4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions —— it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-7)

Not everyone is happy or joyful about being a Christian. There are some who feel that it is such a heavy burden as they try their best to follow Christ. They even envy their unchristian friends because they seem to have more fun in their lives. Maybe that's the reason why they don't even share their faith. Why share something that is so burdensome to you? If you cannot experience authentic joy in your Christian life, maybe it's because you do not really understand nor embrace the true foundation of your spiritual transformation in Christ.

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The true foundation of your spiritual transformation in Christ includes two elements:

1. A new position of grace where you now stand before God (vv.4-5).

2. A new privilege of grace where you are now empowered live (vv.6-7).

Your elevation with Christ is the true foundation of your spiritual transformation in Christ.

Ang pagtaas sa iyo kasama ni Cristo ang tunay na pundasyon ng iyong espirituwal na pagbabago.

Most of us understand salvation as referring to forgiveness only and then going to heaven after we die. As a result, we do not see salvation as an ongoing experience of discipleship with very practical implications in the here and now. Once we pray the "sinner's prayer", we assume that it is a done deal. We are now "saved". All we have to do is just fulfill our religious obligations (i.e., go to church, read our Bibles, pray, etc.) while waiting for our exit from this life through death. But we need to understand why we need more than forgiveness to experience true salvation while we are still alive.

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We need more than forgiveness because of three reasons:

1. We continue to live after we are forgiven

2. We have been formed by the world.

3. We have deeper problems than externalities.

Salvation is not just about forgiveness but also spiritual transformation.

Every day we see evil all around us. Just when we thought that the pandemic is almost over, we hear about a new and much deadlier variant appearing in some countries and threatening the rest of the world, including us. We also continue to experience corruption and injustice. A lot of people are dying, sometimes for no reason. When will this end? The good news is that evil will eventually stop. It will be finally removed. How?  

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That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. (Ephesians 1:19b-23)

Recently, people have become fascinated with movies about Superheroes. They are attracted to these fictional characters because they are like us, human beings, and yet they have superpowers. They can help the weak or those who are in need. They are also able to defeat evil monsters and other villains. In other words, we can look up to them and they are on our side. Unfortunately, they are just fictional characters. They are not real. But there is One who is greater than all these Superheroes. His name is Jesus, and He is real, true, and alive. Only in Him can we find all our needs met.

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Why is Jesus greater than all?

1. He is above all supernatural powers.

2. He is the head of everything for the church.

In Christ, we have everything we need to fulfill His purpose.

When a person becomes a Christian, he feels that it is now time to be a good person. So, with all good intentions, he now proceeds to live the Christian life as best as he could. After a while, he realizes that having good intentions is not enough. He must try harder, especially when he faces trials and temptations of various kinds. After several attempts and several repeated failures, he realizes that he cannot be a faithful Christian after all. At this point, he will either quit or just settle for lukewarm Christianity. Unless the Lord, through the Holy Spirit, reveals his awesome spiritual advantage as a Christian, he will forever be defeated by sin, Satan, and the world.

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15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. (Ephesians 1:15-16)

We all want our families and friends to get saved. Sometimes we resort to unbiblical means like manipulation or force. When they do not respond positively, we become upset. So, we try even harder. The more we force it, however, the more they resist. We fail to understand how persistent prayer plays a vital role in helping them come to faith in Christ. But it's not just about prayer. We must know what to pray for.

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The salvation of anyone requires persistent prayer for grace, genuine conversion, and continuous growth.

Here is an interview I did with Dr. Francis Espinola who is based in Texas, USA (that's why it is in English). I hope you can learn something about spiritual leadership from this conversation.

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession —— to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:11-14)

What is God doing in human history? When we look at all the evils and suffering in the world, it's easy to think that God has left us to fend for ourselves. We may conclude that all we can really do is just make the best out of this dark and evil world. But this is not true. God is doing something very important. He is creating a people for Himself throughout human history. In the end, His wisdom will be proven true and right, to the praise of His glory!

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God is at work in the world throughout history, redeeming a people for Himself.

This is the Interview with the Online Events Team conducted by Pastora Gina Baylon which was featured during one of our worship services.

With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment —— to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. (Ephesians 1:8b-10)

Our common default is to think of our problems or concerns and then blow them up out of proportion so that it becomes the only reality that we can think of. Consequently, we become discouraged, depressed, and afraid of what the future holds. So, as a response, we try to control our lives to avoid this negative future from ever happening. The result is that we continue to become discouraged, depressed, and afraid of what the future holds. This is human foolishness. In contrast, the Gospel gives us wisdom and understanding about the future. And it results in joy and peace.

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