The Harmonious Relationship of Master and Servant

12/30/2017 12 Comments

Master and servant according to the Bible


To my readers,

I am now sure that these people really can not be considered as humans, but ‘imaginary’! Even their imagination does not work well for them. They say that God is a “huge proponent of slavery” in the Bible, and cited verses, particularly, Exodus 21:20-21; Colossians 3:22-24; Ephesians 6:5; 1 Peter 2:18. A quick look at these verses will disclose that these imaginary people are fools; and only fools like them will believe them. Let us examine these verses thoroughly.

EXODUS 21:20-21 
20 And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.
21 Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money. If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.

The verses speak of punishment for a master that abuses his servant or his maid. And notice that this is on verse 20 of chapter 21, meaning, that these imaginary people have read first verse 2 before arriving at verse 20. On verse 2 of the same chapter, it says:

EXODUS 21:2-3 
2 If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. 
3 If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.

God speaks of the liberation of slaves after a certain period of service to someone who bought him to be his slave. Is God a proponent of slavery? Definitely not! God wants slaves to be liberated. We must remember that God liberated His people, Israel, who were made slaves by the ungodly pharaohs of Egypt; But because He is a God of justice, to those who practice slavery, or who hire servants, God teaches them to deal with their servants properly, and liberate them afterwards. To show impartiality, God equally teaches servants to serve their masters or lords in the flesh faithfully.

COLOSSIANS 3:22-24 
22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ.

EPHESIANS 6:5 
Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

1 PETER 2:18 
Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

These verses that these imaginary people use to malign God do not prove their case, but works against them, in favor of God, because this shows how equitable God’s laws are!

Slavery, for people who lack understanding is a sour word, or maybe bitter, but if we are going to open our eyes and see in a broader perspective the realities in life, until now in our modern society, the essence of slavery is practiced everywhere and, practically, of most, if not all, people. A slave is defined in the Encarta dictionary as:

slave [slayv] 
noun (plural slaves)

1. somebody forced to work for another: somebody who is forced to work for somebody else for no payment and is regarded as the property of that person
2. dominated person: somebody who is dominated by somebody or by something
3. somebody accepting another’s rule: somebody who meekly accepts being ruled by somebody else
4. very hard worker: somebody who works hard, in bad conditions, and for low pay
5. device controlled by another: an electronic or mechanical device that is controlled by another (often used before a noun)

An employee or a helper is practically a slave of his employer. Somebody working under the domination or rule of another is a slave according to the dictionary. Do we have to blame God for these harmonious relationships in society between an entrepreneur and his helpers? Anybody against this reality is stupid! Not all people on earth can be ‘bosses’. Not everybody can be a leader, a king, or a president! A king has his subjects. A leader has followers. A manager has his assistance, and so on. Whether they accept it or not, some people are of lesser capacity and intelligence than others. This is scientific and reality.

MATTHEW 25:15 
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

A God who understands our being and compassionate in dealing with our infirmities guides us to the proper place in society where we can be most useful to Him through the services we can render to people.

PSALMS 103:13-14
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

God knows our frame, our being, our intelligence, and our capabilities. If He admonishes us to be faithful servants to our masters in the flesh, He does not encourage or is He a proponent of slavery, but He is teaching us to be most useful in a position wherein we are fit to be. It will be unfair for God to ask us to be a manager while He knows that we are not in a capacity to be so. Reality and prudence dictate that not all can be a manager!

Looking unto God and His perspectives with a prudent and understanding mind magnifies His majesty; but to those who are perverts, unbelieving, and with polluted minds, what is good appears to be bad, and the truth as a lie, and lies as their norms.

ISAIAH 5:20-21 
20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 
21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

Thank You and God Bless!

12 Comments:

Allow Me to Correct a Reader

12/21/2017 24 Comments

Bro. Eli is a servant of God

For the sake of justice, fairness, and truth, I oblige myself in this venue and even in my Twitter account to correct comments that purport to favor me. I disagree with what Bro. Bennieson posted:

“Bro. Eli Soriano, is the true son of God. He preaches the words of God in every detail of the bible. To God be the Glory”

Brother, allow me to correct you: I am not the “true Son of God”, but the Lord Jesus is.

PSALMS 2:7 
I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

HEBREWS 5:5 
So also Christ glorified not himself to be made a high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee.

Notice that God the Father did not pronounce this even unto one of all the angels!

HEBREWS 1:5 
For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

Let me say that I may be considered “a” son of God through adoption.

THE ROMANS 8:15-16 
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

But I am not “the” true Son of God.

The true Son of God is the Lord Jesus Christ!

MATTHEW 16:13-17 
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 
14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. 
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Anyone who claims that he is the Son of God with the definite article “the” is a liar. Let us look at this claim.

April 25, 2004 • Official turnover of power from the Father to His Son (Source: http://www.kingdomofjesuschirst.org)

When the Bible said that love of money is “a” root of all evil, it is precisely true because love of money is not “the” root of all evil.

I TIMOTHY 6:10 (ASV) 
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

It is true that love of money can be “a” root of all evil, but it will not be precisely true to say that love of money is “the” root of all evil.

Satan became evil not because of love of money, but because he coveted power that does not belong to him! He wanted to be equal with God.

ISAIAH 14:12-14 
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

When he became evil, money was not yet in use. If money can be a root of all evil, the truth is there are other roots of evil aside from love of money. When the Bible said that money is “a” root of all evil it is an irrefutable truth. My point is, even the use of articles in a sentence greatly affects the truth!

MATTHEW 5:18 
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Someone claiming to be the Son of God like Apollo Quiboloy is not telling the truth, but is deceiving people. The Lord Jesus, according to the Bible, is the only begotten Son of God. For anyone to claim such an honor, their glory is not glory but shame.

PROVERBS 25:27 
It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

In view of the foregoing, may I advise Bro. Bennieson, and all the others who compliment me, to be careful in their choice of words. Brother Eli will remain to be an unprofitable servant!

LUKE 17:10 
So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

To God and His Son Jesus Christ be the glory!

AMEN!

24 Comments:

The Lord Jesus Christ Is Savior

12/16/2017 17 Comments

Everything about Christ brings salvation

Whatever He does, wherever He goes, means salvation!

At conception He saved His foster father when he (Joseph) accepted Mary as his wife, being with child by the Holy Spirit, through sacrificing not “to know” her till she brought forth her first born son.

MATTHEW 1:18-21, 25 
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

“To know” is a biblical term that means sexual relationship!

GENESIS 4:1, 25 
1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bore Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 
25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bore a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.

By sacrificing for a while and withholding his desire “to know” Mary while Christ is being conceived, Joseph gave way to God’s great purpose of salvation making him (Joseph) the first beneficiary of such salvation!

At birth He made the woman who bore Him worthy of salvation!

LUKE 11:27-28 
27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 
28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

I TIMOTHY 2:14-15 
14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 
15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

When sought for after birth, by a ruler whose greed for power is insatiable, He was brought to Egypt where He again gave salvation to those who received them in Egypt.

MATTHEW 2:13-15
13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 
14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 
15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Anybody who will receive Christ and do favor to Him even to the least of His brethren is worthy of salvation!

MATTHEW 25:32-40 
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 
35 For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

In frustration to find the child Christ, Herod ordered the slaughter of all children from age two below, bringing salvation “in yet another manner” to the innocent victims of man’s greed for power.

MATTHEW 2:16 
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

Children, regardless of condition, are bound to heaven!

MATTHEW 19:14
But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

Their early death assured their salvation!

ISAIAH 57:1 
The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.

These all happened even before the Lord Jesus Christ opened His mouth to announce His work of salvation!

MARK 1:14-15 
14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 
15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

These are sufficient proofs to show the saving power that is in the person of Christ!

Christ’s life for many times was uncomfortably interrupted by the schemes of the enemy. But the Father, in His ultimate power, made these interruptions as fortifying factors for the work of salvation.

ROMANS 5:3-5 
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

ROMANS 8:28 
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

The MTRCB in the Philippines (MTRCB means Movie and Television Review Classification Board), that functions under the Office of the President of the Philippines, have unjustly under the influence of “powers that should not be” suspended Bro. Eli Soriano in appearing in any television and radio program for three months, just because he is answering in his television program the false, malicious and defamatory accusations being thrown to his person by the ministers of the INC-Manalo. It must be noted at this juncture that the MTRCB have allowed all these defamations to be aired freely by this favored organization. Complaints filed by Soriano with the MTRCB and in courts to defend his reputation among the viewers of the malicious program of the INCM were all dismissed obviously favoring this group. The following are some of the accusations that were allowed by the MTRCB to be aired nationwide after they have reviewed such program and have given them the necessary permit to go on air.
 

To a thinking and legal mind, these accusations constitute the crime of libel punishable under Philippine laws. To say that Soriano is mandarambong (plunderer), kidnapper, mangongotong (extortioner), hidhid, ganid (greedy of money) among others without any basis at all, in any given situation, clearly constitutes the crime of libel! But all these things were comfortably hurled to Soriano by the ministers of the INCM without any attempt on the part of the MTRCB to regulate this brutal act of indecency. Worse is, when Soriano tried to defend himself by answering in his program these malicious accusations, because of the inaction and leniency of the MTRCB, to at least neutralize the damage that was done by the utterances of the ministers of the INCM, Soriano was suspended to appear in any televison or radio station in the whole Philippines for three months by the MTRCB. Soriano believed that the series of suspension slapped on him by the MTRCB is a violation of his human right, which after investigation by the Commission on Human Rights NCR, was found to be so. 

The Supreme Court of the Republic of the Philippines, in its decision affirming the three-month suspension imposed upon Soriano by the MTRCB, has favored the INCM, nevertheless it rectified that Soriano must not be the one suspended but the program Ang Dating Daan, thereby (wittingly or unwittingly, I am asking you to think meticulously) that the human right of Soriano was really violated by the suspending officers of the MTRCB. I do not know (because I am not a lawyer) whether the Supreme Court have any corrective measures to impose upon the MTRCB for the error they have committed in suspending Soriano for three months which clearly violated continuously Soriano’s right to freedom of speech and expression and his inviolable right of free exercise of religious freedom.

The MTRCB, to be sure, may prohibit the broadcast of such television programs or cancel permits for exhibition, but it may not suspend television personalities, for such would be beyond its jurisdiction. The MTRCB cannot extend its exercise of regulation beyond what the law provides. Only persons, offenses, and penalties clearly falling clearly within the letter and spirit of PD 1986 will be considered to be within the decree’s penal or disciplinary operation.

Members of the Church of God International have lingering questions in their minds. Why are the ministers of Manalo being allowed by the MTRCB and the government of the Philippines to say against their leader anything they wish to say without any basis at all? Why and how it is possible that Soriano is being suspended by the MTRCB just by saying the phrase “Iglesia ni Manalo”, which according to the INCM is an insult to their organization. Soriano, in uttering the phrase “Iglesia ni Manalo”, based his conclusion of the teachings of Manalo himself.


Other churches and their members are proud to be called in a manner associated with the name of their leaders. The Wesleyan Church has the name John Wesley.



 Aglipayans are proud to be called Aglipayans, after the name of Gregorio Aglipay, founder of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente.


The Lutherans are not in any manner insulted being called the Lutherans after the name of Martin Luther.


The Iglesia ni Manalo are offended and are insulted hearing the name of their leader being used to address them. Whatever the reason maybe, only they (INCM) know!

Soriano, to avoid physical confrontations between members of the ADD and the INCM which is likely to happen because of the insinuations of the ministers of Manalo telling their members the whereabouts of Soriano, and even enticing the infamous group of rebels in southern Philippines to harm Soriano, left the Philippines.



With a heavy heart he left his native land and found himself in various situations that, at first, almost broke his heart. But his trust on his Creator never left his being! After a year of adjusting to an environment he never dreamt to be in, and some necessary preparations, he started to preach the gospel personally and through television in foreign lands. He traveled to the United States, Europe, England and South America, holding Bible expositions whenever possible, which gave rise (with God’s help and guidance) to various local congregations of the Church of God International in foreign lands.

The baby Christ was forced out of the land of His birth by persecution, settling in a place where he brought salvation. The early Christians scattered abroad because of persecutions brought the Good News to lands outside Israel.

ACTS 8:1, 4 
1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

I PETER 1:1 
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

MATTHEW 10:23 
But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

Whatever Jesus Christ does, wherever He goes, spells salvation!

17 Comments:

Jesus Christ Existed Even Before Abraham

12/09/2017 5 Comments


Mr. Tumbok’s allegations posted on the eDebate with the topic, “Is Jesus Christ Man or God”:

“Now to Abraham and his Seeds were the promises made. He does not say, ‘And no seeds’, as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed’, who is Christ.” (Gal.3:16, Ibid.)

Christ is the seed of Abraham, which is why it is wrong to assert that He existed before Abraham did. It is also worthy to note that nowhere in the aforecited pronouncement of Christ, which they use as proof of His alleged pre-existence and deity, did He say, “before Abraham was, I am God.” Why then did our Lord Jesus Christ say, “Before Abraham was, I AM”? Does this mean that He had pre-existence or that He had already existed even before Abraham was born? Apostle Peter enlightens us on this regard, thus:

“Foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, He has been manifested in the last times for your sakes” (I Peter 1:20, Douay- Rheims Version)

Even before the creation of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ was already foreknown by God. Hence, what was in the beginning with God was not Christ but God’s foreknowledge of Him. Apostle Peter proves this further through His testimony:

“Him [Christ], being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God…” (Acts 2:23, NKJV)

In other words, even before God created the world, He had already planned that there would be a Messiah or Christ. But there was no Christ yet in existence in the beginning, contrary to what the proponents of the Christ-is-God doctrine would like us to believe, for 
He came to exist only when He was born of His mother, Apostle Paul testified:

“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.” (Gal. 4:4, Ibid.)

I have highlighted the allegations of Mr. Tumbok to make them easily noticeable because they are the points that we are going to clarify from the Bible. The first allegation is:

“Christ is the seed of Abraham, which is why it is wrong to assert that He existed before Abraham did.”

According to Mr. Tumbok, it is wrong to assert that Christ existed before Abraham because He is a seed of the latter. Let us clarify this.

In what aspect does the Bible consider the Lord Jesus Christ as the seed of Abraham?

ROMANS 1:3 
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

Note the descriptive term being used by the Apostle Paul, “seed according to the flesh”. Such term is used in the Bible to describe the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, implying that before He was born in the flesh, He already existed in the spirit world. Remember, He was the One teaching the prophets of old by His spirit, which was in them.

1 PETER 1:10-11 
10 Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 
11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

“Which was in them” denotes His pre-existence. Notice the following verses:

ACTS 2:30 
Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

ROMANS 9:4-5 
4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 
5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

It is easily noticeable that concerning the flesh, and according to the flesh, Christ came from the Israelites in the lineage of David, who are descendants of Abraham. So, He is the seed of Abraham, according to the flesh; and concerning the flesh, but He was before Abraham, concerning the spirit. Thus, His quotation, “Before Abraham was, I am”.

Mr. Tumbok alleges that:

“Hence, what was in the beginning with God was not Christ but God’s foreknowledge of Him.”

This is the thinking of all people misled by Manalo, and the proponents of Christ is man- belief. Let us examine this in the light of what is really written in the scriptures.

Consistency in thought and senses is very much needed in understanding the ‘whole truth’ in the Bible. Anybody who will extract a verse out of the consistent thought of any given topic, is taking it out of context, and therefore, misleading.

From what topic of discussion the pronouncement of the Lord Jesus, “Before Abraham was, I am” was taken? Let us examine the topic.

JOHN 8:38-43 
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 
39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 
40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 
41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. 
42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 
43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

JOHN 8:53-58 
53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? 
54 Jesus answered, If I honor myself, my honor is nothing: it is my Father that honoreth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 
55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

These discussions between the Lord Jesus Christ and the Jews are about the roots of the Jews and that of Christ. The Jews are claiming that they are children of Abraham; the Lord Jesus Christ telling them that He came from God the Father. If we are going to look closely on the aforementioned verses, Christ is disproving the allegation of these Jews that they are descendants of Abraham, and children of God. If they were of God, they should love Jesus because He came from God; if they are descendants of Abraham, then, they would do the works of Abraham. “Abraham rejoiced to see my day”, but the Jews sought to kill Him because they were not children of Abraham but, of their father — the devil.

JOHN 8:44 
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

What the Jews wanted to do to the Lord Jesus was not what Abraham felt when he saw His day.

JOHN 8:40 
But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

Abraham rejoiced upon seeing the day of the Lord Jesus, unlike the Jews trying to kill Him.

When Jesus said that, “Abraham rejoiced to see my day”, the Jews said, “Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?”, the Lord Jesus Christ exclaimed, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” The rule of logic and consistency of thought dictates that what our Lord Jesus Christ meant is that He existed before Abraham was — note the verb ‘was’.

In fact, in the New Living Translation (NLT), it says:

JOHN 8:58 (NLT) 
Jesus answered, “The truth is, I existed before Abraham was even born!”

And again, in the Living New Testament (LNT), it states:

JOHN 8:56-58 (LNT) 
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day. He knew I was coming and was glad. 
57 The Jewish leaders: You aren’t even 50 years old-sure, you’ve seen Abraham! 
58 The absolute truth is that I was in existence before Abraham was ever born!

Notice the following:

“I speak that which I have seen with my Father”
“I proceeded forth and came from God”
“Abraham rejoiced to see my day”
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am”

The consistent thought being expressed in the preceding pronouncements of the Lord Jesus Christ proves His pre-existence before Abraham was born. It is not just a ‘foreknowledge’ of God as Mr. Tumbok claims. Let us investigate his erroneous conclusion in the translation he used —the DOUAY-RHEIMS VERSION:

1 PETER 1:18-20 
18 Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as gold or silver, from your vain conversation of the tradition of your fathers: 
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb unspotted and undefiled, 
20 Foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but manifested in the last times for you,

In these verses, what was foreknown by God is not the being of Christ but, the redemptive power of the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb unspotted and undefiled. Of course, the blood of Christ does not yet exist before the foundation of the world because He was not yet born in the flesh, but existing in spirit. Likewise, the Apostle Peter is speaking of the same foreknowledge of God.

ACTS 2:23 (NKJV) 
Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;

Note the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God speaks of the redemption that will be accomplished by the blood and death of Christ in the flesh.

Mr. Tumbok alleges that Christ only existed when He was born of His mother. This is what he said:

“…for He came to exist only when He was born of His mother, Apostle Paul testified:

“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.” (Gal. 4:4, Ibid.)

This claim of Mr. Tumbok is neither biblical nor scientific. Biblically and scientifically speaking, the existence of a man starts in the loins of his father.

HEBREWS 7:5 
And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:

Let us examine what the Apostle said in Galatians 4:4.

But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

The verse did not say that our Lord Jesus Christ only existed when He was born of His mother as Mr. Tumbok claims. But a striking truth can be noticed by an open mind.

God sent forth His Son! He was sent because He came from God. He was sent because He came from heaven. When He came, a body was prepared for Him; which was born of the woman under the law.

JOHN 1:18 
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

JOHN 6:38 
For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

HEBREWS 10:5 
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

These verses all denote the pre-existence of Christ before He came to earth.

Read the second part of the blog: Christ: The Wisdom of God

5 Comments:

Can a Homosexual Make It to Heaven?

12/02/2017 , 8 Comments

homosexuality and salvation

Going to heaven is an attainable thing – attainable even by the poorest of the poor!

LUKE 6:20-23 
20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. 
21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. 
22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. 
23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Lazarus, in the parable of the rich man, was able to make it to Abraham’s bosom: representing happiness in heaven with the Father.

LUKE 16:19-23 
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

To the contrary, the rich and the educated that trust in themselves and in their wealth can hardly make it to heaven.

MARK 10:23-24 
23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 
24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

Rich people are admonished by God to trust in Him, and not in their wealth to be worthy in the kingdom of heaven.

1 TIMOTHY 6:17-19 
17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded; nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 
18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 
19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Homosexuals have made it to the congress and the senate of my home country. The possibility of an empire having ruled by a homosexual is 100 percent.

Homosexuals are human beings. All human beings are product of God’s pro-creative power. What is attainable by ‘normal’ human beings (if homosexuals are considered by others as abnormal) can be equally attained by them also. But how about making it to heaven? The Bible has this to say:

1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-11 
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

The verses made mention of ‘effeminate’ or homosexuals, and abusers of themselves with men, but they were accepted in the Church and sanctified through the power of God and the Spirit of Christ.

God wants all men to be saved.

1 TIMOTHY 2:4 (Revised Standard Version) 
…who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Many a pastor or religious leader of our time has erroneously associated homosexuality with sodomy. They mock homosexuals and condemn them to hell because Sodom was destroyed by God and appointed unto everlasting destruction; but a careful study of the scriptures will reveal to us that homosexuality is not sodomy and sodomy is not homosexuality.

Sodom and Gomorrah were not the only cities destroyed by God as many perceived. Actually, there are more cities surrounding Sodom and Gomorrah that were brought by God to destruction.

JUDE 1:7 
Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

The verse says that these cities — including Sodom and Gomorrah, have given themselves to fornication and have gone after strange flesh.

STRANGE?

Yes, because they have, in their lust, ‘left the natural use of women and burned in their lust one towards another, men with men, and women with women’! THESE ARE NOT HOMOSEXUALS. Homosexuals, in their desire, do not lust with women. Although a homosexual does it with a man, he does not do it with a woman. These people of Sodom and Gomorrah are not homosexuals, but perverts. The parallelism was mentioned by Jude. Observe the two verses:

JUDE 1:6-7 
6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. 
7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

The ‘angels’ mentioned by Jude left their ‘own habitation’ and kept not their first estate, even as Sodom and Gomorrah have left the ‘natural’ and turned into strange flesh. What did these angels do, prompting God to condemn them into eternal fire?

GENESIS 6:1-7 
1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 
2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 
3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years. 
4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. 
5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 
6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 
7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

These sons of God who took the daughters of men as wives are angels! Angels are called in the Bible as ‘sons of God’ singing with joy during the laying of the foundation of the world, when there were no human beings yet.

JOB 38:4-7 
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Some of these angels sinned against God when they left their first estate and habitation, and mingled with humans, and have produced a hybrid called ‘giants’ in the days of Noah. These angels are the spirits that were imprisoned, to whom Christ, when He died, visited and to whom He heralded His victory over evil, according to Peter.

1 PETER 3:18-20 
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

The word ‘preached’ used by Peter is ‘kerusso’ in Greek, which means to herald.

kērussō
kay-roos’-so

Of uncertain affinity; to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel): – preach (-er), proclaim, publish.

(Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries Dictionaries of Hebrew and Greek Words taken from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance by James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D., 1890.)

As angels can lust with daughters of men, men of Sodom and Gomorrah, because of their overwhelming lust, have sought the angels who visited Lot and wanted to have sexual knowledge of them! These are men, and the angels who visited Lot, also, have male human forms.

GENESIS 19:1 (New International Version) 
The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.

GENESIS 19:4-8 (New International Version) 
4 Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. 
5 They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.” 
6 Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him 
7 and said, “No, my friends. Don’t do this wicked thing. 
8 Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don’t do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof.

These men of Sodom and Gomorrah are not homosexuals, but perverts! If there are people being condemned by God because of sexual addiction, they are not the homosexuals, but real men and women (if we can call them real) who, because of their sexual perversions, may do ‘it’ with the opposite and the same sex!

ROMANS 1:26-27 (New International Version) 
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 
27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

There are decent and God-fearing homosexuals. Although, naturally, they have affection for men, but they practice self-control to obey God’s law!

TITUS 2:11-12 (New International Version) 
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 
12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live selfcontrolled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

Can these decent and God-fearing homosexuals make it to heaven?

I BELIEVE THEY WILL!

God bless.

8 Comments:

Christ: The Wisdom of God

11/25/2017 28 Comments

Christ existed before Mary gave birth

This is a continuation of my article entitled “Jesus Christ Existed Before Abraham".

Mr. Tumbok alleges that the wisdom referred to in the book of Proverbs 8:22 is not Christ. He cited 1 Corinthians 1:30 and hastily concluded that Christ is the wisdom for salvation and redemption only, and not the Wisdom instrumental in the creation of every existing thing. Here are his allegations:

“But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God… But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God— and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” (Ibid.)

Apostle Paul clearly states that Christ is the power and wisdom of God for us to be sanctified and be redeemed from sin, or God unto salvation. Hence, He is not the wisdom referred to in the Book of Proverbs, which our Lord God used in creating all things.

It was the Apostle Paul who personified the wisdom of God as Jesus Christ.

1 CORINTHIANS 2:6-8 
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to naught: 
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

A careful look at the above cited verses will reveal to us the following facts.

1. Wisdom of God in a mystery
2. The hidden Wisdom ordained by God before the world
3. Which was not known by the princes of this world

Due to these, they crucified the Lord of Glory.

The Wisdom of God being mentioned by Paul here is the Wisdom in a mystery, the hidden Wisdom, which is the Lord of Glory. Remember that this Wisdom was ordained by God before the World.

Who is the Lord of Glory? James 2:1 says:

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

It is crystal clear, therefore, that the Wisdom mentioned by Paul who existed and was ordained by God before the world is the Lord Jesus Christ — The Lord of Glory.

Is this the same Wisdom being mentioned in the book of Proverbs?

1 CORINTHIANS 1:24 
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

The Apostle Paul said, “The Wisdom of God”. A little knowledge of grammar will make us know that there is no other Wisdom because he used the definite article ‘the’. However, Christ is the Wisdom of God to those which are called. No wonder, Tumbok will not understand because he was not called. God calls people into the Church of God and not in any church founded by man.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:1-2 
1 Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

It is in the Church of God that God calls people which He considers worthy of serving Him. If there are those who do not consider Christ as ‘the’ Wisdom of God, they are the enemies of Christ.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:23-24 
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Christ is not the Wisdom of God for those who were not called into the Church of God, but a ‘stumbling block’ and foolishness. Certainly, He is the same Wisdom being mentioned in Proverbs 8:22.

PROVERBS 8:22 
The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

The word ‘possessed’ being used by the Wisdom (referring to Christ) is very much apparent in the declaration of John.

JOHN 1:18 
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

The Wisdom was possessed by the Father in the beginning of His ways, before His works of old. The succeeding verses 23 and 24 prove that He was begotten before anything was made.

PROVERBS 8:23-24 
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 
24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

No other being in the universe was brought forth or begotten of the Father other than the only begotten Son, which was in the beginning, the Wisdom in the bosom of the Father.

HEBREWS 1:5 
For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

He is also the Son mentioned in the book of Proverbs, which was with the Father in the creation of everything.

PROVERBS 30:4 
Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?

He is the person to whom God was speaking to, in the creation of man.

GENESIS 1:26 
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Others conclude (which were always erroneous) that God is speaking to angels; but this is not so. God speaks to someone who has the same image as Him, and there is no other person in the universe or beyond it, that has the exact image of God other than the Son.

HEBREWS 1:1-3 
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

Note that by the Son He made the worlds. The Son is the express image of His person. These reasonings of Saint Paul jive with the preaching of John in His gospel.

JOHN 1:1-3 
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 
2 The same was in the beginning with God. 
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

To sum up, that really Jesus Christ is the Wisdom of God being mentioned in the book of Proverbs, let us look at the verses the second time.

PROVERBS 8:22-30 
22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 
24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 
26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 
27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 
28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 
29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: 
30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

I have highlighted in red words and phrases that speak of the time element proving that the Wisdom, which was the Son, pre-existed before He was born of Mary in the form of a man. There is no other Wisdom of God being mentioned in the Bible, other than the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; the Lord of Glory, the wisdom which God used in the creation of everything that exists.

COLOSSIANS 2:2-3
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

All treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Christ. The Apostle Paul has known this so he writes:

COLOSSIANS 1:15-17 
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

How can something that does not exist be made an instrument in the creation of everything that exists? That is impossible!

JOHN 1:1-3 
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 
2 The same was in the beginning with God. 
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

The Son was there in the Creation of everything! Without Him was not anything made that was made!

All these verses prove the pre-existence of the Son before He was born of Mary to be called the Son of Man. He is the Son of God. Our next discussion will deal on the real being (others call it the nature of Christ); but I believe Christ is not part of nature. Who really is Christ?

To be continued…

God Bless.

28 Comments:

Blatant Perversion of Truth by Catholic Apologists

11/18/2017 21 Comments

confused Catholic apologists

My answers to these Catholic apologists are long overdue! A busy schedule hindered me from posting as early as necessary, but I did not consider this a priority as in having to deal with kids or monstrous liars! I want to answer them now one by one, paragraph after paragraph!

They said:

“If you die for a preacher then you are a cultist and a fanatic. If he [Mr. Eli Soriano] was sent by God he must have a message coming from God. For example is; he must have written a book that is a revelation to him from God… like Moses and St. Paul.”

Repeat: “If you die for a preacher then you are a cultist and a fanatic,” says Odan Matig-a. 

Answer: Priscilla and Aquila were both willing to die for their preacher, the Apostle Paul. Were they cultists and fanatics?

THE ROMANS 16:3-4 
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 
4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

To lay down one’s life not only for a preacher but for the least of the brethren in Christ is not being fanatic, or a cultist. It is an act of love!

I JOHN 3:16 
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Winnie said:

“If he [Mr. Eli Soriano] was sent by God he must have a message coming from God. For example is; he must have written a book that is a revelation to him from God… like Moses and St. Paul.”

Answer: Timothy was sent by God and the Lord Jesus.

PHILIPPIANS 2:19 
But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.

Did Timothy write a book? There is no book in the Bible written by Timothy! Another form of ignorance from a Catholic apologist! Thomas, James (There were two James elected to be apostles), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, and Simon the Canaanite, were all sent by God but they did not write like the other apostles!

MATTHEW 10:2-6 
2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 
3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus whose surname was Thaddaeus; 
4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. 
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

OdanMatig-a said:

“Winnie’s reasoning is correct! You misunderstood Winnie when you asked, “Is dying for the apostles a wrong reason?” You are way out of the premise Mr. Soriano! The premise is this: “Why? Is your faith with your Bro. Eli? The Catholics during the Roman Empire died for their faith in Christ and not for the apostles.” So, it is about you and the faith of your follower/followers and not about the apostles.”

Repeat: “You are way out of the premise Mr. Soriano! The premise is this: “Why? Is your faith with your Bro. Eli? The Catholics during the Roman Empire died for their faith in Christ and not for the apostles.”

Answer: The premise is what you said, “The Catholics during the Roman Empire died for their faith in Christ and not for the apostles.”

The Christians, (not Catholics) during the incumbency of the Roman Empire did not only die for their faith in Jesus but were willing to, for the preachers sent to them by Jesus, and one of them is Epaphroditus.

PHILIPPIANS 2:25-26, 30 
25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellow soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. 
26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. 
30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

Epaphroditus, because of his services to the Apostle Paul, got sick near death. When I asked OdanMatig-a, “Is dying for the apostles a wrong reason?” the biblical answer must be NO! But Winnie butted in and went out of the way and said that to die for me and my wrong belief is not a good reason.

The point of contention is what OdanMatig-a previously said-

“The Catholics during the Roman Empire died for their faith in Christ and not for the apostles.”

OdanMatig-a is wrong because there were Christians who were willing to die for the apostles! But Winnie stood for him and said:

“OdanMatig-a is right in the sense that, people should not be ready to die for wrong reason.”

Answer: OdanMatig-a did not say that, “…people should not be ready to die for wrong reason.”

What he said was: “The Catholics during the Roman Empire died for their faith in Christ and not for the apostles.”

Then came my (Bro. Eli) question: “Is dying for the apostles a wrong reason?” Who then is out of context? YOU! Both of you!

Is dying for the apostles a wrong reason as OdanMatig-a claimed? Definitely NO!

THE ROMANS 16:3-4 
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 
4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

These Catholic apologists are both confused! And yet they support each other. Their premeditated attempts at defending their own belief are most stupid and shallow! I hope my readers are not as confused as they are!

21 Comments:

The Vitality of Religion to Salvation

11/11/2017 22 Comments

Religion is needed to be saved

It is a very common knowledge among people internationally that religion is the church where they belong to. When you pose the question: “What is your religion? Somebody readily answers: “I am a Catholic, or a Baptist, or a Seventh Day Adventist, etc.

Even when signing a legal or public document, people write down at the space provided for religion their ‘organized sect’ or religion. So, it has been accepted internationally that the religion of somebody is the church where he is affiliated to. The word religion in the Bible is ‘thrēskeia’ in the Greek Bible.Incidentally, the reason why we are citing Greek is because it was the language used by the New Testament writers like Paul and Luke who used the word ‘thrēskeia’, which was translated as religion in the English and Spanish Bible; And in the Bible, there is such thing as pure and undefiled ‘thrēskeia’ or religion.

James 1:27
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

The apostle Paul made mention of his former affiliation with the religion or ‘thrēskeia’ of the Jews before he became a Christian.

Galatians 1:13
“For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it…”

He used the word ‘thrēskeia’ to denote the organized religion of the Jews and their practices. He explained this on the following verse (verse 14).

Galatians 1:14
“And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.”

If we look in the Greek dictionary of New Testament terms, the word ‘‘thrēskeia’or religion means:

θρησκεία 
thrēskeia 
thrace-ki’-ah 
From a derivative of G2357; ceremonial observance: – religion, worshipping. (Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries)

So, the Greek word means that religion is ceremonial observance of something related to worship. Is religion vital to salvation? Here is our answer:

Whether you regard religion as the organization you belong to or as a ceremonial observance in worship, we believe that it is very vital to salvation! Your ‘organized religion’ or organization has a vital influence in your thinking, character, priorities, and beliefs. There are people who kill because their religion allows them, if not teaching them, to kill. Some, like the Mormons allows polygamous relationships; meaning having more than one wife. In their book called Doctrines and Covenants, they have this to say:



You can have ten wives according to Mormon doctrines.Religion influences the kind of family or life that you will live for the rest of your life. Religion also influences human societies and cultures — what they will eat and drink or not, what they should wear, the kind of profession they would prefer, and even the kind of government they are going to impose on people. Some organized religions teach their members to even overthrow the government of a land which does not favor their faith. Some even institute violent acts resulting in mass murders and killings. Analyzing the way religion influences the character of a person or a sector of society implies that religion is very vital to salvation. If you have fallen victim to ‘blind’ religious leaders, and have followed ‘blindly’ their erroneous concept of worship, you will not be saved!

Matthew 15:14
“Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”

Following man’s thoughts, ideas, and teachings will make your worship or religion vain, and you will not be saved.

Mark 7:7-8
“Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.”

Even if at the outlook, some religious practices may seem to be pious or holy but, if they are not God’s law, it is futile.

Colossians 2:23 NIV
“Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their selfimposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.”

If these things happen to anybody, I am sorry to say that there is no salvation the he or she can hope for.

Romans 10:3 NIV
“Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.”

If in case anybody will say that salvation does not depend on your religious affiliation but in your ‘personal relationship’ to God or to Christ, the Bible has this to say:

Romans 12:9 KJV
“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”

The group that you cling to or cleave to is a great factor to salvation. The Bible tells us God’s teachings to know which group we must affiliate ourselves.

1 John 1:3-4
“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”

To have fellowship with the Father and the Son you must have fellowship with the right group of people like the apostles! If you are going to associate yourself to a group of murderers and fanatics, you certainly will not be saved.

Romans 16:17-18
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

We are commanded by God to disassociate ourselves to such kind of people or group, especially to idol worshippers.

2 Corinthians 6:17
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”

If, in any case, somebody will say that he or she wants to be alone and do not have any ‘religion’, will he or she be saved? Remember that religion means worship. Anybody who says that he or she does not want to worship God will not be saved!

The Bible teaches us of a ‘Church’ — a ‘True Church’. The Church is a divine institution established by God through Christ. It is the ‘body’ whose ‘head’ is Christ Himself.

Colossians 1:18
“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

We are ordained by God to be parts of such body or Church by accepting the gospel.

Ephesians 3:6
“That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel…”

That Church is the Church of God!

2 Corinthians 1:1
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia…”

In the Church of God, the apostles teach the pure and undefiled religion or worship.

James 1:27
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

All the apostles teach in the Church of God, so it is in the Church that true religion, pure and undefiled, is being practiced.

1 Corinthians 12:28
“And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”

Anybody who will reject the Church of the Bible, like most of the Born Again movements who call themselves ‘fellowships’, ‘ministries’, and the Jehovah’s Witnesses who call themselves ‘witnesses’ instead of church, and avoid the use of the word ‘church’ which came from the mouth of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, are blatant anti-Christ!

I hope this article will answer some of the most important questions and discussions about religion.

God Bless.

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