Yearly Archives: 2023

Nuestra responsabilidad con la Biblia

Posted on by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

Hay cuatro pasajes en el Nuevo Testamento donde se usan adjetivos para describir “la Palabra de Dios” y donde se nos informa de nuestra responsabilidad como tal hacia ella.

Por ejemplo, en Santiago 1:21 se le llama la Palabra “injertada” o “implantada”, y como tal se nos aconseja “recibirla” “con mansedumbre” ya que es “poderosa para salvar [nuestras] almas”. La Palabra de Dios, de hecho, tiene una manera de meterse debajo, de meterse “bajo nuestra piel”, por así decirlo. No se siembra simplemente, se planta en el corazón de los hombres y, a menudo, los hace miserables al convencerlos de pecado y de su necesidad de salvación a través de Cristo. Cuando hace esto, dice el Apóstol: “recíbanlo” “con mansedumbre” porque es “poderoso para salvar vuestras almas”.

Luego, en Tito 1:9, se le llama “la Palabra fiel”, y como tal se nos insta a “retenerla”. “Dios no es hombre, para que mienta, ni hijo de hombre para que se arrepienta”. Podemos contar con seguridad en Su Palabra y actuar en consecuencia.

Luego, en Filipenses 2:16, la Biblia es llamada “la Palabra de vida”, y como tal debemos “presentarla”. Sólo la Palabra de Dios tiene poder para regenerar y dar vida espiritual. San Pedro dice que los creyentes son “renacidos, no de simiente corruptible, sino de incorruptible, por la Palabra de Dios que vive y permanece para siempre” (I Pedro 1:23). Por lo tanto, deberíamos “ofrecerlo” a los hombres perdidos como su única esperanza de vida eterna.

Finalmente, en II Tim. 2:15 se llama “la Palabra de verdad”, y como tal se nos dice que “la usemos correctamente”. Si fallamos en dividirla correctamente, podemos convertir la verdad en error, porque Dios no siempre ha tratado de la misma manera con la humanidad. Abel tuvo que traer un sacrificio animal para la salvación (Hebreos 11:4). A los hijos de Israel se les dijo que “guardaran” la ley “en verdad” para encontrar la aceptación de Dios (Ex. 19:5,6). Pero más tarde Pablo declaró por inspiración divina: “No por obras de justicia que nosotros hubiéramos hecho, sino por su misericordia nos salvó, por el lavamiento de la regeneración y la renovación en el Espíritu Santo” (Tito 3:5).

"Dos Minutos con la Biblia" le permite comenzar el día con artículos de estudio bíblicos breves pero potentes de la Sociedad Bíblica Berea. Regístrate ahora para recibir Dos Minutos con la Biblia todos los días en tu bandeja de entrada de correo electrónico. Nunca compartiremos tu información personal y puedes cancelar tu suscripción en cualquier momento.

Choosing What to Focus On – II Corinthians 4:16-18

Posted on by Pastor John Fredericksen

On November 14th, 2008, I awoke to a house on fire. A contractor working on the home we built cut a corner on the fireplace. He was supposed to install a triple lined stainless steel pipe, but he only did so until he reached the attic. The result was a fire that burned almost everything we had accumulated over thirty years of marriage. My wife and I stood there and watched it all burn. Rather than focus on all we lost, together we made a conscious decision to fill our minds with all God had given us and continually praise Him for these things. This gave us victory.

Just because we know the Lord Jesus as Savior doesn’t mean He is going to spare us trials and hardships. Even the great Apostle Paul’s life was filled with problems. He said, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed…perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus…” (II Corinthians 6:4-10). Paul tells us he was beaten five different times with “forty stripes save one, thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned.” He was also shipwrecked, in constant peril and “in weariness and pain” (II Corinthians 11:23-27). Such a list makes most of us wonder how he could remain faithful and keep from being crushed under the weight of discouragement.

The answer is found in II Corinthians 4:16-18. His victory began with being continually in God’s Word so “…the inward man is renewed day by day” (vs. 16). Then, being spiritually strengthened by the power of the Scriptures, he made a conscious decision to look at every trial from a proper perspective. He chose to view all the negative things that had happened to him as only “light affliction, which is but for a moment” (vs. 17a). He didn’t magnify the hurt. He minimized it, remembering that, in light of eternity, it only lasted a short while and his faithfulness through it all would bring him eternal reward. Finally, he did not constantly dwell on his trials. He chose to “…look not at the things which are seen…but at the things which are…eternal” (vs. 18). His victory was a matter of proper focus.

You too can have victory even when severe trial comes your way. But, it will depend on what you choose to focus on. Focus on God, His Word, and eternity.

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Start each day with short, devotional articles taken from the book Daily Transformation by Pastor John Fredericksen. As Pastor Fredericksen writes in the introduction:

"We welcome you, as you journey with us..., to not only learn information, but to benefit from examples of faith and failure, and seek to apply God’s Word to every day life. Together, let’s transition from only studying theories of doctrine, to applying God’s truths in a practical way every day. May God use these studies to help you find daily transformation."


Elegir en qué enfocarnos – II Cor.4:16-18

Posted on by Pastor John Fredericksen

El 14 de noviembre de 2008, me desperté en una casa en llamas. Un contratista que trabaja en la casa que construimos cortó una esquina en la chimenea. Se suponía que debía instalar una tubería de acero inoxidable con triple recubrimiento, pero solo lo hizo hasta que llegó al ático. El resultado fue un incendio que quemó casi todo lo que habíamos acumulado durante treinta años de matrimonio. Mi esposa y yo estuvimos allí y lo vimos arder. En lugar de centrarnos en todo lo que perdimos, juntos tomamos la decisión consciente de llenar nuestras mentes con todo lo que Dios nos había dado y continuamente alabarlo por estas cosas. Esto nos dio la victoria.

Solo porque conocemos al Señor Jesús como Salvador no significa que Él nos va a ahorrar pruebas y dificultades. Incluso la vida del gran apóstol Pablo estuvo llena de problemas. Él dijo: “Estamos atribulados en todo pero no angustiados; perplejos pero no desesperados; perseguidos pero no desamparados; abatidos pero no destruidos. Siempre llevamos en el cuerpo la muerte de Jesús”(II Corintios 6: 4-10). Pablo nos dice que fue golpeado cinco veces con “cuarenta azotes menos uno, tres veces he sido flagelado con varas; una vez he sido apedreado”. También naufragó, en constante peligro y “una noche y un día he estado en lo profundo del mar” (II Corintios 11:23-27). Tal lista hace que la mayoría de nosotros nos preguntemos cómo podemos permanecer fiel y evitar ser aplastados bajo el peso del desaliento.

La respuesta se encuentra en II Corintios 4: 16-18. Su victoria comenzó con seguir continuamente en la Palabra de Dios así que el hombre en “… interior, sin embargo, se va renovando de día en día” (vs.16). Luego, siendo espiritualmente fortalecido por el poder de las Escrituras, tomó la decisión consciente de mirar cada juicio desde una perspectiva apropiada. Él eligió ver todas las cosas negativas que le habían sucedido como solo una leve aflicción, “Porque nuestra momentánea y leve tribulación produce para nosotros un eterno peso de gloria más que incomparable” (vs.17a). Él no magnificó el daño. Él lo minimizó, recordando que, a la luz de la eternidad, solo duró un poco y su fidelidad a través de todo eso le traería la recompensa eterna. Finalmente, no se detuvo constantemente en sus pruebas. Eligió no fijar la vista “en las cosas que se ven sino en las que no se ven; porque las que se ven son temporales, mientras que las que no se ven son eternas” (vs.18). Su victoria fue una cuestión de enfoque adecuado.

Tu también puedes tener la victoria incluso cuando te enfrentas con pruebas severas. Pero, dependerá de en lo que te enfoques. Enfócate en Dios, Su Palabra y la eternidad.

Comience cada día con artículos devocionales breves tomados del libro Daily Transformation del pastor John Fredericksen. Como escribe el pastor Fredericksen en la introducción: "Le damos la bienvenida, mientras viaja con nosotros..., no sólo para aprender información, sino también para beneficiarse de ejemplos de fe y fracaso, y tratar de aplicar la Palabra de Dios a la vida diaria. Juntos , pasemos de estudiar únicamente teorías de doctrina a aplicar las verdades de Dios de manera práctica todos los días. Que Dios use estos estudios para ayudarte a encontrar la transformación diaria."

¿A quién vino Cristo a salvar?

Posted on by Pastor Ricky Kurth

Hace años, una firma de corretaje conocida como E. F. Hutton transmitió un comercial de televisión que presentaba a dos personas hablando sobre inversiones financieras en medio de una sala llena de gente. Cuando uno le dijo al otro: “Bueno, mi corredor es E. F. Hutton, y E. F. Hutton dice…”, todas las personas a su alrededor callaron sus conversaciones y se inclinaron hacia ellos para no perderse el consejo de E. F. Hutton. Pensé en esto recientemente cuando leí 1 Timoteo 1:15:

“Palabra fiel y digna de ser recibida por todos: que Cristo Jesús vino al mundo para salvar a los pecadores…”

Imagina que no eres salvo y estás escuchando ese versículo leído en la iglesia. Si el pastor se detuviera en la palabra “salvar” para pasar la página, me atrevo a decir que se inclinaría hacia adelante en su asiento con entusiasmo para no perderse la oportunidad de escuchar a quién Cristo había venido a salvar. Cuán agradecido estarías cuando escucharas que Él vino a salvar a los pecadores, porque si eres honesto tienes que admitir que estás entre “todos” los que “han pecado” (Rom. 3:23).

Pero las noticias no habrían sido tan buenas para ti si hubieras sido un gentil leyendo la Biblia antes de la inclusión de las epístolas de Pablo. Cuando el ángel le dijo a José que su esposa María daría a luz un hijo, añadió: “Él salvará a su pueblo de sus pecados” (Mt. 1:21), y el pueblo del Señor eran judíos. ¿No te alegra que el apóstol Pablo dejara claro más tarde que Cristo vino a salvar a los pecadores, ya fueran judíos o gentiles?

Cuando Pablo dice que este dicho es “digno de ser recibido por todos”, quiere decir que no hay parte de él que no sea digno de creer y aceptar. ¡Eso no es cierto para todos los viejos dichos! Dicen que no hay nada cierto en este mundo excepto la muerte y los impuestos, pero ese dicho no es digno de toda tu aceptación si eres salvo. Siempre habrá impuestos, pero su muerte es todo menos segura ya que el Rapto podría llegar durante su vida. Los cristianos no buscamos al sepulturero, buscamos al “arrebatador” (Tit. 2:13).

Pero si no eres salvo, “Cristo Jesús vino al mundo para salvar a los pecadores” es un dicho que merece toda tu aceptación. Cristo vino al mundo y vino a salvar a los pecadores como tú. Si la mayor necesidad de los hombres fuera la educación, Dios nos hubiera enviado un maestro. Si nuestra mayor necesidad fuera el dinero, Él nos habría enviado un economista. Si nuestra mayor necesidad fuera la filosofía, Él nos habría enviado un filósofo. Pero nuestra mayor necesidad era la salvación, por lo que nos envió un Salvador que murió por nuestros pecados y resucitó (I Corintios 15:3,4). “Cree en el Señor Jesucristo y serás salvo” (Hechos 16:31).

"Dos Minutos con la Biblia" le permite comenzar el día con artículos de estudio bíblicos breves pero potentes de la Sociedad Bíblica Berea. Regístrate ahora para recibir Dos Minutos con la Biblia todos los días en tu bandeja de entrada de correo electrónico. Nunca compartiremos tu información personal y puedes cancelar tu suscripción en cualquier momento.

An Adversary Arrives

Posted on by Pastor Don Hosfeld

Sometimes the most challenging thing to face in life is the truth, but that won’t be the only obstacle we will find in front of us. One of those hard-to-face truths is that being on God’s side means being opposed by the world and, more to the point, the god of this world—Satan. Being a member of the Body of Christ means you have an adversary.

Theologian James Packer said, “Opposition is a fact: the Christian who is not conscious of being opposed had better watch himself for he is in danger.”

Our adversary has always been opposed to the people of God and every good work of God. One such example occurred over 2500 years ago when the Jews returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian captivity to rebuild the temple.

“Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the Lord God of Israel;
“Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers…” (Ezra 4:1,2).

In 538 BC, Cyrus, king of Persia, after defeating the Babylonians the year prior, allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple (Ezra 1:1,2). In one of the most remarkable events of the Bible, God foretold all this long before it happened. While predicting the future is not unusual for the Bible, what sets this event apart is that God named Cyrus by name nearly two hundred years before his birth (one of eight people God named before their birth) and foretold that he would be the one who would cause the temple to be rebuilt (cf. Isa. 44:28; 45:1).

Keep in mind that this prophecy was before the temple was even destroyed and Judah was taken into captivity. A prophecy about rebuilding the temple not yet destroyed must have been a difficult truth to accept for Isaiah’s listeners.

And now, with God’s people back in Jerusalem and at work rebuilding the temple, doing what God wants and expects, what happens? An adversary arrives.

The timing should surprise no one and should serve as a lesson to us today! Satan always comes when God and His people are at work. Just as we see here in Ezra 4:1,2, “Now when the adversaries…heard that the children of the captivity builded….Then they came….”

This pattern of Satan is undoubtedly why demonic possession occurred as often as it did during Christ’s earthly ministry. With the Son of God on earth and at work in people’s lives, His adversary would also be.

It should be expected that when someone today comes to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, that person will quickly face opposition. We need to be in constant prayer for new believers, much like Paul and Timothy told the Colossians, “…praying always for you since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus…” (Col. 1:3,4).

Who’s the Real Adversary?

The leaders of this return were Zerubbabel, the political leader from the line of David, and Jeshua, the High Priest (cf. Ezra 2:2; 5:2). They and the rest of those who came back to Jerusalem quickly found that despite having a commission from God, the work wouldn’t go unopposed. In this situation, Satan used the local population around Jerusalem to be his opposition. Does that sound like a familiar tactic?

“Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building…” (Ezra 4:4).

Despite what our emotions or even our eyes and ears may tell us, it’s clear from Scripture that the true adversary isn’t other people, even unbelievers, but Satan and the rest of the fallen heavenly host. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12).

The name Satan means adversary. It is who he is and what he is. Thayer defines adversary as “an opponent in a suit of law.” Webster’s 1824 Dictionary likewise defines it as “an opponent, as in a suit at law.” Consider the prophet Zechariah’s vision about Jeshua, the High Priest, and Satan, Judah’s adversary.

“And He shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him” (Zech. 3:1).

Zechariah is describing a vision of Jeshua (also called Joshua cf. Hag. 1:12,14) in a heavenly courtroom standing before the Angel of the Lord and representing the people of Judah. Standing opposed and accusing them was Satan.

Matthew 5:25, Luke 12:58, and Luke 18:3 (three of the five uses in the N.T.) all use adversary in relation to judges or magistrates. This is precisely how the “people of the land” troubled the people of Judah in rebuilding the temple. They “hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose.…And…wrote they unto him [the king] an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem” (Ezra 4:5,6).

These people will one day be called Samaritans, and their actions here are one of the reasons why there was so much hostility towards them during Christ’s day.

Much like Israel’s animosity toward the Samaritans described in the gospels, it would be easy for us to become frustrated with “the people of the land” around us and develop bitterness towards those who oppose what is good. We too, could rationalize our bad actions as being justified. Yet another one of those very challenging truths we face is that we are told, “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not” (Rom. 12:14), “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men” (v. 17), and “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (v. 21).

The truth can be hard to accept at times, and it can also hurt when we learn that we’ve failed to live up to it. Or we can accept what’s true, make the necessary changes, and be better off for it. This is the same situation our returning exiles had to face.

A Tactical Approach

We should note well that the people of the land didn’t simply try to weaken the hands of the returning exiles, but verse four is clear that they did weaken them. Verse 24 confirms the situation: “Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem.”

Getting them to stop the work on the temple was a problem for multiple reasons. At that time, the temple was where man could approach God and worship Him. Not having the temple rebuilt wasn’t simply a matter of pride for the Jewish nation, but a necessity for them to fulfill many of the requirements of the Law (cf. Deut. 12:11,14; 16:16).

Hindering the work of the Lord by creating fear, confusion, despair, and frustration is just as common today and just as successful. The Apostle Paul often wrote of his adversaries, those committed to preventing the work he was given to do. He also warned those who come after him to expect our adversaries to come, and what we should do.

“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast…striving together for the faith of the gospel;
“And in nothing terrified by your adversaries….
“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Phil. 1:27-29).

Perhaps the greatest of Paul’s examples for us today is that he never allowed Satan’s opposition to stop him from ministry. And thus, he could say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness…” (2 Tim. 4:7,8 cf. Acts 20:24; 1 Cor. 9:24-27; Phil. 1:20). Ministry is work, and ministry must continue.

Another reason this work of rebuilding the temple needed to continue is that Jeremiah and Isaiah prophesied that both Jerusalem and the temple would be rebuilt (cf. Isa. 44:28; Jer. 30:18; 31:38). Not being done was not an option; the work needed to continue.

Something else for us to consider from the actions of these adversaries is that “they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers” (Ezra 4:2). They came to the leaders. It’s easy for people to condemn the actions of leaders, but we should also recognize that they are often the ones sitting directly in the line of fire of those in opposition. Leaders, political and within the church, need our prayers more than our ridicule.

The Oppressed Are Strengthened

“Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them” (Ezra 5:1).

As a result of the building process being stopped, God raised up and sent two prophets to reprimand them for stopping, and encourage them to start building again.

“Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.
“Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying,
“Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?
“Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.
“Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
“Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways” (Hag. 1:2-7).

The people had not only stopped building God’s house and the city of Jerusalem, which was the very reason they were sent back (cf. Ezra 1:3), they instead had been building their own homes with extravagant features like wood paneled roofs (ceiled houses Hag. 1:4).

But God didn’t send His rebuke alone; He also sent the encouragement these people desperately needed.

“Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts” (Hag. 2:4).

What a picture: when we feel ill-equipped for the work before us, or we’ve allowed fear and frustration to stop us in our tracks, even to get sidetracked to the point of being more concerned about our comfort than His glory, it is the Word of God that can strengthen and encourage us to get back on course—Like it caused twelve frightened apostles in hiding to come out from the shadows and boldly proclaim that they would not be stopped from the work that the Lord called them to do (cf. Acts 5:29).

Much like the time “there arose a great dissension” against Paul such that “the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle” (Acts 23:10).

Was Paul struggling because of this? We don’t know; but we do know what Christ did: He spoke to him and encouraged him. “And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul…” (v. 11).

No wonder he could say at the close of his final epistle, “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion” (2 Tim. 4:17).

Are we less equipped today because we don’t have a prophet declaring God’s Word? Must the Lord stand next to us to give us His Words to strengthen us? The Scriptures are just as capable of encouraging us today as God’s Word did at any other time.

And the Lord Will Stand Victorious

“The further the soul advances, the greater are the adversaries against which it must contend.” – Evagrius of Ponticus

The thing about God’s adversaries, they aren’t interested in what’s true or not. The “people of the land” used dishonest accusations against the Jews in the letter they wrote to the king to get the work stopped (cf. Ezra 4:16).

Another sure thing is that they will not stop—at least not until Christ Himself comes to put an end to it, which, praise God, He will do. Ezra and Nehemiah will lead two subsequent returns to Jerusalem, with Nehemiah facing much opposition. Whether it’s the 6th century BC, or today, the people of God must be ready to stand firm for the duration of the war and not simply a short-term battle. Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other 50,000 returning Jews successfully rebuilt the temple.

Call me rebellious, but in my way of thinking, the second temple should be referred to as Zerubbabel’s temple, not Herod’s. The Bible never calls it Herod’s temple, but God does give credit to a sometimes flawed yet faithful servant named Zerubbabel.

“…This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
“Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
“Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you” (Zech. 4:6-9).

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Our Hidden Gospel – II Corinthians 4:3-4

Posted on by Pastor John Fredericksen

I’m sure this will seem almost impossible for most women to believe, but men have a hard time finding things. Countless times, I’ve looked in utter frustration for things in the refrigerator, or for my keys. When I ask my wife or girls to help me, more often than not, they are able to find what I’m looking for right way. I have an excuse: not being able to find things is in the “Men’s Manual,” and it’s our way of helping the ladies know they are needed. As the saying goes: “That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.”

Many of us are burdened for lost loved ones to trust in Christ alone for eternal life, before it is eternally too late. The gospel is easy to see, or understand, yet it seems as if the simplicity of “our gospel is hid…to them that are lost” (II Corinthians 4:3), because they stubbornly cling to their unbelief. Why do they respond this way? The Lord Jesus explained, “men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). Some stubbornly refuse the free gift of salvation, purchased on Calvary, out of love for their practice of sins. Regardless of the eternal consequences, they choose to hold on to sin rather than trust in Christ. Those who receive eternal life must do so willingly, because God will not force His love on those who do not want it. Satan dupes others into believing that faith in Christ is utter nonsense. Paul explained, “for the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (I Corinthians 1:18). The god of this world, Satan, has hundreds of thousands constantly proclaiming an anti-God message: secular professors, the media of television and movies, literature, and the common man or woman. Through this bombardment of false information, they convince the lost that everything about our faith is only fiction for fools. “The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (II Corinthians 4:4). We must never forget that Satan is waging a constant battle against every living soul.

Don’t be discouraged. Keep on sharing the clear gospel of salvation by faith in Christ apart from all works. It is “the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16). Some will believe this good news.

Free Mail Subscription

Start each day with short, devotional articles taken from the book Daily Transformation by Pastor John Fredericksen. As Pastor Fredericksen writes in the introduction:

"We welcome you, as you journey with us..., to not only learn information, but to benefit from examples of faith and failure, and seek to apply God’s Word to every day life. Together, let’s transition from only studying theories of doctrine, to applying God’s truths in a practical way every day. May God use these studies to help you find daily transformation."


Nuestro evangelio oculto – II Cor. 4:3-4

Posted on by Pastor John Fredericksen

Estoy seguro de que parecerá casi imposible de creer para la mayoría de las mujeres, pero se les hace más fácil a ustedes encontrar las cosas. Incontables veces, he buscado cosas en el refrigerador o mis llaves con total frustración. Cuando le pido a mi esposa o hijas que me ayuden, la mayoría de las veces, pueden encontrar lo que estoy buscando sin problemas. Tengo una excusa: no poder encontrar cosas está en el “Manual de los hombres”, y es nuestra manera de ayudar a las mujeres a saber que son necesarias. Como dice el dicho: “Esa es mi historia y me estoy apegando a ella”.

Muchos de nosotros estamos agobiados por nuestros seres queridos que están perdidos y deseamos que encuentren a Cristo antes de que sea demasiado tarde. El evangelio es fácil de ver o comprender, pero parece que la simplicidad de “nuestro evangelio está encubierto… entre los que se pierden” (II Corintios 4: 3), porque se aferran obstinadamente a su incredulidad. ¿Por qué responden de esta manera? El Señor Jesús explicó, “los hombres amaron más las tinieblas que la luz, porque sus obras eran malas” (Juan 3:19). Algunos obstinadamente rechazan el regalo de la salvación, comprado en el Calvario, por el amor de Cristo quien se sacrificó por nuestros pecados. Independientemente de las consecuencias eternas, muchas personas eligen aferrarse al pecado en lugar de confiar en Cristo. Aquellos que reciben la vida eterna deben hacerlo voluntariamente, porque Dios no forzará Su amor sobre aquellos que no lo desean. Satanás engaña a otros haciéndoles creer que la fe en Cristo es una completa tontería. Pablo explicó: “Porque para los que se pierden, el mensaje de la cruz es locura; pero para nosotros que somos salvos, es poder de Dios.” (I Corintios 1:18). El dios de este mundo, Satanás, tiene cientos de miles de seguidores que constantemente proclaman un mensaje anti Dios: profesores seculares, los medios de comunicación de la televisión y el cine, la literatura y el hombre o la mujer común. A través de este bombardeo de información falsa, convencen a los perdidos de que todo sobre nuestra fe es solo ficción para los tontos. “El dios de esta edad presente ha cegado el entendimiento de los incrédulos para que no los ilumine el resplandor del evangelio de la gloria de Cristo, quien es la imagen de Dios” (II Corintios 4: 4). Nunca debemos olvidar que Satanás está librando una batalla constante contra cada alma viviente.

No te desanimes Continúa compartiendo el claro evangelio de la salvación por la fe en Cristo, aparte de todas las obras. Es el “poder de Dios para la salvación” (Romanos 1:16). Algunos creerán esta buena noticia.

Comience cada día con artículos devocionales breves tomados del libro Daily Transformation del pastor John Fredericksen. Como escribe el pastor Fredericksen en la introducción: "Le damos la bienvenida, mientras viaja con nosotros..., no sólo para aprender información, sino también para beneficiarse de ejemplos de fe y fracaso, y tratar de aplicar la Palabra de Dios a la vida diaria. Juntos , pasemos de estudiar únicamente teorías de doctrina a aplicar las verdades de Dios de manera práctica todos los días. Que Dios use estos estudios para ayudarte a encontrar la transformación diaria."

Berean Searchlight – August 2023

Posted on by kevin

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La paradoja de la gracia

Posted on by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

En “el evangelio de la gracia de Dios” encontramos una paradoja llamativa: Dios mismo condenando a los justos y justificando a los impíos; abandonando a los perfectos y ayudando a los malhechores.

Contempla al Cordero sin mancha en el Calvario mientras clama: “Dios mío, Dios mío, ¿por qué me has desamparado?” Judas lo besa en vil traición; los malvados le escupen en el rostro, se burlan de Él, lo golpean, lo azotan, lo coronan de espinas y lo clavan a un madero! ¡Y Dios, el Juez de todos, no hace nada para detenerlos! De hecho, Él mismo desenvaina Su espada y hiere a la única Persona en toda la historia que verdaderamente podría decir: “Me deleito en hacer Tu voluntad, oh Dios mío”.

Y esto no es todo, porque por otra parte Dios salva a Saulo de Tarso, el más acérrimo enemigo de Cristo, “blasfemo, perseguidor e injuriador”, con las manos chorreando como sangre de mártires. A él Dios le muestra “gracia… sobreabundante” y “toda longanimidad” (I Tim. 1:13-16). De hecho, lo envía a proclamar abiertamente a todos los hombres que:

“Al que no obra, pero cree en aquel que justifica al impío, su fe le es contada por justicia” (Romanos 4:5).

¿Cómo puede todo esto estar bien? La respuesta es que Aquel que murió en agonía y deshonra en el Calvario fue Dios mismo, manifestado en carne. Allí, en el Calvario, “Dios estaba en Cristo, reconciliando consigo al mundo, no tomándoles en cuenta a ellos sus pecados” (II Cor. 5:19). Era el Juez mismo, bajando del trono a la cruz para representar al pecador y pagar por él la pena total de sus pecados.

¿Y quién dirá que esto es una injusticia? ¿Injusticia? Es justicia perfecta y más. ¡Es gracia!

Bajo los términos de la Ley encontramos a Dios “mostrando misericordia a millares de los que me aman y guardan mis mandamientos” (Ex. 20:6). Pero la gracia es infinitamente más: son las riquezas de la misericordia y el amor de Dios para con “los hijos de desobediencia… los hijos de ira” (Efesios 2:2-7), pagando Él mismo la pena por sus pecados en el más estricto acuerdo con perfección y perfección. justicia infinita!

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