Hi everyone! It is BLOGTIME again!

We enjoy so much our little garden. Bicento does such a good job preparing the potting soil, and together we care for it! Then we enjoy so much the bees, butterflies, and birds it attracts. It is very relaxful for us. The center picture shows how colorful it is! Then the third picture is some of my hobby work with seashells the big waves bring on shore. I have made about ten such creations of this kind of "butterfly" shell. The come in shades of pink and yellow. We will probably sell some of them to tourists. They sell well. But I often give them as gifts. In the next blog we want to share some pictures of our "outings" exploring our island. Now to our little talke for today:

" THE ACCEPTABLE TIME – OR --THE TIME OF MY FAVOR"
In 2 Corinthians chapter six verses one and two, we read some very catchy words: " 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."
Yesterday was a day, which brought a lot of movement on behalf of motorists here in Aruba, because there was an announcement that price of gasoline had gone down considerably. What’s more there were those who understood the announcement to be valid for only one day, and at only a particular gas station! In all sincerity I cannot blame the motorists for their prompt action, because the price of gasoline is indeed at an all time high and any reduction would be a great relief!
But we can learn a very important lesson from this. The Scripture that we mentioned in the beginning of this message reminds the people of God, those who have believed the Gospel, that we are co-laborers with God Himself; and that we should not be neglectful and careless of so great a responsibility. This Scripture teaches us that living in the acceptable time, in the time of God’s favor is NOW, and that the day of salvation is NOW.
Often people hear, but then say: Not today, but some other day, later, yes, on a later day. However, friends that later day in all probability will not come. Observe how many people die every day here on our three islands alone, without counting the Caribbean and all the other nations. And it is not always those of an advanced age. What is more, consider what we turn our backs to, when we neglect or carelessly procrastinate accepting the grace of God, which is in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. According to the Scripture we are considering in 2 Cor. 6:1,2, it is against God Himself that we turn our backs on when we refuse to repent and believe in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. That is why there are other Scriptures that warn us, as: "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." (Heb. 4:7). Also in the same book, chapter 2, verses 1-4, we read: "We must pay the more careful attention, therefore to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away (or from). For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him." (The Lord)
God testified to the same giving testimony to that by means of signs, marvels, and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit given according to His will.
Friends of all ages, all these serious warnings that we have read today from God’s Word, is that we give careful attention so that our hearts won’t become hardened and indifferent, insensitive towards the Word of God. In the book of Romans 13:11-14 we have this yet another somber warning: "And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because your salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature."
The admonition for each one of us is to obey God’s Word about His Son the Lord Jesus Christ This is all for today’s Blog, we invite you to share with us if you read the Blog and were blessed or challenged by the Word. We would love to hear from you. Our address is: bbhenriquez@setarnet.aw

The Kingdom of God (continued)

(Bicento working in our little garden, and our last picture of our flowering plants and shrubs as of this week! We love to putter in our little plot!)

In our first communication about the Kingdom of God, I mentioned that the Scriptures speak a lot about this subject, as well as about the kingdoms of this world.
You will find this from the very beginning of Genesis right through to the Book of Revelations. I have to admit that it is not easy to write about or explain the Kingdom of God, and the kingdoms of this world. There are many that are believers in the gospel of the grace of God, who are confused about these two kingdoms. There are many precious believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, who believe that there is a difference between the Kingdom of God and the Gospel. The truth is that the Gospel and the Kingdom of God are inseparable, but it is important to distinguish or identify each from the other.
To begin with, our Lord Himself taught and proclaimed the Kingdom of God. From the beginning of His ministry to the very end, He taught about the Kingdom of God. Take for example, our Lord Jesus’ words to Nicodemus who was a member of the Council of Jews, in John 3:3, where Jesus tells Nicodemus this: "I tell you the truth, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again." Then answering Nicodemus’ question and observation, Jesus continues to say: " I tell you the truth, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit."
In our previous short word, we mentioned this doctrine, but we can read more about that in various Scriptures that help us to understand by faith. In 1 Peter 1:3-5 we read the following, " Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade –kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." Here we can clearly see that the new birth is related to the death and resurrection of the Lord, and that it is the work of God the Father by means of His Spirit. Further on in 1 Peter 1: 23-25 we read this: " For you have been born again, not by perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For all men are like grass and their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever. And this is the word that was preached to you."
Friends, in the above verses we can see so clearly that the new birth takes place when we hear the WORD of GOD, in the gospel. The Bible says "consequently faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."
A simple study of this portion of Scripture indicates so clearly that the message and the Word mean the gospel. The word gospel simply means the good news. We can then conclude that only sinners who repent of their sins when they hear the gospel and obey God by putting their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus, Who died and was raised from the dead for us, will enter the Kingdom of God. The Bible is crystal clear about this truth! All declarations in the Scripture about this truth about the Kingdom of God are sure and irrevocable, because the Word of God is alive and endures forever.
Here are a few Scripture portions for you to read and ponder over that speak about the Kingdom of God: Acts 1:3, 19:8, 20:25, and 28:23-31. These Scriptures are all found in the Book of Acts. Read them sincerely from your heart and the Lord Himself will help you understand.

This far today in this morning’s Blog! Have you been blessed, encouraged and challenged? Write to us and share that with us at: bbhenriquez@setarnet.aw

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

In the Scriptures we read a lot about the kingdom of God. But at the same time the Scriptures speak a lot about the kingdom of this world. As far as the kingdom of this world is concerned, we have no decision to make; our parents make it for us. The moment we are born we are registered to a citizen of the nation that our parents belong to.

But this is not how it is with the kingdom of heaven, the celestial kingdom. Even if our parents are citizens of the kingdom of God, their children do not automatically become members of the kingdom of God. If our parents are members of any religion, they may put our names on the list of membership for their religion. But something our parents can never do for us is to make us members of the heavenly kingdom of our God and Father.

This world is divided into different kingdoms under various names. But the kingdom of God is an only kingdom that consists of people from all nations, tribes and languages. Now, if we cannot become a member of the kingdom of God, even though our parents are, automatically the question arises: How can I enter the kingdom of God or become a member of that kingdom?
Dear friends of all ages: the Lord Jesus Himself gives the answer to us with affirmation and clarity Himself. Take your Bible and read in John 3, verses 1-21. Here we read that if a man is not born again he will not see the kingdom of God. However, for someone to enter the kingdom of God, he has to be born again by the Holy Spirit of God. Then comes the natural question: How can this be? How can a man be born again since he has already been born from his mother’s womb? We must be thankful to our Lord Jesus Christ because He gives the answer in the verses that follow in John 3:10-21. In verses 14 and 15, the Lord continues to speak about a bronze snake that the prophet Moses lifted up in the desert as commanded by the Lord God, during a time when the people had been taken out of Egypt were rebellious and murmured against God and against Moses. The Lord sent venomous snakes, which bit many and caused many to die. It is only then the people recognized their error and admitted their sin. Then the Lord said unto Moses: "make a snake and put it on a pole and lift it up, so anyone who has been bitten can look at it and live."

That story, friends both young and old, the Lord told Nicodemus as an illustration of what would happen to our Lord Jesus Himself. He is the one who would be lifted up on a cross to save us from our sins. He died because of our sins, not of His, because He never sinned, and there was no guile found in His mouth. Make sure and read 1 Peter 2:21-25.

When we read that He carried our sins in His body on the cross, etc., instead of reading our sins read my sins. It is the truth. That is why the Scriptures say that it is for us that He suffered, for us He died, and for us He was raised from the dead. The children of Israel that believe Moses and admitted their guilt, and looked up to the bronze snake, did that by faith. It is no different today my friends, believe the Word of God that tells us that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Read Romans 3:21-26. There is a very solemn warning that accompanies the offer of pardon for sin and eternal life, which says: "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" (Read Hebrews 2:1-3).

This is all for today. We will continue this topic in the next blog. We would appreciate a comment from you, a suggestion, a Scripture related question you might have.

Bicento and Betty

Our New Home in Aruba

This is the small cabin we are living in. It is a one room cabin. This is one of the original cabins built on the Washington Campsite I, together with my board of eleven men from the Oranjestad Evangelical Church, founded in 1965. I was camp director from then until June of 1980. It has a bathroom and a showerroom. We have air-conditioning which is such a blessing for our 90 plus weather for the past months that we have been here. But we are comfortable. Every thing is near by! We love to garden, so we do what we can to bring a bit of life to our surroundings. The flowers are beginning to bloom.

THE NARROW AND WIDE DOORS (GATES)

Hi, everyone! It has been some time since we posted new communications on our English blog, and it is time we update our pictures as well. So we will introduce you to our new surroundings, and then we well be talking to you about what the Scriptures have to say about the "two kinds of doors or ways"!!

In Matthew 7:13,14, the Lord speaks about a wide door and a narrow door. The wide door according Jesus is the door that leads to a spacious road to destruction, whereas the narrow door leads to life. What is more the Lord emphaticallyt expresses that MANY people enter the wide door, wheres FEW enter the small door. Why is that? Take time to read Matthew 7:123,14 and also Luke 13: 22-30. Read these portions calmly and slowly - think about that you are reading.

According to these Scriptures, Jesus is giving this warning as well as this invitation, and thereby answering the question of a certain person. The questions was: "Lord, are only a few people going to heaven?" To this Jesus answered them, that is all who were present at this occasion. We can also assume that the Lord is anwering those very same questions that we have in our hearts today.

Please give full attention to the words of Jesus that "only a few will entre the small gate (door) that leads to life. Whereas in the portion in Luke, He says, "many 'I tell you' will try to enter through the narrow door and will not be able to."

Friends, Christ died, and rose again for us, that is why it is SO important for us to listen to what God says in His word to us, instead of following the teachings of mortal man that often contradict what the Word of God says. For example: the Bible tells and here I can say God HIMSELF says, " it is not we who sought God, but He sought us IN CHRIST. If we follow the teachings of man without checking out if that is what the SCRIPTURES say is as described as blind men leading the blind. And the result is that both will fall into pit. Luke 19:10 says, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Turn with me to Romans 3:11-18 and let us read together: "... there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poisen of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of pece they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes." (Do we believe this?!)

Now please give careful attention to what I am about to say here. It does NOT say here that pagans only live this kind of life style, nor that it refers to the Jews; what is written here INCLUDES US ALL. Be it you are a person well educated, or ignorant, big or small, rich or poor.

Romans 3:9,10 says this: "What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Nota at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one."

It is possible for someone to come with this question: If this is how it is, who then can be saved?
Let us look at verse 19 in Romans chapter 3 and see what continues here: "Nos we know that whatever the law says, it says to those that are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather through the law we become conscience of sin.

Let us try and understand something about the wide door and the narrow door that we read about in Matthew 7:13,14. Give all attention to the word MANY enter that day. It does not say that many are seeking the wide door and the wide road (way). Our Lord says that the small door and the narrow way only a FEW find it. It is similar with other Scriptures - it is important that we compare Scripture with Scripture that teach or talk about the same topic or subject. We already mentioned the Scripture portion in Romans 3:11-18 at the beginning of this blog. We saw so clearly that there is no one human being that is good in the sight of God, not even one! There are other Scriptures that confirm this truth. Since we have all been born in sin (with the sinful nature) we are quite ready and naturally continue on the wide road that leads to perdition . Even though children were born to parents who believed the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and in God's mercy taught their children in the Way, and saw their parents' example, etc., they, as they grew, realized that even though they had such parents, and such example, they still NEVERTHELESS had the sin nature within themselves , and that they needed to repent and obey the Gospel individually for themselves. Each one of us, individually, must seek to enter the small door that leads to life, eternal life.

Belove blogger friends that are reading this message. On which road are you actually at this moment? Maybe some of you are thinking: "Which is the right way that leads to eternal life? " "Which is the narrow way?" Jesus Himself answers this clearly and absolutely! He says this: "I am the way, the truth and the life; no man comes to the Father but by Me. (John 14"6

How can we find that way? The answer is that THAT WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE came to us and is here today. JESUS came into this world to save sinncers like you and I. Remember? There is no one good, no not even one! We must all come to Him. The Bible is so clear in saying it is not we who seek God, but it is He Who loved the world and sent His only begotten SON that whosoever believeth in His Son shall have eternal life. Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost. (1 John 4:10). This means that the sinless son of God, His death on the cross, and His resurrection from the dead and being lifted up and seated at the right hand of God, the Father, was that we, you and I, might be reconciled with God through faith in Christ. "The one who believes in the Son of God has eternal life, but the one who does not believe will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." (John 3:36)

To enter in through the small door and be on the narrow road, friends, means that we, you and I, must repent of our sins and put our faith in Jesus.

Do you have any questions? Write and ask us. Do you have any comments? Write and tell us. We appreciated comments. Our address is: bbhenriquez@setarnet.aw

A Happy & Prosperous New Year in our Lord Jesus Christ!

FAITH AND WORKS – conclusion of three messages.

Today I want to conclude my messages on the subject of FAITH and WORKS. Of course, this does not mean that I have exhausted all the resources on the doctrines relating to this subject. We invite you, after reading carefully the three messages on this subject, and you still have questions, or you would like to comment on something written, to feel free to write us at: bbhenriquez@shaw.ca We would be so happy to hear from you. Or you may add your comment right on line: www.bicentoandbetty.blogspot.com.

The doctrine on FAITH and WORKS is of great importance for each one who has received Christ as his or her Savior and Lord. It is a decision that each one of us must personally make. No other person can make that decision for us. The Bible, containing Scriptures inspired by God Himself, by means of His Holy Spirit, is the only authority in this truth about Faith and Works.

In the past two messages which have been posted we commented somewhat about faith and works, by speaking about the faith of Abraham, because he is called by the Scriptures the father of all people of all nations who believe the God Who raised Jesus, our Lord, from the dead. It is this Jesus Who was given over to die for our sins, and was risen for our justification. Read these verses written so clearly for us in the entire fourth chapter of Romans.

Here Abraham is called the father of all who believe the Gospel. This title was given to Abraham as an example for us to do likewise. What, or which work did Abraham do? Was Abraham a perfect human being? Absolutely not; but the work that he did was that he believed God, and that fact or truth is what God attributed as righteousness to him. This signifies that the only way sinners like you and I can be declared justified, is if we too believe what God says about His only Son, our Lord Jesus.

Now what does God tell us about His Son? Please take a moment to read 1 John 5: 9-13. There are many other Scriptures as well, which speak of this truth from different aspects; and that is, that “salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) What is so extraordinary here is that the testimony of God the Father Himself is directed to us sinners, and not to the righteous. The Scriptures are very clear you see, because at “just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Be sure and read Romans 5:1-11).

So, friends, considering the Scriptures that I have mentioned and many more that we could mention, we can clearly see that the salvation of sinners is a WORK completely belonging to our Heavenly Father through His only Son Who is Jesus Christ. And that work is based on His love, mercy and compassion, and by His grace. The Bible compares all our righteous acts as filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6). Nevertheless there are some things of tremendous importance that remain for you and me to do. And that is, TO BELIEVE in the SON of GOD, who died, crucified for our sins, but Who was risen from the dead on the third day, and received into Glory, from where He will come again to raise from the dead and transform all sinners who have believed the Gospel, so that they may forever be with Him. (Be sure and read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Now, a few more words about our acts, works or actions that we throughout our lives, as believers do. The Bible has much to say about the doctrine of these kinds of works or acts. We have already discussed that it is impossible for anyone to be saved by means of his own works. Nevertheless it is written that God has saved us by His grace through Christ to do good works which He prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:8-10). What is more, we read in the Scriptures that all who have believed the Gospel of the Grace of God must appear before the judgement seat of Christ that each one might receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Cor. 5:10). Other Scriptures that are related and important as to our actual deeds, as children of God, based on the fact that we have repented and believe with our hearts in Jesus Christ can be found in 1 Cor. 3:10-23).

Brethren in the faith, or anyone else reading this message: There are many clear warnings in the Scriptures about faith and works. They are written so that we will not be deceived and call our selves a CHRISTIAN, when indeed our deeds are contradictory. For example the Bible says: “Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves not the greedy no drunkards nor slanderers now swindlers will inherit the Kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (Read 1 Cor. 6:9-11).

This is all for now on this topic. Do not hesitate to write us if you have questions about what we have discussed here. We want also to remind you to visit Libreria Victoria, at 25 Elleboogstraat in Oranjestad, Aruba for any needs you may have for a Bible, Gospel tracts or other Christian reading materials that can be of help to you in your walk of Faith.