Attorney-in-fact
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- Published: Monday, 27 January 2020 07:32
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Attorney-in-fact
By Augusto A. Kho
Bureau of Jail, Management and Penology (BJMP)
Municipality of Balungao, Province of Pangasinan
January 27, 2020 (Monday); 10:30 a.m.
27 JAN/ MON
This morning at 7:40 am: we conducted the “National Bible Month” Municipality of Rosales, together with other pastors.
National Bible Month under Presidential Proclamation (P.P) No. 124 (2017) by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in recognition of the “Filipino’s religious nature and the elevating influence of religion in human society,” thus declaring the National Bible Month every Month of January each year.
National Bible Month vision in 2020: “The Bible Transforms and Unites the Nation.”
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This is in line with the Preamble of the 1987, Philippine Constitution states that, “We, the sovereign Filipino imploring of Almighty God.”
The amendment was made in 1987.
By changing “Imploring the aid of Divine Providence” into “Almighty God” is to make reference to God in more personal and direct. And by invoking God in the Preamble, Jose Laurel S.r said, the Filipino people, “thereby manifested their intense religious nature and place unfaltering reliance upon Him who guides the destinies of men and nations.” (Aglipay vs. Ruiz, 64 Phil. 206), Jose Nolledo, “The Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, EXPLAINED,” 1992.
Even the Constitution of Libya begins with, “In the Name of God.” Also, the Constitution of Switzerland, begins with, “In the name of Almighty God.”
The Bible transforms; the Bible unites
Earlier I said that the 2020 Vision of National Bible Month is that the Bible should transform and the Bible should unite this nation.
You may be reading the Bible, or internalizing it deeply or memorizing it but not until you have been transformed by the God of the Bible, no less than the Lord Jesus Christ, there is no want you can be transformed to unite this much divided nation (especially the forthcoming national election is fast approaching).
Transformation starts from you. Transformation starts from me. You can never transformed a nation or community not until you are transformed by the God of the Bible.
1 Timothy 2:5 states that, “There is one God one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ.”
From there, if Christ is the mediator between God and men (which includes the tribunals and higher court like Supreme Court), then Jesus occupy the highest mediation office. In fact, Jesus Christ is your attorney-in-fact.
Attorney-in-fact
The attorney-in-fact is a person who is authorized to perform business-related teransactions on behalf of someone else such as the principal of a company. In order to become seomeone’s attorney-in-fact, the principal must sign a power of attorney.
Since Filipinos are highly religious, some of you (inmates) would even pray for your case before the Lord with these words, “Lord, bahala ka na sa kaso ko” or “Panginoon pinapasa kamay ko sa iyo ang kaso ko” unaware that you are already giving Christ our Lord the “power of attorney” regarding your concern.
Jeremiah 51:36 / NLT says, “ I will be your lawyer to plead for your case, and I will avenge you.”
NOTE
Mediator
The word “mediator” in 1 Timothy 2:5 is derived from the Greek word “mesites” meaning “one who intervenes between two, either in order to make or restore peace and friendship or froma compact or for ratifying a covenant.” A mediator is a medium of communication or arbitrator according to Thayer. The Greek , “mesites” is derived from “mesos” meaning “the midst” or “in the midst of.”
That is why even in the Philippine justice system, any suit filed to the court must be first go through an arbiter or arbitrator or mediator. The case of any aggrieved party will be first presented to the mediator to settle the feud first among themselves before it will be brought to the court. It is from here that amicable settlements can be first agreed by the two parties. When the case cannot be settled then it will be brought before the court for litigation.
In case of Christ, before your case will be heard by the Divine Tribunal of Heaven, if you have committed grave offenses like murder or rape which is punishable severely, in Christ’s grace and His atoning sacrifice on the cross, that can still me mediated by Christ Himself.
Plead
The word “plead” doesn’t stop there. Plead in Anglo-French “pleder” means “To assert, to reason.” In Hebrew word, “rub”, the word “plead” is “to contend” i.e. to fight or “to conduct a case or suit” against someone. It means you also make “counter-charge” to someone who filed a case against you.
I am not encouraging anyone to counter-charge should he found yourselves guilty to the crime he committed. But every offender has the right for an attorney. Even the hardest criminal can also be recipient of presidential pardon.
Pardon
Pardon is simply a “grace.” Pardon is simply means forgiveness. God provides forgiveness to those who have sinned.
1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Forgiveness is everyone’s right. And to present your own attorney to present you case is every one’s constitutional right as well.
Article 3, Section 12 under the Bill of Rights said, “If the person cannot afford the services of counsel, he must be provided with one.” Then why not take Jesus Christ as your legal counsel.
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