The Gift of God

THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE
by Rev. BJ Sebastian

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord

TWO OFFERS: EARNED WAGES OF SIN, OR FREE GIFT OF GOD
According to this passage in Romans 6, in life we really are given two offers from two masters – Sin, versus God – who compensate us with two kinds of compensation – earned wages in the case of Sin, and free gifts in the case of God.

The first master, Sin, seems a very obvious wrong choice, but you will be surprised how many of us choose Sin – in fact, we are born with Sin.

On the other hand, there is the other Master, God, who really is the true Master and the obviously right choice, but you would be surprised how few get to choose Him – in fact, unless He intervenes, we will never choose Him.

TWO OUTCOMES: ETERNAL DEATH OR ETERNAL LIFE
According again to our passage in Romans 6, there are two outcomes from these two offers – one is Death, and the other Eternal Life, which kind of makes the first one, Eternal Death also.

Eternal Death is the ultimate wage that the master Sin pays all his slaves in the end, and it is an outcome that even he is not master of – it is a judgment that comes from the True Master, God – and Sin, being the counterfeit master does not even stick around for that and simply disappears and leaves his slaves to their judgment.

Romans 6:20-21. 20For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

James 1:15. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Exodus 34:7. keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation

Eternal Life is the gift graciously given to those who are chosen by the True Master to be His slaves.

Matthew 11:28-30. 28Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light

Ephesians 2:7. so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus

ONE SAVIOR: JESUS CHRIST
There are Two Offers – earned wages of sin, and the free gift of God. There are Two Outcomes – eternal death and eternal life. The question that should be obvious here is not, “what should we choose?”, but, “how do we get from the first (sin and death) to the second (the gift of eternal life)?

There is only one answer – being “in Christ Jesus our Lord” – the One Saviour of the world.

Acts 4:12. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

John 14:6. I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

How does one get “in Christ”? Simple, by believing in Him – who He claimed to be, what He claimed for us on the cross, and what he claimed for us in His resurrection.

Need I ask you what your choice is?


***NOTE: Photos of the event will be posted soon. Still uploading. Watch out and check here.

God was there!

"...but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 6:23b

He was ever present during our call center agents' day-- The Gift with Rev. BJ Sebastian as speaker.

The message was very clear (click here for the message's outline) and indeed God spoke to everyone. Among 55 people present, five young men stood up and surrendered their lives to the Lord. He was there, He was present in our midst! Praise His name! To Him be all the glory...

Here are the events highlights:
































































(not yet through with this post)

It's that time of the year-- THE GIFT!

It's that time of the year again!

ATTENTION people working in the call center... It's going to be another special day for us--

Call Center Agents' Day and Christmas Fellowship

"The GIFT"
...but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. -Romans 6:23

Speaker: Rev BJ Sebastian, Senior VP and Chief Strategy Officer of the JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Pastor-at-large of GCF
December 12, 2009 @ 8am - GCF Social Hall

Invite your colleagues as this will be an opportunity for them to be exposed to the Gospel.

This also perfect time to celebrate Christmas together, here's some highlights of our event:
- we will exchange gifts (please bring something worth at least Php200.00)
- gift wrapping contest (we will provide materials and the gift you will wrap)
- listen to the Good News about God's gift to all of us
- breakfast and thanksgiving fellowship.

So see you there! ;-)

For further inquiries, you may contact Ms. Rajsh Sabio at 0915-314-0144 or 0922-607-3449

Or drop by at our booth during Sundays from 8am to 7pm at the GCF Worship Center lobby (complete address is: Ruby corner Garnet roads, Ortigas Center, Pasig City).

You may also leave a comment here or email us at gcf_connect@yahoo.com.

Note: Non-call center young professionals are also welcome to join.

Coming Soon!

The GIFT

Watch out for more details... ;-)

Inter-Church Young Adults Conference

We are all invited to come...

Hope to see you there. You can bring friends with you too!

New Study Series

Just few updates in our Bible Study Groups:

Connect Agents' of Change (C.A.C.) Bible study group will begin their new series on August 29, 2009 entitled "WALK THE TALK" based on the Book of James. Rajsh Sabio and John Velasquez will be taking turns in teaching/facilitating the group study. They are meeting up every Saturday 6pm at GCF room BM04 in Ortigas.

Also, Care To DIALL 1 begins their study on the Gospel of John on August 30, 2009. Janet Panelo will now take over as the lead facilitator for the group. They are meeting up every Sunday 4pm also at GCF room BM04 in Ortigas.

Feel free to meet new friends and grow spiritually by joining us in our Bible studies.

CONNECT joins SingCon

(Guys from left: Abe, Syrus, John. Ladies from left: Lheng, Christy, Rajsh)

"LOVE MATTERS: MORE THAN JUST ROMANCE" was this year's theme for the Crossover Singles' Conference. Held at Villa Lorenza Pililia Rizal with 130+ participants.

We praise God for the privilege of being a part of this fruitful and sucessful event. God indeed moved and touched many lives as they come to know Him more and have committed their lives to Him...


Here are some highlights of the retreat (photos courtesy of Christy and Rajsh):

DAY 1: Connect guys posing before the program starts


DAY 1: Our Senior Pastor, Dr. Luis Pantoja, giving his remarks


DAY 1: During the Opening Program


DAY 1: Group Activity included "Pinoy Henyo"


DAY 1: Syrus with his team mates


DAY 1: John, participating in finding marbles at the pool


DAY 1: This time its Charades time


DAY 1: Mr. Dennis Lim talks about "Loving God"


DAY 2: Rajsh co-hosting the program with Earnest (a Chancel Choir member)


DAY 2: Atty. Marc Castrodes talks about "Loving Others"


Day 2: The whole group after the "Saturday Night Special"


DAY 2: Connect peeps Photo-Op


DAY 3: Rev. Lito Villoria giving his message for the worship service


DAY 3: With a new friend: Arrianne Bermejo (top right)

See also: Greatest Love of All by Rajsh.

What is Connect?

Sharing the video that was played during our Call Center Agents' day last July 25, 2009.

A brief "history" of the call center ministry...

To God be all the glory! :-)

Click here.

Foundations and Two Commandments

Here's Kuya Kevin's message last Saturday.

The Book of Genesis gives us a foundation—it reveals God’s original plan for male/female relationships.

Foundations: Genesis 1:27

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

Men and women were created equal, but different: both men and women are image-bearers; both share in God’s image.



Foundations: Genesis 2:20-25

"So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.

But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man."

This passage gives us God’s “blueprint” for male/female relationships.

Foundations: Genesis 2:20-25

What this passage doesn't mean:

"You don't have to search for love, Adam didn't search and God just brought Eve to him."

Some interpret this passage to mean we don’t have to search for love or pursue marriage. This is not a correct interpretation of the story of Adam and Even

Foundations: Genesis 2:20-25

Question: What does this passage tell us about the way men and women fall in love?

Answer: Adam and Eve, Eyes and Ears: Men fall in love with their eyes, while women fall in love with their ears.

Foundations: Genesis 2:20-25

Question: What does this passage tell us about the nature of sex?

Answer: Sex creates "one flesh" bond that is unique in God’s creation.

Foundations: Genesis 2:20-25

What does this passage tell us about the nature of man and woman?

We are essentially "hard wired" for marriage: Men and women were created to need each other. Our longing for emotional and physical intimacy is normal and God-given.

Two Commandments for Relationships
Be Pure
Be Wise

Be Pure: “One Flesh”
"Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh."
-1 Corinthians 6:16

Be Pure: “One Flesh”
Building on the foundation in Genesis, we see that sexual purity is abstaining from sexual intimacy outside of marriage.


"Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body."
-1 Corinthians 6:18

God’s prescription for sexual immorality is to run from temptation—avoid situations that will be tempting.

Be Wise
Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil."

Be Wise
Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.
-Proverbs 4:23

Be Wise
"Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you:
Do not arouse or awaken love
until it so desires."
-Song of Solomon 8:4

Be Wise
"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise ..."
-Ephesians 5:15

Be Wise
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ..."
-Philippians 1:9-10

The above verses are about wisdom. God expects us to make wise decisions. This has everything to do with matters of the heart. I repeat: God expects us to make wise decisions.

The Disconnect
Though most singles desire marriage, many make decisions which directly sabotage this plan. In other words, there is a mental disconnect: living as though my current lifestyle has no affect on my future marriage.

BASTA lOVE LIFE - Agents' Day

We praise God for bringing about 60 people in our Agents' Day last Saturday.

We thank God for Kuya Kevin Sanders for sharing to us the "Foundations and Two Commandments" message.

Here are some pictures taken during the event:

A word of prayer by Abe


Our Emcees: Oliv and JV


During our Praise and Worship time


Kuya Kevin delivering his message


"Foundations and Two Commandments"




During the Group Discussion





A short talk with Pastor Jojo Lacanilao


Ask Kuya Kevin - Q&A portion




Taking our picture for his blog


Christy Villamin sharing her testimony


A customized BASTA LOVE LIFE t-shirt from Connect


Some group pictures








Book selling: Kuya Kevin sold 31 copies, not bad!


Everyone who bought a copy had it signed by the author


They were all very eager...


And even read the book right away!


With Connect Volunteers

We will be posting the outline of Kuya Kevin's message soon. And watch out for more updates. Until next Agents' day...

God bless you all!

*Special thanks to ABISO Media for the photographs. Please ask permission if you are to grab photos. Thanks!