SEQUENCE OF DISCUSSION

I. Brief Introduction of Self

II. Short testimony – life story about my regeneration

(regeneration, sanctification, glorification) –
25 
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all
your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse
you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put
within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh
and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within
you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey
my rules.[a]
Ezekiel 36: 25-27 (ESV)

III. God the Father – He created us and chose us. He gave His Son to us to be our hope of
salvation

IV. God chose us to be His in the same manner that the apostles of Jesus were chosen. Two of
them are noteworthy to mention: Peter and Judas Iscariot. Both of them were followers of
Jesus. They had fellowship with Jesus and were His students. They were trained by Jesus
during the 3 years of His stay on earth and they both became preachers. Both of them were
sinners, they both betrayed Jesus openly, publicly, and strongly. They both felt guilt, shame,
and remorse, and they agonized over their betrayal. But they ended up in two extreme
sides. Judas was deeply agonized that he committed suicide. Peter, too, was deeply
agonized that he repented. And in the end, Judas ended up in hell, while Peter is in Heaven.
Jesus prayed for Peter (Luke 22:31-32) while not for Judas, because He knew his heart, that
he was bound for the devil. Jesus blessed Peter for the Father revealed to him the truth
about Jesus (Matthew 16:16-17). Peter and Judas differ in their attitude towards Jesus. Judas
was greedy for wealth and money, that he hated Jesus when he knew that He would not
give them material wealth. Peter, on the other hand, loved Jesus, and chose to still obey and
follow Him, despite his weaknesses.

V. The churches of today are filled with Christians like Peter and Judas. Let us ask ourselves:
Do we love Jesus? Do we desire to truly obey and follow Him? Or do we only follow
Jesus in order to gain material wealth, good health, and prosperity in life, just like Judas?

VI. Jesus promised us eternal life. This world is not our final home. Whatever achievements we
gain on this world, they are all temporary. As Christians, we are to set our minds on
heavenly things, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2) Paul encouraged us to offer our
bodies as living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, and not conform to the pattern of this
world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds so we may know God’s perfect will.
(Romans 12:2)
 GOD CHOSE US TO BE GOOD CHRISTIANS

We had been regenerated

25 
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your
idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will
remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within
you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. [a]
Ezekiel 36: 25-
27 (ESV)

We were chosen by God just as Jesus’ disciples were

Let us remember two of Jesus’ disciples: Peter and Judas. They were both called to be Christ’s followers.
They were with Jesus for three years. They heard all of Jesus’ preaching and witnessed all of His
miracles. Jesus – the greatest teacher of all, taught them and trained them, and they both became
preachers. They were both sinners and were aware of it. They betrayed Jesus openly, publicly, and
strongly. They both felt guilt, shame, and remorse, and were deeply sad about their betrayal of Jesus.
However, despite of these commonalities that they share, these two ended up on two extreme sides.
Judas, because of the deep agony, committed suicide, while Peter chose to truly repent. In the end,
Judas ended in hell while Peter is now in Heaven.

Jesus knew their hearts. He prayed for Peter (Luke 22:31-32) while not for Judas, He knew that Judas
was bound for the devil. Jesus blessed Peter for the Father revealed to him the truth about Him
(Matthew 16:16-17). Peter and Judas differ in their attitude towards Jesus. Judas was greedy for wealth
and money, that he hated Jesus when he knew that He would not get material wealth and power from
Him (worldliness). Peter, on the other hand, loved Jesus, and chose to still obey and follow Him, despite
his weaknesses.

The challenge to the Christians at present

The churches today are filled with Christians like Peter and Judas. Let us ask ourselves: Do we love
Jesus? Do we desire to truly obey and follow Him? Or do we only follow Jesus in order to gain material
wealth, good health, and prosperity in life, just like Judas?

Jesus promised us eternal life. This world is not our final home. Whatever achievements we gain on this
world, they are all temporary. As Christians, we are to set our minds on heavenly things, not on earthly
things. (Colossians 3:2) Paul encouraged us to offer our bodies as living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to
God, and not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds so
we may know God’s perfect will. (Romans 12:2)

PASTOR ANDY ROSARIO

May 2, 2021