JOHN 3:16

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."

In a nutshell, this is basically the gospel. The good news. But what does this really mean? A lot of people have interpreted this precious passage by Jesus wrongly and that's why I want to share the gospel or the good news of Jesus Christ according to His word - the Bible.

1.) "..that whoever believes in Him should NOT perish.."
If you're going to look at it clearly, it seems that Jesus here is talking something about believing in Him and not perishing. Take note that Jesus' statement consists of a condition - and that is to believe. Obviously, if that condition is to be opposed, it will say that if we don't believe, we will perish. You prevent something bad from happening when you know that it's going to happen, right? That is exactly the initiative that Jesus has taken for us. Since He's speaking about deliverance from perishing, it must mean that ALL must have a condition so bad that deserves perishing - and that is our total depravity. Romans 3:10 says "None is righteous, no, not one;". If that's the case, then what we have been doing all this time is sinning! We have done NOTHING BUT SIN. According to Romans 3:23 "..ALL have SINNED.."; you and me, everyone in the world, have sinned. "Well everybody does it anyway.. so I guess it's okay." WRONG. You and I are NATURALLY sinful and we are in big trouble before a holy and perfect God, who demands righteousness from His creation. According to Romans 3:20, we are so sinful that we are ENSLAVED by sin. Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death - and that is why we are subject to perish. We deserve NOTHING BUT HELL.

2.) "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son.."
Now what? How can we be free from this awful bondage to sin? Is there anything that can save us? A lot of people today have now been doing good works all throughout their lives for them to be able to reach God. Well, guess what? That's what all religions are all about. It's about building a bridge that connects you to God to be able to please Him by their own good works - not with Christianity. Not with the authentic or genuine Christian faith. Isaiah 64:6 says our righteousness or good works are just filthy rags! You say "Why is that??". Well, that is the whole point of our depravity, of our sinfulness. We are so sinful that WE CANNOT please God. Romans 8:8 says that those who are in the flesh (which is all of us) CANNOT please God. And this is where the beauty of the work of Jesus Christ starts. We are just so sinful that we cannot save ourselves - even through pursuits of righteousness or good works. Ephesians 2:8-9 says "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God no a result of works, so that no one may boast." That grace is Jesus. We CAN ONLY be saved by Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Our sins are so great that it would require God's own son to die for us to be saved! Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us in that cross (2 Cor. 5:21). He has taken ALL the perishing that should've been ours by His own blood. He has been DEgenerated for us to be REgenerated. This is what it means to accept Jesus as Savior.

3.) "..that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."
Now this is where most of the wrong teachings start. Is it really that simple to believe God to have eternal life? As in "believe"? We must understand that this belief in Jesus comes from God alone. Remember that it is a gift of God. We, in our ownselves, will never be able to have this belief in Him. Jesus said in Matthew 7:14 that it is hard to go to the way that leads to life. Believing without doing is nothing. In Matthew 7:21, Here we see how Jesus denies people who don't do God's will AND YET call Him "Lord". So what does "believing" in God really mean? Faith must be accompanied with its fruits. Just imagine it as a coin. It has two sides - but both are in unison. Here, I will explain it in 2 turnings. The first is turning from sin. In John 12:46, Jesus explains clearly what believing in Him is - "..so that whoever BELIEVES in me may NOT REMAIN IN DARKNESS." That means that we turn from our old, sinful selves and ways. It involves repentance from our sins. This is the self-denial that He is talking about in Luke 9:23. Then, the second is turning to God. Romans 6:4 "We were buried with Him.. just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too might WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE." What this means is we walk a godly life - not the selfish life that the natural man walks. ALL of our actions should now be "GODward". Not our will, but His will should be done. And how do we know what's His will? - We read His word - the Bible. This should be the new life that a saved person has - turning away FROM darkness and turning TO God. Therefore, if you believe in Jesus that He's able to save you from perishing, these turnings will be the desires of your heart. Believing in Jesus must bear fruits. This is what it means to accept Jesus as Lord.

"Wait a minute, I thought you said we can never be saved by our good works! Aren't these good works?" - Take note that I have put these AFTER introducing who Jesus Christ really is. It is true that we can never be saved by our works apart from Jesus Christ. These turnings are rather evidences that an individual has truly put his faith in Jesus Christ. To sum it all up, all of us are totally sinful that we need God to save us from the true, bitter nature of ourselves. God, in His awesome, majestic and all-powerful work, renews the heart and life of a person. This is the "born again" that Jesus speaks of in John 3:3. After that, then only then we'll be able to put our faith in Jesus Christ. We do not put our faith in Jesus then become born again. We become born again by God's miraculous work, THEN put our faith in Jesus because it is also because of God alone why we are able to do so. And again, remember that believing in Jesus must bear fruits. But it is NOT our faith that saves, it is God's grace. This is the wondrous power of Jesus' cross! In all of these, our eternal life is secure. This is what it means to believe in Him and have eternal life. This also means that NOT EVERYONE will be saved. Only the TRUE believers. If God is calling you, brethren, do not harden your heart. For eternity with God is far more better to treasure than all of these things that the world offer. We are SAVED BY GRACE ALONE (the miraculous work of God in the believer's life) THROUGH FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE (because of what He has done). This is the gospel.

P.S. Since we are commanded by Jesus to share the gospel to all nations and creations (Matt. 28:19-20, Mark 16:15), I would like to humbly request you to share this to your wall. To God be the glory.

a day of epic proportions

so last week, our family decided to hang out at CityLand Shaw Tower Penthouse again. probably coz some of them didn't get the chance to swim the last time we were there. REASON: the pool felt like the arctic ocean or some other ocean near the poles. LOL. anyway, the view as always was incredible.

 the food... not so great but enough to satisfy our hunger. but what made my day great was when i found out... I CAN SWIM! :))))))))))))

so my brother taught me some things he learned at swimming club about two years ago. but when kuya Jr and ate Syrah showed up at the penthouse with Ellie, that made OUR day even greater. she was like a superstar when they got up and she's just a month old! just imagine the scene when she turns one! :D :"> "Ellie! Picture! Ellie! Picture!"

 Jaira caught a glimpse of Ellie and started yelling. probably coz Ellie's just too cute to be true! :))))))

 i actually have a video of it but i'm too lazy to post it now. =))) anyhoo, after taking pictures of Ellie and pictures with Ellie, the swimming continued. at first, Jillian was too afraid to use the watchamajing but after a lot of convincing from kuya Joel, she finally gave in. she even called herself Mutya - the little mermaid on television.

 the day ended on a high note. everyone - except Mommy Achie and Daddy Pastor who stayed there until dinner - went home happy and fulfilled. :)))))

tunay na kaibigan

Nicole Lara… marami na kaming pinagdaanan ng babaeng ‘to. Simula grade 1 palang magkakalase na kami at ni isang taon ay di ko pinagsisihan dahil unti-unti kong natututnan sa kanya ang tunay na kahulugan ng salitang kaibigan.

Sa umpisa, magkaaway kami niyan. Walang araw noon na ‘di kami nagtatalo dahil sa hindi pagkakaunawaan. Kahit simpleng pangalan lang ng Bratz o kasing komlikado ng naging problema namin noong grade 6 at 7 kami ay siguradong pagtatalunan pa namin. Ngunit sa paglipas ng taon at sa pagkawala n gaming itinuring na mga kaibigan at nagkapanatagan kami ng loon at simula noon ay naging matalik na kaming magkaibigan. Sabi nga, “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘what?! You too? I thought I was the only one!’”

Sabi nila, sa high school mo raw malalaman kung sinu-sino ang tunay mong mga kaibigan o SINO ang TUNAY mong KAIBIGAN. Marami akong nakasama’t nakasalimuha nang ako’y tumungtong sa high school. Lahat sila iba-iba ang pag-uugali’t pananalita. Mayroon akong nakasamang madikit sa kalokohan. Mayroon naming bata kung mag-isip. Pero, alam niyo kung kanino pa rin ako bumabalik? Tama… kay Nicole. Sa kanya ko kasi naramdaman ang pagpapahalaga, pag-aalala, at pagmamahal ng isang kaibigan.

Noong wala siya sa klase, hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko. Para bang nawawala ako. Hindi ko lam kung saan ako pupunta. Yun siguro ang mararamdaman ko kapag nawala siya sa buhay ko. Hindi ko kasi ma-imagine ang buhay ko ng walang Nicole Lara bilang isa sa mga best friend ko. Walang magsasabing “ano sapakin ko na ba?” kapag may nang-away sa’kin. Walang bubugbog sa braso ko kapag nanonood ng Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse at Breaking Dawn. Walang mag-reremind sa’kin na matulog na kapag waaay past my bedtime na. Walang mag-eencourage sa’king gawin ang mga gusto kong gawin pero walang lakas ng loob para gawin ang mga ito. Wala akong matatakbuhan sa oras ng aking pangangailangan.

Mas naging masaya at makabuluhan ang buhay ko nang pinili kong maging best friend si Nicole.

Get the chance to know her better. She really is a good friend. She may have flaws but hey, who doesn’t? You just have to see right through those flaws that everyone seems to perceive and you’ll be able to spot the Nicole I love. The Nicole who is willing to sacrifice a lot for a friend, the Nicole who, despite everything that’s been going on around you, won’t let you down, the Nicole who’ll make you smile when you feel blue, the Nicole who’d be positive for you when you feel pessimistic, the Nicole who’ll stick around when everyone has walked away from you. She may not be as good as you want her to be, but dude, SHE WAS BORN THAT WAY. Who says she’s not worth it? SCREW YOU!

isa pang kwento ng buhay....

“Hay naku! Grabe talaga ung nangyari sa’ting yun!” sabi ni Lyra.

“Oo nga eh. Feeling ko katapusan na natin yun! Pero naalala niyo ba yung mga pinatalikod ni Sir Manrique noon?” tanong ni Mike.

Biglang sumama ang tingin ni Ira’t Lyra sa kanya habang ang lahat ay tumatawa sa alaalang iyon.

“Sige na, kami na yun!” ang sabi ni Ira.

“Ang ingay-ingay niyo kasi. Yan tuloy, napagdiskitahan kayo ni Sir Manrique.” Ang sabi ko habang humahagikgik.

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Nag-Fifilipino kami isang hapon matapos ang Lunch Time. Ang saya-saya ng aming discussion nun tungkol sa Ibong Adarna. Kakatapos din lang ata namin manood ng Ibong Adarna sa AFP Theater noong isang linggo. Sa kanang bahagi ng classroom ang lahat ay tahimik, nakikinig at nagpaparticipate sa discussion habang ang kaliwang bahagi ay kinabibilangan ng mga kaklase kong pasaway at maiingay tulad nila Lyra, Ira, Lando, Israel, at iba pa.

Napuno na ata si Sir Manrique kay Ira’t Lyra kaya’t ang sabi ni Sir, “Ay naku Lyra, Ira, ang iingay niyo. At bakit ba kayo palaging tumitingin sa likod? May gusto ba kayo kay Rolando at Israel?”

“Yiiiiihhhheeee!” ang asar ng klase...................................................

 

......................................................................Nagsisipaghalakhakan pa ang grupo. Wala pa sa kanila ang makapagsalita. Ilang minuto ng tawanan ang lumipas, at si Chino ay nagsalita.

“Da best talaga kayong dalawa Lyrs!” ang sabi niya na sinundan ng isa pang ikot ng tawa.

Napahagikgik na lang din sila Ira’t Lyra sa nangyari.

“Di ko talaga makakalimutan yun.” Sabi ni Ira.

“Ikaw ba naman, patalikurin?! Sino bang di makakalimot dun?!” ang sagot ni Nelin.

“Ongaaaa!” agree naman ang buong grupo.

“Teka, teka! Bakit kami na lang palagi yung pinag-uusapan?” tanong ni Lyra. “naaalala niyo ba nung biglang kumatok si Mike sa pintuan nung nag-Fifilipino tayo?”

“OO!” ang sabay na sabi namin ni Nicole.

“Yun ba yung nagalit si Sir Manrique kasi late kayo?” tanong ni Adriel.

“Hay naku! Si Sir Manrique na naman ito!” sabi ni Gelai.

take a look.

this is a sneak peak of the little something i wrote just so i could look back at it when i finish high school coz i can already feel the Senior Vibe in the air. :)))

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ito ay kwento ng pagkakaibigan, pagkaka-ibigan, katuwaan, kalokohan at higit sa lahat, ito ay kwento ng buhay - kwento ng aming buhay.

nakapaloob dito ang mga kwentong bumago sa aming mga buhay, mga kwentong nagpalakas sa aming loob.

maligayang pagbabasa.... :)

sa isang 'di kalakihang lugar ay nagtipun-tipon kaming magkakaibigan sa dahilang na-miss namin ang isa't isa. napuno ang lugar ng halakhak, kwentuhan at iyakan nang aming balikan ang mga pangyayaring nagturo sa aming lumaban sa mga hamon ng buhay.

nagsimula ang kwentuhan sa isang insidenteng kailanman ay hinding-hindi namin makakalimutan.

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that's all for now. :D goodnight everyone.