La Luz del Mundo: Revisited
A couple of months ago, I published a blog about a church, La Luz del Mundo (LLDM), and to my surprise, it has caused quite some stir! I have since learn much more about the church and the mentality of some of the members that attend. As you may know, I pointed out that the church’s foundation is based on lies- due to their belief in a modern-day apostle, Samuel Joaquin Flores, who is at the core of the congregation’s teaching. Emphasis is placed on this man… more-so than Christ. Being straight to the point, people have to believe in this “chosen one sent by God” for their salvation in heaven, and what is worse: the church naively proclaims that outside of LLDM, there is NO salvation. It appears that our Lord Jesus Christ, dying for our sins, was not enough and people must revere this new “apostle” to be saved. As honest individuals, what are we to think of such bold blasphemies and blatant lies? The church hierarchy, beginning with Samuel himself, to his sons, and his elite inner-circle possess mostly dubious behavior, to say the least. Personally, I would not feel safe if surrounded by this group. They are interested in money and holding their position at any cost. In my other blog, La Luz del Mundo: A Church Founded on Lies, I was fortunate to meet several people with a genuine love of God and who put forth their testimonies regarding their negative experiences with this church, if it can even be called that, since it appears to be more like a cult… unbeknownst to the poor, misinformed people who attend, of course. My aim, and of others here, is not to offend at all but to expose the church for what it is. We are conscientious that many, many people that attend do so out of their love and genuine faith in God, what they do not know is that Samuel preaches a different gospel altogether.
When exposing the truth of this church, we point at the history of the church, the subsequent inheritance of the church by Samuel, and how the church is molded today. I mostly have focused on the history and the life-impacting aspects of the church while others, like Colin, Blue, Christopher and Alberto have put forth very solid and fool-proof biblical Scriptures challenging the authenticity of “Apostle” Samuel Joaquin Flores. A connoisseur of the Holy Bible, Colin has submitted evidence that convince, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Samuel’s “apostleship” is a farce.
Revelations 2:2 instructs thus:
“…You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars.”
As Colin has pointed out elsewhere, Samuel Joaquin Flores is 0 for 5 in the requirements of a true apostle:
Samuel has never seen Jesus Christ, Samuel was never chosen by Christ, Samuel has never performed a sign or miracle, Samuel has never written an Epistle, and Samuel never had the role in the foundation of the universal church by preaching the original and only Gospel of Jesus Christ… in short, Samuel soundly fails the prerequisites of a true apostle. Moving on, if you take an objective view on the lifestyle Samuel has had, it is not on par with the rest of the true apostles of Jesus Christ. For example, Samuel is very wealthy, living in luxurious mansions, owning luxurious cars, owning ranches with a zoo of exotic animals, owning other properties all over Mexico and abroad, vacationing frequently to Las Vegas, and dressing in expensive Italian designer clothes… it begs the question, were the biblical apostles filthy rich? All these are facts. Though we live in modern times, living like this was not the example set by the original apostles. Jesus, in Matthew 6:19, even commands us to not collect treasures on earth, but that is precisely what Samuel Joaquin Flores does.
Now, when you present these points to people who attend LLDM, we are the enemy. A member even claimed that I live a horrible life, made-so by the devil! They call us ignorant, stupid, morons, and other things that aren’t of a “Christian” nature. Regarding his wealth and properties, fanatics will always counter that God has simply blessed Samuel and if he lives in luxury, so be it. Members state that their “apostle” never asks for anything (though he sure is quick to accept a yacht, among other things) and that they simply want to “accommodate” and treat their spiritual leader well. Pretty preposterous, right? Most of the congregation are dirt poor, and pastors are sent with family in-tow to the poorest of regions to start-up new churches. As one commentator most eloquently put on the other blog, some of the pastor’s families only have tortillas with salt to eat (if that), while the tithe was mailed religiously to Guadalajara for Samuel and his family to live like royalty. Still, members see nothing wrong with this. They have filters for the reality surrounding their leader. The widows of the pastors exploited by the church do not even receive a pension. On the contrary, the church convinces widows and other members who are ill and close to death to donate their houses and/or their other properties to the church. Pastors have no insurance. As another frequent commentator stated, if a pastor falls ill and needs surgery and medication, he is pretty much on his own and headquarters reluctantly loan money to that particular church to temporary cover the medical costs, money that has to be paid back by the people that attend that church (basically, they pitch in money for the cause). All these points lead to the conclusion that LLDM executives are full of greed and unscrupulous. Yet another example of this is that members are pretty much required to pilgrim to Guadalajara on August 14th and February 14th to pay homage to the self-labeled “apostle”. What might surprise you is that February 14th is his birthday! Again, members will say that during this “holy supper”, mention of his birthday is never made. Be as it may, the day is still his birthday. As you read this, LLDM churches from every location are collecting and raising money to buy gifts for Samuel. Since most of the members have little to no education, it is an easy matter to brainwash them. For instance, they are told that the Bible can only be properly interpreted by their pastors, as it is too sophisticated for them to understand on their own. This, of course, means most of the members know very little about the Holy Bible. Even the ones that know the Scriptures interpret them in their own skewed way and defend their faux apostle with such zealot that it is almost admirable. They should remember the old adage “Just because you believe in something… it doesn’t mean it’s true”.
Naturally, the truth hurts and LLDM proponents have come out to defend their church. Unfortunately, most only state their opinions and cannot defend their beliefs, while rebuking us for “insulting” their religion. On the other hand, those who share my view mostly state clear biblical truths. What is closer to the truth? Contents from the Bible or opinions? If we are honest, and as academics it is our duty to be so, one can easily discern that what we write is VERITAS. Sadly, it has even come to the point that a member has researched me, trying to find out who I truly am, where I live, etc., as well as investigating my father’s history. Very creepy behavior, wouldn’t you agree? Yet, not unexpected. Still, who would go through such lengths to find out about a blog writer if the truth written here is not damaging their church? Digging into my family’s history and contacting some of my father’s siblings from the church is rather disturbing. It gives an unsettling feeling that I may be targeted for elimination. How far would this cult go to protect its interest? We have but to look to the past to see how fanatics were quick to shed blood like say in the crusades, all for their beliefs. Let us remember David Koresh who preyed on the ignorance of his followers and manipulated them to carry out his whims. The only difference here is that Samuel uses his claim as an “apostle” to get rich. Yes, many members are mad at my blog and for writing about LLDM. In their minds, they are blasphemies and God will surely punish me for it.
To make matters worse, some people have given testimonies that on top of all I have mentioned, sexual abuse has been occurring from long ago. Allegedly, Samuel has had many young women working in his mansion in Guadalajara and, intuitively, one can gather that the apostle has engaged in sexual intercourse with more than one woman throughout the years. Is it true? I do not know, I was not there. What is known is that said young women do wear clothing that reveals their voluptuous feminine figure. Investigation to these claims have always led to dead ends, primarily due to the money and influence of this church in Mexico.
Samuel Joaquin Flores is in his 70s, and his death is imminent. Will he chose a son of his to carry the mantle of “apostleship” just as he received it from his father Aaron?! That is precisely what will happen… and it will happen quite soon. LLDM criticizes the Roman Catholic Church for having the Pope as their maximum spiritual leader, failing to see that they themselves have their own ‘pope” who lives just as luxuriously and worse, by lying to 5 million people that he was appointed by God himself! Samuel has no education… but to make amends, he purchased an ‘honorary doctorate’… so he is now called “doctor”! It is an abomination that this man has never been convicted. In Mexico, government authorities like the police are easily bought and controlled. That LLDM steers its congregation to vote for PRI in every election guarantees them immunity from the government. Members always will tell you that Samuel is a kind hearted human being who builds schools, hospitals, clinics, and such… what they fail to understand is that none of those services are free. They are all charged for.
It is sad how humble people with a desire to know God are being taken advantage by this false “apostle”.
June 19th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
Mary
You and your husband married out of your beliefs and he needs to understand that he is at fault too. The good news Mary, is that you have the true living Christ on your side and when you believe in the true living God with faith in him alone you can move a mountain with your faith. I am not too much a fan of the word faith because LLDM burned it out with all the faith in their apostle and abused the word. But anyway, pray with the remembrance that God is truly listening to you. who is more power full? not LLDM or the hard hardheadedness of your husband, God in the name of our true God that lived in the past preset and future sending his only begotten son for us to die and praise forever amen.
June 17th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Hi Aby
do you have a story in your life related with LLDM that you would like to share with us?
June 14th, 2010 at 10:50 pm
FOR MARY
MARY I understand a lot your situation,
if your husband dont want to listen, cause they have such idolatry, the prayers help
but arm your self with the scriptures, first of all no other name has to be repeted
theres none other AAron, or Samuel.
read when Samuel was called by God you will find out that ebrithing was copying for Aaron Joaquin, Just the way it is he was sleeping, the same try to just be smart more than argueing about the children but just try not to be too religiuos that is sometimes what they seem to butter cause they think Samuel knows everithing,
June 14th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Sum,
My husband at the time while we were “dating” was in a backsliding state. We were in college and quite frankly we fell in love first without putting God in the equation. I am just as guilty. If i would have known what I know now of his faith I would not have even dated him. Now yes he did know better. In fact when I look back i kept trying to get him to let me go with him to church but he kept saying that his church was different. He didnt want it to turn me away so fast. But it wasnt out of malice. remember he doesnt know he is in a church that teaches false doctrine.
I think he just hoped i would accept the apostle like my sister inlaw did eventually. The first three or four years of our marriage was rocky because this is when I started to realize his church was different but in a wrong way. we would argue over doctrine and it would turn ugly. we soon just decided to agree to disagree and stop talking about it. But then he still didnt want me to take my kids to my church because he said I was taking them to a false religion and he wouldnt have that. And you are right about that divorce thing cuz he used to say that if we were going to different churches then it was grounds for divorce. He said how could we make it if were of different faiths.But with patience and prayer and by God’s grace he has softened up and i now can take my kids to church. Infact i went yesterday and he helped get them dressed. He doesnt want me to tell him anything about my church is his only request.
Colin,
My children are still below the ages of 5 so they are not accountable yet. It is my goal to train them up in the Lord like you said. I know that verse very well. I am like you said in a real spiritual warfare so prayer is much appreciated. thankyou so much my brother in Christ.
June 14th, 2010 at 11:22 am
Beloved members of LLDM, consider the following: Do we need an Apostle to have fellowship with Jesus?
Well………….
Why was the New Testament written? Why did the Apostles and their fellow believers take the time to write the 27 books of the New Testament? Why did the Spirit of God preserve those books to this very day?
The simple answer to this question is yes we do – and we had 13 of them plus other believers who give us that fellowship even today through the things they wrote about the Lord Jesus Christ.
But, to the question of “do we need living apostles today to continue to have fellowship w/ Jesus?”,
the answer to that is NO.
The Apostle John summed up in his 1st epistle that one of the reasons he and the others wrote was so that we may have fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.”(1 John 1:3-4)
June 11th, 2010 at 11:12 am
“Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.”(Proverbs 22:6)
Mary, I just wanted to briefly share this verse of Scripture with you as an encouragement in helping teach your children about the grace and love of Jesus.
I have not seen my own mother since I was 12 years old, I am now 25. Although I knew her for now less than half my life, the things she planted in me when I was young are continuing to grow and starting to blossom.
I attended a Catholic church with my own mother when I was young, but I learned more from her than I ever did in sunday school. She taught me the Bible, not the Catholic catechism. She showed me Scripturally how to discern between truth and error, and how to truly know about the never ending love of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. The first thing I remember her teaching me was from the story of Cain and Abel, and she related Cain’s error to the error of many who deny the Grace of Christ who shed His blood for us by attempting to earn their way on their own.
Only when I was older and after much prayerful study, this verse was illuminated for me and God showed me it’s meaning and the value of those early years.
“Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
From even the little tiny seed she planted, when I was presented with the “revelations” of LLDM’s “apostles”, I was able to see past the facade and discern the truth of the Bible from the error of man’s word.
My prayers are with you, Mary. May God richly bless you.
June 10th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
Mary,
Sum is 100% correct. Once a person comes to know about the true Christ Jesus, and they come to trust in Him, they are sealed with the Holy Spirit. And they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. I (and I’m sure others here) will be praying for you, and for your children.
If they truly believe in the Resurrected Christ in their hearts, the Holy Spirit will protect them from all false teachers and they can never be deceived.
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”(1 John 4:4)
June 10th, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Mary
as long as you tell your children the truth that we are to only worship Christ and not a man then their eyes can never be deceived. Read children books to them and show them movies of Jesus, Believe me, I found Jesus before I found the apostle and I knew that he was fake. One time I was able to tell my little niece that we are to only worship Jesus and she had those innocent eyes and she believed me, she did tell my mother in law and I got yelled at but you see she is not yet deceived until she is taught and trained into the cult. Mary you can love your husband but when it comes to religion, never surrender your faith in Jesus, raise your children as christens. By the way, why did your husband marry you if he is so into his beliefs? My husband only attended LLDM when his mom took him once in a wile he did not know better he truly believed that they were the only way to heaven. I am not sure about how much your husband was into LLDM but I thought that they had to marry some one from LLDM, why would they drag a none believer into their cult and then complain that we are not faith full to the apostle? That is what makes me upset, yes so we did not see the truth before we got married but then we pay for it latter? I do not get it, they would rather divorce and keep their apostle? this means prayer only God has the power to fix it. Mary if your husband can have the right to take them into his church then you have the right to tell them the truth. Show your children the picture of the apostle and tell them that this man is just a person that made things up and do not give them a chance to like him. Tell them that unfortunately their dad was born in a family that believed in the guy but we are to pray for dad and pray that he only has Jesus in his heart. You are with the children more then he is and do not be afraid, with love you can save your children.
June 9th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Thanks, Mary.
I don’t have any family in LLDM, but I do have very close and very dear friends who are being deceived. I can’t imagine the spiritual warfare that occurs in yours or Christopher’s lives, with the man or woman you love on the other side of the spiritual fence.
Bless your heart, Mary, for praying for the children. My heart also breaks when I see their innocent faces and realize they don’t know any better and, as children do, will believe as they are taught.
The “divine election” of SJF is what is preached in LLDM, not the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Well, I have news for LLDM Members – not only is the Gospel not preached by SJF, but the doctrine of “divine election” as taught by LLDM, is not Biblical.
What I would like to do is address the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the true doctrine of divine election by comparing the “election” doctrine of LLDM, and the “election” doctrine of the Bible.
All you need to tell the difference is the introduction to the Epistle to the Romans. I remember reading the entire book of Romans within a few hours last summer, and realizing that it’s so complete and comprehensive – you could remove all other books from the Bible, and still probably learn everything you need from just the book of Romans. As with most of the letters of Paul and most the epistles of the New Testament, tremendous statements are made in just a very few words.
Paul covers the Christian doctrine of “divine election” in great detail within just the first 7 verses of this marvelous epistle.
“Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God”(Romans 1:1)
If you look this up in your Bible, you should notice, first of all, in this verse that the little verb “to be” is in italics. That means it’s not in the manuscripts – it’s not in the original. It should be
“Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,”
Paul identifies himself in this letter first of all, as a servant. The Greek word is ‘duolos’ and it literally means a ‘bond-slave’ of Jesus Christ. Now, Paul is an apostle, but first of all, he calls himself a ‘bondslave’.
That’s very important to see for the very simple reason that Paul took that place willingly. The Lord Jesus Christ, my friends, has loved us and He has given Himself for us. But the very interesting thing is He never makes you be His servant at all. You have to come to Him voluntarily, and make yourself a slave of The Lord Jesus Christ. That is something that is wonderful beyond measure.
When He saves you, why, He won’t force you to serve Him. If you notice, He even said to Jerusalem “Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem! How many times I would have gathered you just like a mother hen gathers her little chicks under her wing. But you would not.” And the Lord Jesus said on one occasion, remember He said “You will not come to me that you might have life.”
He won’t force you, see? You have to do this on your own. You have to come to Him, but when you do, you have the privilege of making yourself a bond-slave of Jesus Christ.
Remember when Paul was saved, what was said to him on the Damascus road? First of all, Paul asked “Who art thou, Lord?” His answer – “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.” Paul came to know Him as his Savior. And then, his question was “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” That is the one, and that is the time he made himself a bond-slave of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is something that is quite wonderful.
Now, notice that he also says here that he is not only a bond-slave of the Lord Jesus Christ, but he is an apostle. And he is a called apostle. That doesn’t mean he was called “to be” an apostle, it means that this is the kind of apostle that he was. The Lord Jesus Christ had called him an apostle, and he was called into that office. He didn’t choose it, the Lord Jesus Christ told him that he was to be his witness. And this man now, first of all, he made himself a servant – a bondslave – of Jesus Christ. But now he is a called apostle.
Now, and apostle is one who had seen the Resurrected Christ (Acts 1:21-26); Paul had seen Him (Acts 9). Paul tells us in his first letter to the church in Corinth “And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.”(1 Corinthians 15:8). But also, there was another mark of an apostle, an apostle had what we would call “sign gifts.”
Paul said “Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.”(2 Corinthians 12:12) – Paul confirmed his claims by performing signs, wonders and miracles. He did not just ask for blind faith based on how you *feel* about him (As Samuel Joaquin Flores does).
Paul was an apostle, he had the gift of healing. Now today, God does heal, but he doesn’t give that gift to men today. But Paul had that gift. And he not only had the gift of healing – he could raise the dead. That was another mark of an apostle. Peter raised the dead, Paul raised the dead. Has SJF?
Now, Paul is a bond-slave of Jesus Christ. He is a called apostle. And the 3rd thing that’s said about him here – Paul was separated UNTO the gospel of God. I want you to notice this because this is a remarkable thing.
He was separated “unto”, not separated from anything. But separated UNTO the gospel of God. It’s God’s gospel because he originated it. I didn’t think it up, no man thought it up.
2,000 years ago, the Lord did not say “well, I know it’s time for Jesus to go into the world, but maybe Colin won’t like it. Maybe he has a better program, let’s wait till he gets here.” He didn’t do that at all.
I got here and the gospel had already been in existence for over 1900 years, and it’s God’s gospel. And He said to me “take it or leave it.” And BTW, He’s saying that to you – you take it or leave it. He originated the gospel.
But Paul says he’s separated unto the gospel, not separated “from” anything, but separated “unto”. This is a very marvelous word, By the way – “separated UNTO”. There are several words that almost have an opposite meaning. For instance – take the word “cleave”, you can cleave to something, or you can cleave a thing asunder. It actually can sometimes mean ‘to join together’, and other times can mean ‘to separate.’ Well, Paul was a separated Christian, but he was separated TO something, not separated FROM anything.
I hear a lot of preaching in LLDM about how they are supposedly separated from so many things – they say they’ve taken this out, they don’t do that or the other. But, my friend, what are you separated UNTO? Not what you’re separated from. The important thing is to be separated UNTO something.
Paul said about the Thessalonians – they had turned to God from idols. They didn’t get up in a meeting and say “Oh, I don’t go to the temple of Apollo any more.” They didn’t need to say that – they were separated UNTO the Lord Jesus. And when you’re separated unto Him, you don’t need to be separated from anything.
You are to be separated unto Christ, and when you are separated unto Christ, then the separation “from” takes place. It’s like when a couple gets married – they are separated unto each other, not separated from everyone else, but separated unto each other. The church is the bride of Christ, and when you’re separated unto the bridegroom, you’re not going to say on the honeymoon “well, I’ve got an old flame in this town, I think I’ll look em up.”
If you’re separated unto the Lord Jesus, then you’re not going to worry about being separated from anything.
And this word for ’separate’ is very interesting. It’s the same word we get our word “horizon” from (Greek ‘aphorizo’), and it means it would be “off horizon.” If you’ve ever been on a plane, you know you can’t see much on the ground. But when the plane takes off, the horizon widens out and you can see everything – mountains, oceans. How wonderful it is to be separated unto Christ! He brings you to the place where your horizons are enlarged and you’re given life in Christ Jesus. How wonderful that new life is!
It brings you to a new place and an appreciation of life. Paul said “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”(1 Corinthians 13:11). There was I time that I recall as a little boy that I used to play house. There were a bunch of girls in the neighborhood, and only a few boys, so in order to play, we played house. Well, there came a day when I outgrew that and I went out and played baseball instead. And the girls would say “let’s play house,” and I’d say “no, I’m not interested in playing house, I’m playing catcher here on the team. I’m not interested in that.” – A new horizon.
And I don’t play baseball too much anymore, but the thing is I’m interested in something else – horizons have widened out. And if you come to Christ, you’re separated unto Him. Separation doesn’t mean you’re drawn in and you become little and narrow. It means, my friend, that your life is broadened out, and there are so many wonderful things you can do as a child of God. And you can have an appreciation of things today.
May I say to you that it is thrilling to live in Christ. What a glorious, marvelous thing it is! And Paul was separated unto the gospel of God, and he said the gospel is not something brand new. Paul says now:
“(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)”(Romans 1:2)
And that means that if you go back into the Old Testament, that it was promised all the way through the Old Testament. And it is a message that God loves – that’s good news! That God loves mankind, what a wonderful thing that is! It brings you into a love relationship.
If you read all the way through this epistle to the Romans, you find out that Salvation is a love affair. He loved us and we love Him because He first loved us.
Next, Paul makes one of the greatest statements in this Epistle, and we are told what the Gospel is that was promised in the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament:
“Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;”(Romans 1:3)
The word for ‘concerning’ is the little preposition ‘peri.’ That root is in ‘periscope’ and ‘perimeter’, and it just means that which encircles. The Gospel is all about Jesus Christ, it’s what He has done. It’s His work, and it’s Jesus Christ our Lord. That is His wonderful name, and the Gospel is about what He has done.
A gentleman from LLDM recently said to me that what I need is to have the “religion of Jesus. But, well – He had no religion. He doesn’t need one. He is God. And I felt like saying to this gentleman “no, what you need is a religion that’s ABOUT Jesus.” The Gospel is all about Him, it surrounds Him. It’s what He’s done. Jesus Christ – actually He is God. He cannot worship, He came to be worshipped.
Now, someone may say “but He prayed.” Well, He took the place of humanity. And He did that actually for your sake and for my sake. When He prayed, He did it as a means of accomodation. What I mean is this – remember at the grave of Lazarus?
“Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”(John 11:41-42)
My friend, He prayed for your benefit and my benefit, to help our faith. But He is the Lord – Jesus Christ. Now, there’s something else wonderful said about Him here – He is the seed of David according to the flesh. That’s the humanity of Jesus.
“and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”(Romans 1:4)
Once again, the little verb for “to be” is not in the original manuscript in this verse. He was declared the Son of God. (not declared “to be”, because He always was). He’s declared the Son of God with power.
You see, the Resurrection didn’t make Him the Son of God, it just revealed what He already was. And we actually have here the same word “horizon” that we had before. He’s ‘declared’, He’s ‘horizoned’ the Son of God. We have here the perfect humanity of Christ, and also the perfect Deity of Christ. He’s not any more man because He’s God, and He’s not any less God because He’s man. He is the “The-anthropic” Person – the God/Man.
Now, it’s according to the Spirit of holiness – a clear reference to the Holy Spirit. We have the Trinity set before us here. It’s concerning His (the Father) Son Jesus Christ. And He is declared the Son of God, with power according to the Spirit of holiness (the Holy Spirit). And it’s by the Resurrection from the dead.
May I say, the Resurrection proves everything He claimed. It is that which confirms to us that He is the Son of God. The Resurrection proves His claims, and it sets Him forth. We have the Trinity set before us here, and we have the Deity of Christ set before us here also.
And, we have the virgin birth set before us here. He is the seed of David according to the flesh. That’s the reason we have 2 genealogies. One is in Matthew – that’s of Joseph, He got the legal title from Joseph.
But He got the blood from Mary, because He’s in the line of Mary, and that’s her genealogy in the Gospel of Luke.
I hope by now, any one reading has discovered the importance of this section of Scripture called the book of Romans – it’s really a guide to all true Christian doctrines. It’s very important.
It’s the Gospel that was promised before by the prophets in the Old Testament. And it’s the gospel of God because He originated it, I didn’t think it up and neither did Paul. And it’s a gospel that ‘concerns’ His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. And that little word ‘concern’ means it’s all around Him, it’s all about Him. It’s a Person.
Today, there is a difference between ‘religion’, and real Christianity. Christianity actually is not a religion, it’s a Person and that Person is Jesus Christ. “Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”
And Paul presents the virgin birth here “He was made of the seed of David.” You see, Jesus was conceived in Mary’s womb by the Holy Spirit before she had known a man’s touch. But He was born of the sperm of David. How? Mary was a descendant of King David. That’s why the Old Testament is written the way it is. It’s big on genealogies – who gave birth to whom. The Christ was promised to come in the line of David, and according to His human side – Jesus was the son of a descendant of David’s line. She had royal blood, but she was not royalty. “He was made of the seed of David according to the flesh.” My friend, this is His humanity.
He was virgin born because He is declared, He’s marked out, He’s horizoned, not to be but He is the Son of God with power. And all of this according to the Spirit of holiness by the Resurrection from the dead. The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus confirms everything, it proves everything.
If you read the Bible through – from Genesis to Malachi, to Matthew to Revelation, you will find that it presents the Lord Jesus Christ in the power of His Resurrection. He’s seen in the days of His flesh walking on the earth. He’s despised and rejected by man, even walking in weakness where He sits down and rests at a well. He’s finally brought to humiliation and shame and death on that cursed cross. That’s where we see Him first. But although He was a man with many sorrows and grief, there came a time when He was raised from the dead! And it’s accurate when He said “You are from beneath, I am from above. You are of this world, I am not of this world.”
And so that body came forth from the grave, death cannot keep it’s prey – Jesus my Savior. The days of walking through the dusty roads of that land are over now, and He came back from the dead in Mighty Power. And that is the thing that proves His virgin birth and that He is exactly who He claimed to be. And the other great truth here – we see Him as the Resurrected Christ today, presently seated at the right hand of God, interceding today for His church, for believers; and giving them power and comforting them.
What does the Resurrected Christ mean to you today, my friend? That is the most important thing. Is the Living Christ one you are having contact with?
Because of His Resurrection, we know that He is coming back as the judge and the King. King of kings and Lord of lords, He is going to put down sin and the devil, and He is going to reign in righteousness on this earth. He is going to judge the earth, and He is going to judge mankind.
That’s what Paul said, he said “We ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold or silver or stone gravened by art and man’s device.” And “The times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commands all men everywhere to repent. Because He has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom He has ordained, whereas He has given assurance to all men in that He has raised Him from the dead.”
May I say to you, my friend that a most solemn fact is that because Jesus Christ came back from the dead, you will one day have to stand before Him. You will either stand before Him as one who has trusted Him as your Savior, or you will stand before Him in judgement. And the very fact that you have not accepted Him, means that the condemnation of God must be upon you.
The Resurrection is the pledge and guarantee that you are going to have to face the Lord Jesus Christ. You cannot stand before Him in your own righteousness. You must be condemned to a lost eternity unless you trust Him as your Savior, my friend. Oh how important and how thrilling this is! Now, Paul goes on to say here:
“Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,”(Romans 1:5)
Notice this – “Through Him we have received grace…” God saves us by grace. I have been saved by grace – that’s God’s method of Salvation. We never would have been saved if God had not been gracious. “…and apostleship…” Now this means that there were (past tense), those who were technically Apostles.
But every believer is a “sent one”, that’s what “apostelo”, Apostle means. One who has been sent, one who is a witness, one who has a message. “Through Him we have received grace and apostleship…” – and your life ought to be counting somewhere today. You ought to be doing something to get the Word of God out today. I confess, I do get wearied in it sometimes, but I’m thrilled by it!
What are you doing to get the Word of God out today? That is the church’s business and it is every believer’s business.
“for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,” Now, God saves us by faith, not by works. But after God has saved you, He wants to talk to you about your good works, my friend. And about your obedience to Him. There is a huge difference between this “believism” that a lot of the world talks about and Genuine Saving Faith. A lot of people talk about “I believe in Jesus,” but then they live like the devil and seem to be serving him. Saving Faith makes you obedient to the LORD Jesus Christ.
There surely is a difference between “faith” and “Saving faith”. You see, it’s the object of your faith – the object of Saving Faith is Christ. Faith in SJF will not do anything to save you.
Let me put it like this – I believe in Thomas Jefferson. I think he was a good man – 3rd president, author of the Declaration of Independence. And I believe in Jesus Christ.
Now, faith in Thomas Jefferson has never done anything for me. He doesn’t have a thing to do with my salvation, and very little to do with my life. But faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is something else. That’s saving faith.
And when you have Saving Faith, you are brought to the place where you surrender to the Son of God who loved you and gave himself for you.
Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Joaquin, Aaron Joaquin – none of them ever died on a cross for me. There’s only 1 who loved me enough to do that for me.
Doctrine is important – it’s all important. And you couldn’t be the salt of the earth without combining the 2 – Saving Faith and Good Works.
Ever think about what goes into salt? Salt is made up of 2 poisons – sodium, and chloride. You take sodium by itself, and it will poison you. Chloride by itself is poisonous. But if you put the 2 together – you have salt. That’s something that’s very important for us to see – The Gospel is for the obedience of faith, my beloved. That is Saving Faith and that is what Paul is talking about.
Now, Paul makes clear the Christian doctrine of “divine election”, he says:
“among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;”(Romans 1:6)
“among whom you also are the called” – well, Paul’s talking about the “elect” here isn’t he? Yes, that’s right. Who are the called? The called are those who heard, some don’t hear. The Lord Jesus made it very clear, He said “My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me.”
My friend, if you are following somebody else, or something else, then you just have not heard Him. He must not be your shepherd, because He said “my sheep hear my voice.”
And they’re the ones who are called, I don’t care about arguing over “election.” It’s as simple as this – He calls, and you answer. And if you haven’t answered, you’re not the elect. If you have answered, you’re the elect.
And that’s just about as far as my poor simple mind can follow that, by the way. That is exactly what Paul is talking about here – “the called of Jesus Christ.” Then, he says:
“To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”(Romans 1:7)
Isn’t that lovely? God loves those in Rome. “beloved of God,” isn’t that wonderful? And here we have it “called to be saints”, well that doesn’t get any clearer and once again that little verb “to be” is not in the better manuscripts. They’re called saints. This is the name for every believer.
Actually, a saint is not one who has been exalted, a saint is one who exalts Jesus Christ. There’s a big difference, by the way. You don’t make saints by exalting mankind, a person becomes a saint when he exalts Jesus Christ, and He becomes His Savior.
So really, there’s only 2 categories of people in the world – “the saints”, and “the ain’ts.” You’re a saint if you’ve trusted Christ. It’s not your character that makes you a saint, it’s your faith in Jesus Christ.
Now will you notice how Paul concludes his intro? It’s the same way I’m going to now conclude this post, because I wish the same for all of you reading this. My beloved:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
June 9th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Also I have learned way more of the falacies this church teaches from you and christopher, and many others. Believe me your work is not in vain!
People like Sum, christopher and myself have a deep concern because our family members are being deceived. I get an angry indignation too when I realize that these loving members are being led astray in a grave way from the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Imagine too how much i have invested i have young children. I am blessed to know that they are sanctified because of my faith in the true Lord and Savior Jesus. But how easy they they could be sucked in because of their fathers faith. There are times when my husband will take my child with him. My heart aches because they are so impressionable. Sometimes when I go I feel that sadness as i look into the childrens eyes. When the church is doing their prayers I pray for those little children sitting around me. I know now my purpose as a mom is to teach my children about Jesus because He is the only way.
June 9th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Colin,
No it was not too blunt. Sometimes we need to get to the point. Like Jesus talking to Peter and asking him, “Who do you say I am?” This is what matters in the end. Having apostles ,teacher, pastors do nothing if they are not teaching the true Jesus.
Don’t give up because the more you do for the Lord the more Satan will try to bring you down.
It seems that the LLDM dont really care about what is taught about Jesus. They seem to focus on who the apostle is. The question to me is always, “well who is your pastor? Who is teaching you. Do they have the authority?” I think it was Alberto who said to open a members eyes you would have to disprove their apostle. Their whole faith lies in the apostle.
Yes Colin I too have attended to several services since I have been married and even a celebration they had in January for those who didn’t make it to the August thing. I have witnessed baptisms, marriages and teenagers turning 14. I have heard letters that SJF have written the churches. It doesn’t take but one or two times of going to realize how indoctrinated these members are on the election of the apostle.
June 8th, 2010 at 10:24 pm
Sorry if my last comment is too blunt, Mary.
I just get tired of hearing the same old responses that A) are not sound, Biblical answers or B) boast arrogantly, while at the same time are completely inadequate explanations.
“Just go to the church. Just talk to a pastor.” (When you just got through explaining to them that you did go to the church and ask the pastor, but the pastor couldn’t answer either).
“Just talk to them, questions are welcome.” (When you tell them you’ve gone several times and had several pastors just walk away when questioned, never even attempting an answer).
“You must have faith.” (Guess what? I do – faith in God’s word, not faith in a man’s word. ‘having faith’ does not mean just believing whatever some man says).
“This is what I believe and I am happy and it makes me feel good believing it” (As if your feelings are going to dictate how God acts. As if you being happy will deter God’s wrath. As if God says ‘well, they feel good believing something that originated from a man who thought it up in 1926, so that’s good enough for me because they feel good’).
As if.
In summary – I get tired in the work. But I will never get tired of the work of My Master Christ Jesus. If I get a prayer request – pray for God to give me more patience, because mine runs out more often than it should.
I do apologize if I offended anyone. I just feel like I stumbled down the rabbit hole sometimes.
“… and that shows that there are three hundred and sixty-four days when you might get unbirthday presents.”
“Certainly,” said Alice.
“And only one for birthday presents, you know. There’s glory for you!”
“I don’t know what you mean by ‘glory,’” Alice said.
Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. “Of course you don’t — till I tell you. I meant ‘there’s a nice knockdown argument for you.’”
“But ‘glory’ doesn’t mean ‘a nice knockdown argument,’” Alice objected.
“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said in a rather scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.”
“The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.”
“The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master — that’s all.”
Alice was too puzzled to say anything, so, after a minute, Humpty Dumpty began again. “They’ve a temper, some of them — particularly verbs, they’re the proudest: adjectives you can do anything with, but not verbs. However, I can manage the whole lot of them! Impenetrability! That’s what I say!”
“Would you tell me please,” said Alice, “what that means?”
“Now you talk like a reasonable child,” said Humpty Dumpty, looking very much pleased. I meant by ‘impenetrability’ that we’ve had enough of that subject, and it would be just as well if you’d mention what you mean to do next, as I suppose you don’t mean to stop here all the rest of your life.”
“That’s a great deal to make one word mean,” Alice said in a thoughtful tone.
“When I make a word do a lot of work like that,” said Humpty Dumpty, “I always pay it extra.”
“Oh!” said Alice. She was too much puzzled to make any other remark.
“Ah, you should see ‘em come round me of a Saturday night,” Humpty Dumpty went on, wagging his head gravely from side to side; “for to get their wages, you know.”
(Alice did not venture to ask what he paid them with; and so, you see, I can’t tell you.)
-Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.
June 8th, 2010 at 7:05 pm
Wow Colin talk about straight to the point and in a nutshell.
Christopher- You said you went to Guadalajara and visited and went to a basement and saw a “paramilitary” construction. What is your view in this construction or the reason for it??
For instance if Samuel is believed to be the one in the second coming why him? Why wouldnt be any other apostle?? Anyways don’t they realize their is no scripture to back this up at all! The bible says it will be Jesus who comes back.
June 8th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Josh, you say “for the record we love Jesus,”
OK, but Josh – who do you say Jesus is?
What LLDM teaches is that the Spirit of God, the Word, came down to earth and entered into the body of man named Jesus at the time of his baptism by John the Baptist. LLDM teaches that at his birth, a baby born such as Moses. One destined to serve God, but not God in the flesh. Just a man, and this man’s name was Jesus. Jesus was raised and lived like any other human being and at his baptism God send his Word, the Spirit, into the human Jesus. So in other words Jesus, the man, was a human host for the Word of God to come to mankind here in earth.
That is not what the Bible teaches about who Jesus is. If Jesus was just a normal human man and not the very perfection of God himself, then his blood was not perfect and did not have the power to cover all of the past, present and future sins of mankind to those who call on his name. Because only the perfection of God in the flesh can remove the sin that Adam brought to mankind by the sacrifice and shedding of His perfect blood, be raised from the dead in the “first fruit” immortal body, to ascend into heaven in the flesh and as a man to be the true and perfect High Priest for us in heaven at the right hand of God the Father (Hebrews 1).
John states a very simple and definitive Christological statement in his epistle (1 John), that Jesus Christ came “in” the flesh and not “in to” the flesh. This is the whole point of the virgin birth. The Holy Spirit conceived its self into a virgin girl, Mary, so that a male child could be born with out the sin of Adam that is past down by the seed of man. God is the father of himself the Word. This is the only way the God could make the perfect blood to sacrifice and remove the sin of Adam upon mankind. This is why we have such a detailed telling of the birth of Jesus Christ and the wise men that came to worship him, a baby! They were declaring to the entire world that this baby is the King of Kings. In the world of royalty the rules are very clear, you do not address a man King until his has been anointed and becomes the King. Jesus Christ was already the King of Kings at the time of his birth into the world, up to his baptism, at the cross, in the grave, during his 40 days among us, at his going to heaven, and at this very moment in the flesh seated at the right hand of God the Father!
If LLDM really is the “only true church” as they claim, then why have you not been able to answer this question, josh, of “Who is Jesus, what did He do, and what is He doing today?” This question is all important. Because if a person is wrong about who Jesus is, they are wrong about who God is. And if they’re wrong about who God is, they are wrong about everything else.
If you have the right view of Jesus, you have the right beginning. (Luke 10:16) “The one who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.” If you reject Jesus, the true Jesus, the one and only, then you are rejecting God, no matter what you think.
Anybody who rejects Christ rejects God. You honor the Son and the Father or neither. And the idea today is that other religions worship the same God. They don’t. If you reject Jesus as God in human flesh, you reject Jesus as the God/Man – fully God, fully man, who came as a substitute for sin then you don’t know God no matter what you think.
June 5th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Josh,
You said about me that “your nature disgusts me”.
I’m in return just feel sorry for you and pray to God to open your eyes. By any chance are you Joshua Vera, the son of Hector Vera, the former minister of LLDM? I know him very well and I would like to contact him.
God Bless You
June 5th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Josh
I tried to talk to a paster can you please tell me why he could not answer my questions?
June 5th, 2010 at 12:41 pm
oh man i dont even want to bother to be here anymore. im wasting my time here. oh well and for the record we love Jesus, it is in His Holy name that we pray to God. and i do read alot about Him and we recently talked about His return in the day of judgement. get the facts straight im out of here, may God Bless you and maybe forgive you for talking alot of bad things. i could go here to answer more of you rhetorical questions but i think itd be in vain. if you really feel like talking to a member of the church, go to the nearest one. we always welcome those who have questions. and to frank medina your nature disgusts me.
June 5th, 2010 at 11:13 am
I feel you Frank. when i walk in my in laws house I get a little weirded out by his big picture on their wall. I find it ironic that my husband gets freaked out about seeing a picture of Jesus hanging in a home. Whose picture is hanging in your home? Now I am not saying we have to have pictures hanging in our homes I am just making a point that LLDM faith is based on the apostle not on Jesus. What is the talk about in your homes? My inlaws are constantly talking about SJF. From the abundance of our heart our mouth speaks. SJF is the heart of your worship not Jesus.
June 5th, 2010 at 10:57 am
Josh,
I don think members of LLDM are stupid. yes the bible may be encouraged but also your church teaches to read only the verses they give you and to not read beyond that or you might be putting your own interpretation on the verses. What do you mean by God giving testimony of his messengers? You mean people giving their testimony of how they feel when look upon SJF? please clarify. Because feelings are subjective and what makes your or my feelings true or right compared to others who feel their pope or god or pastor is true. Josh if you really have read the bible in it’s context and purpose you would have to honestly question LLDM doctrine. Again I am not calling you stupid but do you know what taking scripture out of context means?
Furthermore i beg you and all members to search the scriptures daily and diligently study them to find out what they testify about Jesus. Take your focus off man even if you believe he is holy and focus on Christ. Satan doesnt want any focus to be on Jesus. you are offended what people say of SJF but are ignoring what people say about Jesus. The whole bible testifies of who Jesus is not testifying of his messengers. I hate to say this but I think David was the only one who did keep the focus on Jesus. unfortunately he did not accept what the bible testified of Him as God. This is the only thing that will matter at the end. Who you say Jesus is and do you worship him as such! Not who do you say SJF is and do you honor him as such.
June 5th, 2010 at 8:46 am
I think the picture posted of the false apostle is just fine. That way every one will see that that is one ugly angel. by the way we are more offended then you are Josh that your false apostle changed the bible and made things in his own rules as he clam’s to be Jesus. Jesus is not happy how can you call him an angel if Jesus him self is upset.
June 4th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Sorry Colin and Chris. I know sarcasm is not Christian but I couldn’t help it.
June 4th, 2010 at 9:15 pm
I agree with josh Oscar.
You should remove the image of Samuel Joaquín Flores. It’s an offense to the senses and reason. When I look at his image, I feel repulsion, not only because he is ugly as an slap in the face from my mother in law, but because his image represent to me the worst, hypocrisy, corruption and over all, the enemy of God by excellence. I do not understand how come Samuel can look at himself in a mirror or picture without being nauseated. Look at the gestures full of vanity and selfishness. Look at the features of his face, is the face of the Devil.
So, I’m with you josh.
June 4th, 2010 at 7:02 pm
Josh,
If I was a LLDM member, I wouldn’t like this blog either. Namely, because it exposes beyond a reasonable doubt that LLDM is founded on lies and that Samuel is a fake. Now, I am sorry if you feel anger, just know that when we write here, we don’t do it with malice in our heart. If you have known LLDM all your life, you should get out more and think for yourself. Don’t believe things just because your parents and close ones believe it. I never implied that all LLDM members were ignorant, just most of them and this is why Samuel preys on them. I have no problem with the people that attend, most are good people it is the doctrine that is wrong.
Regarding removing Samuel’s image, it would have to be several people resquesting that. As Samuel Joaquin’s image can be found upon firing up Google, I really see no use removing the image. Perhaps, you are in the mindset that we are dirtying your “apostle’s” image, similar to how Muslims condemn any image of ther holy prophet.
June 4th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
“reading the Bible is “encouraged” and that the teaching of Samuel Joaquin coincide with it.”
Josh, reading the Bible may be officially “encouraged” by LLDM, but subliminally it is discouraged because “the teaching of Samuel Joaquin” is that there must be an apostle living on earth (namely him) to properly understand the Bible.
In effect “we encourage you to read the Bible, but you will not understand the Bible without SJF.”
Quite frankly, this is not a teaching that conincides with the Bible, it is one that contradicts it.
And Josh, you never answered my question: Who is Jesus? What did Jesus do? What is Jesus doing today?
I don’t recall ever implying that you were stupid or ignorant, Josh so if you felt that way from anything I said, I do apologize – that sincerely was not my intention.
But if LLDM is the only true church, and it is based on the truth, then I’m curious as to why you would get so angry at us and not want to talk to us anymore – because according to LLDM, we don’t have the ability even to understand the truth without SJF. Why then, would you be unwilling to dialogue with us and be confident in your faith enough to answer questions when they are asked.
Who is Jesus? What did Jesus do? What is Jesus doing today?
I propose that Oscar should only consider honoring your request of SJF’s picture if and when you are able to answer these questions. After all – those who want respect give respect.
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”(1 Peter 3:15)
Josh, Members of LLDM, faithful followers of Samuel Joaquin:
I want nothing to do with the false gospel preached by Samuel Joaquin Flores, and I stand strongly against the tainted message he projects. The reason is because I am a fool for The Lord Jesus Christ. Whose fool are you?
June 4th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
also to Mary im sorry your husband does not read the Bible, its not what the Church preaches. and we dont just use the Bible to prove that Samuel is and Apostle, God gives testimony of his messengers.
June 4th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
this is josh again and i can’t help but feel the anger inside me bubbling up inside. i have continually been getting the comments that appear here since i did comment and leave my email. but the accusations have gone to a ridiculous level. i have been born and raised in the Church you say, Oscar Nuno is founded on lies. i take this as a great offense for the only reason because you say we are a ignorant members. if you knew even the slightest thing about the church you would know that reading the Bible is “encouraged” and that the teaching of Samuel Joaquin coincide with it. i know you guys and gals are gunna come back and comment how stupid and ignorant i am so im not gunna bother come back here. but i would like to request one small thing to Oscar. i hope you read this. i dont like this blog but this is a free country so you can have it right, but i respectfully request for you to take off the picture you have of Samuel. its a petition i have and i hope you respect it.
June 4th, 2010 at 11:23 am
ON HOW BAD LEADERS RESEMBLE NATURE
I watched the other day a program in Animal Planet about a wasp so cunning that it injects its eggs in caterpillars. Along with its eggs, it injects its DNA which makes the caterpillar to consider the foreign eggs as OWN!
When the little wasps hatch from the eggs, they start to eat the caterpillar from inside out.
Even-though the caterpillar is suffering and being eaten alive from inside, it defends the little wasps from predators that try to attack the wasps!
This cunning and devilish nature resembled me the behavior of the “apostle” of LLDM and his faithful people.
He “injects” his DNA (the doctrine of “divine election” of the Joaquin García family) in the minds of the people in LLDM, and even though they are being exploited and eaten alive in all the orders of life (moral, physical and economically), the people of LLDM defend his siblings, and even his extended family.
June 4th, 2010 at 6:19 am
Mary, I’m sorry to hear that your husband does not want to study the Bible for himself. It must be so difficult for you when someone you love so dearly will not study with you. That’s heartbreaking, and I sincerely will keep you in my prayers.
What I suggest, if it’s possible, is to ask him questions that cause him to really think about what he believes and why. And about why he doesn’t hunger to know God’s word for himself.
One question I always loved that will get a lot of people thinking, is a quote from the late Adrian Rodgers.
He said “How can you possibly know the God of the Bible if you don’t know the Bible of God?”
June 3rd, 2010 at 9:45 am
Mary, you’re right.
The Holy Spirit gives gifts according to His will, so it’s a grave mistake to say that speaking in tongues is the only manifestation of receiving the Holy Spirit.
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.”(1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
There are many different gifts, but all are the work of one and the same Spirit. He gives them as he determines. You can’t limit the Spirit by saying that speaking in tongues is the only sign, because you are putting limitations on God if you do so, and are also contradicting the words of Paul in the above passage.
Also, this whole thing about a pastor or a leader has to “confirm” that you’ve received the Holy Spirit is an outright lie, and it also contradicts Paul who said there are only 2 witnesses when you receive the Holy Spirit – yourself, and the Spirit Himself.
“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”(Romans 8:16)
But LLDM members are told that a pastor must confirm it for them. Another way of keeping them unnecessarily dependent upon the group.
June 3rd, 2010 at 8:45 am
Colin ans Sum,
Thanks for your words. My husband came to church when he was 12 and was baptized at 14. He “received” during one of the “revivals” they have. It is where they go down to basement and pray on their knees asking for the Holy Spirit. To them I think it is a separate event. They have to pray the right way or something like that. Anyways he received it.
I once witnessed one of these “revivals” where everyone was crying and wailing and this girl kept crying Jesus Christo. The pastor at that time was Nacion(spelling) the apostles son. He was sitting behind her listening to her. My inlaw told me he was listening to see if she has received. I am assuming he was listening to see if she was speaking in tongues. Now don’t get me wrong I believe that speaking in tongues is a spiritual gift. But I don’t believe it is the only evidence that you have the Holy Spirit. The whole experience made me feel like I was in a Pentecostal church (no offense to Pentecostals).
Colin- I actually wish my husband would use the bible to defend his faith because at least that would give opportunity for Holy Spirit to open his eyes.
June 2nd, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Colin,
No even worse he doesnt even use the bible to prove the apostles authenticity he just believes what they the church teaches them. I sometimes wishes he would use the bible so at least the Holy Spirit has a chance to work on his heart and open his eyes through it!
June 2nd, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Colin and Sum,
Thanks for your words. My husband came to the church when he was 12 years old. He was baptized at 14. And yes he has “received” during one of those revivals or whatever where they go down to basement and pray on their knees for hours and his name was called.
I was once there and witnessed one of the “revivals” where a bunch of the people were crying and wailing and Brother Nacion(spelling) the apostles son(he was the pastor at that time) was listening intently to a young girl and what she was crying. I think she kept crying Jesus Christo over and over. The whole place was crying. I felt like I was in a pentecostal church( no offense to pentecostals). I beleive they were seeing if she was speaking in tongues. Now I do believe that speaking in tongues is a gift of the spirit dont get me wrong. But I don’t believe it is the only evidence that one has the Holy Spirit.
June 2nd, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Good point sum.
Mary, I see it like this – once he stops using the Bible to try to prove the “authenticity” of his “apostle”, and actually starts using the Bible to learn about the Lord Jesus, that’s when you’ll start to see the change from his eyes being opened to the truth of God’s Word.
Will it ever happen? I don’t know. But I truly pray for you that it will, and my hope is that the 2 of you may grow old and gray together, free from the hypocrisy and lies of LLDM, and both dedicated to the One and Only true source of Salvation – The Lord Jesus Christ!
June 2nd, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Mary
It must be so frustrating for you to know the truth and be married to some one that is living in a lie. Mary you are saved because you have found Jesus to be our only savior and you might have to remember that your husband is not saved yet. I always thought that my husband was a believer in God and that counts for something but you can not be saved in the name of an apostle Jesus has to be the only savior to be saved. When your husband excepts Jesus as his only savior then his eyes will be opened. When my husband decided to open his eyes for me that is when he read the bible with me with an open mind rather then looking around the truth and trying to find truth in the lies of LLDM. Prayer prayer and pray God will open his eyes.
June 2nd, 2010 at 8:04 am
Anyways, I’ll save more details for another blog, because I think we’ve gotten off the actual topic of this blog.
LLDM Members vehemently deny that they ever praise their “apostles” inappropriately. My question is this – are you 100% sure of that?
As one of many examples I could give, I refer you to a LLDM Hymn titled “On this memorial Day” (hymn 160, page 126 in most LLDM himnarios).
Part of the song says “As the wise men brought gifts for their king, the church is also offering for thou (referring to Aaron Joaquin) art our king”.
This blatantly suggests that Aaron is equivalent to Christ.
“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.”(Matthew 2:11)
what I don’t understand is how someone could consider themselves Christian, and yet call anyone but Christ “King”. When was the Apostle Paul called king??
I have more examples I will give when I have more time, but I thought to just post this one briefly to direct us all back to the actual topic here and the real purpose of this blog.
God’s blessings to all of you from God our Father and our King Christ the Lord.
June 2nd, 2010 at 6:26 am
It didn’t happen just a few years after the declaration of independence. The banks didn’t take over until 1913 when the private Federal Reserve (about as “Federal” as Federal Express), bailed out the bankrupted U.S. Government, and was given authority to print currency.
Andrew Jackson, Thomas Jefferson and the founding fathers warned against letting the bankers take control as they have. Abraham Lincoln fought strongly against the bankers taking control (the real reason I think he was assasinated, BTW).
Now, I don’t think Obama is the antichrist (he’s probably closer to the false prophet), but he is supporting the creating of a New World Order. Obama works for wall street, the same puppet masters who controlled Bush. It’s not nonsense, it’s actually very real. They’ve proposed dumping the dollar for a new world currency similar to the Euro, political moves are being made towards Mexico, the U.S. and Canada ending up like Europe. There has been talk of developing a central world bank.
President Bush Senior was the first to openly mention the “New World Order” at the Geneva conference in 1990. I know this sounds like conspiracy theory, but investigate it yourself, look up the following quotes:
““Now is the time for a strong international response, And North Korea must know that the path to security and respect will never come through threats and illegal weapons. All nations must come together to build a stronger global regime. That’s why we must stand shoulder to shoulder to pressure the North Koreans to change course.”
“Yes, there have been differences between America and Europe. No doubt, there will be differences in the future. But the burdens of global citizenship continue to bind us together. A change of leadership in Washington will not lift this burden. In this new century, Americans and Europeans alike will be required to do more – not less. Partnership and cooperation among nations is not a choice; it is the one way, the only way, to protect our common security and advance our common humanity.” – Barack Obama
“Today, America would be outraged if U.N. troops entered Los Angeles to restore order [referring to the 1991 LA Riot]. Tomorrow they will be grateful! This is especially true if they were told that there were an outside threat from beyond [i.e., an "extraterrestrial" invasion], whether real or *promulgated*, that threatened our very existence. It is then that all peoples of the world will plead to deliver them from this evil. The one thing every man fears is the unknown. When presented with this *scenario*, individual rights will be willingly relinquished for the guarantee of their well-being granted to them by the World Government.” – Henry Kissinger
“And I believe it will be said of this age, the first decades of the 21st century, that out of the greatest restructuring of the global economy, perhaps even greater than the industrial revolution, a new world order was created.”
“For the first time in human history we have the opportunity to come together to create a new global covenant and a true global society.” – Gordon Brown, British prime minister
“This present window of opportunity, during which a truly peaceful and interdependent world order might be built, will not be open for too long – We are on the verge of a global transformation. All we need is the right major crisis and the nations will accept the New World Order.” – David Rockefeller
“We had a World view, Republican and Democratic presidents alike; from Harry Truman to George Bush. . .stood for freedom. . .and stood for certain propositions that would make America strong and healthy and grow the middle class and shrink poverty and stand against Communism. . .and after 1989 President Bush would (say) a phrase i often use myself that we needed a New World Order.” – Bill Clinton
Now I recommend you all read the Arizona immigration law (it’s only 10 pages – much shorter than the healthcare bill). What they did was make the provisions which allow for the existing law to be enforced. And the language used in the bill actually forbids use of racial profiling when tracking down illegal immigrants.
I understand people’s concern with that, but there’s always a difference between the letter of the law and the actual application of the law. If racial profiling does become an issue, then the problem is with law enforcement, not with the law makers because this law strictly forbids it.
As I mentioned, there is no perfect government and there never will be until the Lord Jesus Christ returns.
But I would like to bring to all of your attention some other immigration laws in the world (read all the way to the end or you’ll miss the point of this):
1. There will be no special bilingual programs in the schools. * * * * * * * *
2. All ballots will be in this nation’s language. * * * * * * * *
3. All government business will be conducted in our language. * * * * * * *
4. Non-residents will NOT have the right to vote no matter how long they are here. * * * * * *
5. Non-citizens will NEVER be able to hold political office. * * * * * * * *
6. Foreigners will not be a burden to the taxpayers. No welfare, no food stamps, no health care, or other government assistance programs. Any burden will be deported. * * * * * * * *
7. Foreigners can invest in this country, but it must be an amount at least equal to 40,000 times the daily minimum wage. * * * * * * * *
8. If foreigners come here and buy land… options will be restricted. Certain parcels including waterfront property are reserved for citizens
naturally born into this country. * * * * * * * *
9. Foreigners may have no protests; no demonstrations, no waving of a foreign flag, no political organizing, no bad-mouthing our president or
his policies. These will lead to deportation. * * * * * * * *
10. If you do come to this country illegally, you will be actively hunted &, when caught, sent to jail until your deportation can be arranged.
All assets will be taken from you. * * * * * * * * *
Too strict? The above laws are current immigration laws of Mexico.
June 1st, 2010 at 11:20 pm
colin,
Yeah. politics is ugly, problmatic, as is with religion.
Filing the paper work and paying your fees is just a portion of the legal requirements to gain legal entrance into the U.S. Those other requirements I mentioned are legitimate; unless you are a citizen of the E.U., The U.S. no longer requieres a VISA from citizens belonging to a E.U.Nation. How ever, after 3-6months, you are required to return to your home country, unless you are here on business through employer sponsership. As U.S. or Nationalized citizens of the U.S. were are privilaged. Nothing is demanded from us other then to file & pay.
If you’re not a citizen of a E.U. nation those extra requiremens i mentioned apply to you. Or if you fall under the catagory of refugee status, or if your lucky, a U.S. government lottery sponsored visa. Refugee status or lottery is not available to Mexicans and almost all latin amarican nationals for obvious reasons.
this idea that Obama is the anticrist or that he’s contributing towards the development of the new world order adopted by many conservative groups who traditionally support the republican party, in my opinion its nonesence. all their doing is collecting the current facts of todays down turn in america in order to fuel support for republican party. and many conservatives and cristians are buying into it.
The U.S. government officials sold this country to the world banks when they handed americas gold to three private bankers and called them the U.S. federal reserve bank. Just a few years after the declaration of Independance.
June 1st, 2010 at 10:21 pm
Mary, was your husband raised in LLDM? I’m sure you’ve mentioned it before but sorry I forget.
If he was raised in LLDM, I don’t think any amount of logic and reasoning is going to do much at all. While your statements about the Bible are all true, and it’s 100% correct that if one doesn’t know the Bible they have no way to know if they are being lied to – I’ve learned that such logical reasoning doesn’t get you very far. The reason is because LLDM members are told again and again, (and raised practically from birth) to believe that only the “trained leaders” of LLDM can properly understand the Bible, and everyone else has to go to them for the “proper interpretation”, so even when you show fool-proof, Biblically sound reasoning for why LLDM and SJF are fakes – they do not believe you because you are not a “trained leader” of LLDM, and therefore your interpretation means almost nothing to them.
I understand how frustrating this can be, as it seems no matter how clear and logical you present the truth – to them you’re crazy. I think our only weapon to battle this is to continue to pray pray, pray pray pray.
Even the Lord Jesus said there are some evil spirits than cannot come out except by prayer.
My prayers are with you, Mary, and may you continue in the grace of our Apostle and High Priest – Christ Jesus.
June 1st, 2010 at 10:02 pm
correction, not grand isle, but ellis
June 1st, 2010 at 9:57 pm
Mary, I understand your pain, and I will continue to keep your husband in my prayers. I don’t understand either why so many people in the world are happy to go through life with blind faith in what they choose to believe. They think if they believe in something that makes it true, but they’re not motivated to examine their own beliefs and make absolutely certain it is true. I don’t know what can be done to change that way of thinking, but you and your husband are in my prayers, Mary. I hope you will have the chance to show him who the True Christ really is.
God bless all of you!
June 1st, 2010 at 9:52 pm
I just want to comment on something Alberto wrote here:
“they comfortably walked off the boat ramp in Grand Island New York and were recieved with open arms. They werent demanded requirements like the ones that exist today;for example, you must own a home, have a minimum salary of xx amount of dollars, have a minimum xx amount of dollars in a bank account, you must have a desired occupation, or you must meet the requirementrs to fall under the catagory as refugee in need of political assylum!”
My mother and grandmother both came through Ellis Island, and I’m sorry to say it wasn’t quite as rosey as you picture it. Although owning a home, having a minimum salary and a minimum bank account were not part of their requirements to immigrate to this country, those things aren’t required today either. A person can still immigrate into this country owning no property and having no bank account. There is a fee required today for citizenship, but my family also had to pay a fee when they came.
On Ellis Island, they kept the sick “quarantined” in groups once they got here, and my mother’s sister contracted smallpox and died from being in one such group. And when they came, the U.S. also destroyed their true roots by taking away their family names.
And they were women, so they came at a time when even after they went through the process to become citizens, they were still not permitted to vote or own property. “The price for freedom” they used to say, which I always found ironic.
There is no perfect country, and no perfect government, and there never will be until the Kingdom of Heaven becomes the kingdom of earth. I think the system the founding fathers of the U.S. came up with is a really good one (if it is being exercised properly), but it still isn’t perfect.
If you read my last post, you should find the real reason I don’t take issue with Arizona – because there are bigger issues and bigger factors at play than the media spectacle we get from the “Washington Wrestling Federation”.
June 1st, 2010 at 9:25 pm
Mary,
I think the real reason they don’t crack down at the border as you suggested is because this “new law” is really not a new law at all, it’s just a smoke screen; and illegal immigration is not really the issue. What Arizona did is revise laws that already existed, providing a way for the already existing laws to now be enforced – but illegal immigration isn’t even the real issue when looking at the current architecture of U.S. government. The Bilderberg Group, the Tri-Lateral Comission and the other elite world bankers who control governments all around the world are planning to break down national borders and create a New World Order under one global governance which they the bankers control.
World events are lining up with Biblical prophecy, if one is paying close enough attention they can see the signs. This “New World Order” is the revived Roman Empire (the iron and clay toes from Daniel chapter 2) out of which the final world dictator – The Antichrist – will emerge. The Roman Empire was never conquered, mind you, it just fell apart. Sort of like humpty dumpty, no one’s been able to put it back together again (although many have tried – Napolean, Polpot, Hitler, Lenin, Stalin, etc.). The Antichrist will succeed in reviving it as the global Empire we see starting to be formed today.
Our only hope is in Jesus Christ (the “stone without hands” from Daniel 2) who will destroy the evil world empire when He returns to establish His kingdom on the earth.
While I don’t personally have any issue with the new law in Arizona, as I mentioned I think it is just a smoke screen – it’s designed to keep the public distracted from their real agenda. While we are here keeping busy discussing immigration in Arizona – how many of us took the time to read the national health care bill that was just passed, and take note of the Socialist reform it contains which will effect all Americans?
Back in August, house majority leader Steny Hoyer said that if every member of congress pledged not to vote for this bill if they had not read it in its entirety, there would be very few votes. Back in 2008 when Obama was campaigning, he promised that any bill proposed would have to be waited on 7 days before a vote was made, giving all congressmen (and all citizens) a chance to read the bill fully. But with his own healthcare bill, he told congress to vote on it immediately, saying it was “too important to wait”.
The majority of the politicians who passed this bill are themselves uninformed about all it contains-but then again, what do they care? They are exempt!
That’s right, the president, the 535 in Washington and their families are exempt from the provisions of the healthcare bill. Why would they exempt themselves? Must be some bad stuff if they want no part of it.
Here’s just a few issues I have with it:
1-rationing of healthcare. Medicine, doctors, even hospital stays will be rationed by a government committee.
2-No Appeals Process. No way to protest the decisions they make about your health. A “healthcare choices commisioner” makes the decisions about your health, not you. You can’t even protest if you disagree with the commissioners choice!
3-all non-US citizens, illegal or not will be provided healthcare services on your tax dollar. We pay for changes to our own healthcare, and we pay for illegal aliens and immigrants by the millions. That is the definition of fairness from Obama and congress.
4-every person will be issued a National ID Health Card-no choice. You can not get healthcare of any kind unless you are registered with the govt. And issued this national health card. For those of interested in prophecy-this sounds somewhat like the mark of the beast doesn’t it?
5-the federal government will have direct access in real time to all individual bank accounts for electronic funds transfers. What an enormous invasion of privacy! Not to mention an constitutional violation of our basic freedoms.
How did they get by with this? Because most Americans are not aware of all this bill contains. If you do read the bill, and all the provisions it contains, its obvious to see that when Barack Obama promised change he really meant a deconstriction of the American way of life.
In short, this bill calls for TOTAL government control of your health-TOTAL! You get no choices, no preferences, no special services for special needs, NONE! But Obama and his congress people(including biden, reed, pelosi’ McCain), the power elite are exempt. They and their families get anything they want any time, all 535+1 of them. But we, the 300 million get no choice whatsoever. Sound fair to you?
And don’t forget-no judicial review is permitted in any way against this government monopoly. Whatever decision the government makes, no matter how unfair, or whether decisions violate the constitution, there is no judicial review or appeal for any decision made, NONE! Many of our basic rights and fundamental freedoms are crushed by this bill-the government is in total control.
This goes far beyond healthcare. It controls our finances, it controls how we do business and make decisions. The government is allowed to know precisely how we spend our money and what for. This bill is absolutely disastrous for America!
How convenient that shortly after it passed, Arizona passed this controversial “new” law, which is now hogging all media attention and public debate. Quite the spectacle.
The reality is the law in Arizona is not going to effect 99% of the people in Arizona at all. But discussing it sure distracts the public from HR3200, the healthcare bill which will effect 100% of Americans in all states. Smoke screens and dog and pony shows.
Man, I hate politics too, Mary. LOL
Anyone interested in reading all of the “Obama care” bill, and all the changes made to it from it’s first draft to what is now finally law can do so here (be advised, it’s over 2,000 pages):
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3200/text
June 1st, 2010 at 8:57 pm
well i will jump into the immigration reform bandwagon discussion.
Colin,
I agree with you, only on the fact that it is only a new law that enforces an already existing law, in that you are correct; but this law is still in humane. Every single country on the face of this earth has their own immigration issues. Even legal immigration has had it’s negative impact on the natives of European Union nations. I know youve experienced hardships in your life, but nothing can ever compare the basic fundamental need to survive. Thats the only reason immigrants would ever consider leaving behind their loved ones and gamble in a foreign land. And yes their are criminals among illegals, but they represent a tiny fraction of the illegal population; all others are hard working individuals.
Mother nature is a fair example why migration, in this case illegal immigration occurs everywhere. Many land animals, birds, insects, many fish and sea mammals are forced to migrate when their source of food disappears. Some are able to stay behind and adapt, manytimes the stronger creatures are able to adapt and survive the dry spell while the weak perrish. It’s all about survival.
I’ts a very selfish and missleading to call someone a criminal for entering the U.S. illegally. In that case everyone should be called a criminal when they break the law by speeding, running a red light, not yielding to a pedestrian! Do you get the picture now!
I’m sure you able to remember the reason Jacob(Israel’s) sons had to travel into Egypt dont you? Due to the fammin at the time. I’m sure if Egypt wasnt so accessible like it was at that time , they would have found their way in, some how!
It’s very easy for a US born citizen, to say, hey their are laws and procedures you need to follow if you want to enter my country. Do you realize Colin that when Europeans immigrated to the U.S., they comfortably walked off the boat ramp in Grand Island New York and were recieved with open arms. They werent demanded requirements like the ones that exist today;for example, you must own a home, have a minimum salary of xx amount of dollars, have a minimum xx amount of dollars in a bank account, you must have a desired occupation, or you must meet the requirementrs to fall under the catagory as refugee in need of political assylum! I think if the superpower nations of the world today, like the countries of European Union, China, etc.., made similar demands from U.S. citizen, there would be massive deportations of U.S. nationals everywhere!
This law is unfair! Why? because it targets no other ethnic group other then hispanics. Im 100% sure that law enforcement agencies would never be suspicious of Russians, Eastern Europens, Western Europeans, Koreans, Japanese etc.. who over stay their expired visas and are able to settle in their ethnic communities and go on to have prosperous normal lifes. And believe me, theres lots of that going on!
June 1st, 2010 at 8:54 pm
I was saddened today while I was driving as I was thinking about my husband. He accepted this faith as truth. He really believes this apostle. But he admits he doesnt know the bible that well. If he doesnt know an answer to a question he just says “I just have faith” . So He like a lot of the LLDM members wouldnt even know if they were being led astray. How could they even say that Catholics or Mormans or whatever is wrong if they dont even know what the bible teaches. I just dont think he realizes this major problem. He says that the bible has great stories but his church shows them how God wants them to live life now. Now I am not saying I am a bible theologian but I know that all of the essential doctrines of salvation and of how to live a godly life is in this great book GOD’s Word.
June 1st, 2010 at 8:43 pm
I kind of agree with Colin. But also yes my grandma did come over illegally too. But I personally as well as my father have been turned down medical treatment because we were U.S. citizens. My dad need welfare but was declined because he was a citizen. My mom asked if my daughter was an immigrant then you would treat her? The man said yes. She said that is so wrong. My dad worked all these years and paid taxes etc. and when he really needed the government help he was declined. It doesnt make sense that others who come over illegally sometimes get the treatment. anyways that is just a personal experience.
I dont know too much about the specifics of the law cuz I actually hate politics but why dont they just put more effort or money at the actual border to make sure people dont come over illegally?
June 1st, 2010 at 7:06 pm
Great points, guys!
I’m drafting a new post on the immigration situation and the Arizona law. Should be out soon, and everyone IS entitled to their opinions. I’m personally against it and I will explain why.
June 1st, 2010 at 5:18 pm
haha, other people have said that too, sum.
I am for conservative government, but I don’t consider myself a republican. Both the main parties have the same interests (because they are both controlled by the same elite bankers of the world) anyways, so “Republican” and “Democrat” mean very little.
As far as politics go, I try to stay loyal to the constitution and the bill of rights, not to a political party.
But I think the last real president this country had was JFK, and if we can’t take the power out of the hands of the world bankers (Federal reserve, etc.) then we’ll never have another real one.
If I may, I recommend the documentaries “Fall of the Republic” and “The Obama Deception” for everyone to watch.
And now, I’ll drop it too, LOL!
June 1st, 2010 at 5:12 pm
Colin you sound like a republican i am guessing but like you said this is all part of politics. I will drop it.
June 1st, 2010 at 4:53 pm
I’m sorry, but I don’t see how. I honestly do not mean any offense to anyone, but if someone is in the country legitimately, then nothing happens to them. Only if a person is here illegally can they get in trouble, but they are in the country illegally to begin with, so they should have followed the procedures in the first place. When they didn’t, they broke the law.
The bottom line is this is not really a new law – it’s just a provision to enforce laws that already exist but are not being enforced.
I knew this was the wrong blog to discuss this, because this moves us into the realm of politics. Everything is related – part of Obama’s health care bill is that all residents of this country (all residents) are provided health care at tax payer’s expense – regardless of whether they are legal (tax paying) or illegal (untaxed) citizens. Part of the reason AZ passed this law is for when “Obama care” goes into effect – to prevent legal citizens of this country from having to pay even more taxes than we will be to provide healthcare for those who are here illegally.
If you wanna know the truth, I think Obama’s federal healthcare bill is more of a violation of the U.S. Constitution than the new law in AZ is.
You’re 100% right though, sum – this is taking us off topic.
Back to the important matter:
I have a question for all members of LLDM. I have encountered several members and Pastors of LLDM who claim “I could explain it to you but you wouldn’t believe it.”
What I’d like to ask is – why so prejudice? You are judging beforehand that a person will not be able to understand the “truth” and therefore are not conversing about it. Seems to show a lack of confidence.
If you are so sure that you have the “truth” as taught by Samuel then why would you be so afraid to be open to those, who according to their understanding of the truth, are lost because we do not have the ability to understand the truth with out Samuel?
Read the following passage from the Gospel of Luke and see what the Holy Spirit says to you.
(Luke 4:33-37)
33In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 34″Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
35″Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.
36All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!” 37And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.”
For me it is simple, the spirit of the Antichrist knows and is only afraid of the one true Spririt of God, and it wants to be left alone.
June 1st, 2010 at 4:46 pm
But you know what? every one is in titled to their own opinion and I do not think this sight was meant for our own personal belief and thoughts of the government. we would be better off staying on the subject and focusing on God and the false teachings in LLDM. Every one has different thoughts and beliefs and as the bible says, “christens should not be arguing amongst each other, one may eat meant and one may be a vegetarian.
June 1st, 2010 at 4:30 pm
sorry Colin
but the law is just an excuse to their raciest behaviorism. Did you not see the movie about 2012? only the rich were able to go into the boat, The government would not allow any one on their boat even if it meant to save their lives. At the end of the movie they decided to let every one into the boat and that was the godly thing to do. Think about it, is Arizona trying to say hey we will not sell food to you we will not let you have a home and we will not let you into our hospitals because you are an immigrant. We are all human. period.
June 1st, 2010 at 4:10 pm
I’m all for immigration. My mom immigrated to this country from Sicily, my grandmother on my dad’s side from Wales.
If some one wants to immigrate into this country, I support that 100%. But there are steps they need to follow to immigrate legally. Even God tells us we need to be subject to authorities which means we need to obey the law (as long as the law does not interfere with our obedience to God).
There’s a process to immigrate into this country legally, and if someone does not follow the process, they are breaking the law and that can’t be ignored.
If they obeyed the law and followed the proper steps to immigrate legally into the country, then even this new law doesn’t effect them, because they’re law-abiding citizens. My grandma and mom both had to go through Ellis Island, have their names changed and pay a price for citizenship. But they followed the legal process that was in place.
I mean no offense to anyone, but I still don’t really see a problem with this law. And I don’t think AZ would have had to pass it if the President and Congress were willing to get serious on a federal regulation.
June 1st, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Colin
if you are Hispanic some where along the line you must have some relatives that are immigrants. We are all immigrants some way unless we are a hundred percent white. The law of Arizona dose not just affect Hispanics but others living for the freedom of their children and the best education. At the end we are all humans and we all belong in Gods king dome.
June 1st, 2010 at 3:25 pm
I did read about Arizonans law being in the book for a wile back now. I am sure you are familiar with what Hitler did with the Jews? it all started with immigration law then they went door to door and then finally it went to the murder of millions of people including children babies and women. think about it its raciest and wrong. Plus you can not stop an American falling in love with an immigrant and having children, they should have kept all race away from each other in the first place if that is what they want.
May 27th, 2010 at 9:25 pm
This may not be the right place to discuss this, but someone mentioned Arizona’s new immigration law.
Honestly, I don’t understand why people are so upset over AZ passing this law, it just enforces laws which are already on the books. Seems to me like AZ just got tired of waiting for the 535 in Washington to get serious about illegal immigration.
The 1 thing I do understand is that people say that it could lead to racial profiling. But if someone is in the country legitimately, they don’t have anything to worry about. If they did come over illegally, then they’re breaking laws which have already been in place for years, so I don’t get why it’s a big deal to enforce laws that are already in place. Maybe that’s just me.
Completely irrelevant to the actual topic of this blog, but eh, my $0.02 anyways (and that may be what it’s worth).
May 27th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Josh,
You quoted Acts 20:36. I’m wondering if you have ever read the whole chapter?
“Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.”(Acts 20:28-29)
Paul said that he was leaving, but that the Holy Spirit had made the elders of the church overseers of the flock and shepherds of the church of God. Paul also warns that deceivers and false prophets (savage wolves) would come in and attempt to destroy the church.
Paul, in this passage, is giving a warning about men like Samuel Joaquin Flores. He even spoke about such men in great detail in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians:
“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.”(2 Corinthians 11:13-14)
Why doesn’t LLDM ever preach on these verses (Acts 20:28-29; 2 Corinthians 11:1-15)???
May 25th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
Not surprising at all, Oscar.
The majority of false teachings come from people who are blind themselves, and usually from those who have limited knowledge of the Scriptures themselves. Little Biblical knowledge and loads of charisma is what defines false teachers and heretics like SJF, or Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda. If we follow blindly without checking them out in the Bible ourselves, we will end up lost like they are. As Our Lord said – if the blind follow the blind, both will fall into a ditch.
I don’t think many of their followers realize the reality and seriousness of your eternal destination after death.
If we follow any teaching that has to do with the eternal destiny of our souls blindly, based on our gut feelings or based on how we feel in our heart, we are not recognizing the seriousness of our eternal destiny.
If we are honest and sincere about wanting God’s will for ourselves then we need to examine the Scriptures to check all teachers, and test all who say they are prophets and apostles and to test all spirits. We need to study the Bible ourselves and test all preachers to make sure we are being told the truth.
The Bible was written to give us a way to guard ourselves against all false teachings.
LLDM Members, don’t you realize that satan himself quotes Scripture to try to trick you into doing as he desires?
“Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
” ‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”(Matthew 4:5-6)
Satan is accurately quoting Psalm 91:11-12 to Our Lord Jesus here. And our Lord sets the example for us of how to combat the devil – the way is to thoroughly know the Scriptures ourselves.
My Master shut the devil up by quoting to him from Deuteronomy 6:16:
“Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”(Matthew 4:7)
The devil is still in the world today, misusing Scriptures out of context and telling people not to read other Scriptures except the ones he gives them. All in an attempt to limit your own knowledge of the Word of God, and bring people to destruction where he is headed.
God says: “my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.
“Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also reject you as my priests;”(Hosea 4:6)
The warnings and instructions for how to avoid all false teachings is contained within the written Word of God. The Holy Bible is the final authority against which all teachings must be measured. It is our only source for truth, and our only defense against lies.
I encourage everyone to study the Bible daily – book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. There are 66 books, we need to know them all.
God’s blessings to all of you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
May 25th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
“How many miracles has Samuel Joaquin performed? How many people has Samuel Joaquin raised from the dead??”
None, Colin. Samuel had never performed a miracle and he never shall because he was never sent by God in the first place. When Samuel preaches at “holy suppers”, there is a huge sign behind him with the words, “Este es mi Enviado”, God did not put that sign there, Samuel himself ordered it to be there. Moreover, when Samuel preaches there is an “aura” of colors that shines upon him. Members deem this as a “sign” by God, apparently many members have never been to modern concerts or heard of George Lucas’ Industrial Light & Magic.
I have dialogued with several pastors and I, myself, am shock to find out that I know more about Scriptures than they, and they are heads of churches! There is no difference with Samuel, I’m sure you know more about the Bible than SJF himself.
And that is sad… but not unexpected.
May 25th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
Oh, you avoided answering this question too, Josh:
Who do you say Jesus is? Who is Jesus? What did He do? What is He doing today?
May 25th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
BTW, Josh read on in those passages once again. You are taking them out of context.
Acts 20 – Read the whole chapter! Paul raised a young boy named Eutychus from the dead. (Acts 20:7-12) Paul’s word was confirmed by the Lord through signs, wonders and miracles. How many miracles has Samuel Joaquin performed? How many people has Samuel Joaquin raised from the dead??
Exodus 4?? But Moses was a prophet from the past. Read the book of Hebrews – God speaks to us through Christ in these last days (Hebrews 1), and Christ is superior to Moses (Hebrews 3)
“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.”(Hebrews 1:1-2)
We don’t need SJF today, we have Jesus – who is called Christ.
“Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.”(Hebrews 3:1)
We do not need Samuel Joaquin’s “priesthood”
“but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”(Hebrews 7:24-25)
May 25th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
For Josh,
First of all, read those whole chapters instead of just a few verses that LLDM has showed you. You are taking them entirely out of context. What did the Ethiopian man need explained to him? He didn’t understand if Isaiah was writing about himself or someone else, and at that time there was not a New Testament which would explain that it was Christ who fulfilled those prophecies. That’s why Philip needed to be there to explain it to him, but since then the Biblical Apostles and Disciples of Christ have written their testimony down, so things have changed since the 1st century now, Josh. We now have the full and complete Word of God in what we call the Bible, and that’s a miracle in itself.
Secondly, look at the hymn I analyzed here. You say I’m misunderstanding it? So then, that song is not referring to SJF as “The Holy One of Israel” and as “the most beautiful of the sons of men”?????
The Bible uses those terms to refer to Christ and to God the Father; LLDM uses them to refer to SJF. Please clarify, how am I misunderstanding, Josh?
Now, in regards to studying the Bible.
Many people believe the common person is incapable of understanding the Bible, so they must accept the interpretations given by trained, educated religious leaders (preachers, priests, etc.).
Has God revealed His will in a way we can understand in the Bible?
Why do so many misunderstand and disagree?
What effect is caused by lack of study, false doctrine, and closed minds?
Are you able to understand the Bible yourself?
SJF and LLDM claim that the average person cannot understand the Bible, even in matters essential to salvation.
This is nothing new. There are several reasons why people claim the Bible cannot be understood.
They may have tried to study the Bible and found it difficult, so they gave up.
Some point to the confusion and division among those who claim to follow the Bible, so they conclude no one really understands it. Others want to justify the existence of these contradictory groups, so they say no one can understand and it does not matter.
Others believe truth is subjective; so whatever you believe, that is truth for you. There is no such thing as a single proper understanding of Scripture.
Some have been told repeatedly by religious leaders that “common” people cannot understand the Bible. Only “trained leaders” can understand, so other folks must accept the word of the “official” interpreters.
The purpose of this post is to show by the Bible itself that the average person can understand the Bible so as to be saved eternally.
I do not claim that understanding of the Bible comes easily, nor that I can personally answer every question everyone can ask. I do defend the Bible teaching that the honest seeker for truth can understand the written word sufficient to be saved.
Consider these points:
1) God’s Character Proves that the Bible Can Be Understood.
The Bible repeatedly claims to be God’s word.
“If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.”(1 Corinthians 14:37)
“but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.”(1 Corinthians 2:10-13)
“that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.”(Ephesians 3:3-5)
“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come.”(John 16:13)
“But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”(Matthew 10:19-20)
“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! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!
Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
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 1:8-12)
“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”(2 Peter 1:20-21)
” And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.”(1 Thessalonians 2:13)
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”(2 Timothy 3:16-17)
“He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”(Luke 10:16.)
If the Bible is God’s word, it must harmonize with God’s nature. When we study the Bible and when we understand God’s nature, then we necessarily must believe that we can understand the Bible. To claim that we cannot understand the Bible is either to deny that it is God’s word or to impugn the character of God Himself.
The following aspects of God’s character prove that we can understand the Bible.
God’s Wisdom and Power Demand that the Bible Be Understandable.
God revealed His word through inspired men for the purpose of making known His will to men.
“who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”(1 Timothy 2:4) – God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. God does not want some to understand, but others are incapable. He wants all to know the truth.
“and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”(2 Timothy 3:15-17) – The Scriptures were revealed by God to teach and instruct us in righteousness and provide us a guide to all good works.
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”(Romans 1:16) – The gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes – Jews first, then Gentiles also.
“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,”(Titus 1:1-3) – God manifested (make known) His word in the message which was entrusted to Paul (and the other Biblical Apostles) according to God’s command.
So God wants everyone to know His will, and the inspired men revealed His will so people could know it.
“but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him—”(Romans 16:26)
“Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”(Colossians 1:24-29)
The very words in the Bible were chosen by the all-wise, all-powerful God.
“We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.”(1 Corinthians 2:12-13) – Inspired men received God’s Spirit so they could know what God revealed and could speak them in words which the Holy Spirit taught them.
“But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”(Matthew 10:19-20) – Inspired men did not have to worry about how or what to speak, because it would be given them what to speak. It was not them speaking but the Spirit of the Father speaking in them.
If God gave the message to inspired men so we can know God’s will, then He must have intended to give an understandable message. If we cannot understand the message, then God has failed in His purpose.
But how can an all-wise, all-powerful God fail to do what He intends to do? To claim that the Bible cannot be understood is to deny that God is all-wise and all-powerful: He tried to give a revelation that men could understand, but He lacked the wisdom or power to do so??
If we believe that God is all-powerful and all-wise, then we must believe that He cannot fail and He did not fail. Therefore we can understand the message of the gospel sufficiently to be saved.
God’s Justice, Grace, and Love Demand that the Bible Be Understandable.
Justice is the quality by which God treats man fairly in accordance with whether they have or have not done His will.
Love is that quality by which God actively shows good will toward men, seeking our well being.
Grace is the quality by which God shows unmerited favor to men that they might have the hope of eternal life, though they do not deserve it.
We have seen that God has revealed His will through inspired men so people could know what He expects of them and know how to receive eternal life. If that message cannot be understood, then is God a just, gracious, loving God?
God commands and requires men to understand His word.
Consider the following Scriptures. If understanding is impossible, then how can God require these things of man and still be just, loving, and gracious?
“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”(Ephesians 5:17) – Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Does a just, loving, gracious God require what is impossible?
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”(2 Timothy 2:15) – To be approved of God and not ashamed, we must handle rightly the word of God (ASV). How can one handle rightly a message he cannot understand?
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”(Hebrews 11:6)
“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?”(Romans 10:14)
“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”(Romans 10:17) – No one can please God without faith, but faith comes by hearing God’s word. Yet how can a message create faith in a heart that cannot understand the message?
“Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”(John 20:30-31)
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.”(John 6:44-45)
“Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.”(Luke 1:1-4)
“Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this.”(Mark 7:14) – Jesus’ teachings were intended for the common people (multitudes), and He expected and commanded them all to understand His teachings.
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.”(Luke 8:11)
“When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.”(Matthew 13:19)
3But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”(Matthew 13:23) – The seed of the gospel is the word of God. Those whom the Lord considers to be good and fruitful are those who understand the word. Those who do not understand are unacceptable.
So God requires and commands all people to understand, and we must understand to have His approval and to have faith. Yet how can God be just, loving, and gracious in these requirements, if in fact understanding is impossible?
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully”(Colossians 1:9-11)
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”(Philippians 1:9-11)
“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.”(James 1:21-25)
God will judge men and reward them eternally according to their obedience to His word.
“There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.”(John 12:48) – Jesus said, “The word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.”
“This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.”(Romans 2:16)
“In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”(Acts 17:30-31) – These times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world by the Man whom He has ordained.
“He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power”(2 Thessalonians 1:8-9) – Jesus will come in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel … These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord.
All men will be judged according to Jesus’ word. Those who do not obey the gospel will be destroyed, and ignorance will be no excuse. But God revealed His word to give us knowledge of what we must obey. If we cannot understand the message, we have no choice but to be ignorant and disobey.
How can God be just and condemn people for disobeying or being ignorant of a message that is impossible to understand? How can He say He really loves us and extends grace to save us, if we cannot understand the only means whereby we can be saved?
To say we cannot understand God’s Word, the Bible, is to deny the justice, love, and grace of God.
Yet if we believe in God’s justice, love, and grace, then we must conclude that we can understand the Scriptures.
“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”(Mark 16:15-16)
“He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’”(Acts 11:14)
“We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”(1 John 2:3-6)
“This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,”(1 John 5:2-3)
God’s Truthfulness and Faithfulness Demand that the Bible Be Understandable.
God always speaks truth and always keeps His promises, right? Well, in the following passages He has stated or promised that we can understand His word.
“and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”(2 Timothy 3:15-17) – The Scriptures are able to make us wise to salvation. They are profitable to teach and instruct us and to provide us to all good works.
How could they make us wise and profit us in these things if we cannot understand them?
“so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”(Isaiah 55:11) – God’s word will not return to Him void, but it shall accomplish what He pleases and prosper in the thing for which He sent it.
But He sent it to reveal His will to men. If we cannot understand it, then it does not prosper nor did it accomplish what He sent it for.
“For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
“(1 Corinthians 14:33) – God is not the author of confusion but of peace. But if the Bible cannot be understood, then God would be the author of confusion.
These passages are clear statements or promises that God gave a message we could understand. If we cannot understand, then God did not speak the truth and did not keep His promises.
To deny that the Bible can be understood is to deny that God is truthful and faithful to His word. But if we believe that God is true and faithful, then we must believe that we can understand the Bible.
“that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.”(Eph. 3:3-5)
“And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness.
The unclean will not journey on it;
it will be for those who walk in that Way;
wicked fools will not go about on it.”(Isaiah 35:8)
“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”(John 8:31-32)
2) The Old Testament Demonstrates that the Bible Can Be Understood.
God gave the Old Testament to Israel using the same methods by which He gave the New Testament to us.
Consider some lessons we can learn.
God gave the Old Testament for the purpose of revealing His will; then He promised that men could understand it.
“Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are ever with me.
I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your statutes.”(Psalm 119:98-99) – You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies … I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation.
“I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path.
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.”(Psalm 119:104-105) – Your precepts give understanding. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
“The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.”(Psalm 119:130) – The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
“The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.”(Psalms 19:7-11) – God’s law converts the soul, makes wise the simple, and enlightens the eyes. In keeping them there is great reward.
How could the law do any of these if people could not understand them?
“My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding,
and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He holds victory in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.
Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.
For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.
Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
from men whose words are perverse,”(Prov. 2:1-12)
Even people in New Testament times were capable of understanding the Old Testament and were expected to do so.
“As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he said.”(Acts 17:2-3) – Paul’s custom was to reason from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that Jesus is the Christ.
How could this prove anything if people could not understand the Scriptures?
“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 Scriptures give the average man a way to know whether or not they are being told the truth.
People are not expected to take preachers’ word for what the Bible says. Rather, they should use the word to check out the preachers.
How could the Bible accomplish this if people cannot understand it?
“Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”(Matt. 15:14)
“Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”(Matthew 22:29) – Jesus told the Sadducees, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.”
He expected them to know the Scriptures. When they did not, they were mistaken, and He held them accountable for that.
For every argument anyone could offer why we today cannot understand the New Testament, the same argument would mean that people in the first century could not have understood the Old Testament.
Yet they were capable of understanding it and were expected to do so. Likewise, we today can understand God’s word whereby we can be saved.
“Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.”(Acts 18:24)
“For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.”(Acts 18:28)
Q: Why Then Do So Many People Not Understand the Bible?
A: Lack of Study.
Understanding requires diligent study.
“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) – We must “search the Scriptures daily.”
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”(2 Timothy 2:15) – To handle the Bible properly we must exercise diligence. Then we can be approved by God. Otherwise, we need to be ashamed.
People can know the truth. The Bible can be understood. But we need diligent study.
Those who do not study will not understand; but it is their own fault.
“Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”(Matthew 22:29) – The Sadducees were in error because they did not know the Scriptures. But Jesus did not blame the Scriptures. He blamed the people. They could have and should have studied enough to know the truth.
“But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”(Hebrews 5:14) – To be able to discern good from evil, we must have our senses exercised by reason of use. These Christians lacked understanding (Hebrews 5:12), but it was their own fault.
Some people do not know the truth, not because it cannot be understood, but simply because they have never studied it or because they have not been diligent in study.
“Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.”(2 Peter 3:15-16)
“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,”(1 Peter 2:2)
“Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.”(Psalm 1:1-2)
“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”(Josh. 1:8).
Q: Why Else Do Some People Not Understand the Truth?
A: False Doctrines.
Some people do not understand truth because their minds have been blinded by false teaching.
These false teachings may come from preachers, family, friends, or denominational creeds.
“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. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”(2 Corinthians 4:2-4) – The god of this age (Satan) blinds the minds of some folks so the light of the gospel does not shine on them. This sometimes happens because teachers handle the word of God deceitfully.
“They worship me in vain;
their teachings are but rules taught by men.’”(Matthew 15:9)
“Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.””(Matthew 15:14) – Following human doctrines makes worship vain. These doctrines are often taught by blind leaders.
If we follow blindly, we will be lost like they are.
Note that we could and SHOULD check teachers out in God’s word (Acts 17:11).
That is why God is justified in condemning folks who are deceived by false teachers. It is simply not true that we need to take a preacher’s word for truth.
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 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! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!”(Galatians 1:6-9) – The Galatians were turning away from Christ because of the influence of people who were perverting the gospel of Christ.
But they were not excused on the grounds they could not understand. Instead, they should have compared what they were being taught to the gospel they had received from inspired men.
“”Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”(Matt. 7:15-21)
“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”(2 Corinthians 11:2-3)
“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 11:13-15)
“Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.”(2 John 9-11)
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.”(Proverbs 3:5-6)
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”(1 Cor. 1:18-25)
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”(Colossians 3:17)
“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.”(Rev. 22:18-19).
Q: Why Will Some People Reject The Truth of the Gospel Message No Matter How Clearly it is Presented?
A: Closed Hearts and Minds
“This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
” ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’”(Matthew 13:13-15) – People often close their eyes and ears to the truth.
Why?
They may be prejudiced – they may have believed a certain way for years, so they refuse to consider the evidence for other views.
Or they may be too proud to admit they are wrong. As a result, they reject the truth when they hear it,
“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. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.”(2 Thessalonians 2:10-12) – Some people do not love truth enough, because they have pleasure in unrighteousness. They will believe a lie and be condemned.
“Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”(John 8:43-47) – These Jews did not understand Jesus’ words, because they wanted to do the desires of the devil. Some folks just enjoy sin and are so entangled in it that they refuse to accept truth when they hear it.
“Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”(2 Timothy 4:2-4) – Some people seek preachers and religious groups that say they are acceptable, even while they continue in their sinful practices. They turn aside from truth and follow fables instead. Some preachers and religious leaders will likewise seek followers who accept the clever stories they invent.
These folks do not understand God’s word, not because it cannot be understood, but because they simply do not like what it says!
If we are ever to accept the truth, we must “hunger and thirst after righteousness” (Matt. 5:6). We must honestly study what God’s word says and then accept the truth with meekness and “readiness of mind” (James 1:19-21; Acts 17:11; Luke 14:26-33).
If God is all-wise and all-powerful, then you can understand His will.
If God is just, loving, and gracious, then you can understand His will.
If He is truthful and faithful, then you can understand His will.
His promises and the examples shown in Scripture reassure us that we can know how to be saved.
Never try to excuse yourself from doing what God’s word requires on the grounds that you cannot know what He wants.
If the Scriptures require you to know a thing to be saved, then you can know. But you must study diligently with an honest and open heart.
Do you know what God wants you to do to be saved?
“They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”(Acts 16:31)
“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,”(1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
“Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.”(1 Corinthians 15:11)
“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)
“By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.”(1 Corinthians 15:2)
May 25th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
this for sum,
you do good in your thinking, to never worship a false idol such as a statue or even a person. in the church La Luz Del Mundo we do not worship Samuel Joaquin, we give him the honor and respect that God has given him. there is a difference you know. such as i have an honor and you do also.
May 25th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
for colin
you asked me a great deal of rhetorical questions, lemme answer a few of them.
you say we should not share a place for the Apostle in our hearts, but did the primitive church of Christ ( from the book of Acts) no receive the 12 and 13th Apostles in theirs? for example in Acts 20:36 it mentions how the brothers and sisters of the church felt such sadness in their hearts when the Apostle Paul was leaving they started to cry and some of them even kissed him because of his words that they would never see his mortal face again.
Samuel Joaquin has always told the church to be like Jesus, to love and follow His teachings. he has never taken the glory that Christ deserves from all people for himself. unfortunately people have misinterpreted the affection we have for him as God Himself sent him, do not the messengers of God deserve our respect? do they not have a God given honor?. when God sent his Servant Moses he said to him in Exodus 4:14, Then the LORD’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. 17 But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it.” we look to the Apostle in this time of salvation as a guide for us.
Lastly you say that with reading the Bible we find salvation? who can understand the vast knowledge if you weren’t sent from God? i want to leave you with a quote of from the Bible in Acts 8:29-31 where the Apostle Philip encounters a man who does not understand the Scripture saying, 31″How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.” Also check out what the Apostle Paul says in 2 of Corinthians 3:6, 4Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. 5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
May 22nd, 2010 at 11:33 am
Amen Colin.
Josh,
Jesus was planted with the spirt if you believe that that spirit is in your apostle is the same than you guys are calming that he is God.
we should not have faith in a statue, gold or even a person or human our faith should only have faith in Jesus, Jesus was not born from marry and Joseph he is the son of God. Do you know what that means God son of God? God is holy and our God which makes Jesus as holy and God. Jesus is not from human he is from God. We do have a jealous God and he is not happy for us to worship any thing or any one other then him. All praise to God the creature of all things in the name of Jesus who died pure and perfect for us so that we will be forgiven of our sins forever in his name we trust amen.
May 21st, 2010 at 8:37 pm
Josh,
I do want to thank you for your Bible references given. I intend to look deeper at these passages and chapters, examining them within the context of the whole Bible, instead of trying to make a basis from only single verses. I will reply again in an effort to expose the Scriptures in those passages and elsewhere which are necessary to properly understand those verses.
I would like to share something with you in regards to the first one – Matthew 10:40. The following was recently brought to my attention by a former member of LLDM who has since come to the True Light of Christ. He is a man who I consider a friend.
“LLDM defenders love to use MATHEW 10:40 to support the need of their “apostle”…and built their case from there on.
40… “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41…. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, a42… assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
But they wisely avoid going into details with these other verses…
Luke 9:46-48
46 Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. 47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.”
LLDM will also use this passage 1Corinthians 3:4-7
4.. For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?
5.. Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
The message in all of these passage is that it doesnt matter who exposes the word of the Lord to you, no matter how insignificant an individual may seem, even a child. Its the Lord our God reaching out, no matter who it is. As long as its done in the name of the Lord.”
Amen.
I look forward to hearing your response to my comments, Josh.
May 21st, 2010 at 7:55 pm
Josh, What is our source of truth?
You say:
“the church has Jesus in there hearts as well as the Apostle.”
OK, but first of all, Josh – Who do you say Jesus is? Who is Jesus? What did He do? What is He doing today?
Christ is to have pre-eminence in His church.
He is not to share a place in your heart with a mortal man, because you cannot serve 2 masters. You receive the Biblical Apostles by receiving their message, which is the New Testament.
Jesus said we are to “receive” the Biblical Apostles the same as we do Him. Not “praise and glorify” the Apostles the same as we do Him. There is a HUGE difference, but LLDM praises and glorifies Samuel Joaquin as equal to Christ.
It is obvious from looking inside of LLDM’s hymn book. For example, Josh – in the hymn book has provided and taught you, you will find a hymn titled
“You are the most Beautiful”
1
Today is a great day of joy in the Lord’s people We are here with you oh Holy One of Israel to God the esteem you loved you and made you honorable the give men for thee and for thy life
Chorus
You’re the most beautiful of the sons of men grace is poured into thy lips God therefore has blessed you oh and we love you we love you and we wish God bless you and your strength
2 When you pass through the waters God always be with you when you walk through the fire will not burn the flame in you fight not against you but you will overcome God is the one who defends you oh Holy One of Israel
3And they will be ashamed that you contend against only confusion and death come to life if the war to them shall be made thee as nothing to let the world know that you are an apostle of God
The title and chorus serve as a thematic basis to this hymn in question and they clearly are based on the following:
“Good word my heart is full; I address to the king my song; My tongue is very light scribe pen. You’re the fairest of the sons of men; Grace is poured upon your lips; Therefore, God has blessed you forever.”(Psalm 45:1-2)
First, Consider this passage: This Psalm refers, in the foreground, to a wedding of a Jewish king with a foreign princess (whether of Solomon with the daughter of Pharaoh, or of Ahab with Jezebel, as implied reference to kick-Psalm 45,v.12).
At a higher level, refers to King Messiah, as recognized by His future work to redeem Israel, which replaces the allegorical interpretation of the marriage between God and Israel.
Psalm 45 describes a mystic king, his girlfriend and his marriage. The Groom in Psalm 45 is the King Messiah. The main subject of the Psalm is the King, of course. There is a long tradition in Judaism that this Psalm is prophetic in character and deals with the Messiah.
So we have here a beautiful and profound psalm which clearly refers to Christ, Jesus the son of God, in fact the writer of Hebrews refers to verse 6 of this Psalm in the following passage:
“But to the Son said: Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; Scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom.”(Hebrews 1:8)
There is no doubt that “the most beautiful of the sons of men” is Jesus Christ.
And how could it not be? Jesus Christ is the greatest man that ever trod the earth.
There has never been nor will be anyone compared with Him.
But in this church, LLDM, “the fairest of the sons of men” is “Apostle” Samuel Joaquin.
So it checks this hymn which is sung with special dedication to the leader whether he is or is not present.
In addition, Psalm 45 is used fairly continuously in the “consecration” for each church to refer to their “apostle”, prior to the special prayer dedicated to him
In short, the Bible in this passage refers to Jesus Christ and this church shamelessly takes to apply it to its leader, an ordinary human. “Doctrine revealed” or a gross heresy?
Consider the following:
1 Today is a great day of joy in the Lord’s people We are here with you oh Holy One of Israel
Here, as at the end of the second stanza, there is talk of Samuel Joaquin as “the Holy One of Israel.”
But who is “The Holy One of Israel” according to the Bible?
Here are some passages that put it clear:
“I also praise thee with the psaltery, Oh my God, you sing your truth on the harp, O Holy One of Israel.”(Psalm 71:21-23)
“For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest you shall be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength. And would not,”(Isaiah 30:14-16)
“Fear not, thou worm Jacob, ye men of Israel, I will help, says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer.”(Isaiah 41:13-15)
“Thus saith the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come send me about my children, and about the work of my hands.”(Isaiah 45:10-12)
“Our Redeemer, Jehovah of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.”(Isaiah 47:3-5)
It is quite clear that “the Holy One of Israel” is God, the creator of heaven and earth.
To assert that Samuel Joaquin is The Holy of Israel can not be anything but blasphemy.
“to God the esteem you loved you and made you honorable the give men for thee and for thy life”
2 When you pass through the waters God always be with you when you walk through the fire will not burn the flame in you fight not against you but you will overcome God is the one who defends you oh Holy One of Israel ”
This part of verse 1 and verse 2 refer to the following passage, I quote from verse 1 to analyze the context:
God is the only Redeemer – “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and formed thee, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, I put art mine thou. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, not overflow you. When you walk through fire, not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior, I have given Egypt as thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. For my eyes thou wast precious, thou hast been honorable, and I loved you, I will then men for thee and for thy life.”(Isaiah 42:1-4)
The passage refers to Israel, God’s chosen people. Also verse 3 refers again to the Holy One of Israel, that is, The Lord God Almighty.
Again applying this passage to commend and praise a man for an “anointing” he claims, is obviously ludicrous and blasphemous to say the least
“3 And they will be ashamed that you contend against only confusion and death come to life
Consider the passage which underpins this part of verse 3 from verse 1 to make it clear what he means:
“1 Unto thee, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed, Not my enemies triumph over me. 3 Yea, none that wait on thee shall be confounded; Shall be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.”(Psalm 25:1-3)
Any doubt that it is abhorrent that the use of these Bible verses to make melody and sing to a man to give honor?….
Near the end, the new anthem of honor to the “apostle” ends with a quasi-threat: “if the war to them shall be made thee as nothing to let the world know that you are an apostle of God.”
They are based on the following passage from Isaiah, which even by the subtitle of the chapter, leaves no doubt about what it is:
Security of God for Israel
“11 Behold, all who were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing and perish those who contend with you. 12 Search the contest with you, and not find, shall be as nothing, and as something that is not, those that make war.”(Isaiah 41:11-12)
The passage in question talks about the people of Israel and even in verse 8 refers to Jacob, Abraham’s seed, without doubt, the passage is an allegory about God’s chosen people, Israel.
I can say that first of all the hymn I analyzed is based on biblical references.
But obviously it is a twisted application of the scriptures, in order to build a song that seeks to praise and honor to corruptible man, putting in place not only of Christ but even in place of God the Father.
Josh; other LLDM Members who read this post:
Who is for you the most beautiful of the sons of men? Did you sing this to a man or is Jesus Christ who holds that place in your heart?
That is the big deal my friend. It is my goal to encourage people to read the Bible and accept it as it is.
To encourage people not to look to earthly men as high priests to forgive us and give salvation, but to look to and believe and have faith in the Only Great High Priest who has gone into heaven and sits at the right hand of God to intercede for your sins, and mine. The only true source of Salvation – The Son of God, Jesus, who is called Christ.
With love and God’s blessings to all.
May 21st, 2010 at 7:05 pm
you got the last part wrong. the church has Jesus in there hearts as well as the Apostle. Jesus even says in Matthew 10:40, ” He who receives you, receives me and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.” he is talking to his disciples there and so whoever receives the messenger of God and Jesus in their hearts receives Jesus himself, who is Samuel Joaquin in this time. the Apostle Samuel has often used the words of the Apostle Paul when he said in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” lastly as the Apostle Paul said it himself, the members of the church have done the same for him as the faith in all of us has grown saying in Galatians 4:14, “Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.
May 21st, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Josh
I know exactly what the apostle from LLDM preaches. He says that we can not ask for forgiveness because it is not that easy so we have to work hard and go to Samuel for the forgiveness of our sins. According to Gods bible, Jesus died on the cross so that God will have mercy on us and we can ask for forgiveness in the name of Jesus Christ. Samuel is saying that he is Jesus because Jesus is not good enough for us and that we need a man to forgive us, is that correct Josh? By the way I do not have faith in a man that changes the bible and tries to sit in the throne of Christ, I have faith JESUS CHRIST.
May 19th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
have you ever even been to a congregation to the church? you have no faith, and you seem not to know what Samuel Joaquin preaches
May 12th, 2010 at 11:58 am
Again to everyone
Jesus is our only savior and we are not be believe in a man but Jesus our savior who lives for ever amen.
May 11th, 2010 at 10:27 am
We must not hide the truth about our conversations. http://www.oscarnuno.com/2009/07/11/religion/la-luz-del-mundo-a-church-founded-on-lies/?#comment-1630
May 10th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
David,
First of all, my name is Colin. Micael Cano is another person who posted here, and I was addressing his comments. I don’t take offense to the fact that you did not properly read my comment to understand that.
Now, initially, you brought up Hebrews 1:5, so what I did was show you the whole chapter and other parallel Scriptures which make it clear that this:
“For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father”? Or again,
“I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son”?”(Hebrews 1:5)
does not refer to when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but it refers to when God the Father raised Jesus from the dead. Paul quoted the same thing and makes it’s meaning very clear in Acts 13.
Unless I misunderstood you, the basis of your question was “if Jesus is God, how can this be? Doesn’t it mean that the Father was before and Jesus was after?”
But no, actually the totality of Scripture reveals that this is a reference to when the Father raised Jesus alive from the grave, His body never to see decay. We all know Jesus was around before then.
“”We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:
” ‘You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.’ 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.’ So it is stated elsewhere:
” ‘You will not let your Holy One see decay.’”(Acts 13:32-35)
Please clarify how this does not answer your question?
Now, in your most recent post, you make a reference to Moses. Let’s compare what God said to Moses and what God says to the Son, Christ Jesus.
Moses –
“He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him.”(Exodus 4:16)
Now, He does not say Moses is God, He says it will be “as if you were God.” He does not promise Moses any throne or any kingdom.
Compare to what God the Father says to the Son –
“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)
This is very very different from what He said to Moses. To Moses He said it will be “as if you were God.” But to the Son, He calls Him God. He tells the Son “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever,” Moses was not called God. Moses was not promised a throne that would last forever and ever. “and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.”
The Son is called God by God the Father Himself. He is told that His throne will last forever and ever, and that He will rule His kingdom in righteousness. Moses was never told that.
Hebrews chapter 3 goes into much more detail about how Jesus is superior to Moses.
Now, David – I think that perhaps you are misunderstanding me. I never said the Son was greater than the Father. Father, Son and Holy Spirit are co-equal. You see, these 3 are really just 1.
“Porque tres son los que dan testimonio en el cielo: el Padre, el Verbo y el Espíritu Santo; y estos tres son uno.”(1 Juan 5:7)
May 10th, 2010 at 7:59 pm
If anyone would like to know where Colin and I haveleft off, please read this. http://www.oscarnuno.com/2009/07/11/religion/la-luz-del-mundo-a-church-founded-on-lies/?#comment-1630