HERALD OF GRACE COVENANT BIBLE CHURCH OF CAVITE

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Reformation Conference Cavite 2022

Last October 29, 2022, the reformed and reforming churches in Cavite, Philippines held a reformation conference with the theme: Our Solid Rock: Sola Scriptura and its Modern Challenges.

#RefConCavite2022

Here are the recorded sessions. Enjoy!

Session 1: Gender Equality and Women Empowerment – Ptr. Joseph Mangahas

The Biblical view on gender and sexuality is what’s fiercely under attack today. To be silent here is to compromise!

A Christian commitment to Sola Scriptura will draw from the Genesis-Narratives of the Beginning for the formation of the church’s stance relating matters of gender and sex!

Session 2 Marriage and Family – Ptr. Emman Tamargo

Various distortions of God’s design must be confronted by the reality of His law.

“The emerging development of society and government that eventually distorts God’s intention on marriage and family is an urgent cry for Sola Scriptura!”

Session 3 Church and Government – Ptr. Ramen Caliwag

Reject the attitude of either treating politics as unimportant or obsessing too much over it.

The Reformation, with its Sola Scriptura, provided us the path toward the gradual attainment of a mature understanding on church and state relationship.

To God be the glory!

“Si Kristo Ang Tanging Kaaliwan At Kasapatan”

Maraming tao na pilit na hinahanap ang sarili sa mga bagay na inaalok ng mundo para sa kanilang kaaliwan at kasapatan. Ngunit ang katotohanan ay walang maibibigay ang mundo kung hindi ang pagsunod sa pita ng laman. Walang kayang ibigay ang mundo para sa isang makasalanan na wakasan ang kanyang pagkaalipin dito at magkaroon ng bagong puso.

Tanging kay Kristo lamang makikita ang tunay na kaaliwan at kasapatan. Si Kristo lamang ang may kakayanan na alisin ang tanikala ng kasalanan at magbigay ng bagong puso sa isang makasalanan. Si Kristo lamang ang may kapangyarihan na magpatawad ng isang makasalanan at iligtas ito sa apoy ng impiyerno. Kung kaya mong hanapin ang mga bagay sa mundong ito ng walang pag-aalinlangan, bakit hindi mo lingonin ang katuwiran at kabanalan ng Diyos na buong buhay mong inaayawan. Hindi ba mas may katuturan ito?

Ang kasalanan ang nagbubunsod sa iyo na tanggihan ang katotohanan ng salita ng Diyos at makita mo ang kabutihan at biyaya niya sa buhay mo. Hindi ka makakatakas sa pagka-alipin mo sa kasalanan. Walang magagawa ang mundo, maging ang iyong sarili. Isa lang ang dapat mong maging tugon, talikuran mo ang iyong mga kasalanan, pagsisihan ito at manampalataya ka kay Kristo bilang tanging Diyos na tagapagligtas.

“Maaaring hindi mo pa din papansinin ang panawagang ito, ngunit tandaan mo kaibigan, sa buhay mong ito walang ibang mananagumpay kung hindi ang hustisya at katuwiran ni Kristo!”

#kayKristoangkapatawaraatkaligtasan

Mateo 6:33

Ngunit hanapin muna ninyo ang kanyang kaharian at ang kanyang katuwiran, at ang lahat ng mga bagay na ito ay pawang idaragdag sa inyo.

Sa Diyos ang lubos na papuri!

Midnight Thoughts: The Remembrance of Sin and the Unquestionable Wisdom of God

The memory of past sin visited me. The flesh remembers and enjoys it, but my new nature by the work of the Holy Spirit (having set and renewed to the things which pertains to Christ and holiness) hates it. My spirit and my new heart despises it.

By prayer, the Spirit of God reminded me that even though my flesh meant it for evil but God meant it for good. The remembrance of sin may remind my flesh(also the entirety of me)the pleasures of sin but it was a pain in my innermost. For it also made myself to bethink of how sinful, wicked, and evil I was. Such though I profess to know and love Jesus, but I deny and hate Him by the status of how I live. That what truly the heart of mine speaks of was love and enjoyment towards sin. Sin and satan was my master, I was a slave of sin, that in myself I will not and can not do anything to free myself—considering the truth that I wasn’t aware of it, for I was dead in trespasses and sin. But then, the Son of Man came and set this slave of lawlessness free in order that he might be a slave of righteousness and be a partaker of the glory and immortality of the King Himself.

Contemplating on that glorious truth, did I deserve this goodness? Certainly not! Did I do anything to please God? Certainly none! Is there anything in me that moved God to be merciful and gracious toward me? Certainly nothing! For it is all grounded and rooted upon Him! O’ His glorious attributes and His majestic character, who can grasp this amazing mystery?

There’s this thought of question that continually dwells in my mind whenever my sinfulness is brought out and shown to me in light of the holiness of God—Why did God save me, since He could be pleased to pour His justice and cup of wrath on a sinner like me. Instead, He is pleased to pour His forbearance, His love, His grace, and His mercy toward a wretched man such as I. His unfathomable wisdom I can not dare question. For I am the clay and He is the Potter. For where am I when He laid the foundation of the world? This inscrutable truth must ultimately lead us sinners on our knees in humility and in worship and in faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ, who is overall the eternal blessed and sovereign God. Amen.

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:36

22nd LORD’s Day Quotes

Sharing some quotes from our church’s messages today…

“Unbelieving sinners pursue sin because they are sinners. Christians pursue holiness because they are holy.”
Sunday School

“Becoming holy is not primarily something that we do. It is primarily something that we are in Christ.”
Sunday School

“If you understand that God is sovereign, your anger will be regulated, and your dismay will turn into trust.”
Morning Message

“The LORD is not obligated to answer our ‘whys.’ But it is our duty to trust Him despite our circumstances and embrace His ways which are higher than ours.”
Morning Message

“God never promises to take all our heartaches away. But He is able to sustain us in the midst of trials and afflictions.”
Morning Message

“Suffering is the sacred entrustment of God for the further development of the children of God and for the greater ministry of comforting one another.”
Morning Message

This is just the mark of difference between the Christian and the worldling. The worldling blesses God while he gives him plenty, but the Christian blesses him when he smites him: he believes him to be too wise to err and too good to be unkind; he trusts him where he cannot trace him, looks up to him in the darkest hour, and believes that all is well. O Christian, if your heart is right, you will understand this spiritual satisfaction, and your soul will be satisfied in times of drought.
— C.H. Spurgeons (portions are quoted in Morning Message)

“Ah!” says Satan, “It is but a little sin—a little pride, a little worldliness, a little lust, etc. You may commit it without any danger to your soul. It is but a little one; you may commit it, and yet your soul shall live.” Consider, that there is great danger, yes, many times most danger—in the smallest sins.
— Thomas Brooks (Quoted in Afternoon Message)

“The daily intake of the Word of God is necessary for us not to fall away from the faith. The more we read about Him, the more He becomes dear to us.”
Afternoon Message

Blessed LORD’s Day!

I Don’t Even Care

“I Don’t Even Care.” Many of us heard this sentiment anywhere from someone else. Binabanggit ito ng ilan sa kanilang mga kagalit at kung minsan naman ay sa atin mismo din ito nanggagaling. As a depraved human, innate na sa atin ang maging makasarili at hindi na natin ito kailangan pang aralin. Whether we utter those words or just kept in our thoughts, we can never deny them in the sight of God.

Even from the history may mga ilang samples sa Scripture na namuhay sa pagiging makasarili. Mula pa sa ating unang magulang na si Eve na natukso dahil sa pag iisip na mas magbubunga ng magandang benipisyo para sa kanya (i.e.Gen.3:6) na kung saan naging sanhi ng ating pagka hiwalay sa banal na Diyos. Si Cain na pumatay ng kapatid bunga ng kanyang pagiging makasariling pagdaramdam (i.e.Gen.4). Si haring Ahab na mas inuna ang pang sariling kaluguran bago ang magiging epekto sa kanyang mga nasasakupan (i.e.1 Kings 18:16-39). At marami pang iba.

Ang pagiging makasarili ng tao noon ay walang pagkakaiba sa ating henerasyon ngayon. Kung mayroon mang pagkakaiba ay isa narin siguro ngayon ang pag highlight ng depinisyon ng mundo na “self-care”. According to psychologytoday.com — Self-care may seem like nothing more than the latest buzzword or passing trend, but in reality, it is a commitment to ourselves—a promise to factor ourselves into the equation of our lives. When we optimize self-care, we feel better, look better, and have more energy. And quality self-care is linked to improved mental health, with benefits like enhanced self-esteem and self-worth, increased optimism, a positive outlook on life, and lower levels of anxiety and depression.

Obviously, that’s the view of the world. It’s all about me, myself & I. Nothing can help and no one can value me more than myself. What a selfish mentality! Of course, if you don’t have God that’s obviously your mindset. Pero kung ikaw na nagsasabing Christian (“Born Again” means you have a regenerated heart) at may ganyang mindset ay dapat mong tanungin ang iyong sarili kung ang iyong profession as a Christian ay totoo.

“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”
~ 2 Corinthians 13:5

Ang solusyon ay self-examination at hindi self-care.

“For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”
~ Philippians 2:21

_____

For the last part, let me also insert this message from David Padfield,

…

The problem of self is neither new nor peculiar to our time. From Eden to eternity the chief cause of sin has been self and selfishness. It is at the root of all sin. "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." (Jas. 1:13-15)

When it comes to sin, who is our biggest enemy? We might be quick to say that it is Satan. He is described in 1 Peter 5:8 as a "roaring lion" who walks about seeing whom he may devour. Actually, though, he can only overcome those who through self-will give themselves over to him. Someone has said, "To conquer self is to conquer all." We are prone to blame Satan and others but we must look to self.

The proper attitude toward self is a sign of maturity. We can somewhat condone selfishness in a child because he does not know better but immaturity and ignorance are never excuses for an adult, especially one who claims to be a Christian, to be selfish in his attitudes and actions (Acts 17:30).

I hope you will thoughtfully consider this article—for to be a successful Christian, one must heed the command of Jesus in Matthew 16:24, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

#SoliDeoGloria

From Every Stormy Wind that Blows

1 From every stormy wind that blows,
From every swelling tide of woes,
There is a calm, a sure retreat:
'Tis found beneath the mercy seat.

2 There is a place where Jesus sheds
The oil of gladness on our heads;
A place than all beside more sweet:
It is the blood-bought mercy seat.

3 There is a scene where spirits blend,
Where friend holds fellowship with friend;
Though sundered far, by faith they meet
Around one common mercy seat.

4 Ah! there on eagle wings we soar,
Where sin and sense molest no more;
And heaven comes down our souls to greet,
And glory crowns the mercy seat.

To God be the glory!

Author: Hugh Stowell

Trinity Hymnal #528

This hymn has been sung through the decades by Christian people amidst varying degrees of trial and difficulty. Stowell’s son once wrote that his father’s death illustrated his hymn: “My father’s last utterances, he added, abundantly showed his love of and delight in prayer. Almost every word was prayer…The morning of his death the only articulate words that we could catch, uttered two or three hours before his decease, were Amen! Amen!'” — ONE HUNDRED AND ONE HYMN STORIES, 30

Visit our YouTube Channel here: Hymns of the Christian Faith. Please, like the videos and subscribe.

Herald of Grace

We are the purchased church of Jesus our Savior 
Set free from the reign of sin and wickedness 
We are standing on the unmerited favor 
Earned by His atoning blood and righteousness

Refrain:
We praise and adore Him who rescued us from sin 
By consuming God's cup of wrath in our place
Oh may the church rise up, more souls for Christ to win 
May each saint strive to be a herald of grace

We seek to lead the soul from self to the Savior 
From sin to salvation, from darkness to light 
Through many afflictions, may our faith, not waver 
May we keep on walking by faith, not by sight

(Repeat Refrain)

To humble the sinner and exalt the Savior
And place the crown on the head of God's free grace 
Let it be our constant aim to strip the creature
And make them bow down and His control, embrace.

(Repeat Refrain)

To God be the glory!

Words: Jeremiah L. Jangad

Music: Traditional Welsh Melody (Ash Grove)

Written for the 10th year anniversary celebration of Herald of Grace Covenant Bible Church of Cavite

Visit our YouTube Channel here: Hymns of the Christian Faith. Please, like the videos and subscribe.

I can do no less than keep the LORD’s Day

“The Christian sabbath, the Lord’s day, as the Greek scholiast well renders it; which to sanctify was in the primitive times a badge of Christianity. When the question was propounded, Servasti Dominicum? Hast thou kept the Lord’s day? The answer was returned, Christianus sum; intermittere non possum, I am a Christian, I can do no less than keep the Lord’s day. But the world is now grown perfectly profane (saith Dr King, on Jonah, Lect. 7), and can play on the Lord’s day without book; the sabbath of the Lord, the sanctified day of his rest, is shamelessly troubled and disquieted.”
—John Trapp, 1 Corinthians: John Trapp Complete Commentary, n. 16:2

Today, let us pray that God’s people will be more resolved to keep the LORD’s day. To take pleasure in it. May the LORD keep us from the temptation of profaning the Day through our actions, thoughts, and words.

Let us also remember the preachers in remote places. Let us pray that the LORD will grant them strength to fearlessly stand for the truth that people may be saved.

Blessed LORD’s Day!

Nothing Compares with Christ

O fair sun and fair moon; fair stars and fair flowers and fair roses; fair lilies, and fair creatures. But ten thousand thousand times fairer LORD Jesus. Alas! I have wronged Him in making the comparison this way. Oh dark sun and moon, but O fair LORD Jesus. O dark stars, flowers, and roses. But O fair, fair, even fair LORD Jesus. All things, dark, deformed, and without beauty, when they are set beside the fairest LORD Jesus. O dark heaven, but fair O Christ. O dark angels, but surpassingly fair LORD Jesus.
—John Flavel

“Preach Christ in such a way that God’s people will be more dissatisfied with every alternative.” —Paul Washer

#TheGloryofChrist

To God be the glory!

HGA – Children’s Catechism: #2 Ano pa ang Nilikha ng Diyos?

Sagot: Nilikha ng Diyos ang lahat ng mga bagay.

Binigyang diin ng unang tanong na ang Diyos ang lumikha sa mga tao. Ngunit hindi lang ang mga bata at ang lahat ng tao ang nilikha ng Diyos. Siya din ang lumikha ng lahat ng mga bagay. Gaano man nakakamangha sa ating paningin ang mga malalaking hayop sa lupa o sa ilalim ng dagat, gaano man nakakahanga ang maliliit na mga bagay na halos hindi natin makita, gaano man makapigil-hininga ang mga bitiun, planeta, ang mga napalakalawak na kapulungan ng mga bituin o galaxies, at ang buong uniberso, lahat ng mga ito ay nilikha lamang ng Nag-iisang Diyos.

Ang Diyos ay walang pasimula, ngunit ang lahat ng bagay na nilikha ay nagsimula. Ang Genesis 1:1 ay nagsisilbing panimula sa literal na anim na araw ng paglikha ng Diyos. Sinabi dito na “Nang pasimula, nilikha ng Diyos ang langit at lupa.” Ang mga salitang “langit at lupa” ay tumutukoy sa lahat ng bagay. Ang mga bagay na tila kababalaghan para sa atin kung paano nabuo ay nalikha lamang sa pamamagitan ng Salita ng Diyos mula sa wala. Sinalita Niya ang mga ito at sila’y nalikha. Ang mga bagay sa kalangitan, sa lupa, at sa karagatan ay gawa ng makapangyarihang Salita ng Diyos.

Kaya nga naman mali ang Big Bang Theory na nagsasabing ilang bilyong taon na ang sanlibutan. Na ang lahat ay biglang sumulpot lamang, walang Manlilikha at umiiral ng walang direksyon at layunin. Dapat ituro sa mga bata na malinaw ang Bibliya tungkol sa kasaysayan ng paglikha at mula lamang sa kapahayagan ng Diyos tayo makakakuha ng sapat na kasagutan ukol dito.

Dahil ang lahat ng bagay ay nilikha ng Nag-iisang Diyos—ang Ama, ang Anak, at ang Espiritu—nararapat lamang na ituro sa mga bata na kanilang pahalagahan at ingatan ang anumang mga bagay na abot ng kanilang mga kamay. Sila rin ay inaatasan ng Diyos bilang Kanyang katiwala dito sa mundo.

Himukin din nating sila na magpasalamat dahil nilikha ng Diyos ang mga bagay para sa ikabubuti ng tao at sa Kanyang kaluwalhatian.

Sa Diyos lamang ang Papuri!

This is a Tagalog translation of the Catechism for Young Children which is available online: https://bit.ly/3lewkCN

The Mandate of Water Baptism

This morning, our church witnessed the baptism of three of our regular attendees, Sis. Aiza, Sis. Issa, and Bro. Jek. They saw their need for the saving work of Christ, that they could not save themselves. They need the cleansing blood of the Perfect Savior. They submitted to Christ by becoming part of the local church, and they will be accepted into the membership tomorrow.

Here’s the link to the full sermon.

Water baptism is clearly defined in the New Testament. Let us study water baptism in four headings. These things must be understood carefully and clearly about the biblical understanding of water baptism.

1. The Mandate of Baptism
Is this really important for a believer? Yes!
It is important because it is commanded by the LORD Jesus Christ Himself.

Mat 28:18-20  And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  (19)  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  (20)  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Though baptism is not part of the saving gospel, believers should not minimize its importance. The NT sees baptism as the immediate next step after believing in Christ.

Act 2:38-41  And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  (39)  For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”  (40)  And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”  (41)  So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Act 8:36-39  And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”  (38)  And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.  (39)  And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

Act 9:17-18 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (18) And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;

This is the pattern in the NT. The gospel was preached, regenerated, confessed Christ, baptized and became a member of the local church.

2. The Mode of Baptism
Only true believers can receive water baptism.

Mar 16:16  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Act 2:38-39  And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  (39)  For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

The New Testament knows that only true believers can be baptized. Therefore, infant baptism is untenable. How can an infant confess, believe, and embrace Christ? Baptism requires repentance and faith.

How should baptism be administered? The English word baptism is a transliteration of the Greek word βαπτίζω baptízō. This word literally means to immerse (Matthew 3:11-17). Baptism is immersion or dipping something.

3. The Message of Baptism
The message of baptism is identification. They identify themselves with the Triune Jehovah (Matthew 28:19-20) and the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (Romans 6).

It is also a visible picture that we have been cleansed and our sins have been forgiven us.

Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

It is an outside symbol of inward reality. It is a sermon illustration of the gospel message. It is a visible illustration of the message of the gospel of new creation.

4. Some Misunderstanding concerning Baptism
Is water baptism necessary for salvation? While water baptism is important for the Christian to show his obedience to Christ, the Bible clearly shows that it is not part of the saving gospel.

1 Co 1:17  For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Act 16:30-31  Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  (31)  And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Application

What does water baptism imply? After this, what comes next? It implies church commitment. The Scripture teaches that they must be taught (Matthew 28:19-20). There is an ongoing teaching “teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you.” New Testament believers were taught not only to know but to “observe”, not some but “all”. They must be taught under the oversight of the church.

The believers in Acts 2 didn’t go on their own after being baptized, “they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” after being added to the church. All baptized disciples were assumed as members of local churches.

The natural and proper context of growth is the community of those who call upon the Name of the LORD, the local church, which is the visible redeemed people of God.

To God be the glory!

*This blog is based on our pastor’s message during the baptism event.