Ang Ikakikilala Sa Bulaang Tagapangaral

LIBU-LIBO NA ANG bilang ng relihiyong nakatatag sa daigdig ngayon. Higit na marami kaysa rito ang bilang ng mga tagapangaral na ang lahat sa kanila ay nag-aangkin na sila ay tunay na sa Diyos. Ngunit, hindi maaaring lahat ay sa Diyos sapagkat ang kanilang mga aral ay magkakasalungat. Samakatuwid, ang maraming tagapangaral ay tiyak na mga bulaan.

Ang suliranin ng tao ngayon ay kung paano nila matitiyak kung sino ang tunay na mangangaral at kung sino ang bulaan. Nakataya sa wastong pagkilala sa kanila ang kaligtasan ng marami sa hatol ng Diyos.

Ayon kay Apostol Pedro, paano makikilala ang tunay na tagapangaral, tulad nila, sa kalipunan ng mga bulaan? Ganito ang kaniyang sagot:

“Ang ipinahayag naming sa inyo tungkol sa muling pagparito ng ating Panginoong Jesu-Cristo, na puspos ng kapangyarihan, ay hindi sa mga alamat na katha lamang ng tao. Nasaksihan naming ang kanyang kadakilaan nang ipagkaloob sa kanya ng Diyos Ama ang karangalan at kapurihan…” (II Ped. 1:16-17, Magandang Balita)

Ang tunay na tagapangaral ay nagtuturo ng dalisay na aral ng Diyos at hindi nagsasalig sa mga “alamat na katha lamang ng tao.” Samantala, ang mga bulaang tagapangaral ay nagsasalig sa katha at sila’y mapanlinlang sapagkat nanghuhula sila ng kabulaanan. Ganito ang pahayag ni Ezekiel na propeta ukol sa mga tagapangaral na bulaan:

“At itinapal ng mga propeta niyaon ang masamang argamasa para sa kanila, na nakakita ng walang kabuluhan, at nanganghuhula ng mga kabulaanan sa kanila, na nangasabi, Ganito ang sabi ng Panginoong Dios, dangang hindi sinalita ng Panginoon.” (Ezek. 22:28)

Ang Mga Kinatuparan

Ang isa sa mga relihiyon na kinatuparan ng hula tungkol sa lilitaw na magtuturo ng kabulaanan ay ang Adventista. Hinulaan ni Guillermo Miller, isa sa mga naging lider ng kilusang Adventista sa America, ang petsa ng pagdating ni Jesucristo ngunit hindi nagkatotoo ang kaniyang hula. Ganito ang sinasabi sa aklat na Ang Malaking Tunggalian:

“Si Guillermo Miller, isang masipag at tapat na mag-aaral ng mga Banal na Kasulatan, ay siyang nanguna sa malaking Kilusang Adventista sa Estados Unidos ng Amerika. Ang mga nangungulo sa kilusang ito ay nangagkamali sa kanilang paniniwala na si Kristo’y paririto sa lupa noon Oktubre 22, 1844.” (pp. 301-302)

Gaya ng mga Adventista noong ika-19 na siglo,ang mga tagapangaral ng mga Saksi ni Jehovah, ay nabigo sa kanilang pag-asa nang sila ay manghula ng kabulaanan:

“So, there were great expectations concerning 1914 on the part of many of the Bible Students. Yet, they also had received sound admonition in pages of The Watch Tower. Indeed, some Christians thought they were ‘going home’ to heaven in the autumn of that year. ‘But,’ says C.J. Woodworth, ‘October 1st, 1914, came and went – and years accumulated after that date – and the anointed were still here on earth. Some grew sour and fell away from the truth. Those who put their trust in Jehovah saw 1914 as truly a marked time – the ‘beginning of the end’ – but they also realized their previous concept was wrong concerning the ‘glorification of the saints,’ as it was stated’,” ( 1975 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, p. 74)

Sa Pilipino: 

“Kaya, nagkaroon ng malaking pag-asam ukol sa taong1914 sa panig ng marami sa mga nagsisipag-aral ng Biblia. Ngunit nakatanggap rin sila ng mabuting pagpapayo mula sa The Watch Tower. Tunay, inakala ng ilang mga Cristiano na sila’y ‘tutungo’ na sa langit sa taglagas ng taong yaon. ‘Ngunit,’ sabi ni C.J. Woodworth,’ ang Oktubre 1, 1914 ay dumating at umalis – at dumaan pa ang maraming taon pagkatapos ng petsang yaon – at ang mga pinahiran ay narito pa rin sa lupa. Ang ilan ay nawalan ng pananampalataya at humiwalay sa katotohanan. Itinuring niyaong mga nagsalig ng kanilang pagtitiwala kayJehova ang 1914 bilang tunay na tinandaang panahon – ang ‘simula ng wakas’ – ngunit napagtanto rin nila na ang kanilang nakaraang paniniwala ay mali tungkol sa ’pagpapaluwalhati sa mga banal,’ gaya ng pagkabanggit’.”

Dahil dito, hindi na natin maaaring ibilang na sa Diyos ang mga Adventista at mga Saksi ni Jehovah, kabilang na sila sa maling relihiyon sapagkat ang kanilang mga tagapangaral ay tagapagturong bulaan.



Iba Pang Ikakikilala Sa Bulaan

Ang isa pang tandang ikakikilala sa bulaang mangangaral at bulaang relihiyon ay binanggit ng ating Panginoong Jesucristo. Ganito ang sinabi niya sa Mateo 15:14:

“Hayaan ninyo sila. Sila’y mga bulag na tagaakay; at kapag bulag ang umakay sa bulag, kapwa sila mahuhulog sa hukay’.” (MB)

Ang mga bulaang tagapangaral ay mga bulag na tagaakay. Ang sinumang akayin ng mga ito ay mapapahamak lamang na tulad din ng mga tagapangaral nila. Ano ang ibig sabihin ng bulag na tagaakay? Ayon kayApostol Pablo:

“Ibig nilang maging guro ng kautusan gayong hindi nila nauunawaan ang kanilang sinasabi, ni ang mga bagay na itinuturo nila nang buong tiwala.” (1 Tim. 1:7, Ibid.)

Ang palatandaang ito ukol sa bulaang tagapangaral at relihiyon ay natupad naman sa Iglesia Katolika Romana. Inaamin ng mga awtoridad ng Iglesia Katolika na sila mismo na tagapangaral ay hindi nakauunawa! Ganito ang pahayag ni Rev. Andrew Greeley sa aklat na Your Teenager and Religion:

“The simple truth is that those of us who have the responsibility for teaching the real meaning of Christianity to the young have failed to convert it into language which has meaning in the contemporary world. We have not found the words which will stir young hearts. We have not found the modes of expression which will break through youthful apathy and indifference and fear. There may be all kinds of valid excuses for our failure, but the fact remains: when we speak about religion to young people they not know what we are talking about and really do not care to know. Perhaps the reason is that we do not know ourselves. This picture may be too black.” (pp. 13-14)

Sa Pilipino:

“Ang madaling unawaing katotohanan ay yaong ilan sa atin na may pananagutang ituro ang tunay na kahulugan ng Cristianismo sa mga kabataan ay nabigong isalin ito sa wikang may kahulugan sa pangkasalukuyang daigdig. Hindi pa natin natatagpuan ang paraan ng pananalita na mag-aalis sa pagwawalang-bahala at kalamigan ng loob at takot ng mga kabataan. Maaaring magkaroong lahat ng uri ng mga makatuwirang dahilan sa ating pagkabigo, ngunit mananatili ang katotohanan: kung tayo ay nagsasalita sa mga kabataan tungkol sa relihiyon hindi nila alam kung ano ang sinasabi natin at talagang wala silang pagpapahalagahang malaman. Marahil ang dahilan ay tayo rin mismo ang hindi nakakaalam. Ang paglalarawang ito ay maaaring napakaitim.”

Inaamin ng paring si Andrew Greeley na ang dahilan kung bakit hindi nila maipaunawa sa mga kabataan ang mga aral ng Iglesia Katolika ay sapagkat sila mismo ay hindi nakaaalam ng kanilang pananampalataya. Ano kaya ang dahilan at kapos sila sa pagkaunawa? Ganito ang sinasabi sa isa pang aklat ng Iglesia Katolika na sinulat ni Joseph Faa Di Runo:

“Moreover, a written Bible is a dead book. Nor is it an easy book, it does not explain itself.” (Catholic Belief, p. 4)

Sa Pilipino:

“Higit doon, and sinulat na Biblia ay isang patay na aklat. Ni hindi ito isang madaling unawaing aklat, hindi nito ipinaliliwanag ang kaniyang sarili.”

Paano nga makauunawa ng wastong pananampalataya ang mga paring Katoliko samantalang hindi nila nauunawaan ang mga nasusulat sa Biblia? Ang Biblia na kinaroroonan ng salita ng Diyos ay isa raw patay na aklat at hindi madaling unawain.

Ang totoo, ni hindi nauunawaan ng pari ang kaniyang ginagawa, halimbawa, sa panahon ng pagmimisa. Ganito ang pahayag sa aklat na The Restless Christian, sinulat ni Killian McDonnell, O.S.B., sa pahina 171:

“I did not fully understand what I did as I said Mass that day. I did not fully understand the power that is mine. I do not understand it now. It is a mystery…”

Sa Pilipino: 

“Hindi ko ganap na naunawaan ang ginawa ko sa aking pagsasagawa ng Misa sa araw na iyon. Hindi ko ganap na naunawaan ang kapangyarihan na aking taglay. Hindi ko ito nauunawaan ngayon. Ito’y isang hiwaga…”

Hindi lamang ang pagsasagawa ng Misa ang hindi nauunawaan ng mga pari. Maging ang kanilang pagtuturo ukol sa Diyos ay nababalot din ng maraming pagkakasalungatan. Ganito naman ang sinulat ng isang paring Jesuita na si Martin J. Scott sa kaniyang aklat na pinamagatang God and Myself, sa pahina 118-119:

“The Trinity is a wonderful mystery. No one understands it. The most learned theologian, the holiest Pope, the greatest saint, all are mystified by it as the child of seven. It is one of the things which we shall know only when we see God face to face….”

Sa Pilipino:

“Ang Trinidad ay isang kamangha-manghang misteryo. Walang sinumang nakauunawa nito. Ang pinakamarunong na teologo, ang pinakabanal na Papa, ang pinakadakilang santo, silang lahat ay nahihiwagaan dito tulad ng isang batang may pitong taong gulang. Isa ito sa mga bagay na malalaman lamang natin kapag nakita na natin ang Diyos nang mukhaan….”

Dahil dito, walang saysay na pag-aangkin ang ginawa ng mga tagapangaral na Katoliko kapag kanilang sinasabi na ang Iglesia Katolika ay sa Diyos. Kung ang Diyos mismo ay hindi nila nakikilala at nauunawaan, paano sila kikilalanin ng Diyos?

Hindi natin ito sinasabi sapagkat nais nating saktan ang damdamin ng maraming tao na ang nagisnan sa mundo ay ang aral ng Iglesia Katolika at iba pang relihiyon. Ang nais lamang ng mga ministro sa Iglesia ni Cristo ay makaiwas ang marami sa pagkadaya at pagkapahamak.

Ang Nakauunawa

Ang dapat na pakinggan ay ang tunay na nakauunawa ng salita ng Diyos sa ikaliligtas. Sinabi ng Panginoong Jesucristo ang ganito:

“Sa inyo ay ipinagkaloob ang makaalam ng hiwaga ng kaharian ng Dios: datapuwa’t sa kanilang nangasa labas, ang lahat ng mga bagay ay ginagawa sa pamamagitan ng mga talinghaga: Upang kung magsitingin sila’y mangakakita, at huwag mamalas; at kung mangakinig sila’y mangakarinig, at huwag mangakaunawa; baka sakaling sila’y magbalikloob, at patawarin sila.” (Mar. 4:11-12)

Kung gayon, may pinagkaloobang makaunawa ng salita ng Diyos. Hindi sila ang bulaan kundi mga tunay na mangangaral. Hindi sila “bulag na tagaakay” kundi nakauunawa at maghahatid sa tao sa kaligtasan at hindi sa hukay ng kapahamakan.

Hanapin natin ang mga tunay na tagapangaral upang makarating tayo sa Diyos, kay Cristo, at sa tunay na Iglesia upang tayo ay maligtas.

Katunayan nga ba ng pagiging Diyos ni Cristo?

Isang pagtalakay sa ilan pang talata ng Biblia na ginagamit na batayan ng mga nagsasabing si Cristo ang tunay na Diyos.

SA ARTIKULONG ITO ay susuriin natin ang ilan pa sa mga talata ng Biblia na ginagamit ng iba upang patunayang tama ang kanilang paniniwalang si Cristo ang tunay na Diyos. Sumasang-ayon kaya ang mga kinikilala nilang iskolar ng Biblia na ang mga talatang ito ay mapagbabatayan sa pagtuturong si Cristo ay Diyos?

I Juan 5:20
“At nalalaman natin na naparito ang Anak ng Dios, at tayo’y binigyan ng pagkaunawa, upang ating makilala siya na totoo, at tayo’y nasa kaniya na totoo, sa makatuwid ay sa kaniyang Anak na si Jesucristo. Ito ang tunay na Dios, at ang buhay na walang hanggan.”

Kung ang tatanungin ay ang mga iskolar ng Biblia na mula rin sa mga samahang panrelihiyon na nagtataguyod ng aral na si Cristo’y Diyos, ano kaya ang masasabi nila matapos nilang suriin ang talatang ito? Ganito ang patotoo ng isang komentarista at ministrong Protestante na si William Loader:

“3. [I Juan] 5:20-21. Pagkilala sa tunay na Diyos; pag-iwas sa idolatriya. Sa [manuskritong] Griyego ng 5:20 ay nakalagay lamang ang (isang) totoo at literal na mababasang: ‘nalalaman natin na naparito ang Anak ng Diyos, at tayo’y binigyan ng pagkaunawa’, upang ating makilala siya na (isang) totoo, at tayo’y nasa kaniya na (isang) totoo’, sa makatuwid ay sa kaniyang Anak na si Jesucristo. ‘Ito ang (isang) tunay na Diyos, at ang buhay na walang hanggan’. Malinaw dito na [sa buong sipi], ang (isang) totoo ay ang Diyos. Si Cristo ay ang kaniyang Anak. Sa huling pangungusap, ang (isang) ito ay natural lamang na tumutukoy pa rin sa Diyos, hindi kay Cristo, gaya ng iminumungkahi ng iba…” (The Johannine Epistle, p. 79.)¹*

Maliwanag na ayon kay William Loader, ang Ama, hindi si Cristo, ang tunay na Diyos na tinutukoy sa I Juan 5:20. Ang pahayag niyang ito ay kasang-ayon ng pagtuturo ni Cristo na ang Ama ang dapat makilala na iisang tunay na Diyos:

“At ito ang buhay na walang hanggan, na ikaw ay makilala nila na iisang Dios na tunay, at siyang iyong sinugo, sa makatuwid baga’y si Jesucristo.” (Juan 17:3)

I Juan 5:7“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” [Sapagkat may tatlong nagpapatotoo sa langit, ang Ama, ang Salita, at ang Espiritu Santo: at ang tatlong ito ay iisa.] (King James Version)

Ayon sa ibang mga nagtataguyod ng aral na si Cristo’y Diyos at ng doktrina ng Trinidad maliwanag daw sa talatang ito na ang Ama, ang Salita, at ang Espiritu Santo ay iisa. Ito raw ang katunayan na ang iisang Diyos ay may tatlong Persona at ang bawat persona ay tunay na Diyos. Si Cristo raw ang ikalawang persona, kaya, si Cristo ay tunay na Diyos.

Subalit dapat pansinin na walang sinasabi sa talatang ito na ang Diyos ay may tatlong persona. At lalong walang sinasabi na si Cristo ay Diyos.

Hindi lamang iyon, ang nilalaman ng I Juan 5:7 ng King James Version ay hindi mababasa o wala sa ibang salin ng Biblia. Napatunayan ng mga nagsuri na ang nakasaad sa talatang ito ay huwad – wala sa mga sinaunang manuskrito o sipi ng Biblia. Alinsunod sa iba pang nagsuri, ang nilalaman ng I Juan 5:7 sa King James Version ay idinagdag lamang noong ikalimang siglo. Tunghayan natin ang pahayag ng isang teologong Katoliko na si Hans Kűng:

“… Ang pinakamalinaw na patotoo, ang tanyag na Johannine Comma, na ipinagtanggol ng mga awtoridad Romano bilang tunay hanggang sa pagpasok ng panibagong siglo, na isang ‘pagdaragdag’ sa mga epistola ni Juan, tungkol sa Ama, Salita, at Espiritu, na iisa, ay karaniwan nang itinuturing ngayon bilang huwad (na nagmula sa Hilagang Aprika o España noong ikatlo o ikaapat na siglo).” (On Being a Christian, p. 472)²

Maging ang New Catholic Encyclopedia ay nagsasabing ang talatang ito ay hindi matatagpuan sa mga matatandang sulat-kamay na Griyego:

“Ang Comma (talata) ay wala sa lahat ng matatandang manuskritong Griyego ng BT [Bagong Tipan] maliban sa apat na bagu-bagong manuskrito na nasusulat mula ika-13 hanggang ika-16 na siglo. Ang Comma ay hindi kasama sa matatandang bersiyon sa Silangan tulad ng Peshitta, Philoxenian, Coptic, Ethiopic, at Armenian … Wala nang iskolar na tumatanggap na ito ay tunay.” (vol. 7, p. 1004)³

Malinaw na ang I Juan 5:7 ay hindi dapat ibigay na katunayan na si Cristo ay Diyos.

II Pedro 1:1“Si Simon Pedro, na alipin at apostol ni Jesucristo, sa nagsipagkamit na kasama namin ng mahalagang pananampalataya sa katuwiran ng ating Dios at Tagapagligtas na si Jesucristo.”

Sa talatang ito ay tinawag daw ni Apostol Pedro si Cristo na Diyos at Tagapagligtas. Ngunit tinaggihan ng isang iskolar ang ganitong pagkaunawa sapagkat ayon sa kaniyang pag-aaral, ang talatang ito ay katulad din ng nasa Tito 2:13 na dalawa ang tinutukoy. Tunghayan natin ang kaniyang paliwanag:

“Sumusunod, sa mga salitang, ng ating Diyos at [ating] Tagapagligtas na si Jesucristo, ay ipapakahulugan ko, tulad ng Tito 2:13 [ kung saan, tingnan ang nota] na ang ating Diyos ay tumutukoy sa Ama, at ang [ating] Tagapagligtas na si Jesucristo ay tumutukoy sa Anak. Dito ay may karagdagang konsiderasyon na pabor sa ganitong pananaw, na ang Dalawa ay maliwanag na magkaiba sa susunod na talata.” (The New Testament for English Readers, p. 1671)⁴

Ayon naman kay Karen Armstrong, na isang dating madre ng Iglesia Katolika, hindi tinawag ni Apostol Pedro si Cristo na Diyos. Tunghayan natin ang kaniyang pahayag:

“… Hindi ipinahayag ni Pedro na si Jesus na taga-Nazaret ay Diyos.Siya ay ‘tao, na pinatunayan ng Diyos sa inyo sa pamamagitan ng mga himala at tanda na ginawa ng Diyos sa pamamagitan niya nang siya ay nasa gitna ninyo’.” (A History of God, p. 107)⁵

Samakatuwid, inaamin maging ng mga naniniwala at dating naniniwala na si Cristo’y Diyos na ang II Pedro 1:1 ay hindi nagpapatunay sa kanilang pinaniniwalaan.

I Timoteo 3:16
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”[At walang pagtatalo, dakila ang hiwaga ng kabanalan: Ang Diyos ay nahayag sa laman, pinapaging-banal sa Espiritu, nakita ng mga anghel, ipinangaral sa mga Gentil, sinampalatayanan sa sanlibutan, tinanggap sa itaas sa kaluwalhatian.] (KJV)

Inuunawa ng iba ang talatang ito na si Cristo raw ay Diyos na nagkatawang-tao. Tama kaya ang pagkaunawang ito? Tunghayan natin ang pahayag ng mga nagsuri sa talatang ito. Ayon sa The International Bible Commentary, ang salitang “Diyos” sa mga katagang “Ang Diyos ay nahayag sa laman” na siyang pagkakaliwat sa King James Version ay mali. Ang dapat daw na ginamit ay ang panghalip na “Siya” sa halip na ang salitang “Diyos”:

“Ang panghalip na Siya kung saan ang himno ay nagsisimula, ay dapat unawaing tumutukoy kay Cristo. Ang pagbasang Griyego na pinagbabatayan ng salin sa AV [Authorized o King James Version] na ‘Diyos’ ay halos tiyak na mali …” (p. 1479)⁶

Ganito rin halos ang sinasabi sa iba’t ibang komentaryo ng Biblia:

“3:16 Ang pinakamatatandang tekstong Griyego ay nagsasaad ng ‘Siya’ sa halip na ‘Diyos’. Ang sumusunod na anim na parirala ay tila sinipi mula sa isang matandang himnong Cristiano …” (The Criswell Study Bible, footnote)⁷

“… Sa pinakamahuhusay na manuskrito ay mababasang ‘Siya’, na tumutukoy kay Cristo. Siya ay pinapaging-banal sa pamamagitan ng paraan ng paggawa sa kaniya ng Espiritu.” (The Westminster Study Edition of the Holy Bible, footnote)⁸

Malinaw sa maraming patotoo na sinipi natin mula sa mga iskolar ng Biblia na hindi dapat pagbatayan ang I Timoteo 3:16 sa paniniwalang si Cristo ay Diyos na nagkatawang-tao.

Ayon kay John Wycliffe, ang salitang “siya” sa I Timoteo 3:16 ay tumutukoy kay Cristo at ang salitang “laman” ay tumutukoy sa pagiging tao ni Cristo. Tunghayan natin ang kaniyang pahayag:

“… Ang konteksto ay malinaw na nagpapakita na ang tinutukoy ni Pablo ay si Cristo kapag sinasabi niyang: Siya na nahayag sa laman (ASV) [American Standard Version] … Lahat ng pangunahing salita ay nauulit sa ibang mga sulat ni Pablo. Laman. Madalas na binibigyang-diin ni Pablo ang pagkatao ni Cristo sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng salitang ito (Roma 1:3; 8:3; 9:5; Efe. 5:15; Col. 1:22; Heb. 5:7; 10:20)…” (The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1375)⁹

Tunay na si Cristo ay nagtaglay ng mga katangiang di taglay ng ibang tao (Gawa 2:36; 5:31; I Tim. 2:5; Efe. 1:20-22; Filip. 2:9-11) subalit, nananatili ang katotohanang tao ang Kaniyang likas na kalagayan at hindi Siya ang tunay na Diyos (Juan 8:40; I Tim. 2:5; Mat. 1:20; Ose. 11:9; Ezek. 28:2). At gaya ng ating napatunayan sa ating pagsusuring ito, mismong mga iskolar na mula sa mga samahang nagtataguyod ng aral na si Cristo’y Diyos ang nagsasabing ang mga talatang diumano’y nagpapatunay sa pagiging-Diyos ni Cristo ay hindi sang-ayon sa Biblia at, kung gayon, ay hindi wastong gamiting batayan sa pagtuturo ng gayong maling paniniwala.

ENDNOTES:

¹“3. 5:20-21. Knowing the true God; avoiding idolatry. The Greek of 5:20 has only the true (one) and reads literally: ‘we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding’ so that we know the true (one) and we are in the true (one)’, in his Son Jesus Christ. ‘The (one) is the true God and eternal life.’ It is clear from this that ‘the true (one)’ is God throughout. Christ is his Son. In the final sentence this (one) most naturally refers still to God, not to Christ, as some have suggested.” (Loader, William. The Johannine Epistle. London: Epworth Press, 1992.)

² “… The clearest testimony, the famous Johannine Comma, defended as authentic by the Roman authorities up to the turn of the century, an ‘interpolation’ into the first epistle of John, about Father, Word and Spirit, who are one, is generally regarded today as a forgery (originating in North Africa or Spain in the third or fourth century.” (Kűng, Hans. On Being a Christian. New York. Pocket Books, 1976.)

³ “The Comma is absent in all the ancient Greek manuscripts of the NT with the exception of four rather recent manuscripts that date from the 13th to 16th centuries. The Comma is lacking in such ancient Oriental versions as the Peshitta, Philoxenian, Coptic, Ethiopic, and Armenian … No scholar any longer accepts its authenticity.” (New Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 7. Washington, D.C.: The Catholic University of America, 1967.)

⁴“Next, in the words, of our God and [our] Saviour Jesus Christ, I would interpret, as in Titus ii, 13 [where see note] our God of the Father, and [our] Saviour Jesus Christ of the Son. Here, there is the additional consideration in favour of this view, that the Two are distinguished most plainly in the next verse.” (The New Testament for English Readers, vol. 4. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1983.)

⁵ “… Peter did not claim that Jesus of Nazareth was God. He ‘was a man, commended to you by God by the miracles and portents and signs that God worked through him when he was among you…” (Armstrong, Karen. A History of God. London: Mandarin Paperbacks, 1994.)

⁶ “By the pronoun He with which the hymn opens, is to be understood, Christ. The Greek reading which underlies the AV translation ‘God’ is almost certainly wrong …” (Bruce, F.F., General Editor. The International Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1986.)

⁷ “3:16 The earliest Greek texts have ‘He’ rather than ‘God’. The six phrases which follow appear to be a quotation from an early Christian hymn…” (Criswell, W. A., Ph.D., ed. The Criswell Study Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Pubs., 1979.)

⁸ “… The best manuscripts read, ‘Who’, referring to Christ. He wasjustified by the way the Spirit worked in him.” (The Westminster Study Edition of the Holy Bible. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1968.)

⁹ “The context makes it plain that Paul is referring to Christ when he says:He who was manifest in the flesh (ASV) … All the leading words occur elsewhere in Paul’s writings. Flesh. Paul frequently emphasizes the humanity of Christ by the use of this word (Rom 1:3; 8:3; 9:5; Eph 5:15; Col 1:22; Heb 5:7; 10:20)…” (Pfeiffer, Charles F. and Everett F. Harrison, eds.The Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Chicago: Moody Press, 1990.)

* NOTA: Lahat ng sinipi mula sa mga reperensiyang Ingles ay isinalin sa Filipino. Sadyang nilagyan ng diin ng may akda ang ilang bahagi ng mga siniping reperensiya.

The angel having the seal of the living God

TO DISPROVE THE commission of Brother Felix Y. Manalo as God’s messenger in these last days, detractors vehemently deny the teaching that the so-called “Big Four” of the First World War are the fulfillment of the “four angels” mentioned in Revelation 7:1-3.

To make our discussion clear, let us first find out the meaning of the word “angel.” Angel means “messenger,” one who is sent by God. An angel could be either a spirit or a man in state of being. Scholars and religious writers agree that the term angel denotes the office and not the state of being of the one being sent. John the Baptist, although a man, is called an angel because he was sent to prepare the way of the Lord Jesus (cf. Jn. 1:6; Mt. 11:7-10, Douay-Rheims Version).

Heads of nations are messengers

Revelation 7:1-3 which contains the biblical prophecy on the “four angels” says:

“After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.

“Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, ‘Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads’.” (New King James Version)

The “four angels” mentioned in the preceding verses do not refer to ministering spirits sent by God to deliver short messages to certain persons as the angel Gabriel did. Neither are they preachers of God’s teachings as John the Baptist was. Instead, they are leaders of nations sent by God to fulfill special functions.

Apostle Peter stated that even kings and governors or representatives of nations are sent by God (cf. I Pt. 2:13-14). They are also called angels in the category of messengers of nations according to the Prophet Isaiah:

“What will one then answer the messengers of the nations?” (Is. 14:32,NKJV)

Head of states are messengers and are, therefore, called angels. The “four angels” mentioned in Revelation 7:1-3 are heads of states, messengers of their respective countries, “holding the wind.” This prophecy was fulfilled by the “Big Four” of the first world war, namely, Woodrow Wilson (US president), David Lloyd George (British prime minister), Georges Clemenceau (French premier), and Vittoro Orlando (Italian premier).

Critics of the Iglesia ni Cristo, however, believe otherwise, saying that Orlando of Italy was anticlerical, and, therefore, could not have been sent by God.

The Bible, on the other hand, shows that the works of the messengers sent by God are not in all cases religious or spiritual in nature. For instance, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, was a pagan; yet he was sent by God (cf. Jer. 43:10). The Persian king Cyrus, too, was sent although he did not worship God (cf. Is. 44:28; 45:1). Hence, belief in God among heads of states is not a necessary condition for them to be sent by God. A person is God’s messenger so long as God had chosen him for a specific work. Unlike those sent by God to preach the gospel, representatives of nations need not be God-fearing or believers in God in order to be called angels or messengers.

The four angels “holding the wind”

In the prophecy, the “four angels” were seen “holding the wind.” The term “wind” does not refer to a literal current of air. The wind, accompanied by chariots like whirlwind and horses swifter than eagles (cf. Jer. 4:11-13), has caused much pain to people who heard “The sound of the trumphet, The alarm of war” (cf. Jer. 4:19, NKJV). The “wind” mentioned in Revelation 7:1-3 is, therefore, a war. But, what kind of war is it? A related prophecy in Isaiah says:

“Come near, you nations, to hear; And heed, you people! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, The world and all things that come forth from it. For the indignation of the Lord is against all nations, And His fury against all their armies; He has utterly destroyed them, He has given them over to the slaughter.” (Is. 34:1-2, Ibid.)

This war is global in scope because it involves the armies of all nations being delivered over to the slaughter. Some weapons of this war are even compared to “chariots like whirlwind” and to “horses swifter than eagles.” History testifies to a world war wherein the weapons used are described as such. This was the case during the First World War:

“The First World War was unlike any war in the past… This was the first war ‘in three dimensions,’ the first war in which cites ware bombed from the air and winged warriors fought among the clouds. Of course the airplanes of 1914 were not so fast, so formidable, nor so numerous as those of today. There were really more important as scouts ( a kind of aerial ‘cavalry’) … the British had invented the tank, or land battleship – an armored automobile which could move on rough ground because it was built like a tractor.” (World History, pp. 478-479)

History attests that it was during the First World War when “chariots like whirlwind” or war tanks and “horses swifter that eagles” or airplanes were first used.

This world war was halted by the “four angels” who were heads of nations. In fulfillment, the First World War ceased through the efforts of the “Big Four” who met in Paris to confer concerning the treaty of Versailles:

“Orlando of Italy, Lloyd George of Great Britain, Clemanceau of France, and Wilson of America were called the Big Four when they met in Paris to confer concerning the Treaty of Versailles.” (Ibid., caption, p. 494)

The prophecy, therefore, concerning the “four angels” holding the wind (or war) as what has been mentioned earlier was fulfilled in the persons of Orlando of Italy, Lloyd George of Great Britain, Clemenceau of France, and Wilson of America popularly known as the “Big Four.” These four leaders of nations were instrumental in putting an end to the war in 1914.

Why is the cry of the other “angel ascending from the east” to the “four angels” : ”Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees” at the time they were seen holding the wind or stopping the war? This is because the “four angels” were granted the power “to harm the earth and the sea” (cf. Rev. 7:2, NKJV) or they had the authority either to continue the war or to stop it. Such really was the case as recorded in history:

“Early in May, 1919, the representatives of Germany were invited to the Peace Conference and asked to sign the treaty which was handed to them. They objected to the hard but just conditions which the treaty imposed upon their country and spent several weeks in pleading for easier terms. Some minor changes were made in the treaty, and on June 16th the final conditions were presented to the Germans, who were told that if they did not accept them the Allies would resume operations against their country. When faced with this possibility, Germany gave way and agreed to accept the terms of the Allies.” (History of the United States, p. 594)

History affirms that it was within the power of the “Big Four” to resume military operations against Germany. Had the Germans refused to accept the provisions of the treaty, the Allied powers would have certainly resumed operations against them. Hence, the cry: “Do not harm the earth and the sea.”

Does this mean that Brother Felix Y. Manalo, whom we believe is the fulfillment of the other angel in the prophecy, personally communicated with the “Big Four”? Why does the prophecy state that the other angel or messenger of God ascending from the east cried to the “four angels”? How was this fulfilled?

The cry of the other angel

To understand this, let us refer to the preaching of John the Baptist. The preaching of John the Baptist was depicted in the prophecy of Isaiah as a cry in the wilderness. He said, “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord”,’ ” (cf. Jn. 1:23, NKJV). Why is John’s preaching depicted as a cry in the wilderness? Below is the account of the evangelist Luke:

“And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight”.’

“Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’. For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.” (Lk. 3:3-4, 9, Ibid.)

John’s preaching was contrary to what the people believed during his time. Hence, his preaching was likened to a “cry in the wilderness” – a lone and righteous voice among the multitudes of his time.

In like manner, the function of the angel ascending from the east having the seal of the living God was to seal the servants of God in their foreheads for their salvation, whereas the work of the “four angels” had something to do with destruction.

What is meant by “seal” and how is “sealing” of the servants of God done? The Holy Scriptures explain, thus:

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Eph. 1:13-14, Ibid.)

The Holy Spirit is the “seal” and the act of “sealing” is the preaching of the word of truth, the gospel of salvation, unto those who believe. This sealing function is done by God’s messenger (cf. Rom. 10:14-15). “Sealing” or preaching the gospel is a work leading to salvation, unlike the work of the “four angels” or the “Big Four.”

Thus, the testimonies of history clearly conform to the prophecy of the Holy Bible regarding the “four angels” or the “Big Four.” It is, therefore, beyond doubt that the work of Brother Felix Y. Manalo as God’s messenger in these last days is the work of God (cf. Jn. 6:29)!

To Die a Righteous Death

Even though man can point to triumphs in meaningful pursuits and fields of knowledge, he cannot prevent death.

“Let me end my days like one of God’s people; Let me die in peace like the righteous.” – Numbers 23:10, Today’s English Version
“A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.” – Psalm 49:20, New International Version
MAN’S ADVANCEMENT in the field of science and technology has been remarkable, especially in the last century. He has been able to land sophisticated probes on other planets; he can now meld the seed of one kind of grain with another in order to produce a new, more sturdy variety; through studying DNA, he is able to virtually peer into the building blocks of life in an attempt to not only find the remedy to many diseases, but to even avoid such maladies from birth. Truly, the progress of human knowledge is astounding and will continue to be so at an even more rapid pace.

But in spite of man’s success, there is one thing that he will never be able to dominate, control, or overcome by himself alone. Ecclesiastes 8:8 proclaims:

“no one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, And no one has power in the day of death. There is no release from that war, And wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it.” (New King James Version)

Even though man can point to triumphs in meaningful pursuits and fields of knowledge, he cannot prevent death. But why can’t man prevent death, considering that he seemingly is able to cope with many problems of life? Job 12:10 reveals the following:

“For the soul of every living thing is in the hand of God, and the breath of all mankind.” (Living Bible)

Man, on his own, cannot overcome death because it is beyond his own power. Life and death is under the dominion and power of the Creator – none other than the Almighty God. We live and breathe only until He permits us. When the time and day of our death comes, there is nothing we can do to prevent it from happening.

Just how fragile is the life of man? The apostles liken it to a vapor or mist:

“You don’t even know what your life tomorrow will be! You are like a puff of smoke, which appears for a moment and then disappears.” (James 4:14,Today’s English Version)

To die a righteous death
The life of a human being is indeed very delicate since he faces death in a variety of ways (I Cor. 15:30-31). If not through sickness, we might face death while traveling. And there is also the threat of suffering brutality or violence in the hands of our fellowmen. Even in the assumed security of our own homes, the danger of death is apparent, what with the threat of some burglar invading our privacy or of the accidental misuse of electrical equipment that can trigger a fire. Though we may be able to steer clear of such travails in life, but in the end, the truth remains that man cannot escape death because this has been appointed for all men (Heb. 9:27). Not even a person’s wealth or fame can keep him from the grave (Ps. 49:16-17, 20).

Despite this, however, the Bible teaches of a death that all men should aspire for. This is the death of the righteous or to die as one of God’s people:

“The descendants of Israel are like the dust – There are too many of them to be counted. Let me end my days like one of God’s people; Let me die in peace like the righteous.” (Num. 23:10, TEV)

How, on the other hand, does the Bible describe the death of those who are not counted amongst the righteous or the people of God? Psalm 49:20 answers, thus:

“A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.” (New International Version)

Those who lack a certain understanding or knowledge will die just as the beasts of the field do: theirs is a meaningless death. No matter what they may have attained in life, be it wealth or fame; all of it will be for naught because they lack understanding. What is not understood by those whose death is likened to that of beasts? Jeremiah 9:23-24 makes known this:

“This is what the LORD says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight’, declares the LORD.” (Ibid.)

The ungodly who will perish like animals are those who do not recognize or acknowledge God. These include atheists who deny that God exists and the agnostics who argue that there is no proof of God’s existence. But are they the only ones who will die like beasts? Titus 1:16 states this:

“They claim that they know God, but their actions deny it. They are hateful and disobedient, not fit to do anything good.” (TEV)

Even if a person professes belief in God, his actions or deeds – disobedience – belie this. So those who refuse to acknowledge God and those who claim to know Him, but who, through their deeds, deny Him will both suffer the death that is likened to that of the animals. Worse, these people will be punished by God on the day of Judgment:

“In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and for the glory of His power.” (II Thess. 1:8, NKJV)

Thus those who refuse to acknowledge God should change before it is too late.

How about those who claim to know God but their actions belie it? What actions or deeds are expected from them in order for them to be recognized by God? I John 2:3 teaches, thus:

“If we obey God’s commands, then we are sure that we know him.” (TEV)

Obedience to the commandments of God is of paramount importance since it is through this that we can prove that we truly know or recognize Him. In fact, those who claim to know God but refuse to obey all His statutes are deemed liars in His sight (I John 2:4). On the other hand, what will become of those who obey the commandments of God until the end? Christ answers, thus:

“‘Why do you ask me concerning what is good?’ answered Jesus. ‘There is only One who is good. Keep the commandments if you want to enter life’.” (Matt. 19:17, TEV)

The commandments of God written in the Holy Scriptures will not only benefit a person in this life (Deut. 5:29) but will also lead him to eternal life.

How to become righteous
Why is it said that to die as one of God’s people is like having the death of the righteous? Who are righteous before God? The Bible explains:

“If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin, he will die for it, because of the sin he has committed he will die.” (Ezek. 18:26,NIV)

Those who are righteous before God are those who have done no sin. While it is true that all men have sinned (Rom. 5:12), the Bible teaches of a group of people who are considered righteous despite their sins. They are the ones who were put right before God or justified through the redemption by our Lord Jesus Christ:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed.” (Rom. 3:23-25, NKJV)

Those who have been redeemed by Christ are the members of the Church of Christ:

“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which He has purchased with His blood.” (Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation)

Therefore, one should not only aspire to become a member of the Church of Christ but also remain as one until his very last breath. This is the kind of death which is most fortunate.

What is expected of true members
What else does Christ expect from the sheep of His flock or the members of His Church? Christ makes known the following:

“‘All who listen to my instructions and follow them are wise, like a man who builds his house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents, and the floods rise and the storm winds beat against his house, it won’t collapse, for it is built on rock. But those who hear my instructions and ignore them are foolish, like a man who builds his house on sand. For when the rains and floods come, and storm winds beat against his house, it will fall with a mighty crash’.” (Matt. 7:24-28, LB)

The Lord Jesus Christ expects the members of His Church not only to listen to His teachings or the commandments of God but also to fulfill them. Those who do are likened to wise men who build their house upon the rock, which is Christ (Acts 4:11). Even if the rains, winds, and floods of life (which are the false beliefs and the tribulations of living in this world) come upon members of the Church, they will not become weak, let alone be separated; they will not stumble or fall. If, however, they do not obey what is taught unto them, when the problems of life arise, they will experience a tragic fall.

What then should the members of the Church of Christ keep in mind as they await the promised salvation? The apostle Paul teaches the following:

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (I Thess. 4:16-17, NKJV)

On the return of Christ, those who died with their membership intact will be resurrected and join the members of the Church who are still alive on that day to meet the Savior, to enjoy the benefits of being a part of the first resurrection. What blessing awaits those who will be part of the first resurrection?

“Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:6, Ibid.)

Those who remained true to God and to Christ will dwell in the Holy City. What will be the quality of their existence there? Revelation 21:1-4 gives us an inspiring account of what awaits such servants of God:

“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away’.” (Ibid.)

May all of us do what it takes to be included in those who will receive the tremendous grace of eternal life on the day of Christ’s return. By obeying the commandments of God and the teachings of Christ not only to become a member of the true Church of Christ, but also to remain as such, we will go a long way towards making our hope of salvation a reality.

Ang wastong pagpili ng kapalaran

ANG AKALA NG IBA ay nakatakda na ang guhit ng kanilang palad at wala na silang magagawang anuman ngayon upang mabago pa ang mangyayari sa kanila sa hinaharap. “Bahala na,” ang wika nila, “kung ano ang mangyayari sa darating.”

Hindi lamang sa pang araw-araw na pamumuhay nila ginagamit ang gayong pananaw kundi maging sa usapan tungkol sa relihiyon, kaya ipinagwawalang-bahala ng mga nagtataglay ng gayong paniniwala ang bagay na espirituwal. Iniisip nilang kung sila’y nakatalagang magtamo ng pagpapala ay mapapasakanila iyon kahit hindi nila hanapin at kung hindi naman iyon para sa kanila ay wala rin silang magagawa upang ito’y kanilang makamit.

Salungat sa mga aral na itinuturo ng Biblia ang gayong kaisipan. Ayon sa Biblia, ang tao ay binigyan ng Diyos ng kalayaan ng kalooban upang piliin ang kaniyang magiging kapalaran. Inilagay ng Diyos sa harap ng tao ang buhay at ang kamatayan, ang papapala at ang sumpa. Ganito ang sinasabi sa Deuteronimo 30:19-20: “Aking tinatawag ang langit at ang lupa na pinakasaksi laban sa inyo sa araw na ito, na aking ilagay sa harap mo ang buhay at ang kamatayan, ang pagpapala at ang sumpa; kaya’t piliin mo ang buhay, upang ikaw ay mabuhay, ikaw at ang iyong binhi; Na iyong ibigin ang Panginoon mong Dios, na sundin ang kaniyang tinig, at lumakip sa kaniya: sapagka’t siya ang iyong buhay, at ang kalaunan ng iyong mga araw;…”

Kapag ang patakarang sinunod ng tao sa kaniyang buhay ay ang pagwawalang-bahala sa hinaharap, ang pinababayaan niya ay ang kaniyang sariling kapakanan. Wala siyang ibang masisisi kundi ang sarili na rin, kung sa halip na siya’y magtamo ng magandang kapalaran ay humantong siya sa kasawian. Ang panukalang inihanda ng Diyos ay para sa ikabubuti ng mga taong nilalang Niya. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit bagaman pinagkalooban Niya ang tao ng kalayaan ng kalooban na makagawa ng pagpapasiya para sa kaniyang sariling kapalaran ay sinabi rin Niyang ang dapat piliin ng tao ay ang buhay.

“Piliin mo ang buhay,” ang sabi ng Diyos, “upang ikaw ay mabuhay.” Hindi na kailangang magbakasakali ang tao o sumangguni pa sa mga nagpapakilalang manghuhula upang malaman niya kung magiging mabuti o hindi ang kaniyang kapalaran. Itinuro ng Diyos kung paano mapaghahandaan ng tao ang buhay na darating. Sinabi ng Diyos kung paano magagawa ng tao ang pagpili sa buhay: dapat niyang ibigin ang Panginoong Diyos at sundin ang Kaniyang mga utos. Kapag inibig at sinunod ng tao ang Diyos o pinili niya ang buhay, tiyak na mabubuhay siya. Ang pahayag na ito ay hindi masisira kailanman sapagkat ang nagsabi nito at nag-aalok ng magandang kapalaran sa tao ay ang Lumikha sa kaniya, ang Diyos na Makapangyarihan sa lahat.

Sa kabilang dako, mayroon ding iniaalok ang diablo sa tao, na alam nating kung iyon ang pipiliin ng sinuman, ang ibubunga ay kamatayan at sumpa. Ang nais ng diablo ay ipahamak ang tao sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang pandaraya at panlilinlang tulad ng ginawa niya sa mga unang taong nilalang ng Diyos.

Tinukso ng diablo sina Eva at Adan upang sila’y kumain ng bunga ng punongkahoy na ipinagbawal sa kanila na kainin. Lumabag sa utos ang mga unang tao hindi dahil sa hindi nila alam ang ipinagagawa sa kanila ng Diyos. Ang totoo’y nagawa pa nga nilang ulitin sa diablo ang utos na tinanggap nila mula sa Diyos. Subalit higit nilang pinaniwalaan ang diablo na kumumbinsi sa kanila na mapapabuti ang kanilang kapalaran kung susuwayin nila ang utos ng Diyos na ibinigay sa kanila. Ganito ang sabi sa Genesis 3:6: “At nang makita ng babae, na ang bunga ng punong kahoy ay mabuting kanin, at nakalulugod sa mga mata, at kahoy na mananasa upang magpapantas sa tao, ay pumitas siya ng bunga niyaon at kinain; at binigyan din niya ang kaniyang asawang kasama niya, at ito’y kumain.”

Samakatuwid, nang sila’y nasa sitwasyong kailangan silang mapasiya at pumili kung alin sa iniaalok ng Diyos at sa iniaalok ng diablo ang kanilang pahahalagahan, ang pinili nila’y ang waring mabuting alok ng diablo, kaysa sa utos ng Diyos. Alam nating hindi sila napabuti. Bagkus, ano ang masamang ibinunga sa mag-asawa dahil hindi naging wasto ang kanilang pagpili sa magiging kapalaran ng kanilang buhay? Sinumpa ng Diyos, hindi lamang ang kanilang pamumuhay, kundi maging ang kanilang buhay mismo – ito ay tinakdaan ng kamatayan (Gen. 3:16-19, 23). At upang matupad ang sumpa sa kanila, pinalayas sila sa halamanan ng Eden. Inalis sa kanila ang karapatang mabuhay sa piling ng Diyos. Napahamak sila sapagkat hindi nila natutuhang pahalagahan ang mga kautusang ibinigay sa kanila ng Diyos.

Ang Panginoong Jesucristo ay inalok din ng diablo ng pagkain at iba pang pakinabang na pansanlibutan subalit pinili Niya ang pagsunod at pagpapahalaga sa mga utos ng Diyos, kaya hindi nagtagumpay ang pandaraya ng diablo sa Kaniya.

Noong ang Panginoong Jesucristo ay nasa sitwasyong kailangang-kailangan Niya ang pagkain, sapagkat katatapos lamang Niyang mag-ayuno ng 40 araw at 40 gabi, tinukso Siya ng diablo at sinabing kung Siya ang Anak ng Diyos ay ipag-utos Niyang ang mga bato ay maging tinapay. Sa halip na matukso sa inialok ng diablo ay sinabi Niya ritong “Hindi sa tinapay lamang mabubuhay ang tao, kundi sa bawa’t salitang lumalabas sa bibig ng Dios” (Mat. 4:4). Bakit hindi natukso o nadaya si Cristo kahit nang alukin Siya ng kayamanan at kapangyarihan sa sanlibutan? Sapagkat nanghawak Siya sa mga salita ng Diyos na nakasulat sa Biblia. Nanindigan Siya sa pagsunod sa mga aral ng Diyos. “Kaya,” ayon kay Apostol Pablo, “siya naman ay pinadakila ng Dios, at siya’y binigyan ng pangalang lalo sa lahat ng pangalan; Upang sa pangalan ni Jesus ay iluhod ang lahat ng tuhod, ng nangasa langit, at ng nangasa ibabaw ng lupa, at ng nangasa ilalim ng lupa, At upang ipahayag ng lahat ng mga dila na si Jesucristo ay Panginoon, sa ikaluluwalhati ng Dios Ama” (Filip. 2:9-11).

Ano ang ipinagagawa sa atin upang hindi tayo mapagtagumpayan ng diablo? Sa Efeso 6:11 ay sinasabi ang ganito: “Isuot ninyo ang baluting kaloob ng Diyos, upang mapaglabanan ninyo ang mga lalang ng diyablo” (Magandang Balita Biblia). Ito ang nagagawa natin kung ginagamit din natin ang mga salita ng Diyos na nakasulat sa Biblia at itinuro sa atin upang labanan ang pandaraya ng diablo.

Dapat nating labanan ang diablo sapagkat ang layunin nito’y hadlangan ang tao sa pagtatamo ng mabuting kapalaran at, lalo na, ng kaligtasan.

Sa panahong Cristiano, dalawang magkaibang daan na may magkaibang tunguhin ang kailangang pagpilian ng tao at sa pagpapasiyang ito’y buhay at kapahamakan din ang nakataya. Sabihin pa, ang nais ni Cristo na piliin ng tao ay ang daang patungo sa buhay: “Pumasok kayo sa makipot na pintuan; sapagkat maluwang ang pintuan at malapad ang daang patungo sa kapahamakan, at ito ang dinaraanan ng marami. Ngunit makipot ang pintuan at makitid ang daang patungo sa buhay, at kakaunti lang ang nakasusumpong niyon” (Mat. 7:13-14, Ibid.)

Maliwanag na nakataya rin sa gagawing pagpili ng tao sa dalawang magkaibang pintuan ang kaniyang magiging kapalaran. Ang malapad na daan ay patungo sa kapahamakan at ang makipot nama’y patungo sa buhay. Sino ang makipot na pintuang patungo sa buhay? Ang sabi ni Cristo’y “Ako ang pintuan, sinumang pumasok sa loob ng kawan sa pamamagitan ko ay magiging ligtas…” (John 10:9, salin sa Pilipino mula saRevised English Bible). Ang kawan na kinapapalooban ng mga pumasok kay Cristo ay ang Iglesia na binili o tinubos ng dugo ni Cristo, gaya ng pinatutunayan sa Gawa 20:28 sa salin ni Lamsa: “Ingatan ninyo kung gayon ang inyong sarili at ang buong kawan na rito’y hinirang kayo ng Espiritu Santo na binili niya ng kaniyang dugo.” Ang pagpasok ng tao saIglesia ni Cristo ay isang malinaw na katibayan na ang pintuang pinili niyang pasukan ay yaong patungo sa buhay.

Si Cristo mismo ang nagbigay ng garantiya na ang Iglesiang itinayo Niya, na tinawag sa Kaniyang pangalan (Roma 16:16), ay hindi mapananaigan kahit ng kapangyarihan ng kamatayan (Mat. 16:18, MB), kaya tiyak na ang mga pumasok o umanib sa Iglesia ni Cristo ang pumasok sa pintuang patungo sa buhay.

Yaong mga hindi pa nagagawang piliin ang daang patungo sa buhay ay may pagkakataon pang gawin ito. At sa panig naman ng mga nakasunod na sa utos ng Panginoong Jesucristo na pumasok sa Kaniya bilang pintuang patungo sa kaligtasan at sa buhay na walang hanggan, itinuro rin ng Biblia ang paraan kung paano maiingatan ang karapatan sa pagtatamo ng buhay. Ganito ang sinasabi sa Kawikaan 4:11-13: “Aking itinuro ka sa daan ng karunungan; Aking pinatnubayan ka sa landas ng katuwiran. Pagka ikaw ay yumayaon hindi magigipit ang iyong mga hakbang; At kung ikaw ay tumatakbo, hindi ka matitisod. Hawakan mong mahigpit ang turo; huwag mong bitawan: Iyong ingatan: sapagka’t siya’y iyong buhay.”

Samakatuwid, anuman ang mangyari, ang mga pumili sa buhay ay dapat manindigan at manghawak na mabuti sa turo ng Diyos. Ang nag-iingat at nanghahawak sa turo ay hindi lumalakad sa landas ng masama, manapa’y nagbabagong-buhay at lumalayo siya sa lahat ng tukso at kasamaan. Samakatuwid, maging sa landas na nilalakaran ng tao araw-araw ay mayroon siyang dapat gawing pagpili.

Malinaw na sinasabi sa Biblia ang ganito: “Huwag kang pumasok sa landas ng masama, At huwag kang lumakad ng lakad ng mga masasamang tao. Ilagan mo, huwag mong daanan; Likuan mo, at magpatuloy ka” (Kaw. 4:14-15).

Inuutusan tayong magpasiya na ilagan ang lakad at landas ng masamang tao. Sapagkat nais ng Diyos na piliin natin ang maghahatid sa atin sa pagpapala at buhay upang matupad ang panukala Niya sa paglalang sa atin.

When Compared with ‘Things Spiritual’, the Christ-is-God Doctrine Fails

WHAT SETS THE BIBLE apart from other books is the complete absence of error and contradiction among the writings contained therein. Owing to its inerrancy, the Bible alone is the ultimate basis and standard for determining the correctness and validity of any religious doctrine. One can rest assured that the teachings he follows are right and sound if they agree with the Scriptures; he can hence renounce or reject, without fear or worry, any belief that is contrary to even just a single correctly-translated verse of the Bible.

The most controversial religious issue, on which innumerable debates since the days of the Roman Emperor Constantine have been and still are engaged in by people professing to be Christians, is probably the nature of the Lord Jesus Christ: Is He God or man? What never fails to make many an inquisitive observer wonder, though, is the fact that both sides use the same unimpeachable source and basis – the Bible. Certainly, they cannot be both right. It behooves all to query: If the Bible contains no contradictions whatsoever, then how could two opposing sides use it as their common source and basis?

To test whether the use of a certain verse by either side is correct or not, one only has to compare it with the other related verses, for Apostle Paul says, “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (I Cor. 2:13, King James Version)

Spiritual things will not contradict with other spiritual things when they are compared with one another. In no way will they manifest disagreement, but only harmony and unity. They go together perfectly well – at all times. With this apostolic method of teaching, nothing is added to or taken away from the Word. Corollarily, when one Bible verse seems to clash in meaning with another verse, the former or the latter is either mistranslated or misinterpreted.

Philippians 2:6One of the most oft-cited Bible verses relative to the issue under consideration, and which itself has given rise to much deliberations is Philippians 2:6, which says, “Who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God” (Ibid.). That this verse has been either paraphrased or liberally rendered by some translators who believe that Christ is God is very evident in the following versions:

“Christ was truly God. But he did not try to remain equal with God.” (Contemporary English Version)

“Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. (New Living Translation)

“Who, though he was God, did not demand and cling to his rights as God.” (Living Bible)

The most common explication of the verse by the advocates of the Christ-is God doctrine is that God divested Himself of His divine nature and became man or, as some would put it, that God walked incognito on earth in the person of Jesus Christ.

Even without delving into the Greek language in which Philippians 2:6 was originally written, one cannot but notice immediately the obvious and great discrepancy, incongruence, and absurdity of the three foregoing renderings and the interpretation that is responsible for them. Mere spiritual comparison of this verse with the other related verses plainly shows that such an interpretation, and its concomitant renderings, are wrong.

Two distinct beingsVerse nine, for example, states, “Wherefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name” (KJV). The existence here of two distinct beings is undeniable: one is God, who “has highly exalted [Christ] and given Him the name which is above every name,” and the other one is Christ, who has been highly exalted by God. If “Christ was truly God,” as CEV rendered, how could He be “highly exalted … and given … the name which is above every name” by God? How could Christ and the God, who exalted Him, be both “truly God”?

In verse six itself, and using CEV, the mistranslation is quite obvious – “Christ was truly God. But he did not try to remain equal with God.” Again, the existence here of two distinct beings is very evident: one who “was truly God” and another one whom He “did not try to remain equal with.”

User-friendly translations seek to make the Bible more readable and easier to understand, but if a verse is rendered in such a way that its original meaning is lost or twisted in the process, then the verse cannot be relied upon as God’s Word. In view of this, strict accuracy, achieved by faithfulness to the original languages in which a text was written is, therefore, to be immensely preferred to readability.

Form, image: ‘near synonyms’The KJV renders the verse: “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” The phrases “being in the form of God” (which is written) and “being God” (which is concluded) definitely do not mean the same thing. Just because Christ is “in the form of God,” it does not necessarily mean that Christ “is God.” In fact, not only do they mean two different things – they also are “spiritually incomparable.” They are simply scripturally irreconcilable, considering the meaning of “form” and the fact that “form” and “image” (man, let it not be forgotten, was created in the image of God) are “near synonyms” (Christology in the Making: An Inquiry into the Origins of the Doctrine of the Incarnation, p. 115).

According to The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, “form” (“morphe” in Greek) denotes an expression of “essential attributes” or “essential qualities” of God: “6. Being in the form of God (AV). Better, Though in his pre-incarnate state he possessed the essential qualities of God, he did not consider his status of divine quality a prize to be selfishly hoarded (takingharpagmos passively). Morphe, form, in verses 6 and 7 denotes a permanent expression of essential attributes, while schema, fashion (v.8), refers to outward appearance that is subject to change” (p.1324).

Wycliffe’s commentary is corroborated by a more pronounced explanation by other Bible commentators, who says that “in the form of God” does not refer to the “divine essence” or “divine nature” but to “the external self-manifesting characteristics” of God. “… Who subsisting (or existing, viz., originally: the Greek is not the simple substantive verb, to be) in the form of God (the divine essence is not meant: but the external self-manifesting characteristics of God, the form shining forth from His glorious essence. The divine nature had infinite BEAUTY in itself, even without any creature contemplating that beauty: that beauty was ‘the form of God’; as ‘the formof a servant’ (vs. 7) …” (Practical and Explanatory Commentary on the Whole Bible, p. 1305)

Contrary to the popular understanding that Christ’s “being in the form of God” in Philippians 2:6 means that Christ is God, the use by the Apostle Paul of the word “form” (which is synonymous with “image”) to refer to Christ is in itself an unequivocal proof that Christ is man, for, of all creatures, it is really man who was created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). “It has long been recognized that…(form) and,,,(image) are near synonyms and that in Hebrew thought the visible ‘form of God’ is his glory …” (Christology in the Making: An Inquiry into the Origins of the Doctrine of the Incarnation, p. 115).

Therefore, Apostle Paul’s reference to Christ as “being in the form of God” in Philippians 2:6 is synonymous – or spiritually comparable – with his allusion to Christ as being “the image of the invisible God” in Colossians 1:15. But Christ’s being “the image of the invisible God” does not make Him God, just as all other men’s being created in the image of God does not make us all Gods. No doubt, Philippians 2:6 and Colossians 1:15 are spiritually comparable; they both underscore Christ’s being a man, and not His allegedly being God.

In righteousness and holinessLest Christ’s being the image of God be misconstrued to mean in the visual sense, Apostle Paul, at once, clarifies that God is “invisible” (Col. 1:15; I Tim. 1:17) – a term spiritually comparable with Christ’s statement that “God is Spirit” (John 4:24), which means that God has no flesh and bones (Luke 24:36-39).

In what sense then is Christ the image of the invisible God, a characteristic that not only He, in fact, but all men should possess since all men have been created in God’s image? In righteousness and holiness (Eph. 4:23-24,TEV)

Although God has made mankind upright in keeping with His desire that men be in His image, yet men “have gone in search of many schemes,” thereby failing to live up to his Maker’s design. “This only have I found: God made mankind upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes” (Eccles. 7:29, New International Version).

It is for this reason that all men need the Lord Jesus Christ, for Christ, being the only man who is sinless (I Pet. 2:21-22), is the only one who has lived up to God’s purpose of creating man in His image. Apostle Paul says, “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption” (I Cor. 1:30, NIV, emphasis ours).

Owing to this, Paul urges the Christians who have truly “heard about [Christ] and were taught in him” that for them to be in “the likeness of God,” they must “put off [their] old nature which belongs to [their] former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of [their] minds, and put on the new nature, created after likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:20-24, Revised Standard Version, emphasis ours).

And to be able to heed this exhortation, they need to have the mind of Christ – humble and obedient. Paul says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, … And being found in appearance as a man, He humble Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:5, 8, New King James Version).

Christ is in the form or image of God in righteousness and holiness, and His followers should be so, too.

God does not change
The error in the belief that “God became man” lies in the fact that the true God of the Bible – who is neither man nor the son of man (Num. 23:19) – is immutable. God does not change, as He Himself says, “For I the Lord do not change” (Mal. 3:6, RSV). Consistent with this, Apostle James write:

“Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17, Ibid.)

Clearly then, the belief that “God became man” is, to say the least, not spiritually comparable with other related verses. We can come up with a host of other related Bible verses with which the Christ-is-God interpretation of Philippians 2:6 simply cannot be spiritually compared. Instead of the verse introducing Christ as God, it actually all the more affirms the doctrine that Christ is man, and not God. Thus, when compared with “spiritual things” (I Cor. 2:13, KJV), the Christ-is-God dogma miserably fails.

References:

Dunn, James D.G. Christology in the Making: An Inquiry into the Origins of the Doctrine of the Incarnation. London: SCM Press Ltd. 1980.

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown. Practical and Explanatory Commentary on the Whole Bible. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1961.

Pfeiffer, Charles F. and Everett F. Harrison. The Wycliffe Bible Commentary: A Phrase by Phrase Commentary of the Bible. Chicago: The Moody Bible Institute, 1990.