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2 Peter 1:12


April 2002

Dear Readers,

“Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:2, 3) The Father’s love is amazing! I pray you will be blessed by a deeper look at His love. In February and March we had weekend seminars in Tennessee and Kentucky about the good news of the Father’s love. They went really well. If you would like a seminar in your area, please contact us and we will see if one can be arranged. Don’t forget about camp meeting. Plans are going forward for our summer camp meetings. There will be one in Cañon City, Colorado, from June 6-15, followed by one here in West Virginia from July 2-6. Further details will be provided in upcoming issues. Please contact us for more information.

In this Issue

Insights Into the Love of God

by Lynnford Beachy

Questions and Answers

by Lynnford Beachy

Letters from our Readers

Galatians 2:20

by Alonzo T. Jones

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Part 3)

by George McDaniel

 

 


Insights Into the Love of God

by Lynnford Beachy

The overwhelming central theme of the Bible, without question, is the wonderful love of God. The patriarchs spoke about it, the prophets prophesied of it, the apostles gained firsthand insights into it, and centered their gospels around it, Jesus lived it and used many parables to explain it. The love of God is the heart of the gospel—and it is what brings a sinner to repentance.

As we look at the Scriptures to gain insights into the love of God, there is one demonstration that stands out above all others. We see it expressed in the most well-known verse of the Bible—John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” There is deep, rich meaning in this verse that God is longing to impart to us. Oh what amazing love!—that the God of the universe, “the Most High,” who is “above all” loves me, a lowly sinner, so much that He gave His only begotten Son to die for me! The thought fills me with adoration and awe. It makes me realize that God loves me enough to give anything and everything, suffer any amount of pain and loss, to save me from the ruin I have chosen.

When Jesus said God “so loved the world,” He was saying, “This is how much God loves you. He loves you so much that He did something for you. This is how the Most High God demonstrated His love for you. He gave up His most precious possession, His only begotten Son.”

If God had loved the world so much that He gave a goat, you and I would seriously question God’s love for us, because a goat would be an almost meaningless gift for God to give up, because it is something He created. If God had loved the world so much that He gave a human, what would we think then? Well, that is a little better than a goat, but it is still a small gift, because humans were also created. What if God had loved the world so much that He gave an angel? That is a better gift than a human, but it still falls far short of demonstrating how much God loves us. You see, our understanding of God’s love depends upon the value of the gift He gave up for us. The more valuable the gift He gave, the more we can see His love for us.

God gave His only begotten Son for us. He has other sons, but He only has one begotten Son. Humans can be “sons of God” by adoption (Galatians 4:5), angels are “sons of God” by creation (Job 1:6; 2:1), but Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God. What sets Jesus Christ apart from everyone else in the universe, and by which we know God’s love for us, is the fact that He was begotten.

The Most High God knows, from firsthand experience, the most valuable possession a person can have. He knows that nothing is more valuable to a person than a child whom they love. This is precisely where God tested Abraham’s love and loyalty when He asked him to offer his beloved son, Isaac, for a sacrifice. Abraham’s willingness to obey God’s command proved that he loved God with all his heart. It proved that he would be willing to give up every possession he had for God.

The same thing is true with God. When He gave up His only begotten Son it proved that He is willing to give up every possession, suffer any amount of pain, and endure any hardship in order to save those whom He loves. This is what Paul meant when he wrote, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)

God truly loves us, yet this love can only be comprehended by understanding that God gave His only begotten Son. Therefore it is Satan’s determined goal to destroy, obliterate, and completely eliminate this truth from the minds of men. Satan knows that the only ones who will be able to overcome and endure unto the end, through the upcoming crisis of the mark of the beast, are those who believe that Jesus is the begotten Son of God. John wrote, “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:5)

Believing that Jesus is the begotten Son of God enables us to overcome the world by elevating our perception of God’s love and enabling us to love Him with all our hearts in return.

When God sent His only begotten Son into the world He took a tremendous risk. The Bible says, “The government shall be upon his shoulder.” (Isaiah 9:6) The success or failure of God’s government depended upon the the Son of God. If He failed, God’s government would fail. God had only one begotten Son, and His Son had only one chance to redeem mankind. The Son of God “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) The battle was fierce, but the Son of God was “obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:8) He “was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (Hebrews 2:9)

The two greatest truths of the Bible, that reveal, above all else, the wonderful love of God, are the facts that God has an only begotten Son, and that He gave His Son to die for our sins. The Sonship and the death of Christ are the most important truths of the Bible, because only through these truths can we understand God’s love for us, thereby bringing us to repentance.

This is the everlasting gospel that is to be preached to all the world before Christ will come the second time. Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:14) John prophesied of this when he wrote, “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” (Revelation 14:6) This gospel is preached for a purpose. It is to prepare a people to stand during the most fearful struggle that has ever come upon man. This gospel prepares people to fear God and keep His commandments amid the most trying circumstances. When this gospel does its work in the lives of God’s people, God will triumphantly proclaim, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12)

I want to be one of those faithful ones over whom God will be delighted to make this declaration. The everlasting gospel of God’s love will have to be accepted by, and allowed to do its work in, me before this can take place. God’s overwhelming love can be understood and appreciated only when we comprehend the grand truths in the words “only begotten Son” and “the death of the cross.”

These are not hard concepts to grasp. God has made them plain. We can understand them if we will just accept them without being hindered by the confusing theories of men.

Several years ago I was very confused about the love of God. I thought that God did not love me very much and therefore I didn’t want anything to do with Him. I was caught up in the world, addicted to drugs and ignorant of God and His love for me. One day God was able to break down the barriers between us and reach me with His love. I began to see that God really does love me, and I finally had a desire to give my life to Him. I read John 3:16 where it says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The thought was overwhelming! I knew now that God really loves me. I did not have to go to college, or be trained by a theologian, to understand the simple truth expressed in that verse. The thought that came to me was that there is a God in heaven who has a literal Son who was begotten by Him, and that He sent that Son into this world to completely die for my sins so that I could have eternal life. I am sure I am not the first, nor the last, to have come to this conclusion from John 3:16. Was I wrong in my thinking? Is that really what took place? If not, why did Jesus say it that way? When speaking of heavenly things, Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2) If Jesus was not literally the Son of God, He would have told us.

The facts that Christ is the Son of God and that He died for our sins are the great truths that melt a sinner’s heart and bring him to repentance. Nearly all Christian converts are told that God loves them so much that He sent His Son to die for them. When they are told these things they understand them literally, and their hearts are broken when they behold this amazing love. I know this from experience. Sadly, too often, after they come into the church and are well grounded, they are told that really Jesus is not the literal Son of God, but the second person of the trinity, and that He didn’t really die, because God cannot die. The result of these falsehoods is that the motivating power that began the Christian’s experience is taken away, and they are left with a form of godliness without the power to overcome sin. (2 Timothy 3:5) They become “of all men most miserable.” (1 Corinthians 15:19)

The more I read the Bible, the more it confirmed to me that I was right in my conclusion. John wrote, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” (1 John 4:9) This confirms the fact that God has a Son who was begotten long before God sent Him into the world. Jesus said, “I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.” (John 8:42) Again, this confirmed to me that Christ was begotten by God before He sent Him into the world. Jesus also said, “For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.” (John 16:27, 28) According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, the Greek word exhlqon which was translated “came out” can mean: “to come forth from physically, arise from, to be born of,” and the Greek word elhluqa which was translated “come” can mean: “to come from one place to another.” From the two Greek words that were used, it seems that Jesus was speaking of two separate events. Long ago He came out from God—came forth from the Father, then, much later, He came into the world.

Jesus prayed to His Father, “For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.” (John 17:8) Christ came forth from the Father long before the Father sent Him into the world. When Christ was on trial Pilate asked Him, “Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” (John 18:37) He was born long ago, and then, much later, He came into the world.

In the first chapter of the book of Hebrews we find a moving collection of Bible proofs that Christ is so much better than the angels. Here we read, “For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.” (Hebrews 1:5, 6) The Father says that there was a day when His Son was begotten of Him, and He sent the firstbegotten into the world. This demonstrates that Christ was begotten long before God sent Him into the world. Paul wrote that Christ “is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.” (Colossians 1:15) Of all things that were ever born, Christ was the first one to be born, and the only one who was born in the express image of His Father.

The Bible says, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” (Hebrews 1:1-4)

The Bible is full of clear statements that Christ is the Son of God, and it even has many statements proclaiming the fact that He was begotten long before coming to this world, thus making Christ the literal Son of God.

The Old Testament affirms the wonderful truth that Christ is in reality the Son of God; brought forth from the Father. In the first verse of Proverbs 8 it says that wisdom is speaking. Who is wisdom? Verse 8 tells us that He has a mouth, and speaks. Paul wrote, “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:24) “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1:30) Christ is Wisdom, and is speaking in Proverbs chapter 8.

He says, “When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth.” (Proverbs 8:24, 25) Also, let us look at this verse in The 1965 Bible in Basic English. It says, “When there was no deep I was given birth, when there were no fountains flowing with water. Before the mountains were put in their places, before the hills was my birth.”

The Hebrew word ytllwx which was translated “I was brought forth” is a verb. Hebrew verbs can be found in many different forms. In the Old Testament, this particular verb was used in six different forms. They are Qal, Polel, Pulal, Hophal, Hithpolel, and Hithpalpel. Depending upon what form is used for this verb, the meaning of the word can be completely changed. For example, when this Hebrew verb ytllwx is used in the Qal form it means “to dance, to twist, to writhe, to whirl, to whirl about.” (Brown-Driver-Brigg’s Hebrew Lexicon) It is obvious from the context that this definition would not apply in Proverbs 8:24, 25, and it could not apply because the Hebrew word ytllwx is used, in these verses, in the Pulal form: the definition for the Pulal form is the only definition that can apply here. This definition is as follows: “to be made to writhe, be made to bear, to be brought forth.” (Brown-Driver-Brigg’s Hebrew Lexicon) This verb in this form is only used three places in the Bible, and here are the other two places where it is used.

“Art thou the first man that was born? or wast thou made [Hebrew: ytllwx in the Pulal form] before the hills?” (Job 15:7) “Behold, I was shapen [Hebrew: ytllwx in the Pulal form] in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51:5) As you can plainly see, the term “brought forth” in Proverbs 8:24, 25 can mean nothing other than being begotten, or born.

Let us continue on with the rest of the verses in Proverbs chapter eight, and learn more about the characteristics of Wisdom.

“While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When He prepared the heavens, I was there: when He set a compass upon the face of the depth: When He established the clouds above: when He strengthened the fountains of the deep: When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment: when He appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.” (Proverbs 8:26-36)

The terms Father and Son, by definition, indicate the existence of one before the other. This was the understanding of the Israelites. In the book of Proverbs we read: “Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in His fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is His name, and what is His son’s name, if thou canst tell?” (Proverbs 30:4)

The Bible refers to Christ as God’s Son at least 120 times. The Bible does this by using the phrase “Son of God” 47 times. Regarding the genuineness of Christ’s sonship He is called “the only begotten” five times, “the firstborn” three times, “the firstbegotten” once, God’s “holy child” twice. Four verses say He was “begotten” prior to His incarnation. Four verses say that He ‘proceeded forth from,” “came out from” or “camest forth from” the Father. The evidence on this subject is overwhelming. Christ truly is the literal begotten Son of God, brought forth from the Father before all creation. If God expected us to believe anything different He did a poor job of presenting it in the Bible. In fact, if God had wanted us to believe differently, He purposely confused us by making so many clear statements indicating that Christ is literally the begotten Son of God. Yet, “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.” (1 Corinthians 14:33)

The Rock

The fact that Jesus is the Son of God is so important that Jesus said He would build His church upon this truth. One day Jesus asked His disciples, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:13-18)

Notice that the subject of this conversation was who Jesus is. When Jesus said, “upon this rock I will build my church” He wasn’t referring to Peter as the rock, but to the truth that Jesus is the Son of God. Upon this truth, Jesus said, “I will build my church.” This is obviously a very important truth, the truth upon which God’s church is built.

The fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God is so important that at the close of John’s gospel he wrote, “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:30)

The disciples who lived with Jesus and heard His messages firsthand, including the many things He said that are not recorded, exclaimed, “we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” (John 6:69) They also exclaimed, “we believe that thou camest forth from God.” (John 16:30)

Right after Paul learned the gospel directly from Christ Himself, “straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.” (Acts 9:20)

Right after Phillip preached the gospel to the eunuch, “Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest [be baptized]. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” (Acts 8:37)

Martha, a close friend of Jesus, who heard many of His teachings, said to Him, “I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” (John 11:27)

Nathaniel, of whom Christ said, In him “is no guile,” said to Jesus, “Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.” (John 1:47, 49)

Christ said, “Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist.” (Luke 7:28) John the Baptist testified, “And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:34)

Of all the witnesses, the greatest is God the Father Himself. Two times He spoke from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son.” (Matthew 3:17; 17:5) And we know that God “cannot lie.” (Titus 1:2)

I am persuaded to take my stand with the faithful witnesses in the Bible who all proclaimed that Jesus Christ is truly the Son of God.

The Key to Overcoming the World

As mentioned earlier, understanding this truth is the key to understanding and appreciating God’s love for us, because God gave no greater manifestation of His love than giving His only begotten Son to die for our sins. If we ever expect to love God with all our hearts, all our souls, all our strength, and all our minds, we must believe that Jesus is truly the Son of God. John claimed that this is the key to overcoming this world. He wrote, “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:5) There is something about believing that Jesus is the Son of God that enables us to overcome the world. Any deviation on this point is a deviation from our ability to overcome the world, because without this belief we can never understand the love of God enough to cause us to love God with all our hearts. “We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

Do you think Satan knows that if we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God we have the key to overcome the world? He certainly does! Do you think that Satan would try to confuse people on this issue? Certainly! Satan knows that if he can confuse people regarding the truth about Christ being the Son of God, then he will maintain some control in their lives. Therefore he has sought, and is seeking, to destroy this truth from this world.

In 325 A.D., about 300 years after Christ died, Satan convinced a group of men to assemble in a town called Nicea, to discuss whether Christ was literally begotten or not. [“The Arian controversy was chiefly waged over the question of the eternal generation of the Son,” or in other words, the meaning of the term begotten Son. (The Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers Second Series, Volume 9, Chapter 2, Introduction to St. Hilary of Poitiers)] The government forced the conclusion that Christ was not literally begotten before He came to this world, and the new idea that Christ is the same age as His Father arose upon the pages of Christian history. After the counsel, one man who attended wrote, “We have never heard, my Lord, of two beings unbegotten… but that there is one unbegotten, and another truly from Him.” (Letter written by Eusebius of Nicomedia—A Historical View of the Council of Nice, by Isaac Boyle, page 41) For a more thorough study on this counsel please contact us and request the booklet entitled, “The Formulation of the Doctrine of the Trinity.”

Satan is so dedicated to eradicating the wonderful truth that God really gave up His only begotten Son that he has convinced the translators of most of the new translations, including the NIV, RSV, NASB (1995 Edition), NLT, etc., to delete the word begotten from John 3:16. Check it out for yourselves!

My friends, God really means what He says. He says that He gave His only begotten Son, and that is exactly what He gave for us. Think about it! If Jesus Christ was not the begotten Son of God before God sent Him into the world, then what did the Most High God give up? The conclusion of the Council of Nicea, and which nearly all Christians believe today, is that Jesus Christ is an exactly equal, same-aged companion of the Father. If this were true, then all that the Father gave up was a friend; a companion. If this were true, then the one who loves us the most is Christ, because He is the one who willingly died for us. And the Father is selfish because He sent a friend to die instead of coming Himself.

But this is not true. God the Father suffered tremendously when His Son was suffering under the weight of the sins of this world. In Abraham and Isaac’s story it was obviously the father, Abraham, who suffered more than Isaac when he was asked to give up his beloved son. Jesus said, “the Father himself loveth you.” (John 16:27) John wrote, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us.” (1 John 3:1) We cannot behold the love of the Father if we do not know what He gave up for us. John wrote, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” (1 John 4:9) God the Father has an only begotten Son whom He willingly gave up so that you could be forgiven of your sins and live for eternity. Praise God for such wonderful love!

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Questions and Answers

by Lynnford Beachy

Question:

“Could you please do a study on Exodus chapter 33 on who led the children of Israel into the land of Canaan?”

Tennessee

Answer:

This is a very good question. In verse 9 of this chapter we read, “And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.” (Exodus 33:9) Here we read that the LORD talked with Moses out of the cloudy pillar. Let us notice some other verses in the Bible that help us to understand who was in that cloud.

In Exodus chapter 13 we read, “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night.” (Exodus 13:21) Yet, in the next chapter it says, “And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them.” (Exodus 14:19) In one verse it says that “the LORD went before them” and in the other verse it says “the angel of God… went before” them.

This seeming contradiction is clarified in the following verses: God said, “Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.” (Exodus 23:20-23) Here we can see that God is speaking of sending His Angel before the Israelites to lead them, and that God’s name is in Him. This must be referring to the Son of God. The term “the angel of the LORD” refers to Christ in Exodus 3:2 and other texts. Please be aware that when the word “angel” is applied to Christ it is not used to describe His nature, for in that respect He is “so much better than the angels.” (Hebrews 1:4) When the word “angel” is applied to Christ it used in the sense of Him being God’s “messenger” as in Malachi 3:1 rather than a description of His physical makeup.

Additional evidence that “the angel of the Lord” who led the children of Israel in the wilderness is not a mere angel is the fact that He received worship. “And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.” (Exodus 33:10) Literal angels refuse to receive worship. (Revelation 19:10)

The fact that Moses was able to see His face proves that the One in the pillar of fire was Christ rather than His Father, for “no man hath seen, nor can see” the Father. (1 Timothy 6:16) Yet, the One who was in the cloud “spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.” (Exodus 33:11) Moses said the Egyptians had “heard that thou LORD art among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.” (Numbers 14:14) At times in the Old Testament, Christ is referred to as “LORD,” (Yahweh, or Jehovah) which is the sacred name of God. This name, Christ “obtained” from His Father “by inheritance.” (Hebrews 1:4)

From all that we have seen, it is evident that Christ, the Son of God, led the children of Israel into the land of Canaan. The apostle Paul confirmed this conclusion when he wrote, “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat;And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10:1-4)

I hope this helps to answer your question.

Question:

“Is 1 John 5:20 saying that Jesus Christ is the true God? How do you explain this?

Tennessee

Answer:

The verse says, “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20)

The term “true God” is used three times in the New Testament. It would help us to examine the other two uses in order to get a better understanding.

Paul wrote, “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1:9, 10) In this verse it is obvious that the term “true God” is applied to the Father alone. Let us read the remaining verse on this point.

“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:… And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:1, 3)

This text throws the most light on the subject, because it puts a limitation on the term “true God.” According to Jesus there is only one “true God,” the One He referred to as “Father.” This means that Christ could not be referred to as “the true God,” and if He were it would contradict Christ’s own words recorded by John. Since John is the author of the other text in question it is very unlikely he would have directly contradicted what he wrote earlier.

Furthermore, the Greek word alhqinoV that was translated true “contrasts realities with their semblances.” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) The same Greek word is used in Hebrews 8:2, shedding light on this subject. The writer of Hebrews contrasted the sanctuary on earth, which Moses was commanded to build, with the sanctuary in heaven by using the Greek word alhqinoV. Of Christ, he wrote, “A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” (Hebrews 8:2) The tabernacle on earth was not a false tabernacle, nor was it the original—it was a likeness of the original in heaven spoken of in the book of Revelation and elsewhere. The original tabernacle is distinguished from its likeness by using the word “true.”

With this understanding in mind we realize that Christ is not the original or “true” God—He is “the image of God,” “the image of the invisible God,” “the express image of his person.” (2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3) An image is never the original, but always a likeness or duplication of the original. Christ is the Son of God, and therefore the express image of His Father. It would be incorrect to say that the Father is the image of His Son, because the Father is the original. In like manner it would be incorrect to refer to Christ as the true or original God, since He is the image of the true God.

As we go back to 1 John 5:20 we find that God the Father is the subject of the verse. John says Jesus came to give “us an understanding, that we may know him that is true,” then he says, “This is the true God, and eternal life.” This concept is the same concept brought out in John 17:3. Jesus said, “this is life eternal, that they might knowthe only true God, and Jesus Christ…” (John 17:3)

The Greek grammar of 1 John 5:20 could make the term “true God” apply to either the Father or the Son and, based upon the testimony of Scripture, it must refer to the Father alone. Notice what Robertson has to say about this verse: “Grammatically outoV may refer to Jesus Christ or to ‘the True One.’ It is a bit tautological to refer it to God, but that is probably correct, God in Christ, at any rate.” (Robertson’s New Testament Word Pictures on 1 John 5:20)

There are verses in the Bible that refer to Christ as “God,” but this is not one of them. (See John 1:1; Hebrews 1:8, etc.)

I hope this helps to answer your question.

Question:

“I wonder how you would explain 1 John 4:2, 3.”

Tennessee

Answer:

I am glad you brought that up. The verses read, “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” (1 John 4:2, 3) According to John, the spirit of antichrist denies that Christ is come in the flesh. John also wrote, “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father.” (1 John 2:22, 23) John said that the antichrist denies the Father and the Son and, from verse 23, we learn John was particularly focusing on the denial of the Son, which automatically denies the Father. The denial of the sonship of Christ goes hand in hand with the denial that He came in the flesh. These are the chief manifestations of the spirit of antichrist, according to the Scriptures.

It is quite interesting to note that when we look at history we find that the sonship of Christ was questioned at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD, and shortly thereafter the nature of Christ while He was a man came under question. Please notice: “The Arian controversy was chiefly waged over the question of the eternal generation of the Son,” or in other words, the meaning of the term begotten Son. (The Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers Second Series, Volume 9, Chapter 2, Introduction to St. Hilary of Poitiers)

“The Trinity and Christology, the two hardest problems and most comprehensive dogmas of theology, are intimately connected. Hence the settlement of the one was immediately followed by the agitation and study of the other. The speculations on the Trinity had their very origin in the study of the person of Christ, and led back to it again. The point of union is the idea of the incarnation of God. But in the Arian controversy the Son of God was viewed mainly in his essential, pre-mundane relation to the Father; while in the Christological contest the incarnate historical Christ and the constitution of his divine-human person was the subject of dispute… And now came into question, further, the relation between the divine and the human natures in Christ.” (Phillip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Volume 3, pages 705-706)

In other words, the early Catholic theologians concluded that their denial of the literal sonship of Christ must logically be followed by a modified interpretation of what it means that Christ came in the flesh. These are the two theological signs of antichrist recorded in the Bible.

The primary conclusion the early Catholic theologians came to was that Christ, if He is an integral portion of the Most High God, then under no circumstances could He be separated from God or lose any of the abilities of God. Therefore, they concluded that while Christ was a man He was all powerful and all knowing, and could not completely die. This idea is still maintained by the large majority of Christian churches today.

Notice what one author said on this subject: “…though there are problems stemming from certain Scriptural statements concerning the human nature of Christ, there is considerable evidence that Christ retained omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence even while on earth.” (John F. Walvoord, Bibliotheca Sacra, Volume 118, No. 470, April 1961, page 102) I found this statement interesting because the writer candidly admits that this idea cannot be harmonized with all the Scriptures in the Bible. In fact, it cannot be found in the Bible at all. The “considerable evidence” he supposes proves this idea could be used just as convincingly regarding Peter, Paul, or many other Bible figures who performed miracles just as astounding as Christ’s.

One aspect of denying that Christ is come in the flesh is denying that He was “in all things… made like unto his brethren.” (Hebrews 2:17) However, there is another aspect that is sometimes overlooked, and that is the idea that Christ does not come in our flesh. This would deny that Christ dwells in us by His Spirit. Paul wrote, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27) He also wrote, “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” (Galatians 4:6)

According to the Bible, the Spirit of Christ dwells in us directly and we can have direct fellowship with Christ. Yet there are some who deny this by saying Christ only dwells in us through another person known as “the Holy Ghost.” This would also deny that Christ is come in the flesh.

I hope this helps to answer your question.

Question:

“What happens a minute after a person dies? According to your literature, if his spirit goes back to God, does God have a warehouse where those spirits are kept? Or does God breathe in the spirit as he breathed to Adam and he became a living soul?”

Zimbabwe

Answer:

The Bible says, “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” (Psalms 146:3, 4) When a person dies, their thoughts perish. Solomon wrote, “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5)

From these verses it is clear that at the point of death man goes to an unconscious state. The Bible says, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7) We also read, “Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?” (Ecclesiastes 3:21) Here we are given a distinction between where the spirit of man and the spirit of a beast goes at death. The spirit of the beast goes down to the earth because a beast will never experience a resurrection, and therefore there is no need for their spirit to be retained. However, regarding man, the Bible says, “there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” (Acts 24:15) In order for man to be resurrected and still retain their peculiar character traits, God preserves their spirit in an unconscious state until the resurrection, when they shall live again. Isaiah wrote, “Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise.” (Isaiah 26:19)

God has informed us that our spirit returns to Him at death, that we will be resurrected, and that in the interim we will be unconscious. I have heard people use the analogy of a cassette tape and a tape recorder as a means to illustrate this point. While a cassette tape is in a tape recorder you can record information on it and play back what is written. A faithful copy of what has been recorded is retained on that cassette. Yet, when the cassette is removed from the recorder it is unusable. Information cannot be played nor recorded. You can take the cassette and put it in another tape recorder and again utilize the information stored on the cassette. This is a crude illustration, but I believe it helps to understand how God can retain a man’s spirit in an unconscious state until the resurrection where he will be given a new body, but retain the same spirit.

Exactly how God retains man’s spirit in an unconscious state is not given for us to know. There is no mention in the Bible of a warehouse, nor a need for such a warehouse. I am content to leave this portion of the question with God. “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy 29:29)

I hope this helps to answer your question.

Question:

“If the Holy Spirit is not a being, why then did Jesus in Matthew 28 say disciples are to be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit?”

Zimbabwe

Answer:

The Holy Spirit is the omnipresence of the being of God Himself. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24) Yet, as we read the Bible we find that the Holy Spirit is not a separate being from the Father and His Son, but rather the omnipresent Spirit of God, which is holy. “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” (Psalms 139:7)

Regarding Matthew 28, Jesus was talking to His disciples when He said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” (Matthew 28:19) Peter, who was a disciple of Jesus, was obviously present when Jesus gave this command. If we want to know what Jesus meant by this command, we can trust Peter to give us the proper understanding. Let’s turn to the text of Scripture where this command of Jesus was obeyed for the first time. In Acts chapter two Peter said, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38) Here Peter instructed these people to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, rather than in three separate names. But, supposing Peter temporarily forgot the command of Jesus, let us find more evidence.

In Acts chapter 10, Peter “commanded [Cornelius and his brethren] to be baptized in the name of the Lord.” (Acts 10:48) From these verses it is plain that Peter must have understood the command of Jesus differently than most Trinitarians understand it today. However, maybe Peter was alone in his understanding of this command.

When Peter and John came to Samaria they found a group of people who had been “baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 8:16) Obviously Peter was not alone in his understanding of the command of Jesus.

What about Paul? Keep in mind that Paul said of the gospel he preached, “I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:12) How did Jesus teach Paul to baptize?

When Paul visited Ephesus he met certain brethren there who had only been baptized by John’s baptism. Paul instructed them about Christ, and “when they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 19:5)

There is no record in the Bible of anyone baptizing in three separate names of three individual persons. Now there are three possibilities that could explain this. 1) The disciples were in direct rebellion against Jesus and purposely disobeyed His commandment. 2) The disciples understood the command of Jesus differently than most Trinitarians understand it today. 3) Jesus never gave the command to baptize “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

The most logical and reasonable of these possibilities is choice number two. The disciples obviously understood the command of Jesus differently than most Trinitarians understand it today.

Let us look at it in another way. Jesus commissioned us to baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Greek pneuma). Was Jesus, by making this commission, trying to teach the idea of a trinity? I think not, or He would have been contradicting other statements He made, and many statements made by other Bible writers. There is nothing in the verse that says there are three persons in the Godhead. There is nothing in the verse that says who is God. The word “God” is completely missing from the verse. We learn elsewhere in the Bible that the “one God” of the Bible is the Father. Paul wrote, “To us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” (1 Corinthians 8:6) The Bible uses the phrase, “God the Father” thirteen times, but it never says, “God the Son,” or “God the Holy Spirit.”

Notice also that the verse says we are to baptize in the name of… Why is it singular if there are supposed to be three persons? The word name in the Bible often refers to a person’s character. Jacob’s name was changed to Israel because his character had changed. If we believe this verse to be referring to actual names of three individuals, as most Trinitarians suppose, then it would be impossible to fulfill the command. The text says to baptize “in the name of…” Simply reciting the statement, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” is not fulfilling the command. To baptize someone in the name of a person we must know the person’s name. It would be possible for us to baptize in the literal name of the Father, for we know His name: Yahweh or Jehovah. It would also be possible for us to baptize in the literal name of the Son, for we know His name: Yahshua or Jesus. But it is not possible for us to baptize someone in the literal name of the Holy Spirit, for nobody knows that name, if it exists.

The Father anointed His Son with His own Spirit. Therefore they have the same Spirit. “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” (Hebrews 1:9) “For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.” (John 3:34) As plainly shown, the Father has given His Son His Spirit. What type of spirit do they share? Surely, it is a Holy Spirit. The Bible mentions several different types of spirit. We read in the Bible about “foul spirit,” “evil spirit,” “unclean spirit,” “dumb spirit,” “excellent spirit,” “humble spirit,” “wounded spirit,” “broken spirit,” “haughty spirit,” “faithful spirit,” “good spirit.” All these spirits are distinguishable by the adjective that describes them. We know that God the Father has a spirit, and can that spirit be anything else, or anything less, than Holy? The word “Holy” is an adjective in every case, whether in English or in Greek. “Holy Spirit” is not a name, but a description of the Spirit of God.

Matthew 28:19 certainly does not prove a trinity, nor does it prove that the Holy Spirit is a separate being from the Father and His Son. If we are to find proof of these doctrines in the Bible we must look elsewhere.

I hope this helps to answer your question.

Question:

“Shall the church not share the great tribulation the world had never heard of? (Matthew 24:22) Will this come after the Second Coming of Christ as many preach?”

Nigeria

Answer:

Yes, the church will be here during the great tribulation. The tribulation will not take place after the second coming of Christ. Jesus said, “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.… But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:6-9, 13)

Some people suppose that Jesus will secretly return to rapture His people out of this world before the tribulation. However, Jesus said that His people will be here during the tribulation and He also warned us not to believe people who would claim Christ has returned secretly. Notice what Jesus said: “But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matthew 24:20-27)

Paul wrote, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) Christ’s coming for His people will be attended by much noise and commotion. The dead in Christ will rise first, then the living will be caught up with them. A great multitude of dead saints will be resurrected at this time, and it will by no means be secret.

The idea of a secret rapture is a relatively new theory that was invented in the 1800s. It is not scriptural, and it gives people a false hope that if they are not ready at the secret rapture, perhaps they will be able to get ready before the tribulation is over. Friends, that is a delusion of the enemy. Jesus said, “believe it not.” He also said, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24:29-31)

I would like to share a testimony with you regarding this false theory of the secret rapture. Several years ago I attended a Bible prophecy meeting that had been advertised in a local newspaper. I am quite interested in Bible prophecy, so I decided to attend. It was held in a local church, and the main point of the speaker was that there would be a secret rapture where Christ would secretly come to rapture His people out of the earth. I had studied the Bible on this subject and knew that the idea of the secret rapture was false. However, after hearing the first presentation I was shocked with the reality of how dangerous this teaching is. The speaker distributed a book entitled “No Guillotine for the Bride,” in which he sought to demonstrate that no true Christians would be here during the tribulation, except the ones who would be converted after the secret rapture.

I was amazed at how appealing and deceptive this theory is. It is appealing to believe that we will never suffer any hardship on this earth, and if we happen to miss out on the rapture we will always have a second chance during the tribulation. As appealing as this may sound, it is contrary to scripture and a trick of the devil to lull you to sleep. The Bible says, “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3) Paul wrote, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12) I doubt anyone could have convinced a Christian in the World Trade Center on 9-11 that they would be secretly raptured before things got really bad. Nor would the true Christians during the Dark Ages, who were tortured to death, have believed such fables. I pray that you will be ready to meet the Lord when He visibly returns. There will be no second chances then, for the proclamation will have gone forth, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” (Revelation 22:11, 12)

No doubt you have heard about the growing interest in the books and videos entitled “Left Behind,” where the false theory of the secret rapture is graphically portrayed. I have watched a couple of these videos, and it is frightening to think how many people have been, and will be, deluded by this false sense of security. There are far too many people who already have the idea that they will put off their conversion until the last minute so they can “enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.” (Hebrews 11:25) Sadly, many people who “neglect so great salvation” (Hebrews 2:3) do so too long, until it is forever too late. Let’s not encourage them in their wickedness by giving them a false hope of a second chance after the second coming of Christ, for it will not happen. For a thorough study on this subject please contact us and request the tract entitled “The Millennium.”

I hope this helps to answer your question.

?


Letters from our Readers

(Each month we receive letters that help us to know how God’s work is progressing throughout the world. Because we think you are interested in this work as well, we are printing some of them for you. If you do not wish your letter to be printed, please let us know when you write.    Editor)

The Work in Africa

“I would like to greet you in the name of Jesus Christ. I hope that all your efforts to witness to the people in America and other parts of the world are progressing well, since we are at the end of time and we as Christians have to work very hard to gain more souls to God.…
    “As a young girl, my wish is that I could get out there and tell the people of Zimbabwe about the love of God; how much God loves them. In my country teenagers like myself are the ones who are perishing of AIDS. Some girls get pregnant and the poor little babies don’t have anyone to take care of them. Some of these are my friends and some adults my relatives. Most of these people don’t really know who God is; how much He loves them. Some know there is a Creator but don’t know the basics of Christianity. They need to be spiritually fed. It really pains me to know that some of my fellows are perishing without knowing the love of God. Some don’t have hope anymore; they don’t have anything they can hold onto. They live simple lives without even bothering themselves about tomorrow.…
    “My brothers and sisters in Christ, I ask you that you may send me some books and papers that I may be able to read and also share with others. The only book I have is Daniel Reveals the Future. Please help me in my trying to help my fellow countrymen. I know that these books and lessons would help me very much in reaching to the others who are lost in sin. Please pray for me to continue trying to witness to the people of Zimbabwe.”

Zimbabwe

“Right now we have two families in _____, in Congo who are willing to work with us to finish the work in Congo.… These people were very excited about the message and determined to share it with others. These brothers don’t have a postal address or an e-mail address. We need to help them have their own postal address and e-mail address. On January 28, 2002, God willing, I want to go back and visit our brothers and sisters in Congo, in _____ where we preached the word of the Lord, and find out how they are getting on. Our ministry donated 500 books and 1000 Bible lesson sets in French to the brothers and sisters in Congo. I want to take all the materials [received from Zimbabwe] with me to Congo.”

Zambia

 “Peace be unto you always. Sorry for not helping you by answering all your e-mails. Indeed I have been busy with Bible studies, visiting homes since our message has shaken many people… I am arranging two trips in the near future to take this message beyond my territory…
    “Last week I was briefly in _____ for an urgent invitation of some home churches which gathered there, so I wanted to make contacts with some; afterwards I will visit them.…
    “I wrote to a brother in Zambia about tracts but he said it is very expensive for postage, so I have thought that I can arrange to meet him on the border of Tanzania but still I am not able now in the matter of transport, but the pamphlets or tracts are on a high demand. Your kind help and advice in this matter is highly appreciated. Sending e-mails is becoming more difficult for me at times for not having my own. But I will try to get it. Pray for me and the Lord’s work, for it is becoming harder, that more workers can be increased.”

Uganda

“The main reason for this letter is that I was once at our school library making research for books when I saw some of your books with the title America in Prophecy. I became interested with the book but the problem is that I don’t normally get in to read because anytime I go somebody may be reading it because it contains sense. In fact, I enjoyed the reading of the book. Please, in order for me to enjoy the reading of the book most, try to post any of your books.
    “During my reading I saw your address at the last page of the book so I decided to write to you. Please, sir, I want to have contact with you so that I can have access to information and also books in addition. What makes me happy is the quotations that are in the book. I am a Christian so I always feel like reading books that contain the Word of God. So I am on my knees pleading to you to send me some of your books.”

Ghana

“During the last two weeks my dear wife was attacked by the terrible African killing disease, malaria. But thank God, our merciful heavenly Father, for His wonderful curative power, that after being hospitalized, the doctor prescribed for her certain medicine which she never used before. Unfortunately, these gave her a very bad reaction; she became weaker and weaker until we didn’t know what to do next. She started to get better last Friday and yesterday, on the Sabbath day, she said she must come to the church. Oh, what joy it was for us yesterday!
    “Sorry, it was for this reason that you did not hear from us. Otherwise we are thankful to the Lord for the new experiences we make each Sabbath. We receive visitors who are seriously interested on the message, and this gives us much joy and courage in the Lord to be able to share with others of what we have believed.
    “At the moment in _____ we have the urgent problem relating with the place of worship. Currently we are meeting every Sabbath under the trees shelter in the backyard of Brother _____ premises at the average of between 15-18 people. However, this is possible only because the rains season is a few days to come. Normally March begins long rains here. The alternative to that could be to rent certain room for that purpose, but then it is quite expensive. We are of the opinion therefore to look for the possibility to have our own premises, and solve the problem once and for all. Kindly advise us.”

Tanzania

“Grace be unto you, Mercy and peace, from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus. I received yours of Feb. 8 2002 on the Feb. 13th 2002. I am sorry for the delay. I travelled to _____. I do not know how to start thanking you, for this kind of love you have on me, my family, and the entire members of _____… Please, I do feel bad if I don’t hear from you, because each of your letters do encourage me the more. I also thank you for the inspiring message of January 2002 in Present Truth magazine, ‘The Everlasting Gospel.’ You are God’s oracle indeed.… Jesus says they shall be one. I want us to be one in purpose and I will faithfully represent you here in Nigeria.”

Nigeria

“My name is Pastor _____, now pastor in charge of the _____ church in Kenya. I have been before the pastor in charge of _____ church and I have been expelled from that church after attending the Truth Seekers led camp-meeting towards the end of last year by Brothers _____, _____, _____. In fact, these three Brothers introduced and inspired me to true ways of life and Sabbath.
    “Having gone through that complete metamorphosis as a truth presenter, preaching and practicing these true ways of life and Sabbath, I lost my job at the previous church but through God’s love, I was engaged as from January 1st, 2002, as the pastor in charge of _____ church in Kenya. The emergence of this new church has caused a lot of excitement and enthusiasm, and as a result there are now hundreds of truth believers and the current church building is now full and needs expansion. Quite a number of them have been baptized.
    “Dear Brother Lynnford, I have a wife and two children, and we are now facing serious financial difficulties which means that me and my family lack basic needs, mainly food, medical care and education for my children. it is therefore my earnest prayer, if God would work out a miracle and some good Samaritan could come to my aid of say pay me US dollars 200 on monthly basis to cater for my household expenses. God will work out a miracle to save our situation.
    “Last but not least, it is our invitation to you, Brother Lynnford, and other angels from USA, that you visit Kenya _____ where we have opened Truth Seekers churches, if God allows, early this year, to see for yourself so far what God has revealed to the people of Kenya.
    “Brother, kindly response to this e-mail as this will be a source of encouragement to our work in _____.”

Kenya

“I am well as the Lord Jesus helps for His mercies. I bring my request to you about publishing. I have found tuition where they teach computers of many departments while I need to learn publishing. The course costs US $125 for three months. So please may you assist me for that purpose. I would like to preach through tracts.”

Tanzania

“Brother I would like you to assist me with the message concerning Matthew 28:19 (the baptism in the three titles) How to arrange in the way to explain and satisfying the believers to wash away from their perception that it was understood by His disciples what he was telling them. Because no verse in Bible where His apostles baptized in that title. I am on task, being asked by my friends of the field committee. That they have understood the trinity and have discarded that belief and are teaching and encouraging all believers in their churches. I promised them that I will meet with them on these day on the 21st February 2002 with an intension to get time to get arrangement from you. So your quick response in this matter will be of great relief to me and shame to Satan. Latest by Wednesday 20th February. Brother you will forgive me to disturb you on daily urgent requests frequently. I know it is expensive in postage but due to the need.”

Uganda

(Please notice the explanation of Matthew 28:19 in the “Questions and Answers” section in this issue of Present Truth.    Editor)

“This is to acknowledge with much thanks the receipt of both your dear letter and financial support you sent. For us this is indeed not only an encouragement, but a consolation all together, my God richly bless you.
    “Together with the other question I wrote you last week, in the course of my preaching of this non-trinitarian message I have been confronted with some questions relating to the historical background of the Smyrna Ministry. I would like therefore to kindly ask you for the answer.… The brothers who have asked these questions are seriously interested in this wonderful truth and for this reason they have called me to go to _____ for presentation and more enlightenment on my new understanding of God, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. You may notice that already I sent them with some few tracts we have had from you, but they say come, come we have to meet face by face.
    “In _____ there will three centers to visit. In all these areas we worked before for the other trinitarian church. I need to be there not less than three weeks.”

Tanzania

“To my dear brother in Christ, receive greetings from us here in Kenya. Our Lord Jesus Christ, through His Father has called us in this wonderful task at this end time. We have devoted our lives to serve our Lord God even in difficulties, and we will be rewarded in the end time when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.
    “I must make you know that I have received books and some tracts from Truth Seekers who is our mother ministry in which I am very thankful.
    “Thank you also for giving me a very nice reply. You are now my true and real brother, but if a brother have any difficulty, it would be better when he explains the problem to his brother, not because of begging but a true brother can pray for his brother while in any difficulty.
    “My son, who was to complete his higher education this year, is still with me at home due to lack of school fees, so many people are laughing at me, but I must remain in this truth either in terrible problems, just as I and my brothers have now, because the only begotten Son of God said one day that follow the truth and the truth will make you free.…
    “Elder _____ told us about our ministry of Truth Seekers, so even if you are still finding sponsorship for us as striving pastors in Kenya, please try and pray and act. My son’s school fees, it is only US Dollars 300 to enable my son back to school.
    “I am fully dedicated of preaching this message and I’m praying God will enable you to invite me and my brothers to a camp meeting of this year.”

Kenya

“We are always happy to hear about the child of God like you; we highly appreciate your love and concern. Thank you for your interest of helping people here and the extended outreach here in Nigeria.
    “Last month we were having a crusade on the very topics, The Truth About God and His Sabbath from Nov. 2 to Nov. 15, 2001. We heard about you from the _____ side, that is the gospel to the perishing souls and the truth about the Sabbath. We won 26 souls and 15 refugee people and there is no food for us to feed them.
    “Please, we need your help of food items like rices, milks, bonvita, sugar, biscuit, beans; all type of food items you have send it to us to feed them and by next letter to you we will send pictures of them to you. We also need used clothes of any types for them.”

Nigeria

“Calvary greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Very soon I’ll send you a report from South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
    “May God bless you all. Right now I am here in Botswana.”

Zambia

(This brother recently visited the above named countries to share the truth about God and get more literature from Zimbabwe.    Editor)

“Warmest greetings from us here in Tanzania.
    “While reading the Present Truth newsletter from January issue, I discovered that certain sister/brother wishes to send some English Bibles wherever were needed. I received some requests for the same and this offer could be exactly the reply. Three of my Bible students need to have the Bible in their hands. Please help.

Tanzania

“As I saw your literature called Present Truth from another guy, therefore I feel very much interested and have the desire to join you in your path. Please send me your free literature so that I will also testify before the people of our country referring to your literature and to set up a very good example to our fellow Christians, I shall be greatly obliged to receive your necessary literature and thanking you.”

South Africa

“Could you tell me the easiest way to transfer money electronically to some credible people in Africa? I’d love to help with what I have saved so far, though we are flat out supporting the cause in Australia and Tasmania.”

Australia

(Thank you so much for your consideration of our brethren in Africa.    Editor)

Literature

“I appreciate the thought but I’m not reading them, so it’s a waste. Thanks anyway.”

Oregon

“May God our Father bless you and keep you. I appreciate you helping me out in the ministry that God has given me to do. Your kindness and concern are greatly valued. I thank the Lord for your kind words and good heart. I will pray for you, that the Lord may continue to bless you in your ministry. People are reading the tracts that I have been passing out and I am very thankful and excited.”

Ohio

“Please send me a sample copy of the monthly magazine Present Truth published by your ministry. Please also send me a catalog/price sheet of all books and booklets you have available. I love your site! It’s great!”

Maryland

(Most of our literature is available online. If you haven’t visited our website yet, I encourage you to do so. You may wish to leave a message in the guestbook.    Editor)

“I am requesting a copy of Shelter in the Storm, and also information as to how to help our brethren in Africa. I am sure after reading the book I will be requesting several other copies. Keep us in your prayers as we shall you. We are all enjoying the newsletters.”

Ohio

“I am requesting to be removed from your mailing list for the monthly publication Present Truth.”

Pennsylvania

“Please send the free book, Shelter in the Storm, and as many of the tracts of the same title as this $10.00 will cover. Thanks.”

North Carolina

“Thank you for your website and the work that you must put into it to make it as it is. I did read of a book called ‘The Formation of the Trinity Doctrine.’ I would like to read it. Is it available online (electronic etc.) or do I need to have it sent to me? Can you tell me of cost, etc., if applicable. I live in the U.K.”

United Kingdom

(This book is available online in both html and PDF formats. You may download it at no cost, and duplication is not only permitted but strongly encouraged. If you would like a printed copy, the suggested donation for this book is $1 per book, plus actual shipping costs.    Editor)

The Trinity

“A Riddle for Trinitarians
    “Only the Spirit knoweth the things of GOD—‘The Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.… no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.’ (1 Corinthians 2:10, 11 NKJV)
    “The Second Coming: ‘Of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in Heaven, neither the Son, but the Father only.’—(Mark 13:32 combined with Matthew 24:36)
    “QUESTION: Therefore, since Only the Spirit knoweth the things of GOD, and since the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of GOD (1 Corinthians 2:10, 11), WHY DOESN’T HE KNOW???”

Oregon

“For nearly seventeen hundred years Christendom has been laboring under a false creed, and very few are willing to give it up [the trinity]. Thank you for restoring my faith. Please don’t give up or weaken.
    “President Bush has said that the battle against Terrorism is going to be a long one; even so I wonder if he realizes the full truth of that statement. Does anyone realize that the ‘Time of Trouble’ is surely to come to pass?…
    “Bring many to the Truth, realizing that without the Lord Jesus we can do nothing.”

Canada

“I’d like to receive all material that you have about the trinity. I am in serious doubt about this doctrine in my church. Send me all that you have, I need to make a deep study about this. My need is to know God’s truth.”

Brazil

“At the present time our church is the Bible and we study every day. We believe Truth Seekers Ministries has the truth about God and His Son, Christ Jesus, so you also are our church. We read the monthly newsletter cover to cover and we see this truth in the Bible.”

Colorado

“The message for the last days is one of worship; not just when (Sabbaths) but WHO we worship and it is imperative that we know the Only True God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent…
    “God will bless His children and He knows who are His. He makes no mistakes. Because His believers are scattered, it’s easy for the Elijah syndrome to prevail, thinking that we are all alone to serve the Living God. But praise His name, we are not alone.”

Oklahoma

The Work Around the World

“I wait for Present Truth with anxiety to know about all of you and the blessings around the world.”

Peru

“I received your Present Truth newsletter for the months of June to December 2001. Thank you very much. I ask for your prayers and all your support. Please pray for me and my family to have a better job and no more embarrassment come to my life. God bless you all. Jesus come very soon. We must meet in heaven… Please send to my sister’s address your Present Truth books.”

India


(In the February 2002 issue of Present Truth we printed a letter from a man in India, inviting us to hold seminars there in April or May of this year. Thanks to the goodness of God and the kindness of His people, the Lord provided much of the funds needed for this trip. However, we will not be able to make the trip in April or May but, Lord willing, we will be able to go soon. Please keep this trip in your prayers. We will keep you informed of the progress of this project.    Editor)


“I always understand your situation as a worker in the Lord’s vineyard, that you are always busy as we are in the field of labor. Presently, I am still in _____, working hand in hand with the brethren here spreading the everlasting gospel to those who are interested and at the same time strengthening some fellow Present Truth believers in this part of our country.
    “It is really a blessing to receive books from you together with some tracts. These were given to interested ones and I pray that when the Lord shall pour out His Spirit in large measure, souls will be gathered in the kingdom of God whose conversion is from reading these literature. May the Lord bless all your efforts especially in the work of saving souls.
    “In our country we have some problems in getting the truth to the people, especially those who have a little knowledge of the English language for they need a translated version of some tracts for them to understand the messages (Filipino people speak different kinds of dialects). If you could find some brethren who are willing to help the work here, you may help us in raising some funds for the purchase of a computer set for printing some materials of Present Truth in the different dialects. A brand new one will cost thirty thousand pesos or an equivalent of three hundred dollars, however a slightly used one is about twenty thousand pesos or an equivalent of two hundred dollars. This includes a printer. I will be very grateful especially to the Lord if there are brethren who are generous enough to help the spread of Present Truth in this part of the globe.
    “Please pray for our work here as we also pray for the work you have in your country. May all the separated brethren in the Present Truth achieve the unity that Christ prayed for in John 17 is my prayer.”

Philippines

“Let me tell you about me a little.… I always had doubt about this [trinity] doctrine. I stayed very confused when I prayed to my God because of that doctrine. But some months later a brother of mine began asking about that doctrine to our Pastors. And I stayed very amazed that they simply said to him to believe only by faith. But after many requests to our pastor to visit that brother to explain what are the foundations of that faith, he refused to go there and clearly explain. He decided to preach about this subject on the pulpit and saying that there are people in the church guided by Satan to turn to confusion the other brothers in the faith. I am very sad by this.
    “I have studied your books and other books too. I know that this doctrine began in the Arianism controversy and it was introduced more specifically by a man named Athanasius and it was perfected by Augustine. I have many things to talk about our discovery and you, Pastor, can help us in our faith. We need to spread this truth because it is very important to our salvation and also of our brothers.
    “Please, we need your help here in Brazil. We need to spread out this truth. I think you understand, and I am sure you are truly God’s servant and son by adoption in our Lord Jesus Christ.
    “We are with some ideas help us to put in practice. God had put you in our path to help us I have seen this in a dream. I began to search on the Internet some to help us and I found you.
    “We plan to make a Portuguese site to spread that truth, but we need your authorization to translate your material and we plan to send to you all things after translated before putting it on the web. We also plan to make a Study Center of the God’s truth and invite all that want to know the truth.”

Brazil

Letters from Prisoners

“I spent nine months in the county jail and was something similar to a teacher of God’s truth written in the Word. You should have been getting mail from ____, his mother and a couple others in the ____ area. His mom is the type of person who says, ‘Show me in the Word,’ which is my favorite type of person to work with because then I can say, ‘Let me show you what God says in comparison to what we are actually being taught.’ The only ones who refuse to go to God’s Word with me are preachers. I’ve had chaplains here threaten to lock me up in confinement because I tell them they are wrong concerning God’s Sabbaths and holy days. They tried to force me to work on the Sabbath.
    “Going to confinement is only another opportunity to serve my Father and a vacation. Everywhere I go people want to know God’s truth and I love to show it to them. I spent nine months in the county jail and never saw the judge. However, I had a large number of people who came and went who would come to me wanting to know about God’s Word and why I believe in the Sabbaths. I always show them the Old Testament requirements and where the New Testament upholds those requirements. Ultimately, they end up believing and observing the Sabbaths, then they pass it on to their families.
    “One of my cell partners went home on the Ankle Satellite house arrest system and he sent his wife back to visit me to talk about God. She came about seven times and now her entire family are Sabbath keepers. She expressed a shame for not knowing God’s Word very well after being a believer for so many years, in comparison to a prisoner. She was able to turn that shame and her love for God into a motivating force to get her and her family to use the Sabbaths for studying the Word, while honoring the Sabbaths and holding family meetings to air out grievances and come together as a family unit. Her husband is doing well and no longer on heroin or methadone, the divorce is dropped and their family is back in order. That’s God’s work and I’m honored by Him to be a part of it.
    “I never complain about where I’m at or where I’m sent because I know that God has a need for me there. I only hope that one day He has a need for me back out in society.”

Florida

“I’m an inmate. I only make $3.00 prison state pay a month. I’ll send you monthly, for a one year sub to your Present Truth magazine. Please renew my sub for one year. I await your reply.”

Ohio

(I greatly appreciate your interest in the message. Donations are accepted and appreciated. However, there is no subscription fee for Present Truth.     Editor)

Miscellaneous

“We have been going out every Sunday to street corners with good traffic lights, near a busy Sunday church, and passing out literature like the leaves of the autumn. We mainly visit near Catholic churches right now, but hope to branch out. These precious people go to church for a message from God, and on the way out or in we try to make it available in print. Because we choose a neutral corner, we have not been even asked to stop. Because we are really considerate, they may occasionally throw the literature away within a block, but we do not find many thrown away at the street where we are working.
    “Recently we had a baptism, Brother _____ was baptized a few week ago. He entered a covenant relationship with the Father and His Son. He has already printed a tract, and someone has already translated it into Spanish, because it was a blessing to them. He loves to go out and pass the literature out, and Monday we are planning to go downtown and do some street preaching, and passing out literature. The young ones show us older ones the power of desire to serve the Master. When there is love for the Father and the Son, then witnessing comes naturally. This last year God has been guiding us to special people who have a hunger for the truth, like _____, and _____.
    “I have a burden to go and preach under the missing World Trade Center, and these two brothers want to go with me. We have been offered a press to print the material in the North Carolina area, some gardens to work, a hydrotherapy room to promote, and I will finally be able to work the large cities from the outpost. What a thrill to be simply doing what God asks. For the second time we had manifested the gift of true tongues at Miami. My wife’s relatives speak only Spanish, and my mother-in-law, and sister-in-law came to visit the church several weeks ago. _____ speaks very little Spanish, yet on the Sabbaths that some of my family came, God translated the message that several speakers presented, through _____ to these Spanish-speaking loved ones. Praise God for His mercies to us; the time for the gifts of God to be poured out is now.
    “Thanks to all who have had the burden to help with the work that God has given us to do. It means you personally share in the effort, and every soul won will also be in your crown. We are confident that because God has worked so powerfully on our behalf that major results will show up in souls in the kingdom.”

Florida

“Please continue to send the newsletters to me. I also continue to read it happily; I like it very much. If I am hungry and I take it and read all my hunger becomes satisfied.… I was touched by the story of Brother Michael Sibanda, in Zimbabwe. I wrote a letter of encouragement to Michael and his mother after reading about them in your most recent newsletter. They are daily in my prayers. Is there an update?”

Montana

(The February 2002 issue of Present Truth included a prayer request for a brother in Zimbabwe by the name of Michael Sibanda who is on death row for a crime he did not commit. The following is a letter we received from Michael’s mother. This is the only update we have at this time.    Editor)

“Thank you very much for your lovely letter which you wrote to encourage us. Michael is also thankful. He wrote me a letter saying he got a very encouraging words from you. I was also very much thrilled as soon as I read the words which says, ‘We have printed your prayer request in our newsletters, God’s people all over the world will be praying for your situation.’ I cannot express myself how much happiness I felt. We still do not yet know what is taking place with the Supreme Court, we are not told anything; it is still silence. Maybe it is because of the elections, I don’t know.
    “I am very, very strong now, and happy again, because many people from USA have written to us many letters encouraging both of us. What a wonderful love people are manifesting on us. It is interesting to hear nice comforting words from the people I have never ever seen, manifesting the Spirit of Christ…
    “I am now having brothers and sisters in Christ. Let God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, be praised. Amen. God must be glorified for His wonderful works.”

Zimbabwe

“I praise God that you do not have any membership books or hierarchy structure. God knows who His members are. Maybe you could do a study on this subject.”

Tennessee

(Thank you for your input. Perhaps we will print a study on this subject in the future.     Editor)

“I need info on the upcoming camp meeting in West Virginia in July. God willing, I am coming and will need a motel close by, or a cabin to rent. Could you give me details so that I might secure a place. I have a friend from Wisconsin that will be needing a place also. Thanks.”

Florida

(The West Virginia camp meeting will be held between Welch and Pineville from July 2-6. For those needing a motel you can contact Woody’s Motel in Pineville at (304) 732-6540 or The Cow Shed Motel in Pineville at (304) 732-7000. The Pocahontas Motel in Welch is booked up at the moment, but in case they might have cancellations, you can contact them at (304) 436-2250. There are also rooms, cabins, camp sites and RV hookups at Twin Falls State Park, about half an hour away from the camp meeting. You can contact Twin Falls at (304) 294-4000.    Editor)


Galatians 2:20

by A. T. Jones

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

It may not be amiss to emphasize what this scripture does say, by noting what it does not say.

It does not say, I want to be crucified with Christ. It does not say, I wish I were crucified with Christ, that He might live in me. It does say, “I am crucified with Christ.”

Again, it does not say, Paul was crucified with Christ; Christ lived in Paul, and the Son of God loved Paul and gave Himself for Paul. All that is true, but that is not what the scripture, nor is that what it means, for it means just what it says. And it does say, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Thus this verse is a beautiful and solid foundation of Christian faith for every soul in the world. Thus it is made possible for every soul to say, in full assurance of Christian faith, “He loved me.” “He gave himself for me.” “I am crucified with Christ.” “Christ liveth in me.” Read also 1 John 4:15.

For any soul to say, “I am crucified with Christ,” is not speaking at a venture. It is not believing something on a guess. It is not saying a thing of which there is no certainty. Every soul in this world can say in all truth and all sincerity, “I am crucified with Christ.” It is but the acceptance of a fact, the acceptance of a thing that is already done, for this word is the statement of a fact.

It is a fact that Jesus Christ was crucified. And when He was crucified we also were crucified, for He was one of us. His name is Immanuel, which is “God with us”—not God with Him, but “God with us.” When His name is not God with Him, but “God with us,” then who was He but “us”? He had to be “us” in order that God with Him could be not God with Him but “God with us.” And when He was crucified, then who was it but “us” that was crucified?

This is the mighty truth announced in this text. Jesus Christ was “us.” He was of the same flesh and blood with us. He was of our very nature. He was in all points like us. “Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren.” (Hebrews 2:17) He emptied Himself, and was made in the likeness of men. He was “the last Adam.” and precisely as the first Adam was ourselves, so Christ, the last Adam, was ourselves. When the first Adam died, we, being involved in him, died with him. And when the last Adam died, we, being involved in Him, died with Him. And when the last Adam was crucified, He being ourselves and we being involved in Him, we were crucified with Him. As the first Adam was in himself the whole human race, so the last Adam was in himself the whole human race, and so when the last Adam was crucified, the whole human race—the old, sinful human nature—was crucified with Him. And so it is written, “Knowing this, that our old man IS CRUCIFIED WITH HIM, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” (Romans 6:6)

Thus every soul in this world can truly say, in the perfect triumph of Christian faith, “I am crucified with Christ”; my old sinful human nature is crucified with Him that this body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth I should not serve sin. (Romans 6:6) Nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me. Always bearing about in my body the dying of the Lord Jesus—the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus, for I am crucified with Him—that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in my body. For I who live am always delivered unto death, for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in my mortal flesh. (2 Corinthians 4:10, 11) And therefore the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

In this blessed fact of the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus, which was accomplished for every human soul, there is not only laid the foundation of faith for every soul, but in it there is given the gift of faith TO every soul. And thus the cross of Christ is not only the wisdom of God displayed from God to us, but it is the very power of God manifested to deliver us from all sin and bring us to God.

O sinner, brother, sister, believe it. Oh, receive it. Surrender to this mighty truth. Say it; say it in full assurance of faith and say it forever. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Say it, for it is the truth, the very truth and wisdom and power of God, which saves the soul from all sin.

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(This article was first printed in the October 24, 1899, issue of The Review and Herald. It is also found on pages 121-123 of the book Lessons on Faith by A. T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner. I italicized Bible verses, capitalized some pronouns and added some verse references that were left out in the original.     Editor)


Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Part 3)

by George McDaniel

(This is the third in a series of health articles that are designed to help you gain a deeper appreciation for God’s amazing handiwork of the human body and a better understanding of how it works and how it can be better maintained by simple methods. George McDaniel is my father-in-law, and has been a registered nurse for many years, which, along with much research, has taught him many useful health principles. I pray that you are being blessed by these articles.    Editor)

Good health—something we all want, at least to the extent that we feel good and don’t have pain. However, most don’t pay any attention to health until they become sick. This frequently happens as we grow older and the cumulative effects of years of poor choices begin to be felt. The earlier in life we begin to put good health principles into practice, the better off we will be. However, it is never too late to begin learning and practicing right ways of living, as long as we still have the ability to reason and are able to make decisions for ourselves.

The body is an amazing organism. It can suffer years of abuse and mistreatment, and begin to break down; but if proper lifestyle changes are made, it can recuperate and regain much, if not all, of its proper function. Even people who have been given up by the medical profession, and told death is certain and imminent, have recovered their health by learning to assist the body’s innate ability to heal itself. One prominent example of this is Dr. Lorraine Day, MD. She is an orthopedic surgeon and was for 15 years on the faculty of the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, as associate professor and vice-chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. She was also Chief of Orthopedic Surgery at San Francisco General Hospital.

About 10 years ago she developed breast cancer. At the time of diagnosis, it had already invaded the muscles of her chest wall. The outlook was grim. She states, “The doctors told me, ‘You have cancer. You’re going to die.’ But they were wrong. I refused chemotherapy, radiation, and mutilating surgery, the treatment methods all surgeons are taught, and got well by using natural remedies.” (Note that she did have surgery twice to remove the tumor itself—but no radical mastectomy or lymph node removal.) Over the years, she had seen many cancer patients die from their treatment, rather than from their disease, because chemotherapy and radiation suppress the immune system, which is the same system that a cancer patient needs to get well. Instead, she chose to rebuild her immune system, using the simple natural therapies designed by God and outlined in the Bible, so her body could heal itself. These therapies are the same ones we are going to investigate in future articles.

Anyone who is currently under a doctor’s care for health problems should not make any changes in the program without consulting the doctor. It is very important to know the reasons for everything one does. Remember that “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.” It is a matter of good vs. better or best and one must prayerfully do much study to discover the best.

By the way, Dr. Day has made some videotapes on her experience. Two of them are: “Cancer Doesn’t Scare Me Anymore,” and “You Can’t Improve on God.” Incidentally, she also made two videos on AIDS in 1992, at the time she was struggling with the cancer. It is very informative to note the difference in her appearance at that time and four years later when she made the videos on cancer. In the earlier videos, she looked exhausted, haggard, and possibly in her mid-sixties. (Actually, she was mid-fifties.) Four years later, she appears 15-20 years younger, full of energy and very much alive. That, in itself, reveals much about the benefits of the program. Check out her web site at www.drday.com to learn more about her.

The major cause of disease is a weakened immune system. This should be obvious, since a healthy immune system will enable the body to fight off disease and quickly repair any damage done. There are many factors that can cause a weakened immune system, but they can be summed up in one word, stress. Stress can be physical, mental or emotional. It can come from outside the body or from within. Stress is the body’s reaction to a stimulus that upsets its natural balance, its normal function, and disturbs mental or physical health. Any illness that results adds to the stress. Some people are able to handle stress well, while others are easily affected by it.

One example of things that cause stress is toxins, both those produced by the body and those present in the environment. Our body’s defenses are being overwhelmed by ever increasing amounts of toxins in our air, water, food, medicine, etc. Other stressors include: family problems, death or serious illness of loved ones, pressures at work, financial pressures, crowds, noise, traffic, pain, temperature extremes, lack of sleep, substance abuse, smoking, nutritional deficiencies, dehydration, terrorism or the threat of it, uncertainty about the future, etc. The list could go on almost endlessly. Even though we can’t totally eliminate stress from our lives, we can minimize it and learn to deal with what we can’t avoid.

In trying to understand how to keep ourselves in good health, it is helpful to know what constitutes life itself, in so far as it is possible for us to do so. To state it very simply, the difference between a living organism and a dead one is that the living organism is electrically active. Not just the brain cells, but also every cell in the body produces electricity and functions by electricity. Whatever we can do to maintain that electric current will result in health. Whatever lessens that current will result in sickness.

It is my understanding that some researchers have actually probed living cells, trying to determine what it is that constitutes “life.” They were looking for some spark of life or some living entity that could explain life. Nothing has been found, and probably never will be.

The understanding of most scientists today is that life is merely the result of certain complex biochemical reactions. This is the reason why one frequently hears or reads statements that someday soon a scientist will create living matter in a test tube. A Christian who believes that the Bible is the divinely-inspired Word of God, knows that life is the result of divine action. Genesis 2:7 says, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” That being that God formed was just an inert, although very complex, statue until God gave it life. God is life. (See John 5:26) He gave it to Adam and Eve. From them it passed down to their descendants. The life we each possess came originally from God. The life force is, of course, much weaker in us than in Adam. This is the truth of the origin of life. It is infinitely more than just the result of a series of biochemical reactions.

As we continue to study the topic of health in future articles, and as we contemplate the other issues that are dealt with in this publication, it would be well to remember the words of Jesus as written in Matthew 6:13, 14: “Enter ye in at the strait [difficult] gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

The way that leads to life, to God, is neither easy nor popular. In order to enter that way, we have to give up our wants, our thoughts, our ambitions, and seek the will of our Heavenly Father. If we don’t want to meet those conditions, our lives may be easier for awhile, but then we will have entered the way that leads to failure and eventual destruction and will have no one to blame but self.

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