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The God of Israel is a living and personal God. The Trinity and Virgin Birth are doctrines of man that were an integral part of mystery religions. They were invented by Nimrod (grandson of Noah); and made official doctrines of Christianity by the unbaptized, pagan Roman Emperor Constantine. Learn about the true and living God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He spoke with man from Adam to Malachi (except for the Egyptian Captivity), to Jesus, the Apostles, in the last days, and will again face to face with Israel as He did in Egypt. He walked with Adam. Noah walked with God. Abraham mistook Him for a man and fixed a meal; which they ate together. Jacob wrestled with God and built a monument for seeing God face to face. Moses spoke with God face to face as a familiar friend; and saw most of His body in all its glory. Ezekiel told of seeing Him in the appearance of man. The Trinitarian creed would have us belief that God is "incomprehensible." Bishop Ambrose said, "when God is thought of, our thoughts should dwell on no material reality whatsoever." There is no "Thus saith the Lord in Babylon." It teaches this unknown God begat seed on a married woman and became God in the flesh. Yet Jesus prayed to God, subjected his will to God, was ordained into the Melchisedec Priesthood by God, died and spend three days in hell, was raised from the dead by God, received all power from God, and sits at the right hand of God. As it is necessary to know God AND Jesus Christ to inherit eternal life, we must look for a God that is not worshipped by most of presumed Christianity who is "no material reality whatsoever." Jesus will soon return, "8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." (2 Thess. 1) We must know the God who was real, personal, living, and speaks to man. "15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations." (Ex. 3) “And this is life eternal,
that they might know thee
Elder
Copyright 2004, by Samuel E. West, publisher. All rights reserved. No part of this volume may be reproduced in any form, by computer or any other means, without permission in writing from the publisher. Copying, without permission of the publisher, is a violation of federal law. Copying for personal use is approved.
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Click on highlighted Subjects or read through) Introduction
Virgin Birth Praise Jesus Why is God Silent God Spoke Again A Special Invitation
Introduction There
can be no subject of greater importance than actually knowing the true and
living GOD of Israel; and the real Jesus Christ.
Without this knowledge we have NO HOPE of a better resurrection and
eternal life.
In order to have a sure foundation for eternal life, we must constantly test our religious beliefs against the law of God and testimony of His holy prophets. There are thousands of different churches all claiming to provide the path to salvation. Two opposing principles can both be false; but, only one can be true. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15) There is no margin for error in this knowledge. “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” (1 Thess. 5:21) “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” (Isa. 8:20) “And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” (Matt. 7:26, 27)
There is something seriously wrong with the doctrines taught in Christianity. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Tim. 4:3, 4) “O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit. Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?” (Jer. 16:19, 20)
Jesus
is not going to return to
A Rapture seven years before the return of Jesus is a fable. There will be a very few remaining Gentile saints of God who will be caught up; but, not until He returns and then after the dead in Christ rise. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thess. 1:16, 17)
There
should be great concern among the people of the world that have taken
There are two promises for the Gentiles. First, very few will survive the day of the Lord. “For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen [Gentile]: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head. For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been.” (Obad. 1:15, 16) Most likely less than ten percent will survive the desolation promised by God upon the world.
“For
then shall be great tribulation, such
as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but
for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matt. 24:21, 22)
Jesus will soon return,
“In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know
not God, and that obey not the gospel
of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thess. 1:8)
The horror of these tribulations can be read in Revelation.
There will be no warning.
“For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west;
so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matt. 24:27)
Second, a very small remnant of Gentile latter day saints will survive. The latter day prophets were murdered with the help of the United States Government. The Gentiles tortured, persecuted, killed, and drove the saints from their own lands. James J. Strang warned this nation, “We further ask that you, by some public act, condemn in behalf of the nation the martyrdom of the saints and their exile from some of the States. Unless you do this, will posterity and God hold the nation guiltless of the blood of saints and prophets? What evidence has ever yet been given that the nation sanctions not the deed? How has she washed her hands of this blood?”
How
many even know that the If escape from the coming desolation, and your life in eternity, is important to you, this tract is worthy of your greatest attention—today. A great desolation is about to fall upon the earth. Those that know not God will suffer the vengeance of our Lord. This is not the time to either feel content, or to procrastinate.
The Trinitarian Creed, which almost all Christian churches adhere, teaches that God and Jesus are incomprehensible. Compare this god with word of God. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3) Follow the admonition of the Apostle Paul and “prove all things” “rightly dividing the word of truth.” “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)
There are two reasons to investigate this question about the identity of God with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. We owe no greater responsibility to ourselves and loved ones than to actually know the will of God and prepare for life in eternity. First, without a proper knowledge of God, it is impossible to have faith in God, love God, enter the kingdom of God, or inherit “life eternal.” “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” (Matt. 22:36-38) Second, according to a prophecy of Jesus, we now live in the latter
part of the last generation of man before His return. “And they [the Jews] shall fall by the edge of the
sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and
This prophecy was fulfilled after the six day war in 1967. Biblical generations are generally forty years. Thirty years after the beginning of this last generation, in the spring of 1997, the birth star of Abraham reappeared and was seen by more people than any other comet—comet Hale-Bopp. Jesus will most likely return around 2007! Escape from the coming desolation is available only to those who know God and obey the gospel of Christ. When God gathers His people, the very small remnant of Gentile saints will be included.
It is
impossible to have faith in God
without a correct knowledge of His attributes, character, and perfections.
There are many religions and many gods; but, there is only one true and
living God. This was an elementary
difference between the God of Abraham and those of pagan religions.
There is no “Thus saith the Lord” in
The most popular Christian doctrine on the identity of God is the same
that was most popular in Constantine
resolved to make Christianity the state religion. He reorganized Christianity into Pagan Christianity.
As a loyal follower of the sun god, he could not turn away from pagan
tradition. At least ninety percent of Roman citizens worshipped the Trinitarian
gods of
Consider the source. “In the unity of that one Only God of the Babylonians, there were three persons, and to symbolize that doctrine of the Trinity, they employed, as the discoveries of Layard prove, the equilateral triangle, just as it is well known the Romish Church does at this day. In both cases such a comparison is most degrading to the King Eternal, and is fitted utterly to pervert the minds of those who contemplate it, as if there was or could be any similitude between such a figure and Him who hath said, ‘To whom will ye liken God, and what likeness will ye compare unto Him?’” (The Two Babylons, Rev. Alexander Hislop, p. 16) Constantine assembled the Council of Nicea in 325 AD; and established the creed which became the center of Christian belief in God—the Trinity and Virgin Birth. This Creed of St. Athanasius remains the foundation of Christian belief today. “He therefore that will be saved, must thus think of the Trinity.” In essence it states that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are all three the same god. They are all uncreated, incomprehensible, eternal, and almighty; and its believers are “compelled by the Christian verity, to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord.” Despite the claims of its founder, it is clearly the doctrine of three gods and not one.
Many
today feel content with a new gospel that was introduced in the sixteenth
century. Martin Luther declared that
men could be saved by faith alone. This
lead to the doctrine that all anyone has to do to be saved is to accept Jesus as
their Savior. Jesus declared it was
requisite to know God AND Jesus Christ; and therefore identified God as an
entity separate from Himself, “for
my Father is greater than I.” (John 14:28)
If Jesus taught the truth, those who worship the unseen god of
It requires a brave soul to investigate his beliefs with an open mind. Most people are content with following a mass of people—like a school of fish. So did those before the great flood. “And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.” (Luke 17:26, 27)
Few
people have the desire to be independent thinkers; and control their own eternal
destiny. This life is like a snap of
the fingers compared to eternity. We
must ask how important our life after death and in eternity is to us. “And
fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather
fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt. 10:28)
Be brave, open minded, pray, and earnestly seek the When
you address a person, do you not address him by name?
Every civilized people on the earth worship a Father, God, and creator of
all things. The actual name of God
has never been recorded; except on the tables of stone that were kept in the
Moses was the first man to know the actual name of God. Flavius Josephus is a renowned Jewish historian who was contemporary with Jesus. There were many books available at that time which has since been lost. He wrote, “Moses having now seen and heard these wonders that assured him of the truth of these promises of God, had no room left him to disbelieve them: he entreated him to grant him that power when he should be in Egypt; and besought him to vouchsafe him the knowledge of his own name; and, since he had heard and seen him, that he would also tell him his name, that when he offered sacrifice he might invoke him by such his name in his oblations. Whereupon God declared to him his holy name, which had never been discovered to men before; concerning which it is not lawful for me to say any more.” (Josephus, Antiquities, Book 2, Chapter 12, par. 4)
The name of God that was signed on the tables of stone was never spoken out of the Sanctuary. It was never spoken above the breath; and then only between three High Priests of the Melchisedec Priesthood. Moses was given a name to use in place of the actual name of God. “And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.” (Ex. 3:15) The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is a living God; unlike the heathen gods who are deaf, dumb, and lifeless. They can neither reward the righteous, nor condemn the wicked. Adam knew God as a familiar friend. He walked with God in the Garden of Eden; and received the law from God’s own lips. “And they [Adam and Eve] heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” (Gen. 3:8)
As God created man in his own likeness and image (Gen. 1:26), so Adam begat a son in his own likeness and image (Gen. 5:3). What does God look like? Look at yourself in the mirror. Although the human body has lost its glory, we retain the likeness and image of God. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” (Gen. 1:27, 28) Even the animals recognize the remnant of divinity that remains in man.
God
spoke and covenanted with Noah.
“9 These are the
generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah
walked with God… 14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make
in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. 15 And this is the
fashion which thou shalt make it of.” (Gen. 6)
God
appeared to Abraham on the plains of
Mamre. Abraham mistook Him and the
angels with Him for men. With genuine Patriarchal hospitality, he invited God
and the angels into his tent to eat, and offered to wash their feet. “And
he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before
them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat… And the men
turned their faces from thence, and went toward
Jacob wrestled with God; and tells of seeing him face to face.
“And he said, Thy
name shall be called no more Jacob, but
Moses conversed with God face to face. “And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.” (Ex. 33:11) Moses wanted to see God not just as a man; but, in all of his glory. “18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory… 20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face [in all my glory]: for there shall no man see me, and live… 23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.” (Ex. 33)
God appeared to Ezekiel in part of that glory. “And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it… As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.” (Ezek. 1:26, 28)
Jesus was the express image of God. “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person.” (Heb. 1:3)
The
Gentiles would not live by the law of God; but, preferred their pagan
traditions. The Apostles gave them
several warnings. Jesus gave them a
final warning in Revelation. Still
they would not. God withdrew His
spirit from among them. God no
longer spoke with man. Satan was
given power to destroy the
The Reformation corrected some of the abuses of the Catholic Church; but, retained the pagan doctrines on the identity of God and Jesus. The Church of England admitted of this apostasy in the Homily Against Peril of Idolatry. "So that laity and clergy, learned and unlearned, all ages, sects, and degrees of men, women, and children of whole Christondom--an horrible and most dreadful thing to think--have been at once drowned in abominable idolatry; of all other vices most detested of God, and most damnable to man." The beast and the image of the beast (rest of catholicity) will be taken together (Rev. 19:20). God was to speak to man once again in the last days (Rev. 14:6). Joseph Smith and James J. Strang both claimed to have been called of God as latter day Prophets; and told of seeing and talking with God. Sadly, like the former day saints, they failed to live by the commandments given to them from God. The prophets were murdered with the help of the U. S. Government.
The
times of the Gentiles was fulfilled in 1967, after the six day war (Luke
Faith
and confidence in GOD is only possible through a correct understanding of His
character and perfections. Faith
cannot exist in a being whose identity we have no comprehension.
The Creed of St. Athanasius,
which is the foundation of Christian belief in God, states, “The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy
Ghost incomprehensible… So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity
in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is
to be worshipped.”
Tell
this mystery of “But without faith it is impossible to please him.” (Heb. 11:6) Before a person can have faith in God, it is essential to know there is only one GOD; and He is without change. If God was not without change, we could not place our trust and confidence in Him for our salvation. Jesus placed His trust in God to raise Him from the dead. An understanding of His character and perfection brings unshaken confidence and faith. “Thou shalt love Him with all thy heart, and with all they mind, and with all thy strength.”
It is only through profound faith that man can progress, become partakers of His glory, and become heirs of eternal life. GOD always spoke to His people to assure they had a correct understanding of Him, of His will towards them, and their duties and responsibilities to Him and to their fellow man. The Jews rejected the authority of Jesus and had Him crucified by Roman law; and thereby severed them from having communication with God.
The
gospel and authority of God was then given to the Gentiles—with a great
warning. “Thou
wilt say then, The branches [Jews] were broken off, that I [Gentiles] might be
graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by
faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
For if God spared not the natural
branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.” (
The
Gentiles returned to their pagan traditions.
Jesus gave them a final warning in Revelation.
John was the last Prophet called of God in that dispensation.
God no longer spoke to the Gentiles.
After formulating the Creed of St. Athanasius,
We can
only appreciate the things of God through prayer, study, an open mind, and an
earnest desire to understand truth. If
we place our faith solely in our own beliefs, our mind is closed and we cannot
expect instruction from God. We must
subject our will to that of God; and subject our beliefs to those which conform
to the law of God and the testimony of His holy prophets.
Our prayers must be directed to the true and living God of Israel.
“If any of you
[saints] lack wisdom, let him ask of God,
that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.
For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and
tossed.” (James 1:5, 6) Prayers
directed to the deaf and dumb Trinitarian god of
The
Bible leaves no doubt the Almighty Father
stands alone as GOD; and is above Jesus in immortality, authority, and
perfection. GOD
is one and not three. “And
the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there
is one God; and there is none other
but he.” (Mark Jesus always spoke of God as an identity separate from Himself. “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.” (1 Cor. 11:3) “Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.” (John 14:28) Clearly God and Jesus are not the same identity.
The Almighty Father is the King of Kings over the entire Universe. He alone is GOD. GOD is one, perfect, without beginning or end, and changes not. The Creed of St. Athanasius declares, “So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God.” This is clearly a doctrine of three gods. The Bible teaches there are actually two distinct and individual personages that constitute the supreme and governing power over the Universe and this creation—the Father AND the Son. The Holy Spirit shares the same mind and purpose with God and Jesus; and coordinates the work of all. These three constitute what is termed the Godhead. Neither Jesus, nor the Holy Spirit can be GOD. There is nothing in the Bible that teaches the Trinity.
“Remember
the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I
am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and
from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall
stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” (Isa. 46:9, 10)
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down
from the Father of lights, with whom is no
variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17) “For I am the
LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons
of Jacob are not consumed.” (Mal. 3:6) God alone has immortality. He
has neither a beginning, nor an end. “That
thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of
our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and
only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can
approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power
everlasting. Amen.” (1 Tim.
6:14-16) Eternities to us are
as moments to Him. A thousand years
is as a day. Jesus had a beginning;
and was the beginning of this
creation—the only begotten of the Father in this creation.
Jesus lived as a spirit like us before His birth into the world, died,
and was raised from the grave by the Father.
God alone has omniscience. Only
God has perfect knowledge of all
things and all times. He never
sleeps. He is light and there cannot
be any darkness before Him. “I
am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning.” (Isa.
46:9, 10) Only God knows the
exact hour of Jesus’ return. “But
of that day [return of Jesus] and
that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the
Son, but the Father.” (Mark
Through perfect knowledge, God is able to save every one of his creatures. “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matt. 10:29-31) Without an understanding of God’s perfect knowledge man could not exercise perfect faith in Him. God alone has omnipotence. God is the superior and governing force over the entire Universe. “Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.” (1 Tim. 6:15) Jesus has dominion over only a speck amid all the worlds in the Universe.
Jesus received His power from the Father.
Before He was born of water and the Spirit, He was alien to the
God alone has omnipresence. His presence fills the immensity of the Universe. Like any being, His actual presence can only be in one place at a time. Through the Holy Spirit and other officers of His kingdom, His power and authority reach throughout the Universe at every instant. Only now are scientists realizing there may be other creations. He travels the Universe faster than the thought of angels. “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” (Ps. 139:7) As we never have to fear that God is limited in His presence, we can have perfect faith in Him. While Jesus walked the earth, His presence was limited.
GOD is truth. “Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.” (Ps. 89:14) “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” (Titus 1:2) “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.” (James 1:13) Jesus was tempted of Satan. “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” (Heb. 5:8)
As GOD
cannot lie, we can have faith and confidence to follow His will as given by His
holy Prophets; and have faith that all the teachings, instructions, promises,
and blessings will be perfectly fulfilled. The
idea of salvation becomes strongly rooted and we can have perfect faith in God.
On the other side of the coin, all of the judgments pronounced on the
heads of the ungodly will also be executed in the due time of the Lord.
All
Prophets of God teach alike on the same subject.
“That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy
prophets, and of the commandment of
us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour.” (2 Pet. 3:2)
When the law was given through Adam, Noah, Moses, and other
Prophets, man had only to obey with a sure confidence they were following the
will of God. “For
Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up
unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him [Jesus Christ] shall ye hear in all
things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every
soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the
people.” (Acts
GOD is no respecter of persons. “Then
Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter
of persons: But in every nation he that
feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” (Acts
Not everyone hears the gospel in the flesh; because only a few qualified during our first estate as spirits. These are they who are called of God. “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated [for-ordained] us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” (Eph. 1:4, 5)
All
men are judged the same. Race and
color are only elements in mortality. Those
who know GOD and obey the gospel while in the flesh have the greatest
opportunity in eternity. They share
in the grace of God and Jesus; which leads to eternal life and the celestial
glory (like the sun, 1 Cor.
Those who do not hear the gospel in the flesh will hear the gospel after death in the spirit. “For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (1 Pet. 4:6) The honorable men of the earth, who accept the gospel after death in the spirit, will share in the grace of saints; and inherit the terrestrial glory (like the moon) after the end of mortal man.
All others share in the grace of God and Jesus to the extent they receive an immortal, physical body. All men are given an understanding of good and evil. All know their duties and responsibilities to their family, neighbors, and fellow man. Those who never submit their will to the will of God will begin eternity in the telestial glory (like the stars).
God is also justice and judgment for those who are unfaithful and disobedient. Let no man think for a moment that because God is love that he will not punish the disobedient. “Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.” (Ps. 89:14) “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” (Deut. 32:4)
Without possessing the character of justice, men could have no faith and confidence in God to submit their lives directly under His guidance and direction. We need have no fear that His judgment will not be just. Through justice and judgment the saints will be delivered out from among the wicked; and inherit the earth with the Father and Son.
GOD
has given all power and judgment of this creation to Jesus.
Jesus has perfect knowledge of the works of every person in this
creation; and an understanding of the infirmities of the flesh through His own
mortal life. His judgment is perfect
and just. “He
that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be
my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part
in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
(Rev. 21:7, 8) “Rejoice greatly, O
daughter of
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48) God founded His law on love because that is the supreme element in the character of man and God. “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” (1 John 4:8) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.” (1 Pet. 1:22) Knowing that the love of God is perfect, we have reason to love Him.
“Master,
which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love
the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matt. 22:36-40) God is merciful and gracious to those who repent and keep His covenants and commandments. “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy…But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.” (Ps. 103:8, 17, 18)
GOD is slow to anger, is long suffering, and of a forgiving disposition. He forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin. Sinners (unbelievers) are forgiven through faith, repentance, and baptism of water. Saints are forgiven through confession, repentance, and recompense. Saints of God must set their daily course on the will of God to be like God. Jesus kept a perfect walk in life, “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” (1 Pet. 2:22) “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word [law] which ye have heard from the beginning.” (1 John 2:6, 7)
The guiding light in the life of every saint of God is to actually live their lives by the law of love. “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing. Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” (1 Cor. 13:2-7)
There will always be controversy among men (and women). The first thought must be to think no evil and to extend the hand of love. This love is the perfection of God manifested in His people. The spirit of love that flows from the Father and Jesus should embrace and guide the life of every saint. “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” (John 17:22, 23)
It is only through perfect love that man can become perfect; and abide by a perfect (celestial) law. “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matt. 5:43-48)
The spirit of love cannot exist in a person who demonstrates negative personal attributes (like being easily provoked, thinking evil of other people, finding fault with others, envying, hating, discriminating, lying, killing, and failing to forgive). Love and forgiveness cover many sins and difficulties in life. Resolution of controversy requires each person to understand that only truth has a common ground. Most often both parties to a controversy are partly right and partly wrong; but many resist considering both sides. Many people will not admit of any error. When addressing spiritual controversy, it must be understood that truth cannot be compromised.
If we know that we have offended another, it is our responsibility to offer our confession, repent, and make recompense. Saints of God are told to, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
If we feel that someone has offended us, it is our responsibility to tell him of such; and make every effort to resolve the issue through love. Conflict must never be allowed to continue. A problem in marriage should be resolved before the couple retires for the night. A single straw of disunity—unresolved—soon becomes a mass of resentment.
We
live in a dangerous time. “1
This know also, that in the last days perilous
times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous,
boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce,
despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of
pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the
power thereof: from such turn away… 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to
the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do
these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the
faith… 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution.” (2 Tim. 3) This
generation fails to understand that God is judgment and the gavel is about to
fall. Those before the great flood
thought they were living in the best of
times. Only
eight souls survived. The people
in
“And
likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their
lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and
receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even
as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a
reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with
all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full
of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of
God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to
parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection,
implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the
judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not
only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (
Even
our youth are being drawn into a free love environment.
Marriage is contaminated by all manner of disorders.
Both parties are responsible for holding the family together.
A popular song reads, “whose bed are your boots under tonight.”
Adultery and divorce are no longer the exception; but, the norm.
Homosexuality once hidden is now an accepted way of life for many.
It is not uncommon for mothers to kill their babies both before and after
birth. Look about you and observe a
latter day Our children have to fight off the temptations of smoking, drugs, sex, and a host of other iniquities; while their peers jaunt them on. The hearts of parents must be for their children; and the hearts of children must be toward their parents. Parents must be their children’s best friends, talk with them every day, and help them to resolve the problems which they face. If left to the world, they will become like the world. The Holy Spirit does not dwell in unholy tabernacles (bodies).
“Likewise
also as it was in the days of
Praise God for our very existence and the creation we enjoy. Praise God for the creation of Jesus who is both our creator and Savior. Praise God for allowing Jesus to offer Himself through the most horrible death so we might have a resurrection with an immortal, physical body.
Praise God for His perfections.
God is one, perfect, without beginning or end, and changes not. God alone
has immortality, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, and has no association
with evil. God is love, truth, no
respecter of persons, merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and of a forgiving
disposition. “He
is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth
and without iniquity, just and right is he.” (Deut. 32:4)
Praise God for the love which He gave to us.
It is through this love that we can progress toward perfection.
Praise God that we have the opportunity for hope of a better
resurrection, of life on a restored earth for the Sabbath of Creation, and that
we might inherit the earth in the celestial glory with Him, our Savior Jesus
Christ, and all the saints of God. “That
they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they
also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And
the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they
may be one, even as we are one.” (John 17:21, 22)
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what
we shall be: but we know that, when he
shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1
John 3:2)
Jesus had a beginning; and WAS the beginning of this creation. Jesus told John, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.” (Rev. 21:6) All men, including Jesus, were first created as spirits. “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” (John 3:13)
Jesus was the only spirit brought forth by God. “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” (1 John 4:9) He is not Almighty GOD; but, He is the God of this creation.
The rest of creation was the work of Jesus in liaison with the Father. “In the beginning was the Word [Jesus], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God [of this creation]. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:1-3) It is obvious that GOD and Jesus are separate persons. “And God said, Let us [God and Jesus] make man in our image, after our likeness.” (Gen. 1:26) “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” (Heb. 1:1, 2)
The
first creation in Genesis was the spiritual
creation—it was incorruptible, “And
God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it
was very good.” (Gen. 1:31) “And
every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field
before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there
was not a man to till the ground.” (Gen. 2:5)
After the spiritual creation, came the physical creation. “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Gen. 2:7) The physical body of man becomes a living soul when his spirit, which was made in the sixth age of creation, is joined with the physical body through the breath of life. Here is the reason for the two accounts of the creation of man—one was spiritual and the other physical. After death, the spirit is no longer bound to the physical body and the spirit of man [the real person] is taken back to God and judged. He spends the interim between death and the resurrection as a spirit in either the bosom of Abraham, or with the spirits in prison (hell). All men are then joined with an immortal, physical body in either the resurrection of the just, or the resurrection of the unjust. After the Millennium when mortal man ends, man enters his eternal state in the celestial, terrestrial, and telestial glories.
Although God cannot change, Jesus did change many times. He began as the only begotten spirit of the Father of this creation in the beginning. Through Him and God came all of the rest of creation. Like Adam, His spirit was united to a physical body with the breath of life; as a newborn baby. “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” (Heb. 2:17, 18) Jesus was raised from a helpless infant. “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” (Heb. 5:8)
Jesus was born in the flesh alien to the kingdom of God, the same as
all other men. He had to be brought
into the kingdom according to the law of God.
“Except a man be
born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the
Some
have been led to believe through the doctrines of
After His Baptism and fasting for forty days, Jesus was tempted of Satan. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.” (James 1:13)
Jesus was ordained to the Melchisedec Priesthood BY THE FATHER.
Jesus was given authority from God to act in the name (authority) of God.
After being tempted of Satan and before Jesus began His ministry, “angels
came and ministered unto him.” (Matt. 4:11)
What did they minister? “And
no MAN taketh this honour [of the priesthood] unto himself, but he that is
called of God, as was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an
high priest; but he [the Father] that
said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day
have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” (Heb.
5:4-6) “The Spirit of the Lord is
upon me, because he [the Father] hath
anointed [ordained] me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to
heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of
sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” (Luke 4:18) God holds all authority in the Universe. The Father “is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.” (1 Tim. 6:15) It would certainly not be necessary for God to receive authority from anyone; much less Himself. Jesus
became the Son of God first through
His spiritual creation; being the
only begotten spirit of the Father. Jesus
then became the Son of God in the flesh
through ordination to the
Melchisedec Priesthood. He was
ordained an Apostle, Prophet, and Lawgiver like unto Moses; and was therefore a High Priest after the order of the Sons of God.
“For Moses
truly said unto the fathers, A
prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like
unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto
you.” (Acts
Jesus is subject to the Father, who holds superior authority. “And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.” (1 Cor. 15:28) “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (John 5:30) “And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.” (Matt. 20:23)
Jesus always obeyed the will of the Father over His own.
While Jesus was among the saints He told them, “Lo,
I come to do thy will, O God. He
taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.” (Heb. 10:9)
During His ministry, Jesus constantly prayed to the Father. If He was truly GOD, such would have been hypocritical and deceiving for the people. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:20-24)
Jesus
told the saints to pray to the Father in
His name. “After
this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father
which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” (Matt. 6:9) “And in that day
ye shall ask me nothing. Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye
shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.” (John 16:23)
If Jesus was God, why not pray to Him? On
the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus prayed to God.
Now why would He do that, if He was God?
“39 And he went a
little further, and fell on his face, and
prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me:
nevertheless not as I will, but as thou
wilt… 42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink
it, thy will be done.” (Matt. 26:39, 42) Jesus
experienced the fear of death. “And
about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama
sabachthani? that is to say, My
God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46)
Jesus died and went to hell. God
cannot die, “Which in his
times he [Jesus] shall shew, who is the
blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who
only hath immortality.” (1 Tim. 6:15, 16)
Jesus was mortal; He suffered, was crucified, died, spent three
days with the spirits in prison (hell); and was resurrected by the Father.
“For as Jonas was
three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be
three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matt. 12:40)
“I came forth from the Father [as a spirit], and am come into the world
[as a living soul]: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father [as the first fruits of the
resurrection and holding the keys of the resurrection for all others].” (John
16:28) “Ye have heard how I said
unto you, I go away, and come again unto you.
If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.” (John
14:28)
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison [hell].” (1 Pet. 3:18, 19) He opened a dispensation of the gospel to the spirits in prison that they, too, might hear and obey the gospel. “For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (1 Pet. 4:6) Those who accept the gospel must then be baptized according to the law of God. They cannot be baptized in the spirit; so a mortal must be baptized for them. Do Christians today baptize for their dead? < |