One Responds in Rizal, Kalinga

Our Monday began with a drive of about one hour to work with the Centro Rizal church which is in the province of Kalinga. Brother Geronimo Ganela preaches regularly with this congregation. While we had to pass the same rough highway as yesterday, the building is very near the highway, so we avoided the pothole tour experienced yesterday. For this, I am very grateful!

The day’s meeting began with the singing of numerous songs, many in the dialect, and then the preaching. Rody began with a lesson on “Problems Facing the Church.” I followed with a lesson on the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7) showing it is the foundation of the gospel message, not a correction of misunderstandings about the old law. We noted in some detail how the gospel differs in purpose, nature and substance from the law of Moses. We ended by making application to how a misunderstanding of the Sermon on the Mount has led many in denominations to believe we are still under that law and justify their religious practices on the basis of that law. We noted the same problem with those among brethren who have abused this passage in an effort to teach their “One Eternal Covenant” theories as well as false teaching on divorce and remarriage.

After lunch, we had numerous songs and one sermon. I preached on “Grace, Faith and Works: Is Obedience Essential to Salvation?” It was a first principles lesson showing how grace, faith and works obedience come together in God’s plan for our salvation. After the lesson, brother Geronimo Ganela extended the invitation and Ben Vistro led a song of invitation. One man responded to the Lord’s call, confessed his faith and was baptized into Christ.

Thank you again for your prayers and support. God bless!