The Preacher

30/08/2026

Dumating ako sa punto na hindi ko na alam kung saan ako kukuha ng pambayad.

Lumalaki ang utang ko.

May mga taong naniningil.

May mga tawag at mensaheng ayaw ko nang buksan dahil alam kong pera na naman ang pag-uusapan.

Sa bawat paggising ko, utang ang unang pumapasok sa isip ko.

Sa bawat gabi, utang din ang huling iniisip ko.

Umabot ako sa puntong sinabi ko:

“Lord, hindi ko na alam kung paano ko ito matatapos.”

Akala ko kailangan kong ayusin ang lahat gamit ang sarili kong lakas.

Kaya nagtrabaho ako nang sobra.

Nangutang ulit para pambayad sa ibang utang.

Gumawa ng mga desisyong hindi naging maganda.

At lalo lang akong nabaon.

Hanggang sa napagod na talaga ako.

Isang araw, lumuhod ako at sinabi ko:

“Lord Jesus, patawarin Mo ako. Nagkamali ako. Hindi ko na kayang dalhin lahat. Hindi ko hinihingi na bigla Mong mawala ang utang ko. Hinihingi ko lang na samahan Mo ako at bigyan Mo ako ng wisdom kung paano ko ito haharapin.”

Doon nagsimula ang pagbabago.

Hindi biglang nawala ang utang.

Pero nagbago ako.

Natuto akong gumawa ng budget.

Tumigil ako sa mga bagay na lalo lang nagpapabaon sa akin.

Hinarap ko ang mga pinagkakautangan ko.

Humingi ako ng tawad kung saan kailangan.

At natutunan kong maging responsable sa bawat perang pumapasok sa kamay ko.

Kasabay ng panalangin, kumilos ako.

Humingi ako kay Lord ng opportunity.

At unti-unti, may mga pagkakataong dumating.

Hindi lahat malaki.

May mga maliit na opportunity na dati ay hindi ko pinapansin.

Pero pinagpasalamat ko.

Pinag-ipunan ko.

Ginamit ko nang maayos.

At bawat buwan, kahit kaunti, may nababayaran ako.

May mga pagkakataong gusto ko nang sumuko dahil parang ang bagal ng progress.

Pero paulit-ulit kong pinapaalala sa sarili ko:

“Hindi pa tapos ang Diyos sa buhay ko.”

Lumipas ang mga buwan.

Unti-unting lumiit ang utang.

Hanggang sa dumating ang araw na hawak ko na ang huling resibo.

Bayad na.

Tahimik lang akong umiyak.

Hindi dahil bigla akong yumaman.

Kundi dahil naalala ko kung gaano ako kalubog noon.

At nasabi ko:

“Lord Jesus, hindi ko alam kung paano ko ito malalampasan kung wala Ka.”

Natutunan ko na ang pananampalataya ay hindi nangangahulugang uupo ka lang at hihintaying gumawa ng himala ang Diyos.

Manalangin ka. Magtiwala ka. Pero gawin mo rin ang bahagi mo.

Minsan ang sagot ni Lord ay hindi instant miracle.

Minsan ang sagot ay wisdom.

Discipline.

Opportunity.

Tamang tao.

Bagong trabaho.

Bagong paraan ng pagkita.

At lakas para magpatuloy kahit mabagal.

Kaya kung ikaw ngayon ay sobrang lubog sa utang,

huwag mong isipin na katapusan na ng buhay mo.

Lumapit ka kay Jesus.

Aminin mo ang mga pagkakamali mo.

Humingi ka ng wisdom.

Gumawa ka ng plano.

Huwag nang dagdagan ang maling desisyon.

At gawin mo ang kaya mong gawin araw-araw.

Hindi ko ipinapangako na magiging madali.

Pero gusto kong ipaalala sa’yo:

May pag-asa pa.

At habang ginagawa mo ang parte mo,

magtiwala kang hindi ka nag-iisa.

Dahil minsan, ang pinakamalaking himala ay hindi yung biglang nabayaran ang lahat.

Ang pinakamalaking himala ay yung taong dating desperado at walang direksyon, unti-unting binago ni Lord hanggang matutong bumangon, maging responsable, at muling magkaroon ng pag-asa.

“Lord Jesus, kahit malaki ang utang ko, hindi mas malaki ang problema ko kaysa sa Diyos na pinagtitiwalaan ko.”

30/08/2026

Question
What does the Bible say about purgatory?

Answer

Short answer: the Bible says nothing about purgatory. But, since many people believe in purgatory, regardless of the Bible’s total lack of information about it, we should discuss the doctrine.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, purgatory is “a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God’s grace, are not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions.” In other words, in Catholic theology purgatory is the place where a Christian’s soul goes after death to be cleansed of the sins that had not been fully paid for during life. Is the doctrine of purgatory in agreement with the Bible? Absolutely not!

An idea foundational to the doctrine of purgatory is that some of a believer’s sin has not yet been paid for. But Scripture teaches that Jesus died to pay the penalty for all our sins (Colossians 2:13). The Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53:5 took our place: “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Jesus suffered for our sins so that we could be delivered from suffering. To say that we must also suffer for our sins is to say that Jesus’ suffering was insufficient in some way. To say that we ourselves must atone for our sins is to deny the adequacy of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus (1 John 2:2). The idea that those who are saved by grace through faith have to pay for their sins after death is contrary to everything the Bible says about salvation.

The primary scriptural passage Catholics point to for evidence of purgatory is 1 Corinthians 3. Verses 10–15 picture the Christian life as a building project, with the caution that “each one should build with care” (1 Corinthians 3:10). Our work will be tested and “will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work” (verse 13). At the judgment seat of Christ, we must give an account of what we’ve done for Christ. First Corinthians 3:14–15 then says, “If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.”

According to 1 Corinthians 3, if our works are of good quality (“gold, silver, costly stones,” verse 12), they will pass through the “fire” unharmed, and we will be rewarded for them. If our works are of poor quality (“wood, hay or straw,” verse 12), they will be consumed by the “fire,” and there will be no reward. The fire is not literal in this passage, any more than the “gold” is literal gold or the “hay” is literal hay. The passage does not say that believers pass through the fire but that a believer’s works pass through the fire. That is, the works are put to the test. First Corinthians 3:15 refers to the believer “escaping through the flames,” not being cleansed by the flames. There is no purging of sin here, only a testing of works.

Purgatory, like many other Catholic dogmas, misrepresents the nature of Christ’s sacrifice. Catholics view the Mass/Holy Eucharist as a re-presentation of Christ’s sacrifice, ignoring the fact that Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice was absolutely and perfectly sufficient (Hebrews 7:27). Catholics view meritorious works as contributing to one’s salvation rather than recognize that Jesus’ payment has no need of an additional “contribution” from us (Ephesians 2:8–9). Similarly, purgatory is taught to be a place of cleansing in preparation for heaven, overlooking the truth that, because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we are already cleansed. We are also justified, forgiven, redeemed, reconciled, adopted, and sanctified.

The very idea of purgatory and the doctrines that are often attached to it (prayers for the dead, indulgences, meritorious works on behalf of the dead, etc.) imply that Jesus’ death was insufficient to pay the penalty for sin. The Bible says that Jesus, who is God incarnate (John 1:1, 14), paid an infinite price for our sin by providing the only acceptable sacrifice (1 John 2:2). To limit Jesus’ sacrifice to atoning for original sin or sins committed before salvation is an attack on His person and work. If we, in order to be saved, must pay for our own sin, then Jesus’ payment was not enough. If ridding ourselves of sin requires us to suffer interminably in purgatory, then Jesus’ suffering and death did not provide a powerful, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice.

Due to Christ’s death and resurrection, the believer’s position in heaven is as secure as can be. It’s as if we are already there: “It is by grace you have been saved! And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:5–6, BSB).

After death believers are “away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8; cf. Philippians 1:23). Notice that this verse does not say, “Away from the body and in purgatory suffering in cleansing fire.” Because of the powerful, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice of Jesus, we are taken immediately into the Lord’s presence when we die. Because we are in Christ, we are fully cleansed, free from sin, glorified, and perfected.

30/08/2026

29/08/2026

John 8:20-25
[20]These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
[21]Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
[22]Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
[23]And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
[24]I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
[25]Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.