C.S. Lewis writes:
I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charities expenditure excludes them.
Ramblings of Passion 
Posted by JAN MICHAEL LACHICA on October 26, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Salvation
Salvation comes from God, whom the Bible calls as the Living God and Savior. God is employing a human being in order for His will to be fulfilled … and that is the salvation of man.
Our Lord Jesus Christ will bring two kinds of salvation, through the Bible. At the time He assumed human form, He saved Israel from its sinfulness. That is written in Matthew 1:21, which says—
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
However, when He comes again, for the second time, He will bring salvation to the faithful. And, the Bible is teaching us how we can become one among those people that our Lord Jesus Christ will save come judgment day. The first verse that we have to pay attention to is Ephesians 3:6, which says—
“That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel.”
St. Paul, the Apostle, said, “The Gentiles should be fellow heirs.” But before we continue analyzing this verse, let us find out from the Bible: who are called “Gentiles” and why are they also called “heirs?” In Ephesians 2:11-12, this is what is written–
“Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye 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.”
In those lines, St. Paul reminds the Christians in Ephesus of their former conditions. According to the Bible, during those times, “they were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel.” Therefore, Biblically speaking, the Gentiles are those who were apart from Christ. They were “strangers from the covenants of promise,” … they were the hopeless, and they were without a God in the world because they were not part of Israel. And we, who live at the present time, may also be called Gentiles if we will use the Bible as our basis.
According to St. Paul, for the Gentiles to be a part of the salvation that comes from our Lord Jesus Christ, they have to be made parts first of the body; and only after that will they become partakers of a promise in Christ by the Gospel.
You will notice that St. Paul made reference to a “body” … a body into which the Gentiles must integrate themselves so that they also become heirs. The explanation to that may be read in Colossians 1:18—
“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the first born from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
Therefore, the body whose head is Christ is the CHURCH. At this point, we must understand that the Gentiles, like us, must join the body, or the Church. And when we say that we must join the Church, it means that we no longer have to build any. We no longer have to establish our own church just for us to become partakers of a promise in Christ.
And whenever we say “join,” or be a part of the body, of the Church, it denotes that, there is already an existing Church. In fact, this Church already exists even before the promise of salvation was given to the Gentiles. There is an existing Church even before Paul was made apostle. And this was the same Church that our Lord Jesus Christ taught, when he assumed human form. … And there can never be another church.
Today, there are preachers who claim that another church had appeared in the Philippines. And according to them, this church was different from the one in Israel. If this is the case, it would appear that, despite the fact that there was already a church in Israel, another church appeared in the Philippines. As far as the Bible is concerned, such a belief is wrong because, according to St. Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians, in 4:4—
“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling.”
There is just one body … there is no other body. And the proof that there is only one body can be read in Colossians 3:15—
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which ye are called in one body; and ye be thankful.”
Here, St. Paul is addressing the brethren who, in the beginning were Gentiles, but were eventually called to one body. In other words, the body that the early Christians (the Israelites) made themselves a part of, is also the same body, or church, into which the Gentiles were being called upon to join. Now, if the Gentiles will just integrate themselves to the body, then, the Church will remain ONE.
It is against the teachings of God, and of the Holy Scripture, that other churches is built in other places, let’s say in the US, or in England, or in Germany, or in Rome. They also claim that another church had also been founded in the Philippines. The truth is, God did not give any right to anybody to build his own church. It is indeed disgusting that today, a lot of ministers build churches of their own. They deliberately oppose and defy what the Bible said – that, the Gentiles, like us, must join or make ourselves a part of the body, or the Church, for us to be saved.
And what is the reason why we must abide by it? It is because, as far as God is concerned, He did not give anybody His consent to build a church right now in our time. This is what Psalms 127:1 says—
“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that built it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”
The verse mentioned of a “house,” which becomes useless if it is not built by the Lord. Let us now ask the Bible. What is being referred to as the “house,” which only God has the right to build? In I Timothy 3:15, it says—
“But if I tarry long , that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”
If you have noticed, in the New Testament, the word house refers to the Church of God. This is, truly, the house of God because it was built by God, Himself. That is why, if, in our time, you come across churches, whose founders are also their ministers, you can be sure that they are NOT REAL!
The Bible teaches only one church that each of us must join, for us to be saved by Jesus Christ. In fact, the Church in the Bible will become God’’ instrument in making the Gentiles heirs to the promise of eternal life. This is what is written in Ephesians 3:10-11—
“To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose of which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Therefore, the church is the medium that God uses in order to make known “the principalities and powers in heavenly places the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose.” If there are Gentiles who want to go back to God, to be worthy of salvation which will come from our Lord Jesus Christ, they must make themselves a part of the body, or the Church. And all of those who claim that the church is no longer necessary are all liars and deceivers!
Now, we may ask, what could be the reason why, instead of just joining the Church of God, they preferred to build their own churches? We can read the answer in Romans 10:2-3—
“For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 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.”
What could be the motive of these people who built their own churches? In Isaiah 56:10-11, it says—
“His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark: sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds, that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, everyone for his gain, from his quarter.”
What is the reason why they turned to their own way? Why did they build their own church, and teach their own doctrines? According to the Bible, it is because each of them only thought of personal gains. In other words, these pastors are teaching and preaching only for personal gains … only for money! Aside from that, the Bible also said that, they are never satisfied with what they have. In fact, formerly, the people that we see in the streets that are asking for alms are the needy – the beggars, who are financially hard up. We see them dirty, and they wear tattered clothes. But nowadays, aside from those beggars, there are other mendicants in the streets. But unlike the beggars, these mendicants are well dressed. They even wear long sleeved shirt and necktie. And in their desire to solicit as much alms, they capitalize on the name of the Lord. They deceive people by saying that the alms that they give are offerings to the Lord.
Beware of those people! What they do is a clear deception. They tell the people that the money they give is for the Lord, but the truth is, they are using the money in constructing buildings and mansions, and even palaces, for their pastors. And why have those pastors gone to that point? According to a prophecy in the Bible, it is because these pastors are like greedy dogs, whose stomachs are never filled. And at this point, it is no longer surprising to see religious leaders acting like dogs. This is what the Apostle Peter prophesied in II Peter 2:1-3, which says—
“But there were false prophets who among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that brought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And though covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”
The ulterior motive of these false prophets is to make business out of religion. They make business out of the people’s faith. They teach damnable heresies whose inevitable end is destruction and damnation. It’s a shame that they are even addressed as “reverend,” “most reverend,” or “his eminence.” This is but a confirmation that they are really fond of earthly honors. Of course, I am not saying that all of them are like that but what I mean is that, those titles of respect are not supposed to be used by men. This is in Psalms 111:9—
“He sent redemption unto his people he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.”
In the entire Bible, it is only in this verse that the word “reverend” is used. And this word is attributed only to the Lord. However, today, so many preachers have attached the word “reverend” to their names. They do not even show shamefulness to the Lord. They have been trying persistently to make themselves of equal rank to God.
Ironically though, most of those so-called “reverend” are cheaters and liars. They are only using religion to amass wealth. They are using their religious organizations as a front to their business. Actually, if you are going to study the beginnings of many pastors today, you will find out that most of them were but good-for-nothing loafers. But today, they are already millionaires … living in plush palaces … riding very expensive cars.
But our group believes that, in serving God, benefits and personal gains must be out of the question. In fact, in serving God, you have to sacrifice a lot, in terms of material things. Serving God is rewarding only in matters of spirituality. Anyone who thinks that religion is a means of enriching oneself is not of God! That is what I Timothy 6:3-5 says—
“If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrines which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”
We must avoid those kinds of beliefs because they will never help us in attaining salvation. Instead, they will just bring us to destruction and damnation.
Do you want to be a part of our Lord’s salvation come judgment day? The Bible teaches us how. Everyone must make himself a part of the Church, which is written in the Bible – The CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS, PILLAR AND GROUND OF THE TRUTH. http://www.esoriano.wordpress.com http://www.truthcaster.com
Posted by JAN MICHAEL LACHICA on October 26, 2007 at 3:11 pm
why are angry ? if you are of God you love Gods Word..
He that is of God heareth the words of God: for this cause ye hear them not, because ye are not of God.
John 8:47
what brother Eli teach it comes from the bible…
therefore if we believe and listen brother eli teachings
were believing Jesus christ said from the Scriptures..
maybe you Love the Money of your members… thats why
Posted by Adam Lehman on October 26, 2007 at 9:15 pm
i do love God’s Word, but i do not love when people simply spit out random pieces of scripture.
when you said: “what brother Eli teaches comes from the bible, therefore if we believe and listen brother eli teaching we’re believing Jesus Christ said from the Scriptures…”
i don’t agree. Just read the bible for yourself. Be careful that we don’t fall in love with a certain teacher, but fall in love with the Scriptures. i do love the scriptures, and I love when they are used to uplift, edify, challenge, comfort, rebuke, or expand God’s kingdom. I do not love when they are spit out at random and do not necessarily do any of the things they are meant to do…
remember that even Satan quoted scripture to tempt Jesus in the desert, so anyone who uses the words from the Bible is not of God…
i honestly reread your comment 10 times and each time i tried to find the relevance in your thoughts or the verses you were using. I looked for some “hidden” meaning which God would have me to learn and could not find one. I prayed several times that God would grant me understanding into what you were saying, and that never happened.
sorry we have this disagreement. I apologize for any sort harmful or judgmental things I may have written, and I ask your forgiveness. I’m concerned for the seriousness, relevance, and legitimacy of this blog. I don’t want it to turn into some place where people write random verses that have no relevance in the discussion at hand.
May God bless you and give each of us a greater understanding.
ps. you said that “maybe I love the money of my members.” I don’t know what that means. I don’t have members and i don’t get money from anyone.
Posted by JAN MICHAEL LACHICA on October 27, 2007 at 6:00 pm
the answer ..why you do not understand what i post?? it because you our not truly believe the scriptures thats why until now you are blind…
in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.
II Corinthians 4:4
but dont get angry my friend..
So then am I become your enemy, by telling you the truth?
Galatians 4:16
sorry my Friend what i have said to you..
i only shock in your reaction when i share to you the words of God..
forget that… can you be my friend?