This is the 4th sermon of the series, “Romans: The Gospel Blueprint.”

Paul expressed his sense of indebtedness to his responsibility to preach the gospel: “I am under obligation.” He also expressed his desire, “I am eager to preach.” Then he expressed his confidence, “I am not ashamed of the gospel.” The reason for not being ashamed is that the gospel is the power of God to salvation. The reason behind this is that the righteousness of God is by faith from then until now, as he supports this by quoting Habakkuk 2:4: “The righteous shall live by faith.”[1] The apostle writes a chain of reasons to explain. Each reason explains the previous statement. Grammatically, they are called subordinate clauses.[2] He proceeds by giving the reason for the previous statements, which includes the wrath of God against all ungodliness.

God’s Wrath vs. Ungodliness

Paul makes it clear that God’s wrath is against all ungodliness and unrighteousness. Ungodliness and unrighteousness are obviously sin and wickedness, but what is God’s wrath? The apostle portrays God’s wrath as God’s judgment; it is the consequence of sin.[3]

Romans 1:18, ESV: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

The apostle stated that unrighteousness suppresses the truth. Humanity suppressed the truth about God with the lie about the Creator.[4] Such will be made clear in Paul’s subsequent explanations. It seems that the rhetoric is against the Gentiles who worship idols, but the word “men” or anthropoõs suggest it is for all. Many suppress the truth about God, and they use many ways to do so. God’s wrath is against them.

God Reveals

Paul asserts that God has shown Himself to mankind. God has shown enough for men and women to worship Him.[5] But the fallen man finds ways to suppress this truth. They would worship lesser forms, and in today’s world, some deny His very existence.

Romans 1:19: For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.

The apostle is not saying that all the deep mysteries of God are revealed to humankind, but that God has put within them a sense of God’s existence.[6] However, men and women have suppressed the truth.

No Excuse

Paul explains that God’s eternal power and divine nature are revealed in creation. This should be clearly understood by mankind. Therefore, God is just to hold them accountable for failing to worship the Creator. Instead, they suppressed this truth.

Romans 1:20: For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Note the play of words of the apostle: the invisible is perceived. Or, through the visible creation, people should understand the invisible power and nature of God. People who do not worship Him are without excuse.

Application

1. We should not be ashamed of the gospel because it is God’s power to save through faith. Furthermore, the wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness.

2. Let us explain to others that God’s wrath, His fierce judgment, has already passed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness. The full weight and consequence may be delayed, but it is already set to all who do not worship Him.

3. Let us not suppress the truth that God is real and He is the Creator of the universe. The visible creation speaks of the reality of the sovereign God. Let us explain to believers and unbelievers alike that there is no excuse not to worship God.

[1] Gerald L. Bray and Thomas C. Oden, Romans, 2nd ed. (IVP Academic, 2014), 30.

[2] Paul J. Achtemeier, Romans (Westminster John Knox Press, 2010), 35.

[3] Beverly Roberts Gaventa, Romans (Westminster John Knox Press, 2024), 58.

[4] Gaventa, Romans, 59.

[5] Frank S. Thielman, Romans, ed. Clinton E. Arnold, Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Zondervan Academic, 2018), Chapter 3.

[6] Thielman, Romans, Chapter 3.

Poem

WRATH AND JUDGMENT
by Ed Pilapil Jr.

The wrath of God, what does it mean?
A judgment against all who sin
Those who practice ungodliness
It also means unrighteousness

The judgment of God is revealed
Those who suppress what they perceive
Why then suppress the truth they see
Creation with such clarity

Creation has a Creator
Humankind knows this to the core
We see the LORD’s divine nature
In creation, that is for sure

If you suppress the truth, beware
For eternity, you will stare
The wrath of God with clarity
Expect it for eternity

Study Guide

1. What is the wrath of God revealed against? (Ro 1:18)

2. What did God show mankind? (Ro 1:19-20)

3. Who is without excuse and why? (Ro 1:18,20)

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This is the third sermon of the series, “Romans: The Gospel Blueprint.”

Paul introduced himself as a slave and apostle of Christ for the gospel. He clarified that the gospel is about Christ, whom the Father promised, and the prophets prophesied long ago, as revealed in the Scriptures. Paul explained that the gospel is about the resurrection of the Son of God (Ro 1:1-5). Paul calls the Roman believers beloved by God and called to be saints (Ro 1:6-7). The apostle expressed his intent to visit Rome and preach the gospel there (Ro 1:14-15). He then states the theme of his letter.

I am not ashamed

Paul stated, “I am under obligation” (Ro. 1:14). Then he said, “I am eager to preach the gospel in… in Rome” (Ro. 1:15). Now, he says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel. It speaks to his willingness to proclaim the gospel despite opposition.[1] Paul will explain in the succeeding verses why he is not ashamed of the gospel.

Romans 1:16a, ESV: For I am not ashamed of the gospel…

Paul admonished Timothy not to be ashamed of the gospel. He also asked Timothy not to be ashamed of him as a prisoner because of Christ (2 Tim 1:8). Jesus warned His disciples not to be ashamed of Him; otherwise, He will be ashamed of them before the Father (Lk 9:26).

Power of God for salvation

Paul is not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for salvation. The gospel is not merely a message about God’s power; it is God’s appointed means of bringing salvation to everyone who believes.

Romans 1:16b: …for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

The gospel is not limited to the Jews or the Greeks; it is for all types of people, for all tribes, tongues, and nations. The means of salvation for all is the gospel, and salvation comes to all who believe.

Live by faith

In the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed, showing how sinners are made right with Him through Christ.[2] “From faith to faith” means this righteousness is received by faith from the Old to the New.[3] “The just shall live by faith” teaches that the righteous person has eternal life through faith.

Romans 1:17: For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

The apostle cited Habakkuk 2:4 to show that righteousness before God has always been by faith, not by works. By using this Old Testament text, Paul demonstrates that the gospel message is consistent with Scripture: the righteous live by faith.

Application

1. Every believer should not be ashamed of the gospel. We should feel obligated to share it and eager to proclaim it. Let us heed the warning of Christ Himself that He will be ashamed of all who are ashamed of Him.

2. Because the gospel is God’s power for salvation, we must confidently proclaim it to every person, trusting that God saves all who believe without distinction. No one is beyond its reach. No one is outside its call.

3. Since the gospel reveals the righteousness of God, we must abandon all confidence in our own works and trust wholly in Christ. Understand that the righteousness of God is received by faith. The righteous live by faith.

Poem

FAITH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
by Ed Pilapil Jr

I am under obligation
To proclaim the resurrection
I am eager to preach in Rome
Salvation is in Christ alone

He then said, I am not ashamed
Of the gospel that he proclaims
Power of God for salvation
For the Jews, Greeks, and all nations

Salvation for all who believe
Therefore, let no one be deceived
It is about God’s righteousness
It’s never about man’s holiness

Paul wrote, the just shall live by faith
From Old to New, that is the way
From faith to faith, from then ‘til now
Believe His word, to Him we bow

Study Guide

1. What are the three affirmations of Paul (I am…)? (Ro 1:14-16a)

2. Why is Paul not ashamed of the gospel? (Ro 1:16b)

3. What does it mean that the just shall live by faith? (Ro 1:17).

[1] Thomas R. Schreiner. Romans (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), 2nd ed. (Baker Academic, 2018), 64.

[2] John Stott, The Message of Romans (IVP, 2014), Paul and evangelism.

[3] Thomas C. Oden and Gerald L. Bray, Romans, 2nd ed. (IVP Academic, 2014), 30.

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This is the second sermon of the series, “Romans: The Gospel Blueprint.”

Paul established that he is a slave and apostle of Christ, and his apostleship is for the gospel (Rom. 1:1). He stated key elements of the gospel that the gospel is concerning the Son who was prophesied in Scripture, and that He is a descendant of David, and that this Son was raised from the dead by the Holy Spirit. He calls the Romans beloved of God and called to be saints, meaning sanctified and holy; it implies that God’s beloved are called to be holy. The apostle offers thanksgiving for the steadfast faith of the Roman believers. He expresses his desire to visit Rome to proclaim the gospel.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

Paul gives thanks for the faith of the Roman believers, which is well known among believers throughout the known world. Paul then says God is his witness that he constantly remembers them in prayer. He convinces them of his sincerity by stating that God is the witness to the prayers. Paul submits to God’s will and hopes to succeed in his planned visit.

Romans 1:8-10, ESV: First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. ⁹ For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you ¹⁰ always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.

One should note that Paul stated that he serves God in the gospel of His Son. At the beginning of his letter, he stated that he is “set apart for the gospel of God” (Rom. 1:1). Now, Paul claims to serve God in the gospel of His Son. He shows that he is a servant and that the gospel belongs to God and His Son.

Mutual Encouragement

Paul expresses his desire to see the Roman believers. His purpose is to impart a spiritual gift to strengthen their faith. The spiritual gift is probably a teaching or a word of exhortation, or working together.[1] The goal is mutual encouragement, which is necessary in the body of Christ.

Romans 1:11-12: For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— ¹² that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

Paul quickly adds that this strengthening would be mutual, because he also expects to be encouraged by their faith. Even as an apostle, Paul does not act pridefully, but humbly acknowledges that God encourages His people through one another. These verses teach that in the body of Christ, both ministers and members are blessed and strengthened through shared faith in the gospel.

Gospel Mission

Paul says he planned to visit them but had been hindered until now. His purpose includes that he might reap a harvest among them just as he had among other Gentiles. Paul then says he feels a divine obligation to preach the gospel to all kinds of people. The phrase “under obligation” may also be translated as “indebted.”[2]

Romans 1:13-15: I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. ¹⁴ I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. ¹⁵ So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

This shows that the gospel is not limited to one culture, class, or level of education, but is for the whole world. Therefore, Paul says he is eager to preach the gospel in Rome as well, showing both his zeal for Christ and, probably, his desire to make sure they understood the gospel clearly.

Application

1. Let us remain thankful to the Lord for every church community that remains steadfast in its faith. Let us also pray for the other church communities with whom we partner or wish to partner.

2. Let us desire to bless other church communities, which includes supporting them in prayer, giving, and visitation. Believers must expand their awareness of God’s move in other church communities.

3. Let us proclaim the gospel to other church communities because it is central to the Christian life. Let us proclaim the gospel to the lost here and in other places, so that all the Gentiles will hear of the gospel.

[1] Schreiner et al., Romans (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), 2nd ed. (Baker Academic, 2018), 59.

[2] David Garland, Romans (IVP, 2021), The Letter Opening.

Bibliography

Garland, David. Romans. IVP, 2021.

Schreiner, Thomas R, Yarbrough, Robert W, Jipp, and Joshua. Romans (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament). 2nd ed. Baker Academic, 2018.

Poem

TOGETHER FOR THE GOSPEL 
by Ed Pilapil Jr.

Thank the Father through Christ the Lord
For all who are steadfast, yes, all
By His grace, their faith was well-known
They are the believers in Rome

The apostle longed to visit
To impart a spiritual gift
He expressed his sincere prayers
For the gospel, to be partners

The Romans and the apostle
Them together for the gospel
For the fullness of the Gentiles
The mission entails many miles

In Rome or Spain, many races
As well as to many places
His gospel will spread to many
Gospel power through you and me

Study Guide

1. What was Paul’s thanksgiving, and what was his prayer? (Rom. 1:8-10)

2. What is the dual nature of the spiritual gift that Paul wants to impart? (Rom. 1:11-12)

3. Explain the sense of obligation or indebtedness that Paul mentioned. (Rom. 1:13-15).

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This is the first sermon of the series, “Romans: The Gospel Blueprint.”

Paul did not plant the Roman church, but he sought to partner with them to spread the gospel in Spain.[1] The “visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,” during Pentecost may have brought the gospel back to Rome.[2] The apostle wrote to the Roman church probably from Corinth in 57 AD.[3] Paul explains the gospel with clarity to establish or to communicate what he believes. He would then address the tension between Jews and Gentiles. The Emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome (Acts 18:2), but his successor, Emperor Nero, took the opposite approach. The Roman church community was primarily planted and led by Jewish believers, but after their expulsion, Gentile believers became the majority. As the Jews went back, a certain tension occurred between them.[4] Paul addresses this tension, but he first points all the readers to the gospel. Since Paul did not plant the church in Rome, he introduced himself as a slave and established his authority as an apostle of Christ.

Slave and Apostle

Paul introduces himself as Christ’s slave, doulos (δοῦλος). Paul is stating who his Master is, Christ Jesus. Another claim that Paul made was apostle. He introduced himself as an apostle set apart for the gospel; he believes even before his birth (Gal. 1:15). Paul is a slave of Christ, yet carries the authority of Christ for the gospel.

Romans 1:1, ESV: Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

What is an apostle? The dictionary meaning is that an apostle is an emissary or official representative. However, the apostles of Christ are divinely chosen by Christ Himself to represent Him directly. Thus, a messenger differs from one called to the apostolic office. An apostle of Christ, then, is Christ’s direct representative who bears His authority. The apostolic age covered the day of Pentecost until John’s death.[5] Note that none of the Church fathers claimed to be an apostle, unlike today, when many claim to be apostles. Of course, they are fake.

One sign of the NT apostles is that they were with Christ, except Paul, who received his revelation from the resurrected Christ. Peter and the others confirmed Paul’s apostleship to the Gentiles (Gal. 2:9). Another sign of an apostle is signs, wonders, and mighty deeds (2 Cor. 12:12). And lastly, they are emissaries of the pure gospel of Christ, which is reflected in their inspired writings (2 Pet. 3:15-16).

The Gospel

The apostle explains key elements of the gospel that he is an emissary of. The gospel is not a new invention; it was promised by the prophets in accordance with the Scriptures. The gospel is about the Son, and this Son descended from David, which is prophetic as well. The Holy Spirit declared that Christ is the Son of God through the resurrection.[6]

Romans 1:2-4: which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, ³ concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh ⁴ and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

Paul introduced himself, but more than that, he explained the key summary elements of the gospel. He would expound on the gospel throughout the first part of the epistle. It included the prophecies, the lineage, the Son, and the resurrection.

Paul did not plant the church in Rome, so showing that they believed in the same thing was essential. The gospel binds them together, and the gospel should also bind together the Roman church, especially between Jew and Gentile.

Greeting: Salvation and Holiness

The apostle explains that he received salvation (grace) and his assignment (apostleship) from the Lord Jesus Christ. His mission is to bring about the “obedience of faith” or “an obedience that is faith” among all nations.[7] Nations is derived from the Greek ethnos (ἔθνος), which means tribes or races. He describes the Roman believers as being called to belong to Christ, and Paul greets them with grace and peace.

Romans 1:5-7: through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, ⁶ including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul’s greeting includes calling the Roman believers (Gentile majority) “loved by God and called to be saints.” Somehow, he implies that God’s love in us also brings about holiness or being set apart for Him as saints. The greeting embodies many of the things he will elaborate on in the letter. He greets, saying grace and peace from the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Application

1. Let us live as slaves of Christ, submitted to His authority, but also carry the confidence that we are called to proclaim the gospel under His word’s authority. Let us also be careful of all who claim to be apostles today. Not even the church fathers considered themselves on the same level as the apostles.

2. The gospel is about Christ and His work, accomplished in the resurrection. Before we call for a response in faith and repentance, we must make the details clear. The gospel is not a new invention; it is the grand plan of God, sown in the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms.

3. His grace comes with a mission; salvation comes with a call to proclaim. His love for us leads to holiness, or being a saint, which means being set apart for His purpose. Whenever we speak of His love, we must speak of holiness and obedience.

Notes

[1] F. F. Bruce, Romans (IVP, 2015), Intro.

[2] Douglas J. Moo, The Letter to the Romans, 2nd ed. (Eerdmans, 2018), 4.

[3] F. F. Bruce, Romans (IVP, 2015), Intro.

[4] Frank S. Thielman, Romans, ed. Clinton E. Arnold, Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Zondervan Academic, 2018), Intro.

[5] Merrill F. Unger Merrill F. Unger and R. K. Harrison R. K. Harrison, The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, 1st ed. (Moody Publishers, 2009), 87.

[6] Bruce, Romans, Salutation.

[7] Schreiner et al., Romans (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), 2nd ed. (Baker Academic, 2018), 40.

Bibliography

Bruce, F. F. Romans. IVP, 2015.

Merrill F. Unger, Merrill F. Unger, and R. K. Harrison R. K. Harrison. The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary. 1st ed. Moody Publishers, 2009.

Moo, Douglas J. The Letter to the Romans. 2nd ed. Eerdmans, 2018.

Schreiner, Thomas R, Yarbrough, Robert W, Jipp, and Joshua. Romans (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament). 2nd ed. Baker Academic, 2018.

Thielman, Frank S. Romans. Edited by Clinton E. Arnold. Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Zondervan Academic, 2018.

POEM

BELOVED AND HOLY
by Ed Pilapil Jr

A slave of Christ, his name was Paul
Called to be the Lord’s apostle
To proclaim the gospel to all
All nations, races, and people

The gospel is about the Son
A son of David, He’s the One
Promised through the prophets, the Son
Rose from the dead, the only One

From ancient times, the LORD promised
The LORD promised through the prophets
Rising again can’t be dismissed
The Messiah that was promised

Beloved, called to be holy
Salvation leads to His calling
Let us all listen intently
His love calls us to be holy

Study Guide

1. How did Paul introduce himself? Cite the key elements and explain the connection with each element. (Rom 1:1)

2. What key elements of the gospel did Paul mention? Explain each. (Rom 1:2-4)

3. Explain the connections of grace and apostleship. Explain as well “loved by God” and “called to be saints.” (Rom 1:5-7).

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This is the sixth and final sermon in our series, “Disciple.”

We close our mini-series, “Disciple,” with this message. Christ commanded His disciples to make disciples of all nations. Their confidence is His authority and the promise of His Spirit until the end. Our study led us to understand that a disciple is a follower, and Christ defined what He expected of His disciples. A disciple must love Him above all, deny the self, die to self, leave all behind, not delay, and make no excuses. In making disciples, the Lord called them, and they immediately left what they were doing to follow Him. He appointed twelve who would be with Him, and so He may send them out to preach. The apostles followed this model of teaching and fellowship; those who believed would proclaim the gospel.

Repent & Be Baptized

People asked what they should do. Peter answered that they should repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Peter also mentioned the Holy Spirit of promise; He is the promise to all who are called to God.

“Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” ³⁸ And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” ⁴⁰ And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” ⁴¹ So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:37-41, ESV).

Peter warned the people to leave their crooked generation. Three thousand were added to the disciples that day. Repentance is a change of mind, which includes the conviction of sin; to be baptized, to die to self, and be buried. It is an outward symbol of an internal commitment to be His disciple.

Teaching & Fellowship

The apostles followed Christ’s model and instructions. They taught what Jesus taught them, and they broke bread and fellowshipped daily. The disciples supported each other spiritually and materially. The Lord manifested signs and wonders in their midst.

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ⁴³ And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. ⁴⁴ And all who believed were together and had all things in common. ⁴⁵ And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶ And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts” (Acts 2:42-46).

Jesus appointed twelve so they could be with Him and send them out to preach. In the same way, those who heard the gospel should be with the apostles so that they would learn and they would fellowship.

The Lord Added

The new community in Christ continued the apostles’ teaching, breaking of bread, prayers, blessing each other, praising God, and gained favor; the Lord added to their number all who were being saved. The author, Luke, made it clear that it was the Lord who added.

“praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).

God added to their number, and it is God who will accomplish the task of making disciples of all nations. Yet He is gracious to allow His disciples to participate in His grand plan until the end.

Application

1. Let us proclaim the gospel, but let us remember that it is God who calls people to Himself. Salvation of people is God’s agenda; we trust His will and ways. Our role is to proclaim the pure gospel and call people to repent and be disciples.

2. As the apostles taught His word, so should we teach His word. Moreover, we are to practice fellowship continuously and remember the Lord’s death and resurrection. Furthermore, we support each other as a community in Christ.

3. The Lord will add to those who are being saved. Let us praise Him for His marvelous work. Let us remember that God’s mission will be fulfilled. Let us remember that serving Him is a responsibility and a privilege.

Poem

GOD OF THE MISSION
by Ed Pilapil Jr

What shall we do? The people mumbled
Repent and be baptized, he said
The gospel unmasked; hearts trembled
In Christ, there is forgiveness, he said

They devoted themselves to this
Apostles’ teaching, fellowship
Sharing what they had gave them bliss
Perhaps easing those in hardship

His power, displayed among them
They praised God, and they prayed in awe
Souls forgiven and not condemned
Community life, others saw

Celebrating resurrection
The Lord added to their number
Christ is the Lord of the mission
All Jesus called, He will gather

Study Guide

1. What was Peter’s response to those who asked, “What shall we do?” What will happen if they do what they need to do? (Acts 2:37-41)

2. Explain the regular activities and habits of those who repented and were baptized. (Acts 2:42-46)

3. Explain the significance of the phrase, “The Lord added…” in relation to the mission of making disciples. (Acts 2:47).

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This is part 5 of the sermon series, “Disciple.”

Jesus calls Simon Peter and Andrew to follow Him. He made his intentions clear that He would make them fishers of men. The Lord also called James and John. All four of them left what they were doing to follow Him. The Lord’s design is for the disciples to be with Him and to send them to preach. After the Lord’s resurrection and ascension, the apostles followed the pattern of fellowshipping with the new disciples while teaching them what they learned from Christ.

Immediately

When Jesus called Simon and Andrew to follow Him, they immediately left their nets to follow Him. When Jesus called James and John, they immediately left their father in the boat to follow Jesus. Christ’s intention was to make them fishers of men.

Mark 1:16-20: Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” ¹⁸ And immediately they left their nets and followed him. ¹⁹ And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. ²⁰ And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

One must note that Simon, Andrew, James, and John immediately followed Christ. Were they busy when Jesus called them to follow? Yes, they were busy either casting nets or mending nets. They left what they were doing in order to follow Christ.

Design

The Lord appointed the twelve, and His intent was clear. The disciples were to be with Him so that He could send them to preach. By being with Christ, they would observe, listen, obey, and preach. Such was the design for the twelve.

Mark 3:13-14: And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. ¹⁴ And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach

In the first century, it was the norm to live with or near your teacher. Learning moments happen throughout the day. Christ kept His disciples close so they could witness not only what He taught but also who He is. Furthermore, He would empower them to do the work of God.

Continuity

After Christ’s resurrection and ascension, He sent His disciples to fulfill the mission. The apostles followed the same pattern that Jesus used. The newly baptized continued in the apostles’ teaching, which was the teachings of Christ. Furthermore, they fellowshipped with them and practiced communion with prayers.

Acts 2:42: And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

With the way they learned and fellowshipped together, the Lord added to their number. Moreover, many of these will be scattered by persecution, and they will proclaim the gospel to others wherever they go.

Application

1. Let us immediately follow Christ by leaving everything behind. His intent is to make us participants of the mission, to be fishers of men. Genuine disciples put Christ and His mission first, above all.

2. We should maintain close communion with Christ through prayer, worship, and meditation on His word. Our fellowship with the Triune God must be consistent and ongoing. With that confidence, we must proclaim the gospel.

3. When we make disciples, we must teach the word of God and fellowship with them. Furthermore, we will explain to them the design of Christ that genuine disciples must proclaim the gospel and make disciples.

Poem

TO BE WITH HIM
by Ed Pilapil Jr.

The Lord Jesus said, follow Me
The word used was, immediately
Immediately, they followed Him
It was quick; there was no waiting

They left their nets and their father
They were the two sets of brothers
Christ would still appoint the others
Their journey should not be bothered

A journey with the Son of Man 
To be with Jesus was the plan
To know Him and to make Him known
Salvation is in Christ alone

Disciples are fishers of men
It is true now as it was then
The apostles continuing
His teaching and fellowshipping

Study Guide

1. How did Simon, Andrew, James, and John respond to the call of Christ to follow Him? (Mark 1:16-20)

2. Explain Christ’s design for those whom He called to be disciples. (Mark 3:13-14)

3. After the resurrection and ascension, what did the apostles do with the new disciples? (Acts 2:42).

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This is part 4 of the sermon series, “Disciple.”

There were people who wanted to follow Christ, and there were people whom Christ called to follow. Luke highlights three conversations about following Christ. In these conversations, one may understand what Christ expects of a follower. Another term for follower is “disciple.” Somehow, the Lord established the standard of being a genuine disciple. His genuine disciple will face all discomfort and will not delay. In other words, a disciple’s commitment to Christ is above all.

Discomfort

A person expresses his intent to follow the Lord. But the Lord warns the one who intends to follow of the hardship. He explains that foxes and birds have places to stay, but He has none. Jesus speaks metaphorically of the challenges.

Luke 9:57-58, ESV: As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” ⁵⁸ And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

It is good to note that the term “fox” is used to describe the political adversaries of the Jewish people. If that is true, then Jesus was implying that those in power might give you a better place to stay and give you other comforts. A true disciple is prepared to bear whatever discomfort for His sake.

No Delays

The Lord explains that following Him is more important than burying one’s father. In a cultural context, burying one’s father may mean waiting until he dies or transferring the bones from the burial site to the grave of the ancestors after one year. Note as well that following Christ entails proclaiming His kingdom.

Luke 9:59-60: To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” ⁶⁰ And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Another way of looking at this is that those who do not follow the Lord are spiritually dead. If they do not want to follow, let them be, as long as you follow without delay. Although this perspective might be unlikely.

No Distractions

Another one expresses his desire to follow, but wants to say goodbye to his family. This might be a reference to Elijah putting his mantle on Elisha while Elisha was plowing. Elisha accepts the call but requests to say goodbye to his family. Elijah agreed, but Jesus did not. Following Jesus is urgent and demands no permission from others.

Luke 9:61-62: Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” ⁶² Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Once a disciple leaves everyone and everything behind, there should be no looking back. A plowman should plow straight; looking back ruins the work. Once a disciple leaves the old life without Christ, they should not go back to it. If they do, according to Christ, they are not fit for the kingdom of God.

Application

1. Let us not follow in word only but also in deed. Let us follow Christ despite the discomfort. If He provides for our comfort, let us praise Him; if He does not, then let us also praise Him.

2. Let us not make any excuses when following Christ. Nothing is more important and urgent. While we should continue to respect our parents, our duty to proclaim the kingdom of God is higher than our duty to our parents.

3. Let us follow Christ now. There is no need for permission from family or friends. We should not delay in following Christ. Let us remember what Christ expects of a disciple. Let us become disciples and let us make disciples in His name.

POEM

FOLLOW THE SON OF MAN
by Ed Pilapil Jr.

Will you follow the Son of Man?
But to follow is more than words
It is more than a scheme or plan
More comfort in foxes and birds

Will you follow the Son of Man?
There is no excuse, no burial
No delaying or waiting plan
Jesus requires self-denial

Will you follow the Son of Man?
Note: no farewells or permissions
All in, no delays, that’s the plan
Give the absolute devotion

No such thing as half devotion
Proclaim the kingdom, that’s His plan
That’s now, no need for permission
Will you follow the Son of Man?

Study Guide

1. According to the passage, what does it mean to follow Jesus?

2. How does this passage compare to Luke 14:25-33?

3. Knowing what a disciple is according to Jesus, what do you think Jesus meant when He commanded His disciples to make disciples?

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This is part 3 of the sermon series, “Disciple.”

In a generic sense, the word “disciple” means a learner, a follower, an adherent, and an apprentice. But what does it mean, specifically, to be a disciple of Christ? Christ has determined that with clarity. Luke records Christ explaining who cannot be His disciple. By highlighting those who are disqualified, one comes to understand what it means to be a genuine disciple of Christ. The text reveals that many people accompanied Him; He clarified what it truly means to be His disciple. Anyone who listens or reads the text intently would ponder the seriousness and depth of the necessary commitment.

Christ Incomparable

Christ uses strong words that clarify what it means to be a disciple. Those who follow Him but do not “hate” the closest people in their lives and their own lives cannot be His disciples. What does “hate” mean in the context? It means Christ should be above all; no one can compare.

Luke 14:25-27: Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, ²⁶ “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

The usage of the word “hate” here does not mean murderous hate, uncontrollable anger, or unforgiveness. Christ uses a powerful hyperbole. What it meant was that no one can compare to Christ. No one is a close second. Everything close, including one’s own life, is at the opposite end of the spectrum.

Matthew records a similar but slightly different version (Matt 10:37-38). The similarity is that Christ is above all in a disciple’s life. The difference is that Luke’s version uses the word “hate,” μισεῖ (misei), which refers to loving less or detesting. Thus, one can state that compared to Christ, there is no one close enough to challenge one’s commitment.

Christ uses a figure of speech, hyperbole or exaggeration, to deliver His emphasis. Christ does not promote neglect of family and self. But a genuine disciple is clear about who is preeminent in their lives.

Know the Cost

The Lord uses two illustrations: building a tower and going to war. The illustration warns against those who failed to count the cost or those who did not think things through. As if He is telling the crowd, not everyone can be my disciple, only those willing to pay the price, which is everything.

Luke 14:28-32: For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? ²⁹ Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, ³⁰ saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ ³¹ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? ³² And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.

Genuine disciples will carefully consider and weigh the expectations of Christ. Furthermore, genuine disciples will go all in. Why? Christ is incomparable. There is nothing in this life that can compare to who He is and what He promised in eternity. However, it takes a denial of self and a death to self.

Renounce All

Christ clarified the criteria for those who cannot be His disciples. He also explained the importance of thinking carefully, using two illustrations: building a building and going to war. His main point, which summarizes the previous points, is: renounce all, give up all, and say goodbye to everything.

Luke 14:33: So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Nothing is more important to the disciple than Christ. There is no close second place; the second is far away compared to Christ. Or one may even argue that there is no one second. Everything is done for Christ, including taking responsibility over family and the self.

Application

1. By His grace, let us set Christ above all that is dear to us, including our own lives. Let us prepare to suffer humiliation and hardships when we follow Him as genuine disciples. Let us remind ourselves: we choose Christ, and we choose to obey even if the self does not want, even if the closest to us does not.

2. Becoming a disciple is not something we take lightly. We know what Christ expects; it is everything. By His grace, we determine not to be the ones who stop following Him. All that we have and all that we hold dear belongs to Him, not us. Thus, we are stewards, not owners. We will follow this mindset with us until death.

3. By His grace, we determine to be genuine disciples and we determine to make disciples. What kind of disciples? The kind that Christ explained. In His name, we disciple others by teaching them to surrender to Christ, that He is first above all, no one can compare, and that all of us should give up all for Him.

Poem

GO ALL IN
by Ed Pilapil Jr.

The Lord Christ alone we follow
Not family, not friends, no one
Compared to Him, all is shallow
How dare I compare anyone?

O foolish one, think carefully
The Triune God is the treasure
Do not live your life thoughtlessly
Set your heart on the real treasure

We cry death to selfish desires
Also known as self-denial
This commitment does not expire
A commitment full of trials

The words of Christ give clarity
People like me should go all in
In His name, follow completely
No reservations, go all in!

Study Guide

1. Who cannot be His disciple?

2. How did Jesus use the word “hate” to drive His point?

3. How do the two illustrations (vv. 28-32) connect with the previous statement (vv. 25-27) and with the succeeding statement (v.33)?

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This is part 2 of a sermon series, “DISCIPLE.”

When the Lord Jesus Christ commanded His disciples to make disciples of all nations, they understood what he meant. They understood because the Lord taught them what it meant to be His disciple. The common usage of the word “disciple,” mathetes in Greek (μαθητής), is a learner, follower, apprentice, and adherent. In those days, learned men, teachers, would set their terms and conditions for those who wanted to become their disciples. Christ also set His terms and standards clearly: to be His disciple is to put Him first, above family and above self. That devotion will divide households and bring conflict where Christ is not adhered to. The genuine disciple of Christ will be despised and rejected, but to those who receive the disciple, God will reward.

Division

The Lord warns that His arrival will bring division like a sword. People must choose either to follow Him or go against Him. When some in the family submit to Christ, but others reject Him, expect the closest relationships to be divided.

Matthew 10:34-36: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵ For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. ³⁶ And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.”

In a fallen world, the gospel saves and brings eternal peace with God, but it also separates human allegiances. The conflict Jesus describes is the painful but real cost of being His disciple. Every new disciple should anticipate the possible division.

Undivided Standard

The Lord set His terms and conditions. He should be above the family, meaning, above all; no one can compare to Him. The Lord Jesus is not abolishing family affection, but He is forbidding any commitment equal to or higher than Him. Christ expects His disciples to commit to Him more than to self and to any government. The cross is a symbol of what Rome does to those who defy it: suffering and humiliation.

Matthew 10:37-38: Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

The genuine disciple must “lose his life for Christ,” and the reward is that he will find his life. But those who try to preserve their own lives rather than offer them to Christ will lose them. Christ expects His disciples to put Him first, above life itself. Yet it is the Lord who will reward them with life.

Rewards

Even if the disciples experience rejection in their own homes, the Lord comforts them. He gives an allusion to the prophets of Old that whoever receives a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward and the same for a righteous person. The Lord states that those who receive the disciples will be rewarded because they are also receiving the Son and the Father.

Matthew 10:40-42: “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. ⁴¹ The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴² And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

The widow of Zarepath (1 Ki 17) and the Shunammite woman (2 Ki 4) both received rewards for supporting Elijah and Elisha, respectively. The disciples of Christ will love Christ above all, even above their own lives. It is the Lord who rewards them and all who welcome them.

Application

1. Let us become disciples of Christ, loving Him above all relationships and above the self. Then let us expect division and rejection when we enjoin others to become His disciples. Yet our hearts must remain true, for it is the Lord who gives us life, even if we lose it.

2. Our love for Christ must exceed our love for our closest relationships. Our commitment to Him should be higher than any government, even prepared for persecution and death. Otherwise, we are not worthy of Him. We will believe and obey His word rather than people, governments, or the self.

3. Let us welcome and bless fellow disciples in Christ. If we do so, we receive the Father and Son, who blesses us with the work of the Holy Spirit, life, and bounties that we do not know yet.

Poem

DISCIPLES UNDIVIDED
by Ed Pilapil Jr

Not father, not mother, no one
Only the Son is high above
Children, friends, and lovers, no one
Triune God, above all, we love

If our family rejects us
We shall remain His disciples
Even if governments threaten us
We bear the cross as disciples

Our lives, for His glory alone
We are disciples of the throne
Hearts undivided and untorn
Serving the Lamb who’s on the throne

God rewards all who will receive
The disciples of Christ Jesus
Praying that they will all believe
The good news of the Lord Jesus

Study Guide

1. What can we expect if we become a genuine disciple? (Mt 10:34-36)

2. What clear terms and standards did Christ establish to be worthy of Him? (Mt 10:37-39)

3. Explain Christ’s allusion to receiving the prophets. How does that relate to receiving a disciple? (Mt 10:40-42).

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This is the first of a five-part series on The Disciples and the Missio Dei.

God has a grand plan for the ages: to redeem men and women from every tongue, tribe, and nation. Central to that plan is the building of His church, and the church’s participation in His saving purpose. Missiologists often label this grand plan, the Missio Dei, the mission of God. More precisely, we should speak of the Missio Trinitatis: the mission of the Triune God. The Father, Son, and Spirit are the authors and owners of this mission; the church is graciously summoned to share in their work. That is why, before giving the Great Commission, Christ declared that all authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Him, and why He concluded the command with the assurance of His abiding presence.

Authority and Promise

The Lord Jesus Christ is risen; moreover, He is sovereign above all. Some disciples worshiped Him, knowing that He was God, but some were doubtful. The audience in the text could probably be the five hundred to whom He appeared. Aside from His sovereign rule, He assured them of His presence until the end.

Matthew 28:18: “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

Matthew 28:20b: “...And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The statements clearly show that by His power and authority, through His disciples, people from every tongue, tribe, and nation will be saved and gathered. The source of the mission is Christ, and through the Holy Spirit, it shall be fulfilled.

Make Disciples

Because He has all authority, therefore, the disciples must make disciples of all nations, meaning peoples, tribes, and tongues. They must be baptized, which is a type of burial, a dying to self, and a rising with the Son of God. They shall be baptized in the name of the Triune God, meaning that is where their allegiance must be. Then they must learn and obey the Lord’s teachings.

Matthew 28:19-20a: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you…”

Making disciples is God’s agenda. It is not a request; it is a mandate to all who truly believe. As the church obeys in making disciples, they must remember why they are doing it. It is because He has all authority and we must obey, as well as because He has all authority, which gives us confidence that He is at work.

Prophetic Promise

Matthew’s account of the Great Commission resembles the prophetic utterance of Daniel. Daniel wrote of the son of man having dominion and an everlasting kingdom. The dominion covered every language, tribe, and nation. Aside from Daniel, John wrote prophetically of people from every language, tribe, and nation praising the Lamb.

Daniel 7: 14a: “And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,

which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.”

Revelation 7:9-10: “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, ¹⁰ and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’”

God’s grand plan will succeed because He is sovereign; He will make it happen. Matthew portrayed Jesus as the King of the Jews, but at the end of His gospel account, he portrayed Jesus as God who has dominion over all. The church should consider it a privilege to be given the opportunity to participate in the Missio Dei.

Application

1. Our authority to make disciples comes from the Sovereign One who is above all. Our confidence in the mission is in His presence until the end. Therefore, we must have faith in who He is as the Sovereign One and submit to the mandate to make disciples.

2. We must go out and meet people to call them to follow Jesus. We must present the gospel and call others to walk with us in this journey. We will persuade them to believe in the Triune God and be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We will teach them His word and teach them to obey.

3. Let us believe in the prophetic promise in Daniel and Revelation. It was prophesied, it was promised, and it will happen. The church will succeed in fulfilling its mandate to make disciples of every language, tribe, and nation. People from all tribes will praise and worship the Lamb.

Poem

PROPHETIC MANDATE
by Ed Pilapil Jr

The call has gone forth, listen all
This is the mandate of the Lord
Go and make disciples of all
Every tongue will worship the Lord

Authority and dominion
From Him, overflows the mission
With assurance from His presence
That’s where we find our confidence

Go, therefore, and make disciples
Baptizing them from all peoples
Committed to the Trinity
Learning to obey faithfully

His love and His words overflow 
Through His church, and the church will grow
Prophetic promise will unfold
The prophecies that were foretold

Study Guide

1. Who and what is the basis of the mandate?

2. Explain the mandate.

3. What is the significance of the prophecies in Daniel and Revelation?

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Our guest writer is a lawyer, surgeon, professor, and preacher. He is the chairman of the Board of Elders of GCF Naga and a member of the National Council of the Conservative Baptist Philippines (CBaP).

Marriage is God’s covenantal design for a man and a woman. It is meant to be permanent, faithful, and reflective of Christ’s relationship with His church. Yet because of the Fall, marriage is lived in a world where sin distorts love, weakens commitment, and disrupts peace. Scripture upholds the sanctity of marriage while also giving pastoral instruction for situations where the covenant has been willfully broken. The goal is always restoration, but God, in His mercy, provides biblical and lawful pathways when restoration is no longer possible.

God hates divorce because He is a covenant-keeping God. Divorce is the fruit of human faithlessness and the hardness of heart brought about by sin. Yet the same sovereign Lord who designed marriage as a permanent union also, in His mercy and justice, spoke of exceptions through Jesus Christ. These exceptions do not weaken marriage; they acknowledge the tragic reality that man and woman are sinners living under the effects of the Fall.

When the covenant is persistently and willfully destroyed through sexual immorality or when an unbelieving spouse abandons the marriage, Scripture declares that the offended spouse is not enslaved but called to peace. Thus, the Bible holds together two inseparable truths: the permanence of marriage according to God’s design and God’s mercy toward the one whose covenant has been shattered.

Remarriage is not a universal right after every divorce. But where divorce takes place on biblical grounds, the innocent party is not called an adulterer for entering into a new covenant marriage in the Lord. Such a step is never casual. It is a renewed commitment to God’s original design for a permanent and Christ-centered union.

TWO EXCEPTIONS

The Lord makes a clear statement that divorce for invalid reasons is not acceptable, but divorce due to infidelity is acceptable. Thus, all causes of divorce or separation should be rejected, but there are exceptions.

Matthew 19:9: And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”

The first one is sexual immorality, which is a covenant-breaking sin. The one-flesh union is violated, and the marital bond is deeply fractured.

According to Scripture, all believers must forgive. That includes offended parties in marriage. Forgiveness reflects the grace we received in Christ. However, forgiveness does not mean that they should stay in a marriage, as it does not always remove the consequences of sin or automatically restore the relationship. The pastoral task of the church is to pursue reconciliation through repentance and transformation.

The second exception is abandonment.

Paul answered questions from believers in Corinth. Some asked if they should separate from their unbelieving spouse. Paul instructed them to remain; however, they can become free if the unbelieving spouse deserts the marriage.

1 Corinthians 7:15: But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.

Although the context applies to a believer married to an unbeliever, it may also apply to a believer and a so-called believer. There are false believers and people might unknowingly marry a false believer. On another note, some churches put verbal and physical abuse under abandonment.

Marriage is not a place of bondage. When an unbelieving spouse deserts the covenant, the believer is no longer bound. In many pastoral situations, abandonment includes not only physical departure but the persistent destruction of the covenant through abuse and the refusal to live as a spouse.

Conflict in marriage is inevitable because man and woman are sinners. But covenantal destruction is never God’s design.

REMARRIAGE

The question of divorce is inseparable from the question of remarriage. Where divorce takes place on biblical grounds, the innocent party is not called to a life of perpetual bondage. The freedom described by Scripture includes the freedom to enter into a new marriage in the Lord.

Jesus Himself teaches that where divorce takes place on the ground of sexual immorality, the subsequent marriage is not called adultery by the Lord.

Matthew 19:9: And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”

The exception clause shows that when the covenant has been broken through sexual immorality, the innocent party is not morally bound to a life of perpetual separation.

In the same way, Paul declares that when an unbelieving spouse abandons the marriage, the believer is no longer under bondage.

1 Corinthians 7:15: But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.

To be “not enslaved” is to be released from the marital bond. The believer is not called to covenantal slavery but to live in the peace of Christ.

Yet this freedom is never a license for casual union. Scripture places remarriage within the lordship of Christ.

1 Corinthians 7:39: She is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.

Remarriage, therefore, must still reflect God’s original purpose for marriage. Remarriage is not an escape from the past but a renewed call to walk in obedience to Christ, entering a covenant that is again received as lifelong.

MARRIAGE AND THE LAW OF THE LAND

God’s design for marriage is also reflected in the legal framework of our nation.

Article 1, Family Code of the Philippines (Executive Order No. 209): Marriage is a special contract of permanent union between a man conjugal and family life. It is the foundation of the family and an inviolable social institution whose nature, consequences, and incidents are governed by law and not subject to stipulation…

This legal definition affirms the biblical truth that marriage is permanent and covenantal.

Because of the reality of sin, the Philippine law provides remedies:

· Void Marriages: Where no true marriage existed from the beginning (e.g., psychological incapacity – a ground for the annulment of marriage or the absence of essential requisites)

· Voidable Marriages: Where consent was defective.

· Legal Separation: In cases such as sexual infidelity, abandonment, and/or violence.

The law does not weaken marriage. It upholds its sanctity while protecting those whose covenant has been violated.

Application

1. Follow God’s design for marriage. Marriage is a permanent covenant. It must be nurtured by the Word of God, prayer, repentance, and daily grace.

2. Practice gospel-shaped forgiveness. Because we are sinners living under the effects of the Fall, conflict will always be present. Forgiveness is the means by which marriages are sustained and restored.

3. Pursue peace with biblical and lawful wisdom. When there is sexual immorality or abandonment, the believer is not called to slavery. God has provided both scriptural and lawful means for protection and peace.

Poem

Covenant, Mercy, and Peace
by Stephen Bonilla

God formed the vow by His command,
One flesh united, heart and hand;
A sign of Christ, His faithful love,
A covenant sealed by God above.

Yet through the Fall our hearts withdrew,
And broke the bond God made us true;
The Lord hates vows in violence torn,
Where faithless hearts breed grief and scorn.

But when by lust the tie is slain,
Or when the unbeliever leaves in disdain,
The Word gives peace, the bound set free,
No longer held in slavery.

Still grace calls us to vow once more,
In Christ to keep what was before;
Till every home is filled with love,
A sign of grace from God above.

Study Guide

1. What are the two biblical grounds for divorce mentioned in the sermon, and what does Scripture say happens to the innocent spouse in those situations?

2. When is remarriage allowed according to the Bible, and what does it mean to remarry “only in the Lord”?

3. According to Article 1 of the Family Code, what kind of union is marriage, and how should this shape the way we treat our own marriage?

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The Fall of Man in the garden plunged humanity into darkness. Sin severed Man’s fellowship with God; spiritual and eventually physical death became the wages that all generations inherit. Every person born will experience the consequences of sin, which are many. To name a few: decay, conflict, fear, and pain. God designed marriage to be a place of belonging, refuge, and unity. But because of the Fall, it can become the front lines of a daily war. Somehow, the curse is felt strongly in marriage. Desire turns evil and selfish; responsible leadership turns into domination without love. Or even worse, the breaking up of the covenant. Is there hope? Only in Christ is a person saved from the penalty of sin. Only through Christ may a person experience transformation. Only through Christ, can the marriage covenant be fulfilled or restored.

Pain and Conflict

God decreed that the woman would experience pain in childbirth, which may denote pain in pregnancy and child rearing.[1] Moreover, her relationship with her husband was also affected. Her desire for her husband may mean love and companionship, but it may also be a desire to rule him and conform him to her needs.

Genesis 3:16, ESV: To the woman he said,

“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;
in pain you shall bring forth children.
Your desire shall be for your husband,
and he shall rule over you.”

The pairing of desire but to rule over, which is like sin. Sin’s desire is clear, but one must rule over it (Gen 4:7). Going back to the woman and man. Instead of companionship, there would be a power struggle.[2] But in Christ, she must submit to her husband as to Christ (Eph 5:22-24).

Dominate

In the Garden, it is assumed that the male would lead the woman.[3] But the curse involves dominating without love. Such is visible in many marriages today. In other cases, men abandoned leadership and let the woman decide for the family. This, too, is a distortion.

Genesis 3:16: To the woman he said,

“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;
in pain you shall bring forth children.
Your desire shall be for your husband,
and he shall rule over you.”

God made woman to complement the man, which is to complete him. However, the fall would make it harder for men to lead their wives. The hope for the marriage is in Christ, where husbands are taught to love and cherish their wives. They are to follow the love that Christ has for the church (Eph 5:25).

Pain to Survive

Like the woman, Man would also experience pain. It is the pain of survival; the pain of labor in order to provide. His decision to listen to his wife rather than God led to the cursed ground.[4] There is always misery in not listening to God.

Genesis 3:17: And to Adam he said,

“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
and have eaten of the tree
of which I commanded you,
‘You shall not eat of it,’
cursed is the ground because of you

The subtle trap is listening to those closest to us, rather than God. Men must listen to God before they listen to their wives or anyone else. The consequences of God’s justice are far-reaching; they encompass the earth.[5] Humanity must bear that in mind.

Application

1. Understand God’s design for marriage and the consequences of the Fall of Man. Understanding the Fall will help us grasp the power of sin and the justice of God. The knowledge should make us aware of the need for salvation in Christ.

2. Fix your hope in growing in Christ, which leads to better marriages. For the single, never marry someone who does not fear and love God. If you do not listen to this piece of wisdom, expect consequences. You will not enjoy God’s redemptive action in your marriage.

3. The pain and conflict exist because of sin, but God’s grace is sufficient. Trust in God’s grace to sustain us through the pain and the power to deal with conflict. Through His Spirit, we develop self-control, peace, love, and humility.

Those who are in Christ receive the grace to follow the renewed design in Christ. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church, and wives must submit to their husbands as to Christ. Husbands should love and cherish their wives, and the wives must respect and submit to their husbands (Eph 5:22-33).

[1] John Goldingay, Genesis, Baker Commentary on the Old Testament: Pentateuch, ed. Bill T. Arnold (Baker Academic, 2020), 81.

[2] Bruce K. Waltke and Cathi J. Fredricks, Genesis (Zondervan Academic, 2016), Book 1.

[3] Waltke and Fredricks, Genesis, Book 1.

[4] Andrew E. Steinmann, Genesis (IVP, 2019), Chapter 2.B.

[5] Goldingay, Genesis (Baker Commentary on the Old Testament, 81.

Bibliography

Goldingay, John. Genesis. Baker Commentary on the Old Testament: Pentateuch, edited by Bill T. Arnold. Baker Academic, 2020.

Steinmann, Andrew E. Genesis. IVP, 2019.

Waltke, Bruce K., and Cathi J. Fredricks. Genesis. Zondervan Academic, 2016.

Poem

GRACE IN MARRIAGE
by Ed Pilapil Jr

Is it childbirth or child rearing?
The labor pains are not pleasing
Eve’s needs became more magnified
Conflict seems to be codified

Man’s response is domination
It is more like subjugation
That is the effect of the Fall
Differs from God’s design and call

Labor pains for the husband, too
For Adam, it was something new
Man’s survival became a pain
With a lesson that’s clear and plain

Listen to God above all else
Develop some biblical sense
Look to God’s justice and His grace
In marriage, His grace, do embrace

Study Guide

1. According to Genesis 3:16, what are the two parts of God’s judgment on the woman, and how do they affect childbearing and marriage?

2. Contrast God’s design (Gen 2:24-25) to the fallen state in terms of the relationship of Adam and Eve.

3. What was the consequence of Adam listening to his wife instead of the LORD?

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Paul, the apostle, wrote his first epistle to the Corinthians around A.D. 53–55 from Ephesus. He wrote to a young church encompassed with a morally compromised city. The apostle responds to questions about marriage, celibacy, and godly living amid the “present distress” (v. 26), which is likely a form of persecution or crisis. Paul contrasts the unmarried and married states, not to exalt one above the other, but to show how each impacts a believer’s focus on the Lord. He highlights the spiritual benefits of singleness and the real-world responsibilities of marriage. Paul’s purpose is clear: not to restrict, but to encourage “undivided devotion to the Lord” (v.35). From this pastoral counsel, we draw three calls to live with single-hearted devotion to Christ in every season.

Free of Distractions

Paul expresses his pastoral desire that believers live free from unnecessary anxieties that hinder spiritual focus. He contrasts the unmarried person’s ability to concentrate on “the things of the Lord” with the added responsibilities that naturally accompany marriage.

1 Corinthians 7:32: I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.

The word Paul uses for “anxious” (merimnaō) does not imply sinful worry but legitimate concerns that claim time, energy, and attention. Paul’s point is not that marriage is bad, but that singleness can provide greater flexibility for devotion and service to Christ.

Worldly Things

The author continues to compare the spiritual focus of married and unmarried believers. He explains that a married man is naturally concerned with “worldly things,” specifically how to please his wife, highlighting the obligations that come with marriage. It is the same with the woman.

1 Corinthians 7:33-34: But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, ³⁴ and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.

The term “worldly things” does not imply sin, but refers to the daily realities and responsibilities of marital life. Paul is not criticizing marriage but acknowledging how it divides attention between earthly duties and spiritual pursuits. His aim is to help believers understand how their relational status affects their capacity for undivided devotion to the Lord.

Undivided Devotion

The apostle wants to help the Corinthians, not restrict them. His advice is meant for their benefit. He desires to promote good order in their lives. More importantly, he wants them to have undivided devotion to the Lord. Singleness can allow for fewer distractions in serving Christ. Paul’s goal is wholehearted, focused discipleship.

1 Corinthians 7:35: I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

The expression “undivided devotion” reflects Paul’s ultimate goal: a heart wholly given to Christ, unburdened by competing distractions. This verse brings the teaching full circle, inviting believers to consider how their life choices can best serve their calling to love and serve the Lord.

Application

1. Whether single or married, do not allow distractions to affect your devotion to Christ? Identify what distracts you and reorder your priorities to please the Lord. Use proper time management.

2. Use singleness or marriage as a means to grow in holiness. Don’t waste the season God has placed you in. The single will have the advantage of giving more time to serve the Lord.

3. Give God your full attention. Remove distractions and pursue a heart that is undivided in love for Him. But if you are married, do not neglect to love and serve your spouse.

Poem

BOUND OR FREE
by Ed Pilapil Jr

It is the Lord who made me whole
No other could have saved my soul
My soul, serve Him without delay
Worship Him each and every day

The single life should have more peace
More ease to let distraction cease
Focus your minds on things above
Fill your soul with His divine love

Marriage also is God’s design
A holy gift, a sacred sign
Distractions and demands arise
To take our gaze from heaven’s prize

Whether bound or single, who’s free
Let Christ be all in all to me
Serve the Lord Christ and heed the call
In all things, He is Lord of all

Study Guide

1. What does Paul mean by “free from anxieties”? Is he referring to sinful worry, practical concerns, or both?

2. What does Paul mean by “worldly things” in this context? Does he use the term negatively?

3. What is the significance of the phrase “not to lay any restraint upon you”? What does this reveal about Paul’s tone?

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The disciples faced an enormous challenge. The Lord gave them an impossible assignment. They were to proclaim the gospel and make disciples of all nations. The challenge: many of the Jewish leaders did not believe in Christ, and their world was diverse, multicultural, and polytheistic. Yet their confidence would not be in their own abilities; it would come from the Lord Jesus Christ.

The risen Lord Jesus appears to His disciples and gives them both clarity and commission. He shows them that His suffering, death, and resurrection were not unexpected tragedies, but the fulfillment of all that was written in the Scriptures. He opens their minds to understand the Word and calls them to proclaim repentance and forgiveness to the nations. These verses serve as a bridge between Christ’s finished work and the church’s ongoing mission. In this passage, we see that the gospel is rooted in Scripture, revealed by Christ, and entrusted to faithful witnesses. This passage is another version of the Great Commission.

Fulfilled

The risen Lord Jesus reminded His disciples that everything written about Him in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms, the threefold division of the Hebrew Scriptures, must be fulfilled. He emphasized that His life, death, and resurrection were not unexpected events but the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan revealed in Scripture.

Luke 24:44-45: Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures

Then He graciously opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, showing that true understanding comes by divine illumination. Today, the Holy Spirit continues to open the minds of those who believe. For without the Triune God’s grace to understand, no one would.

Resurrection

The Scriptures foretold the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The disciples witnessed both His crucifixion and His resurrected body. They would soon proclaim these events and explain their meaning to the world.

Luke 24:46: and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead.

At the heart of this message is the truth that Christ became sin for us, as Scripture says, “He made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Jesus bore the full penalty of sin in the place of His people, satisfying the just wrath of God. On the third day, He rose from the dead. Because He was without sin, death had no claim on Him.

Repentance

The Lord Jesus instructed His disciples to proclaim repentance for the forgiveness of sins. This message was to go to all nations, starting in Jerusalem, the very place where He was crucified and raised.

Luke 24:47-48: and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things.

Repentance is not optional in gospel preaching. Jesus did not suggest this message; He commanded it. Proclaiming repentance in His name means doing so on the basis of His authority and redemptive work. Therefore, any faithful proclamation of the gospel must include a clear call to repentance. To leave it out is to neglect a central element of Christ’s own commission.

The eleven were called to be witnesses of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ. They are witnesses that repentance for forgiveness must be proclaimed to all the nations. Moreover, they are witnesses that Christ fulfilled the Old Covenant.

Application

1. Believe and proclaim that the Lord Jesus fulfilled the promises and prophecies in the Old Testament. Pray that the Holy Spirit will open our minds to understand that Christ fulfilled the Old Covenant.

2. Believe and proclaim the apostles’ witness of the suffering, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Without the resurrection, there is no gospel. It is at the heart of the gospel message. We cherish it and never tire of talking about it.

3. Christ expects that we proclaim repentance for the forgiveness of sins, in His name, and into all the nations. We should never neglect proclaiming repentance. Those who believe will truly repent, and those who repent will truly believe. To neglect to proclaim it is disobedience.

4. If people believe, we hope to nurture them in faith in a church community. If not, we pray they read the Scriptures and see the wisdom of it, so either they one day believe or they adhere to the fundamental Judeo-Christian values.

Conclusion

Our mission is to spread the apostles’ witness. Like the apostles, we face modern challenges. The battlefield is in our homes, campuses, and workplaces. In our proclamation, we should not remove the key elements of the gospel. Yet, we should be able to address present-day threats.

Here are some of the threats we are facing: atheism, deconstructionism, gender identity, moral relativism, and more. We must learn to dialogue and frame our presentation of the gospel, but the gospel remains constant. We express our willingness to work for the gospel, to live it, and even to die for it.

Poem

PROCLAIM REPENTANCE
by Ed Pilapil Jr

The Prophets, the Psalms, and the Law
According to Christ, they foresaw
The Lord Jesus and His coming
His life, suffering, and dying

It is written, the Lord did say
That He would rise on the third day
The apostles witnessed this thing
Something that we should always sing

And then the Lord commanded them 
A mission that could overwhelm
Without His Spirit of promise
Impossible, that’s the premise

The commission is to proclaim
Proclaim repentance in His name
Repentance for sins forgiveness
To all nations and nothing less

Therefore, today we should proclaim
The gospel message in His name
He suffered, died, and rose again
We preach repentance to all men

If we then neglect to proclaim
Repentance in His holy name
We disobey His clear command
I hope we fully understand 

We will not shirk; we shall explain
His finished work, it is that plain
Forgiveness of sins we must preach
Therefore, repentance, we must teach

Study Guide

1. What did Christ fulfill? What did He do with the disciples? (Lk 24:44-45)

2. What was written about Christ? (Lk 24:46)

3. What should be proclaimed in His name and to whom? (Lk 24:47-48)

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Around A.D. 60-62, Paul wrote the church in Colossae during his first Roman imprisonment. Colossae is a small city in Asia Minor (Turkey). Paul expressed his deep concern about the spread of false teaching in the area. The false teachings blended the elements of Jewish legalism, pagan mysticism, and ascetic practices (Col 2:8, 16-23). The apostle’s main intent is to affirm the preeminence, supremacy, and deity of Christ. He also instructed readers to live holy, Christ-centered lives in every sphere, both as family members and as servants to masters. As well as how masters should treat their servants (Col 4:1). The instructions still apply today for the family and the workplace.

Wholehearted Service

Paul instructed the servants to work heartily or work from the soul. It is not about external behavior, but about work from the inner person. This kind of work involves focus of the mind and willingness of the heart.

Colossians 3:23a: Whatever you do, work heartily…

What is pleasing to the Lord is not service for the sake of pleasing men or for show, but it should be done with sincerity and with the fear of the Lord. The second half of the verse confirms this as well as verse 22.

For the Lord, not People

Paul grounds the command to work heartily or from the soul to Christ. He reminds the readers that believers’ true Lord and Master is Jesus Christ. Christian servants must always have this perspective. Work well from the heart, but do it for the glory of Christ.

Colossians 3:23b: …as for the Lord and not for men

Not all masters treat their servants well. Paul instructs the masters to treat their servants justly and fairly. However, despite how masters treat their servants, servant must remain faithful, serving with the right attitude for that is the will of God.

Eternal Perspective

Why would the Christian servants do this? Because it is the Lord who will reward them, not men, and the Lord’s rewards are eternal in nature. Under Roman law, servants could not inherit anything, but in Christ, they have eternal life.

Colossians 3:24: knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

What is the implication? In whatever task, servants should work with sincerity and the fear of God. They should work well because they are dedicating their work to Christ. One can turn ordinary work into a kind of worship to the Lord

Application

1. How does this apply to us today? In our families and workplaces, let us do every task for the glory of Christ. What does that mean? It means to work well and with all our heart, and doing it to the Lord, not men.

2. How does that apply as members of Gideon International? Proclaim the gospel, distribute Bibles, and raise money. And that we should do it well with all our hearts with the fear of God, and for the glory of God.

3. What is the eternal perspective? In Christ, through His gospel, we received eternal life. The Lord Jesus commands us to proclaim and spread His word, let us continue to do so knowing that those who believe, through His grace, will have eternal life, and that you, my brother and sister, will receive God’s eternal rewards.

Poem

WHATEVER YOU DO
by Ed Pilapil Jr

Whatever you do, whatever
With a focused mind, work well
With a sincere heart, work well
Yes, all that you do, whatever

We work to please the Lord Jesus
It is not really pleasing men
Our real Master is not mere men
Our Master is the Lord Jesus

We’re gifted with eternity
That should give us some clarity
Don’t ever lose that clarity
Live and die for eternity

We live and die for Christ the Lord
Proclaim the gospel, spread His word
Proclaim the gospel, spread His word
Salvation is in Christ alone

Study Guide

1. How should true believers work? (Col. 3:23a)

2. To whom should believers dedicate their work? (Col. 3:23b)

3. Explain why believers should dedicate their work to the Lord (Col. 3:24).

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Faithful In Whatever Col

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Paul gives a heartfelt goodbye to the elders of the church in Ephesus. These are not casual remarks; they are his final words to leaders he deeply loves. Paul speaks about shepherding, about the weight and responsibility of caring for God’s people. He knows that danger is coming, both from outside the church and from within. False teachers will rise. The flock will be vulnerable. And so, Paul gives a solemn charge: guard your life, guard the flock, and entrust everything to the Word of God’s grace. This passage offers us a powerful vision of faithful pastoral ministry. It calls every leader and every church community to see shepherding not as a task of control or prestige, but as a sacred trust purchased by the blood of Christ and sustained by the grace of God.

Guard Yourself and the Flock

Paul begins with a strong command: “Pay careful attention to yourselves.” Faithful shepherding starts with the leader’s own spiritual life. If the shepherd falls, the flock is put at risk. He then says to watch over “all the flock,” reminding us that pastoral care is both personal and communal.

Acts 20:28 (ESV): Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

The elders are “overseers” not by ambition, but by the appointment of the Holy Spirit. Most profoundly, the church they shepherd was “bought with [God’s] own blood,” showing the infinite value of the people they are called to serve.

Ravenous Wolves

Paul warns that spiritual danger is certain and near. After his departure, “fierce wolves” will come in; false teachers who seek to harm, not help, the flock. These enemies are not just external; some will rise from within the very leadership circle.

Acts 20:29-30: I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; ³⁰ and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

They will twist the truth in order to lead disciples away from Christ and toward themselves. This shows that false teaching is often subtle, persuasive, and rooted in pride. Paul’s words call for discernment, vigilance, and courage in protecting the church from deception.

Be Alert

Paul urges the elders to stay alert and watchful. For three years, he modeled this vigilance by warning them night and day, even with tears. His example shows that true shepherding involves both truth and tenderness.

Acts 20:31-32: Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. ³² And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Paul entrusts them to God and to “the word of His grace.” This word, the gospel, is not only able to build them up, but also to secure their eternal inheritance. Ultimately, the strength of the church does not rest on human leaders, but on God’s power and the sufficiency of His Word.

Application

1. Spiritual leadership starts with personal integrity. As a community led by shepherds, we can’t shepherd others well if we’re not walking closely with Christ. Thus, let us walk closely with God.

2. False teaching is real and dangerous. Shepherds must guard the truth and care for the church with vigilance and love. Every leader, including small group and ministry leaders, must guard against erroneous teachings from within and from outside.

3. God’s Word, not our strength, builds the church. Entrust the flock to His grace, which sustains and secures His people. We must enjoin everyone to know His word by heart.

Poem

GUARD THE CHURCH
by Ed Pilapil Jr

Guard yourselves and the flock, Paul said
The flock belongs to Him, just Him
Wolves will take the sheep far from Him
Guard yourselves and the flock, Paul said

Beware: false teachers and shepherds
They twist the word; they are twisted
Followers will become twisted
Beware: false teachers and shepherds

Let’s lean on the word of His grace
Then follow the right example
But not the evil example
Our guide is the word of His grace

What shall we do within His church?
By grace, we’ll learn to be shepherds
Grow to become the Lord’s shepherds
Let us take care of the Lord’s church

Study Guide

1. What should spiritual leaders (elders, pastors, deacons, small group leaders) do (Ac 20:28)?

2. How are you helping protect those under your care from false teaching or spiritual harm? What practical steps can you take to shepherd with both truth and love? (Ac 20:29-30)?

3. What role do God’s Word and Paul’s example play in shaping how leaders care for the church (Acts 20:31–32)?

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Guard The Flock

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Psalm 78 recounts Israel’s long history of rebellion and God’s persistent faithfulness. Near the end of the psalm, the focus narrows from the nation to one man, David. These final verses present David not first as a warrior or king, but as a shepherd chosen and shaped by God. The passage teaches us how God raises leaders and how He defines faithfulness. It also shows that shepherding lies at the heart of godly leadership.

God’s Choice

David’s calling begins with God’s sovereign choice. David was not chosen because of status, strength, or public recognition, but because God set His favor upon him. The sheepfold was a place of obscurity, yet it became the training ground for kingship.

Psalm 78:70, ESV: He chose David his servant
and took him from the sheepfolds

This reminds us that God often prepares His servants in hidden places before placing them in visible roles. What looks insignificant to others is often essential in God’s design.

Preparation

David’s responsible service for his father’s sheep becomes the model for his leadership over Israel. The skills learned in ordinary faithfulness required patience, courage, and attentiveness. These were exactly what God intended to use for the good of His people.

Psalm 78:71: from following the nursing ewes he brought him
to shepherd Jacob his people,
Israel his inheritance.

Leadership in Scripture is similar to shepherding. God does not abandon the shepherd model when David becomes king; He elevates it. Ruling God’s people means guarding, guiding, and nurturing them.

Qualities

Psalm 78 concludes by defining true leadership through integrity of heart and skillful action. David’s shepherding succeeds not because of power alone, but because God shapes his character and conduct.

Psalm 78:72: With upright heart he shepherded them
and guided them with his skillful hand.

This verse sets the biblical standard for leadership among God’s people, where faithfulness of heart and wisdom in practice belong together. Shepherding with integrity and skill is for the family, small community, or a nation.

Application

1. Let us remember that God often chooses and prepares His servants in hidden places before giving them leadership responsibility. Thus, we must be faithful and responsible servants of God.

2. Let us understand that God equips His servants through caring for others before entrusting them with greater responsibility. We should learn to shepherd faithfully, knowing that serving His people well prepares us.

3. Let us pursue integrity of heart and skillful shepherding in all that God entrusts to us. We should remember that faithful leadership is measured by godly character and wise action under God’s hand.

Poem

GOD’S SHEPHERD
by Ed Pilapil Jr

God chose David as His shepherd
David sang, and the flock had heard
Songs that Israel also heard
It is clear; God chose His shepherd

From the small flock to the nation
‘Twas God’s way of preparation
Not man’s way of preparation
Godly men must lead the nation

God shaped King David’s upright heart
It began with a humble start
A small assignment was the start
We must lead with an upright heart

Shepherding skills are a blessing
God’s gift; it’s among many things
The LORD of all decrees all things
The Good Shepherd is our blessing

Study Guide

1. God chose David. Describe David (Ps 78:70).

2. What may we learn about God’s preparation for David (Ps 78:71)?

3. How did David shepherd Israel? Describe the two qualities (Ps 78:72).

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Psalm 23, from the Book of Psalms, is attributed to David, who writes as one who knew shepherding firsthand. By declaring, “The LORD is my shepherd,” David uses covenant language to describe a personal relationship with YHWH marked by provision, guidance, and protection. In the ancient context, shepherd imagery also conveyed kingship and responsibility, making this a bold confession of trust in God’s rule. The psalm does not deny danger but interprets every circumstance through the assurance of the LORD’s faithful presence.

Provision & Restoration

David declares that the LORD is his shepherd, and he lacks nothing he truly needs. The Shepherd provides rest and nourishment, and He leads the sheep to green pastures and quiet waters. David acknowledges the blessings of provision and restoration coming from God.

Psalm 23:1-3: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
² He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
³ He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.

The LORD restores the soul, and He renews strength that has been worn down.
He leads His people in the right paths, and His guidance is righteous, good, and trustworthy. All of this is done for His name’s sake, and it displays the faithfulness of God’s character.

Security & Comfort

David acknowledges that the path of life includes deep and dangerous valleys.
The valley is dark and threatening, yet the psalmist chooses not to fear.
Fear is removed not by the absence of danger, but by the presence of the LORD.

Psalm 23:4: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

David shifts from speaking about God to speaking directly to Him, and this shows deep trust. The rod and the staff symbolize protection and guidance; they also bring comfort with discipline. Even in the darkest valley, the Shepherd is near, and His presence is enough.

Vindication & Worship

The LORD prepares a table before David in the presence of his enemies, and this act signals divine vindication. The anointing and the overflowing cup express honor and abundance, and they show that God openly favors His servant.
The images point to spiritual blessing, fellowship, and security in the presence of God.

Psalm 23:5-6: You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

For believers in Christ, the prepared table points to our vindication through His finished work. The anointing and overflowing cup reflect grace and honor received in Him. These images assure us of blessing, fellowship with God, and a secure future. The believer, like David, should desire worship all the days of his life.

Application

1. Let us trust the LORD’s provision and guidance rather than rely on ourselves. We must glorify His name for every blessing we receive: spiritual, mental, emotional, material, or physical.

2. Let us remember that God’s presence, not the absence of danger, gives courage. Be assured of His guidance, protection, discipline, and comfort in times of difficulty. Therefore, let us always trust in Him.

3. Let us trust that God vindicates and faithfully keeps His people even in opposition. May we forever enjoy His presence; His house resembles the assembly of His people to worship and listen to His word.

Poem

SHEPHERD OF MY SOUL
by Ed Pilapil Jr

The LORD is my Shepherd, that’s true
The Shepherd leads to green pastures
Streams of water and green pastures
The LORD is my Shepherd, that’s true

He restores my soul, O my soul
Our whole being, the LORD consoles
Mind and emotions, He consoles
He is the One who saves my soul

Through the valley that’s dark and deep
The LORD will take care of His sheep
He’ll protect and comfort His sheep
Thus, no fear of the dark and deep

Despite the enemies, there’s a feast
And His provisions will not cease
Our worship will also not cease
We will have a spiritual feast

Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd
His words must be read and be heard
Teach and share the gospel we’ve heard
Jesus is Savior and Shepherd

Study Guide

1. In Psalm 23:1-3, what titles and actions are attributed to the LORD in these verses?

2. Explain the blessings of the Shepherd to the sheep in the valley of death (Psalm 23:4). What does the Shepherd use His rod and staff?

3. What does the Psalmist explain about the Shepherd concerning the enemies and the future (Psalm 23:5-6)? What is the desire of the psalmist?

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Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and He explains why. It is because He lays His life down for the sheep. The metaphor is of eternal significance. His sacrifice will bring forgiveness and a sense of belonging to the lost. Furthermore, Jesus knows His sheep and is known by them, and this relationship reflects His unity with the Father. He also gathers other sheep into one flock, and He rules them as the Good Shepherd.

John 10:11, ESV: I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Hired Hand

Jesus describes the hired hand and contrasts him with the true shepherd.
The hired hand does not own the sheep, so his connection to them is weak.
When the wolf comes, he sees the danger, and he runs away.
The sheep are left unprotected and scattered by the wolf.

John 10:12-13: He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. ¹³ He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

Jesus explains this action clearly, for the hired hand does not care for the sheep.
This passage warns against selfish leadership, and it highlights Christ as the Shepherd who stays and protects His flock.

Jesus Knows His Own

Jesus declares again that He is the Good Shepherd. He knows His sheep personally, and they know Him in return. This knowledge is relational, and it is marked by trust and belonging.

John 10:14-15: I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Jesus compares this relationship to the perfect knowledge between the Father and the Son. The closeness between Christ and His sheep flows from this divine relationship. Because He knows His sheep so fully, He willingly lays down His life for them.

Lost Sheep

Jesus speaks of sheep who are not part of the present fold. These sheep are not simply lost Israelites, because Jesus says they are not of this fold at all. They also represent Gentiles who are currently unbelievers but already belong to Him by divine purpose.

John 10:16: And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

Jesus says they will listen to His voice, which points to their future response in faith. When they are gathered, there will not be separate groups, but one united people. Christ Himself will shepherd both Jews and Gentiles as one flock under His rule, which is the church.

Application

1. Let us place our trust in Christ rather than in human leaders who may fail or flee. This passage assures us that the Good Shepherd remains with His people in danger and suffering, and He never abandons His flock.

2. Christ knows His sheep. If we are His sheep, then let us know Him through His word. Let us believe in the significance of why He laid His life for all who would believe. Remember that it is a personal knowledge not merely intellectual.

3. Let us remember that Christ’s saving work reaches beyond our circle of influence. This passage calls us to share the gospel with confidence, trusting that the Shepherd is already calling His sheep.

Poem

GOOD SHEPHERD
by Ed Pilapil Jr

I AM the Good Shepherd, He said
Jesus laid down His life; He bled
For the sake of our souls, He bled
I AM the Good Shepherd, He said

The hired hand will run from danger
For the sheep, he is a stranger
The Good Shepherd is no stranger
His sheep will not be in danger

Trust the Lord Jesus Christ alone
The Shepherd knows, and He is known
By the sheep that’s chosen and known
The Good Shepherd is Christ alone

He’ll gather the lost in His name
For all peoples, nations, He came
To save our souls, that’s why He came
Thus, we believe only in His name

Study Guide

1. What actions and qualities does Jesus repeatedly attribute to Himself as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-13)?

2. How does Jesus describe the difference between the good shepherd and the hired hand, and what specific outcomes result (3 John 5-6)?

3. What does Jesus say about the sheep who are not of this fold, and what will happen to them according to His words (John 10:16)?

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The wisdom of Proverbs is not abstract or detached, but deeply rooted in the Torah and the Old Testament narratives. It helps believers in Christ to live wisely in daily life. The main themes include trusting and fearing the LORD, turning away from evil, living wisely, taming the tongue, relationships, and community.

Trust Him and Not the Self

To trust in the LORD with all your heart means placing your full confidence in the covenant-keeping God who redeemed Israel from Egypt and who saves us through Christ Jesus. It is trusting who He is and trusting His Word, both His commands and His promises.

Proverbs 3:5, ESV: Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.

To trust in the LORD is to refuse self-reliance. Though God gives wisdom, we must remain humble, trusting not human brilliance, plans, or emotional impulses, but submitting every decision to the guidance of God’s Word.

Straight Paths

Wisdom calls people to acknowledge Him in all their ways. In the Jewish context, it means remembering, respecting, and obeying the covenant. For believers in Christ, it is remembering, believing, and obeying the new covenant in all that they do.

Proverbs 3:6: In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.

The wise person acknowledges the LORD, which means refusing to lean on one’s own understanding. The promise of the straight path is not easy, but God’s guidance into a life ordered by righteousness and aligned with His will.

Biblical Wisdom

Biblical wisdom is defined by humility rather than self-confidence: fearing the LORD and turning from evil stands opposed to being wise in one’s own eyes. The promise of healing and refreshment shows that reverent obedience leads to life and wholeness, as living in submission to God’s order brings true well-being.

Proverbs 3:7-8: Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
⁸ It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.

Humility before the LORD is set against self-made wisdom, echoing the law’s call to fear God and walk in His ways (Dt. 10:12). Israel’s history shows that pride leads to ruin, while reverent obedience brings life and blessing. Thus, fearing the LORD and turning from evil aligns the whole person with God’s will.

Application

1. Let us fully trust the Triune God; let us believe and obey the Word. Our hope and salvation are in Christ’s gospel alone. As we fear and turn away from evil, may our paths be straight and bodies be healed.

2. Let us also reject false forms of enlightenment: pseudo-intellectualism, modern gnostic thinking, crank confidence, the Dunning-Kruger effect, confirmation bias, parrot thinking, messianic self-importance, and self-taught arrogance. Instead, let us humbly submit to God’s Word.

3. Let us also not trust emotional impulses such as self-pity, euphoria, despair, envy, anxiety, anger, fear, blame, or withdrawal from God’s people. Instead, let us bring our emotions under the authority of God’s Word and learn to respond in faith rather than impulse.

Poem

Healed and Refreshed
by Ed Pilapil Jr

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
Is that easy or is that hard?
Unless I surrender, it’s hard
Thus, I surrender my whole heart

Don’t turn to your understanding
Break free from natural leaning
False enlightenment, stop leaning
Lean on Scripture understanding

I do not trust the plans I made
Traced by confidence, neatly laid
I will trust in the plans He laid
I trust the path that God has made

I turn from false enlightenment
Why be deceived by fallen men?
We should now walk with godly men
From His word is enlightenment

Fear God, O my soul, fear Him
Turn away from evil and sin
In Christ is forgiveness of sin
Therefore, I shall believe in Him

Our paths will be righteous and straight 
Let’s remove the self-righteous state
We remember our fallen state
By grace, we walk the road that’s straight

O my bones, be healed and refreshed
Trust in Him, He will give you rest
Yes, the soul and body shall rest
O my soul, be healed and refreshed

Study Guide

1. What does it practically look like to trust the LORD with all your heart, and in what ways are you tempted to lean on your own understanding: intellectually, emotionally, or strategically?

2. How does acknowledging the LORD in all your ways reshape your decision-making, and how does the promise of a “straight path” differ from simply expecting an easy outcome?

3. How does being “wise in your own eyes” show up subtly in your life, and how does fearing the LORD and turning from evil lead to the kind of wholeness and renewal described in these verses?

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Healed And Refreshed Prov 3

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Ginhawa Prov 3

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