas.

SALVATION IS OF THE LORD
Jonah 2:9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.

Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Wala po tayong kakayanan na iligtas ang sarili natin. Salvation is of the Lord. Sa Dios laman ang kakayanan at kapangyarihan na magligtas. Huwag po tayong madaya ng relihiyon na nagsasabi kailangan kayong sumanib sa amin at manatili. Bakit? May mapapakinabangan sila sa inyo. Kung hindi na kayo matapat hindi ka na ligtas.

Religion is a business ika nga, and most religion is using the 'FEAR' of individual to sustain their ministry. Maraming mga tao takot mawala sa kanilang simbahan baka mawalang kaligtasan, bakit? Because their religion holds their salvation.

Ang katuruang yan ay mali. Napakaliwanag sa Bibliya, Salvation is of the Lord, not of ourselves, and not of works.

Pero inilalagay ng relihiyon sa ating mga kamay ang kaligtasan.

THE GOSPEL
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

This truth about the gospel is not emphasized in most of the religions.

Observation #1: The emphasis of the gospel is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Jesus died, was buried and rose again. This is the gospel. In most religions Jesus is not the emphasis but the good thing for his religion is. It is not what we have done it is on what Jesus has done.

Observation #2: The power of God to save is the gospel. What Jesus has done is the power of God to save. Jesus died, he was buried and he rose again, this is the gospel. This is the power of God to save.

Observation #3: There is no mention of good works or religious membership as the power of God to save.


For example, instead of putting a period (.) on a Bible truth the put a VERY BIG question mark (?)

Illustration:
Notice the punctuation mark.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (The punctuation mark at the end of the sentence is a period)

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life? (The punctuation mark at the end of the sentence is a question mark).

This what religion is doing, instead of believing the Bible as it is, they put a very big question mark.

SALVATION TODAY
Have you put you faith in Jesus today that he is only the way to be saved and no other?

Why didn't Jesus mention specifically the name of His church in the Bible?

Why didn't Jesus mention specifically the name of His church in the Bible?

There are so many religions today who claim to be Biblical because they use Bible terms and words and claim to be Biblical.

RELIGIOUS TREND
Religions today are proud of the name of their church as Biblical names. Most if not all religion teaches salvation through church membership. It is imperative to be a member of the church to be saved.

Argument #1: If church membership is God's way of salvation, there is no saved in the Old Testament believers since there is no church yet.

Argument #2: If being a member of the church is a way to go to heaven, John the Baptist who initiated baptism is not saved because he is not baptized. No one baptized John the Baptist. This make me laugh, the one who perform baptism is not saved.

Argument #3: If church membership is Jesus' way of salvation, the thief on the cross when Jesus was crucified is not saved because there is no more opportunity for him to be baptized and be a member of the church.

Argument #4: If church membership is God's way of salvation, the founder of that religion is not saved, for one reason, who baptized him? From where did he got his authority to baptized?

Sa sino mang relihiyon na nagsasabi na ang bautismo at pagsanib sa relihiyon ay paraang ng Dios sa kaligtasan, isang bagay na tiyak ang nagtatag nito ay hindi ligtas. Sapgakat sino nagbautismo sa kanya at saan siya kaanib bago niya naitayo ang relihiyong kanyang pinangungunahan ngayon.

RELIGIOUS IGNORANCE
Romans 10:2-3
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Most often, religious teachers are telling his audience that they are the true church because they have Bible verse to support the name of their church.

I have search from the internet names of churches who are biblical by terminology and these are:
Church of Christ
Church of God
United Church of God
United Church of Christ
Church of the Christ in the Latter Day Saints
United Pentecostal Church of Christ
Etc...
There are so many, even in not searching the internet in just hearing radio, watching TV and even looking around you can find these names of churches. Most of these religions teaches salvation by baptism and church membership.

Observation #1: To point the ignorance, all of them is saying that they are different from the other. They even have their debates about who is true this certain church of Christ or this certain church of God.

Observation #2: But in using Bible terms, all of them will be true in their own ignorance.

Observation #3: To use the Bible terminology in naming a church is not specifically God's way or Biblical.

IS IT REALLY A NAME?
Is the phrase church of Christ or church of God a name?

Basically, it is not a name but an ownership.

Example #1: What is the name of your car? Can you answer it this way, The name of my car is "car of Job" It speaks of ownership not a name. That question can be answered, The name of my car is "Volkswagen".

Example #2: Let us put it this way, what is the name of Christ's church? Can you answer it this way, The name of Christ's church is "church of Christ" or "church of God". Do these answers has any sense?

Therefore all who uses the "Biblical terminology" to name their church is not really Biblical.

WHY IS IT THAT JESUS NEVER MENTION THE NAME OF HIS CHURCH IN THE BIBLE?
John 20:30-31
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

The name of the church Jesus built is not mention in the Bible because it is not God's way of salvation. Jesus is the way.

Hindi paraan ng Dios sa kaligtasan ang pagsanib sa relihiyon. It is on believing in the name of Jesus.

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THIS?
Paano kaya kung pinahintulutan ng Panginoon na isulat ang pangalan ng church na itinayo Niya, this could lead to a great spiritual damage.

Eh, kung ito nga hindi pa naisulat ang pangalan ng church na itinayo ng Panginoon lahat sila nagsasabi na tama sila ang gulo na, lalo pang gugulo yan.

Kaya napakatalino ng Panginoon. Nalaman tuloy natin ang mali.

God bless you all.

Jesus said, I AM THE WAY

Someone has asked, bakit po napakaraming religion? Alin po ba ang tama? Naguguluhan ako. This is a response from one of our radio broadcast before.

Where religion stands?
Kung titingnan natin ang paraan ng kaligtasan sa pamamagitan ng uri at pangalan ng relihiyon maguguluhan tayo sapagkat walang relihiyong nagsasabi na sila ay mali.

Halos magkakaiba ang mga system ng relihiyon (sa unang tingin) pero kung pag-aaralang mabuti mayroon pagkakapareho.

Anyway, religion differs in the day of worship, kind of food being eaten, dress codes, especially in the names of churches. Most often, this makes me laugh, there are so many religious leader who based their belief that they are a true church because a certain Bible verse stated the name of their church. Anybody can use a Bible verse to protect the name they want for their church but it is not necessarily a church that Jesus built. Studying it further it is not a name of the church, it's speaks of Christ's ownership to the church.

Example:
Ibon ni Karding (bird of Richard) is not a name of the bird of Richard (Karding). It speaks that the bird is under the ownership of Richard. What is the name of the bird of Richard? It may be African lovebird, or maya. Ibon ni Karding is not a name.

They say that they are the church because their church's name is in the Bible which is not necessarily true.

Religions differ in many ways but common in a certain matter, what is it?

Biblical declaration
Throughout the Bible, there is only one way of salvation. But man made his own way of salvation.

Religion is only divided by two. The dividing line is the way of salvation. This the point where we are going to divide religion.

Let us go to the Bible:
Luke 13:23-28
23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

Matthew 7:13-15
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Question? There are how many way mentioned in these set of verses?
Answer: 2. The narrow (strait) and the broad way.

We must base our belief concerning the way of salvation in the Bible.

Question? How can we distinguish these two ways?
Answer: By works and by faith.

By works:
Biblical refuting to those who believed that salvation is by works.
By works means doing your way to heaven through good works, baptism, church membership, endurance, etc...

Romans 3:19-20
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds (works) of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:28
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds (works) of the law.

Romans 4:5
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Titus 3:5 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Galatians 2:16
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Galatians 3:10
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

Ang ibig sabihing Gal. 3:10 ay sa sinumang naniniwala na ang kaligtasan ay sa pamamagitan ng gawa dapat manatili siyang walang paglabag sa lahat na nakassulat sa Bibliya.

By Faith:
Biblical basis of believing that salvation is only by faith in Jesus Christ.
Faith means believing that Jesus alone can save.

Romans 3:19-22
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Romans 3:24
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Romans 3:28
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Romans 4:15-16
15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

Romans 8:24
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

Romans 10:9
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 10:13
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Ephesians 2:8
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Is there any in these verse that teaches us that we must work to be saved? Faith is not accompanied by good works when it comes to salvation.

Romans 11:6
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

OBSERVATION BASED ON BIBLE TRUTH:
There are only two ways people are looking at as the way of salvation by works and by faith.
Therefore the broad and narrow way mentioned in the Bible are by works and by faith.

By works = broad way
By faith= narrow way

Therefore, hindi po marami ang relihiyon, dalawa lang by works and by faith. Huwag nating hatiin ang relihiyon ayon sa pangalan, kinakain, sinusuot, araw ng pagsamba at iba pa.

Ang relihiyon ay maaring hatiin sa paraan ng kaligtasan na tinuturo nila. Ito ba ay by works o by faith?

The Signs of the Times

The signs of the times (Matt. 24:1-14)
There is no exact date when will the Lord Jesus will come again but for sure it is nearer than we believed.
Kahit hindi natin malalaman kung kailan ang rapture, the Bible tells of the signs of the times:

1. Religious explosion. Matt. 24:5,11
Religion will rise by number. We are in a day where numbers are a barometer of being true religion. Most religion teaches salvation by church membership. Nag-away-away na sila pero hindi man lang nila napansin na pareho ang paraan ng kaligtasan na tinunuro nila ang pagsanib sa relihiyon at paggawa ng mabuti. mayroon din namang nagsasabi na nakausap nila ang Dios (kahit sino pwede magsabing nakausap niya ang Dios, pero walang witness na nakausap nga niya), habang nakakakita tayo ng paglaganap ng relihiyon in great number this is oe of the signs of the times.

2. Wars and Rumors of Wars. Matt. 24:6,7
Tunay na lumalaganap ang giera sa iba't-ibang mga bansa. Ito'y tanda na malapit ng dumating ang Panginoon. Hindi po dapat magulumihanan ang isang tunay na mananamplataya sapagkat hindi pa ito ang katapusan.

3. Pestilence or Disease. Matt. 24: 7
Lumalaganap na ang iba't-ibang uri ng karamdaman. Iba't-ibang uri ng karamdaman na nagpapahirap at pumapatay.

4. Earthquakes. Matt. 24:7,8
Earthquakes at volcanic eruptions ay kapansinpansin sa ating kapanahunan. These are the signs that Jesus is coming so soon. Ito'y pasimula pa lang kahirapan. Kapansinpansin ang pagbagsak ng ekonomiya dahil sa patuloy na pag-erupt ng isang bulkan sa Iceland.

5. Christian Persecution. Matt. 24:9,10
Kung meron mang pananampalataya ng pilit sakalin at patuloy na tinutugis ay ang pananampalatayang Kristiyano. Until now Christians are being persecuted. In other countries, reading the Bible is not allowed. You can be jailed by praying "in the name of Jesus". Christian seems to be an offence to the world. At sa ating kapanahunan yan nangyayari.
Christians are still the most persecuted people in all the world.
Sa mga panahong ito nasusubukan ang tunay na tibay ng isang mananampalataya.

6. Mega-churches. Matt. 24:11
MANY false prophets shall arise and deceive MANY. Centralized and mega churches are on the rise. If there be a time in history that people come to "christian churches" is today. People are carrying Bibles, singing "christian songs", chanting 'christian praises" but most often they don't know where are they going after death.
Centralized religion. Did Christ established a centralized church? Did Paul become lord over the churches he had helped established?

The Seven churches of Asia in Rev. 2 & 3 has one angel (messenger) each church and has differ in characteristics.

Paul encouraged Titus to ordain elders (pastors) in every city. Titus 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

It is not God's design for a church to be centralized and look only to one pastor. The church is the monopoly of Christ but not of any man. Only Christ is the head of the church.

People loves entertainments and are for so many times are entertained by preachers' oratory or music or dancing and the word of God is left in the streets.

7. Backsliding. Matt. 24:12
While mega-churches is on the rise, true Christian seems to be affected by backsliding. Because of the abounding worldliness and materialism the love of Christ is waxing cold. The church is left behind while Christian pursue for the world.

8. The Saved Shall Endure. Matt. 24:13
This verse has been a topic of so much debate. The fact is: ginawa na itong paraan ng kaligtasan sa maraming mga relihiyon. Upang maunawaan ang talatang ito dapt maunawaan natin ang buong kwento sa Matt. 24. Mula sa verse 1 hanggang 14 ay pangyayari sa pangkasalukuyan at ito ang SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Mula naman sa verse 15 hanggang 51 ay panghinarap ng mangyayari.

Specifically, ang verses one to 14 ay hindi nagtuturo ng paraan ng kaligtasan bagkus ito'y mga tanda o palatandaan ng malapit nang pagbabalik ng Panginoon.

Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
From the original meaning, the phrase "the same shall" is the same as "this".
Therefore, it can said, But he that shall endure unto the end, this be saved.

Sa paglaganap ng mega churches and religions and some Christians backslid, isa sa mga palatandaan ng ating kapanahunan ay ang pag-endure ng tunay na ligtas. Ang ligtas lamang ang maaring manatili sapagkat sinabi na yan ng Bibliya sa Psalm 37:28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

9. Intensive Worldwide Gospel Movement. Matt. 24:14
The gospel is being spread all around the world.

Now these are the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Unawain po natin ang kanahunan.
kung ikaw ay hindi pa ligtas, may oras ka pa upang tanggapin ang Panginoon ngayon. Pagsisihan mo ang iyong kasalanan at tanggapin mo si Kristo bilang Tagapagligtas.