Integrating Apologetics Into the Home || Cathryn Buse || Mama Bear Apologetics (Jan 30)

Hey friends! It’s Cathryn Buse of Mama Bear Apologetics, a partner of Ratio Christi International. Mama Bear apologetics exists for the sole purpose of equipping moms to answer the tough questions of the faith. These questions start in the home and moms are usually the first ones to hear them. So ladies let’s educate ourselves so we can be effective witnesses to the world and to our children. You can follow Mama Bear Apologetics on the web, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and iTunes.

Today’s topic will focus on how we use apologetics in the home. We are living in a time where society is increasingly skeptical of religion in general and Christianity in particular. This is why it is so important to know how to give a defense of your faith. However, it’s important not just for our own faith, but for the faith of our children. Proverbs 22:6 says to “train up a child in the ways of the Lord.” I love the use of the word “train” because it gives the appropriate image of how we are to approach raising our children in the faith. Just like in athletics or the military, training is something done consistently; it is intentional and purposeful. A soldier doesn’t stumble into being fit for battle anymore than an athlete practicing every once in a while is ready for competition. In those scenarios we understand that to be successful, training means consistency – preparing on a regular basis, and being intentional – doing all things with that end in mind. Likewise, in leading our children in their faith we must train consistently and intentionally so they are adequately prepared for the battleground of skepticism they will face.

So how do we do that?

1. Be intentional: Specifically teach our children how to defend their faith

As Christian parents, we seem to understand that raising children in the ways of the Lord will include teaching Bible stories and scripture memorization – which is most definitely part of it. But we have to recognize that the moment we start teaching them the Bible is the moment we have to be prepared to also teach them why the Bible. So apologetics, that defense of how and why we know the Bible is truth, must be a normal part of our Bible teachings with our children. This will look differently depending on the age of your children. With older children, you should set aside days specifically teach apologetics. Bring up the question of God existence and walk through several different types of arguments for how we know that God does exist. Or discuss why Christianity is truth and other world religions are not, and show them how that can logically and intelligently be answered. Go through a defense from common questions that skeptics have. There are so many resources that you can use to guide you through this, including my own book called, Teaching Others to Defend Christianity which can be found on Amazon.com.

With younger children, you can always work in the concepts of apologetics by bringing up pointed questions during your normal Bible study time. For example you could say, “We’ve said the Bible is God’s Word, how do we know that?” And get them thinking on why they are trusting the scriptures as truth – and not just because the Bible says it is true but how we can know that explicitly. You can guide the conversation with some simple evidences from archeology or the confirmation of Old Testament prophecy that prove God’s omniscience.

Maybe you’re studying how God spoke to Abraham and get them to consider how Abraham knew God was real. You might be discussing current events and bring up the existence of God even in a world of evil and suffering. You might be studying the Gospels and include extra-Biblical first century writings that corroborate the Gospel accounts. Any of those topics can and should be combined with our Biblical studies with our children. You don’t have to give them every possible objection to Christianity and dive into the depths of philosophy, you are just laying the groundwork to show them this is truth, and not just because mommy and daddy say it is.
I also think a lot of the apologetic groundwork can be laid in how we teach the Bible itself. If we always teach Bible stories as disjointed cute little accounts scattered throughout this big book, it seems no different than when we pull out the giant book of fairytales and read to them about Little Red Riding Hood. They too have fantastical accounts of a hero, sometimes animals that talk, and a moral to the story. But the Bible is SO much more than that – so we should teach it that way. Now, there’s nothing wrong with teaching individual Bible stories, but we must at some point show them the overarching big story of what God was doing throughout Scripture and throughout history. If we never make it real to them where the Bible is comprised of real events happening in a real place and time to real people, then no wonder they have such a hard time believing it to be truth when they get older!

For example, one day I was reading to my 6-year-old son about the prophecy given by God to Abraham that though he would have numerous descendants, they would be enslaved in a foreign land for 400 years. I asked him if he knew how that happened. At that point I was able to show him the lineage of Abraham down to Joseph, then he could recall that story of Joseph being sold as a slave. I could explain how Joseph ended up in Egypt, where he could recall the story of Joseph revealing the dreams to Pharaoh. Then I could walk show him how the rest of Joseph’s family came to live in Egypt and multiplied as a people by the blessing of God. I told him how that made the next Pharaoh so afraid that he made the Israelites his slaves. Now I could show him what God did by raising up Moses, where he could recall those stories of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt and walking on dry ground through the Red Sea.

Now all of these disjointed Bible stories could come to life for him as the recorded accounts of real people living in a real time being used by the living God to accomplish His will. They were no longer unconnected cute little stories shared at Sunday school. Now he could start to see them in a timeline in relation to one another and with God’s hand at work in all of them.

However, in order to change how we’re teaching the Bible, we must know it ourselves. We cannot teach to our children what we do not know ourselves. As parents, we must truly study the Bible ourselves to teach the Bible in context. We also must have a solid understanding of why the Bible is truth and how we can have confidence in Christianity as truth. So the first step is to be studied in the Bible so that you can be intentional in your teachings about it as the inerrant word of God.

The second step is to be studied in the foundation of apologetics – so you can intertwine that into what you are already teaching daily and you can set aside specific times in your teaching to address apologetics topics. It will take their understanding of God and the Bible to a deeper, more meaningful level.

2. Be consistent: Use it in everyday conversations. Studying apologetics doesn’t have to be just a specific time set aside each day. Just like we try to work in Biblical truths in our everyday lives, we can do the same with apologetics.

One day my 6-year-old son was saying how cool it would be if he didn’t have a nose because then he could swim underwater. As silly as that was, I used that as an opportunity to explain why the nose is important and how it, along with all our other body parts, are perfectly designed for their purpose. We are exactly how God made us to be. I wanted to tie everyday things back into confirming God’s existence, God’s order, and God’s creation. My son even stopped to ask why I always do that. I told him because it’s important to understand how God created us because one day, Satan will use ideas from the world to convince him that God didn’t create. He asked me why Satan would do that. So I said it’s because Satan wants us to doubt God’s existence so that we won’t know God – and at that point HE connected the dots and said, “Oh, because he can’t be with God and so he doesn’t want us to be either.” Now my son not only can see ways to have confidence of God’s existence, but he understands that there is a world of ideas out there that are trying to convince him that’s wrong.

So we can use apologetics in our everyday things because our everyday selves are still interacting with the works of God. We are still in His amazing creation and can see evidence of Him in everything. So you can use the things around you and the things that your child is already interested in to point back to who God is. Are they interested in bugs? Then use the amazing design of different bugs to point to an Intelligent Designer. Are they a constant rule follower? Use that sense of morality to show that we are made in God’s image. Do they enjoy history? Go through the historical evidences of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Take their natural interests and curiosities and show them how all aspects of our world can prove God’s truth. Our everyday selves are curious – we are naturally asking questions about the world around us, about our role in that world, and how we should interact with that world. And all of that goes perfectly with the apologetic defense of our faith... Which leads us to our last point.

3. Allow questions to be asked.

Our children are naturally curious; they will always be asking questions. It is the same little mind that asks why is the sky blue and how do trees grow that also asks us who made God and where did Satan come from. We want our children to be thinking and rational beings so it only makes sense that they will at some point ask questions of this faith that we are teaching them. That is a given. What varies is how we respond to those questions.

We can either be afraid of that and tell them to “just have faith” or “go pray on that,” or we can use apologetics to help them find answers. Let’s consider the first scenario. If your child brings you a question like, “Mommy, how do you know God exists?” and all you say is, “Well, I just believe. You need to just have faith that God is real.” What does that teach our children?

First, it says questions are not welcome here. The worst thing we can do is imply that people are not allowed to question their faith, the Bible, or God. That approach will lead them to think that they can’t question it because those questions don’t have answers. Second, it implies that this thing is believed regardless of whether there is any evidence of its truth, as though we follow Christianity simply because that is the routine we have always had. It means you are to just have faith in this religion simply because this is the routine we go about doing. And third, it makes them think that reason and critical thinking apply to everything – but NOT their faith, as if Christianity can’t withstand the scrutiny of a child’s logic. And that is not the impression we want to leave on our children. If they think the only thing to Christianity is that their parents taught it, their supposed faith will fall apart at the first skeptic they encounter.

So we must allow our children to bring us questions and most importantly, we must be prepared to give them the logical, coherent answer those questions deserve. Even though, depending on the age of your child, you may not give the same detailed answer you would give an adult, you are still teaching your children that those big questions do have answers. And you’re laying this foundation that it is ok to ask questions and those questions don’t diminish who God is.

We must create an environment where questions are welcomed. How else do we learn but by asking questions and seeking answers? It creates the perfect opportunity for deeper and more meaningful discussions and revelations. Even if you don’t know the answer already, invite the question. Say that you don’t know, but then take the time to study it and research it with your child. That will also show we are never too old to learn; we are to continue to grow in our faith and in our knowledge.

Let’s face it – we are all wanting to raise rational, discerning, thinking children. And if those are the minds we desire from our kids, then it should be no surprise when those minds eventually start asking for the reasons why they believe what they believe. We would WANT them to be discerning like that. So we can use that in training up our children in the faith – by intentionally teaching them apologetics, by consistently showing them God’s truth, and by allowing them to ask those questions. How we handle our training of their faith and its defense will frame the solidity of their faith. Because, let’s face it, we all have doubts and questions at time, and our emotions will try to lead us astray. So we want our children to be standing on solid ground with the faith of Hebrews 11:1 – being sure of what they hope for and certain of what they do not see.

Paanong Ang Bible ay May Banal Na Kapangyarihan? || John Pesebre || Kaliwanagan Kay Kristo (Jan 23 & 25)

Ang argument na tinutugunan natin in the past episodes at tutugunan natin ngayon ay galing sa objection na “Bakit ko paniniwalaan ang Bible eh gawa lang naman yan ng tao.” The argument being “People must not believe the Bible because it is only created by men.” Itutuloy pa rin natin yan ngayon. Ginagawa natin ito bilang pagpapatibay ng mga pananampalataya ng mga kapatiran na may pagkagutom sa paliwanag na galing sa Salita ng Diyos bilang positive apologetics o yung mga patunay na nagpapatibay ng pinaniniwalaan ng Christian. Ang negative apologetics naman po kasi ay yung pagpuna o pag refute o pag demolish sa mga argumento ng mga tumutuligsa sa Christian faith. So from last episodes we tried to build a cumulative case for the belief in the divine authority of the Bible and we continue today but this time we will borrow from my favorite Puritan writer, Thomas Watson from his book Body of Divinity kung saan may commentary siya sa Q2 ng Westminster Shorter Catechism that says, Anong kautusan ang ibinigay ng Dios upang patnubayan tayo kung paano natin Siya mapapupurihan at kalulugdan? S: Ang Salita ng Dios na nakapaloob sa mga banal na kasulatan ng Matanda at Bagong Tipan ang natatanging panuntunan upang patnubayan tayo kung paano natin Siya mapapupurihan at kalulugdan.

“Lahat ng Kasulata’y kinasihan ng Dios,” atbp. (2 Tim. 3:16). Bilang pakahulugan, ang Kasulatan ay ang banal na Aklat ng Dios. Ibinigay Ito nang may banal na pagkapukaw, sa madaling sabi, ang Bibliya ay hindi lamang likhang isip ng tao, ngunit Ito’y may banal na pinagmulan. Sinamba ng mga taga-Efeso ang imahe ni Diana, dahil galing ito sa trono ni Jupiter, pakiwari nila (Mga Gawa 19:35). Dapat igalang at dakilain ang Bibliya, pagkat Ito’y mula sa langit (2 Ped. 1:21). Ang dalawang Tipan ng Bibliya ay ang mga labi na ginamit ng Dios upang mangusap sa atin.

Paanong ang Bibliya’y mistulang may tatak ng “jus Divinum”, banal na kapangyarihan?

Dahil ang Matanda at Bagong Tipan ang saligan ng mga relihiyon. Kung hindi mapatutunayan ang taglay Nitong kabanalan, walang pundasyon ang ating pananalig. Kung gayon, sisikapin kong patunayan ang dakilang katotohanang ito, na ang Bibliya ay ang mismong salita ng Dios. Pagtatakhan ko ang pinagmulan ng Bibliya kung Ito’y hindi galing sa Dios. Hindi maaaring makakasalanang tao ang may-akda Nito. Kakayanin ba ng kanilang pag-iisip na humatol ng mga banal na taludtod? Kakayanin ba nilang magpahayag nang buong bagsik laban sa kasalanan? Hindi rin maaaring mabubuting tao ang may-akda nito. Kakayanin ba nilang sumulat sa ganoong himig? O makakayanan ba ng kanilang kabaitang huwarin ang ngalan ng Dios at sabihing “Kung gayon, sabi ng Panginoon”, sa aklat na sila lamang ang sumulat? Hindi rin maaaring mga anghel sa kalangitan ang umakda Nito, sapagkat maging sila ay sumisipat at sumasalksik sa kaibuturan ng ebanghelyo (1 Ped. 1:12) na nagpapahiwatig ng kanilang kawalang-kaalaman sa ilang mga bahagi ng Bibliya; kaya hindi maaaring sila ang maging may-akda ng isang aklat na hindi nila lubusang nauunawaan. Sa kabilang banda, anong mapangahas at hambog na anghel ang kakatawan sa Dios at magsasabing “Ako ang lumikha” (Is. 65:17) at, “Akong si Yahweh ang may sabi nito” (Bil. 14:35)? Samakatwid, malinaw na ang pinagmulan ng Bibliya ay banal at Ito’y mula lamang sa Dios at wala nang iba.

Maliban sa natatanging kaisahan ng diwang nakapaloob sa Bibilya, may pitong makatuwirang argumentong magpapakita na Ito ay Salita ng Dios.

[1] Ang taglay nitong gulang. Itp’y may kalagayang mula pa sa sinaunang kasaysayan. Ang Bibliya’y mistulang uban na nag-aatanda ng karunungan, sapat upang maging kagalang-galang. Walang buhay na kasaysayan ang higit na nauna pa sa tala ni Noah: subalit ang Bibliya’y naglalahad ng mga katotohanang mula pa sa umpisa. Ito ang tiyak na panuntunan ni Tertullian: ‘Yaong mula pa sa pinaka dakilang sinauna, id verum quod primum, ang siyang dapat tanggapin bilang pinaka natatangi at tumanggap ng pagsamba’.

[2] Malalaman nating ang Bibliya ay ang Salita ng Dios sa pamamagitan ng milagrosong pagkakapanatili Nito sa mga nagdaang panahon. Ang banal Kasulatan ang pinaka kayamanang iniwan sa atin ni Kristo; at labis na pinangalagaan ng iglesya ng Dios ang mga publikong tala na Ito ng langit, nang hindi Ito mawala. Hindi ninais ng Salita ng Dios na tunggaliin, maging gapasin Ito ng mga kaaway. Nagpatupad sila ng batas ukol sa Bibliya, gaya ng Paraon sa mga kumadrona, na paslangin ang mga batang babaeng Ebreong; subalit pinananatiling buo ng Dios ang pinagpalang Aklat na ito hanggang sa ngayon. Walang puknat na sinusubukan ng diablo at mga alipores nito na paramin ang linawanag ng Bibliya, ngunit nabigo sila; ito’y isang sagigag na ang Bibliya ay niliwanagan mula sa langit. Kinipkip, maging ng iglesya  ng Dios, sampu ng mga pag-aalsa at mga pagbabago, ang Bibliya upang Ito ay hindi lamang hindi mawala, kundi pati Ito’y hindi mapasama. Napanatili ang bawat titik ng Bibliya mula sa simulaing wika Nito, laban sa pagkapariwara. Hindi nabalakyot ang Bibliya bago pa man dumating ang kapanahunan ni Kristo, dahil kung nagkagayon, hindi Niya sana isinugo ang mga Hudyo sa kanila. Sabi Niya, “saliksikin niyo ang Kasulatan”. Alam Niyang ang banal na bukal na ito ay hindi nabahirang-putik ng haraya ninoman, ni minsan.

[3] Ang Bibliya ay pawang Salita ng Dios dahil sa diwang nakapaloob Dito. Kung ang Bibliya ay hindi banal na pahayag, labis na malalim at paham ang taglay Nitong misteryo upang maging likhang-tao o ng anghel lamang. Kung ang Bibliya’y hindi banal na pahayag para sa atin, sino o ano ang may kakayahang isadiwa na: ang Walang-hanggan ay ipanganganak; ang Siyang nagpapa-ugong ng kalangitan, sa isang sabsaban, ay papalahaw ng iyak; ang Gabay ng mga tala ay sususo sa isang ina; ang Prinsipe ng Buhay ay mamamatay; ang Panginoon ng Kadakilaan ay aapak-apakan; ang kasalana’y lubos na maparurusahan, ngunit lubos ding mabibigyang kapatawaran? Para naman sa doktrina ng muling pagkabuhay, ito’y nagsasabing ang katawa’y maaagnas bilang alabok, ngunit magbabalik, idem numero, bilang parehong katawan, pagkat kung hindi, ito’y paglikha, hindi muling pagkabuhay. Papaanong malalaman ang banal na bugtong na yaon, sa kabila ng mga kuru-kuro, kung ito’y hindi nasumpungan ng Banal na Kasulatan? Ang Bibliya ay punung-puno ng kabutihan, hustisya at kabanalan, upang Ito’y hindi magmula kundi sa Dios at hininga ng Dios lamang. Ang Bibliya’y inihambing sa pilak na pitong ulit dinalisay (Aw. 12:6). Wala ni isang pagkakamali sa Aklat ng Dios; Ito’y sinag Araw ng Katuwiran, isang malinaw na batis na bumabalong mula sa bukal ng buhay. Lahat ng batas at kautusan ng tao ay may batik, subalit ang Salita ng Dios ay wala, ni gapatak na dumi o bahid, Ito ang liwanag ng katanghaliang-tapat. “Ang pangako Mo sa amin ay subok na’t walang mintis” (Aw. 119:140); tulad ng alak na galing sa ubas, puro at walang halo. Labis ang kadalisayan Nito na kahit anopaman ay dinadalisay Nito. ‘Italaga Mo sila sa pamamagitan ng (Iyong) katotohanan’ (Ju. 17:17). Ang Bibliya ay pumipiga ng kabanalan, na walang ibang aklat ang may kakayanan: “Ito ang siyang umaakay sa atin upang talikdan ang mga likong pamumuhay at damdaming makalaman” (Tito 2:12); may katinuan, sa pagtitimpi; may katuwiran, sa gawi ng hustisya; maka-Dios, sa mga gawaing masigasig at panata. Itinatalaga Nito sa atin ang kahit anumang karapat-dapat, kaibig-ibig at kagalang-galang (Fil. 4:8).

Tinatagpas ng ispada ng Spiritu na ito ang maling gawi (Ef. 6:17). Mula sa tore ng Banal na Kasulatang ito ay ang isang gilingang-bato na inihuhulog sa tuktok ng kasalanan. Ang Bibliya ay ang makaharing batas na nagpapatupad, hindi lamang ng mga gawain, kundi pati ng mga saloobin; ibinibigkis Nito ang puso sa mabuting asal. Saan matatagpuan ang gayong kabanalan na maaaring mahukay mula sa yaring banal na minahan? Sino ang maaaring maging may-akda ng ganoong aklat maliban sa ang Dios mismo lamang?

[4] Pinatutunayan ng mga hula Nito/rito na ang Bibliya ay ang Salita ng Dios. Hinuhulaan Nito ang mga magiging kaganapan, na nagpapakitang ang Dios ang bumibugkas ng mga ito. Isang propeta na ang nagsabi ‘May isang birhen na maglilihi’ (Is. 7:14) at ang Mesias ay papaslangin (Dan. 9:26). Sinasambit ng Bibliya ang mga bagay na magaganap pa lamang ilang panahon at siglo sa hinaharap; tulad ng kung gaano katagal maninilbihan ang Israel sa isang hurnong bakal, at ang araw ng knailang kalayaan. ‘Huling araw ng apat na raan at tatlumpung taon nang umalis sa Ehipto ang mga hukbo ni Yahweh’ (Ex. 12:41).

Ang hulang ito, bilang kaganapan, at hindi nakasalalay sa mga natural na pangyayari, ay isang malinaw na pagpapakita ng banal Nitong pinagmulan.

  [5] Ang walang pagkiling na pahayag ng mga alagad ng Dios na nagsulat ng Bibliya, na hindi nangiming ilahad ang kanilang mga naging kabiguan. Sino sa kasaysayan ang ipahihiya ang kaniyang sarili sa pagtatala ng mga pangyayaring babahid sa kanyang reputasyon? Itinala ni Moises ang kawalan niya ng pasensiya nang basagin niya ang tableta at ibahagi sa ating hindi siya makapapasok sa lupang pangako. Isinalaysay ni David ang kanyang pangangalunya at pagpaslang na mistulang batik sa kanyang pangalan sa mga susunod na panahon. Ibinahagi ni Pedro ang kanyang karuwagan nang itatwa niya si Kristo. Ibinulalas ni Jonah ang kanyang mga saloobin, ‘Nais kong mamuhi hanggang kamatayan’. Pihado, kung ang kanilang panulat ay hindi pinatnubayan ng kamay ng Dios, hindi nila sasalaminin ang kanilang kahihiyan. Kadalasan, ikinukubli ng tao ang kanyang mga kapintasan, sa halip na ang mga ito’y kanyang ipangalandakan. Subalit pinasubalian ng mga sumulat ng Bibliya ang kanilang kahihiyan; isinaisantabi nila ang kanilang dignidan, at bagkus  ang Dios ay kanilang pinapurihan.

  [6] Ang dakilang kapangyarihan at halaga na ginampanan ng Salita kaluluwa at konsensiya ng sangkatauhan. Binago nito ang kanilang mga puso. Sa pagbasa ng Bibliya, ang iba’y nagkaroon ng bagong pagkatao, sila’y napabanal at naging mapagpatawad. Maaaring mag-alwan ng damdamin ang ilang aklat, ngunit Bibliya lamang ang may kakayanang bumago ng pagkatao. ‘Kayo ang maliwanag na sulat ni Kristo, ang sulat na ipinadala sa pamamagitan namin. Ito’y nasusulat, hindi ng tinta kundi ng Espiritu ng Dios na buhay, at hindi sa mga tapyas ng bato kundi sa puso ng tao’ (2 Cor. 3:3). Ang Salita ay kinoya sa kanilang mga puso at sila’y naging mga liham ni Kristo, nang mabasa ng iba si Kristo sa kanila. Kung maglalapat ka ng selyo sa marmol, ito ay dapat magmarka sa marmol, na mag-iiwan ng kakaibang katangian mula sa selyo. Gayundin, kapag nag-iwan ng makalangit na bakas ang Salita sa puso, dapat Ito’y may banal na kapangyarihang kaalinsabay. Pinanatag Nito ang kanilang mga puso. Kapag ang mga Kristiyano ay nakalundo sa daloy ng kanyang kalungkutan, ang Salita ay papatak tulad ng pulot at buong tamis na magpapanumbalik sa kanila. Ang pangunahing kaginhawahan ng isang Kristiyano ay dapat nagmumula sa Bukal ng Kaligtasan. ‘Na tayo, sa pamamagitan ng kaginhawahan ng Kasulatan, ay magkaroon ng pag-asa’ (Rom. 15:4). Kapag handa nang sumuko ang isang nagdarahop na kaluluwa, walang ibang kayang magpaginhawa sa kanya kundi ang Kasulatang kaaya-aya. Kapag siya’y nagkasakit, ang Salita ang sa kanya’y magpapanumbalik. ‘Ang bahagya at panandaliang kapighatiang dinaranas ko ngayon ay magbubunga ng kaligayahang walang hanggan at walang katulad.’ (2 Cor. 4:17). Kapag ito’y iwinaksi, ang Salita ay nagpatak ng ginintuang langis ng kaligayahan. ‘Hindi tayo itatakwil ni Yahweh habang panahon’ (Pan. 3:31). Maaaring baguhin Niya ang Knayang katalagahan, ngunit hindi ang Kanyang layunin; maaaring magmistulan Siyang kaaway, ngunit mayroon siyang puso ng isang ama. Samakatwid, ang Salita ay may taglay na kapangyarihang panatagin ang damdamin. ‘Sa gitna ng kahirapan, ang nadama ko ay aliw, Pagkat buhay ang natamo ng pangako Mo sa akin’ (Aw. 119:50). Kung paanong ang buhay ay inihahatid sa pamamagitan ng mga ugat sa katawan, gayundin ang banal na kaginhawahan ay inihahatid sa mga pangako ng Salita. Na ang Bibliya ay may pusong nagbibigay-buhay—nakagiginhawang kapangyarihan, ay buong kalugurang patunay na Ito ay mula sa Dios at Siya ang nagbigay ng gatas na kaginhawahan dito sa mga Dibdib na ating susupsupan at sa ati’y magpapatahan.

[7] Ang mga himalang kumukumpirma sa Bibliya. Ginamit nila Moises, Elijah, at Kristo ang mga himala at ipinagpatuloy ng mga apostol sa mga sumunod na taon upang kumpiramahin ang katotohanan ng banal na Kasulatan. Gaya ng tukod sa mga bagong baging ay ang mga propeta para sa mga taong may mahinang pananampalataya, na kung hindi nila mapaniniwalaan ang Bibliya, maaari nilang paniwalaan ang mga himala. Nabasa nating hinati ng Dios ang katubigang nagbigay daan sa mga tao, ang paglutang ng bakal, ang pagdaloy ng langis habang ibinubuhos, kung paanong ginawang alak ang tubig ni Kristo, ang pagpapagaling Niya sa bulag, at ang pagbuhay Niya sa patay. Kung gayon, sinelyuhan ng Dios ang katotohanan at kabanalan ng Bibliya sa pamamagitan ng mga himala. Hindi maitatatwa ng Romano Katoliko na ang Bibliya ay banal at makapangyarihan, ngunit sinasangayunan nila quoad nos, kung ihahambing sa atin, na ang iglesya  ang pinagmumulan ng kapangyarihan ng Bibliya; at blang patunay, ay sinisipi nila ang Bibliya (1 Tim. 3:15) kung saan ang iglesya di umano ang lunduyan at pundasyon ng katotohanan.

Totoo, ang iglesya ay ang haligi ng katotohanan; ngunit hindi ito nangangahulugang ito ang pinagmumulan ng taglay Nitong kapangyarihan. Ang proklamasyon ng hari ay nakatuon sa haligi, ang haligi ang pinagkakakabitan nito nang mabasa ng nakalalahat. Ngunit ang kapangyarihan ng proklamasyon ay hindi nagmumula sa haligi, kundi sa hari. Samakatwid, itinataguyod ng iglesya ang Kasulatan, ngunit ang kapangyarihan ay mula sa Panginoon, hindi sa Kanyang nasasakupan. Kung ang Salita ng Dios ay banal dahil lamang sa Ito ay itinataguyod ng iglesya, kung gayon ang ating pananalig ay sumasalalay sa iglesya., at hindi sa Salita, saliwa sa Efeso 2:20: ‘Kayo’y itinayo rin sa saligan ng mga apostol at mga propeta, at ang batong panulukan ay si Kristo Jesus.”

(C) Photo Credit

May Pruweba Ba na ang Bible ay Salita ng Diyos? Part 2 || John Pesebre || Kaliwanagan Kay Kristo (Jan 18, 2018)

Ang argument na tinutugunan natin in the past two episodes at tutugunan pa rin natin ngayon ay galing sa objection na “Bakit ko paniniwalaan ang Bible eh gawa lang naman yan ng tao.” The argument being “People must not believe the Bible because it is only created by men.”  We continue today with some specific internal proofs to provide a cumulative argument on its claim of divine source. Again, we will borrow these proofs from the book of the Puritan Thomas Vincent in his commentary on The Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Assembly: Explained and Proved from Scripture. Dahil ang salita ng Diyos ay hindi galing sa imbensyon ng mga taong nagsulat nito bagkus galing sa direktang inspiration or pagkasi ng Espiritu ng Diyos na ultimately na may limbag nito, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God."— 2 Tim. 2:16. "Prophecy of Scriptures came not by the will of men; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."— 2 Pet. 1:21.

1. dahil sa kaniyang karilagan sa pagtatanghal sa Diyos
2. dahil sa kabanalan at kadalisayan o purity ng Kasulatan
3. dahil sa pagsangayon at pagkakaisa sa mensahe ng Kasulatan
4. dahil sa mga matatayog na hiwaga nito
5. dahil sa pagpapaliwanag nito ng mga sinaunang naganap

Panganim, dahil sa kapangyarihan at bisa ng Kasulatan. (1) Ang Kasulatan ay may kapangyarihang manghikayat, manggising, at umusig ng kunsensya. "The Word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword "— Heb. 4:12. (2.)  Ang kasulatan ay may kapangyarihang makapagligtas at magbago ng puso. "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul."— Ps. 19:7. (3.) Ang kasulatan ay makapangyarihan para hanguin ang mga tao galing sa spiritual na kamatayan. "Hear, and your souls shall live."— Isaiah 55:3. "Thy Word hath quickened me."— Ps. 119:50. (4.) Makapangyarihan ang kasulatan dahil sa kaniyang kakayahang magbigay ng galak at kaginhawaan o kaaliwan sa mga nalulumbay at may matinding pinagdaraanan.  "The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart."— Ps. 19:8. The Scriptures opened and applied are made effectual to produce such powerful effects as do exceed the power of nature, and can be effected only by the power of God; which showeth that God only is the author of the Scriptures, kasi kung hindi, wala ang mga kapangyarihan na yan na nakakabit sa Kasulatan.

Pangpito, dahil sa disenyo at pagkakalikha ng Kasulatan. (1) Ang disenyo ng Kasulatan ay magbigay sa Diyos ng lahat ng kaluwalhatian; ang disenyo ay hindi luwalhatiin sinuman subalit ibaba pa nga ang tayog ng mapagmataas sa Diyos, at itaas naman ang ngalan at habag ng Digos sa mundo? (2.) Ang kahanga-hangang pagkalikha ayon sa katalinuhan kung paano maliligtas ang mga tao sa pamamagitan ng Panginoong Hesus sa kanilang pagkakalubog sa kasalanan at pagkakalayo sa Diyos; hindi ito galing sa kaisipan ng tao subalit galing ito sa isipan ng Diyos na kaniyang pinahayag sa Kasulatan.

Pangwalo, dahil ang kasulatan ay pinatunayan ng mga himala. Marami tayong mababasang mga himala sa Kasulatan, lalupa yaong mga ginawa ni Lristo at ng Kaniyang mga disipulo, upang patotohanan ang kanilang katuruan na ang mga turong ito’y galing sa Diyos; tulad ng nakakakita muli ang mga bulag, pagbuhay ng patay, pagpapatila ng bagyo sa karagatan sa isang utos at marami pang iba. Ang mga himalang ito ay direktang gawa ng kamay ng Diyos; [ipinahayag ito sa atin ito upang tayo ay may kaalaman sa pamamagitan ng kasulatan.] At kung totoo nga na ang mga himalang ito ay galing sa Diyos ganun din katotoo na ang Kasulatan ay galing sa Kaniya at kaniya ring pinatunayan.

Pangsiyam, dahil ang Kasulatan ay pinagtibay ng dugo ng mga martyrs. Libu-libong mga Kristiyano nung unang panahon, ang nagpatotoo sa katotohanan ng Kasulatan hanggang sa makitil ang kanilang buhay. Ang dakilang pagtitiwala ng mga sinaunang mananampalataya sa katotohanan ng Kasulatan, gayong maari din lang naman nilang matuklas kung may panlilinlang sa Kasulatan kung meron nga, subalit imbes na magduda lalo pa nilang pinagibayo ang kanilang pamamalagi sa katotohanan nito. Pinakita nila ito sa pagtitiyaga sa kahirapan at kapahamakan at isa sa dagdag na pruweba na ang Kasulatan ay Salita mismo ng Diyos.

Ikasampu at panghuli, dahil sa patotoo ng Banal na Espiritu sa pamamagitan ng Banal na Kasulatan sa puso ng mga mananampalataya. “Ye have an unction from the holy One, and ye know all things;" because "the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is true, and is no lie."— 1 John 2:20, 27. Without this testimony, and teaching of the Spirit, all other arguments will be ineffectual to persuade unto a saving faith.

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May Pruweba Ba na ang Bible ay Salita ng Diyos? || John Pesebre || Kaliwanagan Kay Kristo (Jan 16, 2018)

Ang argument na tinutugunan natin in the past two episodes at tutugunan natin ngayon ay galing sa objection na “Bakit ko paniniwalaan ang Bible eh gawa lang naman yan ng tao.” The argument being “People must not believe the Bible because it is only created by men.” The past episodes we presented two very big doctrines that show the authority and veracity of Scripture in authority and inerrancy. Today we will look into some specific internal proofs para magbigay ng karagdagang dahilan kung bakit natin kailangang magtiwala na ang Kasulatan o Bible ay Salita ng Diyos. We will borrow these proofs at sinalin ko po sa Filipino from the book of the Puritan Thomas Vincent in his commentary on The Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Assembly: Explained and Proved from Scripture. Dahil ang salita ng Diyos ay hindi galing sa imbensyon ng mga taong nagsulat nito bagkus galing sa direktang inspiration or pagkasi ng Espiritu ng Diyos na ultimately na may limbag nito, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God."— 2 Tim. 2:16. "Prophecy of Scriptures came not by the will of men; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."— 2 Pet. 1:21. So tingnan natin ang key internal proofs at mga karagdagang patunay na ang Kasulatan ay Salita nga ng Diyos.

Una, dahil sa kaniyang karilagan sa pagtatanghal sa Diyos. Sa Lupang Hinirang mayroon tayong isang linya na “May dilag ang tula” kung saan translated naman ang “dilag” sa English ng Lupang Hiniran as “radiance.” Sa Bible ilinalarawan ang Diyos na may ulitmate o pinakamataas na dilag o radiance or magnificence. Tulad ng Isaiah 57:15 “For this is what the high and exalted One says-- he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place.” Dagdag pa ni Thomas Vincent,

The style or way of the Scriptures is with such majesty as is not in other writings; duties are therein prescribed, which none but God can require; sins are therein condemned, which none but God can prohibit; threatenings of punishments are therein denounced, which none but God can inflict; promises of rewards are therein made, which none but God can bestow; and all in such a majestic way, as doth evidence God to be the author of this book of the Scriptures.

Pangalawa, dahil sa kabanalan at kadalisayan o purity ng Kasulatan. "Which God hath promised afore by his prophets in the Holy Scriptures."— Rom. 1:2. "The words of the Lord are pure words, as silver tried in a furnace of earth, and purified seven times."— Ps. 12:6. Ang Kasulatan ay banal na sa panimula hanggang sa huling titik nito; wala ka ritong mananamnam na makamundo at marumi; lalupa’t ang mga kautusan dito ay banal at ang mga pinagbabawal ay mga marumi at makasalanan; malinaw na ito nga’y salita ng Banal na Diyos, at ang mga banal na taong nag akda ng mga ito ay kinasihan at ginabayan ng banal na espiritu.

Pangatlo, dahil sa pagsangayon at pagkakaisa sa mensahe ng Kasulatan. May ugnayang tugma ang luma at bagong tipan, pagtutugma ng mga prophecies sa Kasulatan, at ang katuparan nito. Lalupa na ang kasulatan ay inakda ng iba't ibang tao sa iba't ibang lugar subalit nagsisi-sangayon sa kanilang mga sinulat, at walang irreconcilable differences ang matatagpuan dito, kaya naman malinaw na ang mga kasulatan ay gawa ng Espiritu ng Diyos, at ang Kasulatan ay mismong Salita ng Diyos.

Pangapat, dahil sa mga matatayog na hiwaga nito. Mababasa natin sa Kasulatan patungkol sa Trinity, ang pagkakatawang-tao ng Anak ng Diyos, ang mahiwagang ugnayan ng Panginoong Hesus at ng mga mananampalataya. Ang mga ito, at iba pang mga hiwaga, ay lampas sa kakayahang kathain ng mga matatalino at mga aral, lalung higit pa sa kaisipan ng mga hindi naman nakapag-aral na mga mangingisda tulad ni Pedro at mga apostol kung kanino ang mga hiwagang ito ay nahayag; at malinaw na hindi galing sa kanila lamang na kaisipan ang kanilang sinulat, subalit kung ano ang itinuro sa kanila ng Banal na Espiritu.

Panglima, dahil sa pagpapaliwanag nito ng mga sinaunang naganap. May mga bahagi sa kasulatan na naglalahad ng mga kaganapan na hindi maaring maisulat ng ninuman tulad ng paglalang ng sanlibutan  atbp. Hindi malalaman ang mga kaganapang ito kung hindi ipinahayag ang mga ito ng Diyos mismo sa tao; kaya naman dagdag na patunay yan na ang Kasulatan ay mismong Salita ng Diyos.

Itutuloy po natin next episode ang reasons 6-10 para sa mga karagdagang dahilan. 

The Bible Has Errors? #NationalBibleWeek2018 || John Pesebre || Kaliwanagan Kay Kristo (Jan 11, 2018)

Tumutugon tayo sa isang common objection concerning the Bible na ganito: “Bakit ko paniniwalaan ang Bible eh gawa lang naman yan ng tao.” Like I said sa previous episode, this simple statement ay nakatayo sa maraming assumptions na kailangang itest. Hindi po nangangahulugan na mali ang mga assumptions. Ang point ko lang po ay this statement is not as simple as it appears. May lalim din po siya at marami siyang na-challenge sa katotohan ng salita ng Diyos at hindi lang sa ito'y man-made. Isa sa na-challenge niya ay diniscuss ko last episode where I discussed yung attack niya sa authority ng Scripture. I argued that the authority of Scripture is affirmed by Scripture itself and made some samplings of the risk that people took to uphold that via martyrdom at marami pang iba.

Ngayon po we will talk about another of its quality by talking about one of Scriptures cardinal doctrines: the doctrine of inerrancy. Inerrancy comes from two Latin words combined to mean “no error.” We refer to the doctrine more specifically as “Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact.”* Sa madaling salita po, kung naglahad ang Bibliya na tama, samakatuwid tama ito; kung ano ang ina affirm ng Bible na false, false siya. Bukod sa naka anchor ito sa reliability ng facts, ito ay higit sa lahat naka anchor sa katotohanan na ang mga Salitang ito ay kapahayagan ng Diyos at Kaniyang kinasihan ng Kaniyang Banal na Espiritu. There are many ways to defend the doctrine of inerrancy at napakarami na ring mga napakagagandang aklat ang nagpaliwanag nito. Subalit for the purpose of brevity, we will present here ng tatlo sa pinakaimportante paliwanag na alam ko.We will do it through a Trinitarian argument from the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.

Una, it is truthful because God the Father. Jesus would refer to the Father as bearing the testimony of Himself in the Old Testament, “If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. There is another who bears witness of me, and I know that the witness which he witnesses of me is true . . . And the Father himself, who sent me, has testified of me (John 5:31,32,37). What testimony was Jesus referring to? I think it is the testimony of God in the Old Testament. He explained his ministry and calling to the two disciples in the road to Emmaus. In Luke 24:27 Luke explains that “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, [Jesus] explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” This was the testimony He was talking about.

Having said that, the idea of the Father’s divine testimony is further attested in the Old Testament by Jesus’ life, death and resurection. Yan ang ating pangalawang paliwanag. According to BEDBT explains that divine testimony in the OT, “refers to the revelatory self-witness of God to his people.”† Again, Jesus attests his very life, death and resurrection on the prophetic testimony of the Father. The validation of these truth claims of the Father is shown in Scripture “in its fulfillment [because] the history of prophetic fulfillment also guarantees its reliability.”‡ So this is the reason why Jesus would talk about the fulfilment of the Word of God this way, “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished (Matthew 5:18).

So kung ang Ama ang Diyos ng katotohanan, at Siya ang source ng Salita ng Diyos the Bible must be inerrant. If Jesus is the Son of God and napapatunayan ito sa salita ng Diyos at sinabi ni Kristo at pinatotohanan ni Kristo ang testimonya ng Ama sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang salita at gawa, pinapatotohanan niya ang buong katotohanan ng Salita ng Diyos.

Sa ganitong pagtatanghal sa Salita ng Diyos matatagpuan din natin ang ating pangatlong paliwanag na ang kapahayagang tungkol sa Banal na Espiritu in relation to the truthfulness of the Word of God. Sa 2 Timothy 3:16 ang salita ng Diyos ay “God-breathe” a Spirit-breathe book. David in 2 Samuel 23:2 said, “"The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.” Sa 2 Peter 1:21 it is said that the prophets “were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” Ang simple na logic is that God is truth.

So maski pa yang affirmation na yan ay sa geography, history, kalagayan ng ating kaluluwa, etc yan ang katotohanan. Paliwanag ni Grudem,

The words in the Bible are God’s words, and that therefore to disbelieve or disobey any word in Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God. . . [T]he Bible clearly teaches that God cannot lie or speak falsely (2 Sam. 7:28; Titus 1:2; Heb. 6:18). Therefore, all the words in Scripture are claimed to be completely true and without error in any part (Num. 23:19; Pss. 12:6; 119:89, 96; Prov. 30:5; Matt. 24:35). God’s words are, in fact, the ultimate standard of truth (John 17:17). Especially relevant at this point are those Scripture texts that indicate the total truthfulness and reliability of God’s words. “The words of the LORD are words that are pure silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times” (Ps. 12:6, author’s transl.), indicates the absolute reliability and purity of Scripture. Similarly, “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him” (Prov. 30:5), indicates the truthfulness of every word that God has spoken. Though error and at least partial falsehood may characterize the speech of every human being, it is the characteristic of God’s speech even when spoken through sinful human beings that it is never false and that it never affirms error: “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should repent” (Num. 23:19) was spoken by sinful Balaam specifically about the prophetic words that God had spoken through his own lips.§

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* Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 67

† Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, sv "Testimony"; accessed at https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/testimony.html

‡ Ibid.

§ Grudem, 67.

Man-Made Naman Pala ang Bible? #NationalBibleMonth2018 || John Pesebre || Kaliwanagan Kay Kristo (Jan 9, 2018)

Isa po sa mga paboritong objections na naririnig ko ay “Bakit [daw] paniniwalaan ang Bible eh gawa lang naman 'yan ng tao?”

It challenges the authority and veracity or katotohanan ng Bible with the reason that it is man-made. It puts a value judgment sa phrase na “man-made” as if in each and every case, something man-made is without authority and veracity. It suggests that the Bible is false advertising because while it says that it is the word of God, in actuality it is just the words of men. This implies that people might have constructed the idea that this is divine origin para mayroon siyang authority. Nagibigay din siya ng suggestion na if it is made by men then it is not immune to errors and if it has errors then it is not the word of God. Marahil dagdag pa dito ay  irrelevant ito sa atin ngayon dahil it was written far removed sa panahon natin ngayon.

The whole argument is: “Ang Bible ay hindi God’s Word because it is written by mere men.”

So, ganon nga ba?

Sa totoo lang po, ang Bible po ay Word of God even if it is written by men.

First of all, that Christians believe that the Bible was written by men ay isang ideya na galing mismo sa Diyos. Sa 2 Peter 1:21 naka indicate mismo na ang pahayag ng Panginoon to "prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." Ina-affirm talaga dito ang katotohanan na ang Word of God ay sinulat ng tao. Kumbaga, hindi dapat nagugulat ang mga Christians when you tell them that the Bible is written by men. Jesus himself would refer to the word of God and at times just name the name of the prophet who wrote it. Meron kasi talaga tayong dynamic sa pagkaunawa natin ng biblical authorship  at ang dynamic na yan ay sa susunod na reason.

And that is, although it is written by men kinasihan (inspired) ito ng Diyos. We could say that the source is God Himself. Sa 2 Timothy 3:16 eto ang sabi, “All Scripture is God-breathed.” It means ang source niya ay Diyos mismo. We call this divine inspiration. Sabi ni J. Hampton Keathley,

Some thirty-eight hundred times the Bible declares, “God said,” or “Thus says the Lord” (e.g. Ex. 14:1; 20:1; Lev. 4:1; Num. 4:1; Deut. 4:2; 32:48; Isa. 1:10, 24; Jer. 1:11; Ezek. 1:3; etc.). Paul also recognized that the things he was writing were the Lord’s commandments (1 Cor. 14:37), and they were acknowledged as such by the believers (1 Thess. 2:13). Peter proclaimed the certainty of the Scriptures and the necessity of heeding the unalterable and certain Word of God (2 Pet. 1:16-21). John too recognized that his teaching was from God; to reject his teaching was to reject God (1 John 4:6).*

Also, God did not just inspire and reveal His Word, He also preserved His revelation through men. Ang pagbibigay ng Panginoon ng katotohanan patungkol sa Kaniya at sa Kaniyang nilikha o ang ating reality ay isinagawa sa kaniyang kapahayagan. Ito ay dumadaan sa proseso na magpapahayag muna ang Panginoon sa pamamagitan ng pag inspire o paggabay ng pagsusulat ng mga napili niyang tao na maglimbag ng Kaniyang pahayag sa pamamagitan ng mga karanasan at kaalaman ng mga tao ding ito tulad ng mga propeta at mga apostol. Pag ito’y naisulat na, ito nama’y pinapangalagaan ng Panginoon na hindi masira o mawala sa lupa. Gumabay ang Diyos ng tao sa Kaniyang pahayag, tinulungan Niya rin ang Kaniyang mga anak na ito'y pangalagaan.

Bago mag 1950s ang pinakamatandang kopya ng lumang tipan ay ang Leningrad Codex. However na-break ito when,

The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in a series of twelve caves around the site known as Wadi Qumran near the Dead Sea in the West Bank (of the Jordan River) between 1946 and 1956 by Bedouin shepherds and a team of archeologists.†

All of a sudden ang oldest copy ng Old Testament ay nai-atras sa mga 300BC. One interesting copy doon na kumpleto ay ang Great Isaiah Scroll. Nang ikompara ito sa Isaiah ng Lengingrad Codex identical siya despite na the more than 1000 years na separation nila. Ang point ko lang diyan ay mukhang napaka serious ng ideya ng pagkokopya ng salita ng Diyos noon pa man. Seryoso sila talaga to preserve it. In fact may mga professional scribes pa to do this.

Pagkatapos ng preservation na ito, ang Panginoon ang nagtalaga sa people of God na ito’y maisalin sa iba’t ibang linggwahe. This is what we call the tradition of translation. Then etong translation na ito would be heard in every tongue and tribe through the preaching of trained or learned interpreters. May napakalalaking ambag ang bawat believer sa pagpreserve at pagbabahagi ng Salita ng Diyos sa pamamagitan ng mga Bible Study atbp.

Mapangahas ang claim ng Scripture to its own authority ayon kay Wayne Grudem, author ng isang magnum opus on systematic theology. Sabi niya -- "The authority of Scripture means that all the words in Scripture are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God."‡

Totoo naman. Bilang patotoo ng mga early believers and in fact hanggang ngayon pala, many of them died upholding this truth, that Scripture is the Word of God. Many today who believe it is true pattern their lives on what it says, submitting to its truth. And as I’ve shared earlier kanina about the preservation ng Scripture, many people have devoted their lives in preserving it. So along with the Scriptural claim, meron pa siyang outworking sa buhay ng mga tao that provide warrant that we understood the Bible to be authoritative despite it being written by men.

So totoo pong sinulat ng tao ang Bible, subalit ito ay nakaugat sa kapahayagan ng Diyos at hindi galing sa kung anu-anong devices lang ng tao.

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*J. Hampton Keathley, "The Bible: The Written Word of God," in Bible.org (website);  https://bible.org/seriespage/4-bible-written-word-god#P197_29615

† Wikipedia, sv Dead Sea Scrolls, accessed at  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Sea_Scrolls#Discovery

‡  Grudem, Systematic Theology, 52.

Ezra 7 #FirstHour

FORGED
"This Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which Yahweh the God of Israel gave. The king granted him all his requests, for the hand of Yahweh was upon him." (Ezra 7:6 LEB)

God masterfully crafts His metal under a leaf-covered hut near nowhere. Ezra was born and grew up in a slave environment -- his taskmasters were they that uprooted their dignified Jewish family of priests from their homeland hundreds of miles away only to work as slaves in the land of the oppressor.

A child of God in affliction is a piece of ore that God burns, pounds, shapes, pounds some more, burns some more in the fiery furnace and sharpens on a nasty whetstone to become shiny and useful blade. The pounding of that blessed hammer on the anvil of affliction only God hears WHY. Others may hear and scoff. Puritan Richard Sibbes writes "Ungodly spirits, ignorant of God's ways in bringing his children to heaven, censure broken hearted Christians as miserable persons, whereas God is doing a gracious, good work with them. It is no easy matter to bring a man from nature to grace, and from grace to glory."

"The king granted him all his requests, for the hand of Yahweh was upon him." That's all there is to say for a man who IS forged in the furnace and the hammer of God's favor and mercy.

#FirstHour

Ezra 5 #FirstHour

And this is the answer they returned to us: ‘We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are building the house that was built formerly many years ago, which a great king of Israel had built and finished. But because our ancestors angered the God of heaven, he gave them into the hand of the Chaldean King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. He destroyed this house and carried away the people to Babylonia. But in the first year of King Cyrus of Babylon’s reign he issued forth a decree to build this house of God.(Ezra 5:11‭-‬13 LEB)

Affliction may blind the eyes of faith of a child of God. It may obstruct how we look at the story of our lives. It covers the Big Story where we belong -- a story of redemption (gospel) and of commission (duty). Yet when affliction shuts it out, we make little stories -- stories of duties, of resolutions that we think are currencies to buy for us a story.

The returning Exiles had no currency but the merits of God's grace for who they were -- that God called them to be His servants. To this story they returned amidst their terrible blinding pressure and threats from ungodly spirits. They saw God as the Writer of the Story to which they belong. And that is why your duties must persist in the context of His grace. You persevere, because He preserves.

The eyes of faith in times of affliction may see that "surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6).

Begin today by asking God for forgiveness and repentance for the sin that caused your affliction or extends your affliction such as overmuch sorrow or anger, etc. As that Puritan with a honeymouth would say, "God has more grace in Him, than din in you."

#FirstHour

PS

Piety hath a wondrous virtue to change all things into matter of consolation and joy. No condition in effect can be evil or sad to a pious man: his very sorrows are pleasant, his infirmities are wholesome, his wants enrich him, his disgraces adorn him, his burdens ease him; his duties are privileges, his falls are the grounds of advancement, his very sins (as breeding contrition, humility, circumspection, and vigilance), do better profit him: whereas impiety doth spoil every condition, doth corrupt and embase all good things, doth embitter all the conveniences and comforts of life.

—Isaac Barrow

Ezra 4 #FirstHour

1Now the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple for Yahweh the God of Israel. . . 6In the reign of Ahasuerus, at the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. . . 24Then the work on the house of God in Jerusalem stopped, and was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. (Ezra 4:1‭, ‬6‭, ‬24 LEB)

When God allows affliction to His people, it happens within the context of a promise. The Hand that writes the purpose for His people may be invisible but that's because It has written in advance. This is the reason why the Puritan Timothy Rogers would preach to "afflicted people. Do not judge your eternal state by what you now feel." The overriding purpose of His grace is written in benevolent providence for His people who although they may suffer the afflictions of the evil world and the consequences of their past, yet His glory to rebuild may hide behind the mountains at night but will break forth at dawn. "Weeping may endure for a night," says the beloved psalmist, "but joy cometh in the morning" (Psalm 30:5).

Ezra 2:1 #FirstHour

Now these were the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exile whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own city.(Ezra 2:1 LEB)

After decades of exiles, the remnant of a nation returned to Jerusalem like a second Abrahamic call. Doong lugar din tinawag si Abraham noon galing sa lugar ng mga ilog ng Tigris at Euphrates. And now as they walked back, they were retracing the steps of their patriarch probably saying, "Our father Abraham took to these roads the call and vision of YHWH. May His glory be seen in our lives as it was with him . . . this second time around."

God's children may often find themselves falling by the wayside dahil sa kasalanan o pandaraya ng mundo buti na lang ang Panginoon may "mercies [that] never come to an end" (Lamentation 3:22) for His people. God will use heads of nations as sacrament for His ministry of love to His children.