Total Depravity and Free Will

BY Eusebio Tanicala

This article presents some questions that one could reflect on when studying the doctrine of total depravity of mankind as compared to the idea of free will of individuals.

1. Did God predestine Lucifer to become Satan and that Satan did not choose nor will to become Satan?

2. Did God predestine some of the angelic hosts into damnation without these angels’ exercising free will?

3. Did God predestined Adam and Eve to disobey without them exercising free will in their decision to eat of the forbidden fruit?

4. Did God predestine a part of humanity to go into the damnation of hell without these individual’s exercise of free will?

5. In the case of Judas becoming a traitor against the Lord Jesus Christ, was it God’s predestination or was it willed by Judas himself and encouraged by Satan?

6. When a couple (husband and wife) genuinely become born-again, do all their children automatically become “totally depraved” at the point in time of conception or point in time of birth?

7. Is there a so-called period of innocence for the human soul from the point in time of conception up to early infancy?

8. At what point in time does a soul become totally depraved?

9. At what point in time does a human being become totally depraved?

10. If Adam and Eve became totally depraved and “dead” at the point in time of disobedience in eating the forbidden fruit in the garden, does it mean that an offspring of the “dead” are also “dead”?

11. Today, there are genuinely born-again “alive” couples, does it follow also that their offspring should automatically become “alive” since the parents are alive? I trust that these questions when reflected upon would help some in our understanding the will of God.

“You have your beliefs, keep yours; others have their beliefs, they keep theirs”

By Eusebio Tanicala, Ph.D.

One visitor to our website commented that millions are hell-bound so believers in Christ should band together to save those traveling the highway of death; that I have my own beliefs in the Bible which I should keep to myself and others have their own beliefs which they should keep to themselves; that I should not spend time and effort writing about other’s beliefs.

The history of the Bible does not agree with this thinking. I wished it were true, but the Bible teaches me otherwise. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself in Matthew 15 indicted the Pharisees and scribes who were teachers of the Jews. Their interpretations and commentaries on the Law of Moses produced traditions which eventually discarded God’s commandments. In Matthew 23, Jesus commented that the Pharisees made a proselyte twice a son of Hell. When the Christ, the rock, who followed the Hebrews in the wilderness supplying them water appeared in flesh as prophesied in Isaiah 53, the Jews didn’t recognize Him because the teachers’ interpretations distorted the facts. The Jews crucified the Messiah, the Lord of glory. This wrong interpretation of Jewish teachers led the Jewish leaders to nail at the cross the Son of God.

Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” (1 Tim. 4:15-16) The above passages simply warn us that we need to remind each other about the highway we are travelling on. There is a way that seems right but the end is a cosmic hole.

I could not remain silent when other people teach things like the following:

-Jesus Christ is man only and is not deity;
-Christ was not nailed at the cross, but died in Pakistan or Afghanistan;
-Christ wasn’t born of a virgin and didn’t resurrect from the grave;
-Jesus Christ is not the Son of God; He is a son just like any believer;
-There’s no literal hell; hell is on earth, our present life;
-True religion leads souls to hell;
-The pope of Rome is the Vicar of Christ on earth and he is always right;
-God predestined the majority of humanity to suffer in hell;
-Man does nothing for his salvation;
-Polygamy is a Christian virtue;
-Joseph Smith or Felix Manalo or Muhammad or Magliba is the last prophet;
-A preacher in Davao claims that God called him and he is now the Adopted Son of God;
-This preacher in Davao says that only him possesses the true teaching of God;
-There’s no Lord’s Supper of bread and wine.-
etc, etc, etc.

The Jewish teachers missed the mark which resulted to God cutting off the natural branch of the olive tree. Beware, we might be branches of the vine that produce no fruits.

Part 1: Einstein’s Big Blunder

Note: We are reprinting a part of an email sent to us about evolution.

100 years ago, Albert Einstein published three papers that rocked the world. These papers proved the existence of the atom, introduced the theory of relativity, and described quantum mechanics.

Pretty good debut for a 26 year old scientist, huh?

His equations for relativity indicated that the universe was expanding. This bothered him, because if it was expanding, it must have had a beginning and a beginner. Since neither of these appealed to him, Einstein introduced a ‘fudge factor’ that ensured a ’steady state’ universe, one that had no beginning or end.

But in 1929, Edwin Hubble showed that the furthest galaxies were fleeing away from each other, just as the
Big Bang model predicted. So in 1931, Einstein embraced what would later be known as the Big Bang theory, saying, “This is the most beautiful and satisfactory explanation of creation to which I have ever listened.” He referred to the ‘fudge factor’ to achieve a steady-state universe as the biggest blunder of his career.

As I’ll explain during the next couple of days,Einstein’s theories have been thoroughly proved and verified by experiments and measurements. But there’s an even more important implication of Einstein’s discovery. Not only does the universe have a beginning, but time itself, our own dimension of cause and effect, began with the Big Bang.

That’s right — time itself does not exist before then. The very line of time begins with that creation event. Matter, energy, time and space were created in an instant by an intelligence outside of space and time.

About this intelligence, Albert Einstein wrote in his book “The World As I See It” that the harmony of natural law “Reveals an intelligence of such superiority that, compared with it, all the systematic thinking and acting of human beings is an utterly insignificant reflection.”

He went on to write, “Everyone who is seriously involved in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that a spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe–a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.”

Pretty significant statement, wouldn’t you say?

Respectfully Submitted,

Perry Marshall

Jesus Christ is the Son of God : Christianity vs. Islam Debate

By Eusebio Tanicala, Ph.D.

Mr. Hutto (Christian) and Mr. El Dareer (Muslim) met and debated the proposition: Jesus Christ is the Son of God. A copy of this discussion was sent to me via internet by brother Mike Hildreth of Texas. Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God is the creed of Christendom. So every Christian should be able to affirm this proposition. Bible believers might encounter this same issue so I give some hints based on my reading of the Qur’an and some books by Islam apologists.

Foremost basis of premises are Qur’anic passages that declare Islam’s recognition of the Gospel as a message originating from God. Lay down this fact based on the following Qur’anic passages: Surah 3:3, Surah 16:43; Surah 29:27; Surah 12:111; Surah 29:46, 47; Surah 6:115 and Surah 16:102.

Says Surah 3:3, “It is He Who has sent down the Book (the Qur’an) to you (Muhammad) with truth confirming what came before it. And He sent down the Torah and the Gospel…” (Translation by Al-Hilai and Kahan). Also we find this in Surah 29:27, “And We bestowed on Him (Abraham) Isaac and Jacob, and ordained among his offspring Prophethood and the Book (i.e. the Torah (to Moses), the Gospel (to Jesus), the Qur’an (to Muhammad…”

Here are some questions I suggest you press upon Muslim teachers who deny that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

1. The Qur’an and Muslims consider the Gospel as a true message from God, and in the Gospel account of Matthew 3:17; 17:5; Mark 1:11; and Luke 3:21-22 God declared with a voice from heaven saying and referring to Jesus as the Son of God. Are you aware that you contradict what you teach?
2. The Qur’an and Muslims consider Jesus Christ as a prophet of God and you teach that the Gospel is a true message from God, in the Gospel account of Matthew 26:64 Jesus Himself acknowledged that He is the Christ, the Son of God. Are you aware that you contradict what you teach?
3. The Qur’an and Muslims consider the Angel Gabriel as God’s messenger and you teach that the Gospel is a true message from God, in the Gospel account of Luke 1:26, 32 & 35 the Angel Gabriel declared to Mary that the Jesus who will be born to her is called the “Son of the Highest” “Holy One” and is called “Son of God.” Are you aware that you contradict what you teach?
4. The Gospel teaches that the Angel Gabriel recognized Jesus Christ is the Son of God, but the Qur’an which came some 500 years later teaches that the Angel Gabriel gave Muhammad your book the Qur’an which declares that Jesus Christ is NOT the Son of God, are you aware that Islam makes the Angel Gabriel an inconsistent messenger?
5. The Qur’an and Muslims consider John the Baptist a true prophet of God, and in the Gospel account of John 1:34, John the Baptist declared that Jesus is the Son of God. Are you aware that you contradict what you teach?
6. The Qur’an and Muslims recognize the Gospel as a message from God which was originally written in Greek as believed by scholars, are you aware that the Gospel definition of “Begotten Son” according to Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the N.T., page 417, is “special, unique and no equal” and does not refer to producing a child through sexual relation?

What Do You Really Know about Evolution?

An article from Christian Courier. An interesting read.

Some years ago a few scientists declared that the theory of evolution was as well established as the rotundity of the earth. But evolution is still a theory, not a law. All of the basics of this theory stand in opposition to known science.

What do you really know about evolution? Not much, I assure you! Read More…

Is there Personal Responsibility?

By Eusebio Tanicala, Ph.D.

There are many passages that teach personal responsibility as regards decisions and actions of the individual. Let us open to two sections of the Book of Ezekiel. We quote from the NKJV.

Ezekiel 14 v.3 “these men have set up their idols in their hearts.” Who makes the choice of setting up idols?

v.13. “When a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness” and is punished says God. Who decides to do sin?

v.14, 16, 18,21. “…Noah, Daniel and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness?”

Did the three righteous men exercise their free will to live a righteous life? Yes. Could their righteousness be imputed upon their sons and daughters? NO. Is there free will here? Yes.

v.11, 23. God ‘s penalty is based on a cause or transgression. Who chooses to transgress? The individual.

Ezekiel 18:

v.4. “The soul who sins shall die.” Does this prove free will and individual responsibility? Yes.

vs. 5-9. Is there free will to do what is just? Is walking in God’s statutes and keeping God’s judgments the free will of a person? Yes. Or is a person forced by God? No, not forced.

vs. 10-13.Does the father pass on to the son his righteousness? No Is there free will on the part of the son? Is the choice of the son his own responsibility? Yes.

vs. 14, 17. “If, however, he begets a son who sees all the sins which his father has done, and considers but does NOT DO LIKEWISE… He shall not die for the iniquity of his father.” Is there free will here? Yes. Is the unrighteousness of the father automatically imputed on the son? No. (So the unrighteousness and the spiritual consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin should not be imputed on their off springs). But are the physical and biological consequences suffered by the off springs? Yes. Just as it is true today. For example, a father drinks and drives and runs over a person on the highway. The guilt and penalty of drunken driving and killing a person is on the father, but not imputed on the son. However the physical consequences like the lack of bread and other physical needs that should be supplied by the father would now be suffered by the son. This is true in the case of Adam and Eve. The spiritual consequence of their sin is not imputed on us. But the withdrawal of the protective shield of God’s grace against physical aging, physical pain, destructiveness of nature like typhoons and bacteria exact their toll on the off spring.

vs. 14-17. Is there free will here? Yes. Does the son reap the fruits of his own deeds? Yes. What is the basis of God’s favorable impression on this son? His avoidance of the prohibited acts and his proactive observance of God’s judgments and statutes.

v. 18. “As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, robbed his brother by violence, and did what is not good among his people, behold, he shall die for his iniquity.” Is there free will here? Yes.

Does God hold the father personally responsible for his own deeds? Yes. Is the iniquity of the father automatically passed on to the son? No.

v. 19. Does the son bear the guilt of his father? No. What is the basis of God’s favorable acceptance of the son? His acts that are lawful and right, keeping and observing God’s statutes.

v. 20. The son does not bear the guilt of his father; the father does not bear the guilt of his son. Each individual is answerable for his own decision and action. (This should apply in the case of Adam and Eve).

v. .21. Is repentance possible? Yes. Is free will exercised in repentance? Yes.

v. 22. Is there value of free will obedience? Yes, there is. Should a person boast about his obedience? No.

Does his obedience earn and demand reward? No. Reward is volunteered by God. Is it against the nature of God to give rewards to the obedient? No. That is sovereign exercise of grace.

Read vs. 23-32 and observe the exercise of free will in the choice of either direction: obey God or disobey God.

The proof given by the Bible is clear. Proof should not be based on the philosophizing and wild imaginations of some people religious leaders and essayists.

Total Depravity and Regeneration

By Eusebio Tanicala, Ph.D.

There are two views about the theory of Total Depravity- Regeneration. In the 4th century, St. Augustine came up with the theory that because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience all mankind completely lost God’s grace. All grace was withdrawn from humanity. There were only two people: Adam and Eve. The two comprised all of humanity. What was true of the two became true into all ages. True when humanity was 2, true when humanity numbered 20, true when numbered 200, true when numbered 2000, true when humanity became 2,000,000, true when it became 2,000,000,000 and will be true when all of humanity becomes or 2 trillion, and so on.

From this thinking, slowly the Roman Catholic Church evolved the explanation that even an infant is totally depraved so that, if all possible, a newly born babe should be given the sacrament of baptism. Following some idea of the OT circumcision, a child should not go beyond 8 days when he should be baptized with a godparent standing as the child’s proxy. It was even taught by some priests that a still born child should be baptized. Or a child of several hours or several days if it dies should be baptized by any believing person and the child’s soul would go to “Limbo” and eventually would graduate into Paradise. (Incidentally, the Roman Catholic Church this year has announced that the belief in Limbo is no longer a dogma). Roman Catholics are excited about bringing a child into the Christian community thro infant/child baptism. Baptism signals the revival/return of God’s grace into an individual. And when reason/belief springs from a child’s heart, he participates in the sacramental rite of Confirmation which formalizes a person’s entry into the visible church.

In short, God’s grace returns or is revived in a person via the sacrament of baptism. This is the Roman Church’s thinking and practice.

Among Calvinists, the theory of St. Augustine is accepted. Man is totally depraved of God’s grace. Man is dead. Man can’t will to do good. Man has no appreciation or sense for what is good. So man is saved by the grace of God. Sola gratia.

Those who are predestined to be saved are supplied by God with gifts: a preacher is providently led to that person, God supplies/injects into the mind and heart belief and faith, God supplies/injects repentance into the person’s heart, God supplies/injects confession into the person’s lips, God supplies injects willingness to obey and act on all God’s commands. No free will present in an individual. It’s all God’s compulsion. (Those who are predestined to go to Hell? This is degeneration and is outside the topic of regeneration. Basta ganyan ang kanilang pagkalalang. Walang tanungan. Ang mga banga ay hindi nagtatanong. Clay pots don’t ask questions).

Among Churches of Christ, our position is this: Man is depraved but there remains a small flicker of light, small germ of conscience, small germ of reason to start a search for the truth and the good. This idea is taught by Apostle Paul in Romans 1:19-32. The prophet Isaiah invited Israel to a session or reasoning and argumentation. (See 1:18) There’s a period of innocence from birth to a certain period of maturity when sin is overlooked among children. But from a certain period of maturity, man becomes responsible for his acts. Free will comes into play. Man becomes answerable for his decisions and acts.

The term “dead” is not absolute absence of sensation. The soul is in the person. That soul is not “dead” and completely insensitive. Read the usage of the term “dead” in Genesis when God said that Adam and Eve would “die” the very day they would eat the forbidden fruit Read also Luke 15 about the Prodigal Son who was “dead” but came to life. Read the “dead who bury their dead” in Matthew 8:22. Did these dead possess free will? Yes. So out of their free will they decided to do some things.

From these three views, you may choose what is most reasonable and nearest the scriptures.. We will expand the term “dead” in a forthcoming article.

Total Depravity and Degeneration

by Eusebio A. Tanicala, Ph.D.

One reader has asked, “What must a person do to be saved?” Our friend, Nollie Malabuyo, gave the curt answer: “Nothing.” Nollie explains that man is totally depraved. He is dead. A dead person, a corpse, is insensitive and unable to make decisions. So it is God who acts in all stages of salvation process from predestination, to calling, regeneration, to justification, to sanctification, to glorification. God supplies a person the gift of faith, the gift of believing, sends a gift of a preacher to tell him the gospel story, supplies the gift of repentance, supplies the gift of confession, supplies the gift of obedience, supplies the gift of the Holy Spirit to renew the person, supplies the gift of holy living, supplies gifts, gifts, gifts and gifts until a person gets glorified in heaven. Everything is a gift. No exercise of a person’s free will. A person could not exercise his conscience. No free choice.Cannot do anything on his own. But is this position correct? No.

We wished that Randy would ask the question, “What must a person do to be damned?” I imagine that our friend Nollie would give another curt answer: “Nothing.” That would be consistent with his position he takes in what a person must do to be saved and glorified.

But we ask: Who predetermined and who pushed Eve to pick and eat the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden? Was the decision of Eve to eat the fruit her own free will? When Adam also ate of the forbidden fruit, was it his free will? Why was God dissatisfied with the decision and act of Adam and Eve? Why were they penalized with suffering and death? I would like Calvinism advocates to answer the above questions.

Now, Adam and Eve’s disobedience brought death unto all human kind. This is understood by Calvinists as literal. The term “death” is a literal dead body. A dead person is a corpse. A zombie. No senses. No life. No vitality. No mind, No decision. From this premise of “death” Calvinism proceeds with its idea of regeneration as discussed in the first article. But we take another direction opposite regeneration. We take the direction of degeneration.

Let’s suppose that there’s predestination. The great majority of human kind is predestined to be damned. That is the theory of Calvinism. But wait, this “dead” majority are individuals. A single “dead” individual has a will, the ability to do bad things. Whose will is this? Where does it come from? If, as premised by Calvin, God predestined everybody, then it follows that the action of this “dead” individual is God’s doing. Because the dead cannot do anything of his own.

But let’s follow the line of reasoning: the “dead” person acts and continues to do evil. Here are some questions to challenge the Calvinist: (1) Is the dead person who continues to think and do evil dead? (2) Does the dead person who thinks and do evil possess a will or ability to make choices? (3) Is this dead person who thinks and do evil responsible for his decisions? (4) Who predestined this dead person to continue playing his role of disobedience?

This dead person continues on his moral degeneration and ends up a burning garbage in the gehenna of Hell. Who programmed him in this degeneration? Logically, following the premises of Calvinism, the programmer is God. Therefore, it is God who wills that a person degenerates into damnation in hell as much as God wills that another person regenerates into glorification in heaven.

But God is angry at the degenerate robot. Well, that’s the illogic of John Calvin! Do you agree with his logic? For my part, I don’t.

God predestined Lucifer to become the Devil

By Eusebio Tanicala, Ph.D.

Calvinistic, individual predestination advocates believe that the Sovereign God of the Bible solely determines the eternal destiny of all creation. Calvinism, to my knowledge, dwells on the history of human kind only and takes some biblical terms giving them literal meaning when these should be given relative interpretations. In literature, some terms are used in the superlative degree for emphasis and not to be taken in their exact scientific measurements. To test the validity of some claims of Calvinism, let’s bring them beyond and outside the realm of human history.

God is eternal, ever existing. Christ in His spirit nature is eternal. He existed as a spirit person before the creation of the cosmos spoken of in Genesis 1:1. Christ created the invisible creations in the heavens “whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers” says Colossians 1:16.

If Calvinistic predestination were granted its premise that the Sovereign LORD solely determines the eternal destiny of every creature, then it was God’s own predetermination that pushed Lucifer to rebel and become Satan. For what reason? So that there would be an artist to take the role of a villain in the cosmic stage. (Para mayroong dramatistang gaganap ng pagka-kuntrabida). Calvinism would make God as the script writer and at the same time the director of the cosmic drama: the struggle of good and evil. Calvinistic account of predestination, therefore, makes us conclude that God created Lucifer and God assigned Lucifer the role of a villain.

However, in the account of the Bible, God is angry at Satan. He curses Satan. Satan is depicted as possessing ambition to be above God, to sit above the stars. See the suggestions in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28. The Bible tells us that the angels who did not keep themselves within the boundary set by God were pronounced rebels and were immediately penalized. See Jude 6. The Devil and his cohorts were thrown out of heaven.

If God predetermined that Lucifer would become Satan, and if God is the script writer and director of the great cosmic drama, it is unthinkable and illogical to make Him angry at the artists whom He had assigned their respective roles. Have we in human history known of any writer who became angry and who cursed the very characters he created and assigned roles on stage or in cinema? No. None. But Calvinism does that.

If such behavior is illogical and unnatural in the human realm, such behavior must also be illogical and unacceptable in the spiritual realm where wisdom is much higher.

Centerpoint Church of Christ and PMA

Philippine Missionary Academy (PMA) is now the name of a school or training program that is under the supervision of the Centrepoint Church of Christ Baguio. It used to be called Missionary Training Program (MTP). And the sponsor church is the Legacy Church of Christ in Texas in cooperation with other willing congregations and individuals.

PMA’s administrative staff are: Alexander Coloma–Director; Emilio Panday–Assistant Director; Amanda Earles–Secretary; Marlon Walang–Treasurer.

Instructors and their subjects are: Alexander Coloma: Philosophy of Missions; Erwin Panday: Leadership in the Church; Romulo Banggawan: Music in the Church; Lailanie Candelario: English Grammar & Literature; Emilio Panday: Personal Evangelism 1 & 2, Christian Doctrine 1 & 2, and Hermeneutics.

Current students/interns are Jerilee Coloma, Linwil June Llado, Rogel Caolie, Gilbert Galono & Chassette Mancha who are all from Mindanao and Lilinette Orpiano of Kalinga.

Aside from classroom work, the students/interns are actively involved in Evangelism (Bible Studies), Park Ministry, Campus Life Ministry,Focus Group Ministry, Kids Ministry, Medical/Dental Missions, World Bible School, Let’s Start Talking (LST). (By Eusebio Tanicala from information given by Emilio Panday)

Centerpoint Church Baptism Update

Veronica Lumibao of Gabriela Silang district, Baguio City, was baptized on Sept. 12th by Linwill Llado, an intern/student at the Philippine Missionary Academy. This is the 40th baptism of the Cenrepoint Church of Christ Baguio since January this year. (Report by Emil Panday)

Damnation in hell a gift from God?

Our friend, Mr. Nollie Malabuyo, says that a person does nothing to be saved! Nollie does nothing! God does everything for him and for every saved person. Everything is a gift from God. A person does nothing. Life is a gift of God, the ability/willingness to believe is a gift of God. Ability/willingness to repent is a gift of God. Ability/willingness to confess is a gift of God. Obeying every requirement of God in living a godly life is a gift of God. So Nollie says. Obviously there is no free will in man.

What must a person do to be saved?

Randy, one of our readers asked: “What Must a Person Do to Be Saved?”

Firstly, we should start with the presumption that man was made in the
image of God. One of the attributes of Deity is His possession of a will, the
ability to make choices. God, we understand this from a complete reading of the Holy Scriptures, gave humankind the ability to exercise his will, ability to
make choices. Even the angels were created with a will, but some, including the Devil willed and chose not to stay within the boundary set by God. See
suggestions in Isaiah 14:11-15 and Ezekiel 28:13-15. See also Jude 6 and 2 Peter 2:4.So they were judged.

Did Adam and Eve exercise free will or not? Did God predestined them to be rebellious and then pronounced upon them disobedience? Is it reasonable to think that God made and predestined Adam and Eve as disobedient and then God became displeased when they were disobedient? If a scientist programs a robot to be disobedient and when he commands the robot would the scientist be angry if the robot follows what it is programmed to do, to be disobedient? No. Is God worse than a scientist? No.

We could not talk about faith and trust in God if there were no free will.
Abraham is honored for his faith because he wisely exercised his choices: to
trust in God when things were difficult and even impossible. (See our previous posting on Abraham). When God made a covenant with the nation of Israel, God made the people to exercise their choice. See Exodus 19:5-8. There are many passages that teach God’s expectation for man to
obey. Matt. 7:21-23; Luke 6:46 and many other verses teach free will as the basis of God showing pleasure on those who obey. The last chapter of Revelation (22:17) says, “And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Clearly, there is free will in man. There’s man’s participation in his salvation.

Secondly, let’s make it clear that man’s actions or responses to
the invitation and directives of God should NOT be an attitude of DOING
LABORIOUS WORK THEN DEMAND WAGES FROM GOD. Rather, the attitude should be humility, gratitude for free provisions as basis of salvation (sufferings, death, burial and and the easy steps to take to show
obedience). The attitude in response to God’s invitation is “faith unto
faith” which means start with faith in one’s heart and continuing with
faith up to the end of life. See Habakkub 2:4 and Romans 1:16-17.
Response with faith in one’s heart towards the directives of God are expected. These responses taken in small steps should not be viewed as a laborer’s efforts that demand legal remuneration. These efforts should not make God indebted to a laboring person. Rather, the attitude should be likened to an indigent person who goes to a hospital’s emergency room asking to be saved from certain death if not attended to. The doctors and nurses will ask the person to do several things: answer interview questions, lay down on the bed,allow an ampule of blood drawn from his vein for examination, allow technicians to take the ECG, do X-Ray, open his armpit for the thermometer, open his mouth for the medicines, swallow medicines, inhale the nebulizer smoke, take in several medicines, eat food supplied to him in his bed, so on and so forth. Suppose the indigent, sickly person refuses to obey? Will the hospital staff help him? Certainly not.

Generally speaking, here are the basic steps taken by the alien sinner so
that he could properly respond to the directives issued by God:
1. Hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17; Acts 16:32).
2. Believing what is taught about Christ the Savior (Mk16:16; Heb. 11:6).
3. Repentance (Acts 2:38; Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30).
4. Confession that Jesus is the Christ (Rom 10:9-10; Acts 8:37).
5. Be baptized (Acts 2:38; Mk 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21; Rom 6:1-13).
6. Faithful, Christian living (1 Pet.2:11,12; Titus 1:11-14; Rev. 2:10).

I trust that the above is sufficient to give the basic guidance in what
must a person do in humbly responding to God’s invitation. We shall
appreciate any comment to this view submitted herein. — Eusebio Tanicala

How does one know he is saved?

This is our answer to Randy’s question: “How does one who obeys God know he is saved?”

Without going into a discussion about God’s love, grace, mercy, Christ’s merits, and the cross which are given factors in salvation, the question at issue is at what point in time along the steps given by God does forgiveness of sin occur?

We should view our respective sinful life in three stages: (1) Being alien sinners, how are sins repented of forgiven initially? (2) As we journey our born again life we commit sins, how are these sins repented of forgiven? and (3) At the end of the ages, at the Judgment Day, how do we know that we are to enter the Heaven, the home of the saved?

First, an alien sinner graduates from Satan’s Kingdom into Christ’s Kingdom by taking the following steps: Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess, Be Baptized. (Please see previous posting). On the point of baptism, a person receives forgiveness or washing away of his sins by the power of Christ’s blood. Read Mk 16:16, Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21; Gal. 3:27; Romans 6:1-12. How do we know that one is forgiven? Well, that’s what the Holy Spirit inspired in the verses submitted. God could not lie.

Second, once a person is born again, as he journeys this earthly life striving for a godly life and encountering difficulties he could stumble and sin so he needs to repent and confess his sins and pray for forgiveness. Read Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:7-8. How does one know he is forgiven? Faith and genuine repentance must be present. Forgiveness is assured.If so, then it must be true because that’s what the Holy Spirit says in His inspired passages and God cannot lie.Read Titus 1:2; Romans 3:4.

Third, we situate ourselves at the Judgment Day. Read 1 Peter 1:9.It tells about the salvation of the soul. Over there at the Judgment Day we shall hear the final verdict, the salvation of our souls. Read the conditions given in Matt. 7:21-23 as the basis of welcome into the heavenly abode.

How sure are we? Well, it’s like asking other questions: “How do we know that God created the heavenly bodies and the earth?” It is true because the Book He inspired says so. “How do we know there’s heaven and Christ is preparing a place for the saved?” Well, the inspired Book says it is so, so it must be true or else God is a liar. But God is not a liar.

In short, it is by faith and confidence in the credibility of God who keeps His promises.

If you’ve further questions, we’ll be glad to entertain them.-E.T. #

In response to Nollie Malabuyo

In response to the question of another reader to the question: What must a person do to be saved? Mr. Nollie Malabuyo quickly commented:

“Nothing. All salvation, from predestination, to calling, to justification, to glorification are done by God (Rom. 8:29-30). Our text says that even repentance is a gift of God (Acts 11:18). And we know that faith is itself a gift of God (Eph. 2:8-9). (‘Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life’) This is because all mankind is dead (not sick) in sin and no one is able to respond to God’s call for faith and repentance (Rom.3:3-11), unless he is ‘born from above’ (John 3:3)”

Granting that the above claim of Mr. Nollie is absolutely true, then logically speaking, we should also ask: What could a man do to be damned in hell? Following Mr. Nollie’s line of reasoning, it would be like this:

“Nothing. All damnation, from predestination to judgement and condemnation are gifts of and done by God. Our text says that even the hardening of heart and non-repentance are gifts of God. ‘Then to the Gentiles also God has granted non-repentance that leads to death. This is because all mankind is dead in sin and no one is able to respond to God’s call for faith and repentance, because he is ‘unborn from above.’”

Following Mr. Nollie’s line of reasoning, HELL, therefore, also is a gift of God. God has predestined the damned to be damned. And yet God is angry that the damned refuse to repent. In effect Mr. Nollie is saying that God is angry at Himself because He made the unrepentant impossible to repent. No one should blame the hell-bound souls for their unrepentance because God made them and predestined them to be unrepentant.

Could you accept this kind of logic? I could not.  This line of reasoning is faulty and makes God contradictory, makes God illogical, makes God cruel and takes away man’s freewill. And yet the Holy Spirit in guiding Moses said in Deut 30:19, “choose life…” and Joshua (2415) said, “Choose you this day whom you will serve…”   –Eusebio Tanicala

Abraham’s Series of Faith Demonstrations

By Eusebio Tanicala, Ph.D.

Abram/Abraham demonstrated a series of actions in situations when things were humanly impossible.

Abram was born in Ur of the Chaldeans, a town in the southeastern part of Iraq or within the territory of Kuwait. See Genesis 11:27-32. Following are the events in Abraham’s life:

1. He was called out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to a land more than 1300 kilometers away which land he had not previously seen. See Acts 7:2-3; Hebrews 11:8. He was motivated by FAITH and acted on it. He and his family moved to Haran of Syria and eventually to Canaan.
2. He dwelt in Canaan as in a foreign country living in movable tents but was promised that his descendant would inherit the land much later. This he BELIEVED that God would do in His own time. See Heb. 11:9.
3. He was promised at the age of 86 and his wife was at the age of 76 that he would have an heir that would issue out from his very own body.This he BELIEVED God would fulfill. See Hebrews 11:11; Genesis 17:19; 18:11-14; 21:1-7.
4. He was promised descendants that will be as the number of stars in the heavens. This he BELIEVED that God would fulfilll. See Genesis 15:1-6.
5. When he asked for a sign that this promise of a great number of descendants will be given, God told Abram to offer these sacrifices: a three year old heifer, a three year old she goat, a three year old ram, a dove, and a pigeon. He was moved by FAITH and obeyed as instructed. See Genesis 15:8-11.
6. A covenant of blessings promised: Abram would be a father of many nations, of many descendants, of many nations, kings among them, inherit the land of Canaan, but sealed by circumcision; Abraham BELIEVED and he and Ishmael and all males in his household were all circumcised even if painful. See Genesis 17:1-27.
7. At age 99, God promised Abraham that a son would be born to him through Sarah. In Genesis 17:17 Abraham laughed at this promised, but when repeated in Genesis 18:9, he no longer laughed but believed.It was Sarah who laughed. See Genesis 18:9-15.
8. When Yahweh revealed to Abraham the coming destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and he haggled about sparing the cities if there were some righteous inhabitants God said He would not destroy the cities if there were some five righteous people. This Abraham BELIEVED and went home. See Genesis 18-19. The following day Abraham returned on top of the hills to view the destruction of the two cities.
9. When Isaac was born and he had reached 8 days, Abraham circumcised the little boy even if it was painful and bloody. This act showed his FAITH and obedience to a covenant with God. See Genesis 21:1-7.
10. When Isaac was about 13 years old, God told Abraham to get the boy and offer him as a burnt sacrifice on an altar at Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. We could imagine Abraham talking to himself: Isaac was promised as a seed to produce millions of descendant, but even if he offered this boy as a burnt sacrifice, he told himself that God would somehow raise him up from the ashes so that he could produce the promised descendants. See Hebrews 11:17-19. That attitude of obedience showed this faith.

These series of testings where Abraham displayed an attitude of trust and confidence in Yahweh made him “a friend of God forever.” See James 2:23. James’ conclusion is this: “Do you see that faith working together with his works and by works faith was made perfect?” (2:22).

It is clear that in the life of Abraham, it is not “faith only.” Not “works only.’ It was faith working together with activities in obedience to God’s commands or requirements.

Romans 4:3 refers to Genesis 15:6 and points to Series #4 which is the promise of many descendants as the stars in number issuing from Abraham’s body. Abraham had faith in God and that faith was accounted as righteousness. Yes, it was accounted, listed under the debit column. Any act of faith or belief is accounted, listed under the debit column. But was this faith in the millions of descendants the point when Abraham’s sins were initially forgiven? No! So Romans 4:3 should not be cited by Bible teachers as the point when alien sinners are initially forgiven.