Has Movements – A Persona or a Promised Idea? (Part V)

Christ’s Persona before Incarnation (Series 5)

By Eusebio Tanicala, Ph.D.

This article deals with movements or actions. With each action or movement or attribute mentioned in a passage, ask yourself the question: “Is this a persona or an idea I read about in his verse?”

OBJECTIVE
After reflecting on this series #5, you should be able to reason out that it is more logical to think of a persona making movements or actions and not a promised idea.

Hebrew 1:10-13; Psalm 90:2; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17 – Passages declaring that Christ in His spirit persona was the Creator of the invisible and visible dominions and powers and principalities. Can the act of creating be assigned to a promised idea?

Micah 5:2 foretells the birth place of the Messiah in Bethlehem which is fulfilled in Matt. 2 and Luke 2 but makes additional information about previous movements prior to the incarnation of that Messiah and says, “Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” The spirit persona of the Messiah has existed and has moved from the everlasting, eternal past. The term “whose” properly refers to a persona not to a concept or promised idea.

John 3:16; 5:30; John 6:29,29, 57; John 7:16, 33; John 8:18, 29; John 17:3, 21, 23, 25 — All declare the sending of the Son by the Father. Where was Christ and when was He commissioned and sent out by the Father to save the sinful world? Was He in heaven before His incarnation? Was He in Judea in 30 A.D.? To this writer, it’s more logical to think that He was a persona in the spirit with the Father in Heaven before His incarnation. And we could not think of sending and commissioning an idea or concept.

John 3:31; 8:23 – Give testimonies to us about Christ being from above in Heaven and not from earth below.

John 8:42; 16:27 & 17:8– tell us of Christ’s consciousness of having proceeded or having come from the Father. The personal pronoun “I” should make us feel that Christ was a persona while in Heaven.

John 6:33, 35, 38, 41, 51 – Christ says he came from above, from heaven. While Jesus was alive on earth he made this interesting statement: “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man *who is in heaven.” (John 3:13) The act of descending comes first than the act of ascending which suggest that His existence in heaven is prior to His presence on earth. To think of a persona that descends from heaven is more logical than having an idea that descend from heaven to earth. Please read the other passages.

John 10:36, “… do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? The phrase “sent into the world” suggests a person that exists outside of the world and he enters into the world.

John 16:27-28 tells us the movement of a persona, “I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.” Usage of a personal pronoun and his movements suggest the presence of a persona that came forth from the Father and who returned to the Father.

John 6:62, “What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?” This was stated while Christ was one earth in 29 A.D. And the disciples witnessed this in Acts 1:9-11.

John 13:3, “Jesus… He had come from God and was going to God.” John 16:16, “I go to the Father” 27, “I go to the Father” 28, “I … have come into the world…I leave the world and go to the Father.”John 17:11, part of Jesus’ farewell prayer says, “ … I come to You … Holy Father…” 13, “…I come to You…” John 20:17, “… I am ascending to My Father…”

The above verses give us the conclusion that there was a spirit persona that descended from Heaven, and that same spirit persona was the one that back to Heaven. The mystery is that the spirit persona fused with humanity. Our Lord Jesus Christ is one persona with two nature or essence in Him: deity and humanity. This fusion of two natures we could not fathom but we have to accept it by faith. Someday we shall understand.

INC Registration and World War I Outbreak

One blog visitor asked the following question in reaction to our lesson on Revelation 7:1-3 in a previous posting: “Kailan po nagdeklara ng digmaan ang Austria-Hungary sa Serbia? Nabasa ko po sa world history na July inideklara ng Austria ang digmaan. Meron ba itong kaugnayan sa Iglesia ni Cristo? Please po ibigay ninyo ang eksaktong petsa…”–Reggie A Samonte

Ang pagdeklara ng Austria-Hungary ng pakikidigma laban sa Serbia ay walang kaugnayan sa petsa ng pagkarehistro ng Iglesia ni Cristo. Guniguni lamang ng mga apologists ng INC na mayroon kaugnayan ng petsa ng INC registration na July 27, 1914 sa declaration of war noong 1914. I have a history major in my college course, so I have a background in world history. According to history books, the Balkan region had military conflicts in 1912-1913. As early as 1913, Germany had assured Austria-Hungary of military help should war break out again. While Archduke Francis Ferdinand, next in succession to the Austro-Hungarian throne, was inspecting military installations in the city of Sarajevo, he and his wife Sofia were assassinated on June 28, 1914 at 11:15 A.M. by Serbian militants under Colonel Dragutin Dimitrijevic.

On July 19, 1914 Austro-Hungarian authorities approved a plan to humiliate Serbia, home of the assassins. On July 23, 1914 the ultimatum which contained several conditions was delivered by Austria against Serbia which included punishment of the assassins. But there were two conditions which involved some kind of sovereignty issues that were difficult to accept so there was some reluctance on the part of Serbia.

July 27, 1914 Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany told Austria that war was not necessary over the issue of assassination. However, on that same date, Austrian Foreign Minister Berchtold had convinced Emperor Joseph Francis to declare war against Serbia. So a declaration of war by the Austro-Hungarian empire was issued on July 28, 1914 and the Austro-Hungarian military started bombardment of the capital city of Belgrade on July 29, 1914.

The above is the historical flow of events that ignited the military conflict which started World War I. You can check these facts from The New Encyclopedia Britannica Vol 29, (1991), pp. 961-963. Other sources could be as factual as my reference.

Now, you should read Revelation 6:12-17. I don’t believe that this is World War I. Our Iglesia ni Cristo friends, however, claim that this is a description of World War I artillery and aerial bombardments which created panic among the people who sought refuge in air raid shelters. So the war of Rev. 6:12-17 should now be over as you read Rev. 7:1 with the declaration, “After these things” which are the horrific sceneries of Revelation 6:12-17.

But notice Revelation 7:1-3. There are four angels tasked to prevent the wind of destruction with the order not to let loose or not to allow military conflict to break out.By lumping together Rev. 6:12-17 and Rev. 7:1-3 as the First World War, the INC inverts chronology with this view: the war takes place and ends and then talk about the war not to break out but still it broke out. Confusing indeed.

And the four angels, according to our INC apologists, were Prime Ministers Orlando of Italy, Clemenceau of France and Lloyd George of Great Britain and President Wilson of the United States of America who came together at Armistice Day of November 11, 1918 to sign the document ending WWI in France. Historical events and INC interpretation don’t jibe because what we read in Revelation 7:1-3 is for the wind (war) not to break out, but war broke out on July 28, 1914 and continued on up to November 11, 1918. The four angels (political leaders of 4 nations) named by the INC as listed above came together to sign a document ending World War I. Clearly then the four angels of the INC are not the four angels of Rev. 7:1-3.

Another point you should analyze is the instruction of the ascending angel from the east directed to the four angels of verse 1: not to allow the wind (war) to break out to allow and give time to the ascending angel to preach and mark the forehead of the 144,000 of Israel (7:4-8). But war broke out in Europe which lasted from July 28, 1914 to Nov. 11, 1918. Which means that the four major world powers who signed the document ending the war in 1918 are not the angels of Rev. 7:1-3 because the Rev. 7:1-3 angels are not to allow war to start, but the angels of the Armistice Day in 1918 were seen as ending the First World War. According to INC interpretation the “ascending angel should preach while there is no war” but Mr. Felix Manalo preached while World War I raged. So there’s discrepancy.

Still another observation is that if Mr. Felix Manalo is the angel ascending from the east who shouted on July 27, 1914 thro his registering the Iglesia ni Cristo corporation in the Philippines and his preaching, Mr. Manalo was not heard and obeyed because the wind of war broke out on July 28, 1914. So the claims of the INC do not jibe with world history.

Further observation is that Mr. Manalo claims to have started shouting and preaching on July 27, 1914 giving instruction to the four angels. On July 27, 1914 there were no four angels or no four world leaders in the war at that time. There were only two nations at war: Austria-Hungary under Emperor Joseph Francis and the ruler of Serbia. There were no four angels at that time, no four major world powers to speak of. Again, INC apologists don’t agree with world history.

Above information considered, the July 27, 1914 date of registration of the Iglesia ni Cristo corporation has no bearing on the outbreak of the First World War. Walang kaugnayan ang July 27, 1914 na pagkarehistro ng INC sa pagputok ng Unang Digmaang Pandaigdig.

Can See and Hear: Persona or Idea? (Part IV)

Christ’s Persona before Incarnation (Series 4)

By Eusebio Tanicala, Ph.D.

INTRODUCTION

This is a series of articles that will help clarify the status of the Logos (Word) of John 1:1, 14 before the incarnation of Christ thro Virgin Mary. One side affirms that Christ before His incarnation was a spirit persona; another side claims that Christ was a mere idea, a plan, a promise or a concept much as an architect’s plan of a house.

Proposition A states it like this: Resolved according to the Bible that Christ before His incarnation thro Virgin Mary was a spirit persona.

Proposition B States it like this: Resolved according to the Bible that Christ before His incarnation thro Virgin Mary was a mere idea, a plan, in God’s mind.

PERSONA DEFINED
A persona is a spirit or human entity or being that has mind, a self consciousness, and is capable of moral choices and has action.

Angels are personal entities. Human beings are personal entities. Satan the Devil is a spirit persona.
To this writer, Christ, before His incarnation, was a spirit persona, the Second Person in the Godhead. When Christ became flesh, He remained a persona with deity in Him as well as humanity in Him. A very unique occurrence, in fact a mystery, in human history.

IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY
Determining whether or not Christ was a persona before His incarnation in A.D. 1 helps to clarify the issue of Christ’s deity.

LOGOS IN THE LEXICON
(Please refer to series #1 on the various applications of the term logos in the NT.)

OBJECTIVE
After reflecting on this lesson you should be able to state your conclusion that a persona rather than an idea or plan is identified with the actions of seeing and hearing God.

In this series we submit passages where Christ is understood to have existed before A.D. 1 and where he is understood to have seen and heard the Father. Seeing and hearing are actions properly identified with a person and NOT identified with a plan, an idea or a concept. A plan cannot see nor hear.

In the following verses from the Gospel of John (NKJV), please notice actions, descriptions and attributes. Ask if these befit a spirit person or do they apply to an idea or concept.

John 3:31,32 – These lines are from John the Baptist. The pronoun “He” refers a persona, not a plan or an idea; the “He” has seen and heard what He testified or taught to the Jews. Seeing, hearing, and testifying are acts of a persona. Verse 31 gives the background that Christ heard things in Heaven not on earth below. These are not acts of an idea or a concept in God’s mind.

John 5:19-20 — These words are from Christ. The personal pronouns “He” and “Him” are used to refer to a persona. Acts of seeing, doing, the Father showing to Him all things are actions that befit a persona. These are not acts of an idea or a concept.

John 6:46 – No man has seen the Father except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. The personal pronoun “He” refers to a persona not to an idea or concept. The act of seeing is properly befits a persona not an idea. You may refer to John 1:18 which gives about the same idea as declared by John the Baptist of seeing and knowing God.

John 8:23 &26 – Christ said, “I am from above” or heaven and further he said, “I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.” The personal pronoun “I” refers to a persona not to an idea; and the act of having “heard” befits a persona and cannot be said of a concept or an idea.

John 8:40 & 15:15 – Christ said, “But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God.” And “…for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” The hearing by Christ is logically before his incarnation.

John 17:25 – Christ said, “…for You loved Me before the foundation of the world” and you supplement it with 17:5, “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was” the declarations give an unmistakable picture: there was a persona of Christ before He was incarnated in A.D. 1.

If these acts of seeing God and hearing from God were assigned to Christ’s humanity only, then the charge of blasphemy by the Jewish elders, Pharisees and high priests would be true and justifiably worthy of punishment. It is the spirit persona of Christ that He had before His incarnation that exonerates Him from the charge of blasphemy.

Death, Life and Calvinism

Eusebio Tanicala, Ph. D.

IF DEATH IS AUTOMATICALLY PASSED ON TO OFF SPRINGS THEN LIFE SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY PASS ON TO OFF SPRINGS

Calvinism says that Adam and Eve’s disobedience brought death to their off springs automatically. The line of reasoning is that dead men could produce only dead off springs. The dead passes on to their off springs their deadness.

But John Calvin did not apply his line of logic on the offsprings of Abraham and Sarah who were people of faith. See Heb. 11:8-19; Romans 4:1-12; James 2:21-24. Abraham and Sarah were justified by their faith and obedience; they were friends of God, they had life in them. They were alive. The alive should pass on to their off spring their aliveness. If not, why not?

Today, Calvinists also talk about being “born again” as taught in John 3:3-5.And Calvinists have in their midst couples who are born again, made holy by Christ’s blood when they obey. These couples (husband and wife) beget children. Do Calvinists say that born again, holy couples automatically pass on to their off springs their “born againness)? Why can’t they pass on to their children their aliveness? If not. why not?

So you feel the faulty logic of John Calvin. Yes, he was not logical because he didn’t stick to what the Bible says. #

Spirit Personae May Take Physical Forms (Part III)

Christ’s Persona before Incarnation (Series 3)

By Eusebio Tanicala, Ph.D.

Some think that God cannot take on a physical form. They could not think of God appearing in a material form. We read of spirit beings taking physical form or appearing in material form. This lesson discusses the idea of pure spirit beings taking material form.

OBJECTIVE
After This lesson, the reader should be able to reason out that spirit beings are allowed to take the appearance of physical or material forms.

DISCUSSION
The Bible records many instances where spirit personae are said to have entered/possessed the faculties of humans. Passages like 1 Samuel 16:14-23; Matt. 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Mark 7:25; Mark 9:17-26; Luke 4:33; 8:26-39; 8:55; Acts 16:16-18; Acts 19:15-16 are some of these instances which are recorded in the Bible.

When a spirit persona strongly clings to and possesses the faculty of a human being just like the story in Mark 5:1-20, we find that the identity of the human host and the possessing evil spirit converge and come into congruence so much so that the two act in unity or become as one personality. In Mark 5, the evil spirit dominates the host human being that the spirit persona and the human persona become as one. The 4,000 spirits even act as one.

Good angels can become fire (Psalm 104:4; Heb. 1:7) but their essence is not fire. Angels can appear as human beings or male (lalaki) but they are not human in essence. See Luke 24:4.

In Psalm 40:6-8 we feel that a person is talking, King David as the type and Christ as the anti type person. In

Hebrew 10:5 we read that the person that talks in Psalm 40 tells of a physical body having been prepared for that spirit persona to enter into. The Holy Spirit thro the Virgin Mary prepared that body into which the spirit persona Christ entered. The spirit persona of Christ completely fused into a complete congruence with the prepared human body that the Bible speaks of one persona, a hypostatic union of two natures. This phenomenon is new and unique in history. For 33 years deity and humanity mysteriously fused together in ways we could not fathom.

The material human body of Jesus was transformed into an immaterial heavenly body after Jesus’ resurrection that is recorded in the Gospels. So the Apostle Paul declares this idea in 2 Cor. 5:16, “Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.” Apostle Paul refers to the Christ after resurrection.
To the Hebrews, God’s most sacred name which was revealed to the prophets was Yahweh (YHWH). This name may convey various shades of inter-related meanings like the following:

(a) Self existing one; (b) To be; (c) I am; (d) I am what I am; (e) I become what I want to become. So we should not limit Yahweh God in what He wants to be and how He wants to communicate Himself to humanity.
In different ages and to different people Yahweh God communicated/impressed Himself upon humanity in various forms or impressions: (a) Yahweh God talked with Adam and Eve – Gen. 1:28-30; 216-17; visited Adam and Eve in the Garden – Gen. 3:8-19; (b) Yahweh God walked with Enoch – Gen. 5:23; (c) Noah found grace in the eyes of Yahweh God and God walked and talked with Noah – Gen. 6:8, 9, 13-22. (d) Yahweh God talked to Abram – Gen. 12ff; 15ff calling Abram out of Ur, into and out of Haran into Canaan; (e) Yahweh God appeared and talk to and ate with Abram as a human being (male) – Gen. 18-19 (f) Yahweh God n the form of a material human being wrestled with Jacob – Gen 32:22-32; (g) Yahweh God also called Angel of Yahweh appeared to and conversed with Moses in the form of flame of fire in a burning bush – Exodus 3:1-22; (h) Yahweh God impressed Himself upon Israel on Mt. Sinai in thundering, lightning, thick cloud, fire and smoke – Exodus 19; Heb. 12 25-29; (i) Yahweh God appeared to, talked with Moses face to face, in a very intimate way, but God did not appear in the fully glory and majesty of deity – Exodus 33:12-23; Num. 12:8; Deut. 5:4; Deut. 34:10; (j) The Angel of Yahweh, who is Yahweh Himself appeared and talked with Gideon – Judges 11-27; (k) Christ became a material rock in the wilderness and He followed Israel throughout the 40 years of wandering – 1 Cor. 10:4; Exodus 17:1-7; Num. 20:1-13.

If Yahweh God appeared or manifested Himself in various material forms in the OT, it should not be unthinkable nor impossible for Him to become flesh in the being of our Lord Jesus Christ to accomplish the salvation of human kind which is the most interesting story ever told.

The Devil’s Persona & Christ’s Persona– A Comparison & Contrast (Part II)

Christ’s Persona before Incarnation (Series 2)

By Eusebio Tanicala, Ph.D.

Comparing and contrasting the Devil’s essence, attributes, works, motives, strategies with those of Christ’s essence, attributes, works, motives and strategies will reveal many things. This writer has wrestled with this approached for many, many years before he was able to formulate it about the year 1993. Please consider this approach.

OBJECTIVE
After reflecting on this lesson, the reader should be able to reason out that if many things are granted to be possible with Satan, many of these things should also be granted as possible with Christ, the Second Persona in the Godhead.

A. Devil: He was a spirit persona before taking the form of a snake of flesh and bones.
Christ: He was a spirit persona before taking the form of a man of flesh and bones.

B. Devil: He was a created angel with free will before becoming Satan.
Christ: He was the creator of all invisible and visible principalities and powers.

C. Devil: A persona who became the arch enemy of the Godhead.
Christ: A persona who remained loyal and part of the Godhead.

D. Devil: A spirit persona who took the form of snake of flesh and bones.
Christ: A spirit persona who took the form of man of flesh and bones.

E. Devil: He became a snake and he persuaded Eve to rebel against God.
Christ: He became man and he persuaded children of Eve to obey God.

F. Devil: From outside the material universe He entered into the material world.
Christ: From outside the material universe He entered into the material world.

G. Devil: He is a liar and the father of lies.
Christ: He is the truth and the promoter of truth.

H. Devil: A spirit persona who brought death to humanity.
Christ: A spirit persona who is life and brought life to humanity.

I. Devil: Took physical form of snake but didn’t lose his spirit persona.
Christ: Took physical form of man but didn’t lose his spirit persona.

J. Devil: Died or disappeared as a snake but didn’t stop being Satan.
Christ: Died as a man but didn’t stop being God.

K. Devil: A spirit persona became a snake of flesh and bones.
Christ: A spirit persona became a man of flesh and bones.

L. Devil: A spirit persona became flesh and bones – is it readily accepted by all? ___
Christ: A spirit persona became flesh and bones – is it readily accepted by all? ___

M. Devil: Snake at Eden disappeared/died, did the spirit-persona Satan die? ___
Christ: Man at the cross died, did the spirit-persona Christ die? ___

N. Devil: How long did he exist on earth in the form of flesh and bone snake? ___
Christ: How long did He exist on earth in the form of flesh and bone man? ___

O. Devil: When his head was crushed by the woman’s seed, what was that head? ___
Christ: When his heel was bitten by the snake, what was that heel? ___

P. Devil: Is the spirit essence-nature of Satan flesh and bones? ___
Christ: Is the spirit essence-nature of Christ flesh and bones? ___

Q. Devil: Can the spirit Satan become flesh and bones? ___
Christ: Can the spirit Christ become flesh and bones? ___

If and when a Bible student honestly answers the above questions, I believe that he would be able to accept that Christ was a spirit persona before He became man. I welcome comments, observations or reactions to this article.

I Salute Henry G. Cassell

By Eusebio Tanicala

As a student of the Bible and church history since 1960, I often heard the name H.G.Cassell as the one who continued on the Philippine work which was started by George Pepperdine and George Benson. George Benson taught for about 6 months in the Mansalay-Roxas area of Oriental Mindoro in 1927 then left for the States. Brother H.G. Cassell was sent over to the Philippines by the Southwest Church of Christ that met in Los Angeles, California where George Pepperdine was a member. H.G. Cassell came over to the Philippines in 1928. He and his wife stayed until 1945 and were repatriated to the United States when the University of Santo Tomas concentration camp was liberated by the U.S.Army from the Japanese Imperial Army.

Few of us in the Philippines know and feel the influence of H.G. Cassell in the growth of the Philippine work. Which is why I write this article to give honor to him and his wife.

In September 1999 while I was a guest in the home of brother Domingo Camaganacan and sister Veny Villanueva-Camaganacan in Ibaan, Batangas, I was introduced to an old lady seated in a wheel chair. She was then 93 years old but still possessed good remembrance of the distant past. This old lady was the mother of sister Veny Villanueva-Camaganacan and widow of the late brother Isidro Villanueva, long time evangelist in the Mindoro provinces.

She immediately recounted that she was taught and baptized by Henry Cassell in 1928 in Calapan, Mindoro. That was the very first time that I heard the name Henry Cassell. For 38 years what I had been hearing was H.G.Cassell. And sister Veny Villanueva-Camaganacan showed me a picture of Mr/Mrs Henry G. Cassell sent to them in December 1963. This picture was published in the August 2006 Word Ministry.

Another information Mrs. Isidro Villanueva gave me was that she knew of Pedro Asada who was the preaching partner and interpreter of Henry G. Cassell in the Mindoro work. For many years, we had also been tracing the background and family of the late Pedro Asada. Mrs. Isidro Villanueva told me that Pedro Asada brought his family to Lanao, Mindanao before the outbreak of the Pacific War. That one of Pedro Asada’s daughter, Aurora by name, at that time newly married was left behind and that Aurora is the mother of Eliseo Sikat. Many tiny bits of information were being pieced together.

Henry G. Cassell and Pedro Asada expanded the work in Mindoro from 1928 to the outbreak of the Second World War. Henry G. Cassell and his wife were kept by the Japanese Imperial Army in the University of Santo Tomas Concentration Camp from 1942 until the camp was liberated by the U.S. Army in 1945.

Few of us in the Philippines know that Henry G. Cassell made a trip to Pinaring which is now part of Cotabato City together with Pedro Asada before the Pacific War broke out. Pinaring was the temporary settlement of farmers arriving from Luzon. Among the settlers was brother Antonio Villanueva and his family who were identified with the Samahang Tagapagpalaganap in Nueva Ecija. Antonio Villanueva was an active member of the Church of Christ/Christian Church group. This information is part of the recollection written down this year of 2008 by sister Minnie Villanueva-Belo. Here is part of her recollection quoted from a copy shared to me by brother Dominador Belo of Tacloban City when I visited his home in August 2008:

“While these converts were in Pinaring, a missionary, Henry G. Cassell, arrived with Pedro Asada. They expounded the Bible truths including the prohibition of eating blood and the use of instrumental music.”

It was this missionary journey to Pinaring by Pedro Asada and Henry G. Cassell that convinced several leaders of the group organized by Antonio Villanueva that, indeed, eating of blood and instrumental music in worship were prohibited by the New Testament. From that time on the leaders of the Pinaring group like Cornelio Alegre and Laureano Belo, among others, started discussing with Antonio Villanueva to severe his ties with the Samahang Tagapagpalaganap. Consequently, Antonio Villanueva severed his ties with the Samahang Tagapagpalaganap.

Were it not for this missionary journey of Henry G. Cassell and Pedro Asada to the Pinaring resettlement, very likely, Antonio Villanueva, Laureano Belo, Cornelio Alegre and many others would have stayed with the Samahang Tagapagpalaganap or the Church of Christ/Christian Church. After the Second World War, it was this group that produced self-supporting evangelists who planted congregations in the old Cotabato province and in Zamboanga. From this same group came out congregational leaders that were established in other Cotabato towns like Tangtangan, Midsayap, Koronadal among others.

Brother Domingo Camaganacan, my host in 1999 in Batangas, belongs to a family converted by Antonio Villanueva from 1937-1939 in the Pinaring, Cotabato resettlement.

Were There Four Angels in July 1914?

The following items are claimed by Mr. Manalo and Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) ministers:

1. That INC registration paper which was approved on July 27, 1914 has prophetical connection with the outbreak of the First World War in Europe because Austria declared war against Serbia on July 28, 1914 which declaration started the First World War;
2. That the four angels in Rev. 7:1 standing in the four corners of the earth holding the four winds were the political leaders of powerful nations: prime ministers Orlando of Italy, Clemenceau of France, Lloyd George of Great Britain and president Wilson of the United States.
3. That the angel ascending and shouting from the east in Rev. 7:2-3 is Mr. Felix Manalo;
4. That the wind in the passage is destructive war, the First World War where in heavy artillery bombardments and aerial bombings forced multitudes into air raid shelters which are described in Rev. 6:12-17;
5. That the shouting and sealing work of the ascending angel is the preaching activities of Mr. Felix Manalo and his ministers; and
6. That Mr. Felix Manalo is the last angel-messenger of God in the last days.

The above claims considered, you may now analyze the historical dates below which are based from history books and determine whether or not there are correlations:

• 1913 Nov – Woodrow Wilson was elected into office in U.S.A. the first time.
• 1914 June 28 – Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sofia were assassinated at Sarajevo by Serbian militants.
• 1914 July 19 – Austria & Hungary approved a resolution to humiliate Serbia
• 1914 July 23 – Austria & Hungary delivered to Serbia the ultimatum with attached conditions to punish the assassins of the Archduke.
• 1914 July 27 – Germany told Austria there was no need to go to war.
• 1914 July 27 – Austrian Foreign Minister was able to convince the Austrian Emperor to declare war against Serbia.
• 1914 July 27 – INC registered by Mr. Felix Manalo, et. al. in the Philippines
• 1914 July 28 – Austria declared war versus Serbia
• 1914 July 29 – Austro-Hungarian army bombarded the city of Belgrade

*** Note that there are no Four Angels existing on July 29, 1914.

• 1914 Aug — U.S. neutrality in the war declared by President Wilson
• 1916 Nov — President Wilson re-elected as President the United States
• 1916 Dec 7 – Lloyd George became Prime Minister of Great Britain
• 1917 Jan 16 – Zimmerman’s telegram to Mexico ambassador decoded
• 1917 April 3 & 6 U.S. Senate & House approved war resolution versus Germany
• 1917 Oct 29 – Orlando became Prime Minister of Italy
• 1917 Nov 16 – Clemenceau became Prime Minister of France
• 1918 Nov 11 – Armistice Day, document ending World War I was signed in France.

This was the day the four leaders (Orlando, Clemenceau, George ,Wilson) came together in one place and were called “Big Four” by the news media.

By analyzing the historical dates, the “Big Four” who are the Four Angels of Mr. Manalo came into existence only on Nov. 11, 1918; whereas the Four Angels of Rev. 7:1 should come out first before Mr. Felix Manalo started shouting/preaching on July 27, 1914. Because the interpretation of Mr. Manalo on the meaning of Rev. 7:1-3 does not agree with historical data, it is concluded that Mr. Manalo is not God’s messenger.
Another thing you should consider is that the work of the Four Angels of Rev. 7:1-3 is to hold back or prevent the destructive wind from blowing or breaking loose until the ascending angel shall have marked the forehead of 144,000 Israelites, but the First World War bombardment took place barely six (6) hours after the closing of office hours in Manila that approved the INC registration. The ascending angel is supposed to be obeyed by the four angels to hold back the wind, but war broke out a few hours after the approval of INC registration which means that Mr. Manalo didn’t shout or were not obeyed by any political power in the West. Since the interpretation of Mr. Felix Manalo on the function of the four angels in Rev. 7:1-3 does not agree with historical data, it is concluded that Mr. Manalo is not God’s messenger.

Deut. 18:20-22 warns that if a prophet’s words don’t come to pass or are not fulfilled, do not believe in him. Do not be afraid of him.

(Analyzed by Eusebio Tanicala)

Creator of the Universe: A Persona or a Plan? (Part I)

By Eusebio Tanicala, Ph.D.

INTRODUCTION
This is a series of articles to clarify the issue on the status of the “Logos” (Word) of John 1:1, 14. The period we look at is before the incarnation or before the “Logos” became flesh. One side of this issue affirms that the “Logos’was a spirit persona; the other side claims that He was a mere plan, an impersonal idea, or a concept which materialized or concretized with the incarnation of Christ thro the Virgin Mary in A. D. 1

Proposition A is like this: Resolved according to the Bible that the “Logos” of John 1:1, 14 before the incarnation of Christ thro Virgin Mary was a spirit persona.

Proposition B is like this: Resolved according to the Bible that the “Logos” of John 1:1, 14 before the incarnation of Christ thro Virgin Mary was a mere plan or a concept in God’s mind.

PERSONA DEFINED
A persona is a spirit being/entity or human being/entity that has a mind, a self consciousness, is capable of moral choices and has action.

Angels are persona beings or entities. Human beings are persona entities. Satan the Devil is a spirit being or persona. This writer affirms that Christ, before His incarnation thro Virgin Mary, was a spirit persona, a spirit being, the Second Persona in the Godhead or the Holy Trinity.

When Christ became flesh, He was a persona. In that one persona, Christ had deity in Him as well as humanity in Him. Hypostatic union is the term applied to the union of two natures in the one persona of Christ.

IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY
Determining whether or not Christ was a persona before His incarnation will help clarify the question of Christ’s deity.

OBJECTIVE
After presenting this series #1, one should be able reason out that the Logos in the Book of John is a persona and not an impersonal idea, not a mere plan, not a mere concept in God’s mind.

VERSES TO ANALYZE
For every action, description or attribute mentioned in a passage in this series ask the question: “Does this befit a spirit persona or does it point to an impersonal promised idea?” “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”(John 1:1-4, NKJV) “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”(John 1:14 NKJV)

Points to consider:
(a) Scholars and translators of the KJV and the NKJV all feel that the “Logos” (in the Greek text) which is translated Word in English are capitalized in John 1:1 &14; 1 John 1:1 and Rev. 19:13 because, as grammarians, they felt it is a proper noun, the name of a Persona as stated in Rev. 19:13.

(b) The preposition “with” (“pros” in the Greek text) points to the location of the Logos in relation to God (Father) which was “beside” or “face to face” with God. Were the “Logos” an impersonal idea or a verbalized concept, the preposition should be “in” according to the rule in grammar.

(c) The personal pronouns “Him” which refer to the “Logos” according to the rule in grammar should refer to a persona in prose literature, and not to an impersonal idea, plan, promise or concept.

(d) The act of creating (bring animate entities and inanimate objects into existence from nothing) is more logically assigned to a persona rather than to an impersonal idea or a plan. This act of creating by and through the “Logos” is sufficiently supported by Colossians 1:16-17 which reads, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” Hebrew 1:10-12; Psalm 102:25-27 point to Christ as creator of the heavens and the earth.

The above passages clearly prove the existence of the “Logos” as a persona before He became flesh, before he became a human being.

GREEK-ENGLISH LEXICON
Here is a brief summary on the three major usages of the term logos from Thayer’s Greek- English Lexicon of the New Testament, pp. 380-82:

I. As respects to SPEECH: a word, what some one has said, discourse, what is communicated by instruction, anything reported in speech, thing spoken of, and a thing spoken about;
II. Its use as respects to the MIND alone: reason, account, reckoning, in relation to, cause;
III. In several passages in the writings of John how “logos” denotes the essential WORD of God, i.e. the personal (hypostatic) wisdom and power in union with God, his minister in the creation and government of the universe, the cause of all the world’s life both physical and ethical, which for the procurement of man’s salvation put on human nature in the person of Jesus the Messiah and shone forth conspicuously from his words and deeds.

Isabela Church Planting

A two-day gospel campaign which included knocking on doors and gospel meeting was conducted in the town of Echague, Isabela in the third week of October. This campaign was meant to strengthen the work started in that town by brother Felipe Marania a year ago. Among the participants were the Leadership Training by Extension (LTE) class meeting in San Mateo, Isabela, Dick Baguioen, Rudy Mercado, Edward Tangunan, Philip Marania and Ken Wilkey. Two were baptized.

Campaign plans are being prepared for Aglipay town of Quirino province and Alfonso Lista of Ifugao province.

While in Isabela province brother Ken Wilkey met with 25 church leaders in San Mateo town where he shared with them lessons from the Parables of Christ for two days.

Youth Leadership Training held in Rabon, San Fabian

Rabon Bible College and the Rabon Church of Christ of San Fabian, Pangasinan sponsored a Youth Leadership Training which was conducted in the Monte del Rosario Resort at Rosario, La Union on October 15-17. Visiting members of the Crieve Hall congregation in Tennessee served as lecturers. Dino Roldan and Cheryl Tanicala-Roldan came took time out from work and school in Malaysia to attend this training. Tom Mapalo of Baguio also served as resource person.

In the afternoon of October 17 the young people and adults fanned out into several preaching points. One team which was led by brethren Luciano Ramos and Jonathan Ramos visited the provincial jail in Lingayen, Pangasinan. The women conducted a ladies class in Benteng, Rosario where a congregation of the Lord meets. Another group visited members in Dungon and Bangar, Rosario, La Union.

New Facility in Morning Breeze, Kalookan City

Brethren in the congregation that meets in a newly built facility located at the Morning Breeze Subdivision will hold a thanksgiving fellowship on December 7. The members of the church in that area are so grateful for the many blessings the Lord has showered on them these past several years they want to express their gratitude in a special worship service and would like to look forward to a new year with great anticipation to be dedicated to the glory of our God. Brother Eusebio Tanicala is one among those invited to deliver a lesson.

National Evangelism Workshop & Seminar

December 22-24 has been announced by the organizing committee of the annual evangelism seminar hosted by the congregations of the Metro Manila area, Batangas and Cavite. Please watch for updates.

Calvinism and Absolute Universalization

By Eusebio Tanicala, Ph.D.

Calvinists love to quote Romans 3:10-12. These are lines from the repeated psalms of King David recorded in Psalm 14 and Psalm 53. Advocates of Calvinism apply these lines universally. When it says “all” it is all of humanity. Is this true?

Let’s analyze verses. Notice v.1 of Psalm 14 and 53. The subject is the “fool” all fools. It is clear that the people who are included are the fools. Not all of humanity. King David didn’t include himself among the fools. King David talked about the fools. King David didn’t include the prophet Nathan and prophet Gad who constantly guided him in the palace. They were righteous people. But Calvinism advocates say “none” calls upon the Lord. Do you believe prophets Nathan and Gad didn’t call upon the Lord?

Note v. 4. The fools are the ones who don’t call on the Lord. Right above Psalms 13:1 is Psalms 12:1. King David calls upon the Lord. To universalize absolutely the word “none” to mean absolutely nobody and “children of men” to mean no exception, then King David is inconsistent because he himself has been calling upon God. Furthermore, Psalms 14:5 talks about generation or group of righteous men beside the fools.

In Noah’s generation, there was Noah and his family who walked with God. See Gen. 6:9-12, 18 and Gen 7:1. Noah’s family was not included in the generalization of Gen. 7:12. Therefore, it was not completely and not absolutely all of mankind under the complete dominion and penalty of sin.

In Abraham’s time, Abraham was a friend of God says James 2:24. He was excluded from the universal generalization of Calvinism.

In the time of King Ahab and Jezebel when the most extreme violent persecution against God’s people happened, we find prophet Elijah who said that he was the only one left of all God’s people. God said, there were 7,000 left who didn’t bow their knees to Baal. See 1 Kings 19:11-18 and Romans 11:4. So there’s no complete absence of good people who called upon the Lord. There were remnants in different ages.

The OT mentions remnants in various periods of OT history. See Isaiah 1:9; 10:21, 22; Isaiah 11:11; Zeph. 2:9; Ezekiel 6:8 and 14:22; Joel 2:32; Jer. 23:3; 31:7; 42:15, 19; Micah 2:12. In view of the above verses, the generalization of King David is relative not absolute. Not every single individual was bad and lost. There were people who exercised their free will and were persuaded to obey God. #

God’s Little True Church

Greetings brother.
Grace and peace from our Father.

Got your email in Word Ministry. Great job bro, your publication is very inspiring and we praise the Lord for such wonderful gift.

If it’s ok if I could contribute an article in memory of our sister Rose Lagua from Ilagan Isabela  , wife of bro Baldomero Lagua Sr. who recently passed away from Kidney failure. Many brethren from from the Cagayan region attended the wake. Bro Bert Brania was the necro speaker. The Lagua family are the pillars of the Ilagan church of Christ. It was a sad occasion since sis Rose was the partner of bro Bal in bringing the gospel to Ilagan like Aquila and Priscilla in the Bible.

Attached is an article of how we met the couple during our first year of being a christian and how our songs lead us to the true church in Ilagan Isabela.

Hope someday we can meet at the Family Life Center at Session so that I could learn from you more knowledge of how to bring the lost to Him who calls us all.

May our Father bless all the works we have for Him.

Thank you so much. Keep up the great work brother. For sure our Father is well please.

In Christ Love,
JoJo and Janet Ramos
Family Life Center
Session Road

God’s Little True Church

By: JoJo A. Ramos 05-11-05

Let me share to you an unforgettable and glorious experience we had in Ilagan; the capital town of Isabela province, where God showed us another face of His church.

We were bound for my wife’s hometown to attend to the wake of her aunt. At first, we were worried knowing that our weeklong stay would fall on the 1st day of the week. Spiritually, like little children we were scared to be separated for the first time from Midtown Church of Christ.

However, the fear transformed into excitement when brother Andy gave us the list of the Churches of Christ and their ministers in the whole province assuring us of their warm welcome in worshiping our Father.

Studying the list, there was only one church in the town proper of Ilagan and all other churches were located in remote barrios. One was located barely an hour travel to Cauayan City and the most numbered congregation was an hour and a half to Santiago City .

As we began our 9 hours trek, we were excited and discussed the churches of Christ in the province. If ever we would find one along the highway we would stop and say hello.

But sadly there was none. We might have passed them by, not seeing their signboards along the highway. What caught our attention were the “the other churches”…

Like towering palaces in prime locations.

Strategically situated to merge state and religious positions.

Their majestic cool colors and well kept surroundings.

Showing holiness and purity in their own understandings.

Like patterned by one creator, one designer, one builder…

I guess they are right for all were founded by Felix their messenger.

They have unity, persistence and their own word to guide them.

They have influence, power and one vote to unite them.

They were an alluring site…

Like road signs scattered along the road.

Calling attention to drivers as they drove.

Their signages scattered from left to right,-from town to town.

Being mesmerized by their familiar biblical sounds.

Fellowship, Christian, Pentecost, miracle, the light, the bread and many more.

Attracting eyes of Bible readers in their path… changing course.

They believe in the Holy Bible as their rule of faith.

Oh…what mixed emotions we had concerning their state..

We were happy and glad they broke “the traditions”.

Though gloomy and sad… deficient in knowledge, compromising scriptures.

With their additions and subtractions.

They were a bewildering site…

Like ancient castles guarding their traditions.

A rule of faith patterned on all generations.

They worship in flocks with all their saints and adorations.

They fervently pray with too many repetitions.

Their dominance can be seen through their signs and symbols.

Images and pictures of holies hanged in shivering walls.

Names of saints, angels,-of the mother,-of the child-forged piety installed.

Smeared in business, houses, streets, towns and cities heresies unfold.

Declaring their traditions more holy than that revealed truth foretold.

They are a dominant site…sacramental dangers foreseen but untold.

Seeing these churches made us more inspired to search for the “true church”, the Church that Jesus built (Matt. 16: 18). The body of Christ (Col. 1: 18, 24; Eph. 4: 12) where the lord added daily those who were being saved (Acts 2: 47). The possession (Eph. 1:14) which was purchased by Christ blood (Acts 20: 28). The church that Jesus died for (Eph. 5: 25-27). The church where Christ is the head (Eph. 5: 23). The “true church” where Christians can sing praises to the Lord (Heb. 2: 12) and spiritual songs, singing and making melodies in their hearts to the Lord (Eph. 5: 19). The House of God, which is the Church of the Living God, the pillar and foundation of the TRUTH ( 1 Tim. 3: 15). The “true church” where the SEED –the Word of God (Luke 8: 11) was planted. The “true church” having OBEDIENCE to the PATTERN OF SOUND WORDS ( 2 Tim. 1: 13-14)… SOUND DOCTRINES (Titus 2: 1-15)… SOUND INSTRUCTIONS ( 2 Tim. 3: 16)… SOUND TEACHINGS (Col. 1: 28)… the “true church” as revealed by the Word of God… THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST.

We arrived in Ilagan, Isabela. It was hot. After seeing the “other churches” along the way, we were exited to meet our brethren in my wife’s hometown. Days went by fulfilling our itinerary; visiting relatives and friends and attending the wake…but still, we could not find the Church of Christ . Observing the people; like anywhere in the world, with all their vices, -ways of men and deep and honest devotion to religion, I kept thinking that there must be a “true church” here…the church, as revealed by the Word of God… the church that Christ built (Matt. 16: 18) like:“…the churches of God which is at Corinth (1 Co. 1: 2), …the church which was at Jerusalem (Acts 8: 1), …the churches of Galatia (Ga. 1: 2), …the church in Philemon’s house (Philemon 1: 2), …the church which is in Aquila and Priscilla’s house (Ro. 16: 5; 1 Co. 16: 19)…The church that strictly adheres to the Word of God and follow the same APOSTOLIC PATTERN as revealed in the New Testament. The church where Christians live a SPIRITUALLY CONSERVATIVE LIFE OF NO COMPROMISE in the interpretations of our Father’s instructions. That where the Bible speaks, they speak and when the Bible is silent, they are silent, respecting God’s sovereign and wisdom knowing that the Bible is sufficient (John 20: 31). The church composing of all baptized believers are added by the Lord daily those who are being saved (Acts 2: 47).

It was Friday and Sunday was fast approaching, still we haven’t found the Calamagui Church of Christ. Our last resort was to worship at home and call up Midtown for the recipe for the unleavened bread. But knowing that there was something missing in our worship assembly, for there was only me and my wife Janet as members. Realizing this was not a last resort, I prayed to our Father to lead me to the “true church” and find Him.

So I searched… in my search, I came upon denominations after denominations…

I have seen their churches… some large, some small.

Some fully air-conditioned… some with fans, some none at all.

Some complete with musical instruments…sound systems galore.

Some with feelings, miracles, prophesy and tongues that they may not be bored.

Some with young pastors… young overseers… young elders… maturity immature.

Some with woman pastors… confused ladies with zealous faith… danger for sure.

Some with concrete slabs… with marbles, tiles, and granite… all fragile floors.

Some invited me for worship… but empty… so empty… though open doors.

Seeing these, I realize that God was showing me things. Then one young pastor told me there was a Church of Christ barely 1 km. from Calamagui. Without hesitation, I hurried to the area. I saw a large signboard showing in big plain letters “ Church of Christ ”. Could they be the one? I asked. It was large. The church was still under renovation. I entered. It was empty, no soul at sight. Again, I asked, could they be the one? The church seemed untidy. The benches were disarranged. They have a pulpit. They have a Xerox copy of one of our worship songs. Again I asked, could they be the one? I called out, but no one answered. I made noises… still no one came. I went out and searched. The church area was wide. I saw a path leading down to the basement. I saw a house. I saw children. Then I heard laughers, joys of young men. I met them, 3 young preachers. I introduced myself as their brother from Midtown church of Christ . They introduced themselves as preachers graduating from Apari Bible Seminary managed by the “churches of Christ”.. At that instance, I felt happy and joyful. Again, I asked myself; could they be the one? Then their words answered my question… they called me PASTOR, they called themselves pastors, so young… so immature. They invited me and my family to worship with them. I asked them; do they sing praises to the Lord? They answered me loudly… bragging they have the best band musicians in town. I was silent at that moment. Then I realized how my feelings deceived me. They were not the one. They were not the “true church”. I told them I was looking for my brother. However, they heard no such name. They informed me many drop-by their church also looking for brother Bal. Again, I felt the excitement rushing through my veins. Then the young pastors told me laughingly, they knew of a thin man, a preacher of the Bible with his family, who conducts Bible studies at homes. Sarcastically, they told me if ever there were churches of Christ within the area they would have known for they were located along the highway and have the largest signage. They were even uncertain if the thin preacher had a church or congregation. My excitement was so pumped-up, being silent as they all spoke. So I interrupted their joy and asked them do they know where my brother was? One answered; hearing from their neighbors, that the thin preacher and his family was worshiping in an apartment beside the NBI building, in front of a printing press. Instantly, I stood up. I thank the young pastors and hurriedly step out. I left them with their joy and knew God had showed me another church…

The church of Christ they say.

With young pastors enjoying their play.

Like large buildings, so high and mighty… reaching the sky.

All covered with glass, when light strikes… dazzling the eyes.

When brethren are drawn… a pattern is shown.

A face mirrored on its wall… a pattern unknown.

Deceiving in nature, the devil has grown.

Their joy shall not last… it will all be thrown.

I drove so fast. As I arrived, I saw the apartment. It was along the highway. I parked my car. Got out and again saw nothing. The apartment was small… empty. There was no signage… no physical evidence of a church, which once stood there. I asked one of their neighbors. He was also new in the area but delightedly told me that he was hearing beautiful singing with voices so pure touching the heart of one passing by. But when the singing stopped… silence was heard, he knew the voices transferred. Though no physical evidence of a church, the spiritual evidence was strong. I felt warmth… I felt hope in my heart…I knew I was near. Again, I asked another neighbor. They told me brother Bal transferred nearby. Then they called out a young child. She looked at me smilingly. They told me she was brother Bal’s daughter. I felt happy. They called her older sister, she immediately offered her hands; like the ones we do at Midtown. She greeted me with a beautiful smile and said: “HELLO BROTHER…” After all the experience of excitement and exhilaration in my search, her simple words gave me PEACE. I knew they were the one….

I found the true church… the Church Of Christ .

The church that first started from Peter’s first cry.

A revelation foretold by our Lord Jesus Christ.

That Peter’s reply… was the rock… the church of Christ .

The gates of Hades shall not prevail against it… as prophesied.

The church that Christ built… revealed inside me… not in my eyes.

God showed me the other churches… that I may realize.

A prediction foretold… that they would apostatize.

We have one Father… we have the same Christ.

Unknown to them was the pattern… revealed in God’s eyes.

Meeting our young sisters in Christ, I asked the whereabouts of their father; brother Bal, and their congregation. They led me to a rough road and eagerly told me they were building a chapel. They explained they could not afford the rent of the apartment where they used to live and conduct their worship assembly. Happily they told to me that their father bought a piece of land where they will construct a house, a guest room for visiting brethren like me and a chapel all side by side. Looking ahead in front of us, I notice what seemed like a community of white houses in a cemented road. At first, I was amazed that the area was populated. Then Rosemarine, the eldest told me we arrived.. I realized that the community of white houses was a cemetery with small residential houses alongside it. Rosemarine pointed to their house. I saw a structure, a 5 m. width hollow block wall fronting a 35-40 sqm. leveled ground with unfinished surrounding column and beams. She informed me that the chapel would be built there. I noticed a young tree in the middle of the lot. Beside the wall was a semi-finished room where she excitedly explained that it was their temporary home and soon to be a guest room and kitchen. Next to it was a 40 sqm. lot with unfinished construction of a small house. It was their future home. She was very excited. But I saw no one working. I asked. She told me her father stopped the construction. I understand. I noticed someone digging. It was his older brother digging a septic tank. Again, he offered his hand and said; “HELLO BROTHER”. He told me brother Bal and sister Rose; their mother, went to town. So I waited. My long wait was relaxing as I sat in the shade of the small tree within the area of the future church. I remembered a lesson where early Christians worshiped God and preached the gospel in roads, under trees and in homes. I felt excited as I realized that we would be worshiping our Father under a tree like in some first century assembly. I felt peace as I waited. It was about 4:30 pm I saw a thin old man together with a longhaired woman, side by side coming down the path I came. They looked at me. I was looking at them. Our eyes met. We smiled. I could not contain myself. I shouted; “HELLO BROTHER”. I introduced myself. They introduced themselves. Our shake was hard, gripping each other’s hands as if we missed each other for so long. We felt the oneness of the Holy Spirit. I felt so complete and at peace. We sat under the small tree, while sister Rose prepared watermelon. We talked about the churches of Christ. He told me some of our brethrens in the province had gone the wrong path, some became “one cup”… some used instrumental music. They were influenced by their financial supporters from the US . He was sad. I encouraged him. Facing the hollow blocks wall, I explain that seemingly the wall was likened to the Church that Christ built. All the hollow blocks cemented together and supported by a foundation of beam and column were the different congregations of the churches of Christ. If one or more hollow blocks will be damaged or destroyed completely, the whole wall will still remain standing since the foundation is still supported by God’s column and beam… God’s Word. As we could see within each hollow blocks are iron bars connecting them to the column and beam representing Christ’s veins connecting each congregation… even if one or more congregation shall be demolished the others will be unaffected.

We talked for hours. We talked until darkness came. I noticed they have no electricity yet, but the radiant glow of the Holy Spirit gave us light. They informed me their family came from the San Antonio church of Christ and their congregation was barely a year old with 20-30 members. He was conducting Bible studies at homes and in the market. He invited us to a river the coming Saturday were 3 formerly Baptist were to be Baptize into Christ. He was very excited. I was very happy that night. Everything was complete. It was late. He invited for worship, and cautioned me that it would be very hot since they have no roof yet and we will be under the sun. I told him nothing could stop us from worshiping our Father. Not even the inconvenience of heat. He laughingly agreed and said; besides it is hotter in hell for we will be burned eternally. Here on earth we can hide under the shade of this small tree and find comfort as he points to the small tree within in the assembly area… like the church of Christ in this material world. I told him I was going to help him tomorrow; Saturday, and provide for a temporary roof.. He accepted. Everything was set.

Sunday came. We woke up early. We were preparing for the 9 am worship assembly. He texted me, requesting me to deliver the sermon. This was my first time. I accepted with all my heart. I knew God wanted this after showing me all the other churches and teaching me the true church… the Church that Christ built (Matt. 16:18). I had a wonderful topic. The same topic in my recent article; “Why are we few?…knowing that we are in the true church ‘. We arrived, Net, our little Rico, Ditas, both my in-laws and me. The Ilagan Church of Christ greeted us. Everything was glorious and wonderful… in GOD’s LITTLE TRUE CHURCH..

Seeing with my heart… I found the Church of Christ .

Guided by God’s Word… the only pattern for us to realize.

An abode for sinners who were called by God’s all knowing eyes.

That they may be saved and comforted in the Body of Christ.

That when the time shall come as we Christians look ahead.

The day that our Lord Jesus Christ will judge the living and the dead.

The day when all crop… all nurtured and grown from the seed.

Shall be harvested and stored… in God’s kingdom well received.

While others will be uprooted and burned in the lake of fire.

For they have deceived many… growing from their own desire.

Day by day, I thank the Lord… for my family’s sake.

That we are in the true church and not swimming in the lake..

For here, we are shown God’s true wisdom, knowledge and instructions for our faith.

The Church of Christ … being cleansed with Jesus’ blood… while we all wait.

GLORY TO GOD!

John Calvin vs. Moses and the Prophets

By Eusebio Tanicala, Ph.D.

Adam and Eve committed sin when they ate the forbidden fruit. They sinned and died that very day. All humanity died at that very day of parental disobedience. Calvinism claims that every succeeding generation after Adam and Eve are also as dead as Adam and Eve. People dead in sin beget people dead in sin. The sin of parents are imputed to off springs. But the idea of Augustine about “adamic sin” or “inherited sin” is wrong. This idea of Augustine was accepted by John Calvin, a French lawyer, and calls it “total depravity.” He taught that all off springs of Adam and Eve are totally depraved, dead in sin, They are zombies. They are insensitive to the world. They could do nothing.

But the passages of the Bible overwhelmingly disagree with John Calvin’s idea. Notice the following passages: Deut. 24:16; 2 Kings 14:6; Jeremiah 31:30; 2 Chronicles 25:4. Please read these passages. Let’s notice Ezekiel 14:10 (NKJV) – “They shall bear their iniquity;” v. 13 – “When a land sins against me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out my hand against it…” v. 14 – Noah, David, Job are righteous people, if they were in certain towns in the midst of sinners they would not impute their righteousness upon others. V. 16—“they would deliver neither sons nor daughters, only they would be delivered.” Vs. 18, 20 teaches that the righteousness of the righteous are their own. If righteousness is not automatically imputed, it follows that guilt is not also automatically imputed.

Ezekiel 18:4 – The soul who sins shall die. Vs 5-9 – “But if a man is just and does what is lawful and right … If he has walked in all my statutes and kept my judgments faithfully … He is just he shall surely live! Says the Lord.” Vs. 10-13 – If a son does abominable things, “He shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.” V. 17 – Son does not die for the iniquity of his father. V. 18 – The father dies for his own iniquity. v. 20- The soul who sins shall die, the son shall not bear the guilt of the father, and the father shall not bear the iniquity of his son.

Ezekiel 18:1-5 and 19:13-15. These parts strongly suggest the innocent state of children before they reach the age of accountability, the age of culpability.

The above passages clearly disprove the interpretation of John Calvin that off springs automatically inherit the death sentence of parents. John Calvin is wrong. The Lord God, Moses, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Jesus are right. #

Both Christians & Muslims Claim Torah Verses

“I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speak in My name, I will require it of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19)

Christianity on one hand interprets this passage and point to Jesus the Messiah as the fulfillment of this promise of Yahweh. On the other hand, Islam claims that the passage had its fulfillment in Muhammad.

When we compare notes with Muslim friends and acquaintances we should insist that the passage refers to Jesus Christ and not to Muhammad. In an earlier posting I quoted passages from the Qur’an where Islam recognizes the Gospel record. Now in the Gospel of John Christ himself said, “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” John 5:46-47. This statement was made by Jesus Christ in A.D. 32 and since Islam recognizes the Gospel Record, and Islam recognizes Jesus Christ as a prophet of God, this statement should be accepted. Christ said that Moses wrote about him (Jesus Christ). But Muslims say that the passages point to Muhammad. Muhammad claimed this for himself some 600 years after it was claimed by Jesus Christ. Muslims, therefore, are inconsistent on this matter. They deny what the Gospel Record says and deny also what a prophet said. Point this out as Islam’s inconsistency.(Eusebio Tanicala)

Form of God and Form of a Servant

By Eusebio Tanicala, Ph.D.

Some preachers think that the phrases “form of a servant” and “form of God” are parallel and provide them a sound argument in proving the deity of Christ. This is the line of reasoning: Christ took the form of a servant– he was truly a servant; Christ was in the form of God– he was truly God. In a Q & A procedure, it is like this: (1) When Christ took the form of a servant, was he truly a servant or not? (2) When Christ was in the form of God, was he truly God or not?

Presumptions in the above are wrong. First, the discussion or proposition is about the deity of Christ. Not the form of deity. Deity refers to essential nature. Likas na kalagayan. His substance, his essence. Essence or substance is what makes God truly God. Essence or substance cannot be parted with, could not be separated from the person of God. Just as a man’s humanity could not be removed from a human being. A man cannot part or empty himself of his humanity. You and I will always be human. Christ has been and will always be deity or God.

Philippians 2:7 says, “but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant.” (ASV) To some, this emptying is laying aside and it refers to Christ’s laying aside his deity (iwaksi in Iloco or itabi in Tagalog). Far from it. Verse 7 is not talking about Christ’s emptying Himself of his being God. Both KJV & NKJV renders the clause as “made himself of no reputation” instead of “emptied himself” of the ASV.

Sharing the Sonship of Jesus Christ to a Muslim

By Eusebio Tanicala, Ph.D.

Mike Hildreth of Texas sent me a voice recording of a debate between Mr. Hutto (Bible believer) and El Dareer (Qur’an advocate) on the proposition: Jesus Christ is the Son of God. So far I’ve listened to the first affirmative presentation of Mr. Hutto.

Muslim friends believe that Jesus is the Messiah, but they deny that he is the Son of God. Jesus is not the begotten Son of God they say. Muslims, however, teach that Jesus of Nazareth is a son of God in the same way true believers are sons of God. Muslim’s idea of the term “begotten” is physical. The true God could not be physical and could not have carnal knowledge with the Virgin Mary.

Muslims have not been sufficiently oriented on the meaning of “begotten” as used in the first century. “Begotten” (monogenes in the Greek text) means “special” or “unique” as applied in the case of Jesus. See Thayer’s Greek English Lexicon, page 417. Why is Jesus Christ’s Sonship a unique one? Because Christ is the Logos who became flesh. See John 1:14. No other person has ever had that nature: the mysterious fusing of deity and humanity to bring about the reconciliation of man to his God.

Christian & Muslim Views Compared

A Muslim said to a Christian: “We Muslims have something you Christians don’t have. When we go to Medina, we find a coffin and know that Mohamed lived because his body is in it. But when you Christians go to Jerusalem, you find nothing but an empty tomb.”

Replied the Christian, “What you said is true and that makes the eternal difference. The reason why we find an empty tomb is because we serve a RISEN Christ.”

-Sent in by brother Ray Ingles

Christ doesn’t know His coming, therefore He isn’t God.

By Eusebio Tanicala, Ph.D.

“CHRIST DOESN’T KNOW HIS COMING, THEREFORE HE ISN’T GOD.”

“But that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mark 14:32) Because we believe that Christ is God, and God is omniscient, would not Mark 13:32 and Matt. 24:36 negate the belief on the deity of Christ?  Many would like to get a satisfactory answer to this question.

The following is my suggested approach to clarify this issue. Take the following steps which are inter-related:

FIRST STEP: Clarify who we are talking about. In Mark 13:26 the subject is the “Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.” In Matt. 24:30, 37, 39, 44 the subject is the “Son of Man.”

Now we have to determine which aspect of our Lord Jesus Christ is this “Son of Man” because in our belief He is both complete human and complete God. Colossians 1:19; Col. 2:9 and John 1:1, 14 support this belief. We should make a distinction between “Christ-Son of Man” and “Christ-God.” By taking Psalm 2, Acts 13:33; Heb. 1 and Heb. 5:5 as background, we can infer that His becoming the “Son of Man” started with his human birth or may have started with His anointing. In Psalm 2, the type-person is King David while the anti-type-person or fulfillment is Jesus Christ. When was David begotten by the LORD so he was called begotten son? It must have been in his anointing to become king of Israel by the prophet Samuel. Taking the clue from King David’s begetting, Christ’s being “Son of Man” must refer to his humanity. Not His deity. In relation to the day and hour of his coming with power and glory, as far as Jesus’ human knowledge was concerned, He didn’t know.

For an illustration, learn to differentiate the constitutional personality from the private individual personality of the President of the Republic of the Philippines. Currently we have President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (PGMA) in office. For every item below ask the question: “Is this the constitutional person or the private individual person of PGMA?” (a) PGMA was born April 1947. (b) PGMA is the daughter of Dra. Eva Macaraeg-Macapagal. (c) PGMA spoke before the U.N. General Assembly last month. (d) PGMA is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (e) PGMA is the mother of two congressmen. (f) PGMA is married to Atty. Miguel Arroyo. (g) PGMA has today signed into law ten bills at Malacanang Palace. (h) PGMA graduated from a university in the United States. (i) PGMA celebrates her birthday in April. (j) PGMA enjoys the presence of her grandchildren. (k) PGMA’s official family is having a conference at Malacanang Palace’s Heroes Hall. (l) Mike Arroyo is the head of PGMA’s family.

Some believe that even His deity didn’t know the day and hour of this glorious coming. It is suggested that this attribute of omniscience was among those temporarily discarded or laid aside by Christ in the “emptying” mentioned in Phil. 2:7. I disagree to this idea. For me, omniscience is an essential attribute of deity which could not be laid aside. Just as a philosopher in the first century when captured during a military invasion could not empty himself of his knowledge although he could be sold as a slave and become a bondservant in another land.

SECOND STEP: Learn how to shift from the human level up to the deity level or vice versa when one studies the life and statements of our Lord Jesus Christ. Failure to do this shifting could result to a failure in hermeneutics just as the Jews failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah because they failed in their interpretation of scriptures. In fact Christ at one time said to the scribes and Pharisees, “You err because you don’t know the scriptures” when they dwelt only on the material-physical level of human existence.

For example, in the case of the Messiah, Jesus asked the Pharisees: “Whose son is the Christ?” (Matt. 22:41-46) They answered, “David’s son.” Then Jesus asked, “Why did King David call the Christ his Lord or Master if the Christ is his son?” The Pharisees were stunned. Their failure was that they only recognized Christ’s humanity. Dapat ang sagot ng mga Fariseo ay ganito: “Kung ayon sa pagka-Dios siya ay Panginoon ni Haring David; kung ayon sa pagkatao—anak siya ni Haring David.” This should also be the way we look at Christ’s statement in Mark 14:32: Kung ayon sa pagka-tao, hindi niya alam; kung ayon sa pagka-Dios alam niya.

There are other declarations made by our Lord that pointed to His humanity and NOT to His deity. He said, “I thirst”, “Children have you any food?”, “The Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head down.” Some descriptions like “firstborn son wrapped in swaddling clothes”, “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature before God and man”, “he wept”, “he ate” “he slept”, “was crucified”, “was buried” etc. Read Isaiah 53 and you find many acts and descriptions pointing to the humanity of Jesus.

On the other hand, statements like the following are assigned to Christ speaking as God: Jn 5:19, 20 – He sees the Father working; He does what the Father does; 5:23—give honor to the Son as you honor the Father; Jn 6:33, 38, 41,42, 51,58; 8:23; —he came down from heaven which act he did before incarnation; Jn 1:18, 46; 8:26; 8:38, 55– He knew, he saw, he heard, he proceeded from the Father.

THIRD STEP: Recognize Relative Negation as a figure of speech that puts focus on the ultimate authority without totally denying the proper place of other entities so recognized. Christ employed Relative Negation in Matt. 19:16-17; Mark 10:17-18; Luke 18:18-19. Christ was addressed as good teacher, but he relatively negated it and pointed to God as the ONE who is good and none other else. But Matt. 20:15 points to Jesus Christ as the master of the vineyard and he calls himself good. There’s the good tree that bears good fruit (Matt. 7:17); there’s the good man in Luke 6:45; there’s good soil, etc. Relative Negation is also employed in 1 Cor. 1:17 where Apostle Paul said he was not sent to baptize but to preach the gospel. The apostle did not reject baptism but since the Corinthians were putting too much emphasis on their baptism/baptizer and relegated Christ’ death-burial-resurrection he had to jolt them so that they would focus on the proper and foremost source of salvific power: the gospel.

The Father is God. In John 10:29 & 14:28 Christ says that the Father is greater than he is. This refers to His humanity in relation to God. However in John 5:16-23 Christ tells about mutual relationship with the Father: both work, both have knowledge, both are sources of life, both are judging, and both should be paid the same level of honor. On the level of deity, the Father and Son are equal says v. 18.

On the level of deity, we affirm that Christ knows everything. See John 1:18; 2:24-25; 7:28-29; 8:13-20; 8:54-55; 16:14-15; 17:25 and 21:17. The above items considered, the aspect of Christ speaking in Mark 13:32 therefore is the human Jesus.

FOURTH STEP: Determine the recipients’ readiness to receive the message. There were times when Jesus withheld information because the audience was not ready for it or the direct and clear information could be misinterpreted or could offend instead of building up belief. Even in the last week of Jesus’ ministry he said to the disciples, “I still have many things to say to you but you cannot bear them now.” Much talking would be useless. It’s throwing jewels to the swine.

To illustrate this, please note how Jesus was scolded by Peter when he revealed his forthcoming suffering. See. Matt. 16:21-23. A multitude of followers were offended (v. 61) and left Him when they could not understand Jesus’ statements that he is the bread of life, the bread that came down from heaven, eating his flesh and drinking his blood in John 6:41-71. When Jesus talked about his kingdom, Mrs. Zebedee asked Him to give the top 2 highest positions in the kingdom to James and John. This created jealousy and bickering among the 12 apostles. Note that Jesus made a statement in v. 23 to draw away attention from Himself and focus the power of appointment to another, understandably the Father. Christ made a conditional statement in John 21:21-23 and it was misinterpreted.

By drawing away attention from himself, Jesus stopped misinterpretations, misrepresentations and even stopped useless discussions. What is important in this issue is preparedness. Knowing the exact date and hour is no problem.

FIFTH STEP: Consider the wealth of information given which was sufficient to guide people in preparing for that coming of the Son of Man. They were concerned about the date and hour, but they were not concerned with the what and how of preparation. It’s like bar and accountancy examinees being concerned with the date and time of examinations but unconcerned with what to review and what to do in preparation for the days of the examination. The what and the how of preparation are supplied in Matt. 24 and 25; Mark 13; and Luke 21 but no question was asked about being prepared.

We should not form the attitude of the generation of Noah that was warned for a period of 120 years. Instead of making preparations for the announced destruction, the people were concerned with great signs of an approaching day and hour of destruction. See 2 Peter 3:4. They were saying that in the past one hundred years and in the current one hundred years all things have been the same. So they concluded that Noah was a crazy old man. Usual day to day activities of carefree living continued on. Then suddenly the heavy down pour came without let up for 40 days and 40 nights. Skeptics all perished.

So don’t be like the generation of Noah that was concerned with the day and hour but not concerned with personal preparations for safety and evacuation.

SIXTH STEP: Clarify the term “only.” Most common meaning given to this word is that it is a limiting adjective: no other person or entity except the one named. But the word could mean “highly preferred or an outstanding one.” Possibly Christ said, “I prefer that the Father be the one to reveal the day and hour, not me.”

Let’s prove this idea. Please see Genesis 22:2, 16. We read from this passage: “Isaac your ONLY son” said Yahweh God to Abraham. Dare anyone accuse Yahweh God of ignorance or lying when He said that Isaac was Abraham’s only son? Was not Ishmael born 13 years earlier to Abraham and his wife Hagar? In Matthew 23:10, Christ said, “Do not be called teachers; for ONE is your teacher, the Christ.” Is not a class facilitator in the Sunday Bible study hour called “teacher”? Don’t we call faculty members at Philippine Bible College “teachers”? So we have shown that “only” or “one” is not employed as limiting terms all the time.

SEVENTH STEP: Read this declaration of Christ: “For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.” (NKJV) Read also John 14:10. So we should not demote Christ. Kung mayroon kayong angal, go and discuss this matter with the Father.

Extreme Joy and Happiness

By Jhun Ma

Ps 37:4- Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Delight:
1 : a high degree of gratification : joy; also : extreme satisfaction
2 : something that gives great pleasure
3 archaic : the power of affording pleasure

intransitive senses
1 : to take great pleasure ²delighted in playing the guitar³
2 : to give keen enjoyment ²a book certain to delight³
transitive senses : to give joy or satisfaction to
–de£light£er noun

I.  Importance Of  Delight Of God  In Our Life

A. When God Is Delighted In You Because of Your Obedience to His Command and Decrees.
Deut. 30:8-10 : 8 You will again obey the LORD and follow all his commands I am giving you today. 9 Then the LORD your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The LORD will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your fathers, 10 if you obey the LORD your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

B.  When God Is Not Delighted Because of Disobedience
1 Sam 15:22-23 – But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.”

C.  The Lord Will Discipline those He Loves & those He Delights In
Prov 3:12- because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

D.  The Lord Will Deliver Those Who Delights In Him
Ps 22:8- 8 “He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”

E.  The Lord Will Uphold Those Who Delights In Him
Ps 37:23-24 – 23 If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

II.  Who Are Those Whom God Are Delighted With?

Lord’s Delight In His People -Ps 149:4-5 – For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation. Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.

The Lord’s Delight In Israel -Isa 5:7- The vineyard of the LORD Almighty is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the garden of his delight. And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.

God’s Delight On Jerusalem -Isa 65:18-20-But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create,for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people;the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.  “Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days,or an old man who does not live out his years;he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth;he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.

Zeph 3:16-17 On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”

The Lord Who Has Delighted In King Solomon
1 Kings 10:8-9- Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness.”

The Lord’s Delight In Jesus (As The True Israel)
Matt 12:15-18- Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick, warning them not to tell who he was. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

The Lord’s Delight on Those Who Understands and Knows Him
Jer 9:24- 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.

God’s Delight In His Servant (The Messiah)
Isa 42:1- “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations.

The Lord Delight’s In those Whose Ways Are Blameless
Prov 11:20- The LORD detests men of perverse heart but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.

The Lord Delights In Men Who Are Truthful
Prov 12:22- The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.

Messiah’s Delight In The Lord
Isa 61:10- I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

The Lord’s Delight In Honesty
Prov 11:1- The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight.

God’s Delight In Showing Mercy
Mic 7:18- Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.

God’s Delight  In Those Who Fear Him And Put their Hope In His Unfailing Love
Ps 147:11 -the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

III. How Do We Express Our Delight In God?

A.  Delighting In God By Having A Joyful Heart -1 Sam 2:1-2- Then Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance.  “There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.

Ps 35:9-10- 9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation. My whole being will exclaim, “Who is like you, O LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.”

B.  Delighting In Revering God’s Name – Neh 1:11-O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”

C.  Delighting In God Through Prayer – Job 22:26-27 – Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God. You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.

Job 27:10- Will he find delight in the Almighty? Will he call upon God at all times?

D.  Delighting In God’s Command and His Words – Ps 1:2- 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Ps 112:1-3 -Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands.  His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.  Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

Ps 119:16-18 -16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. Do good to your servant, and I will live; I will obey your word. 18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

Ps 119:24- 24 Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.

Ps 119:35-37 – Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.

Ps 119:47-48 -47 for I delight in your commands because I love them.  I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees.

Ps 119:143-144- Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight. Your statutes are forever right; give me understanding that I may live.

Jer 15:16 -When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty.

Rom 7:22- For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; (If not Delighted In God’s Law)

Ps 119:92 -If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.

E.  Delighting In God’s People -Ps 16:2-3- I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.

F.  Delighting On the Well Being of God’s People -Ps 35:27-May those who delight in my vindication
shout for joy and gladness;may they always say, “The LORD be exalted,who delights in the well-being of his servant.”

G.  Delighting In Praising God: Singing & Music -Ps 43:4 -Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.

H.  Delighting In Sacrifices With A Humble Heart -Ps 51:16-19- You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem. Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

I.  Delight In Pondering God’s Work- Ps 111:2-4-Great are the works of the LORD;they are pondered by all who delight in them.  Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever.  He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate.

J.  Delighting In The Fear Of the Lord (Of Messiah) Isa 11:2-3- The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him–the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD– and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.

K.  Delighting Not In Evil -1 Cor 13:5-6 -  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

L.  Delighting In All Kind of  Suffering For Christ Sake -2 Cor 12:10 -That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

M.  Delight In Sharing The Gospel Of  God  & Our Lives – 1 Thess 2:8- We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.

N. Jewish Delight- Isaiah 58:13-14 -”If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD’s holy day honorable,and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” The mouth of the LORD has spoken.

IV. Other Forms Of Delight

A.  Father’s Delight-Prov 29:17- Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.

B.  Wise Son’s Delight -Prov 23:24-The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him.

C.  Delighting In All Our Work -Eccl 2:10- I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.

D.  Delighting In Your Husband -Song 2:3- Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my lover among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

E. Delighting In Your Wife -Song 7:6-9- How beautiful you are and how pleasing, O love, with your delights!  Your stature is like that of the palm, and your breasts like clusters of fruit. I said, “I will climb the palm tree; I will take hold of its fruit.” May your breasts be like the clusters of the vine, the fragrance of your breath like apples, 9 and your mouth like the best wine.

F.  Delighting In Wisdom -Prov 10:23- A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom.

“IN SIN MY MOTHER CONCEIVED ME”

By Eusebio Tanicala, Ph.D.

Because we in the Churches of Christ believe in the free moral agency of every individual based on Ezekiel 14 and 18, and we define sin as a “transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4) we find Psalms 52:5 a problem. It seems to support the theory of “inherited sin” as well as the theory of “total depravity.”

Based on my study and reflection on Psalms 52, I suggest the following ideas that could help explain v.5:

(1) Consider the background of this chapter. Scholars agree that King David wrote this after he was confronted by the prophet Nathan about his crimes of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Army Captain Uriah, a Hittite. This story is in 2 Samuel 11 & 12. Note that the chapter is poetry (NKJV). Remember that poetry tends to exaggerate. This exaggeration is needed because King David exalts the holiness and righteousness of God on one hand while he brings himself down as a rotten, dirty sinner whose sinfulness penetrates deep into the inner recesses of his being. Nothing is good in him. To further exaggerate his own sinfulness, he even goes back to his own mother – that his mother was sinful or that inside the womb, David was already a sinner. The exaggeration is needed because it is generally believed that the fetus and even children are sinless. Even in the Abrahamic and Mosaical covenants, a child is innocent until the 8th day when he is obligated to be circumcised or else suffer some physical penalty. Note also that when King David commented on the death of his first child with Bathsheba, he said, “But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me.” (2 Sam. 12:23)

In short, King David believed in the innocence of an infant. So v. 5 should be viewed as a poetical exaggeration to describe himself as a rotten sinner. He was not talking about inherited sin or adamic sin.

(2) If we were to take v.5 literally, it would contradict passages like Mark 9:36-37; Mark 10:13-16, Ezekiel 14 and 18 where we are told that the sin of a parent is not imputed on the son. Sis is a personal transgression of the law. Therefore, Psalm 52:5 should not be given a literal meaning of “inherited sin” or total depravity.

(3) Still another view, which to me is not a strong argument, but worth exploring is to understand v. 5 as a confession of his family life. 2 Samuel 17:25 mentions Nahash, father of Abigail and Zeruiah, half sisters of David. Zeruiah is the mother of Joab (2 Sam.17:25). Joab is King David’s army commander. This suggests that Zeruiah was much older than David, David being almost of the same age as his nephew, Joab. It is inferred that Abigail’s mother was either a widow of Nahash or that David’s mother was a concubine of Nahash whom Jesse married, or David’s mother was Jesse’s concubine. Or David’s mother was not a refined woman just as Tamar was not a refined woman in Genesis 38:14-26. If the unrefined character of David’s mother comes out as one meaning, then Psalm 52:5 suggest something.

Even if view #3 is not a possibility, view #1 would still be the dominant idea that gives meaning to view #3. Any of the three views above or all of them help us interpret v. 5. #

“Rescue” program airs in Baguio City

In Baguio, brother Edmund Bacani has a radio program called “Rescue.”

Its aim is to rescue the perishing and is aired over DWLY FM every Wednesday morning. Responses are encouraging with several listeners already taught more fully and were baptized. A Saturday morning Bible class is offered for the “Rescue” listeners to have additional Bible instructions. This Saturday class is taught by Mon Devera. Eusebio Tanicala serves as a guest teacher. To encourage the listeners to appreciate a capella music, Ephraim de Castro teaches the Saturday group the fundamentals of music.

Radio program resumes airing in Manila

Brother Jun Patricio wishes to announce that a Sunday radio program at DWSS, 1294 khz, 3-4pm has been resumed since the first Sunday of September. The broadcast originates in the National Capital Region and could reach out into some Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog provinces.  Jun Patricio and associates appeal for financial help to enable the broadcast to continue on. The program is called “Si Jesus ang Tunay na Daan”.

Condolence to the de Vera family

Brother Mon Devera’s dad will be interred at the Tabacuhan Memorial Park in Olongapo City, Zambales this October 9th. We offer our heartfelt sympathy for the demise of Mon’s father.

Inherited Sin/Original Sin

By Eusebio Tanicala, Ph.D.

This article gives some insight into Calvinism on the issue of total depravity. There are two views about the theory of Total Depravity and Regeneration.

Firstly, in the 4th century, St. Augustine came up with the theory that because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience all mankind completely lost God’s grace. All grace was withdrawn from humanity. There were only two people: Adam and Eve. The two comprised all of humanity. What was true of the two became true unto all ages after them. What was true when humanity was 2 individuals, was true when humanity numbered only 20, true when numbered 200, true when numbered 2000, true when humanity became 2,000,000, true when it became 2,000,000,000 and will be true when all of humanity becomes 2 trillion in number, and so on until the end of the ages.

From this thinking, the Roman Catholic Church slowly evolved the doctrine of “Inherited Original Sin. That even an infant is totally depraved so that, if it be possible, even a newly born babe should be given the sacrament of baptism. Borrowing some idea of the OT circumcision, a child should not go beyond 8 days when he should be baptized with a godparent standing as the child’s proxy in faith. It was even taught by some priests that a still-born child should be baptized by a parent or matured relative. Or a child of several hours or several days if it dies should be baptized by any believing person so that the child’s soul would go to “Limbo” and eventually would graduate into Paradise. (Incidentally, the Roman Catholic Church this year has announced that the belief in Limbo is no longer a dogma. Will they disown the theory of original sin after another millennium?)

Roman Catholics are excited about bringing a child into the Christian community through infant/child baptism. Sacramental Baptism starts God’s grace flowing into an individual. And when reason/belief springs from a child’s heart, he participates in the sacramental rite of Confirmation which formalizes a person’s entry into the visible church.

In short, God’s grace returns or is revived in a person via the sacrament of baptism. This is the Roman Church’s doctrine.

Secondly, among Calvinists, the theory of St. Augustine is accepted but developed into a different direction. Calvinism says that man is totally depraved of God’s grace. Man is dead. Man can’t will to do good. Man has no appreciation or sense for what is spiritual. So man’s salvation is granted thro God’s grace only. It is God who injects every tiny ability and desire to live for God. Sola gratia. Man can’t do nothing and does nothing to get into a saved conditioned.

Those who are predestined to be saved are supplied by God with gifts: a preacher is providently led to that person, God supplies/injects into the mind and heart belief and faith, God supplies/injects repentance into the person’s heart, God supplies/injects confession into the person’s lips, God supplies injects willingness to obey and act on all God’s commands. A person desires to do good because God injected into him the desire to do good. It’s all God’s compulsion. Calvinists call this the “irresistible grace” of God.

How about those not elected and chosen and saved by God’s grace? This question should be asked, according to Calvinism because God is the Sovereign LORD. His sovereignty is like the sovereignty of a potter in his Potter’s Field. A potter makes all kinds pots in different designs and sizes. What the potter chooses to become beautiful and be placed on the display counters is his own discretion. Those pots not chosen are broken and thrown away. Pots don’t complain nor ask questions. Yan ang paliwanag ng Calvinism.

Among Churches of Christ, our position is this: From conception a child is innocent until a certain age of accountability. Because the Devil is the God of this world I Cor. 4:4), the world’s environment soaks and overwhelms a child with evil influences that an individual could not resist but develop lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life (1 John 2:16).

Man is depraved but there remains a small flicker of light, small germ of conscience, small germ of reason to start a search for the truth and the good. If truth and goodness competes against the allurements of this world, a person uses his common sense to determine what he desires most. The wonderful design of nature is presented everyday to prove God’s existence. This idea is taught by Apostle Paul in Romans 1:19-32. The prophet Isaiah invited Israel to a session or reasoning and argumentation. (See 1:18)

From the above, we get the idea that there’s a period of innocence from birth to a certain period of maturity when sin is overlooked among children. Then comes the point in time that a person arrives at maturity and that man becomes responsible for his acts. Free will comes into play. Man becomes answerable for his own decisions and acts. So Christ gave the Great Commission to bring the good news of His death, burial and resurrection as the basis of salvation. The blessings and promises of the gospel compete versus the allurements of the world.

The term “dead” is not absolute absence of sensation. The soul is in the person. That soul is not “dead” not a zombie. Death here is separation from God. Read the usage of the term “dead” in Genesis when God said that Adam and Eve would “die” the very day they would eat the forbidden fruit. Read also Luke 15 about the Prodigal Son who was “dead” but came to life. Read the “dead who bury their dead” in Matthew 8:22. Did these dead possess free will? Yes. So out of their free will they decided to do some things.

From these three views presented above, you may choose what is most reasonable and nearest the scriptures.. We will expand the term “dead” in a subsequent article.

Are the “Dead in Sin” completely insensitive?

By Eusebio Tanicala

This article is another study about Calvinism. It is claimed by adherents of Calvinism that sinners are “dead” and since dead people are insensitive to his surroundings, a “dead sinner” could not make any decision.

Calvinists’ definition of the “dead sinner” is the same that is medically given to the physical person which today is based on the deadness of the brain. A brain-dead person, medically speaking, has no ability at all. This is the comparison submitted by Calvinists. But it is a wrong comparison. It is not supported by the Bible.

Since our study is biblically oriented, let the Bible give the definition. Are the “dead in sin” completely and absolutely insensitive to the world around them? Are they unable to exercise free will and personal choices? Let’s analyze several “dead” people in the Bible.

Genesis 2:17 and 3:2-4 use the term “die.” Is it true that Adam and Eve died on the very day both ate of the forbidden fruit in the garden? Yes, I believe they died. Not physically but spiritually. But were they completely insensitive to their surroundings? Did they not decide to cover themselves and hide? Did they not reason out and justify themselves when confronted by God? Yes, they did. Which means that the “deadness” of Adam and Eve is not equated to the medical deadness of a brain-dead person today that has not ability to think and move.

Luke 15:24 and 32. The Prodigal Son is said to be “dead,” but he exercised reason and choices while he was away into the world of sin wandering aimlessly. He exercised his reasoning power and chose to return to the house where his father lived. He confessed his sins and unworthiness. He participated in the celebration of his coming back to life. Again it is clear that the “deadness” of this prodigal son is not the same as the “deadness” of a biologically brain-dead person today that has no ability to think and move.

Matthew 8:22. Christ said “let the dead bury their dead.” The “dead” who could go around to bury the physically dead people are not completely insensitive. They are active but only insensitive to the spiritual world. They are able to exercise free will and make choices.

Romans 11:15. The nation of Israel was considered “dead” because of unbelief (v.20). Who decided that the nation of Israel became dead? Not God. Not Satan. It is most logical that the individual Jews collectively led by their spiritual teachers decided to take certain directions that led them to the path of death. They were dead spiritually but still retained the ability to make choices. So we learn that many sincerely heeded the call of John the Baptist unto repentance. Many also heeded the preaching of Christ and his disciples that led them to confess their sins and were baptized as part of John’s preparatory ministry. And later on only a handful believed in the person and claims of Jesus Christ. But the majority of Israel as a nation was dead. Those who responded to the call of John and Jesus came from the pile of “dead” Israel.

Isaiah 26:16-19. In prophecy when Israel became dead and were chastised they cried for help. A biologically dead body could not be chastised. A biologically dead body, a corpse, could not cry for help. So those “dead in sin” should not be counted as lacking in reason and choices. This passage teaches that they called for the help of God which is a sign of the presence of moral life.

Conclusion: In view of the above passages, it is clear that the spiritually “dead” are not totally depraved of reason and ability to make choices contrary to the claims of Calvinism. The term “dead” should therefore be considered relative. There remains in man a tiny spark of reason and ability to make moral choices. That tiny embeIs there Personal Responsibility? or in the soul would glow into a burning ember if fanned by the good news of Christ’s suffering, death, burial and resurrection for the lost sinners.