God Save the World, Inc. gracias hermanos y hermanas, aquí en Manila es Buenas Tardes como el tiempo aquí es 3:15 pm, vamos a adorar el Dios en espiritu y verdad. por favor, no te olvides de enviar su mensaje con Dios salvar al mundo-https / facebook/pages/God-Save-the-World-Inc/293577334015293 God Save the World, Inc. GOD SAVE THE WORLD, INC. (GSW) was incorporated on April 2, 2001 by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mandaluyong, Metro manila PhilippinesWill very few be savedd???---21st Sundayi n ordinary time Aug 25, 2013 First reading Isaiah 66:18-21 -18 “I can see what they are doing, and I know what they are thinking. So I will gather all nations and peoples together, and they will see my glory. 19 I will perform a sign among them. And I will send those who survive to be messengers to the nations—to Tarshish, to the Libyans* and Lydians* (who are famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece,* and to all the lands beyond the sea that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. There they will declare my glory to the nations. 20 They will bring the remnant of your people back from every nation. They will bring them to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the Lord. They will ride on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels,” says the Lord. 21 “And I will appoint some of those who return to be my priests and Levites. I, the Lord, have spoken!---- This is a vivid picture of the great judgment that will occur at Christ’s second coming (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). God’s people will go out as missionaries to all parts of the earth—to Tarshish (Spain), to the Libyans in northern Africa, to the Lydians in western Asia Minor, to northeastern Asia Minor (Tubal), and to Greece. Second reading Hebrews 12:5-7; 11-13--15 And have you entirely forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you, his children? He said, “My child, don’t ignore it when the Lord disciplines you, and don’t be discouraged when he corrects you. 6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes those he accepts as his children.”* 7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who was never disciplined? 12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs. 13 Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong.--- Difficult times may come as a result of God’s discipline. In fact, discipline is so important that the writer explains it as the normal experience of believers. The believers should have remembered the words of Proverbs 3:11-12, which say, My child, don’t ignore it when the Lord disciplines you, and don’t be discouraged when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes those he accepts as his children. He cares about us enough to help us mature. Like a loving father, he wants us to stay away from what would hurt us and to move along the path toward maturity. Sometimes that involves discipline. Gospel Luke 13:22-30--22 Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He replied, 24 “The door to heaven is narrow. Work hard to get in, because many will try to enter, 25 but when the head of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. Then you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know you.’ 26 You will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you. Go away, all you who do evil.’ 28 “And there will be great weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets within the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out. 29 Then people will come from all over the world to take their places in the Kingdom of God. 30 And note this: Some who are despised now will be greatly honored then; and some who are greatly honored now will be despised then.* ”----- This is the second reminder that Jesus was intentionally pressing on toward Jerusalem (the other time is in 9:51). Jesus knew he was on his way to die, but he continued traveling and teaching. The prospect of death did not deter Jesus from his mission. The question about whether only a few or many people would be saved was a topic of debate and much speculation among the rabbis. Jesus refused to be drawn into taking a side in this argument; instead, he urged his listeners to be among those who would be saved, no matter what the final number might be. He told his audience to work hard to get in. The word “work” means to put one’s whole self into the task of listening and responding. Jesus did not explain the narrow door, but the picture is of a way that one must seek out and then enter into while it is still open. Although many people know something about God, only a few have acknowledged their sins and accepted his forgiveness. Just listening to Jesus’ words or admiring his miracles is not enough—all must turn from sin and trust in God for salvation. Regardless of how many would be saved, Jesus said that many will try to enter, but it will be too late. The time for decision would pass them by. Familiarity with Jesus will not count when God’s Kingdom arrives and people rush to be a part of it. When the door is locked, the time for salvation will have passed, and they will not be able to enter. While many will claim to have eaten with him and listened to his teaching, they had not turned to him in faith for salvation. Such people will be utterly rejected, for Jesus will simply say, “I do not know you.” Such words will be the final pronouncement of rejection on those who rejected him. They will be sent away from God and the Kingdom. When the door is shut and they are sent away, there will be intense sorrow (weeping and gnashing of teeth). Jesus pictured them looking in the windows at the ancestors on whom they had depended for their salvation—the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They will also see all the prophets, many of whom had been slain for speaking God’s messages. These men had not had the opportunity to see the Messiah, but they had loved God, believed his promises, and trusted that he would accomplish what he said. Thus, they received places in the Kingdom. By contrast, many of these Jewish people, who did have the opportunity to eat and drink with and then listen to the teachings of the Messiah himself (13:26), subsequently rejected him. For such rejection they would be thrown out of the Kingdom. God’s Kingdom will include people from all over the world. Israel’s rejection of Jesus as Messiah would not stop God’s plan. True Israel includes all people who believe in God (see Isaiah 49:12). The inclusion of Gentiles in God’s Kingdom had been prophesied, but it still would have astounded Jesus’ Jewish audience to hear of the Gentiles being involved in God’s Kingdom at all. This was an important fact for Luke to stress because he was directing his Gospel to a Gentile audience (see also Romans 4:16-25; Galatians 3:6-9). Even worse for these Jews, however, was the statement that some of them might not have places at the feast.
Posted on: Sun, 25 Aug 2013 07:23:38 +0000
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