"If Faith Is ALONE and Grace Is ALONE... Then Neither Is Actually Alone?" by Ptr. Zaldie Ybanez

 

GRACE ALONE and FAITH ALONE. If you have "Faith Alone" and "Grace Alone," then technically, neither is truly alone because there are two of them. Then why alone?

"FOR IT IS BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED, THROUGH FAITH AND THIS IS NOT FROM YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD, NOT BY WORKS, SO THAT NO ONE CAN BOAST" - Ephesians 2:8-9

You are pointing out a linguistic paradox: if something is truly "alone" (sola), it shouldn't need a partner. If you have "Faith Alone" and "Grace Alone," then technically, neither is truly alone because there are two of them.

However, in theology, these terms are used to describe different parts of the same process. They are "alone" in relation to Human Works, not in relation to each other.

Here is the reason why they are used together:

1. The Source vs. The Instrument

To clarify this, we have to look at how they function. They are not competing for the same spot; they have different roles:

Grace Alone (The Source): This is God’s part. It is the "supply." It means that the cause of salvation is 100% God's kindness, with 0% contribution from human merit.

Faith Alone (The Instrument): This is the "hand" that receives the gift. It means we don't receive Grace through rituals, sacrifices, or keeping the 10 Commandments; we receive it only by trusting God.

Analogy: Think of a person dying of thirst.

The Water is "Water Alone": it is the only thing that can save them (Grace).

The Drinking is "Drinking Alone": it is the only way the water gets into the body (Faith). You wouldn't say, "If it's Water Alone, why do I need to drink?" They work together, but both reject "Eating a Sandwich" (Works) as a solution for thirst.

Grace and Faith are "alone" in the sense that human effort is completely rejected from the equation of how a person is made right with God.

The Apostle Paul argues that it must be Faith so that it can remain Grace. If you had to work for your salvation, it wouldn't be Grace anymore. Faith is the only "instrument" that doesn't take credit away from Grace.

It is right to say both because they refer to different dimensions:

• Grace Alone rejects human merit.
• Faith Alone rejects human effort/works.

They are two sides of the same coin. You cannot have one without the other: Grace is the gift, and Faith is the open hand.

GOD BLESS US!🙏

Tara Bible Study Tayo! "Pre-Wrath Rapture: Makatotohanan ba?"

Bible student: 

Pastor Ron, makakagulo lang talaga ng isip ko yung mga post sa Facebook. Madami kasi akong nakikitang Christians na pre-wrath daw ang paniniwala nila tungkol sa rapture. Tapos parang ang yabang pa ng dating kasi kesyo "debunked" na daw yung ibang views. Totoo ba yung pre-wrath position, Pastor?

Pastor Ronald:

Ah, social media eschatology! Haha! Mark, you get rid of your frustration. Pero let me say this upfront: yung "yabang" na nararamdaman mo, baka hindi naman talaga yabang yun, bro. Baka passionate lang sila sa conviction nila. Pero tara, pag-usapan natin nang masinsinan yung pre-wrath view. Fair and square, ha?

Bible student: 

Sige po, Pastor! So ano ba talaga yung pre-wrath rapture view?

Pastor Ronald: 

Okay, so yung pre-wrath rapture theory popularized ni Marvin Rosenthal noong 1990s nagsasabi na ang rapture ay mangyayari within the 70th week ni Daniel, specifically pagkatapos ng "great tribulation" pero bago dumating yung "wrath of God" o Day of the Lord. Kumbaga, parang may tatlong phases: seal judgments, trumpet judgments, at bowl judgments. According to them, yung church ay dadaan sa seal judgments at sa great tribulation, pero kukunin bago dumating yung Day of the Lord's wrath.

Bible student: 

Ah! So parang mid-trib pero hindi exactly mid-trib?

Pastor Ronald: 

Exactly! Hindi siya mid-trib kasi hindi naman exactly sa gitna ng 7 years. Pwedeng somewhere between 5-6 years na sa tribulation period. Yung key distinction nila is yung pagkakaiba ng "tribulation" at "wrath."

Bible student: 

Ano pong biblical basis nila para dyan?

Pastor Ronald: 

Good question! Let me give you their main verses:

Una, 1 Thessalonians 5:9 "For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." Sabi nila, exempt tayo sa wrath, pero hindi sa tribulation.

Pangalawa, Matthew 24:29–31: after the tribulation, makikita yung signs sa kalangitan, tapos susunod yung gathering ng elect.

Pangatlo, Revelation 6:12-17 yung sixth seal, nasabi dun "the great day of their wrath has come." So ang argument nila, yung wrath ay nagsisimula doon, meaning yung rapture ay dapat mangyari bago yung sixth seal o pagkatapos.

Bible student: 

Hmm, makes sense naman po yung logic nila, ano? So ano po yung problema?

Pastor Ronald: 

Well, hindi siya necessarily "mali" in a sense na may biblical texts silang ginagamit. Pero may mga serious hermeneutical at theological issues ako dito as a postmillennialist at partial preterist.

Bible student: 

Ano po yun, Pastor?

Pastor Ronald: 

Let's break it down.

Una, yung whole framework nila ay based sa futurist premillennial interpretation. As a partial preterist, naniniwala ako na yung karamihan sa Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24) at sa Revelation ay natupad na during the destruction of Jerusalem noong AD 70. Yung "great tribulation" na sinasabi ni Jesus sa Matthew 24:21 is specifically about yung unprecedented suffering ng Jewish people during the Roman siege.

Bible student: 

Wait, so ibig sabihin po, nag-happen na yung great tribulation?

Pastor Ronald: 

Yes, bro! Read mo si Josephus, yung Jewish historian. Gruesome yung mga detalye cannibalism, starvation, massacre. Sinabi ni Jesus na yung generation na yun ay hindi maglilipas hangga't hindi nangyayari ang lahat (Matthew 24:34). Yung "this generation" ay yung generation na nakikinig sa kanya.

Bible student: 

Pero Pastor, paano yung rapture? Paano yung resurrection ng believers?

Pastor Ronald: 

Excellent! Dito papasok yung postmillennial framework ko. Yung "rapture" o yung gathering ng believers sa 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 ay hindi isang secret escape mula sa tribulation. Yung context niya is yung parousia, yung final coming ni Christ sa end ng history para humatol at i-perfect yung kingdom.

As a postmillennialist, naniniwala ako na yung kingdom ni Cristo ay unti-unting lumalaki at nag-spread ngayon sa buong mundo through the gospel. Yung "millennium" ay figurative period na we're living in now. At sa end ng age, babalik si Cristo once, visibly, gloriously para sa final judgment at resurrection.

Bible student: 

So ibig sabihin po, walang pre-wrath rapture kasi ang rapture mismo ay sa very end na?

Pastor Ronald: 

Tumpak! At dito ang issue ko sa pre-wrath (at sa lahat ng pre-trib, mid-trib variations): they create a complex timeline na hindi naman explicitly taught sa Scripture. Ang dating ng New Testament is simple: Christ will return, the dead will rise, we who are alive will be caught up, judgment will happen, and the new creation will come.

Bible student: 

Pero Pastor, yung 1 Thessalonians 5:9 about sa wrath paano po yun?

Pastor Ronald: 

Good catch! Tingnan mo yung context. Basahin mo yung 1 Thessalonians 1:10 "and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath."

Yung "wrath" dito is yung final eschatological judgment yung eternal condemnation. Hindi ito physical tribulation sa Earth. Yung believers ay hindi appointed sa eternal wrath dahil si Cristo na ang tumanggap ng wrath ng Diyos para sa atin sa cross!

Kaya hindi ito tungkol sa timing ng rapture kundi sa status natin: we are justified, saved from God's condemning wrath.

Bible student: 

Ah! So parang nag-confuse sila ng categories ng wrath?

Pastor Ronald: 

Exactly! May distinction between:

• Historical suffering and persecution (which Christ promised believers will face, John 16:33)
• God's redemptive discipline (which purifies the church)
• God's eternal wrath (which is only for the unrepentant)

Ang pre-wrath view ay nag-assume na yung physical tribulations sa Earth ay automatically wrath ng Diyos na dapat iwasan ng church. Pero yan ay contrary sa whole testimony ng Scripture martyrs, apostles, early church all faced intense tribulation!

Bible student: 

So, paano naman po yung Revelation 6 na yung wrath ay nag-start sa sixth seal?

Pastor Ronald: 

Again, partial preterist lens, bro. The book of Revelation primarily addressing yung seven churches in Asia Minor in the first century. Yung visions ay about yung judgment sa Jerusalem, Rome, at yung vindication ng church na persecuted.

Yung "Day of the Lord" language ay prophetic language na ginamit na rin sa Old Testament for historical judgments like sa Babylon, Egypt, etc. Yung wrath sa Revelation 6 is yung judgment sa Israel at sa pagan Rome for persecuting the church and rejecting the Messiah.

Bible student: 

Grabe, Pastor! So parang yung whole pre-wrath framework ay based sa wrong interpretation ng timeline ng Revelation?

Pastor Ronald: 

Well, I'd say it's based on a different hermeneutic futurism. And to be fair, maraming sincere, godly scholars ang futurist. Pero sa perspective ko, it creates unnecessary complications.

Bible student: 

So ano po yung practical takeaway dito, Pastor? Especially kasi nakakagulo pa rin sa akin yung mga posts na yabang.

Pastor Ronald: 

Ayan! Important yan, Mark. Here's what I want you to remember:

First, humility. Yung eschatology is a secondary issue. Hindi ito gospel issue. Puwedeng magkaiba tayo ng view sa rapture, tribulation, millennium, pero kung same tayo ng faith kay Cristo, magkapatid pa rin tayo.

Second, focus on what's clear. Clear sa Scripture: Christ will return, there will be resurrection, there will be judgment, there will be new heavens and new earth. Yan ang importanteng truths.

Third, live faithfully now. Yung postmillennial hope ko is optimistic naniniwala ako na yung gospel ay mag-transform ng nations through faithful witness ng church. Yan ang dapat mag-motivate sa atin not escape mentality, but kingdom advancement mentality.

Bible student: 

So paano ko po sasagutin yung mga kaibigan ko na pre-wrath?

Pastor Ronald: 

With grace, bro! Tanungin mo sila, engage respectfully. Sabihin mo, "I appreciate your study, but have you considered other interpretative frameworks like partial preterism?" Share your convictions without being defensive. At tandaan mo, yung goal ay hindi manalo ng debate, kundi mag-grow in understanding at unity sa body ni Cristo.

Bible student: 

Salamat, Pastor! Ang laking tulong nito. So bottom line: yung pre-wrath view has biblical texts but may interpretative issues, especially kung partial preterist at postmillennialist ka?

Pastor Ronald: 

Tumpak! And ultimately, yung eschatology natin should drive us toward faithfulness, hope, and love. Kung yung eschatology mo ay nag-cause ng pride, division, o fear pause ka. Baka may mali sa approach.

Bible student: 

Amen, Pastor! Maraming salamat!

Pastor Ronald: 

Walang anuman, bro! Keep studying, keep seeking truth, at lagi mo tandaan "Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face" (1 Corinthians 13:12). May mga bagay tayong hindi pa fully naiintindihan, and that's okay. Humility and love should mark our discussions.

Mark: Yes po! Tara Bible study ulit next week!

Pastor Ronald: Game! Soli Deo Gloria!

---

End of Bible Study

Para sa karagdagang questions o discussions, feel free to reach out or join us sa next session!

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Tara Bible Study Tayo! Matthew 9:14-17: "Bagong Alak sa Bagong Sisidlan"

Bible Student: 

Pastor Ronald, medyo nakakalito po itong Matthew 9:14-17. Bakit po biglang sumingit itong usapan tungkol sa tinagpiang tela at sisidlang balat pagkatapos tanungin si Jesus tungkol sa pag-aayuno (fasting)? Ano po ba ang context nito?

Pastor Ronald: 

Magandang tanong 'yan! Alam mo, kailangan muna nating tingnan kung sino ang nagtatanong. Ang mga alagad ni Juan Bautista ang lumapit kay Jesus. Sabi nila, "Bakit kami at ang mga Pariseo ay madalas mag-fasting, pero ang mga alagad Mo hindi?"

Dito pumasok si Jesus gamit ang dalawang illustration: ang bagong tela at ang bagong alak. Ang "mind of the author" dito ay malinaw na sinasabi ni Jesus na ang pagdating Niya ay naghuhudyat ng isang bagong panahon.

1. Ang Historical Background: Anong uri ng tela at sisidlan ito?

Bible Student: 

Opo, nabanggit nga po 'yung tela. Ano po ba 'yung "unshrunk cloth" na sinasabi Niya?

Pastor Ronald: 

Noong panahon ni Jesus, ang mga damit ay gawa sa wool (lana). Kapag ang isang bagong tela ay hindi pa dumaan sa proseso ng pagpapa-shrink at itinagpi mo ito sa lumang damit na ilang beses na nalabhan, magkakaproblema ka. Kapag nabasa ang damit, hihitit 'yung bagong tela (it will shrink) at lalong mapupunit 'yung lumang tela.

Bible Student: 

Ah, gets ko po! Eh 'yung sa alak naman po? Bakit balat ng hayop ang gamit?

Pastor Ronald: 

Ang tawag diyan ay wineskins (mga bottles na gawa sa balat ng kambing).

Old Wineskins: Ang lumang balat ay tuyo na, matigas, at hindi na nababanat.

New Wineskins: Ang bagong balat ay malambot at flexible.

Kapag ang "bagong alak" (juice na nagfe-ferment pa) ay inilagay mo sa lumang balat, ang carbon dioxide na na-release ng fermentation ay magpapa-expand sa balat. Dahil matigas na ang lumang balat, puputok ito! Sayang ang alak, sira pa ang sisidlan.

2. Ang Kahulugan: Old Covenant vs. New Covenant

Bible Student: 

So, Pastor, ano po ang gustong iparating ni Jesus sa atin ngayon?

Pastor Ronald: 

Ito ang "meat" ng study natin: Hindi puwedeng ipag-mix ang sistema ng Old Covenant (ang Kautusan) at ang New Covenant (ang Biyaya).

Ang mga Pariseo at mga alagad ni Juan ay nakatali pa sa mga "rituals" at "regulations" ng lumang tipan (tulad ng mandatory fasting para maging banal). Pero si Jesus ay nagdala ng "bagong alak", ang kagalakan ng New Covenant, at ang kaligtasan sa pamamagitan ng pananampalataya.

Kung pipilitin nating ipasok ang kalayaan ng New Covenant sa loob ng mga "legalistic rules" ng Old Covenant, masisira lang pareho. Ang New Covenant ay hindi "update" lang sa Old Covenant; ito ay totally new system na nangangailangan ng bagong puso (new wineskin).

Bible Student: 

Grabe, ang linaw po! Ibig sabihin, hindi tayo puwedeng "half-grace, half-law"?

Pastor Ronald: 

Tumpak! Kapag New Covenant tayo, kay Cristo na tayo nakatingin, hindi na sa mga anino ng lumang ritwal. Ang pagsunod natin ngayon ay bunga ng pag-ibig, hindi ng takot sa parusa ng kautusan.

Real Talk Reflection

"Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved." Matthew 9:17

Minsan, ang daling bumalik sa pagiging "legalistic"yung pakiramdam na kailangan nating "mag-perform" para mahalin tayo ng Diyos. Pero tandaan mo: ang biyaya ni Jesus ay bagong alak. Huwag mong piliting pagkasyahin ang kalayaan mo kay Cristo sa loob ng iyong mga lumang listahan ng "do's and don'ts" para maligtas. Tanggapin mo ang pagbabagong ginagawa ng Banal na Espiritu sa iyong puso.

Call to Action: Ngayong araw, suriin ang iyong puso. May mga "old wineskins" ka pa ba ng legalismo o maling paniniwala na humahadlang sa kagalakan mo sa Panginoon? Isuko mo 'yan sa Kanya at hayaang punuin Niya ang iyong "bagong sisidlan" ng Kanyang biyaya.