Thursday, July 30, 2020
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Prayer Time on The Prayer Line With Bishop Sedgwick Daniels
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
Sunday, July 26, 2020
Sunday, July 12, 2020
Bible Study: Is Nation of Islam Doctrine Okay; Now That Min. Louis Farrakhan Acknowledges Jesus?
By
Bishop Elijah H. Hankerson III, BA, MA, DD
I.
GOLDEN TEXT.
1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine;
continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that
hear thee.
LESSON NOTES:
I.
DOCTRINES DISAPPROVED.[1]
The Bible teaches and demands doctrinal agreement and speaks of it as "The
pillar and ground of truth" (1 Timothy 3:15. 4:13). In Ephesians 4, Paul
stresses the unity of the Church of God and gives further emphasis in verse 14:
“That we be no longer children, tossed to
and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine." The apostle
admonishes the Corinthians, that they "All
speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among them" (1
Corinthians 1:10). In 1 Timothy 6:3-5, Paul gives a stern judgment. "If any man teach otherwise and consent
not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the
doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud knowing nothing, but
doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife,
railings, evil surmising, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and
destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness; from such withdraw
thyself." Unity in doctrine then is evidently regarded as of the
greatest importance to the well-being of the Church. Unity in doctrine,
therefore, involves the confession of a common dogma. Dogma is defined as "Church proclamation, so far as it
really agrees with the Bible as the Word of God." Therefore, anyone
who teaches doctrine contrary to the dogma of the Church should be dealt with
according to Titus 3:10.
Titus 3:10 10A man that is an heretick after
the first and second admonition reject;
1.
WE
BELIEVE In the One God whose proper Name is
Allah.
Exodus
3:15 15And 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.
Philippians
2:9-11 (KJV)
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is
above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things
in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every
tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.
2.
WE BELIEVE in the
Holy Qur’an and in the Scriptures of all the Prophets of God.
3.
WE
BELIEVE in the truth of the Bible, but we believe that it has been tampered
with and must be reinterpreted so that mankind will not be snared by the falsehoods that have been added
to it.
4.
WE BELIEVE in Allah’s Prophets and the Scriptures they brought to the people.
5.
WE BELIEVE in the resurrection of the dead–not in physical resurrection–but in mental
resurrection. We believe that the so-called Negroes are most in need of mental
resurrection; therefore they will be resurrected first. Furthermore, we believe we are the people of God’s
choice, as
it has been written, that God would choose the rejected and the despised. We
can find no other persons fitting this description in these last days more than
the so-called Negroes in America. We believe in the resurrection of the
righteous.
1
Corinthians 15:12-19 12Now if
Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that
there is no resurrection of the dead? 13But if there be no
resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14And if Christ
be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15Yea,
and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that
he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16For
if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17And if Christ be
not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18Then they
also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19If in this
life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
6.
WE BELIEVE in the judgment; we believe this first judgment will take
place as God revealed, in America…
1 Peter
4:17 17For the
time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first
begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
7.
WE BELIEVE this is the time in history for the separation
of the so-called Negroes and the so-called white Americans. We believe the
black man should be freed in name as well as in fact. By this we mean that he
should be freed from the names imposed upon him by his former slave masters.
Names which identified him as being the slave master’s slave. We believe that
if we are free indeed, we should go in our own people’s names–the black people
of the Earth. This is not a
salvation issue.
8.
WE BELIEVE in justice for all, whether in God
or not; we believe as others, that we are due equal justice as human beings. We
believe in equality–as a nation–of equals. We do not believe that we are equal
with our slave masters in the status of “freed slaves.” We recognize and
respect American citizens as independent peoples and we respect their laws
which govern this nation. This
is not a salvation issue.
9.
WE
BELIEVE that the offer of integration is hypocritical and is made by those who
are trying to deceive the black peoples into believing that their 400-year-old
open enemies of freedom, justice and equality are, all of a sudden, their
“friends.” Furthermore, we believe that such deception is intended to prevent
black people from realizing that the time in history has arrived for the
separation from the whites of this nation. If the white people
are truthful about their professed friendship toward the so-called Negro, they
can prove it by dividing up America with their slaves. We do not believe that
America will ever be able to furnish enough jobs for her own millions of
unemployed, in addition to jobs for the 20,000,000 black people as well. This is not a salvation issue.
10.
WE BELIEVE that we who declare ourselves to be righteous
Muslims, should not participate in wars which take the lives of humans. We do
not believe this nation should force us to take part in such wars, for we have
nothing to gain from it unless America agrees to give us the necessary
territory wherein we may have something to fight for. This is not a salvation issue.
11.
WE BELIEVE our women should be respected and protected as
the women of other nationalities are respected and protected. This is not a salvation issue.
12.
WE BELIEVE that Allah
(God) appeared in the Person of Master W. Fard Muhammad, July, 1930; the
long-awaited “Messiah” of the Christians and the “Mahdi” of the Muslims.We believe further and lastly that Allah is
God and besides HIM there is no god and He will bring about a universal
government of peace wherein we all can live in peace together.
1
Thessalonians 4:16 16For 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:
Acts 1:11 11Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand
ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you
into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
VI.
REVIEW OF
ISLAMIC BELIEF REGARDING JESUS.
A.
MUSLIMS
HONOR JESUS.
1. THE
KORAN TEACHES THAT JESUS
IS
RIGHTEOUS AND THE PRODUCT OF A VIRGIN BIRTH. It teaches that He is the Messiah or the Christ; the
Anointed One.
Quran
3:45-48.45. The
Angels said, “O Mary, God gives you good news of a Word from Him. His name is
the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, well-esteemed in this world and the next, and
one of the nearest. 46. He will speak to the people from the crib, and in
adulthood, and will be one of the righteous.” 47. She said, “My Lord, how can I
have a child, when no man has touched me?” He said, “It will be so.
God creates whatever He wills. To have anything done, He only says to it,
‘Be,’ and it is.” 48. And He will teach him the Scripture and wisdom, and the
Torah and the Gospel.
2. THE
KORAN TEACHES THAT JESUS
HAS
MIRACULOUS POWER.
Quran
3:49. A messenger
to the Children of Israel: “I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. I
make for you out of clay the figure of a bird; then I breathe into it, and it
becomes a bird by God’s leave. And I heal the blind and the leprous, and I
revive the dead, by God’s leave. And I inform you concerning what you eat, and
what you store in your homes. In that is a sign for you, if you are believers.”
3.
JUDGEMENT DAY AND A DAY OF RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD.
Quran
3:55 Behold! Allah
said: "O Jesus! I will take thee and raise thee to Myself and clear thee
(of the falsehoods) of those who blaspheme; I will make those who follow
thee superior to those who reject faith, to the Day of Resurrection: Then
shall ye all return unto me, and I will judge between you of the matters
wherein ye dispute."
4. IT
APPEARS THAT THE KORAN
SPEAKS OF
CHRIST ARISING FROM THE DEAD. However, let’s study a little bit further to see what the Koran
really teaches about Jesus Christ.
Quran
19:33 "So
peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall
be raised up to life (again)!"
VII.
BUT
MUSLIM/NATION OF ISLAM TEACHING IS ERRONEOUS ABOUT JESUS. One must have
the correct teaching about Christ to be saved.
A. THE
QUORAN MAKES NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JESUS AND ANY OTHER PROPHET.
Quran
2:136 We believe
in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac,
Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to
(all) prophets from their Lord: We make no difference between one and another
of them . . .
Quran
4:171 O People of
the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: Nor say of Allah aught but the
truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) a messenger of Allah,
and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a spirit proceeding from Him: so
believe in Allah and His messengers. Say not "Trinity": desist: it
will be better for you: for Allah is one Allah: Glory be to Him: (far exalted
is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on
earth.
Quran
5:75 Christ the
son of Mary was no more than a messenger; many were the messengers that passed
away before him. His mother was a woman of truth. They had both to eat their
(daily) food.
1. THE
BIBLE DIFFERS AND SAYS
THAT JESUS
IS PREEMINENT ABOVE EVERYONE!
John
8:58 58Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I
say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
John
14:6 ESV Jesus
said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me.
Colossians
1:18 18And he is the head of the body, the
church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things
he might have the preeminence.
Colossians
2:9 9For
in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Hebrews
3:3 3For this man was counted worthy of more
glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour
than the house.
1
Timothy 2:5 ESV For
there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ
Jesus,
B. THE
KORAN DENIES THAT JESUS IS THE
ONLY
BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.
Quoran
9:30-31. 30. The
Jews said, “Ezra is the son of God,” and the Christians said, “The Messiah is
the son of God.” These are their statements, out of their mouths. They emulate
the statements of those who blasphemed before. May God assail them! How
deceived they are! 31. They have taken their rabbis and their priests as lords
instead of God, as well as the Messiah son of Mary. Although they were
commanded to worship none but The One God. There is no god except He. Glory be
to Him; High above what they associate with Him.
Quran
17:111. And say,
“Praise be to God, who has not begotten a son, nor has He a partner in
sovereignty, nor has He an ally out of weakness, and glorify Him
constantly.”
Quoran
18:4-6. 4. And to
warn those who say, “God has begotten a son.” 5. They have no knowledge of
this, nor did their forefathers. Grave is the word that comes out of their
mouths. They say nothing but a lie. 6. Perhaps you may destroy yourself with
grief, chasing after them, if they do not believe in this information.
Quoran
23:91. God has
never begotten a son, nor is there any god besides Him. Otherwise, each god
would have taken away what it has created, and some of them would have gained
supremacy over others. Glory be to God, far beyond what they describe.
Quoran
112:3-4. 3. He
begets not, nor was He begotten. 4. And there is none comparable to Him.”
1. THE
BIBLE DECLARES THAT JESUS
IS THE
ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.
John
3:16 For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.
1 John
4:9 ESV In this
the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his
John
1:14 ESV And the
Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of
the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Galatians
4:4-5 ESV But when
the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born
under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive
adoption as sons.
Luke
3:38 ESV The son
of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
Psalm
2:7 ESV I will
tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten
you.
Luke
1:35 ESV And the
angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the
Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be
called holy—the Son of God.
Matthew
17:5 ESV He was
still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from
the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to
him.”
Romans
1:4 ESV And was
declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by
his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
John
10:36 ESV Do you
say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are
blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
John
5:26 ESV For as
the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in
himself.
John
5:25 ESV “Truly,
truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead
will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
John
5:22 ESV The
Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,
Luke
3:22 ESV And the
Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from
heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
2. THERE
IS NO SALVATION OUTSIDE OF BELIEIVING IN THE SON OF GOD.
John
3:18 ESV Whoever
believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned
already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
1 John
4:15 ESV Whoever
confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
John
20:31 ESV But
these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of
God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
C. THE
KORAN DENIES THE DIVINITY OF
CHRIST. The fact that He is actually God in flesh.
Quran
5:17 In blasphemy
indeed are those that say that Allah is Christ the son of Mary.
Quran
5:72 They do
blaspheme who say: "Allah is Christ the son of Mary." But said
Christ: "O Children of Israel! worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord."
Whoever joins other gods with Allah,- Allah will forbid him the garden, and the
Fire will be his abode.
1. THE BIBLE DECLARES THE JESUS IS GOD ALMIGHTY. He is co-equal with the Father.
John 1:18 ESV No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is
at the Father's side, he has made him known.
John
1:1 ESV In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God.
John
10:30 ESV I and
the Father are one.”
Isaiah
9:6 ESV For to us
a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his
shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Colossians
1:15-17 ESV He is
the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all
things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether
thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through
him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold
together.
John
5:18 ESV This was
why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he
breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making
himself equal with God.
John
17:21 ESV That
they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they
also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
1
Corinthians 8:6 ESV
Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom
we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through
whom we exist.
D. THE
KORAN DENIES THAT JESUS DIED
ON THE
CROSS.
Quran
4:157 That they
said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of
Allah";-but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to
appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no
(certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed
him not.
1. THE
BIBLE DECLARES THAT HE
DIED ON THE CROSS, WAS BURIED AND AROSE. Accepting this belief is the only way to
salvation.
Romans
10:9 ESV. Because,
if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart
that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
1 Peter
2:24 ESV He
himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live
to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
Colossians
2:14 ESV By
canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This
he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
Galatians
2:20 ESV I have
been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in
me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who
loved me and gave himself for me.
1
Corinthians 1:18 ESV For
the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are
being saved it is the power of God.
VIII.
PRAYER
FOR SALVATION. As we
close, if you have not received this Jesus pray this simple prayer:
"Father, I know that I have sinned against You. Please
forgive me. Wash me clean. I promise to trust in Jesus, Your Son. I believe
that He died for me—He took my sin upon Himself when He died on the cross. I
believe that He was raised from the dead. I surrender my life to Jesus today.
"Thank You, Father, for Your gift of forgiveness and eternal
life. Please help me to live for you. In Jesus' name, Amen."
Thursday, July 9, 2020
Bible Study: Are 7th Day Adventist Churches or Mormons False Churches With False Doctrine?
By
Bishop Elijah H. Hankerson III, BA, MA, DD
I.
GOLDEN TEXT.
1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto
thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt
both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
LESSON NOTES:
I.
DOCTRINES DISAPPROVED.[1]
The Bible teaches and demands doctrinal agreement and speaks of it as "The
pillar and ground of truth" (1 Timothy 3:15. 4:13). In Ephesians 4, Paul
stresses the unity of the Church of God and gives further emphasis in verse 14:
“That we be no longer children, tossed to
and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine." The apostle
admonishes the Corinthians, that they "All
speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among them" (1
Corinthians 1:10). In 1 Timothy 6:3-5, Paul gives a stern judgment. "If any man teach otherwise and consent
not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the
doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud knowing nothing, but
doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife,
railings, evil surmising, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and
destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness; from such withdraw
thyself." Unity in doctrine then is evidently regarded as of the
greatest importance to the well-being of the Church. Unity in doctrine,
therefore, involves the confession of a common dogma. Dogma is defined as "Church proclamation, so far as it
really agrees with the Bible as the Word of God." Therefore, anyone
who teaches doctrine contrary to the dogma of the Church should be dealt with
according to Titus 3:10.
Titus 3:10 10A man
that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
II.
WHAT ABOUT THE
FOLLOWING?
A.
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST.[2] They appear to be biblical in their fundamental doctrines;
with one major exception (which we shall see). However, the issue of the Law
and the Sabbath has been controversial. Apparently they have updated their
doctrinal statements regarding this. You can find information on them at: https://www.adventist.org/.
a.
The sinful nature
of Jesus while in the flesh. This is contrary to the teachings in Heb. 4:15; I
Peter 2:21-22; I John 3-5. Their doctrinal statement does not reflect
this.
b.
The atonement was
not completed when Christ suffered and bled on Calvary. This is contrary to the
teachings in Heb. 7:27, 9:24-28, 1:10, 12, and 14. This
is not Scriptural at all. The following is the Adventist statement:[4]
There is a
sanctuary in heaven, the true tabernacle that the Lord set up and not humans.
In it Christ ministers on our behalf, making available to believers the
benefits of His atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross. At His
ascension, He was inaugurated as our great High Priest and, began His
intercessory ministry, which was typified by the work of the high priest in the
holy place of the earthly sanctuary. In 1844, at the end of the prophetic period of 2300 days, He entered
the second and last phase of His atoning ministry, which was typified by the
work of the high priest in the most holy place of the earthly sanctuary. It is a work of
investigative judgment which is part of the ultimate disposition of all sin,
typified by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the Day of
Atonement. In that typical service the sanctuary was cleansed with the blood of
animal sacrifices, but the heavenly things are purified with the perfect
sacrifice of the blood of Jesus. The investigative judgment reveals to heavenly
intelligences who among the dead are asleep in Christ and therefore, in Him,
are deemed worthy to have part in the first resurrection. It also makes
manifest who among the living are abiding in Christ, keeping the commandments
of God and the faith of Jesus, and in Him, therefore, are ready for translation
into His everlasting kingdom. This judgment vindicates the justice of God in
saving those who believe in Jesus. It declares that those who have remained
loyal to God shall receive the kingdom. The completion of this ministry of
Christ will mark the close of human probation before the Second Advent. (Lev. 16; Num. 14:34; Ezek. 4:6; Dan. 7:9-27; 8:13, 14; 9:24-27; Heb. 1:3; 2:16, 17; 4:14-16; 8:1-5; 9:11-28; 10:19-22; Rev. 8:3-5; 11:19; 14:6, 7; 20:12; 14:12; 22:11, 12)
c.
Eternal life is
only a future hope. This is contrary to the teachings in John 5:24. Their
website does not reflect this teaching.
d.
Eternal life is
obtained by one's "perfect obedience" to the laws of Moses. This is
contrary to the teachings John 6:47-60; John 3:14-15. 36; John 17:3. Apparently
they have modified this belief; and are a little murky on how they describe
this. If you dig deep you can see how they believe in the dietary laws:
We are called to be
a godly people who think, feel, and act in harmony with biblical principles in
all aspects of personal and social life. For the Spirit to recreate in us the
character of our Lord we involve ourselves only in those things that will
produce Christlike purity, health, and joy in our lives. This means that our
amusement and entertainment should meet the highest standards of Christian
taste and beauty. While recognizing cultural differences, our dress is to be
simple, modest, and neat, befitting those whose true beauty does not consist of
outward adornment but in the imperishable ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit.
It also means that because our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, we
are to care for them intelligently. Along with adequate exercise and rest, we are to adopt the most healthful diet
possible and abstain from the unclean foods identified in the Scriptures. Since alcoholic
beverages, tobacco, and the irresponsible use of drugs and narcotics are
harmful to our bodies, we are to abstain from them as well. Instead, we are to
engage in whatever brings our thoughts and bodies into the discipline of Christ,
who desires our wholesomeness, joy, and goodness.
(Gen.
7:2; Exod. 20:15; Lev. 11:1-47; Ps. 106:3; Rom. 12:1, 2; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; 10:31; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; 10:5; Eph. 5:1-21; Phil. 2:4; 4:8; 1 Tim. 2:9, 10; Titus 2:11, 12; 1 Peter 3:1-4; 1 John 2:6; 3 John 2.)
i.
PAUL ALREADY HAMMERED OUT THE ANSWER TO THIS CONTROVERSY.
1 Corinthians 8:8-13 Contemporary English Version
(CEV)[5]
8 But food doesn’t bring us any closer to God.
We are no worse off if we don’t eat, and we are no better off if we do.
9 Don’t cause problems for someone with a weak
conscience, just because you have the right to eat anything. 10 You
know all this, and so it doesn’t bother you to eat in the temple of an idol.
But suppose a person with a weak conscience sees you and decides to eat food
that has been offered to idols. 11 Then what you know has
destroyed someone Christ died for. 12 When you sin by hurting
a follower with a weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 So
if I hurt one of the Lord’s followers by what I eat, I will never eat meat as
long as I live.
e.
The law is still in
force — that it has never been annulled. This is contrary to the teachings in
Romans 6:14; 7:4-6. We teach Christ by His death perfectly fulfilled the law,
and thus terminated it.[6] The
language in their doctrinal statement is tricky here. It definitely can be
interpreted this way. The Bible has already shown what legalities that Gentiles
are to follow as this controversy also arose in the early church.
Acts 15:23-29 New King
James Version (NKJV)[7]
23 They wrote this letter by
them:
The
apostles, the elders, and the brethren,
To
the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Greetings.
24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have
troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep
the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment— 25 it
seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to
you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked
their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have
therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of
mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to
lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that
you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things
strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these,
you will do well.
Farewell.
f.
Only by observing
the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath may one be "sealed with the
seal of the living God" and experience true peace within his soul. This is
contrary to the teachings in Hebrews 7:22. Matt 12:1-8; Mark 16:9; I Cor. 16:2.[8] Here
also apparently they have updated their language.
2.
THE BIBLE.[9]
Seventh-day Adventists accept the bible as
the only source of our beliefs. We consider our movement to be the result of
the protestant conviction sola scriptura—the bible as the only standard of
faith and practice for
Christians.
3.
GOD. God the eternal
Father is the Creator, Source, Sustainer, and Sovereign of all creation. He is
just and holy, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast
love and faithfulness. The qualities and powers exhibited in the Son and the
Holy Spirit are also those of the Father. (Gen. 1:1; Deut. 4:35; Ps. 110:1, 4; John 3:16; 14:9; 1 Cor. 15:28; 1 Tim. 1:17; 1 John 4:8; Rev. 4:11.)
4.
JESUS. God the
eternal Son became incarnate in Jesus Christ. Through Him all things were
created, the character of God is revealed, the salvation of humanity is
accomplished, and the world is judged. Forever truly God, He became also truly
human, Jesus the Christ. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the
virgin Mary. He lived and experienced temptation as a human being, but
perfectly exemplified the righteousness and love of God. By His miracles He
manifested God’s power and was attested as God’s promised Messiah. He suffered
and died voluntarily on the cross for our sins and in our place, was raised
from the dead, and ascended to heaven to minister in the heavenly sanctuary in
our behalf. He will come again in glory for the final deliverance of His people
and the restoration of all things. (Isa. 53:4-6; Dan. 9:25-27; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-3, 14; 5:22; 10:30; 14:1–3, 9, 13; Rom. 6:23; 1 Cor. 15:3, 4; 2 Cor. 3:18; 5:17-19; Phil. 2:5–11; Col. 1:15-19; Heb. 2:9-18; 8:1, 2.)
5.
HOLY SPIRIT. God the
eternal Spirit was active with the Father and the Son in Creation, incarnation,
and redemption. He is as much a person as are the Father and the Son. He
inspired the writers of Scripture. He filled Christ’s life with power. He draws
and convicts human beings; and those who respond He renews and transforms into
the image of God. Sent by the Father and the Son to be always with His
children, He extends spiritual gifts to the church, empowers it to bear witness
to Christ, and in harmony with the Scriptures leads it into all truth. (Gen. 1:1, 2; 2 Sam. 23:2; Ps. 51:11; Isa. 61:1; Luke 1:35; 4:18; John 14:16-18, 26; 15:26; 16:7-13; Acts 1:8; 5:3; 10:38; Rom. 5:5; 1 Cor. 12:7-11; 2 Cor. 3:18; 2 Peter 1:21.)
6.
SALVATION. In
infinite love and mercy God made Christ, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, so
that in Him we might be made the righteousness of God. Led by the Holy Spirit
we sense our need, acknowledge our sinfulness, repent of our transgressions,
and exercise faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord, Substitute and Example. This
saving faith comes through the divine power of the Word and is the gift of
God’s grace. Through Christ we are justified, adopted as God’s sons and
daughters, and delivered from the lordship of sin. Through the Spirit we are
born again and sanctified; the Spirit renews our minds, writes God’s law of
love in our hearts, and we are given the power to live a holy life. Abiding in
Him we become partakers of the divine nature and have the assurance of
salvation now and in the judgment. (Gen. 3:15; Isa. 45:22; 53; Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 33:11; 36:25-27; Hab. 2:4; Mark 9:23, 24; John 3:3-8, 16; 16:8; Rom. 3:21-26; 8:1-4, 14-17; 5:6-10; 10:17; 12:2; 2 Cor. 5:17-21; Gal. 1:4; 3:13, 14, 26; 4:4-7; Eph. 2:4-10; Col. 1:13, 14; Titus 3:3-7; Heb. 8:7-12; 1 Peter 1:23; 2:21, 22; 2 Peter 1:3, 4; Rev. 13:8.)
7.
THE LAW. The
great principles of God’s law are embodied in the Ten Commandments and exemplified
in the life of Christ. They express God’s love, will, and purposes concerning
human conduct and relationships and are binding upon all people in every age.
These precepts are the basis of God’s covenant with His people and the standard
in God’s judgment. Through the agency of the Holy Spirit they point out sin and
awaken a sense of need for a Savior. Salvation is all of grace and not of
works, and its fruit is obedience to the Commandments. This obedience develops
Christian character and results in a sense of well-being. It is evidence of our
love for the Lord and our concern for our fellow human beings. The obedience of
faith demonstrates the power of Christ to transform lives, and therefore
strengthens Christian witness. (Exod. 20:1-17; Deut. 28:1-14; Ps. 19:7-14; 40:7, 8; Matt. 5:17-20; 22:36-40; John 14:15; 15:7-10; Rom. 8:3, 4; Eph. 2:8-10; Heb. 8:8-10; 1 John 2:3; 5:3; Rev. 12:17; 14:12.)
8.
THE SABBATH. The
gracious Creator, after the six days of Creation, rested on the seventh day and
instituted the Sabbath for all people as a memorial of Creation. The fourth
commandment of God’s unchangeable law requires the observance of this
seventh-day Sabbath as the day of rest, worship, and ministry in harmony with
the teaching and practice of Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a
day of delightful communion with God and one another. It is a symbol of our
redemption in Christ, a sign of our sanctification, a token of our allegiance,
and a foretaste of our eternal future in God’s kingdom. The Sabbath is God’s
perpetual sign of His eternal covenant between Him and His people. Joyful
observance of this holy time from evening to evening, sunset to sunset, is a
celebration of God’s creative and redemptive acts. (Gen. 2:1-3; Exod. 20:8-11; 31:13-17; Lev. 23:32; Deut. 5:12-15; Isa. 56:5, 6; 58:13, 14; Ezek. 20:12, 20; Matt. 12:1-12; Mark 1:32; Luke 4:16; Heb. 4:1-11.)
9.
SECOND COMING. The
great principles of God’s law are embodied in the Ten Commandments and
exemplified in the life of Christ. They express God’s love, will, and purposes
concerning human conduct and relationships and are binding upon all people in
every age. These precepts are the basis of God’s covenant with His people and
the standard in God’s judgment. Through the agency of the Holy Spirit they
point out sin and awaken a sense of need for a Savior. Salvation is all of
grace and not of works, and its fruit is obedience to the Commandments. This
obedience develops Christian character and results in a sense of well-being. It
is evidence of our love for the Lord and our concern for our fellow human
beings. The obedience of faith demonstrates the power of Christ to transform lives,
and therefore strengthens Christian witness. (Exod. 20:1-17; Deut. 28:1-14; Ps. 19:7-14; 40:7, 8; Matt. 5:17-20; 22:36-40; John 14:15; 15:7-10; Rom. 8:3, 4; Eph. 2:8-10; Heb. 8:8-10; 1 John 2:3; 5:3; Rev. 12:17; 14:12.)
B.
CHURCH OF JESUS
CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS (THE MORMONS). This is one of the wealthiest religious
organizations in the world. Information
can be found on this organization at https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/?lang=eng.[10]
1.
THE 13 ARTICLES
OF FAITH.[11]
3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of
the Gospel.
4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel
are: first, faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ; second, repentance; third, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins;
fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy
Ghost.
5 We believe that a man must be called of God,
by prophecy, and by the laying
on of hands by those who
are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6 We believe in the same organization that existed in
the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7 We believe in the agift of btongues, cprophecy, drevelation, evisions, fhealing, ginterpretation of tongues, and
so forth.
8 We believe the bible to be the word of God as far
as it is translated correctly; we also believe the book of Mormon to
be the word of God.
9 We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does
now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and
important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and
in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the
New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ
will reign personally upon
the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive
its paradisiacal glory.
11 We claim the privilege of worshiping
Almighty God according to the dictates of our
own conscience, and allow all men
the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or
what they may.
12 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers,
and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and
sustaining the law.
13 We believe in
being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in
doing good to all men;
indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things,
we hope all things, we
have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If
there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report
or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
2.
THE BIBLE. They are not biblical in the sense that they accept the Bible
as the Word of God; but place the book of Mormon on the same level.
IT’S THE WORD OF GOD, A SACRED VOLUME OF
SCRIPTURE, AND REQUIRED READING FOR A HAPPY LIFE. ALONG WITH THE BIBLE, WE
ALSO FIND INSPIRATION IN OTHER BOOKS OF SCRIPTURE UNIQUE TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS
CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS. THEY ALL WORK TOGETHER TO TEACH US IMPORTANT
TRUTHS ABOUT JESUS CHRIST.
THE BOOK OF MORMON SUPPORTS THE BIBLE AND OFTEN
CLARIFIES THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS CHRIST.
IN THE BIBLE, BOTH MARK AND LUKE TELL THE SAME STORIES ABOUT JESUS, BUT YOU CAN
LEARN MORE WHEN YOU GET INFORMATION FROM TWO PERSPECTIVES.
TOGETHER,
THE BOOK OF MORMON AND BIBLE CONTAIN THOUSANDS OF YEARS’ WORTH OF INSPIRATION,
GUIDANCE, AND INSTRUCTION. BY STUDYING BOTH BOOKS, YOU CAN GET A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF WHO GOD IS AND WHAT HE WANTS FOR YOU.
THE BOOK OF MORMON CONTAINS SACRED WRITINGS FROM FOLLOWERS OF
JESUS. JUST LIKE GOD SPOKE TO MOSES AND NOAH IN THE BIBLE, HE ALSO SPOKE TO
PEOPLE IN THE AMERICAS. THESE MEN, CALLED PROPHETS, WROTE DOWN GOD’S WORD. THEIR
WRITINGS WERE EVENTUALLY GATHERED INTO ONE BOOK BY A PROPHET NAMED MORMON.
GOD PROMISES US THAT IF WE READ THE BOOK OF MORMON WITH AN
OPEN HEART AND MIND, HE WILL REVEAL TO EACH OF US ITS DIVINITY AND ITS TRUTH
THROUGH INSPIRATION FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT.
3.
THE TRINITY. They have a very
unusual way of describing the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. My emphasis below is
in red.
The Holy Trinity is
the term many Christian religions use to describe God the Father, Jesus Christ,
and the Holy Ghost. Latter-day Saints believe very strongly in all three, but we don’t believe
they’re all the same person. We do think they are one in purpose. Their purpose is to
help us achieve true joy, in this life and the life to come (which we also
believe in).
Our Heavenly Father
sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take upon Him the sins of everyone who would
live on the earth so we could be forgiven. This sacrifice on our behalf was
possible because of Jesus’s divinity and His perfect life. Jesus was a master
teacher and a servant to all. But He was infinitely more than that. When He
asked the Apostle Peter, “Whom say ye that I am?” Peter answered, “Thou art the
Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:15–16).
Jesus’s mission in
coming to earth was to save us from our sins. He was willing to suffer and
sacrifice Himself to pay the price of our mistakes so that we could repent and
be forgiven.
Many Mormon beliefs about Jesus Christ
are similar to other Christian beliefs about Him. But Mormons also believe many
pure and precious truths about the Savior that are unique to The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Like most Christians,
Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Creator of the
World. However, Mormons hold the unique belief that God the Father
and Jesus Christ are two distinct beings. Mormons believe that God and Jesus
Christ are wholly united in their perfect love for us, but that each is a
distinct personage with His own perfect, glorified body (see D&C
130:22).
Mormons believe that all men and women ever
to be born, including Jesus Christ, lived with God as His spirit children
before this life. God wanted each of us to come to earth to gain experience,
learn, and grow to become more like Him. But God also knew that His children
would all sin, die, and fall short of His glory. We would need a Savior to
overcome our sins and imperfections and reconcile us with God. Mormons believe
that Jesus Christ was chosen to be this Savior long ago during our premortal
life with God. We shouted for joy when we were presented with God’s glorious
plan for His children (see Job
38:7).
Mormons also believe that through His
Atonement, Jesus Christ suffered beyond description in Gethsemane and on the
cross for the sins of all mankind, so that He could aid us perfectly in all our
afflictions.
Mormons believe that Jesus Christ died
on the cross and rose again so that all humankind could be resurrected and one
day return to live with a loving Heavenly Father. As the only person who has
ever lived a completely sinless life, the Savior was a perfect sacrifice, a
lamb without blemish. Unique to Latter-day Saints is the belief that after Jesus
Christ’s death, He visited His people in the Americas (see John 10:16; 3 Nephi 11).
5.
THE HOLY GHOST.[13]
After a person is
baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one or more Melchizedek
Priesthood holders lay their hands on the person’s head and, in a sacred
priesthood ordinance, confirm him or her a member of the Church. As part of
this ordinance, called confirmation, the person is given the gift of the Holy
Ghost.
Salvation from Physical
Death. All people eventually die. But
through the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, all people will be
resurrected—saved from physical death. Paul testified, “As in Adam
all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). In this sense,
everyone is saved, regardless of choices made during this life. This is a free
gift from the Savior to all human beings.
Salvation from Sin. To
be cleansed from sin through the Savior’s Atonement, an individual must
exercise faith in Jesus Christ, repent, be baptized, and receive the gift of
the Holy Ghost (see Acts 2:37–38). Those
who have been baptized and have received the Holy Ghost through the proper
priesthood authority have been conditionally saved from sin. In this sense, salvation is conditional, depending on an
individual’s continuing in faithfulness, or enduring to the end in keeping the
commandments of God (see 2 Peter 2:20–22).
Individuals cannot be saved in their sins; they cannot
receive unconditional salvation simply by declaring a belief in Christ with the
understanding that they will inevitably commit sins throughout the rest of
their lives (see Alma 11:36–37). However, through
the grace of God, all can be saved from their sins (see 2 Nephi 25:23; Helaman 5:10–11) as they repent and follow
Jesus Christ.
This rebirth occurs as individuals are baptized and
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. It comes as a result of a willingness “to
enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his
commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our
days” (Mosiah 5:5). Through this
process, their “hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, [they]
are born of him” (Mosiah 5:7). All who have truly
repented, been baptized, have received the gift of the Holy Ghost, have made
the covenant to take upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ, and have felt
His influence in their lives, can say that they have been born again. That
rebirth can be renewed each Sabbath when they partake of the sacrament.
Eternal Life, or Exaltation. In
the scriptures, the words saved and salvation often refer to eternal life, or
exaltation (see Abraham 2:11).
Eternal life is to know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and dwell with Them
forever—to inherit a place in the highest
degree of the celestial kingdom (see John 17:3; Doctrine and
Covenants 131:1–4; 132:21–24).
This
exaltation requires that men receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, and that all
Church members make and keep sacred covenants in the temple, including the
covenant of eternal marriage. If the word salvation is used in this sense, no
one is saved in mortality. That glorious gift comes only after the Final
Judgment.
VI.
PRAYER
FOR SALVATION. As we close, if you
have not received this Jesus pray this simple prayer:
"Father, I know that I have sinned against You. Please
forgive me. Wash me clean. I promise to trust in Jesus, Your Son. I believe
that He died for me—He took my sin upon Himself when He died on the cross. I
believe that He was raised from the dead. I surrender my life to Jesus today.
"Thank You, Father, for Your gift of forgiveness and eternal
life. Please help me to live for you. In Jesus' name, Amen."
[3] Range, C. F. Church Of God In Christ Official Manual.
COGIC: Memphis, 1973.
[4] https://www.adventist.org/beliefs/fundamental-beliefs/restoration/christs-ministry-in-the-heavenly-sanctuary/. (Accessed, July 9, 2020).
[5] https://classic.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+8%3A8-13&version=CEV. (Accessed, July 9, 2020).
[7] https://classic.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+15%3A23-29&version=NKJV. (Accessed, July 9, 2020).
[8] [8]
Range, C. F. Church Of God In Christ Official Manual. COGIC: Memphis,
1973.
[11] https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1?lang=eng. (Accessed, July 9, 2020).
[12]https://ca.churchofjesuschrist.org/what-mormons-believe-about-jesus-christ. (Accessed, July
9, 2020).
[13] https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/holy-ghost?lang=eng. (Accessed, July
9, 2020).
[14] https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/salvation?lang=eng. (Accessed, July
9, 2020).
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