Common Traits Among The Cults

July 18, 2019

Cult Literature Worldwide

2 Corinthians 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

We live in a day and age where the truth of God’s word is not held in the highest regard. Attacks on Christianity rages on with the infiltration of those who claim to be Christian but spread false doctrine; false teachers as the apostle Peter mentioned (2 Peter 2:1). The Lord Jesus warned us that wolves in sheep’s clothing would come to deceive (Matthew 7:15, 10:16, Luke 10:3).

Paul the apostle even grieved for the believers in Miletus and saying “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.” Acts 20:29. The early believers had to deal with those who tried to bring us into bondage with false doctrine, those who would claim to be brethren.

Galatians 2:4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

For the next few posts, we’ll refute the false doctrine of the Christadelphians. As believers, we have fellowship (κοινωνία) when our doctrine is the same because of God’s word, not because we choose to place differences aside. True fellowship is something we automatically have not something we agree to have.

Let’s look at one claim made by the Christadelphian cult, we’re going to spend some time going through them one by one. As we test the spirits we will start to see how false doctrine cannot endure when we use God’s word to bring all falsity down.

2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Here’s a direct quote from the Christadelphian site under “our beliefs” and “Nature of Christ”.

“The fundamental truth of the Bible is that God is One. Any teaching that in any way appears to deviate from or undermime this profound truth must be very firmly substantiated. The doctrine of the Trinity pretends to be such a teaching, yet it is entirely absent from the entire Old Testament. This doesn’t make sense.” – christadelphia.org

I love how God shows the true child of God that such claims as these are not true, God has indeed shown us time and time again even in the Old Testament that God is comprised of 3 distinct persons in the Godhead. A common trait of cults is the attack on the “Trinity”, let’s have scripture do the talking.

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…

A classic verse which proves the plurality in the Godhead “Let us make” shows communication within the Godhead (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). When the scriptures speak of “God” it’s referring to the being of God; God in His totality. Christians who believe in the Godhead never deny that God is one we completely believe in one God as the Shema states.

6:4 שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָֽד׃

6:4 καὶ ταῦτα τὰ δικαιώματα καὶ τὰ κρίματα ὅσα ἐνετείλατο κύριος τοῗς υἱοῗς Ισραηλ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ἐξελθόντων αὐτῶν ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου ἄκουε Ισραηλ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν κύριος εἷς ἐστιν

Let us (plural) because I’m not here writing to myself but to anyone else who’s reading this, just as God is not talking to Himself, He doesn’t have a split personality disorder. Therefore who is God speaking with when stating “Let us make”? Angels have no hand in creation, therefore, it’s not the angels God is speaking too, who is God speaking with?

Another Old Testament verse which proves the plurality in the distinction of persons within the Godhead is found again in Genesis. When the tower of babel was being constructed and mankind at the time was one language, they refused to obey the LORD by not scattering themselves and inhabiting all the lands. Instead, they looked to exalt themselves building a tower to reach heaven. Then the LORD came down to see the city and tower (Genesis 11:5)

Genesis 11:7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.

The verse here says the LORD is speaking and says “let us go down”, once again who is the LORD speaking with? We can derive from these verses that there’s a conversation taking place between persons. Another verse I would like to bring to your attention is one in Isaiah. The prophet Isaiah saw the Lord in all His glory on the throne.

Isaiah 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

And if you’re familiar with the book of Isaiah, when he comes face to face with the Lord he becomes aware of his sin and says he’s undone. Isaiah is not the only one who had this experience Job felt the same way as well as John the apostle. When John came face to face with Christ in the book of Revelation it says he “fell at His feet as dead” (Revelation 1:17).

Isaiah goes onto say that he is a man of unclean lips he recognized his sin as he saw the Lord. Just as we all came to that same conclusion before the Lord that we too are sinners and have sinned against God.

Isaiah 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

If Isaiah saw “the King, the LORD of hosts” which speaks only of God Himself then who did He see? Because the scriptures say that no man has seen God, and we know that God’s word never contradicts, therefore, who did Isaiah see?

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

He didn’t see the Father because no man can see the Father and live, He dwells in unapproachable light which no man can see.

1 Timothy 6:14-16 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Who did Abraham see when he was told Sarah would bare him a son and she laughed? Who did Jacob wrestle with when it’s stated Jacob wrestled with God? It’s easy for Christians to explain because we know that God is one but God is 3 distinct persons, therefore, we can prove that the Father was never seen but the Son was. This is why it’s very easy to break down the cult teachings of the Christadelphians or Jehovah Witnesses who only affirm God is one, but they fail to see the distinction of persons in the Godhead.

Question#1 for Christadelphians

If Christadelphians still want to deny Jesus as being God then they need to answer these 3 questions. God alone is the creator of all things as I’m certain they believe then why is Jesus Christ given the same attributes in scripture which belongs to God alone. The Psalmist when praying to God Almighty spoke these words.

Psalm 102:1, 25-27 [[A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD.]] Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. … Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

We also have the writer in the epistle to the Hebrews making this direct claim about the Lord Jesus in the 1 chapter when it speaks about how Christ is better than the angels and attributing creation to Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 1:10-12 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

These 2 scriptures are in harmony with the gospel of John speaking of the Word being God and that nothing was made without the Word. John said all things were created by the Word another name for Jesus Christ.

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

The book of Colossians applies the same attributes which only belong to God to the Lord Jesus. Therefore if Jesus shares the same attributes of deity with the Father you must conclude that Jesus Christ is God, just as the Holy Spirit is God. All three distinct persons of the Godhead are co-equal sharing the same divine nature.

Colossians 1:14-17 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Question#2 for Christadelphians

Cults such as Christadelphians or Jehovah Witnesses say that Jesus was the first creation of God and through Jesus was everything else made. They normally cite the verse in Colossians 1:15 saying the mention of the word “firstborn” proves He was created. The problem with this is “firstborn” doesn’t mean actual birth.

Firstborn in Greek is prōtotokos which means also preeminence or position, it is because Jesus created all things He is before all things in position “firstborn”. We read later just a few verses down how Jesus is the “firstborn” of the dead.

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

Now we know when something is dead it’s not born therefore we must conclude that it means Jesus Christ was the first to be resurrected from the dead. Notice also that at the end of that verse it mentions “that in all things he might have the preeminence” meaning that He’s first in all things. God also calls king David His “firstborn” in Psalm 89 because he was chosen of the LORD, but as we know David was not the firstborn among the sons of Jesse.

Psalm 89:20-27 I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him. And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him. But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted. I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.

Question#3 for Christadelphians

In the Old Testament to “call upon the name of the Yĕhovah” (יְהֹוָה) is a phrase only used in reference to God. The Greek Septuagint is the translation of the Hebrew scriptures into Greek translated by the Hebrews at that time around 200-250BC.

The phrase “call upon the name of the Yĕhovah” is used in prayer worship and adoration only. The Jews translated that phrase into Greek as reading “call upon the name of the LORD” this phrase is used by Paul the apostle in reference to Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

Why is Paul the apostle applying the same phrase to the Lord Jesus Christ?

Conclusion

If you’re part of the Christadelphian cult this is to warn you of the erroneous teachings you’re being indoctrinated with. We pray you’ll look into this for yourself open your Bible and see if these things be so. Don’t let this cult rob you of your eternity in heaven.

Christadelphians are not Christian. Like all cults, Christadelphianism denies one or more of the essential doctrines of Christianity: Jesus is God, the physical resurrection, and salvation by grace. In this case, it is the deity of Christ and salvation by grace through faith that are the problems with this group.

They teach heresies such as…

  1. Jesus had a sinful nature (The Christadelphians, What They Believe, by Harry Tennant, The Christadelphian, England, p. 74 – this is a Christadelphian book.)
  2. Jesus needed salvation, (Christadelphian Answers, ed. by Frank G. Jannaway, The Herald Press, p. 25 – another Christadelphian book).
  3. Jesus is not God in flesh (Answers, p. 22).
  4. That Jesus’ atonement was not substitutionary (Answers, p. 25; What They Believe, p. 71).
  5. Baptism is necessary for salvation (What They Believe, p. 71,72, 207-210)

Again if you’re part of this cult read the Bible alone without any of the Christadelphian books/magazines and you’ll quickly start to see how their doctrine is of the devil.

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

It’s your choice your eternity, will you place it in the hands of a group of men or God?

Approval of God

July 16, 2019

Proverbs 29:25
“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.”

Searching and longing for the approval of mere imperfect and flawed human beings is a snare, a trap, and a recipe for disaster. It can be tempting to desire approval of others, because we’re physically able to see them face to face. We can see their reactions, hear their opinions, and we can be rejected and accepted by people. But ultimately, the only approval we need is God’s approval, and if we have His approval, we have everything we could ever need. If we search for approval and acceptance from others, then these people become authoritative in our lives when Jesus should be the highest authority in every aspect and every area. Jesus is our Lord and our sole and main focus as we walk in this dry and weary world is to please Him and Him above all else, no matter who may disapprove. If the Lord approves us, it doesn’t matter if all the kings and all the governors and anyone else disapproves of us because God accepts us. He’s our Maker, our Saviour, and our Creator.

It can be hard sometimes, and we will be tested in various season: will we follow man’s fleeting thoughts and opionions which can be so easily in error, or follow the LORD who is perfect in every single way? The more we trust in Him and abide in Him the less the approval, thoughts, and opinions matter of others. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t care, it just means we don’t live by their opinion, we live for Christ and His Word and His guidance, no matter if the world be against us (and they will). If God Himself accepts us, it doesn’t matter who in the world rejects us.

Ephesians 1:4-6
“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”

Is Jesus Christ the Mediator for Jehovah Witnesses (144,000)?

April 26, 2019

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1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”

The Jehovah Witnesses are everywhere throughout the world preaching the “good news of the kingdom” There’s a good chance you’ve seen them sitting next to a cart filled with their publications of Watchtower and Awake magazines. I’ve been speaking with a couple of JW’s and asked one woman “is Christ your mediator?”, her reply was “yes of course”, I then asked “so the governing body is not your mediator?”; she replied “Christ is our mediator and the governing body is the faithful and discreet slave spoken of in Matthew”.

I disagree with her and will show you why Jehovah Witnesses is a cult. She either she was telling me this in ignorance or flat out lying. Let’s see what the Watchtower teaches about who Jesus Christ is the Mediator for? Is Jesus Christ the mediator for all or not?

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According to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society’s online library, under “Mediator Watch Tower Publications Index 1986–2019 Insight on the Scriptures, Volume 2” it states:

Those for Whom Christ Is Mediator. The apostle Paul declares that there is “one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all”​ — for both Jews and Gentiles. (1Ti 2:5, 6) He mediates the new covenant between God and those taken into the new covenant, the congregation of spiritual Israel. (Heb 8:10–13; 12:24; Eph 5:25–27) Christ became Mediator in order that the ones called “might receive the promise of the everlasting inheritance” (Heb 9:15); he assists, not the angels, but “Abraham’s seed.” (Heb 2:16) He assists those who are to be brought into the new covenant to be ‘adopted’ into Jehovah’s household of spiritual sons; these eventually will be in heaven as Christ’s brothers, becoming a part with him of the seed of Abraham. (Ro 8:15–17, 23–25; Ga 3:29) He has transmitted to them the promised holy spirit, with which spirit they are sealed and are given a token of what is to come, their heavenly inheritance. (2Co 5:5;Eph 1:13, 14) The total number of those who are finally and permanently sealed is revealed in Revelation 7:4–8 as 144,000. — Watchtower

The Watchtower teaches that those who are of the 144,000 anointed spoken of in Revelation are the only ones who benefit from Christ as their mediator. The Jehovah Witnesses believe that only the anointed “Christians” are the only ones who will be in heaven. The rest of Jehovah Witnesses do not go to Heaven but will remain on a paradise earth. The Watchtower teaches that there are 2 classes of Jehovah Witnesses, the anointed who will rule and reign with Christ in Heaven the 144,000. While the rest must remain here on a paradise earth.

This will happen after Armageddon when all the wicked are removed from the earth and the only people who’ll survive are Jehovah Witnesses. The “anointed class” of JW’s are looked upon as being the most spiritual because they have been chosen by God to go to Heaven. They won’t say this up front but the culture itself is what proves this to be true among JW’s. If you read the quote again it states.

  1. Jesus, who gave himself a corresponding ransom for “all” BUT
  2. He became the Mediator for those that “receive the promise of the everlasting inheritance” WHICH
  3. Only applies to those who “eventually will be in heaven as Christ’s brothers” THEREFORE
  4. Jesus is only the Mediator for the anointed, who in the theology of Jehovah Witnesses number only 144,000 people.

To sum it all up according to the Watchtower Jesus is only the Mediator of the 144,000 anointed class of Jehovah Witnesses. If you’re not part of the 144,000 sorry Jesus is not your Mediator according to them. You’re part of “the great crowd of Witnesses” who have to remain on earth.

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Under “Questions From Readers The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom — 1989” we get a more clear cut answer as to who they believe Jesus is the Mediator for. If you read it says that “1 Timothy 2:5, 6 is not using the term “mediator” in the broad sense common in many languages”. Only the “anointed class” are part of the new covenant according to Watchtower. In the another page of “Questions From Readers 1979” it states that “Jesus is only the Mediator for anointed Christians”.

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The club gets even more exclusive, they take it even further than saying it’s only for the 144,000 in which Jesus is their mediator but they also call themselves “spiritual Israel” that’s another name for the anointed class of Jehovah Witnesses.

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So what does this all mean, if you’re a Jehovah Witness and are not of the anointed class then you don’t have Jesus as your Mediator. And there’s a very good reason why the Watchtower set this up this way. All cults strive for absolute power over their members. Many JW’s are unaware of this teaching from the Watchtower, even in their twisted version of the Bible (New World Translation) plainly states.

1 Timothy 2:5, 6 NWT For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all this is what is to be witnessed to in its own due time.

Now, what does God’s holy word have to say about this heretical teaching of the Watchtower? The Bible tells us that Jesus died for all not some but all mankind. The apostle Paul in his writings epistles said:

2 Corinthians 5:15–17 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

1 Timothy 2:5–6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

The Lord Jesus plainly said “he that believes in me though he were dead yet shall he live”. Never once did He mention that you must be part of the 144,000 in order to be brought into the new covenant. This means all true believers have Christ as their Mediator, there’s no “special class” of Christians.

When you dig deeper into why the Watchtower would place specific people in a “higher class” of Jehovah Witnesses starts to become clear. The Watchtower says that the great crowd of JW’s benefit from being in union with the anointed class. Basically speaking their salvation is contingent not on Jesus Christ but those people who are part of the anointed class.

And guess what the men who are part of the governing body are all part of this “anointed class” and “receive direct messages from Jehovah God”. These are the men who make the rules for all Jehovah Witnesses worldwide they are the ones who rule them with an iron fist. And this shows the reason why they’ve set up this unbiblical system in order to control people hence why it’s a high control cult.

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Jehovah Witnesses are told that they must obey these men no matter what they say or else they are disfellowshipped, shunned and cut off from family members, friends even jobs. A person involved in this organization has much to lose when their whole life is the Watchtower. JW’s are not allowed to read any publications outside of Watchtower and it’s these men who disseminate information down to other members of the society. They use this verse out of context to rule over their members.

Matthew 24:45–46 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

This verse speaks on the men who would take oversight but as well take the leadership role in the home. In 1 Timothy 3 Paul begins with husbands, indicating that training and preparation begin in the home. “If a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the Church of God?” He must learn to correct and discipline with gravity and dignity (3:4) but remembering the instructions, “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged” (Colossians 3:21).

Last but not least the 144,000 spoken of in the Bible are only Jewish believers in Jesus Christ who will preach the Gospel during the time of the great tribulation. These 144,000 are virgin men from every tribe of the nation of Israel.

Revelation 7:4–8 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

Revelation 14:3–4 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

To the Jehovah Witnesses

God is holy and perfect and He requires holiness and perfection from us. Holiness is the inability to sin. It means moral perfection and it is something that God alone possesses. Holiness is an attribute of God’s perfect nature. Therefore, since there is no one greater than God, and God is the greatest good, God is necessarily the standard of what is good.

The Law is a reflection of the character of God. The reason it is wrong to lie, cheat, and steal, etc., is because God cannot do these things. Because He is holy, He is incapable of lying, cheating, etc. Therefore, the Law becomes the standard of righteousness. But we are incapable of keeping the Law because we are not holy. We are sinners. Once this is said, you must ask the person if he has ever sinned. You might want to explain that sin is breaking the Law of God. You ask the person if he has ever lied, cheated, stolen, or been angry unrighteously, etc. He will answer “yes” to one or all of these, and that is when you tell him that he has broken God’s Law and is a sinner. Furthermore, there is no law that has no punishment. A law without punishment is a slogan. The punishment for breaking God’s Law is eternal damnation.

John 3:18, 36 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. … He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

The Gospel is the good news that the judgment of God upon the person who has broken God’s Law can be removed in the person of Jesus. This is done because of Jesus, who is God the Son in flesh, He was able to perfectly keep the Law and offer a sacrifice to God the Father. His sacrifice is the death on the cross, which was the payment for the penalty of breaking the Law of God. He died there and three days later physically rose from the dead as proof that His words, deeds, and sacrifice were true. Therefore, if anyone wants to escape the righteous judgment of God, he must receive the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross. This is done by faith, by asking Jesus to forgive you of your sins.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Mediator between God and man, come to Him and live!!!

Why The Christadelphians Are A Cult.

April 25, 2019

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2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Christology: The Preeminence of the Lord Jesus Christ

All our hope, faith and salvation hinges on who is the Lord Jesus Christ. Was He who He claimed to be God in the flesh, or was He just a man? If the Lord Jesus truly is God then we have hope and all eternity to look forward to as believers in Christ. But if He’s just a man (creature) as many cults believe then we’re all lost and dead in our sins.

1 Corinthians 15:14, 17 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. … And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

Christology is the study of the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, who He is, His claims, the miracles He’s done. The greatest attack on Christianity is from cults and world religions who try to refute His (Jesus) claim as the Son of God, being in the very nature of God and saying He’s anything less. Today we will look at the heretical claims of one such cult called the Christadelphians.

If you’d like to know more about how they came to be here’s an earlier post about the history of the Christadelphians

What do the Christadelphians believe?

To quote directly from their home page.

The Wrested Scriptures Page lists passages commonly used to defend the erroneous views and outlines the correct understanding of these passages.

In referring to ‘Mainstream Christianity’, we speak of the principal Christian groups, such as Catholics, Baptists, Evangelicals, Pentecostals, etc.

Please excuse the directness of the sections below; due to the nature of the media, we felt it was best.— Christadelphians

There’s one thing to note before delving into what they believe. All cults have similar things in common but what they all have in common is they say “they’re the only true church” or “they alone hold the truth”. Christadelphians, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, Oneness Pentecostals and Catholics all make this “truth claim”. The Jehovah Witnesses also say that Christendom is all false as well as the Christadelphians, therefore by each of these groups saying “all Christendom is all false” also means that Jehovah Witnesses and Christadelphians would have to say they’re both wrong. Maybe that’s a topic for another post. Let’s get to it.

The bulk of all Christianity teaches unequivocally that Jesus is God. This claim is made without qualification. Typically, it is said that Jesus is 100% man and 100% God: that Jesus was fully God, and never ceased to be God while on earth. And usually, when it really gets down to the nitty-gritty, it is said the whole issue (the Trinity) is a mystery. — Christadelphians

To begin Christianity didn’t teach that Jesus Christ is God, the Lord Jesus Christ said He’s God and the Bible teaches that He’s God that’s where we get our theology straight from God’s word. As Christians, we believe what Jesus said to be true. Not only does the New Testament give direct evidence that Jesus is God, but it also provides indirect evidence. There are many indirect references that could be cited. Some of these include.

Jesus Possesses The Attributes Of Deity: According to Scripture, Jesus possessed certain attributes that belong to God alone.

Jesus Is All-Knowing:

God’s word says that Jesus is all-knowing. He knew the thoughts of people.

Luke 6:8 But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.

Jesus was able to tell the Samaritan woman her past history without previously meeting her before.

John 4:18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

The Samaritan woman went back and said to the people in her village.

John 4:29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

A mere man wouldn’t be able to know the thoughts of others. It shows forth God’s ability to be all knowing. The disciples themselves also recognized that the Lord Jesus knew all things.

John 16:30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

Psalms 147:5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

We praise God for His divine understanding His Omniscience because He knows all things better than any of us can (Psalms 147:4, Isaiah 40:28, Jeremiah 1:5, 23:24).

He’s Both Fully God and Fully Man

Mortality and Immortality are mutually exclusive characteristics. If Jesus is God, he couldn’t have really died, for God is immortal by nature. Likewise, if Jesus died, he couldn’t really be God, for God cannot die. Immortality is not a fluctuating quality! A being is either mortal or immortal. You can’t have it both ways with this. Either Christ died, and he was mortal during his time of ministry 2000 years ago, or he’s God and could have never died. Pick one alternative, as holding both is simply untenable. Traditional Christians typically respond to this point with the idea stated above in the introduction, that Jesus was fully human and fully God. But look at the next point. — Christadelphians

The Christadelphians reject the divinity of Christ, they cannot grasp the foundational truth that Christ always existed before time. He is eternal and shares the same nature as the Father. Christadelphians demoted the Lord Jesus to a mere man in their theology one who has no power to save; another Jesus as Paul the apostle said (2 Corinthians 11:4). As Christians, we reject this idea that the Christ Jesus was a powerless man.

IS JESUS CHRIST REALLY GOD 2

The word of God shows that the Lord Jesus was God manifest in the flesh, both fully God and fully man. Speaking of the Jesus the writer to the Hebrews wrote of Christ preexisting all of creation without beginning.

Hebrews 7:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

John the Apostle also wrote in one of the most well-known verses in the Bible speaking of His divinity.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

when looking into the Greek language it says that He (Jesus) was face to face with God (Father), He (Jesus) was always there.

πρός prós, pros; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated) In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at.

John goes on to say in his Gospel that all things were made by the Lord Jesus in pertaining to creation.

John 1:2–3 The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

We can also connect these verses to others which say that God alone created all things by Himself.

Isaiah 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

The question must then be asked if God says He created all things by Himself then are their two Creators? Of course not that’s because when the Bible speaks of God it’s referring to His being. We also see the plurality and the distinction of Persons in the Godhead, therefore it makes sense when Jesus is attributed to be the Creator of all things.

Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

The Temptation of Christ

For the temptations of Christ to have been in any way real, there had to exist the possibility that he could sin. If Christ is God, it is impossible that he could have sinned, for God is perfect by nature. Jesus pointed this out in Mt 19:17, marking the distinction between himself and God (only ONE is good…).
If Christ was God, and therefore couldn’t sin, all his ‘temptations’ were faked, and his identification with mankind a cruel sham! And for those affirming the “fully God/fully man” idea, do you really see God locking Himself into a nature that could potentially sin? Finally, James explicitly states that God cannot be tempted by evil (1:13–15). — Christadelphians

What the Christadelphians are saying is because satan attempted to tempt the Lord Jesus means that He couldn’t have been God? This makes no sense just because satan tried to foil God’s plan doesn’t take away the fact that Jesus Christ is God. Do they really expect that satan was going to sit back and not at least try even though he would never be successful?

The temptations were not “faked” just because Jesus is God, satan in his failing attempts try to get Christ to display His power as a result of pride. The nail in the coffin is that the writer to the Hebrews addressed this saying.

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

The Lord Jesus was like us in the sense that He felt the same things we did, He experienced the same emotions and knows the same hardships we face. He took on the likeness of sinful flesh.

Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

The scriptures say that He took on our nature that is human nature, the seed of Abraham. This also speaks to the virgin birth.

Hebrews 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Let’s not also forget that the Lord Jesus is in the order of Melchizedek, He’s our great high priest and has the eternal priesthood.

Hebrews 7:21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

But God the Father Himself in talking with the Son He calls the Son God, if God the Father can call the Lord Jesus God then why won’t the Christadelphians?

Hebrews 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Jesus Christ is God because mankind is a fallen creature through the downfall of Adam sin came into the world and death by sin, therefore every human being born is a sinner by nature we cannot escape the fact that we we’re in bondage to sin.

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

2 Peter 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

Since the Lord Jesus is God He alone was able to purchase is from the slave market of sin, He alone had the means necessary to accomplish this redemptive act. This is why we can sing the song, “Redeemed, How I love to Proclaim it!”. We were redeemed with incorruptible things His blood which is precious and cleanseth us from all unrighteousness.

1 Peter 1:18–19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

All those believers who are blood bought by the Lord Jesus Christ will sing and proclaim in Heaven the great truth of His redeeming power.

Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

It goes to show that Jesus had to come in our likeness under the law to redeem us who couldn’t save ourselves. An angel cannot die for our sins nor any other creature, only human life had to be given for human life. While at the same time our Redeemer had to be in the position or have the means by which He could purchase us, and being God in the flesh His blood was spotless and pure without sin. How glorious is our Saviour!!!

The Power of Jesus Christ

God is undeniably all-powerful, while Jesus always acknowledged that his power was received from God, not inherently his own (ie. John 7:16, 8:28, 12:49–50, 14:28). He said this about his teaching as well, in many places. Why would he say this if he and God were the one and same? In addition, when the disciples requested to sit at his right hand and at his left, he said that this was not his to give, but the Fathers’ to decide (Matt. 20:23). The usual response to this is that the different persons of God have different domains of authority; but there you would venture out onto thin ice indeed, as it is very difficult to be One, yet have multiple and distinct personhoods, with distinct levels of authority. — Christadelphians

Another mistake the Christadelphians argue is that Jesus acknowledged His power being received from God. This is where the Humanity of Christ is displayed in its splendour. The apostle Paul when addressing the saints at Philippi brought the human nature of Christ to their remembrance.

Cults like the Christadelphians always overlook the book of Philippians and this wonderful passage of scripture which speaks of His Humanity and Divine nature; fully God and fully man.

Philippians 2:5–8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

APOSTLE JOHN’S (4) REASONS WHY HE WROTE THIS EPISTLE 2

He (Jesus) is equal to the Father but even though He humbled himself and took the form of a servant made in the likeness of men and was obedient unto the death of the cross. God came off His throne stepped into His own creation that He might take the punishment we deserve because of our sins. He paid the ultimate price for us that we could be set free from sin and death. The prophet Isaiah also made mention of this redemptive act.

Isaiah 53:3–7 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

God Is By Nature Invisible

God is by nature invisible and never seen (Jn. 1:18, I Tim. 6:16, I Jn. 4:12); Jesus was of course seen. To say that God was never seen, and then to continue that Jesus is God just doesn’t make sense. The idea that Jesus is God isn’t a mystery or some profound biblical truth too deep to understand — it just doesn’t make sense. — Christadelphians

At least the Christadelphians are saying they don’t understand and that’s ok but just because you cannot understand something doesn’t make it not true. When the Bible speaks of God not being seen that’s speaking of the Father. Moses asked to see God and was told He would die.

Exodus 33:20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

It makes perfect sense that when the scriptures speak of Jacob wrestling with God, Isaiah being undone when seeing Christ in His glory, and John in Revelation falling at His feet as dead. The power and majesty and Holiness of God because He’s so pure reveals our sin in us, how unclean we are.

Genesis 32:30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

Isaiah 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

Revelation 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

This cannot go without saying that the apostle Thomas said speaking of the risen Christ.

John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

God the Lord Jesus Christ was standing in the midst of them, we have a personal God one who’s interested in His creation and loves us so very much!

God the Father

In the Bible, God = the Father, and no other. See Rom. 1:7, Col.3:17, I Thes. 1:1, II Tim 1:2 and many more (for example, the introductory words of almost all Paul’s letters). The appelations “the Father” and “Jesus” are never used interchangeably in the Bible. — Christadelphians

They miss the fact that the Son shares the same divine nature of the Father, just as the Holy Spirit shares the same divine nature as well. As Christians, we never believed that the Father is the Son are the same Persons in the Godhead; we believe in 1 God who has revealed Himself in 3 distinct persons who all share the same divine attributes.

On a number of occasions, Jesus is associated with God in an equal manner. For example, in baptism, He’s put Jesus on an equal level with God the Father. This is also true of the apostolic benediction.

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

As we also know that a name also bares authority, when a police officer says stop in the name of the law he’s coming in the authority of the law. It’s why the Pharisees asked the apostles Peter and John the question:

Acts 4:7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

Notice the Pharisees asked by what power or name they associated a name with authority, this is why later in the scriptures it says:

Philippians 2:10–11 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Notice 1 Timothy 3:16 says “God was manifest in the flesh”, God came in the form of a man. How can the Christadelphians deny such truth? It’s because they’re a cult and that’s what cults do.

As we can plainly see that the Christadelphians are not Christians, a cult is a group which would claim to be Christian but deviates from one or more foundational doctrines from God’s word. There are many more erroneous teachings the Christadelphians believe which are heretical. They share the same views as Arius of Alexandria which was deemed heretical by the early church fathers.

Arius of Alexandria was cast out of the church as a heretic during the council of Nicea in the early fourth century AD. One of the earliest and probably the most important item of debate among early Christians was the subject of Christ’s deity. Was Jesus truly God in the flesh, or was Jesus a created being? Was Jesus God or not? Arius denied the deity of the Son of God, holding that Jesus was created by God as the first act of creation and that the nature of Christ was anomoios (“unlike”) that of God the Father. Arianism, then, is the view that Jesus is a finite created being with some divine attributes, but He is not eternal and not divine in and of Himself.

We still are seeing the effects of Arianism in the likes of Christadelphians, Jehovah Witnesses, Islam and Mormonism. Just like the early Christians then we as Christians today must stand up against this heretical teaching. The epistle of Jude puts it this way.

Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

If you’re part of the Christadelphians this is to show you the errors you’re holding onto, our hope and prayer would be that you would come to know the real Lord Jesus Christ of the Bible and not the false Jesus you currently believe in. If you have the right Jesus you’ll be right for all eternity, but if you have the wrong Jesus you’ll be wrong for all eternity.

Vast Apostate Army friend or foe of the Gospel?

April 21, 2019

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2 Timothy 4:14–15 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

Introduction

First and foremost I don’t agree with the Watchtower/Jehovah Witnesses in what they teach, the Watchtower organization is a cult and has deceived indoctrinating many people into false doctrine about who Jesus Christ is and many other things the Bible teaches. While I agree with the Vast Apostate Army that the Watchtower is a destructive cult. There are other things I disagree with in this movement.

The Vast Apostate Army’s mission?

They’re a wide collection of people from different country’s who’ve banded together through similar experiences they had from at one time being members of the Jehovah Witnesses also known as Watchtower. Most of them were either born into a family of Jehovah Witnesses or became members of the organization. And now we have a bunch of unconverted people confronting JW’s with fleshly messages, a message devoid of the only one who matters Jesus Christ.

Our mission is to raise global awareness of the harm some of the Jehovah’s Witness/Watchtower’s policies can to to individuals, families, and the wider community. It is our hope that this awareness will lead to policy reform within the organization to better protect it’s members as well as members of the general public. We also aim to reach survivors of abuse within the organization who very likely think they are alone and the mishandling of their specific case was just a one off. You are not alone! There are thousands more and there is support. Lastly, many of us still have loved ones inside the organization and wish to free them from the mental grip of a high control group (cult). We fight for justice, reform, and healing. — Vast Apostate Army

If you visit their site you’ll see “Welcome To The Vast Apostate Army An Army Of Love” in bold green letters, let us test this claim of “love”. As Christians, we know theirs only one true love which is the love of God. God has shown His unending eternal love when He gave His Son the Lord Jesus Christ to die for the sins of the world, and as a result, we share the Gospel with others so that they could also know this love.

Satan also counterfeits a false “love”, the type of “love” the world receives. This false love affirms mottos such as “love is love” a saying popular among the LGBT community. A fleshly love which agrees with sex outside of the marriage covenant. A love which proclaims “tolerance” to all just not when you mention the word of God. Therefore, if the Vast Apostate Army says they’re an army of love which love are they referring too?

I’ll be fine thanks

The movement’s strategy is typically visiting kingdom halls and disrupting their services by attending and during the service inciting a sort of flash mob, or picketing these locations. They normally will draw up signs with statements such as “I mourn for the suicide victims in the Watchtower”, “you can leave there is support”, “protect your kids for the Watchtower” etc. There’s nothing wrong with these messages, I agree we should protect our children for such people as the Watchtower.

I came across a few of these VAA members YouTube channels and never do I see any of them sharing the Gospel with Jehovah Witnesses. If they want the Watchtower to be done away with which I do as well. The only way is to share the Gospel, that they can have forgiveness of sins by placing their trust in the ransom sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. All individuals who got saved left the Watchtower and are no longer Jehovah Witnesses.

The members of the VAA will typically have a message of how their family was destroyed, how a person was abused, shunned and disfellowshipped. Using their personal experiences when they were involved with this cult should be used but not the main message. There’s power in the Gospel of Christ!

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Six months ago I came across one of Stacey’s YouTube video’s in which she confronts two elders at a university campus, afterwards, I made a few comments stating that she must be born again. Here’s what transpired.

“This is actually not good “unwitnessing” or whatever you want to call it. I fully agree that the JW cult are seriously wrong in all their doctrine, how they conduct themselves, shun anyone who’s not a JW’s, sex abuse etc. But more importantly above all of that they deny the Lord Jesus Christ as God in the flesh and need salvation. I say this to you with love, you need to be saved, you need eternal life just as much as those JW’s. JW’s need to hear the gospel and be saved, sure use those facts you have also in order to reach them but they need to hear the gospel.”

I also quoted 1 Corinthians 15:3–15:4. “You need to approach them in a loving way, we’ve all been lost just like they are, I too was completely lost and dead in my sins but the Lord saved me and now I’m born again. Are you saved? Because the Lord Jesus said:”

Then I quoted John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:7 “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”

“If you believe in God then you’ll have no problem loving your enemies only a born again Christian can love/pray their enemies though a heart of love. The scriptures saith:” (Matthew 5:43–5:46) I then ended my comment saying “Keep on speaking to JW’s they need to know how wrong the Watchtower is, but I’ll keep you in my prayers that you become born again and escape the wrath of God, you don’t need to miss heaven and go to hell. I would hate for that to happen to you. I pray you have ears to hear and harken unto these words.”

Stacey’s response was this “I’ll be fine thanks”. “It is literally none of your concern if we’re “saved” or not according to your personal beliefs. Aren’t you done with pushing your beliefs on others after having freed yourself from a high control group? Be happy with your faith and let others be happy with theirs or lack there of. Thanks.”

More recently in a video Parker and Stacey “crashed” a JW memorial and were kicked out while they were leaving the building Parker said “in Jesus name Amen” I found this strange because Stacey doesn’t want to discuss anything about Jesus Christ but here they are using His name? I decided to reach out once again this time to Parker. I said:

“I asked Stacey sometime ago if she was saved and she said no thanks. I heard you say “in Jesus name Amen”? It’s horrible that the Watchtower had a huge negative impact on your family. It’s great that you’re standing up against the false doctrines of the Watchtower, I myself do the same, but the question is are you saved? Additionally, saying the Watchtower ruined my family shouldn’t be your main message, the Gospel is what should be shared with JW’s and all who are not saved. Would appreciate a response to the question are you saved? Thanks.”

To my surprise Stacey responded not Parker saying:

“let me put your mind at ease. I’m not interested in your relihion where you think a person needs saving or we are lost and doomed to burn in hell. So no thanks to ever being “saved” by YOUR personal “savior”. I don’t need it. I also don’t need your Jesus. 😉”.

What does this mean for us Christians?

Not only do we face the real threat of cults indoctrinating many people leading them to a lost eternity in hell, but we also face movements such as Vast Apostate Army who are making it harder for Christians to spread the Gospel of peace to the lost. We have an army of lost people going into kingdom halls and approaching JW carts to do “unwitnessing” while at the same time making it more difficult for us to reach these lost souls with the truth of the Gospel.openair

Satan will use anything to try to stop the Gospel message from going forth the scriptures say that he comes as an angel of light. The devil will also use movements such as VAA in order to make it more difficult to reach people with God’s truth.

2 Corinthians 11:13–14 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

My hope is that all the members of Vast Apostate Army would be born again they all of them would go out in the power of the Holy Spirit in order to rise up against the Watchtower. Until they wake up and see that it’s the power of God that changes a person they won’t see the true potential through God’s mighty hand. He alone can overcome the multi-million dollar cult organization known as the Watchtower.

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Christ Divides

April 4, 2019

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1 Corinthians 15:3–4 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

In the name of tolerance

We live in a world which claims “tolerance for all” unless you preach the Gospel, how that Christ died for the ungodly; how the Lord Jesus loved us so much He sacrificed Himself on the cross so we can have eternal life when we place our trust in Him. The Gospel is confrontational against sin but it’s a message of love.

How can a loving message such as that cause others to say Christians are preaching “hate”? Because we love you and want to warn you to flee from the wrath to come, is that hate? Are you being “tolerant” towards Christians when we speak God’s word or “intolerant”? There seems to be a double standard unless we agree with sin, homosexuality, fornication, lying, stealing etc. Then you won’t “tolerate” us.

As Christians we’re not “tolerant” when it comes to sin, we never said we were. We love all people but just because we love you doesn’t mean we agree to your sin. On the other hand secularist claim “tolerance” but they won’t tolerate the Gospel.

In the name of tolerance

Things are not so much different from 2000 years ago when Jesus Christ stood before the people of Jerusalem. As the Lord Jesus preached and taught in the temple He was approached by the religious Pharisees and Sadducees who wanted to maintain control over the people and therefore sought a reason to have Him killed. These two parties collectively made up the Sanhedrin and they were a ruling body of seventy-one members with the High Priest as the chief officer.

Then we have the Herodians who wanted to restore someone from the family of Herod to the throne in Judea as well as other areas ruled by Herod the Great. The Herodians were the political leaders of those days.

And we also had those who were devoted to studying the scriptures called scribes, the scribes were the ones who drew up legal documents. They also copied the Old Testament Scripture and determined how they would apply to every day living.

The Lord Jesus dealt with each one of these groups as they opposed Him as He preached to the people in the Synagogue or towns. As they would look to entrap Him in anything concerning the scriptures. The religious parties were those who were self-righteous they considered themselves to be “good persons”. Jesus Christ was telling them they’re not good because they have all sinned and are trying to keep others from receiving forgiveness for their sins from God.

There was a division among the people because of him

In the Gospel of John, there are 3 different times in which the word “division” was used in reference to their reaction to Christ. The religious authorities felt threatened, but not only them the people (Jews) also were at odds with Jesus Christ and among themselves.

John 7:43 So there was a division among the people because of him.

John 9:16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

John 10:19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.

There’s another account in the Gospel of Matthew when the Pharisees had sent people to falsely testify again Jesus always looking to entrap Him. The Lord Jesus was either hated or loved, there weren’t any individuals who were indifferent towards Him. You will always find two types of people believers or unbelievers. The following scripture from chapter 27 in Matthew shows the hatred towards the Son of God. But not only that it also shows someone who was trying to “ride the fence” sort of speak.

Pontius Pilate was the prefect of Judea from A.D. 26 to A.D. 36. Although Pilate’s residence was in Caesarea he was in Jerusalem for the time of the Passover. Pilate was a man under the rule of Augustus Caesar. The Jews being under Roman rule were afraid of losing their way of life to the Romans and feared that they would be destroyed. They brought Jesus to Pilate with the accusation of causing an uproar among the people and against Caesar.

When Pontius Pilate asked “Shall I crucify your King?” in reference to Jesus Christ, the Jews answered, “We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:15). Reading the following text we see the entire scene played out as Pontius Pilate tries to release Jesus and excuse himself from taking part in delivering up the Son of God to be crucified.

Matthew 27:1–24 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me. And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

All of the attempts of Pilate didn’t work. Jesus made no defence before Pilate Pilate marvelled that Jesus did not attempt to defend Himself. Pilate admitted Jesus was innocent and told the crowd that Jesus was innocent. Pilate attempted to release Jesus. Pilate denied responsibility in the Lord Jesus’s death and tried to put the responsibility on the Jews. Pilate tried to wash his hands of the matter and delivered Him up to be crucified. Pilate had the chance to set Him free but he was afraid of Caesar and wanted to please the people.

Is the world any different today?

Today’s Christians face the same challenges just with different names attached. Instead of the self-righteous religous Pharisees and Sadducees, we now have world religions like Judaism, Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and cults (Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons).

Instead of the political Herodians, we have politicians who create ungodly rules such as “free speech zones”, “noise level laws” and other mandates which tries to prevent the Gospel from going forth. Instead of the scribes, we have citizens who try to prevent the good news from being preached as they bring their secular views or mock and scoff. Nothing really has changed, either you’re for Christ or against Him. Either your for God or an enemy of God.

As an encouragement continue to preach the word no matter what opposition you come up against. God is worth it all! I’ll end this with 2 appropriate scriptures from Moses and Joshua.

Exodus 32:26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Christ divides, which side are you on?

Refuting the false doctrine of the Watchtower (The Resurrection)

March 29, 2019

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The death, burial and Resurrection

Jehovah Witnesses say that when Jesus was buried in the sepulchre (tomb) He was not raised with a physical body but a spiritual body; afterwards Jesus was then recreated in heaven as Michael the archangel. Here are some direct quotes from the Watchtower organization.

“Jesus’ own words showed that he would not be resurrected with his flesh-and-blood body. He said that he would give his “flesh in behalf of the life of the world,” as a ransom for mankind. If he had taken back his flesh when he was resurrected, he would have canceled that ransom sacrifice. This could not have happened, though, for the Bible says that he sacrificed his flesh and blood “once for all time.” — Watchtower

“Spirit creatures can take on human form. For example, angels who did this in the past even ate and drank with humans. However, they still were spirit creatures and could leave the physical realm.” — Watchtower

“After his resurrection, Jesus also assumed human form temporarily, just as angels had previously done. As a spirit creature, though, he was able to appear and disappear suddenly. The fleshly bodies that he materialized were not identical from one appearance to the next. Thus, even Jesus’ close friends recognized him only by what he said or did.​”— Watchtower

When Jesus appeared to the apostle Thomas, he took on a body with wound marks. He did this to bolster Thomas’ faith, since Thomas doubted that Jesus had been raised up. — Watchtower

Let’s examine what the Bible actually says about the resurrection of Jesus Christ was He risen in a spiritual form; or was He risen physically from the dead?

The Gospel of John

Jehovah Witnesses say that only Jehovah God (the Father) raised up Jesus Christ, no one else took part in raising Him from the dead. There’s a contradiction with the teachings of the Watchtower because the Lord Jesus said He would raise Himself up from the dead in the Gospel of John.

John 2:18–22 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. (John 10:18)

The context of the above scripture speaks of when the Lord Jesus was confronted by the Pharisees in the temple after Jesus Christ chased the money changers out of the temple, overthrowing their tables. The Pharisees asked Him what sign can you show us that you have the authority to do this. Jesus answers them saying “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up”.

The Pharisees thought Jesus was referring to the actual temple but He was actually speaking of His physical body. Notice He said “I will raise it up” He didn’t mention the Father or the Holy Spirit even though they also raised Him from the dead.

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The Gospel of Luke

The next false teaching of Jehovah Witnesses is that when Jesus Christ was seen He was a spirit and was not physically risen from the dead. We have an account from the Gospel of Luke in chapter 24 known as the road to Emmaus. In this account, some disciples were on their way to a village called Emmaus and encountered the risen Christ.

The Lord Jesus appeared unto one of the disciples and Cleopas asking them why are they sad? And they not knowing it was Jesus told Him what happened in Jerusalem and how a prophet named Jesus was crucified (Luke 24:18–24). Afterwards, the Lord Jesus opened up the scriptures and explained everything to them starting from Moses, the prophets and Himself.

They asked Jesus to come into the village and stay the evening with them and while He sat and had a meal with them He blessed it, and brake, and gave them food. At this time their eyes were opened and realised who He was but He vanished out of their sight (Luke 24:28–31).

The two disciples then returned to Jerusalem and told the others and while they spake the Lord Jesus appeared again unto them and they were all afraid because they thought they seen a spirit. It’s at this moment Jesus Christ says something which is in direct opposition to the Watchtower He says.

Luke 24:39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones just as you see that I have.

Notice the disciples made a mistake and thought He was a spirit but the Lord Jesus Christ tells them to touch Him because a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones. He was physically there before them not as a spirit like the Watchtower would have Jehovah Witnesses to believe. Jesus Christ proved to them that He bodily rose from the dead defeating death and hell, and He showed them the nail prints in His hands and feet as proof.

But what about the last statement from the Watchtower as to Jesus Christ showing Thomas His wound marks as they say.

When Jesus appeared to the apostle Thomas, he took on a body with wound marks. He did this to bolster Thomas’ faith, since Thomas doubted that Jesus had been raised up. — Watchtower

If this were true that the Lord Jesus was a spirit body only after His resurrection as the Watchtower claims and showed Thomas His wounds making Thomas to believe He was a physical body when He was not would be saying that Jesus Christ was deceiving them. God forbid! The Lord Jesus Christ is sinless and therefore it would be impossible for Him to lie because He’s God in the flesh.

Father and Holy Spirit

Other scriptures proving the Father and Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead together are found in (Acts 2:32,33, Romans 6:4, Galatians 1:1, 1 Peter 3:18).

Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

If you’d like to learn more about the false teachings of the Watchtower and Jehovah Witnesses, here are two sites with more information.

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https://www.jwfacts.com/

 

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https://carm.org/jehovahs-witnesses

And if you’re one of Jehovah Witnesses our prayer is that you would look into the claims made by the Watchtower and test them according to God’s word the Bible and see for yourself. If you have the wrong Jesus Christ you’ll be wrong for all eternity lost in hell are you willing to allow a group of men called the governing body play with your eternal salvation?

Do you want everlasting life, would you like to know for certain that you can have all your sins forgiven and a home in heaven? The Bible answers this very question.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 8:31–32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.