Regarding the Bible it is important to understand that it is not the paper, binding, and ink that are "sacred" or "holy." It is the Living “Word” of God that is holy, not the material it is printed on, we are not to worship or idolize the Bible. The purpose of the Bible is to teach us about Jesus the Savior and the salvation He provides and to point us to worship Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. The paper and ink of a Bible are merely the means through which God communicates His Word to us. Just as with a government’s constitution conveys the will of its people in words on paper and if a printed copy of the constitution is destroyed, does not the will of the people still live on? Yes! The Lord Jesus brought through his Holy Spirit the living Word. His Will to all of mankind, and God uses His powerful living Word (Isaiah 55:11; Hebrews 4:12) to testify of Him from the pages of a Bible.
I respectfully disagree with the statement that the no one found salvation before the “Word became flesh” as Jesus. Let’s look at the example of Abraham. God offered salvation to Gentiles long before there were any descendants of Israel, and a man named Abraham is a prime example of a Gentile who received God's salvation. Abraham was not a Jew; neither was he a descendant of Israel. Rather he was Israel's (Jacob's) grandfather. Yet according to Genesis 15:16, God declared Abraham to be righteous (and one cannot be declared righteous if they have not already received salvation from the sin of man), because of his faith. Paul mentioned this fact about Abraham in his letters to the Romans and Galatians as he argued that salvation is offered now to both Jews and Gentiles by faith (see Rom. 4:3; Gal. 3:6). If Abraham---who appears early in Genesis and who lived hundreds of years before the giving of the Law of Moses, ---was declared righteous by God, this proves that Gentiles could be forgiven and declared righteous by God long before Jesus was born.
Another example of this comes from Jesus himself. Jesus once told a repentant woman that her sins had been forgiven, and He then told her that her faith had saved her (Luke 7:48-50). She was forgiven; thus she was saved. And obviously, she was saved before Jesus died. If she died in a forgiven state, then God did not revoke His forgiveness when she stood before His throne of judgment. She inherited eternal life.
So how is it possible for someone to receive salvation from their sin and become righteous before Jesus paid the price for sin on the cross? The answer to that question is simple since God and the Word are in all places, and in all times since the beginning of time.
This is what is so amazing; the Word in the flesh- Jesus- had already paid the price on the cross since the beginning of creation!
So in other words we as humans who live on the time-line of moment to moment since the creation of Adam have been able to receive salvation from God for the forgiveness of sin by faith in Him- The Word, because God is the Word (John 1: 1-2,14), and since the Word became flesh and Word is in all moments of time at the same time, the perfect sacrifice that the Word made as Jesus on the cross was already done!
The Word is God. God is the Word. For the Word what is going to happen has already happened, and is happening, this how His Word as found in pages of His inspired testimony, the Bible, is still the way for salvation unto righteousness.
I leave you with this final thought as found in Paul’s letter to Timothy. (2 Timothy, Chapter 3:14-17)
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
When Paul says “Holy Scriptures” he is talking about the Old Testament.
God's blessing thru our Lord Christ Jesus by the power of His Holy Spirit.
February 6, 2012
December 25, 2011
First Century Christians Worship Jesus as God
I have provided biblical references that Jesus of Nazareth is not just a man born from a man’s seed, but from the seed of the Holy Spirit therefore God in human form. I have now decided to research evidence outside of the Bible. Evidence that comes from worldly or secular historical references as to what was being said about the first century (primitive) Christians, that they not only practiced the teaching of Jesus, but worship him as God.
I found a number of historical references, but the follow one is what stood out to be the most clear and straight forward reference. What makes this reference stand out the most is from who it comes from and to whom it is being sent to. The following is an excerpt from Pliny the Younger who was governor of Pontus/Bithynia from 111-113 AD an area that is now northwestern Turkey. He wrote many letters to his good friend the Trajan, Emperor of Roman.
One of the issues Pliny had to deal with concerned what to do with the Christians; there was a large amount of Christians in the province where Pliny had been sent to govern. Pliny reported to Trajan that Christianity had not only affected the cities in his jurisdiction but also the surrounding country side and villages. One of the results of the spread of Christianity in this region was that the area had received some economic loss because so many had become Christians and were not buying sacrifices to offer to the gods.
The teachings of the first century (primitive) Christianity were that there was no other God except Christos and that Christians were not to worship any other gods. Their refusal to accept the ancient Roman religion and worship the gods of the state was seen as treason in the Roman world. This was the basis for most of the persecutions against the Christians. Christians denied the existence of the states gods and refused to worship the gods of the Roman pantheon, which lead them to be seen as atheists on the eyes of Roman law.
“Meanwhile, in the case of those who were denounced to me as Christians, I have observed the following procedure: I interrogated these as to whether they were Christians; those who confessed I interrogated a second and a third time, threatening them with punishment; those who persisted I ordered executed. For I had no doubt that, whatever the nature of their creed, stubbornness and inflexible obstinacy surely deserve to be punished.”
Complaints were laid against some Christians that resulted in arrest and being sent before Pliny to be examined; those that refused to “repent” and accept the states gods and religion were executed, because Pliny thought that just their mere stubbornness concerning Christianity and the state religion deserved some sort of punishment. Pliny goes on to state that:
“They asserted, however, that the sum and substance of their fault or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god, and to bind themselves by oath, not to some crime, but not to commit fraud, theft, or adultery, not falsify their trust, nor to refuse to return a trust when called upon to do so. When this was over, it was their custom to depart and to assemble again to partake of food--but ordinary and innocent food.”
The highlighted statement above is the amazing point found within Pliny’s letter to the emperor of Roman. The first century, primitive Christians were not being punished by death because of their Christian practices of meeting for worship and partaking of the Lord’s Supper on a fixed day of the week.
They were persecuted because they worshiped Jesus as God and refused to worship the official gods of the Roman Empire a crime punishable by death.
I found a number of historical references, but the follow one is what stood out to be the most clear and straight forward reference. What makes this reference stand out the most is from who it comes from and to whom it is being sent to. The following is an excerpt from Pliny the Younger who was governor of Pontus/Bithynia from 111-113 AD an area that is now northwestern Turkey. He wrote many letters to his good friend the Trajan, Emperor of Roman.
One of the issues Pliny had to deal with concerned what to do with the Christians; there was a large amount of Christians in the province where Pliny had been sent to govern. Pliny reported to Trajan that Christianity had not only affected the cities in his jurisdiction but also the surrounding country side and villages. One of the results of the spread of Christianity in this region was that the area had received some economic loss because so many had become Christians and were not buying sacrifices to offer to the gods.
The teachings of the first century (primitive) Christianity were that there was no other God except Christos and that Christians were not to worship any other gods. Their refusal to accept the ancient Roman religion and worship the gods of the state was seen as treason in the Roman world. This was the basis for most of the persecutions against the Christians. Christians denied the existence of the states gods and refused to worship the gods of the Roman pantheon, which lead them to be seen as atheists on the eyes of Roman law.
“Meanwhile, in the case of those who were denounced to me as Christians, I have observed the following procedure: I interrogated these as to whether they were Christians; those who confessed I interrogated a second and a third time, threatening them with punishment; those who persisted I ordered executed. For I had no doubt that, whatever the nature of their creed, stubbornness and inflexible obstinacy surely deserve to be punished.”
Complaints were laid against some Christians that resulted in arrest and being sent before Pliny to be examined; those that refused to “repent” and accept the states gods and religion were executed, because Pliny thought that just their mere stubbornness concerning Christianity and the state religion deserved some sort of punishment. Pliny goes on to state that:
“They asserted, however, that the sum and substance of their fault or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god, and to bind themselves by oath, not to some crime, but not to commit fraud, theft, or adultery, not falsify their trust, nor to refuse to return a trust when called upon to do so. When this was over, it was their custom to depart and to assemble again to partake of food--but ordinary and innocent food.”
The highlighted statement above is the amazing point found within Pliny’s letter to the emperor of Roman. The first century, primitive Christians were not being punished by death because of their Christian practices of meeting for worship and partaking of the Lord’s Supper on a fixed day of the week.
They were persecuted because they worshiped Jesus as God and refused to worship the official gods of the Roman Empire a crime punishable by death.
July 20, 2010
A Short Discussion Regarding the History of Aaron Joaquin’s Baptisms.
LLDM holds this day as a very holy day because of Aaron’s vision in 1943 of the Lord Jesus Christ instructing Aaron to baptize himself (auto-baptism) in order to declare himself the “new apostle of God” and to establish a “new beginning” for the church that he had already established performing the act of auto-baptism on July 18, 1943. This is in light of the fact that Aaron had already been baptized 5 years earlier in 1938 by Brother Figueroa. But by 1943 Aaron came to believe that his 1938 baptism was not good enough because it did not establish him as equal to Christ for the forgiveness of sins.
I say equal to Christ Jesus because as recorded in the official LLDM history book (English) of the “Life and Work of Apostle Aaron Joaquin” on page 146 and I quote –
“Then, amidst the light, he saw the image of Jesus baptizing himself in the Jordan River.”
This is a false statement to support what Aaron believed to be his new founded authority to be the new “messenger, representative, ambassador, liaison, and union between God and his church” (page 148 of the same book).
THE FACT of the matter is that the Lord Jesus Christ did not atuo-baptize himself. He was baptized by John the Baptist. The Lord Jesus did this for the express purpose to show to mankind that He, God in the Flesh, was not here to rule but to serve mankind as a servant, to be the true perfect sacrifice for our sins, and to be the only true messenger, representative, ambassador, liaison, and union between God and His church.
(Matt 3:13) – “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.”
(Mark 1:9) – “At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.”
The history and time-line for the baptisms of Aaron does not stop with his baptism in 1938. Even thought it is recorded on (pages 119 – 121) of how in 1938 Aaron decided that it was time for him to go back to Monterrey to talk with Saulo and Silas, “parallel authorities who held all the power of the gospel in that region.” Here LLDM historians are recording that Saulo and Silas are equal to Aaron.
During Aaron’s time in Monterrey he was talking of the doctrine of “In the name of Jesus Christ” only for baptism and that the “Trinitarian” doctrine of “the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” was false. While speaking this doctrine Aaron was confronted by Maria Luisa. She proceeded to inform Aaron that he was baptized himself in the name of “the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”.
On (page 121) it is recorded that, “Brother Aaron was speechless due to the surprise. He held his breath. Submerged in his conscience, he searched for the fleeting space of the act when he was baptized. He could not find it. He only remembered the emotion of the moment.”
Maria Luisa told Aaron to go and talk with Silas himself which Aaron did and Silas confirmed to Aaron that he had been baptized “in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, this is to say, in the trinity.”
On Sunday after the pastor read of this history he neglected to read another passage from the history book found on (page 18) regarding Aarons history of baptisms which I will present here –
Before I cite this section of history let me preface it with this; Aaron had been trying to legally get out of his military obligations with out success and decided that it was best for him to just leave “and to temporarily hide in a church.” Just so you understand this is called “Desertion” and even in today’s modern US Army is punishable by death.
“This determination made it necessary for him to leave Torreon as quickly as possible and to temporarily hide in a church. As an alternative, the brothers proposed for him to go to Tampico where Brother Catarino Ramos, known as Barnabas, was staying accompanied by the missionary Jose Stewart, or to go to Monterrey where Brothers Saulo and Silas lived. These men (Saulo and Silas) were viewed by the brothers as the most holy. His (Aaron) choice was not difficult, feeling a natural liking for Brother Silas, who had baptized them, (Aaron and his wife Elisa) they decided to go to Monterrey. They gave away their furniture and other belongings they could not take.”
So in summary regarding Aaron’s baptisms:
1. First baptism in the “Triune” name of God, the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit performed by Silas (1925).
2. Second baptism “In the name of Jesus Christ” alone performed by Brother Figueroa. (1938)
3. Lastly baptized again “In the name of Jesus Christ” but performed by himself. (1943)
Question: Why did Brother Eusebio (Aaron) go through all of this since he had already received from God the one true Holy Spirit as recorded in the history book with its own chapter on (pages 16 – 18) titled “HE RECEIVES THE HOLY SPIRIT”. What is even more amazing is in this same chapter it is recorded that his wife Sister Elisa had already received the Holy Spirit because of her faith in the Lord Jesus.
Eusebio (Aaron) speaking – ““Lord, if the feelings of faith that my wife has are from you, I want to feel the same.” There was a precedent for this. Sister Elisa had already received the Holy Spirit, but he did not know this, nor did he understand these manifestations.” (Page 16).
Shortly afterwards it is recorded that Eusebio (Aaron) began speaking in tongues while he was praying, “he immediately told his wife about this fascinating experience. Since she was cognizant of the same emotions, she said with Joy: “God is with us.” (Page 16)
And again a little later, “This even happened several times, and on one of those days, Brother Leandro Garcia, pastor of the church in Matomoros de La Laguna, Coachuila, passed near that place of refuge. He heard someone praying and speaking in tongues. He approached and recognized Brother Eusebio (Aaron). Once this event had concluded, Brother Leandro remained with him a long while and thoroughly explained to him that those manifestations signified the presence of the Holy Spirit and that he had received it like the first Christians had. Later Brother Leandro gave public testimony before the whole church of Torreon that Brother Aaron (Eusebio) had received the promise of the Holy Spirit and the gift of speaking in tongues.” (Page 17)
Now what I find interesting is that during this chapter, and all other chapters that follow to the end of this history book, never is it declared that Brother Eusebio (Aaron) received a false holy spirit in 1925 and that it was not until his self-baptism in 1943 did he receive the one true Holy Spirit. It has always been acknowledged that Aaron received the one true Holy Spirit in 1925.
So my question is this – Just before Aaron received his first baptism by Silas in 1925 he received the Holy Spirit. Why then did Aaron, the future Apostle of God, not understand that everything that he had read in the Bible was wrong regarding being baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit?
It is now clear as to why the statement “Then, amidst the light, he saw the image of Jesus baptizing himself in the Jordan River” was made by Aaron. He believed himself to be the new Christ, the new Messiah and the new Savior of the world. And as of 1943 he was now the only one on earth who could grant forgiveness of sins. It made perfect sense to himself and his followers that he must auto-baptize himself and forgive himself of his sins first and then begin to be the means by which all others are forgiven their sins.
One problem with that train of belief is that the Lord Jesus Christ was not born of sin and did not need to forgive himself of sin and therefore he did not need to have his sins washed away in baptism because he had no sin! Just as I mentioned in the beginning Jesus did this to show to mankind of how much He loves us and humbled himself before us to save us! AMEN!
This first act of glorification is the beginning point where all of the other doctrines of LLDM can trace their origins from. In order for Aaron to explain how he can be the only Savior for forgiveness of sins he had to first remove Christ from His place of righteousness as was clearly expressed 56 years later declaring “Jesus was just another great man who lived here on earth but is now no more” to quote from the 2009 LA Kodak Theater production praising and glorifying the now currently believed Savior of the world, Samuel Joaquin Flores.
Food for thought: If 1943 was the new starting point for the forgiveness of sins through Aaron Joaquin and he was the origin for all to receive forgiveness of sins through him, and his disciples (pastors) to include his son Samuel Flores then would it not be possible for anyone who is forgiven of their sins and baptized under the authority of LLDM to become an apostle of God?
Or did Samuel Flores also auto-baptize himself and forgive himself of his sins in the same way as his father did?
I say equal to Christ Jesus because as recorded in the official LLDM history book (English) of the “Life and Work of Apostle Aaron Joaquin” on page 146 and I quote –
“Then, amidst the light, he saw the image of Jesus baptizing himself in the Jordan River.”
This is a false statement to support what Aaron believed to be his new founded authority to be the new “messenger, representative, ambassador, liaison, and union between God and his church” (page 148 of the same book).
THE FACT of the matter is that the Lord Jesus Christ did not atuo-baptize himself. He was baptized by John the Baptist. The Lord Jesus did this for the express purpose to show to mankind that He, God in the Flesh, was not here to rule but to serve mankind as a servant, to be the true perfect sacrifice for our sins, and to be the only true messenger, representative, ambassador, liaison, and union between God and His church.
(Matt 3:13) – “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.”
(Mark 1:9) – “At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.”
The history and time-line for the baptisms of Aaron does not stop with his baptism in 1938. Even thought it is recorded on (pages 119 – 121) of how in 1938 Aaron decided that it was time for him to go back to Monterrey to talk with Saulo and Silas, “parallel authorities who held all the power of the gospel in that region.” Here LLDM historians are recording that Saulo and Silas are equal to Aaron.
During Aaron’s time in Monterrey he was talking of the doctrine of “In the name of Jesus Christ” only for baptism and that the “Trinitarian” doctrine of “the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” was false. While speaking this doctrine Aaron was confronted by Maria Luisa. She proceeded to inform Aaron that he was baptized himself in the name of “the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”.
On (page 121) it is recorded that, “Brother Aaron was speechless due to the surprise. He held his breath. Submerged in his conscience, he searched for the fleeting space of the act when he was baptized. He could not find it. He only remembered the emotion of the moment.”
Maria Luisa told Aaron to go and talk with Silas himself which Aaron did and Silas confirmed to Aaron that he had been baptized “in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, this is to say, in the trinity.”
On Sunday after the pastor read of this history he neglected to read another passage from the history book found on (page 18) regarding Aarons history of baptisms which I will present here –
Before I cite this section of history let me preface it with this; Aaron had been trying to legally get out of his military obligations with out success and decided that it was best for him to just leave “and to temporarily hide in a church.” Just so you understand this is called “Desertion” and even in today’s modern US Army is punishable by death.
“This determination made it necessary for him to leave Torreon as quickly as possible and to temporarily hide in a church. As an alternative, the brothers proposed for him to go to Tampico where Brother Catarino Ramos, known as Barnabas, was staying accompanied by the missionary Jose Stewart, or to go to Monterrey where Brothers Saulo and Silas lived. These men (Saulo and Silas) were viewed by the brothers as the most holy. His (Aaron) choice was not difficult, feeling a natural liking for Brother Silas, who had baptized them, (Aaron and his wife Elisa) they decided to go to Monterrey. They gave away their furniture and other belongings they could not take.”
So in summary regarding Aaron’s baptisms:
1. First baptism in the “Triune” name of God, the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit performed by Silas (1925).
2. Second baptism “In the name of Jesus Christ” alone performed by Brother Figueroa. (1938)
3. Lastly baptized again “In the name of Jesus Christ” but performed by himself. (1943)
Question: Why did Brother Eusebio (Aaron) go through all of this since he had already received from God the one true Holy Spirit as recorded in the history book with its own chapter on (pages 16 – 18) titled “HE RECEIVES THE HOLY SPIRIT”. What is even more amazing is in this same chapter it is recorded that his wife Sister Elisa had already received the Holy Spirit because of her faith in the Lord Jesus.
Eusebio (Aaron) speaking – ““Lord, if the feelings of faith that my wife has are from you, I want to feel the same.” There was a precedent for this. Sister Elisa had already received the Holy Spirit, but he did not know this, nor did he understand these manifestations.” (Page 16).
Shortly afterwards it is recorded that Eusebio (Aaron) began speaking in tongues while he was praying, “he immediately told his wife about this fascinating experience. Since she was cognizant of the same emotions, she said with Joy: “God is with us.” (Page 16)
And again a little later, “This even happened several times, and on one of those days, Brother Leandro Garcia, pastor of the church in Matomoros de La Laguna, Coachuila, passed near that place of refuge. He heard someone praying and speaking in tongues. He approached and recognized Brother Eusebio (Aaron). Once this event had concluded, Brother Leandro remained with him a long while and thoroughly explained to him that those manifestations signified the presence of the Holy Spirit and that he had received it like the first Christians had. Later Brother Leandro gave public testimony before the whole church of Torreon that Brother Aaron (Eusebio) had received the promise of the Holy Spirit and the gift of speaking in tongues.” (Page 17)
Now what I find interesting is that during this chapter, and all other chapters that follow to the end of this history book, never is it declared that Brother Eusebio (Aaron) received a false holy spirit in 1925 and that it was not until his self-baptism in 1943 did he receive the one true Holy Spirit. It has always been acknowledged that Aaron received the one true Holy Spirit in 1925.
So my question is this – Just before Aaron received his first baptism by Silas in 1925 he received the Holy Spirit. Why then did Aaron, the future Apostle of God, not understand that everything that he had read in the Bible was wrong regarding being baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit?
It is now clear as to why the statement “Then, amidst the light, he saw the image of Jesus baptizing himself in the Jordan River” was made by Aaron. He believed himself to be the new Christ, the new Messiah and the new Savior of the world. And as of 1943 he was now the only one on earth who could grant forgiveness of sins. It made perfect sense to himself and his followers that he must auto-baptize himself and forgive himself of his sins first and then begin to be the means by which all others are forgiven their sins.
One problem with that train of belief is that the Lord Jesus Christ was not born of sin and did not need to forgive himself of sin and therefore he did not need to have his sins washed away in baptism because he had no sin! Just as I mentioned in the beginning Jesus did this to show to mankind of how much He loves us and humbled himself before us to save us! AMEN!
This first act of glorification is the beginning point where all of the other doctrines of LLDM can trace their origins from. In order for Aaron to explain how he can be the only Savior for forgiveness of sins he had to first remove Christ from His place of righteousness as was clearly expressed 56 years later declaring “Jesus was just another great man who lived here on earth but is now no more” to quote from the 2009 LA Kodak Theater production praising and glorifying the now currently believed Savior of the world, Samuel Joaquin Flores.
Food for thought: If 1943 was the new starting point for the forgiveness of sins through Aaron Joaquin and he was the origin for all to receive forgiveness of sins through him, and his disciples (pastors) to include his son Samuel Flores then would it not be possible for anyone who is forgiven of their sins and baptized under the authority of LLDM to become an apostle of God?
Or did Samuel Flores also auto-baptize himself and forgive himself of his sins in the same way as his father did?
May 1, 2010
Jesus Uses A Samaritan Woman to Bring The Message of Salvation
The Lord through His Holy Spirit is just amazing. I say this because as I was reading a passage of Scripture that I have read many times over and a new and wonder insight came out of it.
I am referring to the passage of Scripture found in the Book of John chapter 4 where Jesus is talking with the Samaritan woman at the well. There are many insights that one can gain from Jesus’ interaction with the Samaritan woman, but what impressed me was what the crowd said to this woman at the end in verse 42.
“They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."
For the past number of days I have found myself mediating on this single verse and I am amazed by how the Lord gives to us His most powerful statements of truth regarding His glory for salvation in Him alone in the most simple and straight forward ways with so few words and verse 42 is one such passage.
After the woman came to the realization that Jesus is the Messiah, that was foretold by the prophets, she ran back into town to tell everyone that she had seen and talked to “The Messiah” and on top of that she could lead them all too where he was that very moment! And that’s exactly what she did.
Now let’s take a moment to look at this Samaritan woman. She is lowly because she has no servant to bring her water and she is immoral because she has had 5 previous husbands and is, at the moment she meets Jesus, living with a man out of wedlock, she is a “woman”, and to top it off Jesus is willingly talking to a Samaritan which are a group of people that the Jews hated and thought of as lower than dogs.
This accounting has always been used to show how much Jesus came to bring salvation to not only the Jews, but to the whole world. But this is not what I was getting out of this accounting this time.
During all of this, where did Jesus send his disciples (future apostles) to go and get food? Jesus sent them into the same town that the Samaritan woman had just walked from to get the water from the well that Jesus was sitting by! It is just amazing that here Jesus’ disciples the very men who completely believed that Jesus is the Son of God and had witnessed miracles already by Him, were in the same town, for quite sometime, and never once thought of preaching the good news of Jesus the Messiah and that He was sitting at the towns well for all to come to and see!
At this time Jesus’ disciples are considered to be clean because they believe and have Jesus with them, right now here on earth. On all accounts it is the disciples of Jesus who should only have the authority to tell the Samaritans about Jesus and to be the official guides or path leaders to Jesus, not you think.
Well, this is what modern day apostles are teaching, and preaching and want us to think that it is only through them as the official (clean) representatives of Jesus the Christ that mankind can come to Jesus by hearing only them speak the words of Jesus from the Bible and of themselves, as the “mouth of God”, the “man of God”, or the “Elected of God”.
But no, who is it that brings the message of good news about the Messiah, and brings the Samaritans to Jesus, all while the clean-official disciples of Jesus are in the town, a lowly, immoral, Samaritan woman. Can you image that!
IT IS THIS JUST AMAZING, that Jesus the Messiah chooses to use this Samaritan woman to bring so many people to Himself, the Messiah, God in the flesh, at one time and does not use his own disciples!
To go back to the verse 42, let’s now read again what her fellow town’s people said to her.
“They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."
I ask you, did this lowly, immoral woman having any power to give to the message that she brought to her towns people? No, she did not have any power, but because she believed that Jesus is the Messiah she now had the authority to bring the message.
And how do we know that she had the authority, because Jesus would have stopped her from speaking when she left her water vessel at the well and ran back into town. Jesus knew she was going to become so excited about this revelation before all of this even happen, He’s God! He would have stopped her or even just avoided her all together.
In verse 42 John the apostle quoted exactly what the people said to her to confirm this: “now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world." The people believed what she was telling them. She led them to Jesus, but then she step back letting Jesus the Messiah do his work which is to preach the Word of God the Father for salvation.
From that day to the present, this is exactly what anyone of us lowly, sin born, mortal, filthy rages of human are doing when by faith we believe that Jesus is the Lord and are saved. We all have the authority to speak His words and to lead others to His Word, the Holy Bible. For the Bible is the very words of Jesus, because He is GOD! It is His words that will convict people of their sins and cause them look to Him for their salvation!
This is the message of the New Testament as brought to us by the Holy Spirit through Jesus’ original apostles and disciples. They all, without a doubt, declared that they too are lowly, mortal, filthy rages of humans that in and of themselves are powerless for salvation, but it is the Message that was first brought by the Father’s Apostle, Jesus the Messiah, and which he brought to us, like the Samaritan woman, to then spread to all of the world. The message THAT SAVES US! Amen
And who is it that to this very day gives The Message its POWER? The author of it, the Word made flesh – Lord Jesus the Messiah!
I am referring to the passage of Scripture found in the Book of John chapter 4 where Jesus is talking with the Samaritan woman at the well. There are many insights that one can gain from Jesus’ interaction with the Samaritan woman, but what impressed me was what the crowd said to this woman at the end in verse 42.
“They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."
For the past number of days I have found myself mediating on this single verse and I am amazed by how the Lord gives to us His most powerful statements of truth regarding His glory for salvation in Him alone in the most simple and straight forward ways with so few words and verse 42 is one such passage.
After the woman came to the realization that Jesus is the Messiah, that was foretold by the prophets, she ran back into town to tell everyone that she had seen and talked to “The Messiah” and on top of that she could lead them all too where he was that very moment! And that’s exactly what she did.
Now let’s take a moment to look at this Samaritan woman. She is lowly because she has no servant to bring her water and she is immoral because she has had 5 previous husbands and is, at the moment she meets Jesus, living with a man out of wedlock, she is a “woman”, and to top it off Jesus is willingly talking to a Samaritan which are a group of people that the Jews hated and thought of as lower than dogs.
This accounting has always been used to show how much Jesus came to bring salvation to not only the Jews, but to the whole world. But this is not what I was getting out of this accounting this time.
During all of this, where did Jesus send his disciples (future apostles) to go and get food? Jesus sent them into the same town that the Samaritan woman had just walked from to get the water from the well that Jesus was sitting by! It is just amazing that here Jesus’ disciples the very men who completely believed that Jesus is the Son of God and had witnessed miracles already by Him, were in the same town, for quite sometime, and never once thought of preaching the good news of Jesus the Messiah and that He was sitting at the towns well for all to come to and see!
At this time Jesus’ disciples are considered to be clean because they believe and have Jesus with them, right now here on earth. On all accounts it is the disciples of Jesus who should only have the authority to tell the Samaritans about Jesus and to be the official guides or path leaders to Jesus, not you think.
Well, this is what modern day apostles are teaching, and preaching and want us to think that it is only through them as the official (clean) representatives of Jesus the Christ that mankind can come to Jesus by hearing only them speak the words of Jesus from the Bible and of themselves, as the “mouth of God”, the “man of God”, or the “Elected of God”.
But no, who is it that brings the message of good news about the Messiah, and brings the Samaritans to Jesus, all while the clean-official disciples of Jesus are in the town, a lowly, immoral, Samaritan woman. Can you image that!
IT IS THIS JUST AMAZING, that Jesus the Messiah chooses to use this Samaritan woman to bring so many people to Himself, the Messiah, God in the flesh, at one time and does not use his own disciples!
To go back to the verse 42, let’s now read again what her fellow town’s people said to her.
“They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."
I ask you, did this lowly, immoral woman having any power to give to the message that she brought to her towns people? No, she did not have any power, but because she believed that Jesus is the Messiah she now had the authority to bring the message.
And how do we know that she had the authority, because Jesus would have stopped her from speaking when she left her water vessel at the well and ran back into town. Jesus knew she was going to become so excited about this revelation before all of this even happen, He’s God! He would have stopped her or even just avoided her all together.
In verse 42 John the apostle quoted exactly what the people said to her to confirm this: “now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world." The people believed what she was telling them. She led them to Jesus, but then she step back letting Jesus the Messiah do his work which is to preach the Word of God the Father for salvation.
From that day to the present, this is exactly what anyone of us lowly, sin born, mortal, filthy rages of human are doing when by faith we believe that Jesus is the Lord and are saved. We all have the authority to speak His words and to lead others to His Word, the Holy Bible. For the Bible is the very words of Jesus, because He is GOD! It is His words that will convict people of their sins and cause them look to Him for their salvation!
This is the message of the New Testament as brought to us by the Holy Spirit through Jesus’ original apostles and disciples. They all, without a doubt, declared that they too are lowly, mortal, filthy rages of humans that in and of themselves are powerless for salvation, but it is the Message that was first brought by the Father’s Apostle, Jesus the Messiah, and which he brought to us, like the Samaritan woman, to then spread to all of the world. The message THAT SAVES US! Amen
And who is it that to this very day gives The Message its POWER? The author of it, the Word made flesh – Lord Jesus the Messiah!
March 11, 2010
The church of La Luz Del Mundo’s Doctrine of “Apostolic Authority”.
According to the teachings of the church, La Luz Del Mundo (The Light of the World) there was no one here on earth with the authority to be an access for salvation until year 1926. In this same year a man by the name of Aaron Joaquin proclaimed himself as having received this authority or “Apostolic Authority” from God and declared himself and gave himself the title of Apostle so that mankind my now have away to salvation and that because of him “the time for salvation” could begin again having been hidden away from the world since the death of John the apostle all most 2000 years ago.
During the period of 1926 to 1964, Aaron Joaquin declared that all must believe in him and be under “his” apostolic authority in order to receive salvation, and to believe in him now because after his death the way for salvation would stop; this is known as the “time for salvation”.
For a brief time there was great fear within the church of La Luz Del Mundo because of the sudden death of Aaron Joaquin, 1964 (cause of death unknown), but Aaron’s son, Samuel Joaquin Flores, stepped in to take over by declaring himself the new anointed Apostle of God to receive the gift of “Apostolic Authority” or “Election” so that the “times for salvation” may continue for the church members of La Luz Del Mundo and to all of the world.
So for La Luz Del Mundo the power for salvation is coming from an Apostle rather then from the Scriptures or the word of God the Father. It is this belief that supports their definition of “Apostolic Authority” and declares the churches Apostle as having authority over word of God.
The church La Luz Del Mundo openly teaches that the world can not understand the Scriptures without an Apostle on earth with “Apostolic Authority” teaching it to you, because only he understands the will of God and correctly interpret the mysteries and true meaning of the Scriptures.
This of course discourages the members of La Luz Del Mundo from studying the Holy Scriptures on their own only receiving what they are told while attending church services. Many Sunday study services are dedicated to nothing but getting the churches members to attain church everyday to that they can receive the truth. For them all knowledge of God is only found when it is being told to them by the church’s ordained pastors, deacons or the apostle himself.
I am here to declare that this is not the truth and is not what the Scripture teaches!
The Lord Jesus Christ is and has been the only access for salvation and there is no one between man and the Father expect for Jesus Christ. He is alive and very much well in heaven mediating between man and the Father. He is the only one with the authority for the forgiveness of sins. The apostle Paul declares this very clearly in his letter to the Ephesians.
Ephesians 1:7-9
“7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,”
Ephesians 1:13-14
“13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.”
Ephesians 1:22-23
22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
During the period of 1926 to 1964, Aaron Joaquin declared that all must believe in him and be under “his” apostolic authority in order to receive salvation, and to believe in him now because after his death the way for salvation would stop; this is known as the “time for salvation”.
For a brief time there was great fear within the church of La Luz Del Mundo because of the sudden death of Aaron Joaquin, 1964 (cause of death unknown), but Aaron’s son, Samuel Joaquin Flores, stepped in to take over by declaring himself the new anointed Apostle of God to receive the gift of “Apostolic Authority” or “Election” so that the “times for salvation” may continue for the church members of La Luz Del Mundo and to all of the world.
So for La Luz Del Mundo the power for salvation is coming from an Apostle rather then from the Scriptures or the word of God the Father. It is this belief that supports their definition of “Apostolic Authority” and declares the churches Apostle as having authority over word of God.
The church La Luz Del Mundo openly teaches that the world can not understand the Scriptures without an Apostle on earth with “Apostolic Authority” teaching it to you, because only he understands the will of God and correctly interpret the mysteries and true meaning of the Scriptures.
This of course discourages the members of La Luz Del Mundo from studying the Holy Scriptures on their own only receiving what they are told while attending church services. Many Sunday study services are dedicated to nothing but getting the churches members to attain church everyday to that they can receive the truth. For them all knowledge of God is only found when it is being told to them by the church’s ordained pastors, deacons or the apostle himself.
I am here to declare that this is not the truth and is not what the Scripture teaches!
The Lord Jesus Christ is and has been the only access for salvation and there is no one between man and the Father expect for Jesus Christ. He is alive and very much well in heaven mediating between man and the Father. He is the only one with the authority for the forgiveness of sins. The apostle Paul declares this very clearly in his letter to the Ephesians.
Ephesians 1:7-9
“7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,”
Ephesians 1:13-14
“13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.”
Ephesians 1:22-23
22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
So you see, Jesus Christ is the one that has all of the authority and continues to still be the only way, for it is through the blood of Jesus Christ that you are saved because he is still alive in heaven.
And when you believe in the word of the truth you are saved because of him and not because you are under the apostolic authority of Samuel Joaquin Flores nor anyone else.
Jesus Christ is the only for salvation and access for salvation, period!
John 14:5-6
5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
It might be that you are hearing this for the first time, that Jesus Christ is the only access for salvation, because his living blood is the only way anyone can have their sins washed away so that in Jesus Christ you can be brought, in the spirit, into the presents of the Father in heaven and receive the free and loving gift of grace that is to say – salvation.
Samuel Joaquin Flores is not the gate keeper or mediator between man and Jesus Christ.
By the love of God the Father, you can have direct access to the Lord Jesus Christ all by yourself. And how can you have this access? By “Believing” just as Paul told the jailer in the book of Acts. as well as his statement in his book to the Romans.
Acts 16:29-32
29The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.
Romans 10:13
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
To receive salvation and grace from God the Father does not required for you to be under anyone’s “Apostolic Authority” in order to guarantee your salvation from the coming judgment of Jesus Christ.
Just believe in the name of Jesus Christ and place all of your trust in him. Once you come to believe and trust in Jesus Christ alone you will immediately receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Salvation and grace from the Father through the blood of Jesus Christ does not require you to be under anyone’s authority, except for the authority of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:13
13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
God the Father is telling you here, through Paul, everything we need to know about the mystery of salvation. First be willing to hear the truth, which is the gospel of salvation through Christ Jesus, and secondly once you believe the truth you are promised to be sealed with the Holy Spirit. On the coming day of judgment those who are not sealed with the mark of the Holy Spirit will not have their names written in the “book of life”.
In your heart you are looking to Samuel Joaquin Flores for access to the Lord Jesus Christ and this is wrong!
When you look to someone else other than Jesus Christ for the truth we are not “marked” with the right seal. You are marked with the seal of another , the antichrist, and you will be rejected by the Lord Jesus Christ and that rejection, or judgment, means that you will be put into the “lake of fire” – Hell, for all eternity.
Revelation 20:14-15
14Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Ephesians 2:18
18For through him (Jesus Christ) we both (Jews and Gentiles) have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Samuel Joaquin Flores, through the church La Luz Del Mundo, has taught you that he is the guardian of the mysteries of God; this too is another false teaching. The mystery that was hidden before the first coming of Christ Jesus was revealed also over 2000 years ago and is stated very clearly by Paul.
Ephesians 3:6
6This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 3:12
12In him (Jesus Christ) and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Regarding the way to salvation there is no mystery anymore for it was revealed to man over 2000 years ago as was prophesied in the Old Testament.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the only way for your true salvation and access to the Father in heaven for grace and forgiveness of your sins, and you do not have salvation from your sins if you continue to call upon Samuel Joaquin Flores or anyone else for you assurance of salvation.
I offer a challenge to anyone of La Luz Del Mundo to present any Scripture that supports the doctrine of “Apostolic Authority” according to the teachings of Samuel Joaquin Flores as started by his father, Aaron Joaquin.
I guarantee to you that you will not find any of the original apostles of Jesus Christ ever declaring that it is because of them under “Apostolic Authority” that the “time for salvation” was on the earth for mankind. They all, with out hesitation, glorified Jesus Christ as the way, the truth and the life that leads to the Father and to salvation (John 14:6).
It does not matter what is going on here on earth or who is doing what. Salvation has been available to the entire world under the authority of Jesus Christ since his death on the cross, his resurrection from the grave, and his ascension into heave to be with the Father.
To this day Jesus Christ is our High Priest, and is with Father in heaven, in the perfect body of the first born from death providing is perfect blood for the forgiveness of sins and interceding to the Father on our behalf to this very day!
This is the entire theme of the Book of Hebrews. The author, probably Paul, is explaining to the Christian-Jews that there is no longer any need for an earthly high priest or earthly mediator between man and the Father because we now have the one and only true High Priest, alive forever, in the true tabernacle with the Father, Amen.
January 21, 2010
“Time for Salvation” Is Forever!
The apostles Peter and Paul never taught that with their deaths the “time for salvation” would end; it is quit the opposite in fact. I make this claim from their words.
First take a look at what Peter wrote in his letter to all Christians.
(2 Peter 1:12-15)
“12So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
15And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.”
In this passage Peter is reminding all to remain “firmly established” in all that they have learned about salvation through Jesus Christ – the truth and in verse 15 Peter is telling them that even after he is dead he will continue to provide help by way of his letters and from those whom the Holy Spirit had placed as locate congregational leaders (elders).
Why would Peter make such a point to stress to the Christians that he will “make every effort” to make sure that they will have all that they need for salvation if with his death all who are under his authority will loss their salvation and salvation would be withheld from those who have yet to come to Christ?
Now let’s take a look at what Paul had to say with the approach of his death in his last letter to Timothy from his prison cell in Rome just before Nero had him beheaded.
(2 Timothy 3:1-5)
1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
(2 Timothy 4:1-5)
1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom,
I give you this charge:
2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
(2 Timothy 4:6-8)
6For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.
7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
In these passages Paul is clearly giving to Timothy instructions on what to look out for, what to avoid, and what to do when he, Paul, is taken from this world with “I give you this charge”.
The same question that I asked regarding Peter also applies to Paul as well.
Why would Paul make such an effort to write and get this letter to Timothy stressing the importants of remaining in the faith and the teachings of salvation through Jesus Christ if Paul thought that the “time for salvation” was through him and would end with his death?
The answers to both of these questions are that neither Peter nor Paul ever believed or taught in their letters that the time for salvation was measured by their lives.
What they taught and recorded in their letters is that the time for salvation started with the Jesus Christ’s sacrifice of sinless blood on the cross (1 Peter 1:2) and would never leave us because “the word of the Lord stands forever”, as Peter wrote in his first letter to all Christians.
(1 Peter 1:24-25)
24For,
"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.
Since the “word of the Lord stands forever” and any thing that stands is not moving Peter is clearly stating that the gospel of Jesus Christ – the Word – is here in the same place forever ready for those who by faith will believe in him for salvation.
The “time for salvation” is Forever because the Lord Jesus Christ is Forever!
First take a look at what Peter wrote in his letter to all Christians.
(2 Peter 1:12-15)
“12So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
15And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.”
In this passage Peter is reminding all to remain “firmly established” in all that they have learned about salvation through Jesus Christ – the truth and in verse 15 Peter is telling them that even after he is dead he will continue to provide help by way of his letters and from those whom the Holy Spirit had placed as locate congregational leaders (elders).
Why would Peter make such a point to stress to the Christians that he will “make every effort” to make sure that they will have all that they need for salvation if with his death all who are under his authority will loss their salvation and salvation would be withheld from those who have yet to come to Christ?
Now let’s take a look at what Paul had to say with the approach of his death in his last letter to Timothy from his prison cell in Rome just before Nero had him beheaded.
(2 Timothy 3:1-5)
1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
(2 Timothy 4:1-5)
1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom,
I give you this charge:
2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
(2 Timothy 4:6-8)
6For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.
7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
In these passages Paul is clearly giving to Timothy instructions on what to look out for, what to avoid, and what to do when he, Paul, is taken from this world with “I give you this charge”.
The same question that I asked regarding Peter also applies to Paul as well.
Why would Paul make such an effort to write and get this letter to Timothy stressing the importants of remaining in the faith and the teachings of salvation through Jesus Christ if Paul thought that the “time for salvation” was through him and would end with his death?
The answers to both of these questions are that neither Peter nor Paul ever believed or taught in their letters that the time for salvation was measured by their lives.
What they taught and recorded in their letters is that the time for salvation started with the Jesus Christ’s sacrifice of sinless blood on the cross (1 Peter 1:2) and would never leave us because “the word of the Lord stands forever”, as Peter wrote in his first letter to all Christians.
(1 Peter 1:24-25)
24For,
"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.
Since the “word of the Lord stands forever” and any thing that stands is not moving Peter is clearly stating that the gospel of Jesus Christ – the Word – is here in the same place forever ready for those who by faith will believe in him for salvation.
The “time for salvation” is Forever because the Lord Jesus Christ is Forever!
October 13, 2009
What Does La Luz Del Mundo Teach Who Jesus Christ Is?
Apostle John instructed all Christians "Beloved" to be wary of all teachers coming in the name of Jesus Christ and to test them. This is a study of what is that test. This test can be applied to all teachers and/or organizations. For this study I will be focusing on the organization of "La Luz Del Mundo."
Testing the spirits
(1 John 4:1-6)
What does La Luz Del Mundo Teach who Jesus Christ is?
La Luz Del Mundos’ doctrine teaching of Christ, or its Christology, is that the Spirit of God, the Word, came down to earth and entered into the body of man named Jesus at the time of his baptism by John the Baptist. They teach that at his birth, a baby was born such as Moses. One destined to serve God, but not God in the flesh. Just a man, and this man’s name was Jesus.
Jesus was raised and lived like any other human being and at his baptism God send his Word into the human, Jesus, (so in other words Jesus, the man, was a human host for the Word of God to come to mankind here in earth). For the next three years the Word, in Jesus’ body now Jesus Christ, spread his ministry of the Kingdom of God. At the end of his three years of ministering, the Word in Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross. Jesus Christ said, ‘It is finished’, and gave up the Spirit or the Word, returning Jesus Christ to the man Jesus.
The body of Jesus was taken down and placed into a grave but the Word was not with Jesus. The Word was among us on earth and was seen as a vision of Jesus for forty days before ascending into heaven. Since that day and to this one, the Word of God in Spirit is with the Father in heaven. La Luz Del Mundo teaches that just like in the days of Moses, God needs a human host on earth for his Spirit - the Word - to indwell in and give power for forgiveness of sins and for salvation to all of mankind.
God needed Moses’ body for his Spirit the Word to do his work here on earth. God needed Jesus’ body for his Spirit the Word to do his work here on earth. After nearly 2000 years of non-salvation to mankind, God needed Eusebio Joaquine Gonzalez’s (Aaron) body for his Spirit the Word to do his work here on earth. And now God needs Samuel Joaquin’s body for his Spirit the Word to do his work here on earth and it is through him that God’s Spirit flows to all mankind, he is the “Light of the World”, the “Fountain head of the Spirit”. This is the Christology of La Luz Del Mundo.
Let’s see how La Luz Del Mundo’s Christology stands up when you but it to John’s test in “testing the spirits.” The test for testing the spirits comes from (1John 4:1-6).
The fourth chapter of John's epistle the subject in the opening six verses is to test the spirits. You see that in verse 1, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits." John understands how important it is to realize that you can't believe everything you hear, you can't believe everyone that is purporting to come from God, and you can't believe everything that is supposedly biblical. You are not to believe all teachers of religion(s), you cannot believe all Christian preachers, or Christian evangelists or teachers. You cannot believe all who claim to speak for God and claim to have a prophetic voice that is set loose in the world.
You'll notice at the end of verse 6 the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. It either comes from the Spirit of truth, who is the Holy Spirit, so called by our Lord Himself several times in the upper room in the gospel of John. There is the Spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit, and there is the spirit of error who is Satan and his demons. All Spiritual truth either comes from a divine source or a demonic source. And we know that God speaks truth and reveals truth and Satan speaks a lie and is a deceiver and so it is very important that we are able to tell the difference.
In this book here in chapter 4, John commands believers to test the spirits. This is necessary if you're going to tell the difference between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. You have to know whatever information is coming to you by where it is coming from. Error is not benign (not deadly), it is malignant (deadly) . It is not human, it is demonic. Spiritual truth comes from the Holy Spirit and it is life-giving, life-sustaining, life-producing, God-glorifying, or it comes from demons. It is either the doctrine of God or the doctrine of demons. It is either that word which is sent and powered by the Holy Spirit, or it comes from seducing spirits. There is no grey area here, only white or black. Teachers are either the true teachers of God, or hypocritical liars, espousing the doctrine of demons fostered by seducing spirits. We must know the difference because truth gives life, error kills.
First, John gives us a command to test. "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God." There is a spirit behind every teaching. Be skeptical to discern whether it is the truth or error that is being taught, whether it comes from the Spirit of God, or a demonic spirit. That's the command to test.
Secondly is the reason to test. And the reason is at the end of verse 1, "Because many false prophets have gone out into the world." It is a huge problem and those who have not allowed themselves to be educated by the Holy Spirit are victimized. Those who call themselves spiritual teachers, religious prophets, and gurus, are false teachers, because they point to themselves as the source of knowledge and not the true source, the Holy Spirit.
False teachers of religious systems and cults that claim to know Christ and to represent Christianity are hypocritical liars teaching doctrines of demons motivated by seducing spirits. The world is literally drowning in a sea of demonic lies! We live in a time then when we must be educated by the Holy Spirit and by him alone. We are commanded to be so and the reason is because this false teaching is so common. Not get me wrong here; I am not saying that we should not lessen and study with Christians whom are more mature in the faith then we are. We are commanded to meet together for the sake of the body of Christ. We just need to make sure that like the Bereans of (Acts 17) that we study all things for ourselves.
Now that brings us to the emphasis on the way to test, or the means to test. The command, we've seen. The reason, we've seen. And now here is the means, or the way to test and that comes from verse 2 down through the remainder of this paragraph, verse 6. The simple way to sum it up is to give you three perspectives on this. But let's look at verse 2 just to get the introduction. "By this you know the Spirit of God." Now here comes the means by which we can test. We need to know how to know that something comes from the Spirit of God. And he tells us, "By this...” and then goes on to identify what "this" refers to. Here is the positive test that will reveal rather if something is coming from the Spirit of God and not a demon spirit.
Verse 2 again, "Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God." There's one thing demons will inevitably deny in all their demonic systems, and that is they will deny the deity of Jesus Christ. They will deny God in human flesh. In a word, they deny the incarnation. So let’s make this very clear -the spirit of anti-christs’ number one mission is to get mankind to believe the lie that Jesus was just another man, the Spirit of God came down to earth and indwelled with in the human body of a man named Jesus at the time of his baptism by John the Baptist. And it was at this moment that Jesus became the Christ (Jesus Christ) for the next three years of his ministry. When Jesus Christ, while on the cross, said “It is finished” and he gave up his Spirit. The antichrist wants mankind to believe that Jesus went back to being just another man and the Spirit of God left its bodily host for the next three days. During the 40 days that Jesus Christ is record in the gospels and Acts as beginning among us, he was just a heavenly Spirit in the image of Jesus who ascended back to heaven. When someone comes and affirms that Jesus Christ is God in flesh then they are not falling for the lie of the antichrist and will not be swayed to believe more false teachings.
So the test that you want to perform for any teacher; is what is their definition or how to see Christ. This is called their Christology, their doctrine of Christ which presupposes the doctrine of the Trinity. If you have somebody who denies the Trinity, you have a problem because they are teaching that Jesus Christ cannot be God come in the flesh (John 1:1-2, 14), the second person of the Trinity in the fullness of what the New Testament teaches about Him if in fact there is not a Trinity. So in other words if Jesus was just a normal human man and not the very perfection of God himself, then his blood was not perfect and did not have the power to cover all of the past, present and future sins of mankind to those who call on his name. Because only the perfection of God in the flesh can remove the sin that Adam brought to mankind by the sacrifice and shedding of His perfect blood, be raised from the dead in the “first fruit” immortal body, to ascend into heaven in the flesh and as a man to be the true and perfect High Priest for us in heaven at the right hand of God the Father (Hebrew 1), Amen.
But John doesn't get into all of the nuances here. He's just very simple says to test the validity of any teacher and you will see rather they are truly from God teaching the doctrine of Jesus Christ – God in the flesh. In fact, back in chapter 1 John says in verse 1, "That he beheld, and actually touched, the Word of life." That is a term expressing the very deity, the very Godliness of Christ, for Christ emanates from God as His living Word. He was in verse 2 with the Father, One with the Father, sharing the same essence with the Father and dwelling in the perfect light with the Father before He came to earth. He was manifested to us. The end of verse 3 tells us that our fellowship consequently is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
John states a very simple and definitive Christological statement in his epistle (1 John), that Jesus Christ came “in” the flesh and not “in to” the flesh. This is the whole point of the virgin birth. The Holy Spirit conceived its self into a virgin girl, Mary, so that a male child could be born with out the sin of Adam that is past down by the seed of man. God is the father of himself the Word. This is the only way the God could make the perfect blood to sacrifice and remove the sin of Adam upon mankind. This is why we have such a detailed telling of the birth of Jesus Christ and the wise men that came to worship him, a baby! They were declaring to the entire world that this baby is the King of Kings. In the world of royalty the rules are very clear, you do not address a man King until his has been anointed and becomes the King. Jesus Christ was already the King of Kings at the time of his birth into the world, up to his baptism, at the cross, in the grave, during his 40 days among us, at his going to heaven, and at this very moment in the flesh seated at the right hand of God the Father! It is amazing how non-Jewish wise men knew the Hebrew Scriptures better than the Jews themselves, so much that they very clearly understood that this baby boy is God in the Flesh.
"Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ, the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son doesn't have the Father. The one who confesses the Son has the Father also." And here again John emphasizes the deity of Jesus Christ that He shares the same nature as the Father, you can't honor the Father without the Son because they are in essence one sharing the same divine and perfect nature.
Well, I think you get the message how very, very important one's Christology is. And if one error on the identity of Jesus Christ, this is not from the Spirit of God and every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ, God, has come in the flesh is from God. That's the first proposition about Jesus, that He is God, He is the eternal life that came from dwelling in the very presence of God the Father and God the Spirit down to earth. You're confessing that Jesus Christ is a person and not just a Spirit that came to earth, dwelled in a man’s body, left that body and returned to heaven. You're confessing that Jesus Christ as a person is God in human flesh. You are saying He is come from God. That is implying the necessity for Him to come into this world in human form to carry out His redemptive work as a substitute for men. We believe then that the human Jesus and the divine Christ are one and the same. When someone has that Christology, they are speaking a message that comes from the Holy Spirit.
It doesn't mean that everything they say is accurate, but if they get this right, they past the test. But there's another element to it. It is not just confessing Jesus Christ has come in the flesh that saves; demons recognize that Jesus Christ is God in human flesh. The other element comes out of (Romans 10:9), “9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Demons recognize His deity. There are others who would recognize or affirm His deity. But it is absolutely critical that one confess Him as Lord.
Jesus is the litmus test of reality for people. You have the right view of Jesus, you have the right beginning. (Luke 10:16) "The one who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me." You reject Jesus, the true Jesus, the one and only, and you are rejecting God, no matter what you think. Anybody who rejects Christ rejects God. You honor the Son and the Father or neither. And the idea today is that other religions worship the same God. They don't. You reject Jesus as God in human flesh, you reject Jesus as the God/Man, fully God, fully man, who came as a substitute for sin and you don't know God no matter what you think. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me." Jesus said to the Pharisees in (John 8:42), "If God were your Father, you would love Me." And so John says in chapter 2 verse 23, as we read, "No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also." We all like to make everybody in their religion feel good, but if they reject the deity of Jesus Christ, they do not know God at all.
It says in verse 2 that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, not into the flesh. As if Christ just came down and temporarily went in to some man, stayed there for a while and then left. It doesn't say that He came into the flesh; it says that He came in the flesh. He didn't descend into an already existing man, He came and was born. He came and actually indwelt that little tiny baby in the mystery of the incarnation in the very womb of Mary and was framed and formed there into the God/Man. Jesus Christ also is full of meaning. Jesus, Greek form of Joshua, means Jehovah saves. Christ means the Anointed One, the King, the Messiah. So you have to confess that this is the God/Man who came as God's chosen King and Messiah and took on flesh to be a substitute for sinners. And on the other side of that, verse 3, "Every spirit that does not confess Jesus in this way is not from God."
Here's the bottom line. When you meet these teachers, and they come with their teachings, you test their Christology. What's their doctrine of the incarnation? This is the very foundation of their faith. They may tell you everything about everything correctly, but if they are hiding a false teaching about Jesus Christ then all is corrupted. You can have the most perfectly designed and constructed building, but if the foundation is not correctly constructed per the design, the perfect building with fall and will destroy all who dwell within it. Then verse 6 closes, "By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error."
(Jude 2), "May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you. Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. Fight to guard the truth for certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ."
So, I leave you with this question – Is La Luz Del Mundo, under the authority of Samuel Joaquin, under the control of a seducing spirit or is lead by the Spirit of God – The Word?
And I thank you for having the interest and for taking your time to read and think upon this study.
God’s Blessings in our Lord and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
October 8, 2009
Ask - And The Holy Spirit Will Teach You
Dear Members of LLDM,
I have believed with all of my heart that if I could get even one member of LLDM to read not just the Bible as a whole, but even just the Book of Hebrews, than maybe their heart would began to open up to the possibility that they have place their faith in a man with a false gospel, who is teaching that he is the only way for salvation as the high priest for mankind.
But, I now have come to realize that the issue is much deeper than reading the Bible yourself. You, as a member of LLDM, and maybe since birth, have been taught that you can not understand the Scriptures by yourself. And you know what, that is a correct statement! No man with only his human wisdom will ever be able to understand the will of God and his Word on earth the Bible.
This is where Samuel Joaquin, through his church LLDM as started by his father, has taken advantage of the lost sheep of the Lord, by teaching that understanding only comes from God to Samuel Joaquin to the people and not by way of the Holy Bible.
Here are a few official LLDM doctrine teachings:
“Wisdom of God is not found by faith in Christ’s Spirit to teach or by the Bible, but only by the word of Samuel Joaquin the chosen one.”
“Samuel Joaquin will tell us what we need for salvation. We must believe in him the chosen one.”
“The Holy Bible is powerless with out the apostle, Samuel Joaquin. It is through him that he intercedes for us to Jesus for our sins.”
“The world believes that the truth of God and the mystery is revealed to all man kind. The Light of the World does not believe that. We believe that the mysteries are revealed to “the man of God” and then to us.”
“The will of God is hidden. The door is closed to every body except “the man of God.”
Dear members of LLDM, with All Love in the Lord Jesus Christ, Please hear this in your hearts –
It is a lie that you will not be able to grow in the knowledge of the Lord by reading the Bible for yourself. If you would just call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, his Holy Spirit will guide and teach you of his truth. You do not need anyone to teach you the truth of the good new of Jesus Christ for salvation.
(Isaiah 55:1) says, "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.”
Through Isaiah the Lord God is telling everyone to come and freely feed and drink from his knowledge. Why go to a grocery store and buy food when you are invited to go directly to the farm and take what you want for free!
What do you have to lose by opening a Bible, that I know you have with you, and calling to the Holy Spirit to teach you in the name of Jesus Christ? He will be faithful to you, I promise! Will it be all at once? No. It will take time, but a drop of life giving water will turn into another drop and then you will be freely living from the well of living water - the Word Jesus Christ.
(1 John 2:27)
“As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.”
John, of the first disciples of Jesus Christ, is telling you here that you “do not need anyone to teach you.” John is in no way telling anyone that they most only be taught by him or any other Apostle of Jesus Christ. In this passage the “anointing” is the Holy Spirit from “him” Jesus Christ is doing all of the teaching and NO ONE ELSE!
If you are a member and have taken to the time to read this plead to the end, All Praise and Glory to the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!
I have believed with all of my heart that if I could get even one member of LLDM to read not just the Bible as a whole, but even just the Book of Hebrews, than maybe their heart would began to open up to the possibility that they have place their faith in a man with a false gospel, who is teaching that he is the only way for salvation as the high priest for mankind.
But, I now have come to realize that the issue is much deeper than reading the Bible yourself. You, as a member of LLDM, and maybe since birth, have been taught that you can not understand the Scriptures by yourself. And you know what, that is a correct statement! No man with only his human wisdom will ever be able to understand the will of God and his Word on earth the Bible.
This is where Samuel Joaquin, through his church LLDM as started by his father, has taken advantage of the lost sheep of the Lord, by teaching that understanding only comes from God to Samuel Joaquin to the people and not by way of the Holy Bible.
Here are a few official LLDM doctrine teachings:
“Wisdom of God is not found by faith in Christ’s Spirit to teach or by the Bible, but only by the word of Samuel Joaquin the chosen one.”
“Samuel Joaquin will tell us what we need for salvation. We must believe in him the chosen one.”
“The Holy Bible is powerless with out the apostle, Samuel Joaquin. It is through him that he intercedes for us to Jesus for our sins.”
“The world believes that the truth of God and the mystery is revealed to all man kind. The Light of the World does not believe that. We believe that the mysteries are revealed to “the man of God” and then to us.”
“The will of God is hidden. The door is closed to every body except “the man of God.”
Dear members of LLDM, with All Love in the Lord Jesus Christ, Please hear this in your hearts –
It is a lie that you will not be able to grow in the knowledge of the Lord by reading the Bible for yourself. If you would just call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, his Holy Spirit will guide and teach you of his truth. You do not need anyone to teach you the truth of the good new of Jesus Christ for salvation.
(Isaiah 55:1) says, "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.”
Through Isaiah the Lord God is telling everyone to come and freely feed and drink from his knowledge. Why go to a grocery store and buy food when you are invited to go directly to the farm and take what you want for free!
What do you have to lose by opening a Bible, that I know you have with you, and calling to the Holy Spirit to teach you in the name of Jesus Christ? He will be faithful to you, I promise! Will it be all at once? No. It will take time, but a drop of life giving water will turn into another drop and then you will be freely living from the well of living water - the Word Jesus Christ.
(1 John 2:27)
“As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.”
John, of the first disciples of Jesus Christ, is telling you here that you “do not need anyone to teach you.” John is in no way telling anyone that they most only be taught by him or any other Apostle of Jesus Christ. In this passage the “anointing” is the Holy Spirit from “him” Jesus Christ is doing all of the teaching and NO ONE ELSE!
If you are a member and have taken to the time to read this plead to the end, All Praise and Glory to the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!
October 6, 2009
La Luz Del Mundos' Salvation verses The Bibles' Salvation?
The church of La Luz Del Mundo (LLDM) teaches that a person must believe in the leader of LLDM, Samuel Joaquin, is an apostle with all of the authority of Jesus Christ to forgive sins and to give life to the souls of those that by faith alone follow him and his church.
The following quotations in blue are statements made to me personally by members, pastors and decons of LLDM, or while attaining offical LLDM worships.
“It is Samuel Joaquin who only knows the true will of God. If man wants salvation he must know and believe in the one that has been chosen for salvation, through choosing “the man of God, Samuel Joaquin.”
“It is not enough to believe in just Jesus Christ. We must believe in the one sent of God, the man Samuel Joaquin.”
“We (La Luz Del Mundo) say that there is a man of God on earth for salvation now and he is the servant of God for our salvation, Samuel Joaquin.”
“Why do we talk so much of Samuel Joaquin? Because our salvation is in him only.”
“Samuel Joaquin will tell us what we need for salvation. We must believe in him the chosen one.”
“The man of God”, has taught the Light of the World that we must have a man of God on earth for salvation” and Samuel Joaquin Flores is that man”.
Samuel Joaquin, and LLDM as a orginization, do not offer any biblical Scriptures to support this teaching, only to say that -
"God will open our eyes to the truth that we must believe in the one sent and through him alone you will receive salvation."
“The man of God is the life of our souls”.
“The world believes that the truth of God and the mystery is revealed to all man kind. The Light of the World does not believe that. We believe that the mysteries are revealed to “the man of God” and then to us.”
“The Holy Bible is powerless with out the apostle, Samuel Joaquin. It is through him that he intercedes for us to Jesus for our sins.”
“It is Samuel Joaquin who only knows the true will of God. If man wants salvation he must know and believe in the one that has been chosen for salvation, through choosing “the man of God, Samuel Joaquin.”
“Wisdom of God is not found by faith in Christ’s Spirit to teach or by the Bible, but only by the word of Samuel Joaquin the chosen one.”
What LLDM does preach is believing that God has "elected" Samuel Joaquin and to believe in that "election", period. The Scriptures that are offered by LLDM, which are taken out of context, are ones that attempt to support this belief of the "election" of Samuel Joaquin for salvation and that Jesus Christ is unable to provide to mankind the free grace from God of salvation without a "man of God" here on earth. In a nut shell, this is the doctrine of salvation through Samuel Joaquin.
“The world has taken upon them selves to preach the gospel of God without a man of God’s authority. They are wrong. You will not enter heaven without the authority of the man of God, the apostle Samuel Joaquin.”
With all humility and love through Jesus Christ and as taught and empowered by the Holy Spirit, I offer a study on a question that I posed here.
What is the Biblical Christian Doctrine of Salvation?
Salvation is deliverance from danger or suffering. To save is to deliver or protect. The word carries the idea of victory, health, or preservation. Sometimes, the Bible uses the words saved or salvation to refer to temporal, physical deliverance, such as Paul’s deliverance from prison (Philippians 1:19) -" Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance."
More often, the word “salvation” concerns an eternal, spiritual deliverance. When Paul told the Philippian jailer what he must do to be saved, he was referring to the jailer’s eternal destiny (Acts 16:30-31)- "30He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household."
Jesus equated being saved with entering the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:24-25) - "24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"
What are we saved from? In the Christian doctrine of salvation, we are saved from “wrath,” that is, from God’s judgment of sin (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9). Our sin has separated us from God, and the consequence of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Biblical salvation refers to our deliverance from the consequence of sin and therefore involves the removal of sin.
Who does the saving? Only God can remove sin and deliver us from sin’s penalty (2 Timothy 1:9) - "9who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time",(Titus 3:5) - "5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,".
How does God save? In the Christian doctrine of salvation, God has rescued us through Christ (John 3:17) - "17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
Specifically, it was Jesus’ death on the cross and subsequent resurrection that achieved our salvation (Romans 5:10) - " 10For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!";(Ephesians 1:7) - " 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace."
Scripture is clear that salvation is the gracious, undeserved gift of God (Ephesians 2:5) -' 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.";(Ephesians 2:8) - "8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" — and is only available through faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12) - "12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
How do we receive salvation? We are saved by faith. First, we must hear the gospel—the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection (Ephesians 1:13). Then, we must believe—fully trust the Lord Jesus (Romans 1:16). This involves repentance, a changing of mind about sin and Christ (Acts 3:19), and calling on the name of the Lord (Romans 10:9-10, 13).
A definition of the Christian doctrine of salvation would be “The deliverance, by the grace of God, from eternal punishment for sin which is granted to those who accept by faith God’s conditions of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus.” Salvation is available in Jesus alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12) and is dependent on God alone for provision, assurance, and security.
May this help to clarify and edify the gospel of Jesus Christ as powered by the Holy Spirit.
October 5, 2009
A Brief Comparision Between La Luz Del Mundo and the Roman Catholic Church
God's Blessing and Welcome.
Below is a link that will take to a file this a matrix comparison of La Luz Del Mundo and the Roman Catholic Church. It is reference with official Roman Catholic Church citing as well as my personal eye witnessing of La Luz Del Mundo.
The other link below the comparison is a list of questions directed toward those with questions on the Roman Catholic Church.
If your web browser does not allow for linking, copy and paste these http addressing to go to the files.
Matrix Comparison of LLDM and RCC.pdf
http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B3aN3ope3Z0QNjNjNjY3ZTMtMWNmYS00OTBmLTk4MWItOGFjOWIwY2JmMDJl&hl=en
What is the origin and beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church.pdf
http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B3aN3ope3Z0QZDA0ZTZiNGQtYWE4Ny00MmE4LWE5YzAtNTEwODY0OTJmZDgw&hl=en
Below is a link that will take to a file this a matrix comparison of La Luz Del Mundo and the Roman Catholic Church. It is reference with official Roman Catholic Church citing as well as my personal eye witnessing of La Luz Del Mundo.
The other link below the comparison is a list of questions directed toward those with questions on the Roman Catholic Church.
If your web browser does not allow for linking, copy and paste these http addressing to go to the files.
Matrix Comparison of LLDM and RCC.pdf
http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B3aN3ope3Z0QNjNjNjY3ZTMtMWNmYS00OTBmLTk4MWItOGFjOWIwY2JmMDJl&hl=en
What is the origin and beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church.pdf
http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B3aN3ope3Z0QZDA0ZTZiNGQtYWE4Ny00MmE4LWE5YzAtNTEwODY0OTJmZDgw&hl=en
September 29, 2009
“What are the defining elements in taking a group of people and determining or classifying them as a cult?”
Welcome and God's blessing in the name of Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit.
When we hear the word “cult,” we often think of a group that worships Satan, sacrifices animals, or takes part in evil, bizarre, and pagan rituals. However, in reality, most cults appear much more innocent. The specific Christian definition of a cult is “a religious group that denies one or more of the fundamentals of biblical truth.”
In simpler terms, a cult is a group that teaches something that will cause a person to remain unsaved if he/she believes it. As distinct from a religion, a cult is a group that claims to be part of the religion, yet denies essential truth(s).
A Christian cult is a group that denies one or more of the fundamental truths of Christianity, while still claiming to be Christian.
The most common teaching of cults are that Jesus was not God manifested in the flesh and/or that salvation is not by faith alone in the name of Jesus Christ such as with the LLDM and the Roman Catholic churches who teach that mankind must believe in either an apostle (Samuel Joaquin) or the Pope in order that we might have salvation through them than to the Father through Jesus Christ. So in other words their formula for salvation is (a man on earth + Jesus Christ = Salvation) and not the true (Jesus Christ = Salvation).
A denial of the deity of Christ results in Jesus’ death not being a sufficient payment for our sins. A denial of salvation by faith alone results in salvation being achieved by our own works, believing in someone other than Jesus Christ alone, something the Bible vehemently and consistently denies.
(Ephesians 2:8-10)
-8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.
10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
(Romans 4:1-3) Abraham Justified by Faith-
"1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this
matter? 2If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast
about—but not before God. 3What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
Other well-known examples of cults are the Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons. Both groups claim to be Christian, yet both deny the deity of Christ (Jesus Christ is God) and salvation by faith alone. LLDM, Roman Catholic Church, Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons believe many things that are in agreement with or similar to what the Bible teaches. However, this one all important fact that they deny the deity of Christ for salvation alone in his name and preach a salvation by works qualifies them as a cult. Many LLDM, Roman Catholics, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, and members of other cults are “good people” who genuinely believe they hold the truth.
As Christians we who believe with all of our hearts in the biblical truth of salvation in and only in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12) and he is God manifested in the flesh at the time of his birth (John 1:1-2 &14), our hope and prayer must be that many people involved in the cults will see through the lies and will be drawn to the truth of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
It is my hope in Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit that this is of help to those who read it.
As Christians we who believe with all of our hearts in the biblical truth of salvation in and only in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12) and he is God manifested in the flesh at the time of his birth (John 1:1-2 &14), our hope and prayer must be that many people involved in the cults will see through the lies and will be drawn to the truth of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
It is my hope in Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit that this is of help to those who read it.
September 28, 2009
Jesus Christ - A Man that became God, or God Made Flesh
God's blessing and welcome.
This is a study on who is Jesus Christ. Was he man and God or God made flesh?
So, who did Jesus claim to be? Who does the Bible say He is?
First, let's look at Jesus’ words in (John 10:30), “I and the Father are one.” At first glance, this might not seem to be a claim to be God. However, look at the Jews’ reaction to His statement, “‘We are not stoning you for any of these,’ replied the Jews, ‘but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God’” (John 10:33).
The Jews understood Jesus’ statement as a claim to be God. In the following verses, Jesus never corrects the Jews by saying, “I did not claim to be God.” That indicates Jesus was truly saying He was God by declaring, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). (John 8:58) is another example: “‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’” Again, in response, the Jews took up stones in an attempt to stone Jesus (John 8:59).
Jesus’ announcing His identity as “I am” is a direct application of the Old Testament name for God (Exodus 3:14). Why would the Jews again want to stone Jesus if He had not said something they believed to be blasphemous, namely, a claim to be God?
(John 1:1) says “the Word was God.” (John 1:14) says “the Word became flesh.” This clearly indicates that Jesus is God in the flesh. Thomas the disciple declared to Jesus, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). Jesus does not correct him. The apostle Paul describes Him as, “…our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). The apostle Peter says the same, “…our God and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1). God the Father is witness of Jesus’ full identity as well, “But about the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.’”
Old Testament prophecies of Christ announce His deity, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
Jesus clearly and undeniably claimed to be God. If He is not God, then He is a liar, and therefore not a prophet, good teacher, or godly man.
Why is the question over Jesus’ true identity so important? Why does it matter whether or not Jesus is God? The most important reason that Jesus has to be God is that if He is not God, His death would not have been sufficient to pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world -"..Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sns, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2). Only God could pay such an infinite penalty (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
In Isaiah 9:6, we read the prophetic words: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given". This messianic prophecy informs us that the coming Messiah will not just be a child born into the world, but a "son given" to the world. "To us a son is given" means that God gives us His Son; He gives us one who is already a Son. So Jesus is the Son of God before His Incarnation!
Jesus had to be God in the flesh so that He could pay our debt. Jesus had to be man so He could die and pay the price for our sin, a price that only God could pay. The Book of Hebrews is very clear that the old system of sacrifices was not the way to salvation and the "more perfect way", is Salvation only through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus’ deity is why He is the only way of salvation. Jesus’ deity is why He proclaimed,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
September 22, 2009
It Is the Message, Not the Messenger - Acts 10 & 11
God's blessings and glory to our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is a brief study and outline of chapter 10 in the book of Acts as well as chapter 11. This is Dr. Luke's accounting of the events that showed to the first century church beyond a shadow of a doubt that God's plan of salvation to mankind was not only for the Jews but to the Gentiles (a.k.a. the rest of the world not from the blood of Abraham.)
As a side note and for future study, LLDM uses the name Gentiles to refer to anyone not a member of LLDM because LLDM views itself as the "New Jerusalem" of Revelation having replaced the blood line of Abraham with themselves. This is a incorrect use of the term "Gentiles" to this day all of the world at large who are not direct blood relatives of Abraham are "Gentiles. We are all "Gentiles" who either believe in the one true God, The Father and are adopted into the family of Abraham or you believe as the world believes and worship many idols and are therefor "Pagans".
LLDM, the Roman Catholic Church as well as the Mormon faith, and other religions interpret this chapter to support their claim that it is only through the power and presents of an apostle(s), man of God or Pope that the message of salvation can be brought to the world and have the power to save us from sin.
It is my most humble desire to study the full context of these chapters as well as compare them against the full word of God, the holy scripture. Just as the Bereans did with Paul in (Acts 17).
-v.11 "Now the Bereans were of more noble character then the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."
Please notice that I have bolded the word "Scripture" because I want to point out here that Dr. Luke has capitalized the letter "S" in this word in the middle of a sentence. The only time you do this is in the proper name of a person or place. Dr. Luke is telling us here that the "Scriptures" are the same as God the Father, the Word.
So to our study of Acts chapters 10 and 11.
Cornelius Calls for Peter
Acts 10:1-3
1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!"
verse 1 - This Roman officer was a centurion, a commander of 100 soldiers. although stationed in Caesarea, Cornelius would probably return soon to Rome. Thus his conversion was a major stepping-stone for spreading the gospel to the empire's capital city of Rome.
verses 2 and 3 - "What will happen to the heathen (pagan) who have never about Christ?" This question is often asked abut God's justice. Cornelius was not a believer in Christ, but he was seeking God, and he was reverent and generous. Therefore God sent Peter to tell Cornelius about Christ. Cornelius is an example that God "rewards those who earnestly seek him" (Hebrews 11:6). Those who sincerely seek God will find Him! God made Cornelius's knowledge complete through the message the Peter brought to his household.
Acts 10:4-8
4Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked.The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea."7When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
verses 4 thru 8 - God saw Cornelius's sincere faith. His prayers and generous giving were a "memorial offering before God," a sacrificial offering to the Lord. God answers prayers of those who seek him by sending the right information for salavation at the right time either it be a person or by the Holy Bible itself.
Acts 10:9-23
9About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."14"Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."15The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."16This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.17While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. 18They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.19While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. 20So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them."21Peter went down and said to the men, "I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come?"22The men replied, "We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say." 23Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.
verses 9 thru 23 - According to Jewish law, certain foods were forbidden to be eaten (Leviticus 11). The food laws made it difficult for Jews to eat with Gentiles without risking defilement. In fact, the Gentiles themselves were often seen as "unclean." Peter's vision meant that he should not look upon the Gentiles as inferior people whom God would not redeem. Before having the vision, Peter would have thought that a Gentile Roman officer could not accept Christ. Afterward, he understood that it was his responsibility to go with the messengers into a Gentile home and tell Cornelius the Good New of salvation in Jesus Christ. Peter understood very well that it was the message and not him the messenger that powered the wonderful work of salvation.
Acts 10:23-33 - Peter at Cornelius' House
The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along. 24The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26But Peter made him get up. "Stand up," he said, "I am only a man myself."27Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. 29So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?"30Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.' 33So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us."
verses 23 thru 33 - Out of these verse the one that is most predominate to point out is verse 26. This act of worship could have caused Pete to become arrogant, After all, a Roman centurion was bowing before him. Instead, Peter pointed Cornelius to Christ. We too should remember our mortality whenever we are flattered or honored, and use the opportunity to give glory to God. There are many forms of "bowing" before someone, either it be in action like Cornelius was trying to do or by mouth in singing or by gifts to honor a person other than Jesus Christ.
Acts 10:34-36
34Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
verses 34 thru 36 - Perhaps the greatest barrier to the spreading of the gospel in the first century was the conflict between the Jews and the Gentiles. Most of the early believers were Jewish, and to them it was scandalous even to think of associating with Gentiles. But god told Peter to take the gospel to a Roman, and Peter obeyed despite his background and personal feelings. Peter would struggle with this again in Galatians. God was making it clear that the Good New of Christ is for everyone! We should not allow any barrier - language, culture, prejudice, geography, economic level, or educational level - keep us from telling others about Christ.
Acts 10:37-43
37You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.39"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
verses 37 thru 43 - Peter's brief and powerful sermon contains a very clear statement of the gospel: Jesus' perfect life of servant hood; his death on the cross; his resurrection, personally witnessed and experienced by Peter; Jesus' fulfillment of the Scriptures; and the necessity of one's personal faith in him. A sermon or when witnessing for Christ does not have to be long to be effective. It just needs to be Spirit-led and centered on Christ alone as the way and the truth and the life.
Acts 10:44-48
44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.Then Peter said, 47"Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
verses 44 thru 48 - Cornelius and Peter were very different people, Cornelius was wealthy, a Gentile, and a military officer. Peter was a Jewish fisherman turned preacher. But God's plan included both of them. In Cornelius's house that day, a new chapter in Christian history was written as a Jewish Christian leader and a Gentile Christian convert each discovered something significant about God as work in the other person. Cornelius needed to hear the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross and gospel of salvation message. Peter needed Cornelius and his salvation experience to know that Gentiles were included in God's plan of salvation. In verse 45 "The circumcised believers" references to "the Jewish believers" as in (Acts 11:2).
Verses 47 and 48 are very interesting because in this case, the people were baptized by water after they received the Holy Spirit, publicly declaring their allegiance to Christ and identification with the Christan community, more in later postings for the true meaning of water baptism. So since the Holy Spirit can not birth it's self into someone until they are clean from their sins, it goes to reason then that we are cleaned from sins with the baptism of the Holy Spirit in our faith in the name of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:8-13) and not by the physical immersion into water baptism, also another posting study to come.
In summary, Dr. Luke never recorded that Peter believed nor taught that is was through him, because of him or by any fleshly power of his that Cornelius and his household were saved. Peter testified of this himself in (Acts 11:14) when he was re-accounting what Cornelius told him - "He (Peter) will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved."
The "through which" can only be referring to the "message". To interpet it with Peter the reason for being saved the sentence would have to read like this - 'He will come with a message and through him you and your household will be saved." Which is clearly not what Dr. Luke wrote.
If a mailman brings to you envelope with a check for 1 million dollars in it. Is it the mailman that is making you a millionaire or is the check? He (the mailman) will bring you a envelope through which you and all your household will be millionaires.
I will post a continuation of this study covering chapter 11 soon.
God's Blessing to all who find this study of use to them in there walk with the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
September 11, 2009
Doctrine #14 of La Luz Del Mundo
God's Blessing to you and may the Holy Spirit bring the Light of Truth to our Hearts.
Here is the fourteenth of fourteen main doctrines that are taught by La Luz Del Mundo. When you see me post more than one doctrine it is because these doctrines are very similar in subject and therefore are covered by the same scripture references.
After each doctrine(s), I have listed scripture verses that address the particular doctrine(s) in question. Please read the doctrine(s) and the verses with your Bible so that you my fully appreciate the the scripture in context, and read out loud even if you are by yourself.
(Romans 10:17) - "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."
For a full listing of all of the fourteen doctrines go to my posting "True Doctrines of La Luz Del Mundo" date August 13, 2009.
#14 - “The world has taken upon them selves to preach the gospel of God without a man of God’s authority. They are wrong. You will not enter heaven without the authority of the man of God, the apostle Samuel Joaquin.”
John 1:10-13
10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
CHILDREN, EVEN ADOPTED CHILDREN, HAVE THE RIGHT AND ARE AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER THE HOME OF THEIR PARENTS WITH OUT HAVING TO RECEIVE PERMISSION FROM ANYONE!
WHEN YOU BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST AS THE SON OF GOD YOU ARE ADOPTED INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD THE FATHER AS HIS CHILD, AND ARE THEREFOR GIVEN THE RIGHT TO ENTER INTO THE HOUSE OF GOD THE FATHER, WHICH IS HEAVEN, WITHOUT NEEDING PERMISSION FROM ANYONE ELSE; EITHER HERE ON EARTH OR IN HEAVEN!
God's blessings through our Lord Jesus Christ as powered by the Holy Spirit, Amen.
September 10, 2009
Doctrine #13 of La Luz Del Mundo
God's Blessing to you and may the Holy Spirit bring the Light of Truth to our Hearts.
Here is the thirteenth of fourteen main doctrines that are taught by La Luz Del Mundo. When you see me post more than one doctrine it is because these doctrines are very similar in subject and therefore are covered by the same scripture references.
After each doctrine(s), I have listed scripture verses that address the particular doctrine(s) in question. Please read the doctrine(s) and the verses with your Bible so that you my fully appreciate the the scripture in context, and read out loud even if you are by yourself.
(Romans 10:17) - "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."
For a full listing of all of the fourteen doctrines go to my posting "True Doctrines of La Luz Del Mundo" date August 13, 2009.
#13 - “It is not enough to believe in just Jesus Christ. We must believe in the one sent of God, the man Samuel Joaquin.”
Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;"
Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"
Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.
Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?"
No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."
They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household."
Acts 19:4
Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus."
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,
but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism.
And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.1
PERSONAL COMMENTS:
THIS LIST IS A DIRECT WORD SEARCH OF "BELIEVE" IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. AS YOU CAN SEE NO WHERE IN THE SCRIPTURES DOES THE ORIGINAL APOSTLES RECORD, AT ANY TIME, THAT WE MUST ALSO BELIEVE IN THEM IN ORDER TO RECEIVE SALVATION.
MUST YOU BELIEVE THAT THE MESSENGER IS A TRUE AND AUTHORIZED BEARER OF THE MESSAGE? YES.
BUT THE POWER IS NOT IN THE MESSENGER, BUT THE MESSAGE!
God's blessings through our Lord Jesus Christ as powered by the Holy Spirit, Amen.
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