Si Jesus, Ang Ating Tapat na Kapatid
Liksyon ika-apat, Unang Tremestre, Enero 15-21, 2022
Ibahagi ang liksyong ito
Sabbath Afternoon - January 15
Memory Text:
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” KJV — Hebrews 2:14
“Wondrous combination of man and God! ... He humbled Himself to man's nature. He did this that the Scripture might be fulfilled; and the plan was entered into by the Son of God, knowing all the steps in His humiliation, that He must descend to make an expiation for the sins of a condemned, groaning world. What humility was this! It amazed angels. The tongue can never describe it; the imagination cannot take it in. The eternal Word consented to be made flesh! God became man! It was a wonderful humility. TMK 68.2
“Kagilagilalas na pagsasanib ng sangkatauhan at ng Diyos!... Siya’y nagpakababa sa kalikasan ng tao. Ito ay Kanyang ginawa para sa katuparan ng Kasulatan; at pinasimulan nga ng Anak ng Diyos ang planong pagliligtas, kahit pa ang ibig sabihin nito ay ang pagdanas nya sa bawat hakbang ng kahihiyan, alam Niyang kinakailangan nyang magpakababa upang tuldukan ang kasalanan ng hinatulan at dumadaing na mundong ito. Anong kababaang-loob nga ito! Na maging ang mga anghel ay namangha. Walang dila ang maaring maglarawan nito; o maging ang kahit na anong imahinasyon. Ang walang hanggang Salita ay pumayag na maging laman! Ang Diyos ay nagkatawang tao! Ito nga ay kagilagilalas na pagpapakumbaba!
“But He stepped still lower; the Man must humble Himself as a man to bear insult, reproach, shameful accusations, and abuse. There seemed to be no safe place for Him in His own territory. He had to flee from place to place for His life. He was betrayed by one of His disciples; He was denied by one of His most zealous followers. He was mocked. He was crowned with a crown of thorns. He was scourged. He was forced to bear the burden of the cross. TMK 68.3
“At Siya ay nagpakababa pa nga ng husto; kinailangan Niyang magpakababa bilang isang tao na tatanggap ng insulto, paninisi, nakakahiyang akusasyon at pangaabuso. Tila walang ligtas na lugar para sa Kanya sa loob mismo ng sarili Niyang teritoryo. Kinailangan pa Niyang tumakas sa iba’t ibang lugar para sa kaligtasan ng Kanyang buhay. Siya ay ipinagkanulo ng isa Niyang alagad; Siya ay itinanggi ng isa sa pinakamasigasig Niyang tagasunod. Siya ay ikinutya. Siya ay pinutungan ng koronang tinik. Siya ay hinampas. Siya ay puwersahang pinagbata ng krus. TMK 68.3
“He was not insensible to this contempt and ignominy. He submitted, but, oh! He felt the bitterness as no other being could feel it. He was pure, holy, and undefiled, yet arraigned as a criminal! The adorable Redeemer stepped down from the highest exaltation. Step by step He humbled Himself to die—but what a death! It was the most shameful, the most cruel—the death upon the cross as a malefactor. He did not die as a hero in the eyes of the world, loaded with honors, as men in battle. He died as a condemned criminal, suspended between the heavens and the earth—died a lingering death of shame, exposed to the tauntings and revilings of a debased, crime-loaded, profligate multitude! ... TMK 68.4
“Hindi lingid sa Kanya ang tungkol sa kapahamakan at kahihiyang ito. Kanya itong hinayaang maganap at Kanyang natikman ang pait na walang sinumang nilalang ang makakadama. Siya ay dalisay, banal, walang bahid ng karumihan ngunit Siya ay tinuring na kriminal! Ang kaibig-ibig na Manunubos ay bumaba buhat sa kaitaas-taasan. Sa bawat hakbang ay nagpakababang-loob Siya upang mamatay – Ngunit anong klaseng kamatayan ang Kanyang dinanas! Ito ay napakalupit at puno ng kahihiyan – ang kamatayan sa krus bilang isang makasalanan. Hindi Siya namatay na bayani sa mata ng mundo, o kaya ay pinarangalan bilang isang mandirigma. Namatay Siya bilang isang kriminal, ipinakong nakabitin sa pagitan ng langit at lupa – dumanas ng kamatayan na puno ng kahihiyan, ng panunuya at pagalipusta mula sa mga makasalanan at mapaglapastangang karamihan! TMK 68.4
All this humiliation of the Majesty of heaven was for guilty, condemned man. He went lower and lower in His humiliation, until there were no lower depths that He could reach, in order to lift man up from his moral defilement. All this was for you.” S.D.A Bible Commentary 5: 1127, 1128; TMK 68.5
Ang kahihiyang dinanas ng “Karangalan sa Kaitaasn” ay para sa mga makasalanan. Siya ay nagpakababa ng lubusan para itaas ang tao buhat sa kanyang karumihang moral. Ang lahat ng ito ay para sa inyo.” S.D.A Bible Commentary 5: 1127, 1128; TMK 68.5
Sunday - January 16
The Brother as a Redeemer
Leviticus 25:25-27, 47-49; Hebrews 2: 14-16
How important was the mission of Christ to redeem our world?
“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.” KJV—Revelation 12:1-5
When the promise of the coming Saviour was made, it was then that the dragon learned that the Church was to give birth to the “man child,” and from then on he watched her closely, hoping to destroy the world’s Redeemer as soon as He was born. This he endeavored to accomplish through Herod, when he caused a multitude of little children to be slaughtered. The child Christ, nevertheless, escaped, and the Devil met his first defeat in this connection.
Nang mahayag ang pagdating ng Manunubos ay nalaman nga ng dragon na ang Iglesia ay manganganak sa isang “anak na lalaki”, at ang dragon ay nagbantay sa kanya upang wasakin ang tapagligtas sa oras ng pagkapanganak niya. At ito ay ninais nyang tuparin sa pamamagitan ni Herod na nagutos sa pagpatay ng mga batang dalawang taon pababa. Ngunit nakatakas ang sanggol na si Kristo at ang Kaaway ay dumanas ng una niyang pagkatalo.
Now the Dragon being fortified with seven heads and ten horns, denotes that he controlled all the civil and religious powers in that day (for the symbolical number “ten” denotes universality, just as do the ten toes of Daniel 2, the ten horns of the other Bible beasts, and the ten virgins of Matthew 25).
At ngayon, ang dragon ay napalakas ng pitong ulo at sampung sungay na nangangahulugan ng pagkontrol sa kapangyarihang civil at pangrelihiyon sa panahong yaon (ang symbolical na numero sampo ay nangangahulugan ng ‘universality’ o pangkalahatan, gaya ng sinisimbuluhan ng sampung daliri sa Dan 2, ang sampung sungay ng hayop sa ibang bersikulo ng bibliya at sampung dalaga ng Matt 25).
The horns represent all the civil powers, while the heads represent all the religious powers, for the Biblical number “seven” denotes completeness. Moreover, the fact that the Church (the Jews), the only agency through which God worked up to that time, crucified the Lord, is in itself sufficient proof that the Church had apostatized, that she had become the Dragon’s seventh head, and that thus was the Dragon armed with ten horns and seven heads, – with all the civil and religious powers. And, so, you see, the Dragon with his horns and heads represents the world captured by the Devil.
Ang sungay ay tumutukoy sa kapangyarihang civil samantalang ang ulo ay sa pangrelihiyon, gayundin ang Biblical na numerong ‘pito’ ay nangangahulugan ng ‘completeness’ o pagkakumpleto. At saka ang katunayan na ang Iglesia (ang mga Hudyo) bilang tanging ahensya na ginamit ng Diyos sa panahong iyon ang siya mismong nagpako sa Kanya sa krus ay sapat na patotoo na ang Iglesia ay naapostasiya na at naging ika-pitong ulo ng dragon na naayon sa sinasabing dragon na armado ng sampung sungay at pitong ulo – na nagtataglay ng kapangyahirang civil at pangrelihiyon. At ang dragon na may pitong ulo at sampung sungay na ito ay tumutkoy sa mundo na napasalilalim ng kaaway.
Thus, it is that the world was lost in that day, and thus it was that Christ came to redeem it. To do all this He started a new church organization. In this light we see Christ, the world’s Redeemer, and His mission even more important than we have ever seen it before.
Ang mundo nga ay naligaw sa panahong iyon at si Kristo ay dumating upang tubusin ito. Upang tuparin ito, Siya ay nagpasimula ng bagong organisasyong pang-iglesia. Dito ay ating Nakita si Kristo, ang manunubos ng sanlibutan at ang Kanyang misyon na napakahalaga higit sa anumang bagay na atin nang nakita.
It is a recognized fact, too, that crowns always stand for kingly authority. And as they appear on the dragon’s heads, not on his horns, it is especially noticeable that while the dragon ruled both the civil and religious worlds, yet he crowned the religious.
Isa ring kinikilalang katotohanan na ang korona ay palaging tumutukoy sa makaharing awtoridad o ‘kingly authority’. At dahil ang korona ay makikita sa ulo ng dragon at hindi sa kanyang sungay, kapansin pansin na samantalang pareho nyang nakontrol ang civil at religious powers ay mas nakoronahan niya ang pangrelihiyong aspeto.
In other words, the church held the sceptre; the church sat on the dragon’s throne. And the fact that the number of the dragon’s horns represents universality and the number of his crowned heads, completeness, coupled with the fact that both the Jewish church and the Romans persecuted the Lord, shows that the dragon as a whole represents a complete Satanic-ecclesiastical world, that Satan had taken the world captive. As conqueror of it and armed with horns and heads, he moved upon Herod to kill the newborn children as soon as he learned of Christ’s birth. This he did with the hope of destroying the Saviour, devouring the child and thereby perpetuating his own kingdom. Such was the condition of the world at Christ’s first Advent, and thus was the church enabled to crucify the Lord, to stone Stephen, to behead others, and yet to escape the penalties of the civil authorities.
Sa ibang salita, ang iglesia ang may hawak ng panghampas; ang iglesia ang umupo sa trono ng dragon. At ang katunayan na ang bilang ng sungay ng dragon ay sumisimbolo sa ‘universality’ at ang bilang ng kanyang nakoronahang ulo ay ‘completeness’ at dahil ang Jewish church at Romano ang parehong umusig sa Panginoon – ang lahat ng ito ay tumutukoy sa tinatawag na Satanic-ecclesiastical world, ang pagkasakop ni Satanas sa mundo. Bilang mananakop na nakakalasagan ng sungay at ulo, ay kanyang ginamit si Herod upang patayin ang lahat ng bagong silang na sanggol ng malaman niyang ipinanganak na nga si Kristo. Ito ay ginawa niya sa pagasang kanyang mapapatay ang tagapagligtas, na mawawasak ang sanggol at maipagpapatuloy niya ang kanyang sariling kaharian. Ito nga ang kondisyon ng mundo sa unang pagparito ni Kristo, ipinapako ng Iglesia si Kristo sa krus, ipinabato si Stephen, pinapugutan ang iba at sa kabila nito ay nakatakas sila sa anumang parusa buhat sa mga awtoridad na pangcivil.
For this very reason the Son of man, the world’s Redeemer, came just when He did. The dragon, though, to defend his Satanic dominion, patiently waited and carefully watched for the arrival of the world’s promised Redeemer. So it was that while the ever living church of God was with child, and crying to be delivered, the dragon with his seven crowned heads and ten horns, stood ready to devour the child as soon as He was born.
Sa kadahilanang ito, ang Anak ng tao, ang ating tagapagligtas ay pumarito sa panahong kinakailangan Siya. Kahit pa nga ang dragon ay naghintay at nagbantay ng maigi sa Kanyang pagdating upang ilaban at panatilihin ang kanyang pamumuno o ‘Satanic dominion’ sa mundo. Samantalang ang walanghanggang iglesia ng Diyos ay nagdadalang tao; at siya'y sumisigaw, na nagdaramdam sa panganganak, ang dragon na may sampung sungay at pitong ulo na nakokoronahan ay lumagay sa harapan niya upang lamunin ang kaniyang anak pagkapanganak niya.
Just such apostasy had gripped the world in the days of Noah, too, and made it necessary for the Lord to do something to save the world. For the sake of mankind, the Creator sent the flood to bring an end to the wickedness. In like manner the terrible apostasy of the Jews in the days of Christ’s first advent, demanded another disaster as thoroughly destructive as the dreadful deluge in order again to blot out wickedness. But, if for no other reason than to keep His never-failing promise to His faithful servant Noah, God could not thus overthrow the world the second time. And so, He sent His Son to die in the world's stead. In this light, how much brighter than ever stands forth the Redeemer's mission! By His death did He indeed save the world from destruction at that time, and by His resurrection did He make possible for it to stand today.
Katulad nang ang apostasiya ay lumaganap sa panahon ni Noe ay kinailangan din ng Diyos na gumawa ng bagay upang iligtas ang mundo. Para sa kaligtasan ng sangkatauhan ay nagpadala ng baha ang Manlilikha upang wakasan ang kasalanan. Sa katulad na paraan sa panahon ng apostasiya ng mga hudyo sa pahanon ng unang pagparito ni Kristo
Monday - January 17
Not Ashamed to call Them Brothers
Hebrews 1:1- 4
Why are people ashamed to be in the company of Jesus’ followers?
Jesus was confronted by the rich young ruler, who said to Him, I have kept the commandments. What yet must I do to enter into life eternal? Here follows the answer:
Si Jesus ay tinanong ng isang mayaman at binatang pinuno at nagsabing aking tinutupad ang mga kautusan. Ano pa ang nararapat kong gawin upang makamit ang buhay na walang hanggan? At ito ang naging tugon sa kanya:
“Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.” KJV — Luke 18:22
To understand this scripture, we must read another one along with it:
Upang maunawaan ito ay kailangan nating basahin ang sumusunod:
“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” KJV — John 3:1-3
Ang mayamang binata at si Nicodemus ay parehong mga pinuno at bagaman hindi kasing yaman ni Nicodemus ang binata ay hindi siya masasabing mahirap. Ngunit bakit nga ba ipinagutos sa binata na ipamigay niya ang kanyang yaman sa mahihirap samantalang sa isa ay sinabihan na kailangan niyang ipanganak na maguli? Bakit di pareho ang kanilang kabayaran para makamit ang kaligtasan? Narito ang mga kadahilanan:
Both the rich young man and Nicodemus were rulers, and though Nicodemus might not have been as rich as was the young man, he nevertheless was not poor. But why was the one asked to distribute his riches to the poor, and the other told to be born again? Why should not both pay the same price for salvation? Here are the reasons:
Upang maiwasan ni Nicodemus na makita siyang kasama ni Jesus ay hindi siya lumalapit sa Kanya sa araw at sa halip ay palihim na nakikipagkita sa gabi, samantalang ang batang pinuno ay lumapit ng lantaran kay Jesus at sa harap pa ng karamihan. Samakatuwid ang nagiging balakid sa batang pinuno ay ang kanyang yaman, at kay Nicodemus naman ay ang kanyang pagmamalaki o pride. Makikita nga dito na ang karamdaman ng isa ay nangangailangan isang lunas at sa isa naman ay may nararapat ding ibang lunas.
To avoid being seen in the company of Jesus, Nicodemus came to Him, not by day, but secretly by night, whereas the young ruler came to Jesus not only openly by day, but also while a multitude were with Jesus. The rich young ruler’s basic hindrance, therefore, was his wealth, and Nicodemus’ basic hindrance was his pride. Plainly, then, the one’s ailment called for one kind of treatment, and the other’s ailment called for another kind of treatment.
Ni kailanman ay hindi hiningi ni Jesus sa sinuman ang umanib sa Kanyang relihiyon ngunit Kanya silang hinihiling na sumunod sa Kanya upang maging isa Niyang alagad. Ang batang pinuno ay hindi makasunod sa Diyos sapagkat ang kanyang puso ay nasa kanyang kayamanan. Si Nicodemus naman ay hindi makasunod ng dahil sa kanyang ‘pride’ kaya iniiwasan niyang makita kasama ang mga hindi kilalang tao at sa pagkadisgusto niya na si Jesus ay sinusundan ng mga mahihirap na mangingisda. Upang alisin ang mga balakid, ang isa ay kinakailangang talikdan ang kanyang yaman at ang isa naman ay ang kanyang pride. Upang maalis ang pride ay kailangan niyang ipanganak na maguli upang maging bagong nilalang. Ngunit upang alisin ang pagibig sa pera ay kailangang ipamigay ito sa mga nangangailangan.
Jesus never asked anyone to take His religion, but He asked them to “follow” Him, to be one of His disciples. The rich young ruler could not follow the Lord because his heart was centered upon his own riches. And Nicodemus could not follow the Lord because he was too proud to be seen in the company of unpopular and hated Jesus followed by humble fishermen. To remove the hindrances, the one had to get rid of his riches, and the other had to get rid of his pride. To eradicate pride, one must be born again, must become a new man. But to eradicate the love of money one must give his money to those who really need it.
Ni kailanman ay hindi hiningi ni Jesus sa sinuman ang umanib sa Kanyang relihiyon ngunit Kanya silang hinihiling na sumunod sa Kanya upang maging isa Niyang alagad. Ang batang pinuno ay hindi makasunod sa Diyos sapagkat ang kanyang puso ay nasa kanyang kayamanan. Si Nicodemus naman ay hindi makasunod ng dahil sa kanyang ‘pride’ kaya iniiwasan niyang makita kasama ang mga hindi kilalang tao at sa pagkadisgusto niya na si Jesus ay sinusundan ng mga mahihirap na mangingisda. Upang alisin ang mga balakid, ang isa ay kinakailangang talikdan ang kanyang yaman at ang isa naman ay ang kanyang pride. Upang maalis ang pride ay kailangan niyang ipanganak na maguli upang maging bagong nilalang. Ngunit upang alisin ang pagibig sa pera ay kailangang ipamigay ito sa mga nangangailangan.
The Scriptures bear record that Abraham was very rich. Yet he is called the “friend of God.” Riches in themselves, therefore, can be a blessing, although they more often become a curse. Pride, however, is never good.
Sa kasulatan ay nakalahad na si Abraham ay napakayaman. At sa kabila nito ay tinatawag siyang ‘kaibigan ng Diyos’. Ang yaman ay maaring maging pagpapala, ngunit kadalasan ay nagiging sumpa. Samantalang ang pride ay kailanman ay hindi mabuting bagay.
Remember that the Devil finds in every one of us at least one loophole. Whatever that loophole be, it must be done away with – be it riches or be it pride. Of course, not all are rich and tied to their wealth, but everyone can be tied to himself, the “old man.” And not all need give up riches, but all need cut loose from the “old man” who gets them into everything but what they ought to be in.
Tandaan na ang kaaway ay humahanap ng isang kahinaaan at butas sa bawat isa sa atin. Anumang kahinaan ito ay kailangang ganap maiwaksi – ito man ay yaman o pride. Hindi naman lahat ng mayaman ay nakatali sa kanilang yaman ngunit ang lahat ay maaring nakatali pa din sa kanilang ‘dating sarili’. Hindi lahat ay kailangang ibigay at talikdan ang yaman, ngunit ang lahat ay dapat mahiwalay sa kanilang mga ‘dating sarili’.
Nicodemus’ acknowledgment that Jesus was the Son of God made his case exceedingly bad. Knowing who Jesus was, he should not have been ashamed to be seen in His company, nor should he have been afraid of His enemies. He should have considered it a privilege to associate with the Son of God, with a Heavenly Being. But inasmuch as Nicodemus was ashamed to be seen with Him, and was proud to be with Pharisees, he needed to bury the “old man,” and to arise in newness of life – needed to be born again.
Ang pagkilala ni Nicodemus kay Jesus bilang Anak ng Diyos ay higit na nagpsama sa kanyang kalagayan. Dahil kilala niya si Jesus ay hindi na dapat niya ikahiya ang makita kasama Siya o matakot man sa Kanyang mga kaaway. Dapat ay kinilala niyang pribilehiyo ang makasama ang Anak ng Diyos na isang Makalangit na Nilalang. Sapagkat nahihiya siyang makitang kasama si Jesus at nagiging mapagmalaki naman kapag kasama ang mga Pariseo ay kinakailangan niyang ilibing ang kaniyang ‘dating sarili’ at tuminding bilang bagong nilalang sa kanyang pagkapanganak na muli.
“Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.” KJV — Isaiah 66:8
Although the Jewish church in Jesus’ day travailed not, yet she brought forth the Son of God! But when Zion travaileth she brings forth all her children at once, a whole nation! A miracle in each instance.
Bagaman ang Jewish church sa panahon ni Kristo ay hindi nagdamdam ay kaniyang ipinanganak ang Anak ng Diyos! Ngunit kapag nagdamdam ang Siyon ay kaniyang ipanganganak ang lahat ng kaniyang mga anak ng sabay-sabay, isang buong bayan! Isang hiwagang magaganap.
How may Zion travail? – Let us turn to the natural realm: In nature, the mother carries a child, then travails and gives birth to it. How else, then, in the spiritual realm can Zion travail without first carrying her children before they are born? To be specific, when one joins the church, she is pregnant with him so to speak. When she is thus carrying her children, then they shall all be born at once, – they shall all at once receive their second birth, the birth here mentioned.
Paano magdadamdam ang Siyon? Sa kalikasan, ang ina ay unang magdadalang tao bago magdadamdam at manganganak. Paano nga magaganap sa espiritwal na kaharian na ang Siyon ay magdadamdam muna bago magdalang tao at manganak? Para mas maging tiyak, kapag ang sinuman ay umanib sa iglesia, ang iglesia ay nagdadalang tao sa kanya. Kapag siya ay nagdadalang tao sa kanyang mga anak, lahat sila ay dapat na ipanganak ng sabay sabay – lahat sila ay dapat na makatanggap ng pagkapanganak na maguli, ang pagpanganak na binabanggit dito.
And as Inspiration makes it clear that they must be born again, they all at the outset must be in the same state of mind as was Nicodemus – ashamed to be seen in the company of present Truth believers, ashamed to be associated with believers of unpopular Truth.
At dahil sinasabi ng Inspiration na kailangan nilang ipanganak na maguli, lahat sila ay kagaya ni Nicodemus sa pasimula – nahihiyang makitang kasama ang mga present truth believers, nahihiyang mapabilang sa mananampalataya ng tinatawag na ‘unpopular truth’.
Tuesday - January 18
Flesh and Blood Like Us
Matthew 16:17, Galatians 1:16, 1 Corinthians 15:50, Ephesians 6:12
In 1 Corinthians 15:50 we are told that “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” How will the kingdom of God be established without “flesh and blood”?
“The government under which Jesus lived was corrupt and oppressive; on every hand were crying abuses,—extortion, intolerance, and grinding cruelty. Yet the Saviour attempted no civil reforms. He attacked no national abuses, nor condemned the national enemies. He did not interfere with the authority or administration of those in power. He who was our example kept aloof from earthly governments. Not because He was indifferent to the woes of men, but because the remedy did not lie in merely human and external measures. To be efficient, the cure must reach men individually, and must regenerate the heart. DA 509.3
‘Ang gobyerno sa panahon ni Jesus ay tiwali at mapang-api; sa bawat dako ay may pangaabuso – pangingikil, hindi pagpaparaan at kalupitan. Ngunit sa kabila nito ay hindi sinubukan ni Jesus ang anumang repormang sibil. Hindi Niya kinalaban ang mga pangaabuso o hinatulan ang mga kaaway sa bansa. Hindi Siya nakisangkot sa mga awtoridad o pamumuno ng mga may kapangyarihan. Siya na tangi nating ehemplo ay lumayo sa anumang makalupang gobyerno. Hindi dahil wala Siyang malasakit sa aba ng mga tao ngunit dahil ang kasagutan dito ay hindi nakasalalay sa tao lamang o sa anumang eksternal na kaparaanan.
“Not by the decisions of courts or councils or legislative assemblies, not by the patronage of worldly great men, is the kingdom of Christ established, but by the implanting of Christ's nature in humanity through the work of the Holy Spirit. “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12, 13. Here is the only power that can work the uplifting of mankind. And the human agency for the accomplishment of this work is the teaching and practicing of the word of God.” DA 509.4
“Hindi sa pamamagitan ng desisyon ng korte o konseho o batasang pagpupulong o sa pagtangkilik ng mga malalaking tao nakasalalay ang pagkatatag ng kaharian ng Diyos ngunit sa pamamagitan ng pagtatanim ng likas ni Kristo sa sangkatauhan sa pamamagitan ng Banal na Espiritu. Subalit ang lahat ng tumanggap at sumampalataya sa kanya ay binigyan niya ng karapatang maging mga anak ng Diyos. Sila ay naging mga anak ng Diyos, hindi dahil sa isinilang sila ayon sa kalikasan o sa kagustuhan o sa kagagawan ng tao, kundi ayon sa kalooban ng Diyos. John 1:12,13. Narito ang tanging kapangyarihan na makakagawang itaas ang sangkatauhan. At ang ahensya na makakatupad sa gawaing ito ay ang pagtuturo at pagtupad sa mga salita ng Diyos.” DA 509.4
Jer. 31:31-34 – “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which My covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
Here is a promise of a new contract, a new covenant. It is not the kind God made with our predecessors in the day they came up out of Egypt, the day He wrote the commandments on tables of stone and thus to keep them. Instead, He makes a new covenant, a covenant to write them on our very hearts. Then every one of us will consequently know Him without having to be taught.
Narito ang pangako ng bagong kasunduan, ng bagong tipan. Hindi ayon sa tipan na ipinakipagtipan ko sa kanilang mga magulang sa araw na aking kinuha sila sa pamamagitan ng kamay upang ilabas sila sa lupain ng Egipto, ang araw na Kanyang inilimbag ang mga kautusan sa tipyas ng bato upang kanilang tuparin. Ngunit ito’y isang bagong tipan na Kanyang itatala ang kautusan sa ating mga puso . Ang lahat ay makakikilala sa Kanya nang hindi na kailangang ituro pa.
Take notice, though, He is not to make a new law, but a new covenant, a new contract for keeping the law. The difference is that rather than His writing the law on tables of stone, He will write it on the fleshly tables of the heart, the seat which the law of sin now occupies.
Pansinin na hindi Siya gagawa ng bagong kautusan, ngunit ng bagong tipan, ng bagong kasunduan sa pagtupad sa kautusan. Ang kaibahan – sa halip sa pagsulat ng kautusan sa tipyas ng bato, ito ay Kanya itong isusulat sa tipyas ng laman ng ating mga puso, ang lugar kung saan ang kautusan ng kasalanan ay masusumpungan pa sa ngayon.
This covenant, you see, is to be made with both the house of Israel and the house of Judah, – with all God’s people.
Ang tipan na ito ay makikitang gaganapin sa bayan ng Israel at bayan ng Judah – sa lahat ng bayan ng Diyos.
The scripture, remember, does not say that we cannot keep the law while it is written on the tables of stone, but it definitely says that we can, for those who broke the law are reproved for so doing. We can, therefore, even now inconveniently keep the commandments though they be still written on stones. For convenience’s sake most Christians wish the law were abolished, and some make themselves believe that it has been abolished, although the only law that has been abolished is the ceremonial, sacrificial law, the shadow of the Lamb of God.
Tandaan na hindi sinasabi ng Scriptures na hindi natin kayang tuparin ang kautusan samantalang nasusulat pa ito sa tipyas ng bato, sa halip ito nga ay kaya natin, sapagkat ang sinumang lalabag dito ay sasawayin. Bagaman hindi pa ginhawa ang pagtupad sa mg utos habang nasusulat pa ito sa tipyas na bato ay kaya natin itong sundin. Para sa ikagiginhawa ng maraming Kristyano ay ninanais nila na mabuwag na ang kautusan , at may ilan pa nga na naniniwala na ito nga ay tunay na tinanggal na, bagaman ang totoo, tanging ang ceremonial o sacrificial law lamang ang tinanggal matapos na maalay ang Cordero ng Diyos.
What difference would there be whether the law be written on stone, or on our hearts? – The experience of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon reveals the answer.
Ano nga ba ang magiging kaibahan ng pagkasulat ng utos sa bato o sa ating puso? – Sa karanasan ni Nebuchadnezzar, na hari ng Babilonya, natin masusumpungan ang sagot.
Had the king by force been made to live with the cattle, in a stable or in a field, he would have committed suicide if possible. But as soon as God took his human heart away from him, and put the heart of an ox in him, the king was perfectly contented to be with the cattle, and altogether discontented to live in his palace.
Maaring magpasya ang hari na wakasan ang kanyang buhay kung sakaling siya ay pwersahang pinatahan kasama ng mga hayop sa parang . Ngunit nang tanggalin ng Diyos ang puso ng tao sa kanya at palitan ito ng puso ng baka ay naging kontento ang hari na manahan kasama ang mga hayop at nawalan naman ng kasiyahan na manatili pa sa palasyo.
Were the same thing done to anyone of us, our desires would be the same as the king’s. In like manner, when the stony heart is taken away from us, and the heart of flesh with the law of God written on it put in us, we shall then find it altogether too inconvenient to sin, and most delightful to keep the commandments of God. And so you need not fear having to struggle to keep the law of God in the Kingdom, as you do here. You will then be perfectly contented to live a sinless life. In fact, you will want to sin no more than you would now want to die.
Kung ang parehong bagay ay maganap sa atin ay magkakaron din tayo ng mga naisin na katulad ng sa hari. Tulad na lamang kung ang ating pusong bato ay maalis at mapalitan ng pusong laman na nasusulatan ng kautusan ng Diyos ay hindi na natin nanaisin pang magkasala at sa halip ay magkakaron ng kaligayan sa pagtupad sa kautusan ng Diyos. Kaya nga taliwas sa ating kalagayan ngayon ay hindi na tayo mahihirapan na tumupad sa kautusan sa oras na tayo ay nasa kaharian na. Tayo ay magiging ganap na maligaya sa pagkakakaroon ng buhay na walang bahid ng anumang kasalanan. Sa katunayan ay hindi mo na kailanman nanaisin na magkasala pa gaya ng hindi mo pagnanais na mamatay ngayon.
Wonderful indeed! but when may we expect this miracle to take place? To find the answer to this question, we need connect Jeremiah’s prophecy with Ezekiel’s prophecy of the same event:
Kagilagilalas ng bagay! Ngunit kalian nga ba magaganap ang mga himalang ito? Upang masumpungan ang kasagutan ay dapat nating iugnay ang propesiya ni Jeremias sa naging propesiya ni Ezekiel sa parehong kaganapan:
Jer. 31:8 – “Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.”
Ezek. 36:24-28 – “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be My people, and I will be your God.”
The records from both prophets clearly point out the time in which this miracle will be performed on the hearts of all God’s people. Both prophets make it as clear as can be made, that this change of heart takes place in the Holy Land, Palestine, at the beginning of the kingdom which God promises to set up “in the days of these kings” (Dan. 2:44), not after their days. He moreover says that He will take us from among the heathen and gather us from all countries and take us into our own land (Ezek. 36:24), the land in which our fathers dwelt (Ezek. 36:28). “Then,” at that time, says Inspiration, not before, will He sprinkle clean water upon us, cleanse us from all filthiness, and from all idols. Also, a new heart will He then put in us (Ezek. 36:26). He will give us His Spirit and cause us to comply with His statutes, and to keep His judgments (Ezek. 36:27). Read these scriptures for yourself and see if they say all I am trying to tell you they say.
Ang tala ng parehong propesiya ay tumutukoy sa panahon kung kailan magaganap ang himalang ito sa puso ng bayan ng Diyos. Ang dalawang propeta ay nagbigay linaw na ito ay magaganap sa Banal na lupain, sa Palestina sa pasimula ng kaharian ng Diyos na ipinangakong Kanyang itatatag “ sa kaarawan ng mga haring yaon” (Dan 2:44), at hind isa paglipas ng kanilang mga araw. Sa pagpapatuloy ay sinabi Niyang tayo’y Kanyang kukunin buhat sa mga bansa, at pipisanin ko kayo na mula sa lahat ng lupain, at dadalhin ko kayo sa inyong sariling lupain (Ezek. 36:24) sa lupain na ibinigay ko sa inyong mga magulang (Eze 36:28). “At pagkatapos” sa mga panahong yaon, sabi ng Inspirasyon at hindi bago, At ako'y magwiwisik ng malinis na tubig sa inyo, at kayo'y magiging malinis: sa buo ninyong karumihan, at sa lahat ninyong mga diosdiosan, lilinisin ko kayo at bibigyan ko rin naman kayo ng bagong puso (Eze 36:25-26). Bibigyan ko kayo ng aking Espiritu upang makalakad kayo ayon sa aking mga tuntunin at masunod ninyong mabuti ang aking mga utos. (Ezek. 36:27). Basahin nga ninyo ang mga talatang ito at suriin sa inyong sarili kung tunay ang mga kahulugang inilalahad ko sa inyo.
Wednesday - January 12
Perfected Through Sufferings
Hebrews 2:10, 17, 18; Hebrews 5:8, 9
Christ became “perfect through sufferings.” How and when will we become perfect?
“All this could be, because Christ laid hold of the nature of man, and partook of the divine attributes, and planted His cross between humanity and divinity, bridging the gulf that separated the sinner from God. 1SM 261.1
“At dahil inabot ni Kristo ang likas ng tao at tinaglay ang mga banal na katangian ay nagawa niyang itatag ang krus sa pagitan ng sangkatauhan at ng langit, na siyang nagugnay sa pagitan na naghihiwalay sa mga makasalanan sa Diyos. 1SM 261.1
“‘For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted’ (Hebrews 2:16-18).” 1SM 261.2
Sapagka't tunay na hindi niya tinutulungan ang mga anghel, kundi tinutulungan niya ang binhi ni Abraham. Kaya't nararapat sa kaniya na sa lahat ng mga bagay ay matulad sa kaniyang mga kapatid, upang maging isang dakilang saserdoteng maawain at tapat sa mga bagay na nauukol sa Dios, upang gumawa ng pangpalubag-loob patungkol sa mga kasalanan ng bayan. Palibhasa'y nagbata siya sa pagkatukso, siya'y makasasaklolo sa mga tinutukso. (Hebrews 2:16-18).” 1SM 261.2
“Jesus came to bring moral power to combine with human effort, and in no case are His followers to allow themselves to lose sight of Christ, who is their example in all things. He said, “For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth” (John 17:19). Jesus presents the truth before His children that they may look upon it, and by beholding it, may become changed, being transformed by His grace from transgression to obedience, from impurity to purity, from sin to heart-holiness and righteousness of life.” 1SM 262.1
“Ang Diyos ay dumating upang isanib ang kapangyarihang moral sa pagsusumikap ng tao at ng sa gayon ang Kanyang mga tagasunod ay hindi maligaw at mawala sa pagtingin kay Kristo na Siya nilang ehemplo sa lahat ng bagay. Saad Niya, “At dahil sa kanila'y pinabanal ko ang aking sarili, upang sila naman ay mangagpakabanal sa katotohanan” (John 17:19). Inihahayag ni Jesus ang mga katotohanan sa Kanyang mga anak upang ito ay kanilang tignan at sa pagtingin dito ay mabago sila sa pamamagitang ng Kanyang biyaya buhat sa pagsalangsang tungo sa pagsunod, sa karumihan tungong kadalisayan, kasalanan tungo sa pusong may kabanalan at katuwiran sa buhay.” 1SM 262.1
Ezek. 36:23-28 – “And I will sanctify My great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be My people, and I will be your God.”
Here are additional signs, signs which are displayed within and without the man himself: the scars and defects which sin has written upon the bodies of God’s people are washed away; also, the sin-hardened heart is carved out of them and a new, tender heart that delights in keeping God’s statutes and judgments, is set in.
Narito ang karagdagang mga tanda, tanda na nakikita sa loob at labas ng tao : ang mga peklat at kasiraan na dulot ng kasalanan sa katawan ng bayan ng Diyos ay nalinis na; at ang pusong bato at makasalanang puso ay natanggal at napalitan na ng bagong pusong laman na nalulugod sa pagsunod sa mga tuntunin at paghuhukom ng Diyos.
When does this take place? – After God takes His saints “from among the heathen,” “out of all countries,” and brings them into their “own land,” say the Scriptures. Thus, shall they dwell in the land that God anciently gave to their fathers, and thus shall they be His people and He, their God. Here you see that no one can meet God face to face and live with Him eternally without first having this body-cleansing and heart-changing experience.
Kailan nga ito mangyayari? – Ito’y matapos kunin ng Diyos ang Kanyang mga banal ‘buhat sa mga bansa, mula sa lahat ng mga lupain, at “dalhin sila sa kanilang sariling lupain” sabi ng kasulatan. At sila ay mananahan sa lupain na binigay ng Diyos sa kanilang mga magulang at sila ay Kanyang magiging bayan at Siya’y kanilang Diyos. Dito nalalahad na walang sinuman ang makakatahang kasama ng Diyos at makakakita sa Kanya ng mukhaan malibang sila ay makaranas muna ng pagdadalisay ng katawan at pagbabago ng puso.
Thursday - January 20
The Brother as a Model
Hebrews 12:1-4
What is it like to be as Jesus or God?
Paano nga ba maging katulad ni Jesus o ng Diyos?
Zech. 12:8 – “In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them.”
Besides giving us the assurance that the Lord shall defend His people, Inspiration likens them unto David and unto God. Even the feeble ones “shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God,” “as the angel of the Lord before them.” What a great and wonderful statement! What a privilege to be likened unto God Himself!
Bukod sa katiyakan na ipagsasanggalang ng Diyos ang Kanyang bayan ay sinasabi din ng Inspirasyon na sila ay magiging tulad ni David at tulad ng Diyos. Maging ang mga pinakamahina ay magiging gaya ni David at ang sangbahayan ni David ay magiging parang Dios, “parang anghel ng Panginoon sa harap nila.” Kay dakila at kagilagilalas na pahayag! Isang natatanging pribilehiyo na maihalintulad sa Diyos!
Now, in order for one to know what it means to be “as David,” one must know what kind of person ancient David was.
Ngayon upang maunawaan ang pakahulugan ng pagiging “tulad ni David” ay kinakailangan nating malaman kung anong klaseng tao si David.
To begin with, he was a first-rate shepherd, he risked his own life for the sheep. You remember that in order to save the lambs he courageously went after the lion and the bear and killed them with his bare hands. And to save his nation’s independence and God’s great honor, on another occasion, he again risked his life by bravely facing the giant Goliath. Because of David’s faithfulness, God delivered him from the beasts and from the giant and made him king over His people!
Bilang panimula, siya ay isang napakahusay na pastol, tinaya ang kanyang buhay para sa kanyang mga alagang tupa. Alalahanin na upang mailigtas ang kanyang mga alagang tupa ay matapang niyang nilabanan ang lion at oso at pinatay sila sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga kamay lamang. At para naman panatilihin ang Kalayaan ng kanyang bayan at para ilaban ang karangalan ng Diyos ay muli niyang itinaya ang buhay sa pagharap at paglaban sa higanteng si Goliath. Dahil nga sa katapatan ni David ay iniligtas siya ng Diyos mula sa mga mababangis na hayop at sa higante at ginawa siyang hari ng Kaniyang bayan.
The faithfulness of a person in little things indicates his faithfulness in greater things also. Faithfulness always brings promotion. So, in order to be as David, one must be as faithful, as dependable, and as zealous for God’s Kingdom as was David of old.
Ang katapatan ng tao sa maliliit na bagay ay nagpapakita rin ng kanyang magiging katapatan sa malalaking mga bagay. Ang katapatan ay laging nagdudulot ng pagunlad. At para maging katulad ni David ay kinakailangan nating maging tapat, maaasahan at masigasig para sa kaharian ng Diyos kung paano si David sa una.
Now, that we might know what it means to be “as God,” we must study what God is like. At the outset He did not only create and abundantly fill the earth with every good thing for His creatures, but He also planted a garden (home) for the man. Thus, He made a model home for all human beings who were to live thereafter. He taught Adam how to keep the home and how to dress the garden. He taught him to speak and to discern the nature between one beast and another, to name them accordingly. God endowed man with knowledge and life in order to make him happy, and useful in making the world what it ought to be. Even after the holy pair fell in sin God was still interested in them as He was before – so much so, in fact, that He immediately began to teach them how to redeem themselves, and to return to their eternal home. From that day to this He thus continued to teach the human family.
Ngayon naman upang malaman kung paano maging katulad ng Diyos ay kailangan nating saliksikin ang Kanyang pagka-Diyos. Sa pasimula, hindi lamang Niya pinuno ang lupa ng mga mabubuting bagay para sa Kaniyang mga nilalang kundi ay nagtayo din siya ng hardin (tahanan) para sa tao. Siya ay nagtalaga ng bahay na magiging halimbawa para sa lahat ng nilalang na mananahan. Tinuruan Niya si Adan kung paano panatilihin ang kaayusan sa tahanan at sa hardin. Tinuruan siyang magsalita at maunawaan ang likas ng bawat hayop at magbigay ng pangalan na angkop sa kanila. Pinagkalooban ng Diyos ang tao ng kaalaman at buhay upang bigyan siya ng kaligayahan at kapakinabangan. Kahit pa matapos na mahulog ang tao sa kasalanan ay nanatiling interesado ang Diyos sa kanila tulad sa pasimula – at mabilis na tinuruan Niya sila kung paano nila maililigtas ang kanilang mga sarili at makapanumbalik sa kanilang panghabambuhay na tahanan. Mula sa araw na iyon hanggang sa ngayo ay patuloy Niyang tinuturuan ang tao.
To do this saving work God sent down the Spirit of Truth, He sent prophets and angels, also His only Son – all teachers of redemption. He Himself descended to Sinai and even though they slew nearly all His servants including His son, yet His unfailing interest in the human race has continued on to this very day. Notwithstanding our faults, His promise to take us back into Eden there to live with Him if we repent, still stands as sure as does the sun.
Upang isakatuparan ang gawain ng pagliligtas ay nagpadala ang Diyos ng Espiritu ng Katotohanan, ng mga propeta at anghel at maging ang Kaniyang bugtong na Anak – ang lahat ng guro ng kaligtasan. Siya mismo ay bumaba din sa Sinai at kahit pa halos patayin na nila ang lahat ng Kaniyang lingkod kabilang na ang Kaniyang Anak ang Kaniyang malasakit at interes sa pamilya ng tao ay nananatili magpahanggang ngayon. Sa kabila ng ating mga pagkakamali, ang pangako ng Diyos na tayo’y ibabalik sa halamanan ng Eden at mananahang kasama Niya kung tayo ay magsipagsisi ay nananatili magpasahanggang ngayon na singtatag ng araw.
Now you see what God is like, and if we are to be “as God,” then that is what we, too, must be like. That means that we must be as interested in one another and in the upbuilding of His Kingdom as He is interested. We are to be as unselfish as He is. We must gladly teach others all that He has taught us. We are to do all we can to improve the living conditions of others. We are to make the world better than it could be if we were not in it. In creation week God did His part. Now we are to do our part of creation if we are to be as God.
Ngayon ay inyong nakita kung paano maging Diyos at kung tayo’y magiging “tulad Niya”, ay ganito rin ang ating dapat na maging gawi. Nangangahulugan ito na dapat tayong maging interesado sa bawat isa at sa pagtatatag ng Kanyang kaharian gaya ng pagnanais ng Diyos. Hindi dapat tayo maging makasarili gaya Niya. Dapat tayong magalak na ituro sa iba ang lahat ng ating natutunan sa Diyos. Gawin ang kaya natin para tulungan ang ating kapwa. At sikaping makatulong na mapabuti at mapaganda ang mundong ito. Sa isang linggong paglalang ay ginawa ng Diyos ang Kaniyang bahagi. At ngayon ay tayo naman ang dapat gumawa sa ating bahagi kung tayo ay magiging tulad Niya.
Whatever good thing we may have, be it a trade or some other gift that is worth having we are to be as faithful in it and as anxious to teach it to others as He is faithful and anxious to teach us. If we neglect this duty, we shall not only fail to be as God, but shall even be required to give account of our neglect.
Anumang mabuting bagay na mayroon tayo, maging sa kalakalan o iba pang kaloob ay dapat maging tapat tayo sa lahat ng ito at magnais na maibahagi rin naman ito gaya ng pagnanais ng Diyos. Kung ang tungkuling ito ay hindi natin magampanan ay hindi lamang tayo bigo na maging tulad Niya ngunit tayo rin ay magbibigay sulit sa ating naging kapabayaan.
All through my life I have found people very selfish and fearful that someone would get ahead of them in one way or another.
Sa aking buhay ay marami akong nakitang mga tao na makasari at may takot na maungusan ng iba.
The Lord taught the birds how to live and how to build nests, and how to raise their young. Then should we not help others to build and to better their homes and living? You recall Jesus saying, “Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.” Matt. 10:42.
Tinuruan ng Diyos ang mga ibon kung paano mabuhay, paano gumawa ng pugad at buhayin ang kanilang mga inakay. Ngayon, hindi ba dapat din nating tulungan ang ating kapwa na magtayo at magsaayos ng kanilang tahanan at pamumuhay? Alalahanin na sabi Jesus, “At sinomang magpainom sa isa sa maliliit na ito ng kahit isang sarong tubig na malamig, dahil sa pangalang alagad, katotohanang sinasabi ko sa inyo na hindi mawawala ang ganti sa kaniya. Matt. 10:42.
Were God not what He is, He would not be God; and if we continue as we ever were, we shall never be “as God.”
Hindi tayo kailanman magiging tulad ng Diyos kung tayo ay mananatili sa ating mga dating gawi.
Friday - January 14
Further Study
“Taking humanity upon Him, Christ came to be one with humanity, and at the same time to reveal our heavenly Father to sinful human beings. He who had been in the presence of the Father from the beginning, He who was the express image of the invisible God, was alone able to reveal the character of the Deity to mankind. He was in all things made like unto His brethren. He became flesh even as we are. He was hungry and thirsty and weary. He was sustained by food and refreshed by sleep. He shared the lot of men; yet He was the blameless Son of God. He was a stranger and sojourner on the earth—in the world, but not of the world; tempted and tried as men and women today are tempted and tried, yet living a life free from sin. Tender, compassionate, sympathetic, ever considerate of others, He represented the character of God, and was constantly engaged in service for God and man. MH 422.2
Sa korte sa langit ay nakikiawa si Kristo para sa Kanyang iglesia – nagmamakawa para sa kanyang mga tinubos sa pamamagitan ng Kaniyang dugo. Lumipas man ang mga siglo at panahon ay nananatili parin ang bisa ng Kaniyang ginawang sakripisyo bilang pambayad sa kasalanan. Walang buhay at kamatayan, lalim at lawak ang makapaghihiwalay sa atin sa pag-ibig ng Diyos; hindi dahil sa tayo ay humahawak sa Kaniya ngunit Siya ay nanatiling matatag sa atin. Kung ang kaligtasan ay nakadepende lamang sa atin ay hindi tayo maliligtas; ngunit ito ay nakadepende sa nagIISA na nasa likod ng lahat ng pangako. Ang ating paghawak sa kaniya ay maaring mahina ngunit ang Kaniyang pag-ibig ay gaya ng isang nakatatandang kapatid; hanggang nanatili tayong kaisa Niya ay walang sinumang makakaalis satin sa Kaniyang mga kamay. AA 552.2