La Luz Del Mundo: A Church Founded on Lies
I find it painful and rather bothersome how masses can be brainwashed with lies and deceit, how some twisted individuals take advantage of people’s genuine faith in God by making them believe they are messiahs. I grow weary of false prophets and religious establishments founded on lies. You, as the reader, tell me: is it right for Christianity to be spread if the church’s foundation is based on lies? Personally, I think Christianity can spread with integrity, slowly but surely, without false prophets starting churches at every corner.
There is this particular church in mind called La Luz del Mundo, which translates directly to English as The Light of the World. It is a Christian denomination church headquartered in my father’s hometown of Guadalajara, Jalisco in Mexico. The church claims to be the largest non-Catholic Church in all of Latin America, and its main church, in Guadalajara, can accommodate approximately 12,000 worshipers. The Light of the World has about 5 million members in about 40 countries. All this information is all good and all, the problem lies in its foundation.
My father and his family have long tidings with this church, as most of his siblings and his parents (my grandparents) belonged or continue to belong to this church. He knows the inner workings of the church from close range and saw things that made him refuse to be a member of it. Needless to say, my father is the most ethical man I know, and if he saw wrong, then there was something wrong. He was enveloped in this church practically since birth. Since he is not a member of the church, his own siblings turned their back on him, preferring their religious brothers and sisters than their own blood. They never call to even say hello. My grandparents on my Dad’s side were never like that. Heck, my grandfather was eventually disillusioned and refused the position of pastor in his later years. An uncle, one that is not a member of this church, recently told me this about The Light of the World : “Those people are disrespectful and hypocrites”.
The church was started by a man named Aaron Joaquin Gonzales who (like Paul who encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus and was instructed to go as an apostle to the gentiles) was also called on as an apostle in 1926 in Monterrey, Mexico. This made him apostle #14, after Paul and the twelve original apostles. Aaron Joaquin Gonzales thus began to preach this new church and began to have many followers by making them believe he was “appointed” by God himself to “restore the church of Jesus Christ”. Like many churches, this church is no different in that it has evolved into a money-hungry establishment. Aaron Joaquin was revered as a deity, God on earth mentality by his followers. He passed away on June 9, 1964, and as it is common, his son, Samuel Joaquin Flores, took control of the church afterwards. It has been this man who has expanded The Light of the World to its current state and continues to serve as the director of the church. Here is the catch: He is also an apostle, on the same terms as Paul, Thomas, Peter, and the others! He is apostle #15, after his father of course, and according to his 5 million followers. I have never heard of an apostle passing down the powers of apostleship to his son but it happened here.
The only good thing I see about this church is that it introduces people to Christ and the Bible. That is the only thing. People are bred into the church and arranged marriages are not uncommon. Every year, on August 14, wherever people of the congregation may be, they must travel to Guadalajara to pay homage to the apostle of Jesus Christ. It used to be that people would kiss his hand and place their tithe in a large jar next to him. Nowadays, it is no longer required to kiss his hand. Samuel Joaquin is, of course, filthy rich. Brainwashing ignorant masses can make you so, tax free. It will be very interesting to see if they were the 14th and 15th apostles in reality. 
1,636 Responses to “La Luz Del Mundo: A Church Founded on Lies”
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May 7th, 2010 at 9:02 am
Colin this is where you’re wrong, comparing me to Frank (homosexual), first i’m not scared to put my real name because I am not a COWARD. I am still in this beautiful church and I am not a fanatic. August 14, anyone know what we celebrate???? The death of the Lord jesuschrist!!! Not tribunal to Aaron Joaquin!!!! A lie you all believe is true!!! People the Holy Spirit was with the people in the times of the Old Apostles but they still obeyed the Apostles. The Holy Spirit is a pre-requisite to enter Heaven
May 6th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
I would just like to take this opportunity to point something out:
Aaron Joaquin and his son Samuel Joaquin Flores do not stand up to the test of Apostleship when measured against the Biblical qualifications of an authentic Apostle of Jesus Christ. I have demonstrated this before on this blog.
I would now like to point out that there is a test in which both of them do meet the requirements – the tests of false teachers, apostates and antichrists.
“They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.”(1 John 2:19)
Eusebio Joaquin Gonzales attended a Christian church before he left to begin LLDM. It’s amazing the number of cults that are started this way – some person is part of a Christian (that is Christ-centered) church, and then leaves to start their own group under the guise of “a new revelation from God.” This is exactly what John is telling us about – this is one of the telltale signs of an antichrist. “”They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.”(1 John 2:19)
“They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.”(1 John 4:5).
“we have brothers all over the world” and “conquering the world for Jesus Christ” are just a couple of common phrases often used by LLDM which show they do speak from the viewpoint of the world – success being measured by how big of temples they can built. Those who are of the world will listen to such things.
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.”(2 Peter 2:1)
Now, we don’t have to worry about false prophets today (not really). If somebody attempts to be the mouthpiece for God, especially if they start making predictions of the future, they will soon be proven a liar. We need to be alert to false teachers, as Peter warns here. False teachers always secretly bring in some kind of heresy, that is false teaching. The teaching that a man on earth must be present to mediate to God for our sins is the worst of what Peter mentions here in verse 1 (denying the sovereign Lord who bought them).
“Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.”(2 Peter 2:2)
This is why I continue to pray, in particular for the youth of LLDM who do not know the Bible well enough to know better.
“In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”(2 Peter 2:3)
This one speaks for itself. Why are there no other witnesses to the times when Jesus supposedly appeared to Aaron and Samuel?
The Word of God – the Old Testament and the New Testament combined are the sole standards by which all teaching is to be tested. Demonically inspired teachers will either reject the teaching of God’s Word or add their own elements to it.
While the majority of people who I have met from LLDM are nice people, just misguided; I also know that there are always that few in any group that are willing to go to the extreme. I applaud you Oscar for speaking out against the lies of LLDM, and for providing the forum for all the rest of us. You have shown that you do not fear these who can kill the body but cannot touch the soul.
I myself have no secrets to hide from any of you, nor have I distorted the Word of God or used deception with the things I’ve written here. Jeziel and some others have made the claim that I (and others here) are lying or using deception. However, Jeziel – you are not able to point to any lies that I have told. Therefore, it’s obvious you are calling the things I write lies simply because you choose not to believe them. This is the easiest way to deceive your own self.
By your reasoning, someone could just say “it’s a lie that the earth is round because I believe that it’s flat.”
“Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”(2 Corinthians 4:2)
“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”(Revelation 22:18-19)
May the truth of God’s word transform hearts today.
May 6th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
We have over a 1, 000 posts underling why Samuel is a fake and why LLDM was founded on lies. All LLDM proponents would rather continue believing lies than seeing what people posted is directly from the Bible. Yet, even then, they have the audacity to claim that we twist the Scripture. That we twist their comments! Their comments are clearer than an unopened bottle of Ozarka. Trying to talk sense to these 16 and 17 year-olds is pointless, they are just fanatics willing to die for that sinister man. It’s a sad thing indeed.
How far will this cult go to protect their image? There are dangerous fanatics within the congregation, and their efforts have doubled in trying to learn my physical address and pinpoint my location. It is only a matter of time until they knock at my door, it appears. Medina, can you tell us what they are capable of?
As for Martin’s inquiry on Fairbanks and Breen, all those are fine churches, much more truthful as they always put Jesus Christ first (keyword here is always), and they don’t believe the abominable fantasy that Samuel is an “Apostle of Jesus Christ”.
It is amazing how your family (least from my father’s side) are quick to inform LLDM about me. What can you expect? Like most people brainwashed by LLDM, their lack of knowledge make them fanatical followers of a crooked man.
I’m done with all these stupid people. I’m even receiving death threats on e-mail. That’s LLDM for you. Unfortunately, for Samuel and his followers, I just renewed my site’s web hosting for 2 years. So, they should get used to seeing this blog on Google searches for a long time to come.
May 6th, 2010 at 11:43 am
Wow.
And keep in mind, Jeziel, Frank Medina used to be in your exact situation.
Frank Medina,
Correct me if I’m wrong, but when you were Jeziel’s age you were just as fanatical about “apostle” Samuel, and would have defended him with the same passion and fervor, is that true?
That is, until the Holy Spirit moved to open your eyes and heart and help you see the truth.
Please correct me if I’m wrong, Medina, but I think that’s an accurate statement about where you were and where you are now after the Spirit of God took hold of you.
I pray that the Spirit of God will move upon Jeziel and many others of the youth of LLDM before another generation of “Samuelitas” and fanatics is bred.
May 6th, 2010 at 11:31 am
Jeziel says: “My family who lives in Guadalajara have told me that he has been in Guadalajara all this time” (Samuel Joaquin Flores).
Ha! As if Samuel would need permission (specially from his flock) to travel to his resort houses all over the world! He is ALL THE TIME in’n out from Guadalajara. Sometimes not even his wife knows where he is. He can “preach” from the balcony of “the casa grande” at 8:00 AM and at 1:30 PM in Vegas enjoying “Jubilee” and back to dinner with his loyal “witnesses” in Hermosa Provincia. That is why HE LOVES MONEY, yes those “diezmos” that you Jeziel give for the “spreading of the gospel” pay for that. That is why well known “narcos” in la luz del mundo enjoy impunity and privileges from Samuel Joaquin who only pays lip service to the word of God, but he does not believe in it. I can give you names, but I’m pretty sure you know them and in many occasions you has been questioning in your mind why they are in your church doing what they do.
I have relatives in “la obra” more poor than a monk, that every time they should travel (February 14th, August 14th, June 9th)to Guadajalara, my family make collects to pay for their travel expenses, bed and board. And the “Ministerio de Finanzas” controlled by the nephew of “the apostle” getting swamp in wealth!
That is why I write here, BECAUSE I’M NAUSEATED BY THE CORRUPTION OF THE JOAQUIN FAMILY AND THE STUPIDITY OF LA LUZ DEL MUNDO MEMBERS!
May 6th, 2010 at 11:11 am
Martin and Jeziel have demonstrated how they get very angry when challenged with the truth.
I have experienced this same situation with other LLDM members and pastors, and I would just like to ask – why do you get so angry?
Getting angry is not going to help anyone, yourselves included. I don’t care if someone gets mad at me, and especially not if you get angry because I’m telling you about the Gospel.
You might feel like you’re a defender of the faith and all of that sort of thing. But my friend, the anger of man just does not acheive the righteousness of God.
“….everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”(James 1:19-20)
May 6th, 2010 at 10:12 am
The entire purpose of my reaching out to LLDM members is summarized in this passage from Paul:
“I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are already doing that. I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. But I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.” I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.
Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”(2 Corinthians 11:1-15)
Just like Ruth the Moabitess had to marry Boaz as her kinsman redeemer – the church must be the bride of our own kinsman redeemer – The Lord Jesus Christ. For 84 years Aaron Joaquin and now his son Samuel Joaquin Flores have been leading people away from the rightful bridegroom. Samuel will soon pass away, at which time LLDM will try to sell Nasson or Benjamin or another one of Samuel’s sons as the new “apostle of Jesus Christ”.
But none of them can redeem you, the Lord Jesus Christ is our only redeemer. Please return (as Gomer did to Hosea) to your One rightful husband – The Lord Jesus Christ.
May 6th, 2010 at 9:56 am
Haha, Jeziel,
I don’t have to make up anything to prove that Samuel Joaquin Flores is a false teacher, the Word of God tells me all about it in places such as:
2 Corinthians 13
1 Corinthians 15:8
2 Peter 2
1 John 4
Guadalajara, Palos Verdes, wherever. Whether he’s here or there, he is still preaching a false Gospel and not the Gospel of the Bible.
May 6th, 2010 at 9:51 am
Frank Medina,
You are one of the dumbest liars I have ever met. My family who lives in Guadalajara have told me that he has been in Guadalajara all this time. Do you realize people what people have to make up just to prove their points.
May 6th, 2010 at 9:37 am
LLDM members, followers of Samuel Joaquin:
Does LLDM’s digital sattelite make the message broadcast to millions of people true?
Does a well designed series of websites make the message true?
It doesn’t matter how powerful the reach, or how many people convert to sincerely believing it – none of these things make the message true. There could even be an angel who came down from heaven and if that angel started preaching Samuel Joaquin as the way to Salvation, the angel would be eternally condemned.
In fact by irresponsibly spreading lies by such powerful means, Samuel Joaquin Flores and his loyal pastors and deacons are filling up their own servings of wrath before that day.
“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!”(Galatians 1:8)
I will continue to trust that the Holy Spirit can move to reach the lost souls whom he chooses, even by very simple means because the Holy Spirit is more powerful than any man-made sattelite or website.
May 6th, 2010 at 9:35 am
LLDM members, followers of Samuel Joaquin:
Does LLDM’s digital sattelite make the message broadcast to millions of people true?
Does a well designed series of websites make the message true?
It doesn’t matter how powerful the reach, or how many people convert to sincerely believing it – none of these things make the message true.
In fact by irresponsibly spreading lies by such powerful means, Samuel Joaquin Flores and his loyal pastors and deacons are filling up their own servings of wrath before that day.
I will continue to trust that the Holy Spirit can move to reach the lost souls whom he chooses, even by very simple means because the Holy Spirit is more powerful than any man-made sattelite or website.
May 6th, 2010 at 9:32 am
Jeziel:
I bet Samuel Joaquin Flores ” …has better things to do” as you “believe”.
I do not believe he is evil and mischievous, I know it.
I know he would rather be resting in one of his mansions in California attended by a court of little girls from “the group” in L.A. than reading this blog.
He was seen a few days ago in the Rolling States Mall in Palos Verdes States in the company of several girls (none of them his grandaughters). I know his house in Via Almar St. and what he does there. But ‘believe me”, he’s not praying to the Lord.
So, continue with your voluntarily blindness if you decide to do so, because, “there is no worst blind man than the one that does not want to see”. You have been exposed to the truth, therefore when you appear in the presence of Jesus to be judged, you will not have an excuse.
God help you.
May 6th, 2010 at 9:20 am
Jeziel,
Do you realize that by your own words, you just told Oscar and everyone else here that you are not a child of God?
“Want to know why i’m angry???? Samuel Joaquin Flores is my father in faith”
See what I mean? What child of God would call any man on earth “father”??
“And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ.”(Matthew 23:9-10).
Once again you are just going on and claiming that we are lying, in the same way that Martin chose to just make outrageous claims. But you can’t back anything up, neither of you.
Please Jeziel, or Martin – point out any lies I’ve told here, I challenge you.
You dare to make the assertion that we are spreading lies, but if you can’t back it up then it’s just like everything else you’ve written here – merely an assertion and nothing more.
May 6th, 2010 at 9:05 am
This website has been nothing but a waste of my time.
Oscar why twist the words of Martin? Now I ask why would the Apostle of Jesuschrist waste his time reading your blog? I believe he has better things to do than to look up some crazy person who is just speaking without knowing any of the truth. You say your father knows all these things but then again you lack the knowledge of the Church. Oscar I believe you overreacted calling us creepy, if someone stalks thats their decision. You wanna know lies. Read the blog, read the false testimony that they protray. My family lives in Guadalajara and they have never seen such things. Oscar, get your facts straight. I am tired of all this nonsense. Oscar want to write a blog, write a blog about the pathetic lies you compose trying to make somthing so white look black. Now you are all going to say this: he’s angry because of the truth. Want to know why i’m angry???? Samuel Joaquin Flores is my father in faith , he has taught me and change my life. Ask Micael Cano (kicked out of this website for telling the truth) my cousin (lol) his testimony.
May 5th, 2010 at 8:50 pm
Martin,
Thanks so much for your interest in me! You have just proved of how creepy and evil your cult is, trying hard to know where I live, as if to intimidate me into silence. That is LLDM in all its splendor, a cult that will go through great lengths to silence anyone who speaks the truth regarding their corrupt and insidious Samuel Joaquin Flores! Thank you for playing into my hands and for showing everyone here the true nature of your cult. What is next? Gunmen at my doorstep? I have taken precautions, let’s pray your cult is stupid enough to make that mistake. Judging by people like you, I’m sure to not be disappointed.
My view on Samuel and his cult is independent from Medina’s position or anyone else here. My view is based on its inception, my father was there… where were you? You are only guided by fanaticism and blindness, therefore, you do not qualify to talk to me.
I care not about your satellite or the team of techs hired by Samuel to clean his online image, I care more about the ants in my backyard. I do look forward to Samuel’s passing, there is a special place in hell waiting for him, for trying to take the place of Jesus and lying to countless people. He will pass soon, which of his sons is the next apostle? Do you really expect people to be ignorant enough to believe that his son was also sent by God as an apostle?! Your church will crumble, in due time.Things happen for a reason.
Thank you for your daring comment. People can now see how your cult acts like a mafia.
Good luck believing a lie, my regards to your self-labeled apostle.
May 5th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
I will like to see if Oscar will have a phylosofical explanation about Fairbanks and Breen, I am just curious! Also, infiltrado is the same one as Frank Medina which is a homosexual who has been guiding Colin’s so called “holy spirit” you guys should be ashammed of yourselves to be misguided by people like infiltrado (Frank Medina). This blog that does not grow beyong the four people posting, it cannot be compared to the LDM digital satellite that can reach millions as well as our well designed team of websites that are continously reaching millions and many becoming converts of our church. I just felt I needed to give some motivation to these vultures to continue with their quest to bilittle our church something that is IMPOSSIBLE. I just want to say that Google Earth is a nice tool to use. Happy blogging!
May 5th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
Ja! Jeziel, no mas pie con bola.
Oscar, disculparas que escriba en español, no estoy de humor para el ingles.
pregunta para Frank Medina:
¿Podrias explicar por favor, el origen o “fundamento” de LDM para pregonar la discriminatoria doctrina de “los niños de maldición”?
Esta doctrina es la perfeccion de la coacción que un conyuge samuelita le hace al otro conyuge que no es samuelita. Pero al mismo tiempo es discriminatoria para los hijos, además de hipocrita pues LDM tiene un canto que dice que los niños son de Cristo y son “las joyas” pero al mismo tiempo “hay niños de maldición” entonces ¿Todos los niños son de Cristo?.
Saludos
May 5th, 2010 at 10:40 am
Jeziel,
You make me laugh! Everything we say are lies?! The whole website is full of lies? Does this mean all my blogs are fake? Does it mean that every piece of Scripture everyone has cited from the Bible is false? How can we lie if it’s in the Bible?!
In that case you should come to the conclusion that Samuel’s apostleship is the real lie as it is not in the Bible that such a man is the way to Salvation. That is the only real lie here.
You cannot make the argument that Samuel was sent by God simply because you “believe” it.
The way to heaven, if you are a Christian, is through Christ only not some self-labeled apostle who wants to take the credit of your salvation.
May 5th, 2010 at 10:27 am
Jeziel,
In regards to my questions about Jesus, you did not fully answer them, and some you did not venture to answer. For instance:
Is Jesus God? I have not seen you attempt to answer this question.
The answer is yes, Jesus is God. Am I lying, Jeziel? You tell me:
“But about the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever,
and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.”(Hebrews 1:8)
God called Him God, I merely agree. Now, is God a liar, Jeziel?
May 5th, 2010 at 10:20 am
What lies, Jeziel? Please point them out to us, don’t just say “oh you guys are lying”, back it up. Show me how, show what lies?
Or……was that just another opinion?
May 5th, 2010 at 10:08 am
Colin,
You might interpet the bible and twist the words to make it seem what you say is the truth. So, no thank you. I have already answered your Jesus question. I just need to leave this derogative website because its full of lies. God help you one day to see the light!
May 5th, 2010 at 9:48 am
Jeziel,
I ask you also – what do we use as the basis for determining truth? Do we use the thoughts and interpretations of Samuel Joaquin Flores? Do we go with what we feel to be the truth?
Or do we go with what the Bible says, the actual Scriptures themselves as the basis for determining truth?
We have to use what the Bible itself actually says, do you agree?
That’s what I use as the basis for truth, and therefore I don’t see myself or anyone here as being hard to reach. If you can show Biblically, by the true context of the Scriptures, where anything I have said is wrong, then I would be willing to agree with you. But you have not done that. You have either just told us your opinions of us, or taken bits and pieces of the Scriptures, using them out of context.
In the same token, you also must be willing to concede, Jeziel, if we can show you Scripturally where what you say is not true. Are you willing?
Jeziel, please answer these questions Biblically:
Is Jesus God? Who is Jesus? What did Jesus do? What is Jesus doing today?
May 5th, 2010 at 9:19 am
Lluvia,
LPDS look I recommend you get out of thies website, it is just a waste of your time and might hurt you in the future. It is very hard to get through these people because Micael and me have tried and wasted many hours.
May 4th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Hello lluvia
I am sure that your question has already been answered but my first personal opinion is to read the bible and let god tell you the truth him self. My second opinion is to attend a christen church that believes in the father son and holy spirit. What helped me a lot, to learn the love of Jesus, is by watching a movie, its called Jesus of Nazareth. you can probably find it in a library or on line. This movie helped me visualize Jesus on earth and the love and healing that he had for all people. This movie shows the birth of Christ all the way to his death.
May 4th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
lluvia,
May the peace of the Lord Jesus the Messiah find you. I give much praise to the Holy Spirit for bring you to a point where you are willing to inquired as to what is going on with all of this.
You asked a good question ‘how can there be so many different churches and beliefs if there is only one Spirit?’ And the answer to that would be, yes there is only one Spirit, but there are many spirits out there that are prompting the will of the Antichrist. (Read 1 John 4) And understand that the Antichrist is Satan and just like the Lord Jesus has many working for Him in truth there are many who are working for Satan and his spirit of antichrist. Now the antichrist spirit (little “s”) is not looking to be demonic like with black magic.
The true work of the antichrist is to very quietly bring in false teaching that will cause lost ones to look away from Jesus Christ for their salvation. Satan is not a demonic looking demon like he wants everyone to think. No, he is the most beautiful creator that the Father has ever made. And Satan’s, workers or disciples are they very beautiful, kind, caring, and giving and even appear to love on the outside.
Satan has gotten the world to believe that in the spirit world that if something is demon looking, ugly, mean and hateful than it must only be Evil and from Satan, and if something is beautiful, dress in all white, and gives a lot of money way as gifts, and speaks wonderful sounding word that are not found in the Bible, even in Jesus’ name, than it must only be Good and from God.
Well let me be the first to tell you that Satan is not stupid. He knows us creators of flesh very well and he uses this false understanding of what is Evil should look evil and what is Good should look good.
The bottom line of this is that, like Colin mentioned in Acts 17, Read and Read and Re-read the Scriptures for yourself over and over again. I myself have read the Gospel of John over 20 times! Every time I read it again I get more from the Holy Spirit.
I suggest to you to not look at the entire Bible as one big book to read. It is a personal library of 66 books that the Lord as provided for us, thanks be to Him! Amen. Take one book, and I recommend that you start with the Gospel of John. The apostle John wrote this gospel to let everyone know who Jesus really is, the Word made flesh and the Word is God.
May 3rd, 2010 at 10:31 pm
Hello, and God’s blessings to everyone.
I would now like to address some of the Scriptures most commonly used by LLDM. I will address them 1 at a time.
All of these are used within LLDM to try to say that we can only receive the Word of God from “apostle” Samuel Joaquin Flores.
First, Amos 8:11 – well, I am not one for cutting the Bible to pieces with a “swiss cheese approach,” and in fact I have a policy about studying the Bible – never read a Bible verse. No, you don’t throw the whole thing out, but if you want to know what a single verse of Scripture means, you can not merely read 1 single Bible verse. You need to read the whole paragraph, sometimes even the whole chapter it’s contained in to get the context.
No no, let’s not look at 1 Bible verse. Let’s actually look at a more complete passage from Amos, so we don’t miss the true context.
Amos says:
“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign LORD, “when I will send a famine through the land-not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.”(Amos 8:11)
Now, this is a most unusual famine. God had given them His Word, and they had rejected it. They had despised it, they had turned aside. Now, he says the days are coming when they are not going to hear it. In other words, the days were coming when they no longer would HEAR the Word of God. This is evident today in the world, and in many places (such as LLDM), where they have turned away from the Word of God. They are not giving out the Word in real Bible teaching. There’s a lot of things they call “Bible teaching” which is actually not that at all. They’ll give you a few verses here and there, but they’ll use them to try to exalt and elevate Samuel Joaquin to make people believe in his claims, but they will not use them in the true context of the Scriptures. What is happening is this very thing. God says this to any church, or any nation – that if He has given you the Word of God, and you don’t hear it, He’ll withdraw it, and that’s what He has done. You can deplore the fact all you want to, but the truth is Samuel Joaquin and LLDM are not giving out the Word of God. So, what did they do with it when they heard it? They rejected it and turned their back upon it. They added their own rules and regulations to it. As a result, there was a famine of the Word of God and very very little of the Word of God is actually being given out. Every member of LLDM owns a Bible – but how many are studying it? How many are believing it? How many are reading it today? How often do you yourself study it? How often do you yourself read it? That’s the important thing, and if you really take a hard look – I think you can see the famine of the Word of God in your own situation today.
Now, Amos says:
“Men will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the LORD, but they will not find it.”(Amos 8:12)
LLDM members: Why is it that you will go to pastors and teachers and other elders in LLDM to answer you when you have questions, but you do not go to the Bible yourself?
You see, the famine has already set in. From what I can gather – studying the Bible yourself is something that is brand new to most if not all members of LLDM.
“”In that day “the lovely young women and strong young men will faint because of thirst.”(Amos 8:13)
Notice, here in verse 13, Amos begins talking about THAT day. Joel had already spoken of that at this point in time as being the Day of the Lord. It is a day still yet future for us – The Day of the Lord, a day that will be more great and more terrible than any day ever in recorded history, as the Revelation of Jesus Christ begins to conclude. Joel, the earliest writing prophet was the first to speak of The Day of the Lord, and the judgements of God upon this earth on THAT day will be greater than anything in human history; so great that many times, the prophets who wrote after Joel simply refer to it as THAT day. That there would be a day coming that would be like that. Isaiah spoke of it, that even the young men would faint. But Amos makes it clear that their fainting is from a thirst for the Word of God.
“They who swear by the shame of Samaria, or say, ‘As surely as your god lives, O Dan,’ or, ‘As surely as the god of Beersheba lives’— they will fall, never to rise again.””(Amos 8:14)
In this time there were Jews who took oaths or vows to places, cities, kings, rulers or false gods.
The Bible tells you that only God can forgive sins. But God forgives and extends grace to only those who put their faith in Jesus Christ, God’s Son – who died on a cross, was buried, and rose again from the grave. He is alive today to be the mediator between man and God, and only He can forgive your sins.
But when LLDM baptizes, you must answer “yes” to the question of “Do you believe that your sins are being forgiven through a minister that was authorized by an Apostle of God?”
Sounds nice, but there is nothing in Scripture to support this claim, because your sins can only be forgiven through Jesus Christ, who was authorized by God the Father. I ask – this baptism as performed by LLDM, what or whom do they have you swearing by?
Next, Isaiah 55:6. Once again, I will address this Scripture by using the COMPLETE passage.
But before I do, I must say that God extends a marvelous invitation to mankind in this chapter. I ask anyone who has not read it all, please first read the whole chapter of Isaiah 55 yourself out loud, and think – what is God saying to you in this chapter?
“”Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.”(Isaiah 55:1)
Now, if you read the 2 chapters before this, you will find that hundreds of years before the Lord Jesus came to this earth, God had foretold of His coming through the prophet Isaiah. He is the ultimate Servant of God, and God offers redemption ONLY through the suffering of the Servant Jesus. In chapters 52 and 53 of Isaiah, he foretells of the Redemption of mankind coming through the sufferings of Jesus, and in chapters 54 – 57, we learn about the results of the redemption through His suffering. Here, in chapter 55, verse 1, we can see that Jesus’ redemptive work and glorious kingdom are for the benefit of all who are willing to come (same thing as in Isaiah 53:6). Here, the prophet Isaiah invites his readers to participate in the benefits obtained by the suffering of Jesus (suffering described in chapter 53, benefits described in chapter 54). Notice he says “you who have no money, come buy and eat…..without money and without cost” – benefits in the Messiah’s Kingdom will be free because of His redemptive work.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”(Ephesians 2:8-9).
“Wine and Milk” in Scripture are symbols for abundance, satisfaction and prosperity
“In that day the mountains will drip new wine,
and the hills will flow with milk;
all the ravines of Judah will run with water.”(Joel 3:18)
“I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride;
I have gathered my myrrh with my spice.
I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey;
I have drunk my wine and my milk.”(Song of Solomon 5:1).
“Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.”(Isaiah 55:2)
“why spend money on what is not bread” – this is the “bread of deceit”
“Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man,
but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel.”(Proverbs 20:17),
and not the true “bread of life”
“Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
“Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.”
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”(John 6:32-35)
“Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.”(Isaiah 55:3)
“An everlasting covenant,” refers to the new covenant of God with His people – the covenant of the New Testament, God says “my faithful love promised to David.” The covenant with David was a promise to David that his seed would be ruler over Israel in an everlasting Kingdom:
“”Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed judges over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.
” ‘The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’ “”(2 Samuel 7:8-16)
” I will also appoint him my firstborn,
the most exalted of the kings of the earth.
I will maintain my love to him forever,
and my covenant with him will never fail.
I will establish his line forever,
his throne as long as the heavens endure.”(Psalm 89:27-29).
Paul connected the Resurrection of Christ with this promise, since it was an essential event in fulfilling this promise.
“The fact that God raised him from the dead, never to decay, is stated in these words:
” ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.”(Acts 13:34).
If Jesus had not fully satisfied God with His atoning death, then He would not have risen from the dead, and would then not be able to eventually sit on David’s earthly throne. But, He did rise and He will fulfill the Kingly role, all the prophets testify to this fact.
“Instead, they will serve the LORD their God
and David their king,
whom I will raise up for them.”(Jeremiah 30:9)
“I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken.”(Ezekiel 34:23-24)
” ” ‘My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever.”(Ezekiel 37:24-25)
” “Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ’sevens,’ and sixty-two ’sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.”(Daniel 9:25)
“Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to his blessings in the last days.”(Hosea 3:5)
“”But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.”(Micah 5:2).
The whole world will come to Christ as the great king.
“See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of the peoples. Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.”(Isaiah 55:4-5).
Now, this is the true context of where we are in Isaiah when we get to what LLDM quotes, but I again want to include more than just 1 verse.
“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”(Isaiah 55:6-7)
This is one of the clearest Old Testament invitations to Salvation now, and kingdom blessing later. It gives an excellent example of how people were saved in the Old Testament.
Salvation grace and mercy were available to all those who were willing to:
1) Seek the Lord “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.”(Deuteronomy 4:29)
” But in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them.”(2 Chronicles 15:4),
and 2) call on Him while He is still available
“”I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me;
I was found by those who did not seek me.
To a nation that did not call on my name,
I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’”(Isaiah 65:1)
“Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you
while you may be found;
surely when the mighty waters rise,
they will not reach him.”(Psalm 32:6)
“I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.”(Proverbs 8:17)
“”At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
” ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
“Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’
“But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”(Matthew 25:1-13)
“You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.”"(John 7:34)
“Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”"(John 8:21)
“For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”(2 Corinthians 6:2)
“how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.”(Hebrews 2:3)
“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. As has just been said:
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion.”"(Hebrews 3:13-15).
Such true seeking in faith is accompanied by repentance, which is described as forsaking ways and thoughts and turning from sinful living to the Lord. A sinner must come, believing in God, recognizing his sin, and desiring deliverance and deliverance from that sin. At the same time, he must recognize his own inability to be righteous or to satisfy God, and cast himself on God’s mercy. It is then that he receives a complete pardon. His sin has been covered by the substitution of the Messiah in his place (Isaiah 53). This is the Old Testament pattern of Salvation.
Now, LLDM will affirm that the Bible was left for testimony and teachings. This is true. But, they will then go on to quote patches such as:
Judges 2:6;10-13;18-19. Well, it was left for testimony and teachings, so let’s not cut it to pieces. Let’s look at this whole passage, so we can get the complete testimony and the full teaching.
“After Joshua had dismissed the Israelites, they went to take possession of the land, each to his own inheritance. The people served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the LORD had done for Israel.
Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of a hundred and ten. And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Heres in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. “(Judges 2:6-10).
Now, you see the first people in the Land had vivid recollections of all the miracles and judgements of God in bringing them up out of Egypt, and they were devoted to faith, duty, and purity. Even after Joshua “the servant of the Lord” had died, all those who remembered everything the Lord had done remained faithful to God. But, this new generation was for the most part ignorant to the experiences of their parents and grandparents, and yielded more easily to corruption. To a marked degree, the people of this new generation were not true believers, and were not tuned to the God of Israel, His miracles or victories. They had forgotten the past and everything that God had already done for them. The problem was not that there were no servants of God during this time, because there were. The problem was the majority of the people did not remember the past.
“Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals. They forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked the LORD to anger”(Judges 2:11-12)
Now, the generation before them had also made the mistake of falling into idol worship with the golden calf in the wilderness (Exodus 32), but in this new generation, with people failing to remember the words God had already given them, idol worship flaired up again.
“because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. In his anger against Israel the LORD handed them over to raiders who plundered them. He sold them to their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist.”(Judges 2:13-14)
The calamities were designed as chastisement to bring discipline, and to bring the people to repentance.
“Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the LORD was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress.
Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders.”(Judges 2:15-16)
A “judge” or a deliverer in that time was distinctly different from a judge in the English language today. These were leaders to guide military expeditions against enemies (as we see here in 2:16), and they also arbitrated judicial matters (Judges 4:5). There was no succession or national rule. They were local deliverers, lifted up to leadership by God at times when the deplorable condition of Israel in the region around them prompted God to rescue the people.
“Yet they would not listen to their judges but prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them. Unlike their fathers, they quickly turned from the way in which their fathers had walked, the way of obedience to the LORD’s commands. Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the LORD had compassion on them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them. But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.
Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel and said, “Because this nation has violated the covenant that I laid down for their forefathers and has not listened to me, I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died. I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the LORD and walk in it as their forefathers did.” The LORD had allowed those nations to remain; he did not drive them out at once by giving them into the hands of Joshua.”(Judges 2:6-23).
It’s obvious from here that when the judges died, the people would to fall away, but that did not include every single person. Otherwise, where would the next judge come from? There has always, always, always been individuals preserved throughout ALL of history who remain faithful to God. The number of people in this faithful remnant has never ever ever ever dropped all the way to zero. Andl, what did God say he would do to Israel? He would not drive out the nations that Joshua had left, but would leave them there to test Israel. Take a look at the situation in Israel and the middle east today, and it’s clear to see that’s exactly what God did.
Now, to the infamous Acts 10 and the story of Cornelius. Once again, let’s not cut this to pieces and let’s look at the full story so we don’t miss anything and end up jumping to wrong conclusions.
“At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.”(Acts 10:1-2)
Now, if you recall Paul went through this area in Caesarea later on. Cornelius was a centurion (officer in the Roman Legion) who lived in Caesarea. If you recall, this is where Pilate lived. It was a Roman city, it was built there, and the governor and those who ruled that land stayed there. Now, Cornelius was a centurion in a group known as the Italian Regiment (or cohort/band). We are told certain things about him here. First of all, he was a devout man, him and his family. That means his worship was correctly directed. He had a dependence on that which was divine, he just didn’t know about Jesus Christ. But he had a conviction and a dedication to God (he just didn’t understand who God was). But now, the 2nd thing we are told here – he feared God. This would be equivalent to someone today who attends church during the certain Holy seasons, and is friendly to the church, but is not a Christian. He feared God. 3rd thing it says about him is he gave to those in need. He was a generous man who cared about the poor. Remember The Lord Jesus told the rich ruler “sell all your possessions, give to the poor, then come and follow me.” That young rich ruler’s wealth was standing in the way of him coming to God. Cornelius didn’t have that blocking his way, he gave generously to the poor. 4th thing it says about him is he prayed to God. He took his needs to God. This man Cornelius was a good man, he just needed a little light – he needed to know about the Lord Jesus and His work on the cross, His death, and His Resurrection from the dead.
“One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.
The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.”(Acts 10:3-8)
We can see here, that Cornelius was a man of influence. He was a career officer in the Roman army, and we see here that he had servants. The influence of this man Cornelius in that time must have been tremendous. He was a good man. According to all outward features, he would pass as a Christian today, one of the highest degree – an outstanding man. But, he actually was not a Christian. This man Cornelius had never heard the Gospel, and had never come into the presence of Christ. He recognized that there is a God, but he didn’t know him. This story of Cornelius answers the question that many people today who ask “what about the poor pagans, and the good heathens who want to know God, but never heard about Jesus Christ – are they lost?” And, well, the answer is – God will get light to him. God will enable him to hear the Gospel. Now, at this time, with Cornelius – how could God get the Gospel to him? There were insurmountable barriers. The church at this time was entirely Jewish, for the first 8 years it was made up exclusively of Jewish people. As Paul says in Romans – the message came to the Jews first, and chronologically it had gone first to the Jews, then to the Gentiles. In that day of Cornelius, the Christians went to the temple, and they still observed many Jewish customs (which is not condemned under grace as long as they still trusted Christ – which they did).
Now, when the Gospel broke in to Samaria, the people in Jerusalem were surprised, but they recognized the hand of God. But now, how can the door of the Gospel be thrown open to the Gentiles? Well, isn’t Paul going to be the Apostle to the Gentiles? Yes, and while God was training Paul in the desert of Arabia, God sent Simon Peter to open the door for the Gentiles. And He used the most prejudice bigot and religious extremist of that day that you could imagine.
This is a detailed and complicated system that has to be worked out, you see? And therefore, it is all entirely under the supervision of the Holy Spirit. Only genuine Christian work is under the leadership and supervision of the Holy Spirit. If it’s under the leadership and supervision of a man or any other spirit, it will amount to nothing.
Now, notice here – Cornelius was praying. He was not dreaming, he was praying, and he was given a vision. So he sent his messengers down the coast (it’s not more than a few miles from Caesarea down to Joppa). And the Holy Spirit of God is next going to prepare another man (Peter) for their arrival. Now, notice here: “Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.
The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.”(Acts 10:4).
Please notice this – these are the things that are important to God. “Your prayers and gifts to the poor.” Now, these are not merit for Salvation, but God takes note of them. And because Cornelius did these things, God figured a way to get the Gospel to him. God doesn’t change, and this principle is the same today – if there is any man who lives up to Cornelius religiously (with their prayers and gifts to the poor), then God will figure out some way for them to hear the Gospel of Grace, God will see to it that he gets it.
Now, God’s going to prepare Simon Peter.
“About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.”(Acts 10:9)
God’s going to have to prepare Simon Peter, and we’ll see that it was necessary. Simon Peter did not have the breath that Paul had for giving long speeches. He didn’t have the background or the training at all. But you see, God can use men differently. This idea today that everybody has to be poured into the same mold for God to use them is a tremendous mistake. Now, notice what’s happening – the Spirit of God is going to prepare Simon Peter. He’s already prepared Cornelius to hear the message, now He will prepare Peter to be willing to go and share the message with a Gentile.
“He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air.”(Acts 10:10-12)
This is the thing that prepared Peter. He saw something like a large sheet filled with all kinds of 4-footed animals, reptiles and birds of the air, which under the Mosaic Law are not permitted for a Jew to eat. And The Lord says to him “Rise Peter. Kill and eat.”
“Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.”(Acts 10:13-16)
Now, he’s wondering what that means, he didn’t understand it. Notice what Peter said “Surely not, Lord” (“Not so Lord” in the KJV). Isn’t it interesting that he calls Him ‘Lord’, but here he’s refusing to obey Him. He says no, but he calls Him Lord. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” Peter says to Him.
Now here is a man who is on this side of the Day of Pentecost. So, he’s living in a day where it doesn’t matter whether you eat meat or you don’t eat meat. It makes no difference if you eat kosher or not. But here, Peter would not eat any of these things at all because they were impure (common) and unclean (as listed in the Mosaic system). When Peter refuses the Lord here, he sincerely and honestly believes that he is right.
If this were really just about food, it wouldn’t matter. We are under grace and if you don’t want to eat you don’t have to, and if you wanna eat you can. It’s your business as far as that goes – however God leads you. If God says to one person that they shouldn’t eat meat then they should follow that, but they shouldn’t try to put everybody else under the same guideline.
See it’s a matter of the heart and following how the Lord leads individuals when it comes to trivial matters like food, long hair, the way you dress, going to movies, music, dancing, eating meat or vegetarian, smoking, etc. Those are things you can trust what your heart tells you about. Should a person do these things or not is not a general umbrella rule for everybody – it’s about what is God’s will for your life. These things won’t bring you to the Lord, nor will they interfere with your relationship with him. But once again, this vision given to Peter was about more than food. Now, the voice spoke to him a 2nd time and said “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” He says to Simon Peter “What God has cleaned, don’t you call it unclean.” This happened 3 times, and then the sheet was lifted away. And Peter still doesn’t understand, he’s wondering what that means.
“While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.
While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”(Acts 10:17-20)
Now, Peter is to go to Caesarea, without any hesitation. He still wonders what his vision meant.
“Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”(Acts 10:21)
Peter presents himself to the men, and he asks why they had come. And now, he gets the explanation, and he begins to understand his vision.
“The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.
The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along.”(Acts 10:22-23)
Now, there’s quite a little delegation going up to Caesarea.
“The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.”(Acts 10:24)
Once again, we can see that Cornelius had quite a bit of influence. And he wanted all his friends and his relatives to share in this. So, now the Apostle Peter arrives.
“As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence.” (Acts 10:25)
“As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.”(10:25 – NKJV)
Now see, Cornelius was a pagan. He was a heathen Roman Gentile, he didn’t know any better. He was told to send for this man, so in his mind he thought “why he must be a powerful somebody. He must have some great authority.” And so he falls down to worship Simon Peter.
Now, look at what Simon Peter says, this is quite interesting – Simon Peter would never have let you bow down and kiss his hand I’ll tell you that much, not this big, rugged fisherman. He just wouldn’t permit anything like that.
“But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.””(Acts 10:26)
Peter reached down and lifted him up, see. And he said to him stand up, I’m only a man. I like the way Peter did that. Now, notice what he does here in Caesarea.
“Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.”
Simon Peter now begins to understand that vision he had back on the roof of Simon the tanner. He’s at the home of a Gentile, listen to him here:
“He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.”(Acts 10:28)
Notice, what he says first “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him.” That’s doesn’t sound like a very nice way to begin a message. That’s not very friendly. “But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.” My friend, that is an insult. Simon Peter says to Cornelius “If you really wanna know how I feel about this, well….I didn’t wanna come. I’ve never been in the home of a Gentile before where it’s unclean.” Imagine if someone came into your house and said “oh my, what a dirty, unclean house you have.” You wouldn’t feel very friendly to that individual. But in substance, that’s what the Apostle Simon Peter says to begin this message.
“So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”(Acts 10:29)
Now, why does Simon Peter ask that question? I would think he would immediately open up the conversation about the Lord Jesus. But, notice he doesn’t do that. This man is waiting for the leading of the Spirit. He’s not rushing in to this. There is a lesson in that for many of us today. He’s not going on and blurting out anything until God opens the door for him to do it. He’s letting himself be led by the Spirit of God. He says to Cornelius “why in the world did you call me here?”
“Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”(Acts 10:30-33)
In other words, Cornelius said “I don’t know why I sent for you. God wanted me to send for you, so you must have a message to tell us.” Now, will you notice the message of Simon Peter.
“Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism”(Acts 10:34)
What a marvelous thing that we find in the conversion of this man here!
“but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— “(Acts 10:35-37)
Now, you see, Cornelius and those assembled here in Caesarea knew certain basic facts about Jesus of Nazareth. They knew about what had been happening over the past 3 or 4 years in that land. Now, listen to Simon Peter:
“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
“We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.”(Acts 10:38-40)
Notice, concerning Apostle Simon Peter, notice what he does. He presents the facts concerning Jesus Christ. He says “now, there’s certain things that you already know about Jesus.” And they probably knew about the death of Jesus, but now he says “this is what happened – He died on that cross. And God raised Him on the 3rd day and showed Him openly.” This is the message.
This is the Gospel, and nothing short of that. There is not a sermon preached in the New Testament, and especially in the book of Acts, that did not mention as it’s main message – the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is the very heart of the Gospel – that Jesus is alive in a immortal heavenly body. And until that is preached, my friend you have not heard the Gospel. Jesus died, and was buried. On the 3rd day, He rose again. That’s a historical fact and your relationship to Him determines your eternal destiny. For He died for your sins according to the Scriptures, He was buried. And on the 3rd day, He rose again. Now, listen to Simon Peter as he continues:
“He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”(Acts 10:41-43)
My friend, I rejoice in a man like Simon Peter, and I look at his weaknesses and faults with great joy. He’s so human, and he’s very much like another fella I know by the name of Colin. But the important thing is this – he preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ, my friend. And this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ: “that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”(Acts 10:43). And until you do that, you haven’t done anything my friend, not for God you haven’t. And now, notice what happened:
“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter said, “Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.”(Acts 10:44-48)
Now, this is what is known by many as the “Gentile Pentecost.” Peter is astonished here that the Gentiles too have received the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit has been poured out on the Gentiles. Before they were baptized in water – by believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they received the Holy Spirit. It is made audible in this case by their speaking in tongues. Now, this event had a purpose in that day, as you can see. The tongues were more of an evidence to Simon Peter and the other Jews with him that God would save Gentiles. We know this, because Simon Peter will refer back to this in the next chapter. And, he’ll also go back to it in chapter 15 – that this was the evidence that the Gentiles had been saved – not that they had been baptized in water, but that they had received the Holy Spirit. Jews in that day could not believe that Gentiles were going to be saved too.
Now, the Gentiles in Cornelius’ house are baptized, but before they are ever baptized in water – there is a tremendous moving of the Spirit of God upon all of them.
I call your attention to the fact that this is one of 3 representative conversions, representing the descendants of all of Noah’s sons. 1 – The Ethiopian Eunuch (a son of Ham). 2 – Saul of Tarsis (a son of Shem). 3 – Cornelius, the Roman Centurion (a son of Japheth). And it is the Holy Spirit who moves in each case, using the Word of God to make children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
And now, in the first part of chapter 11 – Peter has to defend his ministry (bringing the Gospel to the Gentiles), which in that day was something that was pretty difficult for Simon Peter to do. Notice:
“The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”(Acts 11:1-3)
Oh my, this was a terrible thing Peter had done in their sight. Peter went among the Gentiles and preached the Gospel, and even ate with Gentiles. If you had talked to Simon Peter just a month before, he himself would’ve told you that was a terrible thing to do.
But now, listen to Simon Peter. He actually offers an apology. And Peter makes it very clear that he did not want to do this, that the Holy Spirit of God was in it all.
“Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened: “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’
“I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’
“The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.
“Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’
“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?”(Acts 11:4-17)
Now, we can see here (first of all, notice the detail with which Peter recalled everything), but we can see, notice that the speaking in tongues was to give evidence to Simon Peter that Gentiles also could turn to God and be saved.
Notice how the others received this news:
“When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”(Acts 11:18)
Now, this is a great day that has come! The door has now been opened, EVEN TO THE GENTILES!!!
The book in the Bible called “The Acts of the Apostles” would be more accurately titled as “The Acts of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles.” It documents the birth of the church by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on 120 individual believers. It documents the moving of the Spirit in the conversions of many individuals to faith in Christ Jesus alone. It documents the work of the Spirit through certain men, particularly Paul, Peter and John who were leaders in establishing the foundation of the Christian faith – the New Testament. It documents a tremendous moving of the Spirit which has not been matched since in drawing thousands upon thousands of people at a time to faith in Christ Jesus. It documents the Spirit working through individuals other than the 12 Apostles and Paul spreading the Gospel wherever they went. The book documents the growth of the church by the Holy Spirit leading individual people (Cornelius, Lydia, the Philippian jailer, etc.) to faith in Christ Jesus, and the work of the Holy Spirit also in protecting individuals from persecution.
Oh, and BTW did you know there is an Acts chapter 29? It’s been written in heaven for 2,000 years, and we are living it to this day.
With the love of the one who holds my faith forever, Christ Jesus, God bless every one of you.
May 3rd, 2010 at 6:27 pm
Very well said, Oscar.
Lluvia, it is very nice to meet you, and your attitude in dialoguing with us is refreshingly different. Oscar summarized in his last post the entire purpose of us conversing here.
I hope we can continue to have respectful discussions about the truth of the Word of God.
May 3rd, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Actually,
I, and I’m sure others here as well, think you are a nice person, Lluvia. You seem different from others who have come here labeling us as evil and such. It is amazing how your sincerity and amicable personality projects on a computer screen. We aren’t here to force anyone to believe something, all we are doing is comparing the Scriptures and seeing if La Luz del Mundo’s framework fit with what the Bible says. As we have been investigating, it’s not completely in agreement by a large gap.
Again, we are always glad to see you here and hope you and yours are well.
May 3rd, 2010 at 4:29 pm
Lluvia,
In regards to why there are so many people preaching different things in the world, the answer can be found in Romans chapter 10. It is the same problem that several Israelites have had since the beginning of the church:
“Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.”(Romans 10:3)
There are men in the world who are seeking to establish their own righteousness, instead of humbling themselves before the righteousness of God.
Samuel Joaquin teaches that only him or those men who he ordains can understand the Bible, and that only he can mediate to God for the sins of people on earth. Objectively, does that sound like someone who is humbling to God’s righteousness or seeking to establish their own?
God chose you and I to live in this era of history, and it is the age of deceit. False teachers, false religions, cults, isms and different methods are more common today than they have ever been in history. Therefore, we have to be extra diligent in seeking the truth. We have to guard ourselves against the potential for false teaching in the world, and the only way to do that is by regenerating our minds everyday through the studying the Word of God.
Even the Apostle Paul did not want anybody to just accept and believe what he told them as the truth; Paul reasoned from the Scriptures and rejoiced when people would test his claims by studying the Scriptures themselves.
If we find a pathway that we believe is the truth because we feel the doctrine is true, don’t we need to examine the Scriptures thoroughly and make sure that what we believe really is true? Refer to Acts 17:11.
The moral of the story in Acts 17:11 is don’t believe anything anybody tells you. The Bereans did not believe Paul just because he told them, and neither should we. The Bereans examined the Scriptures daily and tested Paul’s teachings to make sure they were true.
“Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”(Acts 17:11)
The Bereans did not say “Oh, I’ve looked at all the pathways, and this one that Paul’s telling us about is the one I believe to be true.” The Bereans probably did feel that it was true, but they still didn’t just go by that feeling. They examined the Scriptures daily and by what the Scripture says, they proved to themselves that what Paul said was true. We need to do the same.
Now, the reason I ask about Jesus, is because this is the most important doctrine that the Bible teaches. If a person is wrong about Jesus, nothing else matters.
Who is Jesus? Is Jesus God? What did Jesus do? What is He doing today?
May 3rd, 2010 at 3:47 pm
Lluvia,
OK, then we agree that we have to use the Scriptures, we have to use what the Bible says as our basis for determining truth, correct? I’m not trying to argue with you, I just need to make sure we both agree that the Bible, what the Scriptures themselves say is the sole basis for deciphering truth, and not what any one person interprets it to mean, but what the Scripture actually says. Not what we ourselve feel or believe to be true, but what the Bible itself says – that is our guide. Based on your last comment, it appears we can agree on that much, correct?
Keeping that in mind, I have some questions for you. Lluvia: Who is Jesus? Is Jesus God? What did Jesus do? What is Jesus doing today?
May 3rd, 2010 at 3:46 pm
oscar,
its not that i think that what i believe is the basis.. our basis is still jesus christ.
we cant change that.. any church that said that jesus was not the basis.. i would not go to.
May 3rd, 2010 at 3:29 pm
youre all right… but its not just that.. if we all had the same holy spirit, then why are people all preaching different things?
or… if you want to tell me..in what church can i find the truth?
i know we have to read the bible.. but its not only that.. we have to pray, sing to god, and understand the doctrine. so thats where a church comes in.. to have brothers and sisters, and to try and do the will of god.
and please, dont try to argue with me, cuz i dont want to argue!! im only a 15 year old whos been looking at the pathways, and finally finding one where i believe the truth is!
and not because some man told me.. but because by what i learn from him.. the doctrine.
May 3rd, 2010 at 1:34 pm
sorry Colin
I looked back and I see that you already mentioned the same thing that I just wrote. Well that is a good example of the works of the holy spirit, it is from God.
May 3rd, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Hi Liuvia
The whole reason why Jesus died on the cross is so we can pray for forgiveness and God knows if we are truly sorry or not. Jesus died on the cross so that God will have mercy on us. The apostle from LLDM is calming that we can not ask for forgiveness, it is not that easy. If it is what the apostle from LLDM is saying then he is calling the almighty crater of every thing in the world a lire. That is only one example of the apostle disagreeing with what Jesus told us. Another example is the apostle is saying that we need a man on earth. Jesus is Gods son, he came and died for us and so now we read the bible and pray in the name of Jesus christ not in the name of an apostle. am I going to fallow a man? or God? dose God need a Man? no he is power full and if you believe in God you would trust in his word that he listens to you when you talk to him and he is the one that sends the holy spirit to tell us all of Gods secrets. We only have one God in this world and if I believe that Jesus was sent and is alive today, how powerful is your God to send a man to tell you what to do? This is all from the bible you can read Mathews, mark, luke, all in the new testament and you can read about the holy spirit in the new testament, in Romans, Corinthians and Ephesians.
May 3rd, 2010 at 11:49 am
If I may add,
As a Christian, what do we use as the basis of the truth: Thinking that our beliefs are true and correct or the Bible?
If one is truly Christian, we should follow what the Bible says, otherwise, you aren’t a Christian to begin with.
May 3rd, 2010 at 11:13 am
Lluvia,
What do we use as the basis for deciphering what is and isn’t true?
Do we use what the Bible says, the actual Scriptures themselves? Or do we use the thoughts and interpretations of Samuel Joaquin Flores?
May 3rd, 2010 at 10:40 am
okay. so you all say that an apostol is not necessary, fine. but heres why i know hes important.
yes, you can read the bible, but what if you dont know what it means?
theres the jehovas witnesses, who believe that when they die, there going to live on the earth!
while many other religons say that heaven is where their going to live. if no one is here to show us what its talking about.. we don’t know and can only make man made assumptions. so the reason why im defending myself is because i heard the word that he preaches, and it all makes sense to me.
like.. we have a spirit, were going to heaven, el bautismo es necesario, debemos de ser como es digno de recibir la palabra, las mujeres debe de vestir honestamente, etc.
May 2nd, 2010 at 3:39 pm
The most dangerous thing about what LLDM teaches is the same with all false spiritual teachings. And that is there is a certain amount of truth in it.
The devil’s most dangerous weapon is the lie that sounds close to the truth, but is twisted at it’s core.
Everybody understands that all people are sinners and we ourselves cannot approach God on our own. God says in The Bible that the only way that anyone can approach Him is through the Messiah, Christ Jesus.
There is no need for a human high priest on earth to mediate to God for our sins, because Jesus Christ is Risen from the grave in an immortal body and is at God’s right hand to save and forgive all those who come to God through His sacrifice on the cross. LLDM offers a feeling of blessing by teaching that they alone have the one and only man who can mediate to God for their sins. The problem is this is not the mediator who God accepts. God says in The Bible that the only way that anyone can approach Him is through the Messiah, the Risen Christ Jesus.
Imagine it like this – The devil mixes lies with wonderful truths like some one mixes poison. If you were going to poison someone, you would not mix poison with dog food and give it to them. You would prepare for them a delicious, savory and mouthwatering meal, mixing in juuust the exact right amount of arsenic. Why? Because you want them to eat it.
I am not trying to give a recipe for murder, nor am i advocating it. This is an illustration – in the same way a wicked person who is motivated by some personal gain might poison someone else, there is something for Eusebio, Samuel and the Joaquin family to personally gain by keeping many people believing that only they can mediate to God for sins or correctly interpret the Bible (thus, keeping the people dependent on them and poisoning the people spiritually). But what a blessing that they make it appear to be.
“These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.”(Jude 16)
May 2nd, 2010 at 2:14 am
Christopher, very interesting and true point regarding John 4.
This is one aspect about the New Testament, and about the Apostles that the Holy Spirit also amazed me with not too long ago. Just like the Old Testament, there are some things in the New Testament which are given as examples for us. The 12 men whom Jesus called Apostles were a bunch of blundering stumbling, bumbling, stubborn hearted and arrogant fools. They didn’t even understand what Jesus had told them about His own death and Resurrection, and the things that Jesus told them plainly, they didn’t believe half the time even after seeing His miraculous power. That is, not at first. If you read through the Gospels, you will find that the women understood what Jesus said more than the apostles did. Mary Magdelene and the others understood enough to go to the tomb on the 3rd day while the 12 “Apostles”, you know those 12 “really” important guys? Yea they were sleeping while the women were out looking for Jesus. They were the last ones at the cross and the first ones at the tomb and the first ones Jesus appeared to after He rose.
The 12 apostles thought Jesus had wanted them to bring bread when He was warning them about deceptive and misleading teachers. John and his brother James wanted to call down fire to destroy some Samaritans who did not welcome Jesus. Again and again and again Jesus told them He was going into Jerusalem to be handed over to be killed, that He would be killed for the sins of the whole world, and that He would rise again on the third day according to the Scriptures. Again and again and again Jesus told them this, and yet none of them understood it, Simon Peter said it would never happen and even cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant to try and stop the crowd from taking Jesus. None of them understood what Jesus told them. Even after He had risen, these stubborn hearted fishermen and tax collectors refused to believe Mary and the women when they told them they had seen the Lord. They refused to believe Cleopas and the other man who walked with Jesus along the road. Jesus appeared to the apostles and ate with them, but Thomas still refused to believe until he touched the wounds of the cross on His hands and feet and touched the wound in His side. Finally they believed, they still did not understand what all had happened, and now Jesus says it’s time for Him to go away. What? The apostles don’t know what to do now they just saw their master killed and they mourned Him, but now He was alive again only He said He’s now going away? But Jesus told them It’s good that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come (by which He meant the Holy Spirit). Jesus said But if I go away I will ask of my Father, and He will send you the Holy Spirit and when the Spirit He will remind you of everything I have told you. The apostles asked what was they way that they could get to where Jesus was going. Jesus answered and said “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me.”(John 14:6).
But even as Jesus was walking around appearing to over 500 of his followers in His glorious immortal body (and even for a few days after He ascended into Heaven), the apostles did not understand what Jesus had told them.
Not until the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on 120 people (including the 12 apostles) in the upper room did the understand. The Holy Spirit reminded them of all the words Jesus had spoken. They were now able to see that Jesus had said what He said and everything happened just as He said. The recollection the Holy Spirit gave them prompted them to write their testimony (with the Spirit choosing the words they used), as well as preach it to the whole world.
It is the Holy Spirit that is the administrator of Salvation on earth, a job He has been performing non stop for about 2,000 years – from the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 straight through to this day with no break.
I’m humbled by God’s awesomeness.
May 1st, 2010 at 9:35 pm
My bewilderment with the logic of the next generation has reached a new height. In the end I know is not these young men themselves, but a vail that satan has used to cover their hearts from accepting the truth, something I continually pray to God through my Lord Jesus Christ to remove.
Anyway, I asked Micael to give a Scripture reference where any of the Biblical Apostles, brothers, or disciples of Jesus wrote that it was only because of them living on earth that anyone could obtain Salvation. Young Micael Cano replied to this with:
“Well, you can’t prove where it doesn’t say that either.”
Sure I can, it’s easy. It’s not there because none of them ever said that. They all adamantly proclaimed that Salvation is only because Jesus was raised from the grave by God and is alive in heaven as our Great High Priest, and not because of them here on earth.
What concerns me the most is how both Micael and Jeziel (both members of the supposed “only true Christian church” and disciples of the supposed “apostle sent by God”) will go on and on and on at length in defending their “apostle” (even gathering bits and pieces of Scripture and applying LLDM’s very own twists on them), but both become shockingly inarticulate when asked to explain who Jesus is, what He did, and what He is doing today.
I suppose before trying to speak any more with these young men, I should ask both of you:
What do we use as the basis for deciphering truth? Do we use what the Bible says, the actual Scriptures themselves? Or do we use the interpretations and thoughts of Samuel Joaquin Flores?
May 1st, 2010 at 2:23 pm
“Your teaching is flawed, therefore; those that learn from it can’t live lives that fulfill God’s desires. And yes I call it your teaching, because that is how you interpret it.”
The fact that you cannot come to terms that what you believe is a hoax and your inability to take an objective view on Samuel Joaquin as a crooked man denotes how your teaching of the Bible is fundamentally flawed. If you were to gather all the Christians in this world and expose Colin’s argument with your argument, your view would be ridiculed by the majority for believing such a fantasy. Mainly, that your corrupted Samuel was sent by God as an apostle. That should be a show on the Sci Fi channel.
May 1st, 2010 at 11:21 am
The Lord through His Holy Spirit is just amazing! I say this because as I was reading a passage of Scripture that I have read many times over and a new and wonder insight came out of it.
I am referring to the passage of Scripture found in the Book of John chapter 4 where Jesus is talking with the Samaritan woman at the well. There are many insights that one can gain from Jesus’ interaction with the Samaritan woman, but what impressed me was what the crowd said to this woman at the end in verse 42.
“They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”
For the past number of days I have found myself mediating on this single verse and I am amazed by how the Lord gives to us His most powerful statements of truth regarding His glory for salvation in Him alone in the most simple and straight forward ways and with so few words, verse 42 is one such passage.
After the woman came to the realization that Jesus is the Messiah, that was foretold by the prophets, she ran back into town to tell everyone that she had seen and talked to “The Messiah” and on top of that she could lead them all to where he was that very moment! And that’s exactly what she did.
Now let’s take a moment to look at this Samaritan woman. She is lowly because she has no servant to bring her water and she is immoral because she has had 5 previous husbands and is, at the moment she meets Jesus, living with a man out of wedlock, she is a “woman”, and to top it off Jesus is willingly talking to a Samaritan which are a group of people that the Jews hated and thought of as lower than dogs.
This accounting has always been used to show how much Jesus came to bring salvation to not only the Jews, but to the whole world. But this is not what I was getting out of this accounting this time.
During all of this, where did Jesus send his disciples (future apostles) to go and get food? Jesus sent them into the same town that the Samaritan woman had just walked from to get the water from the well that Jesus was sitting by! It is just amazing that here Jesus’ disciples the very men who completely believed that Jesus is the Son of God and had witnessed miracles already by Him, were in the same town, for quite sometime, and never once thought of preaching the good news of Jesus the Messiah and that He was sitting at the towns well for all to come to and see!
At this time Jesus’ disciples are considered to be clean because they believe and have Jesus with them, right now here on earth. On all accounts it is the disciples of Jesus who should only have the authority to tell the Samaritans about Jesus and to be the official guides or path leaders to Jesus, not you think.
Well, this is what modern day apostles are teaching, preaching and want kyou to think that it is only through them as the official (clean) representatives of Jesus the Christ that mankind can come to Jesus by hearing only them speak the words of Jesus from the Bible and of themselves, as bing the “mouth of God.”
But no, who is it that brings the message of good news about the Messiah, and brings the Samaritans to Jesus, all while the clean-official disciples of Jesus are in the town, a lowly, immoral, Samaritan woman. Can you image that!
IT IS THIS JUST AMAZING, that Jesus the Messiah chooses to use this Samaritan woman to bring so many people to Himself, the Messiah, God in the flesh, at one time and does not use his own clean disciples!
To go back to the verse 42, let’s now read again what her fellow town’s people said to her.
“They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”
I ask you, did this lowly, immoral woman having any power to give to the message that she brought to her towns people? No, she did not have any power, but because she believed that Jesus is the Messiah she now had the authority to bring the message.
And how do we know that she had the authority, because Jesus would have stopped her from speaking when she left her water vessel at the well and ran back into town. Jesus knew she was going to become so excited about this revelation before all of this even happen, He’s God! He would have stopped her or even just avoided her all together.
In verse 42 John the apostle quoted exactly what the people said to her to confirm this: “now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” The people believed what she was telling them. She led them to Jesus and she step back letting Jesus the Messiah do his work which is to preach the Word of God the Father for salvation.
From that day to this present time, this is exactly what anyone of us lowly, sin born, mortal, filthy rages of humans are doing when by faith we believe that Jesus is the Lord and are saved. We all have the authority to speak His words and to lead others to His Word, the Holy Bible. For the Bible is the very words of Jesus, because He is GOD! It His words that will convict people of their sins and cause them ot look to Him for their salvation!
This is the message of the New Testament as brought to us by the Holy Spirit through Jesus’ original apostles and disciples. They all, without a doubt, declared that they are too, lowly, mortal, filthy rages of humans that in and of themselves are powerless for salvation, but it is the Message that was first brought by the Fathers Apostle, Jesus the Messiah, and which he brought to us, like the Samaritian woman, to then spread to all of the world. The message THAT SAVES US! Amen
And who is it, that to this very day, gives The Message its POWER? The author of it, the Word made flesh – Lord Jesus the Messiah!
April 30th, 2010 at 7:21 am
Colin,
Hallelujah and Amen!
Is not the truth of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit such sweat comfort? Knowing that the Father has predestined that there be Nothing that we can by our selves for salvation, expect for the one work – to believe in the One he has sent, the Lord Jesus the Messiah. What a wonder living God we have through Jesus (Yeshua)!
It is so sad to see that so many people, and not just LLDM members but the many in the RCC, Mormons, JW just to name a few, that understand that we of ourselves can not approach the Father without a mediator, but just can not see the truth that it is only through the The Lord Yeshua that anyone will have salvation.
Just as it was with the Pharisees, they needed to physically see with their eyes someone standing before them before such as it was with Israel when they cried to God to give them a early king. It saddened God to see that their hearts just could not look to Him alone and so it is to this very day. They just are not willing to submit themselves so that they too can receive the freely given gift of a truth faith from the Father that looks to the Lord Jesus alone as their King, Lord, Master and Savior.
All we can do is follow the Lords’ command to pray and pray and pray……..!
April 30th, 2010 at 12:30 am
This is an Amen to what Christopher wrote. Sometimes I ask myself why I spend so much time here refuting the false gospel of Samuel Joaquin. It is these times when the Holy Spirit reminds me gently that it is because of the love Christ has for all the innocent souls who are believing in his lies and not believing in the only true source of Salvation – The Living Lord Jesus Christ who right now, at this very moment is alive, sitting at the right hand of God the Father.
Regarding God’s official seal of approval on the Holy Bible, this is the rock on which the church – the Body of Christ is built.
When God raised Jesus from the grave in a glorious, immortal body – He gave proof to all mankind that what Jesus did on the cross was sufficient for the forgiveness of sins to all mankind.
From what I understand, LLDM teaches that Jesus was “Resurrected” in spirit only, and is not alive in bodily form today.
Let’s take a look at what this would mean if it were true:
If Jesus did not come out of the grave in an immortal body, then it means that the Son of the Living God can be killed forever by 3 nails, a hammer, and a wooden cross.
If Jesus is not alive today in an immortal heavenly body with the wounds still on His hands, feet and side from bearing the punishment of our sins, then it means that the Messiah – The Anointed One, The Christ who was prophesied to sit upon the throne of David as the King of an Eternal Kingdom is dead forever and rotting in the grave along with every other person from the past.
How will He sit upon the throne of David if He did not come out of the grave in bodily form?
“Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?”(Acts 26:8)
“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.”(1 Corinthians 15:17
The Lord Jesus Christ right now, at this very moment is alive, sitting at the right hand of God the Father. He is there to make intercession for all those who will put their faith in Him. You can do this today by believing in what the Scripture states – that He conquered death and satan and God raised Him from the dead as the seal of His approval for Christ’s redemptive work on the cross. He will send you the Holy Spirit if you put your faith in the Living Lord Jesus Christ today, and come to Him just as you are. When the Holy Spirit comes, He will teach, train, counsel, lead, love, comfort, guide, disciple, and live within you to produce the fruit of good works. This He will do by taking the things of Christ and making them real to you as you study on your own God’s testimony about Himself to mankind – the Holy Scriptures. The Spirit will pray with you and for you and the Christ will mediate for your sins to God and the accuser satan will no longer have any power over you.
“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”(Hebrews 7:25)
With the Love of Christ Jesus. Amen.
April 29th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
Like I said, there are billions of people in this world that say with their heart what Christ said to say. They lack the wholesome teaching of it though, therefore; they go about thinking that living the way the do is okay at long as they have accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. Your teaching is flawed, therefore; those that learn from it can’t live lives that fulfill God’s desires. And yes I call it your teaching, because that is how you interpret it. And as far as I know, you are not an Apostle who God has called to interpret his Holy Scriptures.
Now, in Paul’s 2nd letter to the Corinthians, Paul warns about people who come and claim to be apostles (2 Corinthians 11:1-15). In Revelation (I chuckled a little bit when you said you know what’s in “Revelations” because there is no book called “Revelations” in the Bible – It’s Revelation, singular – the Revelation of Jesus Christ), but in Revelation, Christ’s letter to the church in Ephesus instructs all believers to test those who claim to be apostles (Revelation 2:2), if they wish to be commended by Christ.
I admire your humorous attitude in engaging in conversations about God. However, when you are facing more tasks than you can handle, you get in a hurry in the things that you do. If adding an ‘s’ to a word that shouldn’t have an ‘s’ makes you chuckle, I wonder if you’re serious at all in what you say.
In 1964 a man named Samuel Joaquin claimed that he is an apostle, and that all people must believe in his apostleship if they want any hope of reaching Jesus Christ.
The only reason you have to admit that you believe that he is an Apostle is part of the fact that he is baptizing you in the Name of Jesus Christ. Why would you do something that you don’t believe in the first place? It’s called hypocrisy. God despises hypocrisy, and for that fact, you have to admit that you believe that Apostle Samuel has been given the Authority to baptize in the Name of Jesus Christ. If this was in the Paul’s time, no, you would not have to do that. There was no reason to have to admit that you believed in an Apostle to be baptized. Apostles were a normal thing to know about in the time Christ inhabited in this world. However, many and many years later, God has yet called upon to this world. And, that is something you can’t believe, therefore, yes you have to first believe that he even has the authority to do so.
Can you show me any passages in the writings of Paul, Peter, John, Matthew, Mark, Luke, James, or Jude where they say that we must believe in them in order to reach Jesus Christ? Can you show me anywhere where they say it is only because of them living on earth that people can obtain Salvation through Jesus Christ?
Well, you can’t prove where it doesn’t say that either. However, you can prove where Apostles said themselves said that they wish they could do something to save other people. Paul, wanting to save his Jewish relatives, wished he could do something to do so. However, you can’t control a hard heart, only God can. And as far as I know, God appointed Apostle’s for his CHURCH. Who are you if not an APOSTLE? And something you should also keep in mind, God never left the Israelites alone when he called them. God gave them victories and many prophets. There wasn’t a time when God left them without a prophet. What makes you think God can’t be the same still? Or is it you’re Pharisee instincts that want to convict someone?
Author: ColinWell, this is true, and since the Holy Spirit is the real author of all of Scripture, then it’s only by the Holy Spirit making it come alive for you that it begins to have meaning. I would say that you Jeziel are the one who is degrading the Word of God down to just some ink lettering on pieces of paper.
Again, I doubt you believe in receiving the Holy Spirit, as the Church believes and can prove through scripture. I’m degrading God because I don’t want to compare God’s living words to a book that anyone can mess with and change. As a matter of fact, it’s done today if you haven’t already heard or read of it yet. Apparently, the Watchtower has created a new edited version of the bible, confirming with everything that they believe in. I’m not all sure what that was about, but it beats your idea of me degrading the Word of God. I love the bible, don’t get me wrong. But you can’t truly understand it without the interpretation of someone sent by God. I don’t know anyone in the bible who wasn’t sent by God. And the people in their time believed it with their hearts because God’s guidance through Apostles was there to allow them. I know the bible better now because I’ve learned to understand it through a chosen of God. You don’t believe that, but that’s okay, no one believed Christ was Christ. It took death and resurrection to finally sink in. I would hope not to wait for that point.
“That is very sad for me to hear. You equate the Bible to a pagan idol?”
Research a little history of where the Bible came from. Do you know how many rulers in this world have tried to destroy the Bible? In communist Russia, people could be killed just for owning a Bible. Emperors and kings throughout history have tried to burn all Scriptures and destroy them to stop them from circulating. Even today in some places (like Burma, and Turkey, for example) people get killed just for reading or owning a Bible.
And you know what? What good did all that do? If all these people, whom the world calls Christian’s, fought and killed to do what they call good, what point was there in it? This is another reason why there are so many atheists. They killed and killed just because they believed it was the Christian thing to do, the way to preserve God’s word. Yet, they couldn’t live off something they were fighting for. Obviously, they wouldn’t be killing if it was the so reason they lived for. Now, this is why atheist are always trying to get rid of anything that has to do with God. What good is God if the people who worship God are the reason there is so much war? However, the Light of the World doesn’t advocate any type of violence to preserve his word. God has the power himself to do so. And when someone is knocking on my door ready to kill me for believing in God, Christ, or any Apostle, I am ready to fall down and die as a martyr, with a nonviolent response. I wish you could truly understand the bible, and not see it as a pagan idol. Anyhow, to make this clearer to you, chances are that I don’t believe the bible is a pagan idol. And that was my point in writing that was to portray to you the way I see that you understand the bible.
God Bless You
Author: ColinWell, this is true, and since the Holy Spirit is the real author of all of Scripture, then it’s only by the Holy Spirit making it come alive for you that it begins to have meaning. I would say that you Jeziel are the one who is degrading the Word of God down to just some ink lettering on pieces of paper.
Again, I doubt you believe in receiving the Holy Spirit, as the Church believes and can prove through scripture. I’m degrading God because I don’t want to compare God’s living words to a book that anyone can mess with and change. As a matter of fact, it’s done today if you haven’t already heard or read of it yet. Apparently, the Watchtower has created a new edited version of the bible, confirming with everything that they believe in. I’m not all sure what that was about, but it beats your idea of me degrading the Word of God. I love the bible, don’t get me wrong. But you can’t truly understand it without the interpretation of someone sent by God. I don’t know anyone in the bible who wasn’t sent by God. And the people in their time believed it with their hearts because God’s guidance through Apostles was there to allow them. I know the bible better now because I’ve learned to understand it through a chosen of God. You don’t believe that, but that’s okay, no one believed Christ was Christ. It took death and resurrection to finally sink in. I would hope not to wait for that point.
“That is very sad for me to hear. You equate the Bible to a pagan idol?”
Research a little history of where the Bible came from. Do you know how many rulers in this world have tried to destroy the Bible? In communist Russia, people could be killed just for owning a Bible. Emperors and kings throughout history have tried to burn all Scriptures and destroy them to stop them from circulating. Even today in some places (like Burma, and Turkey, for example) people get killed just for reading or owning a Bible.
And you know what? What good did all that do? If all these people, whom the world calls Christian’s, fought and killed to do what they call good, what point was there in it? This is another reason why there are so many atheists. They killed and killed just because they believed it was the Christian thing to do, the way to preserve God’s word. Yet, they couldn’t live off something they were fighting for. Obviously, they wouldn’t be killing if it was the so reason they lived for. Now, this is why atheist are always trying to get rid of anything that has to do with God. What good is God if the people who worship God are the reason there is so much war? However, the Light of the World doesn’t advocate any type of violence to preserve his word. God has the power himself to do so. And when someone is knocking on my door ready to kill me for believing in God, Christ, or any Apostle, I am ready to fall down and die as a martyr, with a nonviolent response. I wish you could truly understand the bible, and not see it as a pagan idol. Anyhow, to make this clearer to you, chances are that I don’t believe the bible is a pagan idol. And that was my point in writing that was to portray to you the way I see that you understand the bible.
God Bless You
April 29th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
There’s been a question that’s been avoided here by Jeziel, which is hands down the most important things the Bible teaches. Before going on with this discussion, I think it’s important to ask again.
Who is Jesus? “He is the Son of God” is too simple an answer. Although that’s true, it doesn’t fully answer the question. What does that mean? Is Jesus God? Is the Son of God a created being, or is He eternal and uncreated?
What do these Scriptures tell you about Jesus?
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”(John 1:1-3)
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”(John 1:14)
“But about the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever,
and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.”(Hebrews 1:8)
“”I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”"(John 8:58)
April 29th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
Micael Cano,
You say:
“They know what power and authority was within them. They knew that they had the power to bring, those people who wanted to be saved, to salvation which Christ promised. I’ve proved that in scripture before.”
The Biblical Apostles never claimed to have any power and authority in them. Where do any of them claim that in Scripture? Christ lived in them by The Holy Spirit, in the same way He lives in all believers. It’s Christ who has all the power and authority, not Paul or Peter or anyone else.
In regards to the testimony about this Pentecostal minister – the problem is still the same. It is still just based on what a person feels and believes in their heart, and not based on the Scriptures. It doesn’t matter if a person feels and believes in their hearts that salvation is through Samuel Joaquin, such a belief contradicts what God has already declared in the Bible and therefore it is not the truth. It is not necessary to believe in anyone for salvation except for the One and Only Mediator between man and God – The Lord Jesus Christ.
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,”(1 Timothy 2:5).
Respectfully, I do not base truth on what I feel in my heart, I base it on the Bible. The Bible is truth, and no lie comes from it, therefore anything that contradicts the Bible (as with someone claiming I must believe in samuel joaquin for salvation) – then it is not the truth, but a lie born from hell.
A lot of people in the world today have this idea that if you believe in something strongly enough, if you sincerely feel in your heart that it’s true, then it is true. If you follow this idea through to it’s logical conclusion, it is utterly ridiculous. Oscar believes that black is white, but I believe that black is black. Even if we both sincerely feel and believe in our hearts that we are right, we cannot both be correct. Because if it’s true that black is black, then black cannot be white no matter how much he believes it is. I don’t know how to make it any clearer than that – what you believe and feel in your heart has absolutely no bearing on the truth.
Truth only comes from the Word of God – the Holy Bible. Amen.
April 29th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Judging from the drastic improvement in Jeziel’s grammar, a 16 year old, one can easily infer that the person you guys are dialoguing now is no one else but an older Granados relative. I find it interesting how this new argument just keeps going in loopholes, the more “Jeziel” writes, the more he is confused. In the end, the reason he believes
that Samuel is a true apostle sent by God is simply that he “believes” it.
In that case, I believe Black is White. Everyone knows it is not, but I “believe” it and I am right.
April 29th, 2010 at 11:32 am
Colin,
God’s blessing to you and very well said regarding how to this very day Christians around the world, this very moment in fact, are being imprisoned and worse put to death just for the fact that they have even a few pages of Scripture with them! And I thank you for your Amen(s), for all is in the Lord the Messiah Jesus and of the Holy Spirit.
April 29th, 2010 at 11:25 am
Jeziel,
I have already commended you for your steadfastness in your belief that we need a man here on earth for forgiveness of sins and salvation, and I still continue to commend you. And it is very clear that you believe the message brought, by first Aaron and now continued by Samuel, is from God even though it is a message that does not match the words of God as found in the Scriptures.
You have presented a very strong argument as to way it is necessary not to believe that the Bible, God’s testimony to mankind, is not alive. For as long as you believe that it is not the living testimony of the Word, the Lord Jesus, paves the way for you to only look to Samuel Joaquin for your salvation according to what he is telling you rather than from God’s Word. For God’s Word and testimony declares for man to believe in and have faith in only one living Man, the Messiah Jesus, and does not instructed man to go through anyone else anymore such as it was in the times of the Hebrew temple high priests before the Messiahs ascension into heaven.
The Lord Jesus is the only direct mediator between man and God the Father (Hebrews) that we have. Since the Messiah’s perfect sacrifice on the cross, the Lord Jesus is now the only true and perfect mediator for us to approach the Father in spirit and we will never have need of a earth man, such as Samuel, to be our high priest. This is the role that he has declared for himself even though he declares himself to be an apostle, he is acting as a high priest just as it was with the Hebrew high priest doing the life of the Messiah. But they were of but shadows of the one true High Priest to come(Hebrews 1), the Lord Jesus.
The apostle Paul speaks of men who taught and spoke of the gospel of Jesus and of salvation through Jesus, even though they spoke of the Messiah in order to make money for themselves and to have high status. Paul said, fine let them and to leave them alone just so long as they are preaching the truth. Their hearts are corrupt, but the message is true.
Well this is not the case with Samuel Joaquin. Samuel is not preaching the truth. He is preaching a gospel that makes him the supreme fleshly earth force behind salvation. This gospel of Samuel is causing many thousands of innocent people, including you, to look to him and not to Jesus the Messiah for salvation.
This would be like a mailman telling you to respect him and treat him as the President of the United States just because he is delivering a letter to you from the President. And because you believe him you treat him as the President based on the him telling you that this letter he brings as no power to it, even though it has the official Presidential Seal and the President’s signature on it.
God the Father has put his official seal and signature on His Word, the Bible, and He did this the moment He raised the Messiah from the grave, not in spirit only, or in a mortal earthly body but an immortal perfect body! The Lord Jesus’ resurrection is God the Father’s seal of proof and approval that everything Jesus declared of Him as being God in the flesh is true and He is the only way for salvation.
(John 4:16) – “I am the way, the truth, and the life. On one come to the Father but through me.”
This is why Samuel teaches that Jesus is only spirit in heaven and not what Hebrews teaches that the Lord Jesus is flesh in heaven. This is the only way the Samuel can convince anyone that he, in the flesh, has the power of forgiveness of sins, salvation and is the mediator between man and God, and this is not the true gospel of salvation.
Please understand that these words come to you out of love a love that my Master Jesus’ has for you and for all like yourself that are not living by a true faith. He so desires that you will come to him and him alone for salvation. He is all that we need. Amen
April 29th, 2010 at 11:19 am
I just want to post one more thing for everyone here, but based on Jeziel’s last comments.
Jeziel said:
“As far as I know, a paper with words is neither living nor active. A book with words means nothing till the author brings meaning through message.”
Well, this is true, and since the Holy Spirit is the real author of all of Scripture, then it’s only by the Holy Spirit making it come alive for you that it begins to have meaning. I would say that you Jeziel are the one who is degrading the Word of God down to just some ink lettering on pieces of paper.
Jeziel says:
“THIS REMIND ME of the idolatrous people, who believe a concrete sculpture of a portrayed virgin woman, whom is believed to be spiritually powerful. How easy it will be for God to destroy these material things.”
That is very sad for me to hear. You equate the Bible to a pagan idol?
Research a little history of where the Bible came from. Do you know how many rulers in this world have tried to destroy the Bible? In communist Russia, people could be killed just for owning a Bible. Emperors and kings throughout history have tried to burn all Scriptures and destroy them to stop them from circulating. Even today in some places (like Burma, and Turkey, for example) people get killed just for reading or owning a Bible.
But God preserved his Word to this very day. The simple fact that we have a Bible today is a miracle of God. God says “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”(Matthew 24:35)
April 29th, 2010 at 10:02 am
Jeziel,
Now, in regards to the Word of God – you imply that we are idolaters for believing that Scripture is the sole means for training in righteousness. And you claim that by reading alone, we will not be able to understand, so we must hear the message from Samuel Joaquin or those under him. Do you realize that this contradicts the Scriptures?
“In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,”(Ephesians 3:4)
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,”(2 Timothy 3:16)
April 29th, 2010 at 9:55 am
Jeziel,
If a person confesses Jesus with their mouth, but they go on continually sinning – they did not believe in their heart. They were never born again to begin with. They were honoring Jesus with their lips, but their hearts were far from Him.
Now, in Paul’s 2nd letter to the Corinthians, Paul warns about people who come and claim to be apostles (2 Corinthians 11:1-15). In Revelation (I chuckled a little bit when you said you know what’s in “Revelations” because there is no book called “Revelations” in the Bible – It’s Revelation, singular – the Revelation of Jesus Christ), but in Revelation, Christ’s letter to the church in Ephesus instructs all believers to test those who claim to be apostles (Revelation 2:2), if they wish to be commended by Christ.
In 1964 a man named Samuel Joaquin claimed that he is an apostle, and that all people must believe in his apostleship if they want any hope of reaching Jesus Christ.
Well, remembering Paul’s warning and in keeping with Christ’s instructions, let’s put his claim to the test. I’ve already shown on this blog and in private emails with you, Jeziel, how Samuel doesn’t meet the Biblical requirements for an Apostle. But, let’s put it to a more simple test this time – Can you show me any passages in the writings of Paul, Peter, John, Matthew, Mark, Luke, James, or Jude where they say that we must believe in them in order to reach Jesus Christ? Can you show me anywhere where they say it is only because of them living on earth that people can obtain Salvation through Jesus Christ?
April 29th, 2010 at 9:33 am
All of the Apostles knew that Christ was the only who could save us. That is the reason he died on the cross for. They knew for what reason they were chosen. They know what power and authority was within them. They knew that they had the power to bring, those people who wanted to be saved, to salvation which Christ promised. I’ve proved that in scripture before. Anyhow, I wish you could make you understand what it means to be lead to salvation. But, I can’t force you to believe the TRUTH that we believe in. I can only hope that you will see the scriptures and not see self domination. I can’t make you believe in Apostle Samuel either, only your heart can allow you to believe. I would like to share this testimony with you. There’s this testimony that goes around about a Pentecostal pastor. There was a Pentecostal pastor that said he didn’t believe in the Apostle, and he wanted to confront the Apostle himself. He said before he was going to confront him, “If he is an Apostle God will allow me to feel that in my heart when I confront him.” I’m not clear about the whole story, but the Apostle knew he was going to be confronted. And not planning to present himself, he knowingly presented himself to this pastor in hopes that the Lord would find favor of him. And Glory to Christ, this man was filled with an unexplained joy around the Apostle. If I’m not mistaking, he had received the Holy Spirit. But then again, only your heart will allow you to believe in him. I can’t coerce you to anything, nor should you. H God Bless YOU
April 29th, 2010 at 9:31 am
COLIN:
God was teaching Peter and the other men with him that God’s Salvation through Jesus Christ is not just for the Jews but for all people – Jews AND Gentiles. Remember, God lowered that sheet with all kinds of animals on it and said “Rise Peter! Kill and eat” and Peter said “not so Lord for this is unclean.” 3 times this happened, and then God said “do not call anything unclean that God has made clean.” This happened just before Peter was sent to Cornelius to show him (Peter) that Christ’s work on the cross – washing clean the sins of mankind – is available for all people, Gentiles AND Jews.
Acts 10:43-Onward
34 Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. 35 In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. 36 This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. 38 And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
39 “And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, 41 not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. 43 He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”
44 Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. 45 The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter asked, 47 “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” 48 So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.
Of course salvation is available for all people. This is the very same message the Apostle Samuel has been giving since the beginning. But because Apostle Samuel holds a special title called “APOSTLE”, it’s hard for many to believe anything that he says, just for the fact that they can’t believe he is an Apostle. Apostle Samuel has never said that salvation isn’t for everyone. If that were so, there is not meaning to why Apostle Samuel would be spreading that very same message Peter is making to different continents of this world. The idea is that not everyone is willing to be lead to salvation. In fact, I know that anyone in this world can be saved, but how many are willing to follow the guidelines God gave to obtain salvation. It’s hard for you to believe that you would have to do anything at all to obtain salvation. Now, I’m not saying that we can do something to buy or gain salvation. We can’t do anything in this world to say I bought my salvation. However, there are guidelines that God sets through his Apostle’s that lead to salvation. These guidelines are the very question that are questioned by bigtime atheist today. “WHY DOESN’T GOD COMMAND THAT YOU SHALL NOT RAPE?” If you have not seen Bill Maher’s “Religious” documentation, you don’t realize the importance of how high God’s guidelines should be. Yes, there are those Christians that say everyone is going to heaven. Yet, atheists question that idea for the idea of rapist going to heaven. This is where the Church might say, NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO HEAVEN JUST BECAUSE YOU MIGHT SAY, “Oh, I believe Christ is my savior. And yes I rape people.” Then, you will say we are wrong because we say that someone who is a rapist is not going to heaven, or perhaps someone that doesn’t follow a moral guideline God might give through his chosen. And yes, we are blessed because we have those guidelines. The guidelines that tell you SHALL NOT RAPE, or perhaps you shouldn’t KILL. And the same way God gave guidelines to the people through Peter, he has given us that message through APOSTLE SAMUEL. It’s quite interesting too how he gave orders to baptized the in the NAME OF Jesus CHIRST.
I do realize how dangerous it is to leave out parts of the bible. Do you realize how dangerous it is to try and refute one that God has sent? Do you realize that as long as God’s messengers are good with God, you can never triumph over them? I know what is in Revelations, and if I have ever left a verse out, it is for a simple reason, and not a reason to deny what is said.
COLIN:
Well, how can they find the Word of God if they are not reading it? You saying that the Bible is not alive just proves that you are in the famine, because you are not reading it yourself every day either. “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”(Hebrews 4:12)
Yes, the word of God is living and active. How can a piece of paper manufactured in a factory have any power? Are you degrading the word of God down to a piece of meaningless paper with inked lettering? If I was to give you my word, would I be giving you a paper with words? The word of God is living and active and it’s not talking about any paper or letters that make up words. It’s talking about God given word, which is the way of life. And as long as God’s reps appear in this world, it will appear to those that believe in him as living and active. If I believe God’s word is living and active, it is not because I woke up one day and decided to believe that. God’s word entered my heart through a message. A message brought by an APOSTLE. And through that message, I believe that God’s WORD is living and active. As far as I know, a paper with words is neither living nor active. A book with words means nothing till the author brings meaning through message. THIS REMIND ME of the idolatrous people, who believe a concrete sculpture of a portrayed virgin woman, whom is believed to be spiritually powerful. How easy it will be for God to destroy these material things.
Romans 10
1 Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.
5 For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. 6 But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven’. 7 And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead’ .” 8 In fact, it says,
“The message is very close at hand;
it is on your lips and in your heart.”
And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: 9 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. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”[e] 12 Jew and Gentile[f] are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[g]
14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”[h]
16 But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?”[i] 17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. 18 But I ask, have the people of Israel actually heard the message? Yes, they have:
“The message has gone throughout the earth,
and the words to all the world.”[j]
19 But I ask, did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God said,
“I will rouse your jealousy through people who are not even a nation.
I will provoke your anger through the foolish Gentiles.”[k]
20 And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God, saying,
“I was found by people who were not looking for me.
I showed myself to those who were not asking for me.”[l]
21 But regarding Israel, God said,
“All day long I opened my arms to them,
but they were disobedient and rebellious.”
It’s exactly what we say, but when God sets guidelines, not everyone wants in. Kind of like Israel running around wandering all over, unsure if they even wanted that promised land of honey and milk after all. And most congregations that I’ve heard of use this chapter to confirm everyone’s spot in heaven; YOU use it how YOU want to. We use it to say it is true, but there’s more to what Christ taught. Christ said this, but he also said many other things that confirm with what he said here. His apostle’s taught things that would get you thinking as well.
I know exactly what the general people say about this text. “Look! Christ said if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, you will be saved.” Christ wasn’t wrong in what he said, nor are his apostles who delivered his message even more. Christ is right, but he continued to deliver his message on what he said through his apostles. When people read that text, they say, “Everyone is going to heaven. All you have to do is do that and you are saved.” Then when you began to talk to them about what they say, we might ask if that means everyone. Does that mean a drunkard? What about an adulterer? Or a molester? Or a crack addict? Now, I am totally not trying to degrade these people. I would love for any of these types of people to give up their lives for Christ and repent from their sins. Anyway, when you ask them about all these people, they say, “Well, of course, at long as they confessed they are still saved.” I was mesmerized when I heard that reply. What kind of God are you allegedly worshipping? One that deserves to served a bowl of sewer water for soup? That’s the kind of idea I get when someone might say that a sinful person will inherit God’s kingdom.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
9 Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, 10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Paul goes about continuing to teach. By that I mean, he is continuing what Christ started. In the beginning, Christ said “9 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.” Well, Paul continues to pretty much read the will that he has left. Yes, anyone who does that will be saved! However, it’s different when you do something and you do something else contradicting. You can’t say ‘I believe in Christ’, and expect to leave for a club where you will find the greatest beer out there. It’s like me saying I hate a particular music artist, and I listen to that artist all the time for enjoyment. Therefore, you can’t just look at Romans 9. You must continue to read what Christ had to say completely about the subject of salvation, and that means read what his apostle’s had to say too, because Christ spoke through them as well.
That brings me to exclaim how mixed up and twisted the word of God has become. The bible warned us beforehand about those that twist the Word of God. And everyone wants to say that that text is for us, and that we are twisting the Word of God. Ignorance is the reason for that. We are not twisting the Word of God. It is the simplicity of an Apostle’s interpretation. It is the mere voice of God today that has brightened up the pillar of truth.
2 Peter 3:15-16
15 And remember, the Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—16 speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.
So I talk about being saved and twisting the truth because those are the two main conflicts that people find with us. We believe that an Apostle can fulfill salvation. And obviously Paul believed that he could fulfill salvation as well. But don’t get me wrong, Paul or any other apostle did not pay for our salvation. Christ paid for our salvation. And to fulfill that salvation, he appointed apostles first. However, once again I say, Christ paid for our salvation.
Romans 11:13-14
13 I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this, 14 for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them.
1 Corinthians 9:22-23
2 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.
This brings me with the conclusion. Jesus Christ said in Romans in the beginning what he said, but his Apostles also brought a message. And both combine bringing up the attention of Guidelines. Christ said for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Apostle Paul says, “Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves.” So the argument that this creates for both of is the fact that not everyone is going to heaven, because anyone can confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart that God raised him from the dead. And Jesus knew this, that is why he sent through his message, what he sent through Paul. Now my question is, HOW LONG WILL YOU REMAIN DISOBEDIENT AND REBELLIOUS?
April 28th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Amen, Christopher.
It is an amazing thing to think about really. The Biblical Apostles, and all the prophets of the Old Testament are all dead; but they are all still working for Christ to this very day. Their reputations of suffering for God, and the works that they left behind down here (The Holy Scriptures) have still been pointing the way to God through Christ for centuries.
To Lluvia,
I respect everyone’s right to choose, but I also agree with Christopher that anyone who chooses to not accept the Bible as the complete testimony of God, they are turning their back on God and making Him out to be a liar. It is not my intention to convince or convert anyone, only to speak the truth. The Holy Spirit does all of the convincing and converting.
Now, I don’t make any claim to be perfect, and if someone wants to disagree with me I don’t have any problem with that. But I will ask them to back it up and support it with Scripture. The problem is that there are no Scriptures to support the claim that Salvation is through an apostle on earth.
I realize that you do believe in your heart that Samuel Joaquin is an apostle of God and that by believing in his claims that you will find salvation. The problem is what a person believes in their hearts has no bearing on the truth, so if you can – please show me some Scriptures to support that.
Now, Lluvia in regards to believing something your heart and using that as the measure of what is and isn’t true, this is very dangerous.
For example: I could believe in my heart strongly that gravity does not exist. I could write a bill and give an empassioned speach to congress and convince them to agree that gravity does not exist. They could get the president to sign it, and officially there could be a law on the books declaring that gravity does not exist. But then, if we all go up to the top of the Washington monument and jump off, what will happen? We will splatter. Even if we truly are convinced and believe with all our hearts that there is not gravity, it doesn’t change the fact that gravity exists.
In the same way – we could all believe and be fully convinced in our hearts that Salvation is through Samuel Joaquin. That won’t change the fact that God has already declared in His Word that Salvation is only through His Son Jesus, the Christ.
I encourage you to begin reading and studying your Bible every day, 1 chapter at a time. You believe in Samuel Joaquin in your heart – now, study God’s Word for yourself and see if God agrees with you.
April 28th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Jeziel and to all members of LLDM,
With regards to hearing the word of God, this problem can be easily corrected just by reading the Holy Scriptures out loud either to yourself or by having someone else read out loud to you, or even to listen to the Bible on CD, or in MP3s downloaded from the internet. In anyone of the these methods you are “Hearing” the word of God.
Here is an interesting fact:
The original Apostle John did not write the “Gospel of John” until around the year 95 a.d. For sixty years after the ascension of the Messiah into heaven, John spoke the words of truth to be heard by all who were willing to hear the message. So yes, at this moment in time, faith came by hearing the word of God from the mouth. Although, also at this time all of other gospels and letters being read to many other congregation through out the known world such as in Corinth, Ephesus, and Galatia that came from Paul, Peter, James, Mark, Matthew, Dr. Luke, and Jude not to even mention the Scriptures of the Old Testament that Paul was telling Timothy (2 Tim 3:16) about for righteousness, which also means salvation in the Greek, where already out there in the world declaring the Glory of Jesus, the Messiah for salvation in Him!
In this year of 95 a.d., John was very active in fighting against a heretical (false teaching) group call the Gnostics who taught that Jesus was not really in the flesh and that the man Jesus that alive 60 years before was only a fleshly vessel for the Spirit of Christ to come into and perform its ministry for 3 years only to leave the dead body of the man Jesus and return back to heaven to continue to be God.
So in other words – Jesus was not God in the flesh here on earth and he did not ascend into heaven in the perfect immortal flesh to be with God the Father in heaven. To this very day, they still teach that mankind will not receive forgiveness of sins unless they come into the Gnostic teaching to learn of the “mysteries” that only they know of, and can not be found in the “Bible”, and without this “special” knowledge no one can be saved.
John was already 90 plus years old during this time and knew that he was the last of the apostles of Jesus and an eye-witness of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and ascension into heaven and it can be surmised that John was thinking that once he to passed from this world there would no longer be an official eye-witness testimony of the life of Jesus the Messiah to counter all of the false teaching of the Gnostics.
So with is great concern he was lead by the Holy Spirit to write his “eye-witness” account and testimony of the message for salvation through the living word of God – the Messiah – Jesus the word of God in the Flesh. This testimony is the “Gospel of John” and is supported by his earlier written letters in the 1st , 2nd and 3rd letters of John, and of course to be concluded with the Lord Jesus’ own revelation to man through John in the book of “Revelation” of ‘things to come and must surely come to pass.’
The Holy Spirit was so strong against this Gnostic false teaching, and still is to this day, that the Spirit had John start his testimony with –
(John 1:1,2) – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.”
And to declare for all of the world to know beyond a shadow of doubt that Jesus – the Messiah – the Word in human form, the Spirit had John write this perfectly clear statement.
(John 1:14) – “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Does the Scripture say that the Word come into flesh? NO! “The Word became flesh…”
Here is an analogy that is very holds true. In the area of law it is very common that a witness be interviewed and the interview to be recorded in writing by a court appointed recorder to be an official record of that witness’s testimony only to be read out loud during a future trial and while the testimony is being read out loud, the court conceders it as if the witness is actually there in the court room giving their testimony. It is of no consequence that the words are not in fact coming out the witness’s mouth for the words they spoke before and were recorded in written form have the same legal standing.
And so it is with all of Scripture, rather it is from a prophet recording what the Lord is was saying to them, or from an eye-witness to the life, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension, and glory of God in the flesh – the Lord Jesus, the Messiah. All Scripture is the Word’s testimony. And again, who is the Word, the Lord and Messiah Jesus. Amen
To be very frank, but loving, I say to anyone who does not believe the Holy Scripture, the Bible, as the official written testimony of God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, is turning their back on God and is declaring Him a lair.
Because, like in the above court analogy when you read out loud the Scriptures you are in fact surrendering your mouth and voice and heart over to the Word and you are speaking God’s very testimony! Amen
April 28th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
look.it doesnt help any of us to jus force our beliefs onto each other. we cant convert each other, or change each others thoughts.
all im trying to say is that i thought that it was not right for oscar to post this article. its what we believe, and i stay true to my beliefs. i truly think that the place im in will give me salvation for my soul.
like it says in 1timothy 2:14.
i believe that im in the truth. because i have felt in my heart that samuel is a true apostol go god.
thanks
April 28th, 2010 at 10:48 am
Jeziel,
I want to add one more thought here. Every human that has lived, is alive, and will be born is marked with the sign of which they belong to. Every one is born in to the nature of Adam, or the sin nature, and is automatically marked with the sign of the flesh. Of course the Master Jesus has taught that he holds all children in his hands and so he continues to do so until a child comes of an age when they, in their spirit, now understand the difference between the world of the flesh and the Spirit world of God.
It is at that moment, and frankly no one can know when that time is, that the mark of the flesh is held against them. But once they hear the message of salvation, the good news of redemption and believe in their heart that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:8-13) they are saved and a new mark, the Holy Spirit, is now on them (Eph 1:13,14). The old mark is not just covered up but is completely wipe away as if it never was there! Amen
Here is my point, anyone who comes to hear a message that causes them to place their faith in anyone else other then in the Messiah Jesus for your salvation, the mark of the flesh will not be wipe clean from them and that faith in the Messiah has to be 100%. Even to have a 99% faith is to fail and they are only covering up the original mark of sin with another mark, the mark of the one in who you have placed your faith in. With the Master Jesus it is “All or Nothing”!
So no matter how clean this new covering mark looks or seems, the original mark of sin is still there and on the Day of Judgment from the Lord all who have the mark of the world will be held accountable and judged accordingly.
This is all declared in Love through the Master Jesus the Messiah.
April 28th, 2010 at 10:22 am
Jeziel,
I do commend you for your strong convictions in your faith as is evidenced by your willingness in taking time to post Scripture that you believe supports your faith in the requirement that the Lord Jesus the Christ needs a man on earth in order that sinners can receive salvation.
I am sure your Master, Samuel Joaquin, would be very proud of your steadfastness and in fact I would not at all be surprised if he himself is tracking this blog or at the very least one of his disciples.
I hope you can appreciate as well that we look only to the living God – the Lord Jesus the Messiah, as our only Master and we have taken it to your hearts and souls to declare to all that there is only one Master in which we need to believe in order to receive salvation, the Lord Jesus the Messiah, for this is what the Scriptures teaches.
Like I stated, I commend you for your steadfastness because it is not our job to convince any one of anything, but to present the facts as the Holy Spirit guides us to do by using the only authority of salvation – the Holy Scriptures, as declared in (2 Timothy 3:16) for we are servants of the only Master for salvation here on earth, the Messiah Jesus.
I would like to comment though on one of the passages that you citied regard Peter’s visit to the house of Cornelius. I am bringing this chapter up because this accounting is the most widely used by LLDM to support the teaching that only an Apostle, or those under him, can bring the salvation.
First, I like to ask you a question. Have you read chapter 10 of Acts in its entirety? And if so, have you read the first part of chapter 11 as well? I am asking you about chapter 11 because in this chapter is Dr. Luke’s has recorded of what Peter was telling of what happened to Cornelius and his family to the congregation in Jerusalem.
I have read and re-read these chapters many times over that 7 years and for the life of me I can not get from these words of God where or when Peter even suggests that it is because of him and him physically going to Cornelius’s house that Cornelius and his family are saved. In the world of literature there is a rule and it states – “what the author plainly wrote is what they plainly meant.”
In chapter 11 verse 18 Dr. Luke recorded, as an eye witness, of what the other Apostles in Jerusalem thought after Peter recounted the whole experience of bring in the Message of salvation to a Gentile family for the first time after the Lord revealed to him that all men are clean under God.
“When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”
Peter as well the other Apostles declared that God so loved the world that the Message of Salvation is what grants, “even the Gentiles” the right to receive the free gift of grace through the forgiveness of sins from God the Father. The power of the message is not in the messenger, it is in the Lord and Savior Jesus the Messiah for He is the One, the messenger that has the authority for the forgiveness of sins!
His authority is so complete and powerful that just by His name alone through the Message we are saved! Amen.
Paul – (Ephesians 1:13-14) – “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession.”
John – (Acts 4:12) – “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
April 28th, 2010 at 10:19 am
You read the whole thing, Jeziel?
Then why do you make swiss cheese out of passages when you post them here? You post only the parts you like, and cut out everything else. Why did you cut a whole portion out of Acts 10 and 11? In the true context of that passage, God is teaching Peter something. Cornelius was a righteous man, and his prayers were accepted by God already. What was he missing? He didn’t know about what Jesus had done for mankind. Peter was sent to bring the message, and Acts 10 & 11 make it clear that it is the MESSAGE that has the power of Salvation, not Peter. “He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’ “(Acts 11:14)
through the message Cornelius was saved, NOT because of Simon Peter but because of the MESSAGE.
God was teaching Peter and the other men with him that God’s Salvation through Jesus Christ is not just for the Jews but for all people – Jews AND Gentiles. Remember, God lowered that sheet with all kinds of animals on it and said “Rise Peter! Kill and eat” and Peter said “not so Lord for this is unclean.” 3 times this happened, and then God said “do not call anything unclean that God has made clean.” This happened just before Peter was sent to Cornelius to show him (Peter) that Christ’s work on the cross – washing clean the sins of mankind – is available for all people, Gentiles AND Jews.
Peter said.
“I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.”(Acts 10:34-35)
In chapter 11, Peter has to go and explain his actions to the others. Some people were upset that Peter had gone among the Gentiles to preach the Gospel. But when Peter explained his actions, the other Jews praised God saying “”So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”(Acts 11:18)
Now, why would you make swiss cheese out of this passage, and leave these things out, Jeziel? Do you realize that God did not give the Bible in chapters and verses? So when you take out sections and use only the parts you like, you are not using it as God intended. You should take it as it is, Jeziel – why remove sections? Don’t you know how dangerous that is?
“And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”(Revelation 22:19)
As I said, yes everybody has the Bible, but how many are reading it?
Well, how can they find the Word of God if they are not reading it? You saying that the Bible is not alive just proves that you are in the famine, because you are not reading it yourself every day either. “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”(Hebrews 4:12)
As I have repeated to you again and again and again – Romans 10 is speaking about Israel. “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.”(Romans 10:1). In fact, all of Romans chapters 9, 10 and 11 are speaking about Israel. And when you refer to Romans 10:17, you are once again REMOVING things from it and taking only what you like.
“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”(Romans 10:17)
Yes, faith comes from hearing the message, but the message is HEARD through the Word of Christ. Where is the Word of Christ? It’s written in the Bible. So, what’s stopping you from reading it out loud to yourself and therefore hearing it as well?
April 28th, 2010 at 9:41 am
Now now Colin,
I read the bible, not as often I should but I do and look all this I said is what I have read and when they give me these parts of the scriptures I read them fully at home and pray for guidance and God’s support. Now let me ask you something: DO you understand what you say? Now if they are searching for the Word of God they would’ve have found it if everyone has the bible so your reasoning or arguement is not logical. The word of God is live and the bible is not. Its written and if faith comes by hearing the Word Of God then you aren’t hearing but reading. (Romans 10:17)
April 27th, 2010 at 8:18 pm
“”The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign LORD,
“when I will send a famine through the land—
not a famine of food or a thirst for water,
but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.”(Amos 8:11)
Jeziel,
You say: “People all over the world own the bible but what word is God talking about.”
The Old and New Testament Scriptures (or the Bible) are the Words of the Lord that Amos is speaking of there. And yes, Jeziel people all over the world own the Bible. There is a Gideon Bible in every hotel and motel room in the entire country, and Jeziel – even you own a Bible.
But how many people are reading it themselves? How many people are studying it themselves? How many people are believing it?
How often do you read it yourself, Jeziel? How often do you study it yourself?
The Bible is the best selling book in history, but I would wager it’s the worse read book in history at the same time.
The majority of people take their Bible to church with them, they open it up and look at a few verses here and there that the preacher is using in his message that day. But then they close it and leave church, and it remains closed until the next time they go to church. They are not opening it up and reading the message for themselves. They don’t even look to review the whole chapters the preacher used to make sure he’s preaching to them correctly.
Are you in that majority, Jeziel?
Why is that? Well, don’t you see, the famine Amos spoke of has already set in. A famine of hearing the Words of the Lord. Why is it that you go to pastors and teachers and other elders in LLDM to answer you when you have questions, but you don’t go to the Bible yourself? You won’t find it anywhere else. That’s the famine that Amos is speaking of.
“Men will stagger from sea to sea
and wander from north to east,
searching for the word of the LORD,
but they will not find it.”(Amos 8:12)
April 27th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
That some one is Jesus and he lives in us when we read the bible and believe. The holy spirit teaches us. Do you know how big God is? do you really believe that he needs an apostle to teach his word? God dose not need any one we need him and the only way to know the truth is by talking to God your self instead of believing teachers, teachers can be wrong to and the only way you can see the truth is if you talk to God and ask him for the truth and he will reveal it to you.
April 27th, 2010 at 10:05 am
Jeziel,
Do you realize the importance of knowing who Jesus really is?
“No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.”(1 John 2:23).
See, Jeziel, if a person is wrong about who Jesus is, they are wrong about who God is. And if they are wrong about who God is, they are wrong about everything else. Once you realize who Jesus really is, and the significance of what He did on the cross, and the reality of what He is doing to day – you will either acknowledge it and be driven to serve him (thus, becoming a servant of God yourself), or you will deny it, and as John says – “No one who denies the Son has the Father.”
Now, Jeziel, who is Jesus? “He is the Son of God,” but what does that mean? Is He a created being, or has He existed since the beginning? What does John say?
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. “(John 1:1-2)
Who is the Word that was with God and WAS God in the beginning?
“Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”(John 1:3)
Who is the One through whom all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made?
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”(John 1:14)
Who is the Word that was with God in the beginning, and WAS God, through whom all things were made? Who is the Word that became flesh and made His dwelling among us?
Now, Jeziel, according to the Apostle John – is Jesus a created being? Or is He the uncreated Creator?
April 27th, 2010 at 9:42 am
Hello everyone,
Does anyone know the importance of a servent of God? Lets look at a very important part of the scripture. Know, that before we continue anything I do want to bring up a very important question asked in this blog, Abraham Camarena: “So you are saying that anyone can go out to preach the gospel and through that channel, humanity will be saved?”
No an ignorant will answer, yes. Lets look at what the Apostle paul has to say about that.
Romans 10:13-17:13for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”16But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”
Know many false teachers, teach that anyone can go out and preach the name of Jesus and baptize. False, False, False. There has to be someone to bring the message of God and preach. Someone sent by God and not sent by a man. what is the word, is it written or spoken?
Amos 8:11: “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD,
“When I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water,
But rather for hearing the words of the LORD.”
Now , don’t you think that wouldn’t the scriptures be written in those times? People all over the world own the bible but what word is God talking about. The word of God revealed to his men he elects.
Judges 2:6;10-13;18-19: After Joshua had dismissed the Israelites, they went to take possession of the land, each to his own inheritance…10 After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. 11 Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals. 12 They forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked the LORD to anger 13 because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths…18 Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the LORD had compassion on them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them. 19 But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.
Did the Israelites have the Ten Commandments? Moises understood the necesity of a man of God to guide the people of Israel.
Numbers 27:15-17: 15 Moses said to the LORD, 16 “May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community 17 to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the LORD’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
“Without a shepherd” What are shepherds for? To guide the sheep. Who guides us? Now before I answer my own question we need to make something clear. A lot of people who are stubborn will say this “No this passage is for the only the people of Israel” I answer this: Do we not adore the same God? Isn’t God eternal and does not change? Lets look at another beautiful part of the scripture.
Acts 10:1-5;34-48: 1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” 4Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”…34Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39″We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” 44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues[b] and praising God. Then Peter said, 47″Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.”
It wasn’t till the APOSTLE Peter went to Cornelius, did he recieve the Holy Ghost and was baptized in the name of Jesuscrist because he had the authority of God.
April 23rd, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Amen, Christopher. Very well said.
Jeziel, our Salvation is assured, not because of anyone or anything here on earth today, but rather it is because of Some One in Heaven today.
Now, this is actually the main message of Hebrews. Christ received a glory and a Majesty when He went back to the Father’s throne that He never had before. In other words, there is something in heaven today that was not there 2500 years ago or in eternity past, that is the Man and the Glory with nail pierced hands, and the prints on His feet, and the spear wound in His side. And in a glorified body He is there, and we shall know Him by the print of the nails in His hands. We’re going to see Him some day, but at this very moment He is there. He was not there like that 2500 years ago, He was God 2500 years ago, but today He is the God Man. And when it says “He sat down” in Hebrews 1:3, it doesn’t mean He’s tired or He’s resting or that He’s doing nothing. He’s not twiddling His thumbs. It means that when He finished our redemption that He sat down because it was complete. That’s exactly what the 7th Day meant in creation. God rested on the 7th Day. Why, was He tired? No, He created the universe by speaking it into existence, He wasn’t tired. But it was complete, there was nothing more that He needed to do. Christ sat down because our redemption was complete, and my friend you can not even lift your little finger to add to what He already wrought for you on the cross. He has already completed your redemption, and we are complete in Christ. As Paul said “and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.”(Colossians 2:10). You are made full in Him and we are accepted in the beloved. That is the meaning of that “He sat down.”
“1In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”(Hebrews 1:1-3)
The literal translation here is “but in these last days God spoke to us in the Son…” We see here, that He is saying that He has “in these last days he has spoken to us”, and the ‘us’ here, is very important to realize, that it’s the same “us” of whom He spoke to their forefathers by the prophets in the Old Testament. Therefore, these were Hebrew believers. And if God has given His final Word in the Lord Jesus Christ, then it is also the final Word for you and me today.
Remember the Father out of Heaven said “this is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” He is the One that is before us. Now, it says He has spoken to us by His Son. Therefore, Christ is superior to any of the Old Testament writers, because the revelation is filled up in Him. He fulfills all of the Old Testament, and He Himself gives God’s final Word to man. If God spoke from heaven today, He would just say something that Jesus has already said. Because of the fact that the Final Word came through the Son of God when He was here some 1900 and some odd years ago. And as He himself said, The Spirit of God will take the things of Christ and show them to us. And the Spirit of God – speaking through John and James, and Simon Peter, and Jude, and Matthew, and Mark, and Dr. Luke and Paul – has given us the full and complete revelation from God. “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.”(Hebrews 1:2) Notice 2 things from verse 2, #1 – “whom He appointed heir of all things.” That reveals the program for the future.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the heir of all things. But there is something else here as well that we should look at very carefully. John said that all things were made by Him
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”(John 1:1-3),
and without Him nothing was made that has been made. So it belongs to Him already – creation is His. For He created it, we are told. So then, how can He be the heir of all things? He came down to this earth and He took upon Himself our humanity; and the first man in the human race was given dominion over this creation. In Genesis, tremendous statements are made in very few words. When God gave Adam dominion – He didn’t place him in Eden as a 1st class gardener to plant plum trees. Adam had dominion (that is ruler ship) over all creation. But Adam lost that. And when the Lord Jesus came to this earth, He became a man. Notice that Jesus performed miracles in every realm (natural and physical realms). He had control over the human body, control over nature, and over life and death. He could quiet a storm and feed 5,000 people with a couple fish and a few loaves of bread. He recovered what Adam had lost. And now, the Lord Jesus is going to be heir of all things because He did recover what Adam had lost, and even more. We are told in Scripture that we are heirs of God also
“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”(Romans 8:16-17),
and we are co-heirs with Christ. That does not mean equal heirs. Christ has control of all of it, and He will allocate to each child of God their portion at the proper time. The Lord Jesus Christ is the heir, He controls it. But He may let me have a little patch somewhere. He may put me in charge of a little something, but that is the way that we are co-heirs with Christ. We have an ingeritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading. And it’s reserved in Heaven for us. Why? Because of all the wonderful things that He did for us. He recovered what Adam lost and even more. We today are co-heirs with Christ. He is the One who is going to inherit everything and no prophet was ever promised that in the Old Testament. The 2nd thing we are told “and through whom he made the universe.”
See, as the heir, that shows us the program for the future (Christ will inherit all things), but now in the fact that the universe was made through Him – that shows us purpose in everything! He not only created everything, He did it for a purpose. The Bible makes sense then, when you realize this truth, my friend. God created man, put him in a garden, and He put down just 1 condition – he was not to eat of a certain tree. Well, there was nothing wrong with that tree, the fruit on it was good. But that was God’s test of that man. After all, it wasn’t the fruit on the tree, it was actually the pair on the ground – that’s where the problem was. So man absolutely and completely failed at that time. God has a program, see? And He has a purpose in everything. And there came another period where God tests man, and He gave the Law. And today, you and I are saved by grace – that’s the way we get in. We would never be able to get in by the Law. Neither you Jeziel, nor I am Jewish, so in regards to the Law, it wasn’t given to us to begin with, and secondly, no man can keep the Law. No man can live up to the righteous standard that God has set. God just can’t save us by our own works at all. I think that should be obvious to everyone who has thoroughly studied the New Testament. God can not save us by works, and the reason for that is because no man can offer perfect works. We can’t measure up to that. And He can’t save us by imperfect works, because His standard is higher than that. Therefore, God had to have another way. And today it is by grace that you are saved
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”(Ephesians 2:8-9).
The Lord Jesus Christ was the only one who could live a perfect life, and it’s through faith only in Christ that God extends grace to us today.
BTW, welcome back Jeziel! I asked you some questions through our private conversations and on Oscar’s more recent blog which I am very eager to hear your answer to.
The reason I ask you these questions, Jeziel is because I am Christian. And if you are too, then that means we both worship Jesus. In that case, we should make sure it is the same Jesus – the Jesus of the Bible – who we are both following. Therefore, my question:
Who is Jesus? What did He do? And, what is He doing today?
May the wisdom of the Holy Spirit come upon you, Jeziel. Peace and love to all of you.
April 22nd, 2010 at 9:54 pm
Lldmjeziel,
Here lies the problem when a single verse of Scripture is used with out reading the entire context of the chapter or the entire book (letter) and such is the case with (2 Corinthians 6:2). In this verse Paul is quoting from (Isa 49:8). These are not his words about himself being the “day of salvation because in Isaiah is prophesying about the coming Messiah (Jesus the Christ) whom will be the day of salvation to help us.
Then in Paul finished with “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” because of what Jesus the Christ did for the world on the Cross for the sins of the world.
Where do you read any where in the Scriptures that Paul or any of the other apostles of Christ declare that because of them the days for salvation are here? The answer to this question is No Where!
Every one of them always pointed the Cross and what Jesus the Christ, God in the flesh, did for us.
(Ephesians 1:7-8) –“In him (Jesus the Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding”
I had been and always be because of Him – the living God – Lord Jesus Christ!
(Ephesians 1:13-14) – “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession.”
To answer your question regarding when is the time of salvation the answer is and always has been for the past 2000 years at the moment someone comes to believe with their heart that Jesus is Lord and God the Father raise him from the grave You Are Saved and not because of anyone here on earth. (Romans 10:8-13)
And I hope that you will come to understand that it is not LLDM that I nor any one of us are against, but it the false doctrine of salvation because of someone other than Jesus Christ that we fight agaisnt, it is the false teachings of the antichrist that we fight against and stand for the truth of salvation in Christ alone forever and ever! Amen
April 22nd, 2010 at 9:51 am
Hello everyone,
Guess whos back? Me! Okay lets look at one thing, The necesity of an Apostle because without one there is no salvation. The apostle Paul makes a diffrence between an acceptable time:
2 Corintians 6:2 “For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”
As there is a time of Salvation there is also a time that there isn’t salvation.
My question is for the people who are against LLDM:
When is there time of salvation?
April 19th, 2010 at 10:45 am
Lluvia,
In a nut shell regarding “authority” the original apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ rejoiced and preached that they had the authority to bring the message of good new, the gospel of Jesus Christ, to the world. They never, and I repeat, never preached or taught that they had the authority of salvation because of them here on earth.
If this authority through them here on earth was in fact true, then this statement of from Peter would be incorrect:
(Acts 4:12) – “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Even Moses, the judges and prophets of the Old Testament all point to only one person with the authority for salvation and that is the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
The danger of LLDM’s doctrine is that God’s saving grace through Jesus Christ is powerless unless there is a “man of God” here on earth and this is not a true gospel and is not the gospel for salvation.
I would like to bring up a few of the more widely used Scriptures that are used by LLDM to support this doctrine and to point out how they are used out of context and in fact all point to Jesus Christ as the sole “Man of God”, God in the flesh, for salvation, showing that God does not require mankind to believe in one, but for Jesus Christ.
(John 3:34) – This passage is talking of no one else but for Jesus Christ. John, the apostle, is giving is first hand account of what John the Baptist is talking about, and that is Jesus Christ and neither himself nor anyone else; but only of the Christ, Lord Jesus.
Verse 34 has been taught to support Samuel and his father Aaron as the “one whom God has sent…” It is the Lord Jesus Christ, God in the flesh (John 1:1-2,14) that God has sent and “speaks the words of God,”
(1 Corinthians 2:16) – is again another single verse used with out consideration for the entire chapter and even of the entire letter. Paul is telling the Corinthians, and we, in Christ, that no one but the Spirit of God can know the mind of the Lord. And if anyone tries to know the mind of God with out the Spirit of the Lord in them they never well, but when by faith you are in the body of Christ you will also have the mind of Christ in you. With the mind of Christ in you, and not because of anything we can do, you will then be able to understand the Word of God and of the Lord Jesus the Christ as you read the Bible yourself and you will not need anyone to tell you what to think about what you are reading for you will have the “mind of Christ”.
(2 Corinthians 5:18) – To understand this verse you again have to read the whole passage (5:16-21). Paul is very clearly declaring only one person here the Lord Jesus Christ. God has reconciled the “world to himself” through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. When Paul states “and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:” you can not stop there. You have to continue with the rest of the statement “that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ” and in Christ alone. Paul is not and never did declare that the reconciliation was through neither him nor any of the other apostles of Jesus Christ. What Paul does say is that it is the “ministry” that he and all of the other apostles bring to the world; the gospel of Good News, of salvation through Jesus Christ alone is the power of salvation.
I want to finish by leaving you with this passage from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.
(Ephesians 1:13-14) – “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.”
In this passage from Paul; is he giving himself credit for being the power to the gospel of salvation here on earth to mankind? No! He is giving all glory to Christ and glory to the “word of truth”!
The only “Man of God” that we have for salvation is the Lord Jesus Christ. There never has nor ever be anyone else but the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation here on earth under heaven.
Just as Peter so clearly declared to the Jews in (Acts 4:12) – “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
And if there was to be any man to believe that because he was on earth mankind was saved it would have been Peter. And Peter is not the rock that Jesus was talking about in (Matthew 16:18) as the Roman Catholics and LLDM believe. You have to also read what Peter said to Jesus in verse 16, “Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” in order to understand what Jesus Christ was saying in verse 18.
Jesus was telling Peter that the declaration that he had just made in verse 16 is the “rock” that Jesus Christ “will build my church” on “and the gates of Hades will not overcome it”.
So in other words the “rock” that supports the church of Jesus Christ is that Christ is the Son of the Living God and He is alive and well in heaven at this very moment (Hebrews).
Dear soul, the point is that you and you alone must call upon the Spirit of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ and read out loud to your self all of the Scripture. This is my continuing prayer that not just members of LLDM but all come to the only true source for salvation, the Holy Bible, the Word of God and not on what you have been told to believe by anyone other than the Lord Jesus Christ; for He is the Word made flesh the savior of the world for ever and ever! Amen
April 18th, 2010 at 7:53 pm
la gente lo save
April 16th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Lluvia,
Thank you for your answer and I give praise to the Holy Spirit for leading you to this website. I rejoice in a forum such as this one where people can come together to discuss the Word of God.
Now, in regards to the time when God does not deal with His people through a prophet, apostle, etc. – that time is now. The reason is because God now speaks to His people through better means than a man on earth – it is by His Son from Heaven at His right hand, and through His Holy Spirit here on the earth.
If you would, Lluvia, please tell me what this Scripture means to you?
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”(Hebrews 1:1-3).
Now, the question you asked me pre-supposes that Samuel Joaquin is an apostle and prophet of God; but according to the totality of Scripture, he does not stand up to the Biblical requirements of an Apostle and prophet. That is the reason I asked if you have witnessed any miracles performed by him instead of only hear stories – because signs, wonders and miracles are one of the marks of a true prophet/apostle. Scripture instructs us to test those who say they are apostles, this is why the question is very important.
“I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.”(Revelation 2:2)
The eyewitness testimony of the New Testament Apostles was confirmed through the Holy Spirit in the form of signs, wonders, and miracles. “The things that mark an apostle—signs, wonders and miracles—were done among you with great perseverance.” (2 Corinthians 12:12). “I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.” (Romans 15:18-19) “how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” (Hebrews 2:3-4). Jesus gave the apostles the ability to drive out demons and perform other miraculous signs. “He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.” (Matthew 10:1).
Paul referres to his ability to perform signs, wonders, and miracles as the things that mark an apostle (2 Cor. 12:12). But it was not only Paul, but also the 12 Apostles who by the grace of God had this ability – “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” (Mark 16:20) “Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” (Acts 2:43) “The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade.” (Acts 5:12). “One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.” (Acts 3:1-16)
I have brought this point up in discussions with several members and pastors of LLDM, and the majority also say that they have heard of Samuel Joaquin working miracles (although they refuse to give details of such tales), but have not seen it with their own eyes. But the miracle working power of the Biblical Apostles was indeniable, and done out in the open for all to see. They had nothing to hide. “But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it.” (Acts 4:14-16).
The Bible also adamantly warns that in latter times, false (counterfeit) miracles will be performed by satan in an effort to deceive those who reject the truth of the Bible. “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10).
Now, I do believe the old saying that miracles happen every day. They most certainly do – in answer to our prayers, but no longer by the hands of miracle workers (in a spiritual sense: there is healing, but no healers). The testimony of the Biblical Apostles (New Testament) was confirmed in signs, which shows that it is inspired of God. It sufficiently upholds the message that Jesus is God’s Messiah, He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and that this Jesus God has raised up from the dead. “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.” (Acts 2:32) “When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.” (1 Corinthians 2:1-5) “I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:11-12). No additional apostles are needed to testify that Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead on the 3rd day according to the Scriptures. Instead of “modern apostles” we are to rely on the Holy Bible, which is God’s living word (Hebrews 4:12).
Do you want me to believe in Samuel’s apostleship? I will need to see him defy the laws of physics. He will need to do something that human beings just simply cannot do. I don’t care if it’s a card trick – show me something.
Lluvia, I ask that you do consider these things very seriously, and I do sincerely look forward to hearing your response. I look forward to further discussions with you.
Love and blessings to you, Lluvia, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
April 16th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
colin,
please show me a part in the bible where god was not with HIS people through a prophet, or apostol.
in every part, since the begging god had a servant or a prophet that he sent to preach his word and to be the authority on the earth, to be with his chosen people.
in answering the acts that samuel has done.. there have been many. but they just never were published. i have heard testimonies and actually seen one. but not that it should matter much.
April 16th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
oscar,
think about it.. either way if samuel was dirt poor, or in the state that he is in.. you would probably still say things like.. “if hes an apostol shouldnt he dress better ?” or the other things that people say when they see someone dressed poorly.
its jus the way that things are.. and im not saying that you guys are evil or anything.. cuz i really want to make sure that im in the truth.. cuz we all want to go to heaven.. or have at least a good life after death.. so im jus stating what i know.
April 15th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
Lluvia,
How do you know Samuel Joaquin was sent by God? Because he said so? Because he claims it and you believe it, but does that make it true?
Does the Bible mention him as being sent or foretell of him being sent in any place? Have you ever seen him perform any miracles (like Paul and the 12 performed) to confirm his word?
Frank Medina, perhaps you could share with Lluvia the details of your own marriage as arranged by Samuel Joaquin?
Lluvia, how do we know if what he claims is true? Because you believe it?
What you believe has no bearing on the truth. For example:
The earth is round, whether you believe it or not.
Gravity exists, whether you believe it or not.
Lluvia, tell me (and I would love it if you could answer me Biblically), but answer me this: I believe the Bible, every word. I do not believe in Samuel Joaquin. I do not believe he is an apostle, nor that he was sent by God, nor that believing in him is in any way necessary for Salvation. The simple reason is because there is nothing in the Bible to support that.
Therefore, what Christ did on the cross – shedding His blood for the remission of my sins; and when God raised Him back to life, giving proof that what He had done on the cross was sufficient for mankind’s redemption – do you think His work down here was in vain if I don’t believe what a man (Samuel) now claims almost 2,000 years later?
April 15th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
“hmm.. well.. i dont think that you should talk about something that you are completly clueless about.”
If I were clueless then I wouldn’t write about LLDM. I have told the history and how the whole thing began and the people involved. You are the typical LLDM member that says we are telling lies and never point out which lies. Arranged marriages are common, do some research. And most members do travel to Guadalajara to give Samuel money.
Can you refute that Samuel fails the authenticity of apostleship? Can you deny his lack of education and “bought” doctorate? Can you refute his ranch and exotic animals? Can you refute that he has a house in every church? Can you refute everything former members, who were LLDM for years, say?
I think not.
April 15th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
hmm.. well.. i dont think that you should talk about something that you are completly clueless about.. im sorry.. but some of the things that you mentioned are not true.. we are not forced to go guadalajara in august.. but its a great blessing to be by a man sent by GOD.
Arranged marriages? i have never heard of this.. try to do a little more research before posting something that is not true.
April 11th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
Hello and God’s blessings to all of you.
It’s been a long time since I last posted regarding the book of Revelation, and the reason is I’ve spent a great deal of time researching the panoramic history of Christ’s letters to the 7 churches. The next one is very interesting – the letter to the church in Thyatira (the corrupt church).
“”To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.”(Revelation 2:18-19).
This is Romanism. This takes us into the dark ages, from approximately 590 to 1517 A.D. It was a dark period. Thyatira was inland. You begin to move inland when you leave Pergamum. All the rest of these churches are inland, some far inland. Thyatira was situated in a very beautiful place. All these cities were very wonderful locations. This church, Thyatira was in a location which Sir William Ramsey described like this:
“Thyatira was situated in the mouth of a long vale which extends north and south connecting the Hermus and Caicos Valleys.”
It wasn’t a great pass. It was an unusual city – a city built for defense. But, most cities built for defense were built on an acropolis, or a promontory with walls put up around them. But this city was different. The strength of it was in the fact that the Elite Guard was there. This city was also built by Lysimachus, and Seleucus was the one who brought it to prominence. It was a city that was a military city containing the Elite Guard of Rome which was placed there, and it’s strength was in it’s soldiers there. But because it had no natural defenses, it had a long history of being destroyed in places and then being rebuilt (because wherever there weren’t soldiers there was no defense). Originally populated by soldiers of Alexander the Great, it was little more than a military outpost to guard Pergamum. Lydia come from this city and was converted under Paul’s ministry (Acts 16:14,15). Thyatira finally fell to the enemy and no city was destroyed as devastatingly as this one. It’s been rebuilt and there is very little of the ruins of the ancient city there today. The ruins only cover one very small block. This city was sponsored by Vespasian the Roman Emperor. It was the headquarters for many of the ancient guilds (the potters, tanners, weavers, robe makers and dyers guilds all had headquarters in Thyatira). This is where labor unions originated. Pollos was the sun god that was worshipped there.
This is what Christ says:
“”To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.”(Revelation 2:18).
Remember back in chapter one how the blazing fire in His eyes and the moving burnished brass altar which is His feet speaks of His judgement? Well, will you notice that it’s a church that He’s judging. “whose eyes are like blazing fire” – He’s searching out. “and whose feet are like burnished bronze” – speaks of judgement also. Now, as is His pattern, He first has a word of commendation for this church. If someone says Roman Catholicism should be condemned whole and fully, 100%, they should probably check out some more history of it. The Lord Jesus says:
“I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.”(Revelation 2:19)
He has 6 words of commendation for them – this church of the dark ages. “I know your deeds.” (that is your works). Works are really just credentials of true believers. James says “show me your faith without works, I will show you my faith by my works.” There were many during this period who lived spotless lives (as best as any human can) during this period; and by their good works, they adorned the doctrine of the church. And then “your love and faith”. This was a church that had love in it, in spite of the fact that it had gone in for rituals. It did not completely die during the dark ages – there were many wonderful men and women of God during this period. Bernard of Clairvaux, and Peter Waldo, John Wycliffe, John Huss, Savonarola, and Ansel, to name a few. All of these men were in the Roman church. Here, Christ also mentions their faith, and it’s placed after their works and their love in this instance. Why? Because faith in the Risen Christ is the spring that turns the hands of works and love. And the ministry here is “your service and perseverance” – there were men and women who were Servants of God during this period. There were faithful ones who endured during that day of darkness. And He says “and that you are now doing more than you did at first.”(2:19). In this church, works increased rather than diminished by the way. All 6 of these virtues are produced within the believer by the Holy Spirit.
There is 1 frightful charge of condemnation for this church. He says here:
“Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.”(Revelation 2:20).
If you look back in 1 Kings 21, this was a period that this woman Jezebel brought paganism into Israel, the Northern Kingdom. Historically for the church during this period (approx. 590 to 1517 A.D.), as the Roman church expanded throughout Europe, idolatry and pagan practice were mingled with Christian worship. Under Gregory I, the papacy was migrated into secular power, in 590 A.D. And also later on by Gregory VII (better known as Hildebrand) in 1073 – 1085. This is the period which introduced rituals to personal faith in Jesus Christ. Church doctrine was sub planted by rituals. This period introduced the worship of the virgin Mary, and the virgin and child. The idea of Purgatory became introduced during this period, and mass was held for the dead. When Constantine became sort of a nominal believer himself, he declared Christianity to be the new official religion of the Roman Empire (declaring all Roman citizens as believers). And Constantine held a mass baptism for the Roman army in which all the Roman soldiers were baptized. They didn’t ask, they didn’t declare their own faith in Jesus Christ, they just got baptized period. They were Christian now, Constantine said so. They were part of the Catholic church, same reason. And the wicked documents known as “the Donation of Constantine” and “the decrees of Isidore” were circulated to give power and rulership to the Pope. As Jezebel killed Naboth and persecuted God’s prophets, so too the church instituted the inquisition during this period. “teaches and misleads my servants” in the NKJV, it reads “teaches and seduces”. That word for “mislead” or “seduce” (Greek ‘apoplano’) – it means a fundamental departure from the truth. Jezebel is a sharp contrast of Lydia who came from Thyatira (Acts 16). Jezebel is a forerunner of the apostate church in Revelation 17. Now He says:
“I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.”(Revelation 2:21)
I say the following with utter seriousness, and with deep love for all the lost souls of the world – in regards to the church and the power of the Pope, there has been no change through the centuries of this system. In regards to those today who are being led astray by other “Jezebels” to other forms of idolatry (such as the praise and borderline worship given to Samuel Joaquin), the time to repent is NOW. Turn to Christ and be willing to believe, He is giving you time, and the time is now. When it is too late, no one will want Him to say they were unwilling, or what will He do?
“So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways.”(Revelation 2:22)
another translation:
“Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.”(New King James Version).
When He mentions “great tribulation”, I do indeed think it is a reference to the Great tribulation into which the apostate church will go.
“I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.”(Revelation 2:23)
“her children” refers to those who were brought up through the system, and they follow the system only because it’s what they were brought up with. “I will strike her children dead” refers to the 2nd death. And “Then all the churches” means all the churches of all the ages. Christ says “all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds,” and the word here for “minds” translated literally is ‘kidneys’. It means the inner man. He searches the thoughts and the intentions of the heart – our whole being.
“Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you):”(Revelation 2:24)
We know from history that this church here in Thyatira actually had a very brief period. It went down when the city went down. But there was a gnostic sect there during this period known as the “ophites” who worshipped the serpent. And they actually used Paul’s writings to try and support what they did, making parody of words, adding heresy, and deceptive boasts of superior spiritual perception. That’s what this group did. Objectively thinking – take out the worship of a serpent and that is what Samuel Joaquin does, isn’t it? Now Christ says:
“Only hold on to what you have until I come.”(Revelation 2:25)
That says to the church – “you have what you need. You should stand for me UNTIL I come.” ‘Until’ is a very key word in Scripture – “Hold on to what you have UNTIL I come.” Now He says:
“To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—’He will rule them with an iron scepter;
he will dash them to pieces like pottery’— just as I have received authority from my Father. “(Revelation 2:26-)
The works of Christ are in contrast to the works of Jezebel. The works of Christ are wrought by the Holy Spirit and we overcome by faith and not by effort. The fact Christ says here “I will give authority over the nations” is explained when Paul wrote to the Corinthians and said we are to rule over the nations, even angels.
“I will also give him the morning star.”(Revelation 2:28)
This refers to the hope of the church today. The rapture of the church – He’s coming for His own, we are looking for that blessed hope. The Glorious appearing of our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Now, He says the same thing He does to all the churches.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”(Revelation 2:29)
The children of Jezebel will not hear, but the true children of God through the Lord Jesus will hear, for the Spirit opens blood-tipped ears.
With all love from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ – rich blessings to all of you.
April 8th, 2010 at 6:18 pm
Just me
Do you know who is a layer it is the false apostle from LLDM. He comes out of no where and clams to be an angel of God. Those that fallow him will be on there way to hell. I Am Glad that the people of God are finally standing up for the truth about the true bible that says Jesus is coming and to be expecting him, do not believe in one that knocks on your door and says I am Jesus and in the days to come there will be many prophets that will clams to be Jesus Gods son and do not open your doors for them for they will be the anti Christ. These are words from the bible and it dose not say just the ones that say the are Jesus but also false prophets that preach words other then the bible. Think hard think, are you going to believe a false apostle that is only a man? That tells you not to read the bible and not to watch the news and not to listen to all of the bad things people say about him? think harder and wiser, who are we to fallow the bible or this man? why do you think they say not to read the bible? its because they are lying to you and they do not want you to know the truth. Think keep thinking hello wake up and smell the coffee.
April 6th, 2010 at 10:51 am
Today’s celebration in LLDM is one of the most significance in the perpetuation of the MYTH OF THE DIVINE ELECTION of Eusebio Joaquín as an apostle of God.
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Samuel Joaquín is one of the most cunning and shrewd religious leaders (I must say instead, leaders of a religion because he is everything but religious) I ever have known.
*
He knows how to play with sentimentalism and false appreciation to his father’s woodwork.
When he wants to give credibility to his origin and legitimacy platform, he praises his father’s work. But when he wants to elevate his accomplishments, he or his instruments minimizes his father’s legacy.
*
Today’s celebration of the day of the purported “calling and election” of Eusebio to his “apostleship” is maintained as the touchstone of La Luz del Mundo faith.
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Any member of LLDM would deny and reject the allegations of the catholic faith about the legitimacy of the “miracle of the Tepeyac” (the appearing of the Virgin Mary to the native indian Juan Diego). They will say with certainty that is a false invention by cunning friars to control the ignorant masses of the Mexican populace. Even digging into historical documents to find the weak or contradictory information that proves it is a lie.
*
However, the members of LLDM will defend with the same furor and passion the legitimacy of the unproven, unwitnessed and theatrical narration of the “calling” of their founder Eusebio. Similar facts, but different rules of logic are applied for the achievement of a false sense of belonging to an special chosen people.
March 31st, 2010 at 6:10 pm
Gracias, Colin!
Tienes razón, ya cualquier cosa que puedan decir nadamas hacen mi punto mas fuerte. Incluso Jeziel, me dijo lo que yo ya había dicho que me decían. En su desesperación ya no saben ni que decir y se rebajan a atacarme sin ningún fundamento. Estoy orgulloso de poder establecer este sitio para mostrarle a la gente de La Luz del Mundo la verdad de su iglesia. Tu y los demás que están de mi lado han estado en esta iglesia y pudieron reconocer que algo esta mal. Sus experiencias son cosas que gente fanática de Samuel jamás podrán esconder o decir que son mentiras.
March 31st, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Es un poco gracioso, ¿no Oscar?
Algunos de los fanáticos de LLDM bastante probar tu punto de sí mismos con las cosas que escriben.
Dios juzgará a todos los hombres por medio de Jesucristo acuerdo a sus propias obras y Samuel Joaquín serán juzgados individualmente la misma que Lías Amon y todo de nosotros también.
Su intención con este blog son nobles, Oscar, y le doy las gracias por exponer la VERDAD y dando la oportunidad de difundir la Palabra de Dios a aquellos que la necesitan desesperadamente.
March 31st, 2010 at 12:11 pm
It is just like I said, people loyal to LLDM will always say I am pitiful, blasphemous, and that God will punish me…
March 31st, 2010 at 10:26 am
Oh people, this is just crap, I know this people, some of them are my family and this blog is publishing lies about them, I would like to talk suit them for libel.
And please, get a job stop writing about something you don’t know.
March 29th, 2010 at 6:26 am
dios te castigara
March 24th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Dear Abraham Camarena,
I give praise to the Holy Spirit for allowing you to find your way here.
You asked a very good question regarding authority that I would like to address for you.
Your question was: “So you are saying that anyone can go out to preach the gospel and through that channel, humanity will be saved?”
The answer is Yes.
Anyone who by faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ has the authority to speak of the gospel, the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ, to anyone else who has yet to hear of the Word of God. If that person who is hearing the word of God – Jesus Christ – for the first time and believes it then they are saved.
Romans 10:17
17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
Since even one person can be saved this way, then yes the whole world (humanity) also be saved this way by hearing the message of God – the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Hearing and believing the message will lead them to this conclusion.
Romans 10:9-13
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
The power is in the message not the messenger. We who are in Christ Jesus are all messengers of His gosple and are authorized by Him to spread His gosple to all who have an ear to hear it. Once His message is heard it is up to the Holy Spirit to do the work in that person or persons heart(s) to bring about a change that will lead them to salvation.
When someone hears the message and confesses with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believes in their heart that God the Father raised him from the dead that person is saved and you have the authority to tell them that they are saved. Not because of anything that we have done, but because this is what the Bible, God’s word, tells us.
It is with all love in Jesus Christ that I speak.
March 24th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
Frank M.
Your last comment about “spiritual food” is right-on. Your last paragraph is a very short, but clear, summary of how cults work – We are right and they are wrong theology based off of what feels good and not what is the truth.
March 21st, 2010 at 2:18 pm
Colin and Christopher:
I realized after being out of LLDM for more than 10 years, and listening to preachers that base their teachings on the Bible with a very deep knowledge of it and the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and also reading the Bible with a sincere thirst for God’s words that the problem in LLDM is the lack of MATURITY as Christians.
When a child is born, the first food he receives is MILK, because that is all that is needed at that stage of their life. However, if the mother begins feeding the child with other food not as nutritious as her own milk but instead she feeds the baby with sugary and fatty food, the baby gets accustomed to that kind of food, that is more pleasant to the baby’s palate but lacks the nutrients for his growth. The baby will always look for junk food and will reject less savory food yet more nutritious food. THEREFORE the baby will grow up but won’t develop to be a MATURE creature. We can see the spiritual paradigm of this situation in Corinthians I 3:2,
“I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able…”
They find SO MUCH INSTANT GRATIFICATION in the “feelings” of being a special people with an “special apostle” that nobody in the world have, that their only spiritual food is SPIRITUAL JUNK FOOD, provided by those that should be taking care of them to raise them up as MATURE CHRISTIANS. However, since CHRISTIAN MATURITY does not benefit their leaders in any way (They would be aware of the false teachings), their leaders continue feeding them with FOOD that keeps them as SPIRITUAL SUCKLINGS, easy to be manipulated, and more easy to be exploited.
March 21st, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Abraham,
To follow up, in regards to who will save humanity. Paul never wrote that it was through him being alive on earth that humanity was saved. Before the Apostle Paul, there was a man named Saul of Tarsis. A piously religious Jew of the Pharisees who “corrected” that is he killed or ordered to kill many Christians and persecuted them severely. In the first place, how could humanity have been saved through Paul when Paul himself was a terrible sinner and a murderer before he knew the Lord Jesus?
When Paul was saved and commissioned to preach, teach and to write, as I showed, Paul made it very clear that it was not because of him but because of the message that Salvation comes – compare his ministry with Samuel Joaquin.
When Paul wrote his letters he was not sitting in some palace or waiting to get on a private jet and fly to some conference honoring and glorifying him where he was the keynote speaker. When Paul wrote his epistles, he was under arrest, chained to a Roman guard or in a jail house, waiting to be executed, being tortured daily and waiting to be executed.
So Who will save humanity? There’s only 1 correct answer – Jesus Christ.
God saves from sin all those who come to Him through Jesus Christ; He adopts as His own all those who come to Him, and He becomes upon adoption, Father to His own.
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—”(John 1:12)
“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”(Romans 8:15)
“to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”(Galatians 4:5)
“And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!”(Hebrews 12:5-9)
Our Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through the shedding of His blood and sacrificial death on the cross. His death was voluntary, vicarious, substitutionary, propitiatory, and redemptive
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—(Romans 3:23-25)
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.(Romans 5:8)
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”(1 Peter 2:24)
“just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.”(John 10:15)
On the basis of the effectiveness of the death of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the believing sinner is freed from the punishment, penalty, power, and one day the very presence of sin; and is declared righteous, given eternal life, and adopted into the family of God
“God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished”(Romans 3:25)
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!”(Romans 5:8-9)
“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”(2 Corinthians 5:14-15)
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”(1 Peter 2:24)
“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,”(1 Peter 3:18)
“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,”(1 Peter 3:18)
Our justification as redeemed sinners is made sure by Christ’s literal, physical resurrection from the dead and He is now ascended to the right hand of the Father, where He now mediates as our advocate and High Priest
“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”(Matthew 28:6)
“He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”(Luke 24:38-39)
“But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay.”(Acts 2:30-31)
“He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”(Romans 4:25)
“Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”(Romans 8:34)
“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”(Hebrews 7:25)
“For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.”(Hebrews 9:24).
“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2)
In the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave, God confirmed the Deity of His Son and gave proof that God has accepted the atoning work of Christ on the cross. Jesus’ bodily resurrection is also the guarantee of a future resurrection life for all believers
“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”(1 Corinthians 15:20)
Who is going to open our eyes? Again, only One correct answer – The Holy Spirit.
It is the work of the Holy Spirit to execute the divine will with relation to all mankind. His activity includes the work of Salvation
“Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’”(John 3:5-7).
A unique work of the Holy Spirit in this age began at Pentecost when He came from the Father as promised by Christ to initiate and complete the building of the body of Christ.
His activity includes convicting the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgement; glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ and transforming believers to be conformed to His image
“But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me;”(John 16:7-9)
“For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”(Acts 1:5)
“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.”(Acts 2:4)
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”(Romans 8:29)
“And we, who with unveiled faces all contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”(2 Corinthians 3:18).
“And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”(Ephesians 2:22)
The Holy Spirit is the sovereign and supernatural agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).
The Holy Spirit also dwells within, sanctifies, instructs, empowers them for service, and seals them until the day of redemption
“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.”(Romans 8:9-11)
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,”(Ephesians 1:13)
“who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”(2 Corinthians 3:6)
Every believer possesses the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit from the moment of salvation, and it is the duty of all those born of the Spirit to be filled with (controlled by) the Holy Spirit
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”(Ephesians 5:18).
“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.”(Romans 8:9-11)
“But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know the truth.”(1 John 2:20)
“As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him”(1 John 2:27)
May many hearts be opened to the truth of God’s Word. In Jesus name, amen.
March 21st, 2010 at 10:49 am
Abraham C.,
I am only repeating what Paul wrote. Paul never said that it was because of him that people were saved, but it was by the Gospel that we are saved. Paul reminded us of the gospel so that we would know the true Gospel of Jesus Christ that he and the 12 preached. And Paul makes it very clear that it is by the gospel that we are saved, not by Paul’s presence living on the earth, but by the gospel:
“Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.”(1 Corinthians 15_1-11)
March 20th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Colin,
*
I think that Samuel Joaquin’s fears have their roots mostly in the possible retaliation from fathers of his victims and/or their husbands. Also in his permanent concern of being tossed away of his “apostleship” by members of the high hierarchy that are very well aware of his un-Christian behavior, abuses and nepotism, but are waiting for a chance to overpower the influence Samuel has on the regular membership through his loyal unconditionals. He also fears attacks from members of his own family.
*
It has nothing to do with fear for his preachings at all.
March 20th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
I am guessing that the false apostle from LLDM has been a target before or had some types of violent attacks before possibly for his false preachings why else would some one try to attack him.
March 20th, 2010 at 11:25 am
Colin,
In my experience of 20+ years as main member of “The unconditionals” or “Grupo Herem”, lately called and officially registered as “Fraternidad Levítica A.C.”, and being faithful to the truth, I can tell you that that kind of training was never given to “The unconditionals” in general.
However, the group of people that act as his personal bodyguards, did receive military training, or at least how to use fire weapons and personal defense techniques, specially Samuel’s driver and personal bodyguards (2 or 3) were trained in a military compound in Mexico City by general Jose Hernandez Toledo, Samuel’s personal friend.
General Jose Hernández Toledo was the commander of the infamous “Olympia Battalion”, responsible for the killing of more than 250 students in October 2, 1968 during a student’s march. This facts are in the Mexican history.
I want to emphasize that in order to belong to this group of bodyguards, you should actually not belong to “The unconditionals” or to the regular hierarchy of the church. This is because of the fear of being killed and/or spied by his own ministers and the paranoia Samuel has for his personal security.
The group of Samuel’s bodyguards or “Guaruras” as they are commonly called, is formed by men of the worst background in the church, the more violent and bloody the background is, the better chance to enter the group. Also, you no need to even be a regular member (the who that attends at least one time a day the church’s services) just to be recommended by other member of the bodyguards group.
March 19th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
Frank Medina,
In reading a research paper about La Luz Del Mundo by Dr. Jorge Erderly, I came across a section which stated that “Los incondicionales” (the unconditionals) of Samuel Joaquin sometimes also receive para military training and instruction in advanced torture techniques. I’m wondering if to your knowledge, this is an accurate claim?
If so, what is the main purpose for such training?
March 18th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Colin thank you
that was so educational to the soul and to the truth. That was au some how you found all of the deaths of the true apostles. I agree with you I always thought, why would the false apostle from LLDM have body guards? because he is worried for his life and he is not living for the truth of the bible and Christ he know that Christ will not back him up at the end of it all with his lies. The holy spirit dose not lie so yes we do not have to read the bible but because the members of LLDM did not read the bible their souls are now in geperty. That is why we all encourage the members to read the truth.
March 18th, 2010 at 11:45 am
Frank Medina,
I agree with you 100% that opening the Bible is not even necessary to see the errors and flaws in the teachings of La Luz Del Mundo. All you need is the God-given gifts of logic and reasoning.
To add to your analogy of a courtroom – if there were a court hearing to determine whether or not Eusebio or Samuel Joaquin are apostles, the burden of proof would be on them. They would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Samuel and his dad Eusebio were authentic apostles of Jesus Christ.
The opposition would not have to prove anything, all they would have to do is have 1 out of the 12 members on the jury doubt the legitimacy of their claim, and then there is still “reasonable doubt.”
But imagine in this case, if Eusebio and Samuel’s team presented their opening statement and said “the evidence reflects that…so-and-so, and therefore they are apostles of Jesus Christ.” But imagine if right after that, the judge said to the opposition “you don’t get to speak” and told the jury to make their decision after only hearing one side, one spin on the evidence. Many things could have been avoided and left out, but if all the jury sees is one side, they cannot make an informed discernment.
Although not literally in a courtroom, the situation is the same. And for those who do not rely on logic and reason, the evidence and proof that Samuel and Eusebio are false apostles is contained in the Word of God – the Holy Bible.
It is for this reason that I have stated many times that my purpose and goal here is to encourage La Luz Del Mundo members to not just accept and believe the things LLDM teaches them, but rather to read and study the Bible for themselves and test the teachings of La Luz Del Mundo against the final authority of the total Word of God.
For:
“The first to present his case seems right,
till another comes forward and questions him.”(Proverbs 18:17)
God’s blessings to all of you in the name of Jesus Christ.
March 18th, 2010 at 8:29 am
So you are saying that anyone can go out to preach the gospel and through that channel, humanity will be saved?
March 17th, 2010 at 10:25 am
Colin,
All the argumentation in LLDM about the legitimacy of Samuel as the “only anointed of God” has BIG problems, and you do not need even to open the Bible to see the the fallacy behind this affirmation.
First; Using lawyer’s words, If We accept without conceding that there is the NEED of an apostle sent by God in order to administer SALVATION, Who can guarantee that Eusebio was an authentic APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST? Therefore if LLDM can’t prove beyond reasonable doubt his apostleship, Samuel’s apostleship is in rough waters too. Either Eusebio, neither Samuel had proved to be true APOSTLES of Jesus Christ. They only use a CIRCULAR FALLACY.
Second; If that JESUS has the power to send another APOSTLE to fullfill his already ACCOMPLISHED mission, he can choose ANYONE to become an apostle.
Why God would be LIMITED in his OMNIPOTENCE choosing only somebody from the Joaquin family? If this were the case, we would still have the descendants of Peter as an APOSTOLIC DYNASTY.
March 17th, 2010 at 12:24 am
Hello everyone. Love and peace to all of you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I wanted to follow up on my earlier comments about Romans chapters 9, 10, and 11.
The brief portion of this section where Paul poses the hypothetical question “how can they preach if they are not sent?” is used by LLDM to make the claim that one solitary man must be sent by God Himself and alive on earth for mankind to receive salvation (and Samuel Joaquin is that man).
This is why LLDM is using this completely out of context. In speaking with Jeziel, I pointed out that Paul is speaking in Romans 9 – 11 about the Nation Israel. Only a few Jews were accepting the truth of the Gospel and therefore being saved, the majority of those being saved were Gentiles. In Romans chapter 9, Paul makes this very interesting statement:
“What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the “stumbling stone.” As it is written:
“See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall,
and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”(Romans 9:30-33)
We see here that the Gentiles had obtained a righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ (He is the rock), not by pursuing righteousness by their works. But Israel did not obtain righteousness, despite their hard work pursuing it.
When Paul asks the question in chapter 10, as I showed it follows a very clear declaration of the pure and simple true Gospel of Jesus Christ:
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”(Romans 10:9-13)
It’s so simple that many intelligent people often miss it. And it’s so simple that many good God-fearing people can never accept it, because they think it’s too easy (when it actually is a great test). The Gentiles, who for the most part did not have extensive knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures or the Law but only a love for God and His Son Jesus Christ, were accepting this gospel and being sealed for Eternal Salvation by the Holy Spirit. However the Jews, who had the Scriptures and the Law and knew them and many obeyed them faithfully, were not being saved because they were not accepting that nobody can be saved by the Law but only through the blood of Christ. Paul is letting the Gentiles know in clear terms the bear essentials of the Gospel by which we are saved (1 Corinthians 15:2). Paul’s hope here is that since the Jews are not accepting what he taught, perhaps someone else can lead them to the Lord.
The Gentiles believed in the Lord Jesus and they called on the name of the One they believed in. But as for the Jews:
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”(Romans 10:14-15)
These are hypothetical questions designed to incite excitement and enthusiasm in the reader to preach the gospel to Paul’s own people, the Jews. Paul the great Apostle does not write “I could not preach to you unless I was sent” nor does he write “an apostle of Jesus Christ must be sent to preach.” But rather, in speaking about the Jews, he says (in plain english) “well, if they don’t believe in Jesus how can they call on Him? But if they never hear about Him, how can they believe in Him? But if no one goes and tells them about Him, how will they hear?” He is not saying he himself (or any other apostle) needs to be sent to explain Scripture to them or that he himself has to mediate for their sins or that he Paul had to be sent for anyone to be saved.
In a nutshell, Paul was sent directly by Jesus Christ Himself, but Paul here is sending his readers, those who believe fully in their hearts, to continue the spreading of the good news to the ends of the world. Only Paul explains that Israel will still not accept the truth right away.
However, in chapter 11, Paul makes clear that God is not done with Israel. The church will not replace the Nation of Israel. Paul explains that the Jews (the natural branches) will be grafted back in to the olive tree. And Paul warns against this “replacement Theology” that LLDM teaches that supposedly the church is the new spiritual Israel.
“I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
“The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
And this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”(Romans 11:25-27)
I think the book of Romans is probably the most comprehensive book of the Bible, it’s almost like a cliffs notes version of the whole Bible within itself. I encourage all LLDM members to read or reread the whole book of Romans by yourself and you will see that God did not reject the Jews on account of them rejecting their Messiah. God has hardened their hearts so that He could call out a people to Himself from all nations, languages, tribes, and races, but their is coming a time when Israel will return to the Lord through the Christ.
With love in the name of Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, peace be with you all.
March 14th, 2010 at 1:43 am
Something just occurred to me which I wanted to share with you all.
The question always comes up from LLDM members “If the Holy Spirit is the administrator to guide us here on earth, then why did Jesus leave behind 13 apostles?”
Well, this fits into the foundational role of the Biblical Apostles, and I see as further proof that Aaron and Samuel are not true apostles. The Biblical Apostles were killed for what they taught. The only Apostle to die peacefully was the Apostle John, after writing the final books of the Bible. This fits into the foundational role, because they all taught that Jesus had risen from the grave in a Resurrected body, that He walked with them, ate with them, and let them touch Him to prove He was risen from the grave, and that He ascended to heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father to make intercession for sinners on earth. And they all were executed because they refused to stop teaching the death, burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit enabled them to complete the written revelation of God to men before they were executed. Their deaths were as follows:
Simon surnamed Peter died 33-34 years after the death of Christ. According to Smith’s Bible Dictionary there is “satisfactory evidence that he and Paul were the founders of the church at Rome, and died in that city. The time and manner of the apostle’s martyrdom are less certain. According to the early writers, he died at or about the same time with Paul, and in the Neronian persecution, A.D. 67,68. All agree that he was crucified. Origen says that Peter felt himself to be unworthy to be put to death in the same manner as his Master, and was therefore, at his own request, crucified with his head downward.”
James the son of Zebedee: He was put to death by Herod Agrippa I shortly before the day of the Passover, in the year 44 or about 11 years after the death of Christ. From Acts 12: 1-2.
John: No death date given by early writers. Death date is by conjecture only and is variously assigned as being between 96 AD to 100 AD
Andrew: He is reported to have been crucified at Patrae in Achaia.
Philip: According to tradition he preached in Phrygia, and died at Hierapolis.
Bartholomew: According to tradition, he was a missionary to Asia, he witnessed in present-day Turkey and was martyred for his preaching in Armenia, when he was flayed to death by a whip.
Matthew: He lived many years as an apostle, since he was the author of the Gospel of Matthew which was written at least twenty years after the death of Christ. There is reason to believe that he stayed for fifteen years at Jerusalem, after which he went as missionary to the Persians, Parthians and Medes. Legen has it that he died a martyr in Ethiopia
Thomas: The earlier traditions, as believed in the fourth century, say he preached in Parthia or Persia, and was finally buried at Edessa. The later traditions carry him farther east. His martyrdom whether in Persia or India, is said to have been by a lance, and is commemorated by the Latin Church on December 21 the Greek Church on October 6, and by the Indians on July 1.
James Alpheus : We know he lived at least five years after the death of Christ because of mentions in the Bible. According to tradition, James son of Alpheus was thrown down from the temple by the scribes and Pharisees; he was then stoned, and his brains dashed out with a fuller’s club.
Simon the Canaanite – Tradition says he was crucified in Ptolemais.
Jude (Thaddeus) – according to tradition Jude taught in Armenia, Syria and Persia where he was martyred. Tradition tells us he was buried in Kara Kalisa in what is now Iran.
James, the brother of Jesus (not officially an apostle) – thrown over a hundred feet down from the southeast pinnacle of the Temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his enemies beat him to death with a club. This was the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during the temptation.
Paul the Apostle – tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero at Rome in A.D. 67.
Jude, the brother of Jesus (also not officially an apostle) – Was crucified by the Magi of Persia, according to tradition.
These men were willing to be killed rather than stop teaching what they taught about Jesus. This was a very foundational piece which caused the body of Christ to continue to grow uninterrupted until Christ’s return to the earth. Let me explain, 2,000 years later here is what this means for us today. If someone asks me why do I believe that Jesus actually came up out of the tomb alive, and walked around before He ascended to heaven, I can put it to them like this. Nobody is willing to let themselves be killed for something that they know is a lie. That’s what they taught and that’s what they declare in their writings, and they paid a price for it. But if they had just made it up, if Jesus really didn’t rise up out of the grave and they all just contrived this elaborate scheme to teach that He did – then there’s no chance they would have let themselves be tortured, crucified, beheaded, stoned, beaten and whipped to death for it. As I said, nobody is willing to die for something they know is not true. Therefore, if someone asks me today “How do you know Jesus really rose from the dead in a Resurrected body?” Well, since that’s what they taught and wrote, and I can see all this from history and various traditions, I wouldn’t even need to quote a Bible verse, I could just reply “how do you know George Washington was really the 1st president of the United States?”
I wonder if Samuel Joaquin is as dedicated to what he teaches? Funny that he doesn’t even announce himself as an apostle or prophet when traveling. He will never be poured out as a drink offering for the building up of the body of Christ like these great men were.