Born of the Spirit Archives

Life Journey: The One-Way Ticket to the Unknown World

February 11, 2020June 1, 2017 by Jun P. Espina

By Jun P. Espina | Last updated on February 11th, 2020 at 09:49 pm

Of Life Journey

Man’s life in this world is like a journey. His first step thus is as important as his destination. The problem is that he doesn’t know if he ever has a starting point at all other than his birth. Hence, he is but a pure stranger in this domain, for both his birth and death, are beyond his control! But he must move on nevertheless, for as long as he’s alive. There’s no turning back—there’s no hitting ball back at square one. Life journey is just a one-way ticket to the unknown. We may keep it glowing or waste it like spilled milk on the floor of destiny.

Paradoxical Christian Teaching: Comfort in Affliction

February 14, 2020June 1, 2017 by Jun P. Espina

By Jun P. Espina | Last updated on February 14th, 2020 at 08:41 pm

Paradoxical Christian Teaching

The Bible teaches that there is peace for Christ’s followers amidst the storms of life. It is an antithetical Christian teaching at the surface. The wisdom of this world suggests the idea of a predictable peace right after the tempest. Hence, the cliche: “peace after the storm” or “darkest hour before the dawn.” But what divine teaching is it that there is peace and comfort while one is in the limbo of trials and sufferings?

God’s Promised Holy Spirit Unclaimed: Powerless Witnesses of Christ

February 14, 2020April 10, 2017 by Jun P. Espina

By Jun P. Espina | Last updated on February 14th, 2020 at 09:55 pmGod’s Promised Holy Spirit What is the primary cause of our powerlessness in the pulpit? Most preachers and church workers are so powerless that it is difficult to fill the church auditorium with people without using extra-biblical teachings and strategies. It is … Read more

Extreme Pentecostalism Analyzed from the Biblical Standpoint

February 15, 2020April 8, 2017 by Jun P. Espina

extreme pentecostalism praise and worship

The core doctrine of extreme Pentecostalism is that we can experience God directly (and physically!) during a worship service. The question that is worthy of biblically answering is: Does God answer to people’s emotions in a worship service? This experience is dictated by feelings and the belief of God’s presence “in our midst” as experienced by Christ’s disciples in Acts, Chapter Two.

God’s Word Proves Faith in Christ Versus Bible Ignorance

February 15, 2020April 1, 2017 by Jun P. Espina

Liberal theologians are now advancing the false teaching of believing in Christ without necessarily taking the entire Holy Scriptures as God’s Word. You may have heard someone saying “I do believe in your Christ, but I don’t believe in your Bible.” Without a shadow of a doubt, if examined through the revelations of the Scriptures, such a doctrine is misleading and distorted. God’s Word proves that real faith in Christ only happens after a hugging conviction of the Bible’s truthfulness and dependability. Wrote the apostle Paul that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” (Rom. 10:17)

Broken Spirit Leads to God and Faith in Jesus Christ

February 15, 2020March 17, 2017 by Jun P. Espina

broken spirit leads to god contrite heart

We are closer to God only when we seem broken inwardly — in the spirit. It is the meaning of Psalm 51:17: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” Hence, trials are necessary for a balanced life! They are God’s will for us to believe and humble ourselves before Him. They are divine mechanisms to remind us of our dust origin. God is near to those experiencing a broken spirit and having a contrite or repentant heart.