Q:"Pastor, gusto ko lang po mag-clarify. Ang 'true faith' ba ang pundasyon ng aking kaligtasan? Maaari niyo rin po bang ipaliwanag kung ano talaga ang 'faith'? Tila nalilito po kasi ako sa tunay na ibig sabihin nito."
Tanong #1: Pastor Ronald, true faith po ba talaga ang basihan ng aking kaligtasan?
Sagot: Actually, we need to be very careful sa word na "basis." If we say faith is the basis (ang pinaka-pundasyon), baka isipin natin na ang faith ay isang "work" o merit na kailangan nating i-produce para i-save tayo ni God.
From a Reformed Arminian perspective, the meritorious basis of our salvation is Christ alone. Kanya lang ang credit. Ang faith ay hindi yung "payment" natin sa langit. Ang faith ay ang instrumental cause o yung "kamay" na tumatanggap ng libreng regalo ng Diyos.
Isipin mo 'to: Kung may nag-abot sa iyo ng 1 million pesos (gratis!), yung pag-abot ng kamay mo para kunin yung pera, yun ba ang dahilan kung bakit ka naging milyonaryo? Hindi! Ang dahilan ay yung generosity ng nagbigay. Faith is just you saying "Yes, Lord, I need You" to His grace.
Tanong #2: Ipaliwanag mo po sa akin ang salitang "Faith." Ano po ba ang tamang kahulugan nito? Parang may mali kasi sa pagkakaintindi ko.
Sagot: I feel you! Marami kasi sa atin, ang akala sa faith ay "positive thinking" o kaya "feeling na sigurado." Pero sa Bible, ang faith (Greek: Pistis) ay hindi lang basta emotion. To understand it better, experts often break it down into three parts:
Notitia (Knowledge): You have to know the facts. Hindi pwedeng "blind faith." You need to know who Jesus is and what He did.
Assensus (Agreement): Naniniwala ka na totoo yung facts na 'yun. You agree that Jesus is the Savior.
Fiducia (Trust/Reliance): Ito yung "missing piece" sa marami. Faith is personal trust.
Parang ganito 'yan: Alam mong matibay yung upuan (Knowledge). Naniniwala ka na kaya ka nitong buhatin (Agreement). Pero magkakaroon lang ng "faith" sa upuan kapag umupo ka na talaga at binitawan ang bigat mo rito (Trust).
Ang mali madalas is we think faith is about how much we believe. Pero the power of faith isn't in the "believer," it's in the Object of faith: si Jesus. Kahit maliit na pananampalataya, kung nakakapit sa dambuhalang Tagapagligtas, sapat 'yun.
You know, let's be real minsan nakaka-pressure 'yung "True Faith" discourse. Para tayong laging nagche-check ng "faith meter" natin. "Lord, true faith na ba 'to or baka fake news lang 'tong nararamdaman ko?"
But here’s the thing about the New Covenant: It’s not about how perfectly you hold onto God, but how perfectly He holds onto you. If you’re worried na "may mali" sa faith mo, that’s actually a good sign! It means you’re not trusting in your own "goodness" or your own "spirituality." You’re realizing na you need help.
Faith is just a beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. Don't focus on your faith; focus on the Bread of Life. Stop looking inward at your "feelings" and start looking outward at the Cross.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
Call to Action: Ngayong araw, instead of asking "Gaano ba kalakas ang faith ko?", try praying this: "Lord, salamat po na kahit mahina ang kapit ko, mahigpit ang hawak Mo sa akin. I trust You today." Try it. Just one minute of pure reliance. How does that change your peace of mind?
FORMER ADVENTISTS PHILIPPINES
“Freed by the Gospel. Firm in the Word.”
Former Adventists Philippines Association, Inc
SEC Registration No: 2025090219381-03
For more inquiries, contact us:
Email: formeradventist.ph@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/formeradventistph
No comments:
Post a Comment