Faith’s Vision: Gazing upon the Beauty of Christ

Punto ng Teksto: To gaze upon the Beauty of God is what believers are created for. Ito ang layunin ng paglikha at pagtubos ng Diyos sa tao, ang mamalas at makita ng kaniyang mga tinubos ang kaniyang kaluwalhatian ng pangwalanghanggan. Kaya’t ang mga Binagong Puso ay mananatiling uhaw at mananatiling gutom sa Muka ng Diyos na siyang namang magbubunsod sa kanila tungo sa matapat na paglilingkod, upang lubos silang dalhin nito sa pinakalayunin ng kanilang pagpapagal – ang lubusang makita ang muka ng Diyos kay Kristo Hesus.

MESSAGE:

Tag. – “Ang paglakad sa pananampalataya ay ang patuloy at walang humpay na paghubog ng mga bagong pagnanasa, ng binagong puso, upang laging masdan at pagbulayan ang kagandahan ni Cristo sa pamamagitan ng mga ordinaryong disiplina ng pananampalataya. Hanggang ang malabong paningin ng pananampalataya ay tuluyang magbigay-daan sa ganap na paningin ng mga mata.”

Eng. – “Walking by faith is the sustained-ongoing cultivation of the new desires of the New Heart, to continually behold and gaze upon the beauty of Christ, through the ordinary disciplines of faith, until the dim vision of faith gives way to sight.”

Note: There are two Sights or two Disciplines of faith where we can continually see the face of Christ

1. In Worship

Key verses: 4:14 “Knowing he who raised the Lord Jesus, will raise us also with Jesus and BRING us with you into HIS PRESENCE” Primarily ang tinutukoy ni Pablo dito ay ang pagdadala sa atin ng Diyos na makita siya ng mukaan sa kaniyang kagyat na presensiya (future seeing of God by means of sight - resurrection).

Ngunit tandaan natin na ang paghatak na ito, o ang pagdadala na ito ng Diyos sa atin patungo sa kaniyang presensiya ay nagaganap din sa pamamagitan ng Pananampalataya sa kasalukuyan at ito ay sa konteksto din ng Pagsamba! Ang pagdadalang ito ng Diyos sa atin patungo sa kaniyang sarili ay nagaganap sa ating mga pananambahan.

Biblical Principle: Ang pagsamba ay isang Paningin ng pananampalataya kung saan patuloy, progresibo, at mas lumilinaw nating nakikita ang muka ng Diyos sa bawat tapat na pagbasa, pagawit, at pangangaral ng Salita ni Kristo. Sa bawat worship at bawat pananambahan natin, tiyak na may bagong antas ng paglinaw at mas klarong pagkakilala tayo sa Diyos, kumpara sa mga nakalipas na pananambahan.

Sin Problem:

• Mababang pagtingin sa Pagsamba at Pagmalas sa Muka ng Diyos.
• A diminished and declining appetite for Worship

Gospel Cure: Ang wastong panukat at estima natin kay Kristo.

Challenge: Let us Value & Desire Christian worship, for it is God’s appointed means of leading us closer to the Beatific
Vision. It also deepens our spiritual desires to see and savor the matchless excellence of Christ.
Let us reshape and reorient our lives around it, giving Worship priority over other endeavors!

2. In Christian Friendship

Key verses: 4:14 “Knowing he who raised the Lord Jesus, will raise us also with Jesus and bring us WITH YOU into his presence”

Note: “with you”… depicts companionship or company (kasama)

Reminds us of the corporate sense of the Beatific Vision, we will gaze upon the Beauty of God as his People – with brothers & sisters or with Friends in Christ. God deemed it as most important for us, in our Journey to the BV.

Biblical Principle: Forging and Keeping Christian Friendship in our journey towards the BV is an indispensable need. The gaze we shall one day share in glory (future) requires a united and corporate gazing upon Christ here and now (present). We train our eyes together on earth to delight in the beauties of Christ so we can together satisfy our hearts in beholding the Glories of God in eternity!

Sin Problem: Diminished view of Christian Friendship… taken for granted, overlooked, undervalued, often assumed… unnurtured.

Gospel Cure: Our God-ordained Christian Companions will always offer clarity of sight and right direction towards Christ. Christian friends are our safety towards glory and our assurance of being at home with the Lord.

Challenge: Forge Christian Friendships, and if you already did, nurture and value it!