THE FAITH THAT SAVES

Faith in or of itself cannot save, but it is the object of that faith that saves the sinner. And in this case the object mentioned is the Gospel. The Gospel simply means Good News. And the incredible beauty of this Good News is, that it is for all humanity. It is Good News coming directly from our Heavenly Father directed directly to you, who are reading this message, and of course for all of us.

Give close attention that this Good News is the power of God for salvation to every one who believes. Not only for the Jews, but also for people from all other nations in our world: including Curaçao, Aruba, Bonaire, all the islands in the Caribbean.

However, pay close attention to the fact that, notwithstanding the glory of the Gospel, and the power of God that goes with it, there remains this very important factor, and it is this: for the power of God to be operative in a person, the person MUST BELIEVE.

The word “believe” and “faith” work together here. One of the principal motives to have faith is: that no one in this world can believe for us. No angels, nor saints who have passed on, nor saints in Christ who are alive today, can believe for us. Nor can our beloved fathers or mothers believe for us. The truth is that this good news of justification towards God is directed towards each one of us individually. This message, this offer of eternal life does not come from man, but from the God Almighty, the only true God who created us, and all things that are created. He is the One that cannot lie, so every single person who believes with his whole heart, can do so with complete confidence; because He is the One Who called us in the Gospel, and is faithful. That is why FAITH is something personal and individual.

We will continue with a few other clarifications about the word Faith. Many years ago I already heard different explanations about faith. I personally defended the religion in which my parents were trusting, and which they passed over to us. It was during the year1947, more or less, and upward, that our islands were blessed with the Gospel of Grace by God’s power.

My personal defense against the Gospel was this: “Well; their message is good, but I believe that if we are faithful in the religion we were born in, is sufficient.” Today I am so grateful that only a few days after I pronounced those words, I was convinced by the Gospel and the Spirit of God, that: that trust based on religion was false. Also that forgiveness for sins, is only found by faith in the One that died on the cross for our sins, and that God raised Him from the dead on the third day. The Scriptures are very clear about this truth in Acts 4:12, where it says: “ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Friends: remember Religion CANNOT save, it is Christ, Who gave His life for us, and Who alone can save.

Not too long ago, in World News, there was a section of news about a soldier on duty in the war in Iraq, how he was saved from sure death, because he was carrying a Bible in his shirt pocket. When a rifle bullet hit the Bible, the bullet veered off, saving the life of the soldier. I did not hear anymore about this incident, but if it is true, I must surely be thankful for the soldier, as well as his family. Furthermore, I hope and trust that this young soldier is one whose faith is in Christ, in the Only One Who can save us from the wrath of God that is coming.

But, nevertheless, I do want to give this admonition. It is not enough just to have a Bible, be it in our pocket, or in our handbag, in our car, or in our homes. That Bible, in itself, CANNOT SAVE US. It is the MESSAGE that we read in the Bible that speaks to us about our Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ, Who save us. That is, IF we believe with our whole heart that it is for our (my) sin He died and rose again from the dead, to bring us to God. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we invite you, we plead to all who read this message, that you will repent of your sins, and put your faith in the Lord Jesus. Then you will experience the power of God that is in the GOSPEL that we are proclaiming.
Written and prepared by Bicento & Betty Henriquez

WELCOME TO OUR ENGLISH BLOGSPOT

Welcome to our Blogspot. It is our deepest desire and hope that our inter-communications will be a blessing and help to you in your daily life experiences. Take time to read our POSTS, and then take time to comment in the space provided on: www.bicentoandbetty.blogspot.com or, write us via email at: bbhenriquez@shaw.ca

In today’s POST we are writing a little about us: who we are, where we are from, and a little bit about our history and ministry. In another POST we will write a small message of encouragement from the Word of God. “My word will never pass away.” (Matthew 24.35) “For the Word of God is living!” (Heb. 4:12)

Our address is: Bicento & Betty Henriquez, #534, 210 La Ronge Road, Saskatoon, SK., S7K 7Z9, Canada.

A Little About Us

Bicento: I was born on July 19, 1923 on the island of Aruba. I grew up in the North part of the island in an area called Palm Beach with 5 brothers and 2 sisters. My father’s name was Johannes Henriquez, and my mother’s maiden name was Josefa (Jacobs) Henriquez. Both of my parents were staunch Roman Catholics and so I, too, was raised in this religion. I went to a Roman Catholic school through the 6th grade, which was all the academic schooling I had. And then two great changes in life were confronting me.

On June 4th, 1947, I married a young girl called Ursula Tromp from the area called Monserat, also in the North part of the island. She, too, grew up in the Roman Catholic beliefs. At that time, I was working in the Lago Esso Standard Oil Refinery (USA based), and had only been married a short time before that (about three months, to Ursula, that I heard the Gospel for the first time! I heard it from a fellow Aruban co-worker, who was also my superintendent (boss). He, too, had just become a believer a short time before by hearing the Gospel preached and taught by a missionary who had come from Venezuela, but was an American citizen. I knew my boss to be quite a profane man, and here I hear him witnessing over the noon-hour to a group of fellow workers. I drew near to listen to what he had to say, and to what he was reading. He told us that the word he was reading was God’s Word. At first I scoffed along with others, resisting and profusely rejecting anything and everything he was saying. Daily he sat and read the Scriptures and spoke to anyone who was willing to listen. I finally decided to purchase a New Testament for myself and find out for myself if these things he was saying were so! This was something that at that time in history, the RC Church forbade. It did not take long, and I was persuaded, by the Spirit of God, that Jesus Christ was the Way, the Truth and the Life, and that He was and is the only name under heaven, by which man can be saved. (Acts 4:12 & John 14:6) I knelt down in my own house and accepted Christ as my Savior.

Then I told my wife, my parents and it was an experience, and consequences that cannot easily be put down in words. There was pain and suffering for all concerned. The Scriptures, however, talk about this: “Though my father and my mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Teach me Your way, O LORD….” Psalm 27:10. We also read in Hebrews 13:5 “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. So we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

So our married life began divided, as far as the “faith” was concerned. We lived in Kamay. To our marital union were born eight children: four sons and four daughters. I thank God, that my wife, though not a believer as yet, did not hinder me from taking the children out of the Catholic school system. Though this caused quite an upset on both sides of the family. Ursula dressed and prepared the children on Sundays, so that they could come with me to the church services at the Oranjestad Evangelical Alliance church, which, in later years, I would have the responsibility and privilege to serve as pastor for more than twenty years. In 1962, my wife accepted the Lord as her Savior, through the ministry of a missionary friend. She in time would serve in the women’s ministries as well as the Bible Camp ministries.

During the years I was pastor in the Oranjestad Evangelical Alliance Church, I also was Radio pastor at Radio Victoria (TEAM). I did a daily program called: “Your Questions Answered”, also a 15-minute daily Bible Reading called “The Open Bible”, for at that time there were thousands that did not have Bibles of their own in the Papiamento language. I was also responsible for a daily 15-minute program called: “Words Of Life.” Our Sunday Morning Worship service was also aired on Sundays, so that exacted being aware that there was also a wider listening audience then what were sitting in the pews. Last, but not least, another program called “Youth for Christ”, I had the privilege of talking to the youth of our islands for about 5 minutes in a program of testimonies and song by the youth.

You easily read between the lines. This was a huge responsibility for one who had no academic training beyond the 6th grade, plus the care of my family. It meant a lot of studying the Word each day for long periods of time, for there were many messages and programs to prepare for. The setting of priorities was essential. Only He, who calls us is sufficient for such things, but He was faithful, and continues to this day to be faithful. I thank Him for His love, His forgiveness, His patience and longsuffering to this very day..

And so the years passed by, the children grew up and each went his or her way. I, together with my wife, retired. My wife had not been well for quite some years, and after a lengthy illness, the Lord took her home to be where He is. She testified to her faith in Jesus Christ as her own personal Savior, was baptized upon her confession of faith and dying trusted in Him.

Then, life again changed for me. I was now a widower, and slowly accepted this new reality in life. I continued living in our small apartment at Kamay 5. Our own home, where all our children grew up in, was transferred to our youngest daughter and her husband and family. I continued studying the Scriptures, and helped as a SS teacher at the church.

In July of this same year, a vacation trip to Canada was presented to me, by friends and family. We had been to Canada on several occasions. I accepted this joyfully, looking forward to seeing many of our friends and acquaintances. Our fellow-missionary friend, Betty Ratzlaff, of more then 30 years, was retired and living in Waldheim. We had visited the Ratzlaff family many times, and they us in Aruba. One of the brothers and his wife provided for me to stay at their place. I had a small motor home parked on their yard, and had complete home-care service!

To make two month vacation short, it ended in a commitment of myself and Betty to each other. We agreed together that we would keep the secret until each one of us could talk to our individual families. Then we announced it at the same time in our individual churches in Aruba and Canada.

December 16th, we were married in Aruba. The Lord willing, we will celebrate our ninth year of marriage, this December. We have lived some of the time in Aruba, and some in Canada. At the moment we are living in a Senior Citizen’s complex in the city of Saskatoon, in the province of Saskatchewan, where over 500 seniors like us are residing.

We both enjoy nature, so spend a lot of time driving in and around the countryside seeing the fields, gardens, birds, animals both domestic and wild. We take part in activities that correspond to our age and energy. We have a Papiamento blogspot, and we also write Gospel tracts for Libreria Victoria in Aruba.

Betty

I was born in Waldheim, Saskatchewan, Canada, and grew up with seven brothers on a farm. I was an only girl, but a twin who did not live. My parents cultivated land, had cows, horses, sheep, pigs, and chickens. We also had gardens and a fruit orchard, which my father was very proud of. Lots and lots of plum trees, apple trees, raspberries, etc. I attended a rural school for the first eight grades, and then attended highschool in the small town of Waldheim.

After highschool, I attended four years at Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills, Alberta, an adjacent province. During my Junior year, I applied to the Evangelical Alliance Mission to serve as a missionary to South America. However, they were in the very early stages of beginning a ministry in both Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire. So in my senior year I was approached about being willing to serve on these islands, to which I agreed.

I graduated in April of 1949 and arrived in Aruba on board a Dutch Freighter, November 29, 1949, that same year. My first passionate goal was to learn the language and learn it well. So it did not take me long to dig in for the long and strenuous task of learning “another tongue”.

The number of missionaries present on these islands, were minimal at the time of my arrival. There was one couple stationed in Aruba, and no one in Curaçao at the moment, because the couple there were in the States because of illness. The work in Bonaire had not yet been started. A couple was preparing to come. One other couple was in Aruba when I arrived learning the language to be stationed in Curaçao, and went as soon as they were able to communicate sufficiently to take over the ministry.

There was so much, it seemed, to be done in those early years with so few to do the many tasks: translating the Scriptures, preaching, teaching, translating of Sunday School materials, of songs, etc. Even as I was learning the language, one of the first tasks given to me, was to type a handwritten manuscript of the Psalms! This was quite a challenge. I was glad that I had taken the subject of Typing at Prairie. This was a wonderful tool in helping me get a large vocabulary in those early years.

I was very active in the foundational work of the Oranjestad Evangelical Church – especially in the musical and educational part of the ministry. Radio Victoria Ministry was begun in the year 1958, and I helped some there as well in the earlier years. I translated World News into the Papiamento language for two men, working at Lago Oil Company. At four o’clock, they would stop off at the station and give the news I had translated and typed for them. Later these men would be hired and do the work themselves. I had a Women’s World 15 minute program three times a week, and also prepared two other programs for other Aruban women to read. It was a Children’s Adventure Hour program, and a Christian Biography program.

Prior and during this time, I had a dream or burden, together with some of my Aruban friends, of establishing a Camping and Youth Center. This became a reality in June of 1965. I would work here for until June of 1980. From here my life took on a different direction. During the camping years, Trans World Radio missionaries came over to help in many different ways: as speakers and musicians; as artists or painters.

In 1982, I was accepted by TWR to come to Bonaire as a Papiamento language teacher to TWR missionaries. This became a full time job, as men and women on the island of Bonaire wanted me to teach them as well. So I had many outsiders taking classes as well. This led to the need of a Papiamento Grammar, so very shortly after I arrived I took on this project, and then on to compile the English/Papiamento BI-lingual dictionary, which made its debut in 1991.

After this I continued to work for TWR, but now I helped in the department of monitoring tapes. This was a very interesting ministry. However, at nights and weekends I always had responsibilities in the TEAM national churches on the island. I helped in the area of teaching and music, and enjoyed it immensely. All the above ministries gave me an enormous amount of friends on the island.

For recreation I joined Bonaire International Snorkeling & Diving Club. Here I met women of all walks of life and from all over the world. What an opportunity and challenge for me. We went for an hour every Thursday morning. It was a very special time. Because I like to draw I was given an underwater drawing board and special pen, and with my snorkeling buddy, I drew many pictures of water-life, and many of these sketches are in the Dictionary mentioned above. I could write a book on these experiences alone!

In 1997, I told TWR that I did not think that I would return to work anymore, but rather find an apartment in Canada and think about retirement. During this year, I helped in activities in a senior center next door, but I was troubled – not at all ready to hunker down and call it quits. But I helped where I could, and was waiting for the Lord to direct my next steps.

Then we received a visit of from an old Aruban friend and co-worker in the ministry of the Gospel. His name was Bicento Henriquez. He had lost his wife, who had been ill for some years, so his church friends and family in Aruba provided him with a vacation trip. This visit provided different opportunities for each of us to once again share with each other our past life and ministry: the loss of a loved one, the enormous change that brought; the change in not working anymore; our hopes of the future, etc. To make it short: we gradually fell in love and the question was popped, and the answer was yes. Then came the plans of when, how, and where, etc. Suddenly our lives were turned upside down as it were. Bicento returned to Aruba and emails flew back and forth in the next weeks.

This coming December, we will celebrate our 9th year of being married, the Lord willing, and have so much in common: the same friends and acquaintances of almost 50 years, in the islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, South America and Canada. We worked together in church, radio and Camp Washington, for 30 years plus. We both can communicate in, and understand several languages. We enjoy switching back and forth in our daily conversations. We are not bored! During the past 9 years we have been writing Papiamento tracts for Libreria Victoria in Aruba. During the past year we opened a Blogspot on the WEB, on which we communicate with our Papiamento speaking friends. In the next few days we hope to open an English blogsite. Our address will be: www.bicentoandbetty.blogspot.com

In Aruba there are many English speaking people from the Caribbean islands like Jamaica, St. Thomas, St. Vincent, St. Croix, St. Lucia, Grenada, etc. So we are praying that our ministry to them, through the sharing of the Gospel, will bring hope and peace to them, and glory and honor to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Did you know that the Word of God talks about: “THE DAY OF SALVATION?”
What does it mean?
Is it relevant or pertinent today?
Bicento will now try and share with you some thoughts from the Scriptures (the Bible) on this subject.

In the Scriptures we read that the times in which we are living is called: “the time of My favor,” and “the day of Salvation.” You may find this in 2 Corinthians 6:1,2.

Just before this declaration was made, we can read why the “times” are referred to in this way. It is because in 2 Cor. 5:19-21, we read that God was reconciling us to Himself in Christ, not counting our sins against us. He, God, made Christ, Who knew no sin, to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. What a declaration!

The Apostle Paul then goes on to tell us that he, as a servant of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ, together with the other apostles, were entrusted with the message of reconciliation. That ministry was to let the entire world know that God provided a way for us, who by nature, because of our sins, are at enmity with God. By letting us know this way, we could now be reconciled to God, by faith in His Son, our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, who carried our sins in His body on the cross.

Not only that, but the Apostle also calls himself an ambassador for Christ, which is as though God Himself was making His appeal to us, through the Apostles, to be reconciled to Him.

Dear friends, as you read this message, be sure, it is as though God Himself is personally pleading for you to be reconciled to Him, by putting your faith in Christ. It is then that you can understand this declaration: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come!”

This is the reason the Apostle Paul continues to say the following: “As God’s fellow-workers, we urge you not to receive God’s grace is vain. For He says, “In the time of My favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation, I helped you. I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

In another Scripture we find this written: “We must pay more attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message given by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?”

The Scriptures mentioned in this short word can be found in 2 Cor. 5:7-21; 2 Cor. 6:1,2, and Heb. 2:1-4. Take time to read them through for yourselves. Think them through and obey.

If you have any questions or desire further explanation please feel free to write us. You may comment on the website, or write us at: bbhenriquez@shaw.ca

Written and prepared by Bicento & Betty Henriquez