SOULdiers of GOD

THE LORD, YOUR REDEEMER.

Isaiah 44:1-4🌱
Yet hear now, O Jacob My servant,
And Israel whom I have chosen.
Thus says the LORD who made you
And formed you from the womb, who will help you:
“Fear not, O Jacob My servant;
And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water on him who is thirsty,
And floods on the dry ground;
I will pour My Spirit on your descendants,
And My blessing on your offspring;
They will spring up among the grass
Like willows by the watercourses.”

𝐈𝐒 𝐆𝐎𝐃’𝐒 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋?
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▪Critics often argue that we will only experience God’s unconditional love if we meet certain conditions. Obvious naman na ang ganitong comment ay sarcastic, pero mapapaisip ka rin naman talaga kahit isa kang believer. If God truly loves everyone unconditionally, why does He require people to repent and believe in order to be saved? Does the reality of Hell demonstrate that His love is, after all, conditional? Kung love ng Diyos para sa’tin ay unconditional, bakit mistulang nagde-demand Siya na sundin natin ang Kanyang mga utos?

▪The Bible is clear in telling us that God’s love is expressed to all, despite their response to His love. Ang pag-ibig ng Diyos ay nakadepende sa Kanyang nature as a loving God (1 Jn 4:8), hindi sa pagsunod ng mga tao. Though the Bible tells us that God hates sinners (Lev 20:23; Ps.5:4-5; 7:11;11:5; Hos 9:15; etc), it also affirms His mercy and grace for them. Sabi ni Jesus, “For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matt 5:45). God does not delight in the death of the wicked (Ezek 33:11), for He is “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Ptr 3:9). Ang katotohanan na dumating si Jesus para hanapin at iligtas ang mga naliligaw (Lk 19:10) ay proof na bago pa pillin ng tao na sumunod, kinakalinga na siya ng Diyos. Christ, the best expression of God’s love (Jn 3:16), was given to the world despite its rebellion. Hindi na hinintay pa ng Diyos na ang tayo ay maging better pa at ma-meet ang Kanyang standard bago Niya ipadala si Kristo para iligtas tayo.

▪Kung unconditional ang love ng Diyos, bakit may binigay pa Siyang conditions to be saved? Hindi ba pwedeng saved na lang lahat? Let’s take note that, though God’s love is unconditional, salvation isn’t. God wants us to repent and believe—not for Him to love us, but because He already loves us. Only by responding in faith can we fully experience God’s love, for through it we can escape our deserved punishment. Mula sa pagiging kaaway ng Diyos, ituturing Niya tayong sa Kanya (Rom 5:10; Jn 1:12). Those who choose to reject God’s offer of salvation will definitely receive the consequence of their decision. Ginusto naman nila ‘yon. God wants everyone to repent, walang doubt dito, but if people don’t want to turn from their sins, the loving God will not force Himself on them. Judgment in hell is prepared for those who reject Him. Deserve naman nila ‘yon, in the first place (Rom 2:5). God’s unconditional love for all is never a guarantee that all will be saved, for salvation is conditional. It is always through one’s faith (Eph 2:8; Jn 3:16).

▪If God's love is unconditional, should believers still need to meet His conditions? Kung mahal naman tayo ng Diyos dahil anak na Niya tayo kahit anumang gawin natin, worth it pa ba sumunod sa mga utos Niya? Yes, of course! Disobedient believers will expectedly receive His correction. Dinidisiplina ng Diyos ang mga minamahal Niya (Heb 12:6). Again, i-take note natin na ang discipline ng Diyos ay hindi Niya binibigay para mahalin Niya ang Kanyang anak, kundi dahil mahal Niya ito kaya hindi Niya hahayaan itong manatiling pasaway. God’s discipline is born out of His genuine concern for His children, for He wants them to be obedient and holy (1 Ptr 1:14–16). His commandment to love others is not a requirement for Him to love us, we love because He first loved us (1 Jn 4:8). Furthermore, God rewards our obedience (Rev 22:12; 2 Tim 4:8). We obey not to be loved, but because we are already loved (1 Jn 4:10). Stay Curious!

“Kasi nung mahina pa tayo, namatay si Christ para sa mga masasama, sa panahong pinili ng Diyos. Walang gustong mamatay para sa taong matuwid, mahirap yan. Pero para sa mabuting tao posibleng may sumubok pang magbuwis ng buhay. Pero pinakita ng Diyos kung gaano Niya tayo kamahal. Mga makasalanan pa tayo nung namatay si Christ para sa atin! “ Rom 5:6-8 PV

The Bereans listened to Paul's reasoning, his explanations, and his proofs from the Old Testament. They heard him proclaim that it was necessary for God's promised King, Jesus Christ, "to suffer and to rise from the dead" (Acts 17:3). The apostle Paul helped his listeners to understand how Scripture's storyline centered on and culminated in Jesus. He provided a map of Scripture that led them to Christ. And, by God's grace, many of the Bereans believed.

But notice: the Bereans didn't just take Paul's word for it. We're told by Luke, the author of the book of Acts, "Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so" (Acts 17:11). The Bereans received the word eagerly, and they examined the Scriptures daily to confirm what they'd been taught.
The early Christians didn't understand the work of biblical theology as something only for apostles. They didn't think that biblical theology was reserved for professional academics at prestigious seminaries. Instead, they understood that it was their responsibility to search the Scriptures and develop a faithful framework for understanding how the Bible's story centers and culminates on Jesus. They understood that biblical theology is for the church.

If you are in Christ, then biblical theology is for you.

The Story of How a Man’s Name Became the Name of Hell

Many, many centuries ago, there lived a man named Hinnom. About all we know about him is that he lived near Jerusalem and fathered some sons. The man Hinnom either lived near, or perhaps owned, some land that contained a valley or gorge. That depression came to be associated with his name. It was called the Valley of Hinnom or the Valley of Hinnom’s son(s).

In Hebrew, that name is G*y Ben Hinnom (גֵּיא בֶן־הִנֹּם), that is, the valley of son of Hinnom.

This valley or gorge curves along the west and south sides of Jerusalem. During the years of the kings of Judah, the place took on a horrific reputation. It was the place where the god Molech was worshiped—the idol to whom kings such as Ahaz and Manasseh offered their children as sacrifices (2 Chron. 28:3; 33:6). A cultic place named Topheth was there in this gorge, where worshipers burned their children (2 Kings 23:10).

As you might expect, a place of such horror, sacrilege, and bloodshed would be castigated by the Lord’s prophets. And it was. Jeremiah in particular says that this place would become “the valley of slaughter” for in that ditch the Babylonians would dump the corpses of Israelites after they had executed the Lord’s punishment on his rebellious people (Jer. 19:6).

Because this worldly location was so soaked in blood, so associated with fire and evil, over time it came to represent something otherworldly. In Jewish literature such as 1 Enoch, which predates the New Testament, the Valley of the Son(s) of Hinnom became emblematic of the place of divine punishment, that is, hell.

The Hebrew name, G*y Ben Hinnom—shortened to G*y Hinnom (Valley of Hinnom)—came to be written in Greek as Geenna (γέεννα). This Greek name, Geenna, we are more familiar with as Gehenna (the spelling is partially due to Aramaic influence). This name, which occurs 12 times in the New Testament, is translated as “hell.”

Gehenna, therefore, or hell, derived its name, quite appropriately, from an actual place outside Jerusalem. This underscores how important biblical geography is. The places of this world represent larger realities. These places on the map are “larger than life,” as it were.

So, long ago, there lived a man named Hinnom. Little did his parents realize, when they named him, what a history their son’s name would acquire.

We must learn that God has a purpose for everything, and God does things for the Glory of His name and for the benefit of those who trust in Him.

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." -Romans 8:28

10 Nang si Jesus at ang kanyang mga alagad ay nasa bahay, dumating ang maraming maniningil ng buwis at mga makasalanan. Sila'y magkakasalong kumain. 11 Nang makita ito ng mga Pariseo, tinanong nila ang kanyang mga alagad, “Bakit nakikisalo ang inyong g**o sa mga maniningil ng buwis at sa mga makasalanan?” 12 Narinig sila ni Jesus at siya ang sumagot, “Hindi nangangailangan ng manggagamot ang walang sakit kundi ang maysakit. 13 Humayo kayo at unawain ang kahulugan nito: ‘Habag ang nais ko at hindi handog.’ Sapagkat naparito ako upang tawagin ang mga makasalanan, hindi ang mga matuwid.”
Mateo 9:10-13🍃

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. Matthew 7:25💐

Instead, desire first and foremost God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33🌻

Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
Matthew 3:15🌸

“wise men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.'”
Matthew 2:1–2🍁

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Matthew 1:23🌺

“For the cloud of the LORD was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.”
Exodus 40:38🍀

“Then they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it an inscription like the engraving of a signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD.”
Exodus 39:30🌼

“He made the laver of bronze and its base of bronze, from the bronze mirrors of the serving women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.”
Exodus 38:8🌹

“Then all the craftsmen who were doing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work he was doing, and they spoke to Moses, saying, ‘The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the LORD commanded us to do.'”
Exodus 36:4–5🌴

“the hangings of the court, its pillars, their sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court; the pegs of the tabernacle, the pegs of the court, and their cords;”
Exodus 35:17–18🍂

“And God said, “My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.” And Moses said to God, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”
Exodus 33:14-16🌻

“Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, ‘Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.'”
Exodus 32:1🌺

Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God.
Exodus 29:45🍁

“You shall make an altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide—the altar shall be square—and its height shall be three cubits. You shall make its horns on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it. And you shall overlay it with bronze.”
Exodus 27:1–2🌸

“And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain. You shall make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen. It shall be woven with an artistic design of cherubim.”
Exodus 26:30–31🍀

“You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold;”
Exodus 25:17🌼

And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.
Exodus 24:7🌹

“If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep.”
Exodus 22:1💐

"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.
Exodus 20:12🌱

“And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, ‘Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.”
Exodus 19:3–4🍁

“And Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. Then Jethro rejoiced for all the good which the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. And Jethro said, ‘Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them.'”
Exodus 18:8–11🌼

“And the LORD said to Moses, ‘Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.'”
Exodus 17:5–6🌺

“So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, and said, ‘If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.’ Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters.”
Exodus 15:25–27🍀

“Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, ‘Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.”
Exodus 13:17–18🍂

“Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds—a great deal of livestock.”
Exodus 12:37–38🌴

“Then Moses said, ‘Thus says the LORD: “About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt; and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the maidservant who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the animals.”
Exodus 11:4–5💐

“And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants. So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the LORD had spoken by Moses.”August 12th, 2019 by Pastor Ed in devotional
Exodus 9:34–35🌾

“And Moses said to Pharaoh, ‘Accept the honor of saying when I shall intercede for you, for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, that they may remain in the river only.’ So he said, ‘Tomorrow.’ And he said, ‘Let it be according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God.'”
Exodus 8:9–10🌸

“Go to Pharaoh in the morning, when he goes out to the water, and you shall stand by the river’s bank to meet him; and the rod which was turned to a serpent you shall take in your hand. And you shall say to him, ‘The LORD God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness”; but indeed, until now you would not hear! Thus says the LORD: “By this you shall know that I am the LORD. Behold, I will strike the waters which are in the river with the rod that is in my hand, and they shall be turned to blood.”
Exodus 7:15–17🌼

“Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bo***ge, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the LORD.'”
Exodus 6:6–8🌿

“Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel: “Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.” And Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go.'”
Exodus 5:1–2🍂

“Then Moses said to the LORD, ‘O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.’ So the LORD said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD?'”
Exodus 4:10–11🌺

“But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them. Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.”
Exodus 1:7–8🌹

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Genesis 50:20🍁