First Interchurch Fellowship │Bastion of Truth Reformed Churches in the Philippines

Bastion of Truth Reformed Churches in the Philippines Holds First Interchurch Fellowship

April 6, 2007 in Lucban, Quezon

Bastion of Truth Reformed Churches in the Philippines held its first interchurch fellowship since its organization as a Reformed denomination in April 2004. The long awaited event was convened last April 6, 2007 in Lucban, Quezon Province and participated by local BTRCs from Antipolo, Batasan and Lipa with Lucban as host church.

The gathering's chief goal is to encourage and strengthen the brethren in the only and true Gospel of God’s grace. This is achieved as each BTRC church and individual member realizes that he does not stand alone in his firm conviction in the true Gospel.

More than the delight in seeing brethren dwelling together in unity is the Lord’s presence gracing the occasion through the exposition of His Word. The program was highlighted by three messages from our pastors. The messages were geared to establish in everyone's conviction that there is only one Gospel of salvation; that it is the precious heritage of the Church of the past and therefore must be unitedly guarded, confessed and defended by the faithful modern day Church. Hence, the theme of the occasion: “One Gospel, One Heritage, One Stand.”

Pastor Ronnie Santos of BTRC Lucban delivered the keynote message from Galatians 1:6-12 warning the brethren against deception by false gospels and false preachers. He labored upon his theme in his emphasis that God has revealed only one Gospel. He expanded this antithetically by exposing the fallacy that there are different “versions” or degrees of “purity” of the Gospel. He further pointed out that the one and only Gospel that saves is a Gospel of God’s pure sovereign grace. He qualified his premise by indicating that although the message of this Gospel is unequivocal and absolute, it may be presented in more than one way, whereas the Doctrines of the Gospel of God's Grace represented by the acronym TULIP is the most systematic and clearest presentation.

The second message was delivered by Pastor Alex Aquino of BTRC Antipolo challenging the audience to guard a precious heritage—the “faith once-for-all-delivered” (the Gospel) to the saints (the Church). He established this challenge upon the charge given by the epistle of Jude in verses 3 and 4 urging believers to contend for the faith (of the Gospel) once-for-all-delivered—a faith that did not and will not change, but is being subtly perverted and corrupted by God’s enemies. Moreover, the charge to guard and contend for our Gospel heritage is laid upon us by the true historical Church being its true and rightful heir. And as heir to the true Church of the past it is our mission to confess, live out, and defend that faith to the end.

Following the second message was a synchronized group Bible study involving all attendees discussing Romans 10:1-4. With the aid of assigned leaders and a set of guide questions group members would be able to determine for themselves the necessity of the knowledge of God’s righteousness to salvation, on the one hand, and the fatal danger, on the other hand, of the ignorance of God’s righteousness that inevitably leads the sinner to establish his “own” (not God’s in Christ’s) righteousness. He may be sincere yet blind and ignorant; zealous yet lacking in knowledge. Paul judges that such person is NOT SAVED as inferred by the desire in his prayer that they might be saved.

Pastor Regine Capinig of BTRC Lipa delivered the third message. He exhorted the brethren to unite and stand as one in the defense of the Gospel in spite of the distance that separates each local church. He presented three reasons from various passages of Scripture for his plea for unity. One reason is the real presence of enemies of the Gospel. Another is the reality of our own weaknesses. And last being the reward awaiting those who have suffered with others for the Gospel’s sake.

In the closing stages of the program was a portion devoted for questions and suggestions. Brothers expressed heartfelt thanks and appreciation for the efforts rendered by members of the host church which for the most part contributed to the feasibility of the undertaking. Now that everyone was given the experience of the joy and blessedness of knowing and being with brethren from other local BTRCs many suggested and approved of the idea of holding another fellowship as early as December. It is too early, of course, to ascertain the possibility of another gathering.

The Lord in His grace gave us opportunity in this monumental gathering to behold His marvelous work beyond the walls of our local churches; how He preserves His precious Gospel in the faith and lives of His redeemed children in other localities, and hence willingly accept the challenge to unite as one in the proclamation and defense of His glorious Gospel. Glory be to God alone - by Pastor Alex Aquino