Teaching Reformed doctrines is difficult for a young pastor serving in traditional Filipino-Chinese churches. I’ve encountered oppositions, discouragements, debate-hungry people almost every time I teach these things. But thank God for His grace and mercy, He has been using these biblical teachings to convict His people and change their lives, to become holy and blameless in His sight. Below is an email, a short testimony, of a man after encountering God on a different light, became a changed person. His email has been an encouragement for me to press on and continue to love the people God has entrusted me to minister to…

Ptr Angelo,

How are you Ptr. Angelo? Before I go on further, let me first thank you as you have contributed a good deal in my christian life. I really wouldn’t have given much attention if these knowledge in the Reformation would have not been a discourse in our Sunday Bible class. The doctrines had opened a new interest in my heart and mind to understand and pursue more knowledge about God. Now I realized earnestly in gratitude in my heart that JESUS has given me salvation..that He died in my place for my sins. Glory to God Almighty.

At the moment I have been eagerly awaiting for the baptism in our church. [Our church pastor] has already made some arrangements together with other members of the church. Baptism in Christ has been my desire and delight as a Christian that would proclaim my faith in HIM and become a partaker in the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord Jesus.

Ptr. Angelo, are you still here in Manila or you have already started pastoring in the church? Church planting mission? Whatever task you may be busy now, I pray our Lord Jesus will always be there…walking alongside with you. God’s Will be done.

Let me end my letter with thanksgiving to Jesus our Lord for having you a part of our church even for a short period but worthy of time and efforts. God Bless.

[name of sender withheld]

P.s  I hope to gain further knowledge about God in the basis of systematic theology, perhaps you can provide me references wherein I could get hold of such like books and other materials for reading. Thank you.

Most of us would think that the “deeper things of the faith” would hinder us from growing closer to the Lord. But for the Apostle Paul it is the opposite. Despite our finiteness in our capacity to understand God through His Word, we must continue to search the Scriptures and know God even more; and the result of knowing God and His ways should be praising and thanking Him instead of doubting our faith and salvation, just like what the Apostle Paul did three times in the book of Romans.

SDG!