Marbaniang, Domenic

"So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another." (Rom.12:5) The Church is not a denomination, for denominations are organizations, but the Church is one body, and the believers, being many, are individually members of one another, irrespective of location, language, nationality, or time period. Unity is organic, not organizational, obviously. Organizations exist for the sake of order and oversight; however, they can often be a hindrance to the individual. But, the Church has no name or human barriers. It is always one body. The deeper connection is undeniable and basic to the body no matter what the external identifiers may be; the Lord only knows His one body.

Sinful humanity, fallen short of the glory of God , finds remedy in justification freely by the grace of God in Christ (Rom.3:23). However, if one falls short of the grace of God , there remains no more room for repentance (Heb.12:15-17). We know that His grace is sufficient. This is all we need. So, we remain close to His Throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb.4:16). We are sensitive to the Spirit of Grace who lives in us and yearns within (Heb.10:29, Jas.4:5). We stand in grace by faith (Rom.5:2). And, His grace is sufficient for us (2Cor.12:9).

Faith relates to the will. It doesn't matter what one feels. Faith is the willingness to accept the truth when one is face to face with it. Unbelief, on the contrary, is willful rejection of truth despite all evidences. Unbelief is unwilling to sincerely consider the evidence. But, faith doesn't listen either to feeling or to desire; it listens to the word and responds to it in a willing embrace. Faith judges the fact of truth and doesn't doubt. When doubt arises, it shows the mirror of truth on its face and exposes the insincerity and hollowness of doubt. Therefore, faith overcomes.

SIMPLY STATED, theological education is education that one receives in the discipline of theology. Here, “theology” doesn’t merely refer to Systematic Theology or Dogmatic Theology; it is that avenue or field of study that has as its objective a clear understanding of the Christian faith. It may be defined as the discipline that aims at an appropriate understanding, interpretation, defense, and application of the Christian faith in the world. Thus, it is the Christian faith that lies at the heart of theological education. Graham Cheesman defines theological education as “the training of men and women to know and serve God”. 1 He distinguishes it from Christian education in that its specific objective is the training of individuals for Christian service and leadership. Christian Education is generally seen as for all and takes place generally in the church. Theological Education is not for all, usually results in special service and leadership and usually takes place in a college or i

Title : Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World Edition : First Copyright : Copyright © 1992 by Edythe Draper MARRIAGE A deaf husband and a blind wife are always a happy couple. -French Proverb A good husband makes a good wife. A good wife makes a good husband. A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers. -Robert Quillen (1887–1948) A man too good for the world is no good for his wife. - Jewish Proverb A successful marriage demands a divorce; a divorce from your own self-love. -Paul Frost (1938– ) A successful marriage is an edifice that must be rebuilt every day. -André Maurois (1885–1967) A successful marriage is not a gift; it is an achievement. -Ann Landers (1918– ) A wife is not a guitar; you can’t play on her and then hang her on the wall. -Russian Proverb An ideal wife is any woman who has an ideal husband. As you would have a daughter, so choose a wife. -Italian Proverb Be to her virtues very kind; Be to her faults a little blind. -Matthew Prior (1664–17

"Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God." (Acts 20:26-27) ~To withhold crucial biblical information is a serious crime. To not wish to share Biblical knowledge with people unless they pay for it is like withholding free medicine from those who are in need. In a digital world, it is tempting for writers and preachers to try to make some money out of ebooks or mp3s, so that people can't download the stuff unless they are willing to pay or "donate". But, it's certain that such a lure of lucre is not from Christ. He said, "Freely you have received, freely give." Some preachers do not share because they are afraid they'll lose the surprise-element from their preaching and they can't speak the same sermon in another place. If one sows sparingly, one will reap sparingly. Jesus taught the same things again and again. Some are desperate for cre

For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. (Rom 7:2-3) The Mosaic Law was one-sidedly in favor of the man. The man could be polygamous, could divorce his wife, and also keep concubines. On the contrary, the woman could be married to only one man and was tied to him as long as he lived. She could not divorce her husband. However, Jesus changed that when He drew the attention of the Lawyers of His day to the Original Ruling in Genesis 2. In Matthew 5:31-32, He ruled: "Furthermore it has been said, `Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality c

"But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees." (John 10:12) Hirelings : Pastors who are more concerned about their own respect than the welfare of the sheep, who threaten to leave the flock if they don't listen. Teachers who have no compassion and kindness towards students, but act like terrorists and hi-fi intellectuals. Couples who are faithless and irresponsible and threaten to leave when storms arise. Parents who don't take personal responsibility for the godly upbringing of their children, but commit them to others. Children who neglect their duties towards their parents. Relatives who act in unneighborly manner. Friends who forsake and flee or jump in to only criticize in the time of adversity.

I asked how is it that the Son of God walked on the dust of this earth and breathed the air that we still breathe, and yet neither the dust nor the air is either sanctified nor does it sanctify us, and I remembered this verse from Haggai: "If one carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with the edge he touches bread or stew, wine or oil, or any food, will it become holy?"" Then the priests answered and said, "No." (Haggai 2:12). Sadly, many are deceived by the shrine and fetish theology of paganism that treats places and objects as holier than others and possessing sanctifying and salvific powers. The dust of Jerusalem or the water of Jordan is not holier than the dust of India just because the Savior walked on that ground. There is only one holy place in the world today, and that is the body of a believer, which is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. God calls us to possess our vessels in holiness (1Thess.4:4), not externalize holiness to places a

When God shuts the door, He wants you, for the moment, to stay in alone with Him. When God opens the door, He wants you, at that moment, to go out along with Him.

The Bible does use words like "chance" and "accident". This doesn't challenge the sovereignty of God. Time and chance happen to all men (Eccl.9:11). The priest and Levite happened to come down the road to Jericho by chance (Lk.10:31,32). But, they didn't help the suffering man. The Law had provision for those who accidentally (unintentionally) commit a crime (Num.35:11). Such accidents are not necessarily preordained by God. God's sovereignty is not a doctrine that has no room for chance and accidents. Man is called to be careful and wise.

MATTHEW 4: 1-11 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." But He answered and said, "It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."  Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,  and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: "He shall give His angels charge over you," and, "In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone." Jesus said to him, "It is written again, "You shall not tempt the LORD your God."  Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.