The God of Christians

THE TRUE CHRISTIANS who are God's chosen people are those who know the true
God. This knowledge of the true God is vital to salvation for the Lord Jesus
emphasized "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only
true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." (Jn. 17:3, King James
Version)

Whose God is The True God?

He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exo. 3:6), the God of Israel (II
Chron. 33:16). He is the God of Christ and of His disciples (Mk. 15:34; Jn.
20:17) who are called Christians (Acts 11:26). He is the God of His people
who will dwell in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:2-3).

He is not the "God of God" as asserted by the Nicene Creed for there is no
other God (Is. 43:10) and He is not the God of the dead but of the living
(Lk. 20:38). The dead referred to are those who are dead because of sins
(Eph. 2:1) and those who will die the second death in the lake of fire (Rev.
20:14). He is not the God of those who are outside the Church of Christ
because they are without God in the world (Eph. 2:12). He is therefore not
the God of those who are not Christians or those who are not members of the
Church of Christ.


God's Uniqueness And Unity

The God of the Christians is only one - not one in three nor three in one,
not a Trinity. There is no God besides God (Is. 45:5), no God with God
(Dt.32:39), no God like God (Is. 46:9), God is God alone (Ps. 86:10). There
was no God before Him, and there will be no God that will come after Him
(Is. 43:10). He told His people that He is the first, the last, the only God
(Is. 48:12).

But why the Bible speak of other gods? There are indeed other gods but no
one of them is like the true God (Ps. 86:8). Christ speaks of gods (Jn.
10:34-35); so does Paul (I Cor. 8:5). God, however, is above all gods ( Ps.
95:3), to be feared above all gods (Ps. 96:4).

What then are these other gods? They are false gods because they are no
gods (Jer. 2:11) and the gods mentioned by Christ in John 10:34-35 are
really nothing (Is. 41:23-24). And the chief of the false gods is the god of
this world who blinds the minds of unbelievers (II Cor. 4:3-4). This god we
know as Satan. Worhip of such false gods is worship of devils (Dt. 32:17).

Thus, any entity put forward as "coequal and cosubstantial with the Father"
is a false god since God has no equal.

The God of Christians is the Creator of heaven and earth and everything
therein (Neh. 9:6). He did it alone by Himself (Is. 44:24). When He said
"let us make man", He was talking with the angels who always surround His
throne (Rev. 7:11) but He proceed to do the creating alone (Gen.
1:26-27;2:7). And this Creator is only one and He is the Father (Mal. 2:10;
Dt. 32:56). God therefore is the Father and since this creator Father is
only one, then there could never be a God the Son nor a God the Holy Spirit.
These could never be a "triune God". Thus, a god the son and a god the holy
spirit worhipped among the triune God are false gods.


God's Knowledge And Power

The God of the Christians is Almighty (Gen. 17:1), He created the earth by
His power, established the world by His wisdom, and stretched out the
heavens by His discretion ( Jer. 10:12). Nothing is impossible with God (Lk.
1:37) except sin which is an imperfection (Heb 6:18).

Being Almighty, He owes his power to no one. Chirst, whom many people claim
as their God, is only given all the power in heaven and in earth (Mt.
28:18), a power which He will relinquish to the Almighty God at the end (I
Cor. 15:22-28). To say or believe that Christ is God is erroneous because He
is not Almighty.

The God of the Christians is omniscient. He knows the past, the present and
the future (Is. 46:9-10) and every secret (Eccles. 12:14). Such omniscience
is not possessed by Christ who does not know the day nor the hour of His own
second coming (Mk. 13:31-32).

Thus, those who install Christ as their God have made for themselves a
false God.


The Nature Of God

The God of the Christians is a spirit (Jn. 4:24), having no flesh and bones
(Lk. 24:36-39). He is eternal, immortal, invisible (I Tim. 1:17), and
unchangeable (Mal. 3:6; Jas. 1:17). And being so, He is not a man (Hos.
11:9) nor a son of man (Num. 23:19). He does not allow a man to become God
(Ezek. 28:2; Acts 12:21-23); therefore, He did not become a man or a
God-man.

Thus, a God who become a man or a God-man is a false god and not the God of
the Christians. Thus, if other gods are no gods, then those who have god who
is different from the God of the Christians have no God at all.


Knowing The True God

Mere knowledge of God, His nature and attributes, is not enough to save
man. One does not attain salvation by merely standing in awe and admiration
of God. Knowledge of God demands something more, and that is fear of the
Lord. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of
the holy is understanding" (Prov. 9:10, KJV).

Thus, after knowing the nature and attributes of God, one must go on to
knowing His will (Eph. 5:17) and knowing that the whole duty of man is to
fear God and keep His commandments (Eccles. 12:13).

What is the difference between God and Lord, between soul and spirit and between baptism by immersion and sprinkling?

Jovencio Barbanida Wrote:

LAST JANUARY AND February, I received copies of Pasugo (God's Message) from Ms. Judith Brani, a member of your Church, Iglesia ni Cristo, in Naval,  Biliran Province. Since then, I have become an avid reader of your magazine and even a regular listener to your radio programs.

 I would like to know your answers to the following questions which have been confusing me:
     1. What is the difference between God and Lord?
     2. Other groups declare that Jesus the only one God. But other groups say that God has three appearances.
     3. What is the difference between soul and spirit?
     4. Why is it that during baptism, some religions simply sprinkle water on  the individual instead of immersing him?

Editor's reply:

     We are pleased that you are now regularly read Pasugo and listen to our radio programs. Here are the answers to your queries:

      1.  Both God, the Father, and Jesus Christ are called  by the reverent title ‘Lord’ which by biblical definition means one being worshipped (cf. Ps. 95:6-7) and obeyed (cf. Lk. 6:46). This does not mean, however, that Christ is God like the Father. Whereas the lordship of God is inherent to Him (cf. Mk. 12:29), Christ’s lordship is appointed by God. It is also God’s will that He (Christ) be worshipped for the glory of God. The Bible testifies, thus:

 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:36, New International Version)

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:9-11, Revised Standard Version)

          Moreover, Christ Himself taught that He is a man (cf. Jn. 8:40) while the true God is not a man (cf. Num. 23:19). God is spirit (cf. Jn. 4:24) while Christ has flesh and boes (cf. Lk. 24:37-39). God is immortal (cf. I Tim. 1:17) while Christ died (cf. Jn. 19:30, 33). These differences clearly prove that Christ is not God.

      2. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself taught that the one true God is the Father, not Himself:

         “After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: ‘Father… this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God’.” (Jn. 17:1, 3, NIV)

         Thus, the teaching that God has three appearances or three persons-also referred to as the doctrine of the Trinity-is unscriptural. The Holy Scriptures teach that there is only one God, the Father (cf. I Cor. 8:6), who is Lord from everlasting to everlasting (cf. Ps. 90:1-2).

     3. Regarding the soul and the spirit, the Bible explains that man is composed of three parts:

      “May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Thess. 5:23, NIV)

       Some people believe that there is no difference between the soul and the spirit. The Bible teaches otherwise:

      “The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and the spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of man’s heart.” (Heb. 4:12, Today’s English Version).

      The soul is the inward man that is renewed day by day (cf. II Cor. 4:16). Once a person dies, the soul dies and clings to the ground (cf. Ps. 44:25) while the spirit goes back to God who gave it (cf. Eccl. 12:7).

    4. True baptism entails that the one to be baptized be united with Christ in His death in which the old self is buried with Him (cf. Rom. 6:3-6). Hence, the person being baptized is immersed in water (cf. Acts 8:38) as though he is being buried.

      On why some religions such as the Catholic Church baptize by sprinkling, James Cardinal Gibbons, a Catholic archbishop, wrote in the book The faith of our Fathers, thus:

     “For several centuries after the establishment of Christianity, Baptism was usually conferred by immersion; but since the twelfth century the practice of baptizing by infusion has prevailed in the Catholic Church, as this manner is attended with less inconvenience than Baptism immersion.” (p. 228)

      Some religions adapt in their method of baptism for the sake of convenience. This, however, against the strict prohibition of God that man must neither add nor subtract from His commands (cf. Dt. 12:32).

___________________

Bible Study Suggestion: If you have further questions, please feel free to visit the Iglesia ni Cristo congregation nearest you. A minister or an evangelical worker would be happy to answer any biblical question you have in mind.

Ang Likas na Kalagayan ni Cristo (Ikawalong Bahagi)

Ang pinagmulan ng aral na si Cristo ay Diyos

SA NAKARAANG LATHALA ay inilahad dito ang mga patotoo na ang orihinal na paniniwala ng mga unang Cristiano tungkol kay Cristo ay Siya’y tao at hindi Diyos. Ngayon naman ay mahalagang maliwanagan kung paano nabuo ang lumaganap na aral na si Cristo ay Diyos.

Ayon sa paring Jesuita na si Pedro Sevilla, utay-utay na binalangkas ng Iglesia Katolika ang paniniwalang si Cristo Jesus ay Diyos:

“Ipinahayag ng ilang dalubhasa na utay-utay na binalangkas ng Simbahan ang pananampalataya sa pagka-Diyos ni Jesus sa impluho ng mga ibang relihiyon.” (At Nagsalita ang Diyos sa Pamamagitan ng Kanyang Anak, p. 18)¹

Maliwanag sa mga kaanib ng unang Iglesia na iisa lamang ang tunay na Diyos at si Cristo ay ang Kaniyang Anak. Sa paglaganap ng Iglesia ni Cristosa dako ng mga Gentil o mga pagano – mga taong nasanay sa pagsamba sa diyus-diyusan - may mga nag-akala sa kanila na Diyos si Cristo (The Meaning of the Dead Sea Scrolls, p. 90)² dahil sa nabalitaan nila ang mga himala at kababalaghang ginawa Niya noong Siya ay narito pa sa lupa. Hindi ito kataka-taka dahil nang makita nilang pinagaling nina Apostol Pablo at Bernabe ang isang lalaking pilay ay napagkamalan din nila na ang mga ito’y diyos na nagkatawang-tao. Tinawag nilang Jupiter si Bernabe at Mercurio si Apostol Pablo (Gawa 14:11-12).

Ang pagsisimula ng maling paniniwalaNahihiwatigan na ng mga apostol ang pagbabago ng paniniwala tungkol kay Cristo kaya’t si Apostol Pablo ay nagbabala sa mga Cristianong Gentil na nasa Corinto:

“Nguni’t ako’y natatakot, baka sa anomang paraan, kung paanong si Eva ay nadaya ng ahas sa kaniyang katusuhan, ang inyong walang malay at malinis na mga pagiisip na kay Cristo ay pasamain. Sapagka’t kung yaong paririto ay mangaral ng ibang Jesus, na hindi namin ipinangaral, o kung kayo’y nagsisitanggap ng ibang espiritu na hindi ninyo tinaggap, o ibang evangelio na hindi ninyo tinanggap, ay mabuting pagtiisan ninyo.” (II Cor. 11:3-4)

Pinangambahan ni Apostol Pablo na ang mga Cristiano ay mahulog sa paniniwala sa ibang Jesus – o sa Jesus na iba sa ipinangaral niya at ng iba pang mga apostol. Ayon na rin sa mga nagsaliksik sa Biblia, makikita rin natin sa mga sulat ni Apostol Juan ang katulad ng ibinabala ni Apostol Pablo. Ayon daw kay Apostol Juan, may mga Cristianong tumanggi sa katotohanang si Cristo ay tunay na tao, na ito ay iba sa orihinal na paniniwala kay Cristo ng mga unang Cristiano:

“Ang unang sulat ni Juan ay nagpapahayag tungkol sa mga dating kabilang sa komunidad na Cristiano ngunit ngayon ay humiwalay na. Tinaggihan nila ang pagiging tunay na tao ni Cristo.” (The History of Christianity, p. 84)³

Pinatunayan din ni Dr. A. Powell Davies sa kaniyang akda na The Meaning of the Dead Sea Scrolls na sa mga Gentil o pagano lumitaw ang isipang Diyos si Cristo:

“Sa panahong ang Cristianismo ay lumaganap sa daigdig ng mga Pagano lumitaw ang ideya na si Jesus ay Tagapagligtas na Diyos.” (p. 90)⁴

Sa kasaysayan, si Ignacio na naging Obispo ng Antioquia ang pinakaunang tumawag kay Cristo na Diyos sa kaniyang mga sinulat, noong ikalawang siglo:

“Ang mga pinakaunang manunulat pagkatapos ng mga sumulat ng Bagong Tipan, na tinatawag na mga Apostolic Fathers, ang nagpatuloy sa pagbabagong naganap sa huling panahon ng Bagong Tipan na pagtawag kay Cristo na Diyos. Ipinahayag ni Ignacio, na sumulat noong ikalawang siglo sa mga taga-Efeso na ‘si Jesucristong ating Diyos ay isinilang ni Maria’ (Efe 18:2) at ‘ang Diyos ay nagpapakita na ngayon sa anyong tao’ (Efe 19:3).” (Word Become Flesh: Dimensions of Christology, pp. 161-162)⁵

Ang pagbabago ng pananaw o pagkakilala ng mga Cristianong Gentil tungkol kay Cristo ay nagbunga ng mga pagtatalo na lumaganap hanggang sa siyudad ng Alejandria sa Ehipto. Ito’y pinatutunayan ng kasaysayan:

“Ilang taon bago ito, sa siyudad ng Alejandria sa Ehipto, bumangon ang isang pagtatalo kung si Jesucristo ba ay talagang Diyos o hindi.” (The Story of the Church, p. 30)⁶

Ang katanungan kung si Cristo ay Diyos o tao ay hindi nagkaroon ng katugunan, kung kaya’t ito ay namalaging katanungan sa loob halos ng tatlong daang taon:

“Ang malaking tanong na bumabagabag sa isipan ng Iglesia sa loob ng halos tatlong daang taon ay kung si Cristo, ang Anak, ay tunay at ganap na Diyos na gaya ng Ama.” (The Church in History, p. 30)⁷

Naging masalimuot ang pagkakabuo ng aral na si Cristo ay Diyos at hindi naging pinal kundi noon lamang ikaapat na siglo:

“Pagkatapos ng kaniyang pagkamatay, ipinasiya ng kaniyang mga alagad na si Jesus ay Diyos. Ito ay hindi kaagad nangyari; gaya ng makikita natin, ang doktrina na si Jesus ay Diyos na nag-anyong tao ay hindi ganap na nabuo hanggang noong ikaapat na siglo. Ang pagkakabuo ng paniniwalang Cristiano sa Inkarnasyon ay isang unti-unti at masalimuot na proseso. Si Jesus mismo ay tiyak na hindi kailanman nag-angkin ng pagiging Diyos …” (A History of God, p. 81)⁸

Ang paganong emperador na si Constantino ay nakaalam sa masalimuot na suliranin tungkol sa likas na kalagayan ni Cristo. Siya ang tumawag ng Konsilyo sa Nicea noong 325 A.D.:

“… Nagsimulang makialam si Constantino sa mga bagay ng Iglesia. Ang mga nauna sa kaniya ay nakapangibabaw sa mga relihiyong Romano; kaya sinusundan ni Constantino ang isang pamarisan sa paraang sinubukan niyang pamahalaan ang Iglesia. Isang taon makalipas na maging kaisa-isang pinuno, tinawag ni Constantino ang mga Obispo sa isang konsilyo upang pag-usapan ang isang suliraning humahati sa mga Cristiano na lalong lumigalig sa Silangan.” (The Cathoolic Church: Our Mission in History, p. 99)⁹

Si Cristo sa Kredo ng NiceaBagaman walang nalalaman sa mga aral tungkol kay Cristo, ginamit ni Constantino ang kaniyang kapangyarihan upang ipatawag ang mga obispo at magtipun-tipon sa Nicea. Ganito ang paglalahad ng paring Katoliko na si Mar D.J. Arenas:

“Nag-alala si Emperador Constantino sa maaaring maging bunga nito sa kaayusan at kalagayang politikal ng kaharian, kaya’t sa bisa ng kanyang kapangyarihan, ipinatawag niya ang mga obispo ng Simbahan. Iminungkahi niyang magtipon ang mga ito sa isang kapulungan na siyang babalangkas sa tunay na aral ng Simbahan tungkol dito. At ang piniling pook para sa kapulungang ito ay ang bayan ng Nicea, sa hilagang bahagi ng Asya Minor. Ito ay naganap noong 325 A.D. na kung saan ay nagkatipon ang humigit-kumulang na 300 obispo.” (Isang Pastol Isang Kawan, p. 17)¹⁰

Sinasabi rin ng kasaysayan na noong ipatawag ng paganong emperador ang mga Obispo na magtipon sa Nicea, ang kaniyang liham para sa kanila ay may kasamang regalo at mga pananakot. Ganito ang pahayag ng paring Jesuita na si Pedro Sevilla:

“Tinawag ang Konsilyong ito ni Emperador Constantino sa pamamagitan ng mga sulat na may kasamang regalo, ngunit mga sulat na naglalaman din ng pananakot. Nagkatipon sa Nicea ang mga Obispo, pari, diakono (kasama sa mga ito si Atanasio, mga mananalumpati (rhetoricians), at mga pilosopo (dialecticians: mga laiko na nagpapaupa ng kanilang paglilingkod). Dumating ang Emperador at siya ang namuno.” (Ang Kabanalbanalang Isangtatlo: Ang Diyos ng mga Kristiyano, p. 107)¹¹

Sa Konsilyo ng Nicea ay ipinag-utos ni Emperador Constantino na pagkasunduan ng mga obispong nagpulong na si Cristo ay Diyos:

“Ang Konsilyo ay hindi magkasundo at pagkalipas ng dalawang taon [sic], naiinip sa pagkabalam, lumabas ang Emperador Constantino at nagsalita sa kapulungan, na inutusan silang magkaisa sa pagka-Diyos ni Cristo (paanong maaangkin ng emperador para sa sarili ang pagka-diyos kung itanggi ang sa Tagapagligtas?).” (Challenge of a Liberal Faith, p. 60)¹²

Tinanggap ng mga obispo ang Kredo ng Nicea dahil na rin sa panggigipit ni Emperador Constantino:

“Sa tag-init ng 325, may tatlong daang delegadong obispo, karamihan ay mula sa Silangan, ang nagtagpo sa Nicea, makatawid ng Bosphorus mula sa Constantinopla, at gawin ang napatanyag na pormula ng Kredo ng Nicea. …

“Ang Kredong ito na nagpatibay dahil sa pamimilit ng emperador, na naghahangad ng kapayapaan, ay di kaagad nakalutas sa mga kaguluhan sa doktrina o nakapagsalba sa kapayapaan.” (Man’s Religions, p. 625)¹³

Nang mapagtibay ang Kredo, ang pagtanggi na si Cristo ay Diyos ay itinuring na isang krimen laban sa estado:

“Matapos na itong ‘Kredo ng Nicea’ ay hayagang malagdaan ng mga obispo at iproklama ni Constantino, ito ay naging opisyal na kredo para sa lahat ng Cristiano. Ang pagtanggi sa pagka-Diyos ni Cristo sa anumang paraan ay katumbas ng paglalagay ng sarili sa labas ng komunidad ng mga Cristiano at isang krimen sa estado.” (The Emerging Church, Part One, p. 110)¹⁴

Sa mga katotohanang ating natunghayan, lalong nagliwanag ang katotohanan na ang paniniwalang si Cristo ay tunay na Diyos ay hindi siyang orihinal na paniniwala ng mga unang Cristiano. Utay-utay na nabuo ang aral na ito noong nasa langit na si Cristo at patay na ang mga manunulat ng Bagong Tipan. Ang aral na ito ay dapat itakuwil at balikan ang orihinal na paniniwala ng mga unang Cristiano na si Cristo ay katangi-tanging tao ngunit hindi Diyos (Gawa 2:22-23, Easy-to-Read Version). (May Karugtong)
Sanggunian

¹ Sevilla, Pedro C., S.J. At Nagsalita ang Diyos sa Pamamagitan ng Kanyang Anak. Lunsod ng Quezon: Dalubhasang Panteyolohiya ng Loyola-Pamantasang Ateneo de Manila, 1981.

² Davies, A. Powell. The Meaning of the Dead Sea Scrolls. USA: Mentor, 1956.

³ “The first letter of John speaks of those who once belonged to the Christian community but now departed. They denied the true humanity of Jesus Christ.” (Dowley, Tim. The History of Christianity. USA: Lion Publishing, 1990.)

⁴ “It was when Christianity spread out into the Pagan world that the idea of Jesus as a Savior God emerged …” (Davies, op, cit.)

⁵ “The earliest post-New Testament writers, known as the Apostolic Fathers, continued the development that had emerged in the later New Testament period of calling Jesus God. Ignatius of Antioch, writing in the second century to the Ephesians, declares, ‘Jesus Christ our God was conceived of Mary’ (Eph. 18:2) and, ‘God was now appearing in human form’ (Eph 19:3).” (McDermott, Brian O., S.J. Word Become Flesh: Dimensions of Christology. Makati City, Philippines: St. Pauls, 1997.)

⁶ “Several years before, in the Egyptian city of Alexandria, a dispute arose over whether or not Jesus Christ was really God.” (Anderson, H. George. The Story of the Church. Philadelphia. USA: Lutheran Church Press, 1966.)

⁷ “The great question which occupied the mind of the Church for some three hundred years was whether Christ, the Son, was as truly and fully God as the Father.” (Kuiper, B.K. The Church in History. n. p.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., n.d.)

⁸ “After his death, his followers decided that Jesus had been divine. This did not happen immediately; as we shall see, the doctrine that Jesus had been God in human form was not finalized until the fourth century. The development of Christian belief in the Incarnation was a gradual, complex process. Jesus himself certainly never claimed to be God …” (Armstrong, Karen. A History of God. USA: Ballantine Books, 1993.)

⁹ “… Constantine began to interfere in Church matters. His predecessors had dominated the Roman religions; so Constantine was following a precedent by trying to run the Church. A year after he became sole ruler, Constantine called the bishops together in a council to discuss a problem that was dividing Christians and was especially troublesome in the East.” (Pluth, Alphonsus. The Catholic Church: Our Mission in History. Minnesota, USA: Saint Mary’s Press, 1985.)

¹⁰ Arenas, Mar D.J. Isang Pastol Isang Kawan. Bulacan, Philippines: Guiguinto Press Printing, 1987.

¹¹ Sevilla, Pedro C., S.J. Ang Kabanalbanalang Isangtatlo: Ang Diyos ng mga Kristiyano. Quezon City, Philippines: Loyola School of Theology-Ateneo De Manila University, 1988.

¹² “The Council could not agree and after two years [sic], impatient at the delay, the Emperor Constantine appeared and addressed the assembly, ordering them to agree on the divinity of Christ (how could the emperor claim divinity if the Savior’s was denied?)” (Marshall, George N. Challenge of a Liberal Faith. Connecticut. USA: Keats Publishing, Inc. 1980.)

¹³ “In the summer of 325 some three hundred delegate bishops, mostly from the East, met at Nicea, across the Boshorus from Constantinople, and produced the famous formula of the Creed of Nicaea. …

“This creed adopted under pressure from the emperor, who wanted peace, did not immediately solve the doctrinal difficulties or save the peace.” (Noss, John B. Man’s Religions. New York, USA: The Macmillan Company, 1954.)

¹⁴ “Once this ‘Nicene Creed’ had been publicly signed by all the bishops and promulgated by Constantine, it became the official creed for all Christians. To deny the divinity of Christ in any way was to put oneself outside of the Christian community and was a crime against the state.” (Wilkins, Ronald J. The Emerging Church. Part One. Iowa, USA: Wm. C. Brown Company Publishers, 1968.)