Sa Pilipinas Itinakda Ang Paglitaw Ng Tunay Na Iglesia

                                                     

Paano nagkaroon ng Iglesia Ni Cristo sa Pilipinas?  Sa Juan 10:16, ay ganito ang sabi ni Cristo:

      “At mayroon pa akong ibang mga tupa, na hindi sa kulungang ito:  sila’y kailangan din namang dalhin ko, at kanilang diringgin ang aking tinig; at sila’y magiging isang kawan.”

Ang sabi ni Cristo, mayroon pa Siyang ibang mga tupa na wala pa sa kulungan noong Siya’y narito pa sa lupa.  Ang mga ito ay dadalhin Niya at kanilang diringgin ang Kanyang tinig, at sila’y gagawin Niyang isang kawan at magkakaron ng isang pastor.  Ano itong kawan?  Sa Gawa 20:28, tinitiyak na ang kawan ay ang Iglesia ng Panginoon.  Ang Panginoon ay si Cristo ( Gawa 2:36).  Samakatuwid, ang kawan ay ang Iglesia Ni Cristo.  Kung gayon, gagawin ni Cristong Iglesia Ni Cristo itong Kanyang ibang mga tupa na noong narito pa Siya sa lupa ay wala pa sa kulungan.  Sinu-sino naman itong mga tupa ni Cristo na nasa kulungan na noon at sinu-sino naman itong wala pa sa kulungan?  Sa Gawa 2:39, ay ganito ang sinasabi:

     “Sapagkat sa inyo ang pangako, at sa inyong mga anak, at sa lahat ng nangasa malayo, maging ilan man ang tawagin ng Panginoon nating Dios sa kaniya.”

 Ang tanong natin ay kung sinu-sino  ang mga tupa ni Jesus na nasa kulungan na at ang mga wala pa sa kulungan.  Ang isinagot sa atin ng talata’y ang tatlong pulutong ng mga taong tatanggap ng Espiritu Santo.  Ang una’y “sa inyo”, ang ikalawa’y sa “inyong mga anak” at ikatlo’y sa “lahat ng nangasa malayo, maging ilan man ang tawagin ng Diyos”.  Ang dalawang naunang pulutong ay natawag na, kaya ang mga ito’y nasa kulungan na noon; ngunit itong huli o ikatlong pulutong ay hindi pa natatawag noon kundi tatawagin pa lamang sila, kaya wala pa sila sa kulungan noong si Cristo’y narito pa sa lupa.  Sinu-sino ba itong natawag na o nasa kulungan na noong si Cristo’y narito pa sa lupa at sa panahon ng mga Apostol?  Sa Roma 9:24, ay ganito ang patotoo ni Apostol Pablo:

     “Maging sa atin na kaniya namang tinawag, hindi lamang sa mga Judio, kundi naman mula sa mga Gentil.”

Ang mga natawag na ay ang mga Judio at ang mga Gentil.  Ito ang mga tupa ni Cristo na nasa kulungan na noon.  Sino naman itong mga tupa ni Cristo na wala pa sa kulungan noon?  Ito ang mga nasa malayo , na noon ay hindi pa tinatawag kundi tatawagin pa lamang, kaya wala pa sila sa kulungan.  Alin itong malayo na kinaroroonan ng mga tupa ni Cristo na wala pa sa kulungan o hindi pa natatawag noong si Cristo ay narito pa sa lupa?  Sa Isaiah 43:6, ay ganito ang nasusulat:

     “Aking sasabihin sa hilagaan, Bayaan mo, at sa timugan, Huwag mong pigilin; dalhin mo rito ang aking mga anak na lalake na mula sa malayo, at ang aking mga anak na babae  na mula sa mga wakas ng lupa.”

Kinikilala rin ng Diyos na Kanyang mga anak itong mga tupa ni Cristo na nasa malayo na noong panahon Niya rito sa lupa ay wala pa sa kulungan.  Ngunit aling malayo?  Sa Isaiah 43:5 ay ganito ang sinasabi:

     “Huwag kang matakot, sapagka’t ako’y sumasaiyo; aking dadalhin ang iyong lahi mula sa silanganan, at pipisanin kita mula sa kalunuran.”

Aling malayo?  Malayong Silangan!  Ang sabi ng iba, wala raw mababasang Malayong Silangan sa Bibliya.  May mababasa raw na salitang malayo na ito’y nasa talatang 6, at may mababasa raw na salitang silangan na ito nama’y nasa talatang 5, ngunit iyong salitang malayong silangan na magkasama o magkakabit ay wala raw mababasa.  Hindi totoo ito sapagkat sa Bibliyang Ingles ng Isaiah 43:5 na salin ni James Moffatt ay ganito ang nasusulat:

“From the far east will I bring your offspring …”

Sa wikang Pilipino:

“Mula sa malayong silangan ay aking dadalhin ang iyong lahi…”

Hindi ba maliwanag na Malayong Silangan ang nabasa natin?  Maliwanag!  Bakit sa Bibliyang Tagalog ay wala iyong Malayong Silangan?  Kung wala man, walang ibang dapat sisihin kundi ang mga nagsalin ng Bibliyang Tagalog.

Alin naman itong malayong Silangan?  Sa World History nina Boak, Slosson, at Anderson, pahina 445, ay ganito ang sinasabi:

Sa Tagalog na:

“Ang Pilipinas ay naging bahagi ng Espanya sa unang kilusan sa pananakop sa Malayong Silangan.”

Maliwanag na pinatutunayan ng kasaysayan na ang Malayong Silangan ay ang Pilipinas.  Ang Kanyang mga anak na lalaki at babae ay Kanya ring dadalhin at diringgin ang Kanyang tinig at sila’y gagawin Niyang isang kawan o Iglesia.

Paano pinatunayan ng hula ng Diyos na Iglesia Ni Cristo ang lilitaw sa Pilipinas?  Sa Isaiah 43:5-7, ay ganito ang nasusulat:

     “Huwag kang matakot, sapagka’t ako’y sumasaiyo:  aking dadalhin ang iyong lahi mula sa silanganan, at pipisanin kita mula sa kalunuran.

     “Aking sasabihin sa hilagaan, Bayaan mo, at sa timugan, Huwag mong pigilin; dalhin mo rito ang aking mga anak na lalake na mula sa malayo, at ang aking mga anak na babae na mula sa mga wakas ng lupa;

     “Bawat tinatawag sa aking pangalan, at yaong aking nilikha ay aking kaluwalhatian, yaong aking inanyuan, oo, yaong aking ginawa.”

Ano ang itatawag ng Diyos sa Kanyang mga anak na lalaki at babae na mula sa Pilipinas ayon sa hula?  Sila’y tatawagin sa Kanyang pangalan.  Aling pangalan?  Yaong pangalan na Kanyang nilikha o ginawa para sa Kanyang kaluwalhatian.  Alin ba ang pangalang ginawa ng Diyos para sa Kanyang kaluwalhatian?  Sa Gawa 2:36, ay ganito ang sinasabi:

    "Kaya't dapat malaman ng buong Israel na itong si Jesus na ipinako ninyo sa krus ay siyang ginawa ng Diyos na Panginoon at Cristo!"

Alin ang pangalang ginawa ng Diyos?  Ang pangalang Cristo.  Ito nga ba’y sa ikaluluwalhati ng Diyos?  Oo, gaya ng pinatutunayan sa Filipos 2:9-11.  Papaano ba kung itawag ang pangalang Cristo sa mga kinikilala Niyang mga tupa Niya?  Iglesia Ni Cristo kung ito’y itawag sa Roma 16:16.  Ano ang kahalagahan ng pangalang ito?  Ito ba’y walang kabuluhan?  Dapat ba itong baguhin o palitan?  Sa Gawa 4:10-12, ay ganito ang nasusulat:

     “Talastasin ninyong lahat, at ng boong bayan ng Israel, na sa pangalan ni Jesucristong taga Nazaret, na inyong ipinako sa krus, na binuhay ng Dios na maguli sa mga patay, dahil sa kanya ay nakatindig ang taong ito sa inyong harap na walang sakit.

     “At sa kanino mang iba ay walang kaligtasan; sapagka’t walang ibang pangalan sa silong ng langit, na ibinigay sa mga tao, na sukat nating ikaligtas.”

Napakahalaga ng pangalan ni Cristo o ng pangalang Iglesia ni Cristo.   Sa kanino mang iba’y walang kaligtasan.

Kailan itinakda ng hula ang paglitaw sa Pilipinas ng Iglesia Ni Cristo?  Ayon sa hulang ating sinipi na sa unahan nito (Isaiah 43:5-6), ang panahong itinakda ng Diyos sa paglitaw ng Iglesia Ni Cristo sa Pilipinas ay sa mga wakas ng lupa.  Kailan itong mga wakas ng lupa?  Upang matiyak natin ito, kailangan nating pag-aralan ang pagkakahati ng panahon ni Cristo.  Sa ilang hati nababahagi ang panahon ni Cristo?  Sa Apocalipsis 5:1, ay ganito ang sinasabi:

     “At nakita ko sa kanang kamay niyaong nakaupo sa luklukan ang isang aklat na may sulat sa loob at sa labas, na tinatakang mahigpit ng pitong tatak.”

Mapapansin natin sa pagbasa ng talatang ito na tila malayo ang sagot sa ating tanong.  Ang itinatanong natin ay kung sa ilang bahagi nahahati ang panahon ni Cristo, ang isinagot sa ati’y isang aklat na may pitong tatak.  Tunay na aklat kaya itong natatakan ng pitong tatak?  Sa Isaiah 29:11, ay ganito naman ang nakasulat:

     “At sa lahat ng pangitain ay naging sa inyo’y gaya ng mga salita ng aklat na natatatakan, na ibinibigay ng mga tao sa isang marunong bumasa, na sinasabi,  Iyong basahin ito, isinasamo ko sa iyo:  at kaniyang sinasabi, Hindi ko mababasa, sapagka’t natatatakan.”

Samakatuwid, hindi tunay na aklat sa kalagayan itong aklat na natatatakan ng pitong tatak kundi ito’y pangitain.  Ang panahon ba ni Cristo’y ipinakita sa mga pangitain?  Sa Apocalipsis 1:10, 17-19, ay ganito ang sinasabi:

     “Ako’y nasa Espiritu nang araw ng Panginoon, at narinig ko sa aking likuran ang dakilang tinig na tulad sa isang pakakak.

     “At nang siya’y aking makita ay nasubasob akong wari’y patay sa kaniyang paanan.  At ipinatong niya sa akin ang kaniyang kanang kamay, na sinasabi, Huwag kang matakot; ako’y ang una at ang huli”

     “At ang nabubuhay; at ako’y namatay, at narito, ako’y nabubuhay magpakailan man, at nasa aking kamay ang mga susi ng kamatayan at ng hades.

     “Isulat mo nga ang mga bagay na nakita mo, at ang mga bagay ngayon, at ang mga bagay na mangyayari sa darating.”

Ipinakita ba sa pangitain ang panahon ni Cristo?  Ipinakita kay Apostol Juan upang maisulat niya ang mga pangyayaring magaganap sa buong panahon ni Cristo.  Sa ilang bahagi ba nahahati ang buong panahon ni Cristo?  Nahahati ito sa pitong tatak o pitong buko ng panahon.  Saan sa pitong bukong ito ng panahon o pitong tatak ang tinatawag na mga wakas ng lupa?  Sa dulo ng ikaanim ng tatak at sa simula ng ikapitong tatak.  Ito ang tinatawag na mga wakas ng lupa.  Bakit ang sabi’y mga wakas ng lupa?  Sapagkat ang dulo ng ikaanim na tatak ay isang wakas at ang simula ng ikapito’y wakas din, sapagkat ito ang wakas ng hati ng panahon ni Cristo, at sa dulo ng ikapitong tatak ay wakas naman ng sanlibutan, kaya kung tawagin ang dulo ng ikaanim, at simula ng ikapitong tatak ay mga wakas ng lupa.  Anong petsa ito  sa ating kalendaryo?  Upang ito’y matiyak natin, alamin muna natin ang pangyayaring naganap sa dulo ng ikaanim na tatak.  Sa Apocalipsis 6:12, ay ganito ang sinasabi:

     “At nakita ko nang buksan niya ang ikaanim na tatak …”

Sinasabi ritong binuksan ang ikaanim na tatak.  Ano ang pangyayaring naganap sa dulo nito?  Sa talatang 15, ay ganito ang sinasabi:

     “At ang mga hari sa lupa, at ang mga prinsipe, at ang mga pangulong kapitan, at ang mayayaman, at ang bawa’t alipin at ang bawa’t laya, ay nagsipagtago sa mga yungib at sa mga bato sa bundok.”

Ano ang pangyayari?  Nagsipagtago sa mga yungib at mga bato sa mga bundok ang lahat ng uri ng mga tao.  Ano ang dahilan ng kanilang pagtatago?  Sa Jeremias 4:23, 19, ay ganito ang sinasabi:

     “Narito, siya’y sasagupang parang mga ulap, at ang kaniyang mga karo ay magiging parang ipo-ipo:  ang kaniyang mga kabayo ay lalong matulin kay sa mga aguila.  Sa aba natin!  Sapagkat tayo’y nangapahamak.

     “Ang hirap ko, ang hirap ko!  Ako’y nagdaramdam sa aking puso; ang dibdib ko ay kakaba-kaba, hindi ako matahimik;  sapagkat iyong narinig O! kaluluwa ko, ang tunog ng pakakak, ang hudyat ng pakikidigma.”

Bakit nagtago?  Sapagkat may naganap na digmaan nang panahong yaon.  Bakit nagsipagtago ang mga tao?  Ang digmaang ito’y ginamitan ng mga makabagong kagamitang pandigma, gaya ng mga karo na parang ipuipo (mga tangke) at mga kabayong matulin pa sa mga agila (mga eroplano)—tinatawag itong ‘aerial cavalry’ o kabayuhang panghimpapawid (World History, p. 478).  Kapag sumasasalay ang mga eroplano’y may hudyat na tumutunog.  Ito ang tunog ng mga sirena na nagbababala sa mga tao na may pagsalakay sa himpapawid.  Kapag narinig ito ng mga tao’y kumakaba ang kanilang mga dibdib, at sila’y nagsisipagtago sa mga yungib na sa makabagong tawag ay ‘air raid shelter’.  Anong uring digmaan itong magaganap sa dulo ng ikaanim na tatak ayon sa hula?  Ito’y digmaan ng lahat ng mga bansa sa buong sanlibutan (Isaiah 34:1-2), samakatuwid ay Digmaang Pandaigdig.  Kailan ito naganap ayon sa ating kalendaryo?  Noong 1914.  Ang panahong ito ang tinatawag ng Biblia na mga wakas ng lupa.  Sa panahong ito itinakda ng hula ang paglitaw sa Pilipinas ng Iglesia Ni Cristo na mga tupa ni Jesus na wala pa sa kulungan noong narito pa Siya sa lupa.  Natupad ba ang hula?  Natupad!  Ang Iglesia Ni Cristo ay napatala sa pamahalaan noong Hulyo 27, 1914 kasabay ng pagsiklab ng Unang Digmaang Pandaigdig.  Sino ang nagtayo ng tunay na Iglesia Ni Cristo na lumitaw sa Pilipinas noong 1914?  Ang Diyos at si Cristo sa bisa ng hula.  Natupad ito sa pamamagitan ng pagsusugo kay kapatid na Felix Manalo sa mga huling araw na ito.

1John 5:7 Johannine comma

I John 5:7-8 of the King James Version cannot be validly used as a basis for the alleged Trinitarian doctrine. The authenticity of I John 5:7-8 of the King James Version has long been in question. The statement in the said verses--

"... in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth"--

is what scholars commonly call the "Johannine Comma." Scholars seriously question the authenticity of the Comma because it is absent in all the ancient Greek manuscripts of the New Testament: The Comma is absent in all the ancient Greek manuscripts of the NT with the exception of four rather recent manuscripts that date from the 13th to 16th centuries. The Comma is lacking in such ancient Oriental versions as the Peshitta, Philoxenian, Coptic, Ethiopic, and Armenian. ...

”The Fathers of the East do not quote or refer to the Johannine Comma in their Christological controversies. This omission indicates that the Comma was not part of the Bibilcal text of their time. For they surely would have used it had it been in the text." (New Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 7, p. 1004)

Moreover, the use of the Johannine Comma was apparently influenced by a pre-conceived belief in the Trinity. Starting as a gloss or a commentary, the Johannine Comma eventually found its way into the text itself:

”The development of the Comma can be followed in the ecclesiastical writers of the late 4th and 5th centuries, especially in Spain and Africa. Apparently, it developed as a result of the Trinitarian interpretation of the triad: spirit-water-blood found in I John 5:8b. By way of a gloss on the sacred text it eventually found its way into the text itself." (Ibid.)

The rendition of I John 5:7 in the King James Version is clearly erroneous. Even the Catholic Church, a major proponent of the doctrine of Trinity, denies the authenticity of the verse. The Vatican said:

"In recent times the doubts concerning its authenticity have grown and the Holy Office, in 1927, declared that, after careful examination of the whole circumstances, its genuineness could be denied." (Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, p. 56)

No properly-translated version of the Bible teaches about the Trinity. Christ explicitly taught that there is only one true God, the Father in heaven (Jn. 17:1,3), who Himself proclaimed,

"... there is no other god besides me" (Is. 45:21, Revised Standard Version).

The Last Work of Salvation

THE ENTIRE WORK of salvation in the Christian era is written in the Book of Revelation. The first work of salvation was that which was led by the Lamb:

"THEN I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. …These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being first fruits to God and to the Lamb." (Rev. 14:1,4, New King James Version)

The first fruits numbering 144,000 were with the Lamb and redeemed from among men. The Lamb referred to is our Lord Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:29) and those redeemed are members of the Church of Christ that was purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation). The 144,000 who were assured of salvation belong to the 12 tribes of Israel and were, therefore, Jews:

"Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

"James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelves tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings." (Js. 1:18,1,NKJV)

The Jews who became members of the Church of Christ in Judea (Gal. 1:22, Lamsa Translation) were the first fruits of the first work of salvation in the Christian era.

The second work of salvation

The next work of salvation was that of the first angel:

"Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on earth - to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people -

"Saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water." (Rev. 14:6-7, NKJV)

The angel referred to is an angel of the Church ["To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,…" (Rev. 2:1, NKJV)], meaning, a minister:

"Angel, Literally ‘messenger:’…(2) A minister or pastor of a Church, Rev. 2:1." (Crudence Comple Concordance to the Old and New Testament, p. 16)

The prophesied angel in Revelation 14:6-7 is a preacher of the gospel, preaching to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people. His aim is to give glory to God. Apostle Paul was the fulfillment of this prophecy since he preached to the Gentiles that they should turn to the living God and that God had appointed a day in which He will judge the world (Acts 14:14-15; 17:22, 27-31). He converted the Gentiles to the Church of Christ (Rom. 15:16; 16:4,16). His preaching function was the second work of salvation.

The second angel

The work of commissioning that followed the first-century Church of Christ was that of the second angel who testified "Babylon is fallen":

"And another angel followed, saying, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen’." (Rev. 14:8, NKJV)

The fulfillment of this prophecy about the second angel is Martin Luther who was foremost in initiating the Reformation Movement within the Catholic Church in the 16th century.

The Babylon referred to is the "dwelling place of demons" (Rev. 18:2). It also refers to the "MOTHER OF HARLOTS who sits on many waters" (Rev. 17:5,1). The "many waters" on which Babylon sits are "peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues" (Rev. 17:15). We know that a harlot is a woman of ill-refute. Thus, Babylon is the mother of harlots or women of ill-refute and she sits on many waters or is universal.

The true Church, on the other hand, is likened to a chaste virgin (II Cor. 11:2). Babylon, the "mother of harlots," is also a church, but not the true Church.

The name "Babylon" is synonymous with Rome (The Papal Encyclicals, p. 34; The Question Box, p. 143). The church that bears the name "Rome" and is universal is the "Babylon" referred to in the Book of Revelation as "THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS," the habitation of demons. Which Church has the name Rome and is universal? James Cardinal Gibbons testified thus;

"The word Catholic Church alone deserves the name of Catholic is so evident that it is ridiculous to deny it. Ours is the only Church which adopts this name as her official title.

"The word Catholic, or Universal, signifies that…she is diffused over every nation of the globe, and counts her children among all tribes and peoples and tongues of the earth." (The Faith of Our Fathers, p. 24)

Thus, the Babylon is the Roman Catholic Church. This is the church that is universal as Catholic authorities themselves admit and is, therefore, the one mentioned by the second angel as "Babylon is fallen"

That "Babylon" or the Catholic Church is fallen means it is without foundation (Lk. 6:49, NKJV) or is not founded on the Lord Jesus Christ who is the true foundation of the Church (Eph. 2:20-22, Ibid.).

The fact that the Catholic Church is not founded upon Christ but upon Peter (Apostles’ Creed, p. 216) proves that it turned away from Christ.

The second angel or messenger, Martin Luther, testifies that the Catholic Church is fallen. His attempt to reform the Catholic Church though failed.

The Roman Church held on to unscriptural teachings and continued in its apostasy. This Church, being the mother of harlots, and various Protestant churches that emerged from her are not God’s work of salvation. God, therefore, has appointed the reemergence of the true Church of Christ in these last days that His work of salvation may continue.

The last work of salvation

The prophecy written in the Book of Revelation reveals the last work of salvation led by the third angel:

"Then a third angel followed them, saying with a load voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand,…" (Rev. 14:9, NKJV)

The work of the third angel or messenger is to warn people who received the mark of the beast on their forehead or on their hand. He is to execute God’s work of salvation until the time of harvest (Rev. 14:14-15) or until the end of the world (Mt. 13:39).

The signs indicating that the end of the world is at hand are wars, famines, earthquakes, and sufferings (Mt. 24:3, 6-8). These signs signal that the end is near (Mt. 24:33). The work of the third angel will extend up to the end of the world because he is the messenger of God from the ends of the earth as prophesied by Isaiah:

"You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called you from its farthest regions, and said to you, ‘You are my servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away’." (Is. 41:9, NKJV, emphasis ours)

The fulfillment of the wars mentioned in the prophecy that would involve nations were the First World War and the Second World War. The First World War broke out on July 27, 1914, marking the beginning of the period ends of the earth or the time when the end of the world is near. We believe that the fulfillment of the prophecy concerning the third angel who would begin the work of salvation in this period is Brother Felix Y. Manalo.

The Church of Christ preached by Brother Felix Y. Manalo was registered with the Philippine government on July 27, 1914, concurrent with the beginning of the First World War. There will not be another work of salvation because Brother Felix Y. Manalo is God’s last messenger - his mission is to begin during the time of the ends of the earth and will extend up to Judgment Day (Is. 41:9,4).

As previously mentioned, the third angel would warn those who have the mark on their forehead or on their right hand. This is the mark of Roman Catholics - the "sign of the cross" (The Externals of the Catholic Church, p. 218). Those who have this mark are bound to perdition in the lake of fire, the second death (Rev. 14:9-11;20:14).

The mission of God’s last messenger is to preach the Church of Christ that was redeemed with Christ’s blood (Rev. 14:13; Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation). This Church is the last work of salvation before the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Gen.1:26, Kawikaan 8:22-30 at Juan 1:3 Si Cristo Dios na manlalalang?

Si Cristo ba’y Diyos na Manlalalang?

“Na siya ang larawan ng Dios na di nakikita, ang panganay ng lahat ng mga nilalang.” (Colosas 1:15)

MALINAW NA ITINUTURO ng Biblia na ang tunay na Diyos na lumikha ng lahat ng bagay ay ang Ama na nasa langit. Gayunpaman ay may mga naniniwala na si Cristo raw ang tunay na Diyos at Siya ring Manlalalang. Sinisikap nilang patunayan ito sa pamamagitan ng paggamit din ng mga talata sa Biblia. Dahil dito, mahalagang suriin natin ang ilan sa mga talatang ito at alamin kung tama ang pagkaunawa nila sa mga ito.

1. Juan 1:3: “Ang lahat ng mga bagay ay ginawa sa pamamagitan niya; at alin man sa lahat ng ginawa ay hindi ginawa kung wala siya.”

Si Cristo raw ang Diyos na Lumalang ng lahat ng bagay dahil sinasabi sa talata na ang lahat ay ginawa sa pamamagitan Niya.

2. Genesis 1:26: “At sinabi ng Dios, Lalangin natin ang tao sa ating larawan, ayon sa ating wangis: at magkaroon sila ng kapangyarihan sa mga isda sa dagat, at sa mga ibon sa himpapawid, at sa mga hayop, at sa buong lupa, at sa bawa’t umuusad, na nagsisiusad sa ibabaw ng lupa.”

Ang talatang ito ay isa pa raw sa mga katibayan na si Cristo ay Siya ring Diyos na Lumalang sapagkat dito raw ay kausap ng Diyos ang dalawa pang persona ng tinatawag nilang Trinidad. Kaya ang ka-“natin” daw dito ng Diyos ay si Cristo at ang Espiritu Santo.

3. Kawikaan 8:22-30: “Inari ako ng Panginoon sa pasimula ng kaniyang lakad, Bago pinasimulan ang kaniyang mga gawa ng una. Ako’y nalagay mula noong araw mula ng walang pasimula, Bago nalikha ang lupa. Ako’y nailabas ng wala pang mga kalaliman; Nang wala pang mga bukal na sagan ng tubig. Bago ang mga bundok ay nalagay, Bago ang mga burol ay ako’y nailabas: Samantalang hindi pa niya nililikha ang lupa, ni ang mga parang man, Ni ang pasimula man ng alabok ng sanglibutan. Nang kaniyang itatag ang langit nandoon ako: Nang siya’y maglagay ng balantok sa balat ng kalaliman: Nang kaniyang pagtibayin ang langit sa itaas: Nang maging matibay ang mga bukal ng kalaliman: Nang bigyan niya ang dagat ng kaniyang hangganan, Upang huwag salangsangin ng tubig ang kaniyang utos: Nang kaniyang iayos ang mga patibayan ng lupa: Nasa siping nga niya ako na gaya ng matalinong manggagawa: At ako ang kaniyang ligaya sa araw-araw, Na nagagalak na lagi sa harap niya.”

Ito ay iniuugnay nila sa mga talatang nasa unahan upang patunayan na si
Cristo ay eksistido na raw bago pa lalangin ang lahat ng bagay. Ang binabanggit daw dito ay si Cristo. Malinaw raw na sinasabi rito na nasa siping na Siya ng Diyos bago pa pinasimulan ang Kaniyang mga gawa at bago nilikha ang lupa. Mula sa mga talatang nabanggit ay nagkonklusyon sila na si Cristo ay Diyos na Manlalalang.

Ang tinutukoy sa Kawikaan 8:22-30 Hindi ang Panginoong Jesucristo ang tinutukoy na naroon na sa pasimula ng paglalang ng Diyos kundi ang karunungan:

“Hindi ba umiiyak ang karunungan, At inilalabas ng unawa ang kaniyang tinig? … Akong karunungan ay tumatahan sa kabaitan, At aking nasusumpungan ang kaalaman at gunita.” (Kaw. 8:1, 12)

Ang karunungang naroon na nang wala pa ang lahat ay ang karunungan o kaunawaan ng Diyos na Kaniyang ginamit sa paglikha sa langit at lupa:

“Nilikha ng Panginoon ang lupa sa pamamagitan ng karunungan; Itinatag niya ang langit sa pamamagitan ng kaunawaan.” (Kaw. 3:19)

Natitiyak natin na ang karunungang ginamit ng Diyos sa paglikha ng langit at lupa ay hindi isa pang Diyos sapagkat kung magkagayon ay darami ang Diyos. Lalabag ito sa doktrina ng Biblia na iisa lamang ang Diyos (Mal. 2:10). Siya ang may-ari ng karunungang ginamit sa paglalang.

Ang ka-“natin” sa Genesis 1:26 Ang ka-“natin” at mga kausap ng Diyos nang sabihin Niyang “lalangin natin ang tao” ay hindi ang inaakala ng iba na dalawa pang persona ng Trinidad, kundi ang mga kerubin at mga serapin na naroon na bago pa nilalang ang tao:

“Ano pa’t itinaboy ang lalake; at inilagay sa silanganan ng halaman ng Eden ang mga Querubin at ang isang nagniningas na tabak na umiikot, upang ingatan ang daang patungo sa kahoy ng buhay.” (Gen. 3:24)

“Sa itaas niya ay nangatayo ang mga serapin: bawa’t isa’y may anim na pakpak: na may dalawa na nagsisitakip ng kaniyang mukha, at may dalawa na nagsisitakip ng kaniyang mga paa, at may dalawa na naglilipad sa kaniya.” (Isa. 6:2)

Subalit nang isagawa na ng Diyos ang aktuwal na paglalang ay Siya lamang mag-isa ang gumawa nito:

“At nilalang ng Dios ang tao ayon sa kaniyang sariling larawan, ayon sa larawan ng Dios siya nilalang; nilalang niya sila na lalake at babae.” (Gen. 1:27)

Walang “ka-manlalalang” o kinatulong ang Diyos nang lalangin Niya ang lahat ng bagay:

“Ganito ang sabi ng Panginoon, ng iyong Manunubos, at niyang naganyo sa iyo mula sa bahay-bata, Ako ang Panginoon na gumagawa ng lahat na bagay; na naglaladlad, na magisa ng langit; na naglalatag ng lupa.” (Isa. 44:24_

“Ikaw ang Panginoon, ikaw lamang; ikaw ang lumikha ng langit, ng langit ng mga langit, pati ng lahat na natatanaw roon, ng lupa at ng lahat na bagay na nangaroon, ng mga dagat at ng lahat na nangaroon, at iyong pinamalaging lahat; at ang hukbo ng langit ay sumasamba sa iyo.” (Neh. 9:6)

Samakatuwid, maling ipakahulugan na sa Genesis 1:26 ay nag-uusap ang mga diumano’y persona ng Trinidad. Ang pinatutunayan ng Biblia na kausap dito ng Diyos ay ang mga kerubin at mga serapin. Ang tunay na Diyos ay hindi Trinidad at hindi rin maaari na si Cristo ay maging Diyos na Manlalalang.

Ang kahulugan ng nasa Juan 1:3
Ang sinasabing “ang lahat ay ginawa sa pamamagitan Niya” ay hindi nangangahulugang si Cristo ay ang lumalang, kundi, ang kahulugan nito ay ipamamagitan ni Cristo ang lahat ng bagay:

“Sapagka’t marapat sa kaniya na pinagukulan ng lahat ng mga bagay, at sa pamamagitan niya ang lahat ng mga bagay, …” (Heb. 2:10)

Pinatunayan pa ni Apostol Pablo sa ibang pagkakataon na talagang ang lahat ng bagay na nilalang ay iniukol kay Cristo at sa pamamagitan Niya:

“Sapagka’t sa kaniya nilalang ang lahat na mga bagay, sa sangkalangitan at sa sangkalupaan, na mga bagay na nakikita at ang mga bagay na di nakikita, maging mga luklukan o mga pagsakop o mga pamunuan o mga kapangyarihan; lahat ng mga bagay ay nilalang sa pamamagitan niya at ukol sa kaniya.” (Col. 1:16)

Kailangan ng lahat ng taong nilalang ng Diyos na sila’y ipamagitan ni Cristo sapagkat sa pamamagitan Niya ay papagkakasunduin ang tao sa Diyos:

“At sa pamamagitan niya ay pakipagkasunduin sa kaniya ang lahat ng mga bagay, na pinapayapa niya sa pamamagitan ng dugo ng kaniyang krus; sa pamamagitan niya, sinasabi ko, maging mga bagay sa kalupaan, o mga bagay sa sangkalangitan. At kayo, nang nakaraang panahon ay nangahihiwalay at mga kaaway sa inyong pagiisip sa inyong mga gawang masasama. Gayon ma’y pinakipagkasundo niya ngayon sa katawan ng kaniyang laman, sa pamamagitan ng kamatayan, upang kayo’y iharap na mga banal at walang dungis at walang kapintasan sa harapan niya.” (Col. 1:20-22)

Kaya, kung sinabi man sa Juan 1:3 na “ang lahat ng bagay ay ginawa (o nilalang) sa pamamagitan Niya” (o ni Cristo), hindi ito nangangahulugang si Cristo ay Diyos na Manlalalang. Ipinakikilala lamang nito na si Jesus ay Tagapamagitan ng tao sa Diyos (I Tim. 2:5).

Si Cristo’y hindi Diyos na Manlalalang
Ang isa pang katibayan na si Cristo’y hindi Diyos na Manlalalang ay ang katotohanang Siya man ay nilalang din ng Diyos:

“Na siya ang larawan ng Dios na di nakikita, ang panganay ng lahat ng mga nilalang.” (Col. 1:15)

Isa pa ito sa lalong nagpapatunay na mali ang pagkaunawa ng mga naniniwalang si Cristo’y Diyos sa mga talatang ginamit sa Juan 1:3; Genesis 1:26, at Kawikaan 8:22-30. Si Cristo ay hindi manlalalang, kundi isa Siyang nilalang. Siya ang panganay sa lahat ng nilalang.

Bakit sinabing si Cristo ang panganay sa lahat ng nilalang gayong hindi naman Siya ang unang taong nilalang? Sapagkat nakilala na Siya nang una bago pa itinatag ang sanlibutan. Siya ang una sa pagkapanukala. Nasa isip na Siya ng Diyos bago pa lalangin ang sanlibutan. Ngunit wala pang Cristo sa kalagayan noong pasimula ng paglalang. Inihayag lamang Siya nitong mga huling panahon:

“Na nakilala nga nang una bago itinatag ang sanglibutan, nguni’t inihayag sa mga huling panahon dahil sa inyo.” (I Ped. 1:20)

Nahayag o nagkaroon ng katuparan ang nasa isip ng Diyos noong una ukol sa pagkakaroon ng Cristo nang Siya ay ipanganak ng isang babae, si Maria na Kaniyang ina:

“Datapuwa’t nang dumating ang kapanahunan, ay sinugo ng Dios ang kaniyang Anak, na ipinanganak ng isang babae, na ipinanganak sa ilalim ng kautusan.” (Gal. 4:4)

Paano ngayon sasabihing si Cristo ang Siyang Diyos na Manlalalang? Si Cristo mismo ay hindi papayag sa gayong aral. Manapa, ipinakilala ni Cristo kung sino lamang ang Diyos na dapat sampalatayanan upang makamit ng tao ang buhay na walang hanggan – ang Ama at hindi ang Anak ang iisang tunay na Diyos:

“Ang mga bagay na ito ay sinalita ni Jesus; at sa pagtingala ng kaniyang mga mata sa langit, ay sinabi niya, Ama, dumating na ang oras; luwalhatiin mo ang iyong Anak, upang ikaw ay luwalhatiin ng Anak: … At ito ang buhay na walang hanggan, na ikaw ay makilala nila na iisang Dios na tunay, at siyang iyong sinugo, sa makatuwid baga’y si Jesucristo.” (Juan 17:1, 3)

Hindi ipinakilala ni Cristo ang Kaniyang sarili na Diyos, kundi “Anak” at “sinugo” ng Ama na Siyang iisang Diyos na tunay.

Samakatuwid, nagkakamali sa pagkaunawa at paggamit ng mga talata ng Banal na Kasulatan ang mga nagtuturo at naniniwalang si Cristo ay Diyos. Ang iisang tunay na Diyos ay ang Ama na lumalang ng lahat ng bagay. Hindi si Cristo ang Diyos na lumalang. Si Cristo ay nilalang. At bagama’t Siya ay pinagkalooban ng Ama ng maraming katangian at karangalang wala sa ibang tao, Siya ay tao sa likas na kalagayan. Ito ay isa sa mga aral na dapat panindiganan at sampalatayanan sapagkat ito ay ikapagkakaroon ng buhay na walang haggan.

 

Source: Pasugo, July 2006

 

Colossians 1 :16, Christ is the God who created All Things?

The majority of the people who call themselves Christians uses this verse to suport their claim that Christ is the God who created all things.

 

Colossians 1 :16 states, thus:

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him." (New King James Versiom)

Perhaps,   what   makes  them   think that   the verse teaches that "Christ created the world"  is the part which states "by Him all things were created."   Notice   nevertheless   that   just before that statement, the Bible states,   "He  (Christ)   is the firstborn   over  all  creation"    (Col.  1:15, Ibid.)—which clearly indicates that Christ is one of those which were created  and therefore not Himself the Creator.

The Bible unequivocally informs us who the one and only Creator is.  Isaiah 44:24 records thus:

"Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,  And He who formed  you from the womb: "I am the Lord, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself". (Ibid.)

The "Lord" and "Redeemer" who made everything "all alone" and "by Himself was further identified by the prophet Isaiah:

"Doubtless You are our Father ...You, 0 Lord^ are our Father; Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name" (Isa. 63:16, Ibid.)

Hence, as the prophet Malachi  rhetorically asks, "Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created   us?"    (Malachi 2:10, Ibid.)  Clearly therefore, the one God who "created the world" as taught by the Bible is not Christ, but His Father who is the only true God (John 17:1, 3).

So, why then does Colossians  1:16 state that by Him (Christ) all things were created"?  That very verse itself provides the answer—the last part of it explains,  "All things were created through Him (Christ)." Remember that one of the meanings of the term "by" is the word "through," and thus the two are synonyms (Microsoft Encarta 2006 Dictionary Tools). But then again, in what sense "were all things created through Christ"?  The explanation is again found in that very same verse which continues, "AI! things were created through Him and for Him." That all things were created for Jesus is further explained by Apostle Raul who himself wrote Colossians 1:16. He pronounced:

"God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan  he had already decided to complete by means of Christ. This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head. All things are done according to God's plan and decision . . . . .  based on what he had decided from the very beginning" (Eph. 1:9-l 1, Today's English Version)

Notice that "from the very  beginning" it had been the "secret  plan" of  Cod that  when  the time is right "He will "bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earthy with Christ as head."  It is in this sense thus that God created everything for Jesus.

It is clear therefore that all things, were created "by Christ" not in the sense that He is Himself the Creator, but in the sense that all were created by the Father through and for Him (Christ). Hence, in other translations of the Bible such as the Today's English Version , Colossians 1:16 is rendered in this manner:

"For through him God created everything in heaven and on earth. . . ., God created the whole universe through him and for him." (emphasis ours)

 

Catholic Dogmas Are Entirely Unbiblical

DOCTRINAL ERRORS CREPT into, multiplied, and piled up inside the Roman Catholic Church because her teachers, instead of abandoning them, thought they could rectify them by inventing similarly erroneous teachings. They formulated unscriptural dogmas to rationalize their doctrinal blunders in the past resulting in more false teachings.

One of the Catholic Church’s earliest unscriptural doctrines which gave birth to other false beliefs is the Christ-is-true-man-and-true-God doctrine, defined as an article of faith at the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325:

“Thus, for example, it was not until 325 A.D., at the Council of Nicaea, that the Church defined for us that it was an article of faith that Jesus is truly God.” (Discourses On The Apostles’ Creed, p. 206)

From this teaching stem other Council-manufactured dogmas, such as those on Mary and the Trinity.

Examples are the Marian dogmas of “Perpetual Virginity,” “Divine Motherhood,” “Immaculate Conception,” and “Assumption.” Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Pope John Paul II’s chief watchdog of Catholic orthodoxy, in an interview with author Vittorio Messori, was quick to admit that these dogmas were proclaimed to “protect” the Catholic faith in Christ’s alleged dual nature. Said he:

“It is, moreover in direct service to faith in Christ – not, therefore, primarily out of devotion to the Mother – that the Church has proclaimed her Marian dogmas: first that of her perpetual virginity and divine motherhood and then, after a long period of maturation and reflection, those of her Immaculate Conception and bodily Assumption into heavenly glory. These dogmas protect the original faith in Christ as true God and true man: two natures in a single Person.” (The Ratzinger Report, pp. 106-107)

What is perceived in these Marian dogmas as a “direct service to Christ” is in reality a direct disservice – an affront – to both Christ and Mary, for such dogmas are entirely unbiblical as they were merely invented and proclaimed by Catholic bishops and popes in A.D. 451, A.D. 431, A.D. 1854 and A.D. 1950, respectively. (cf. New Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. XIV, p. 695; Roman Catholicism, pp. 7-9)

Coming on the heels of a wrong doctrine of her own making is the Catholic Church’s formulation of another one – in fact, her principal one: the Trinity.

Purportedly a mystery no one understands, the Trinitarian doctrine – the formulation of which took the Catholic Church about three centuries to complete (cf. Systematic Theology, pp. 82-83; Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, p. 53) – is said to have originated from the “necessity” Catholics faced “to distinguish Jesus from God… while maintaining the belief that both are God.” The International Dictionary of the Christian Church attests thus:

“Historically, Trinitarian doctrine originated in the necessity Christians faced to distinguish Jesus from God, yet to identify Him with God..

“Through the Incarnation the first Christians learned to distinguish the Father and the Son while maintaining the faith that both are God…

“Thus the doctrine of the Trinity is derived from the truth of the Incarnation and is to be tested by it.” (p. 986)

Had these “first Christians” (Catholics, actually) only learned to distinguish right from wrong, biblical from unbiblical, they would not have maintained that both the Father and the Son are God, but that only the Father is God, for that is what the Bible teaches:

“Jesus spoke this words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent’.” (Jn. 17:1,3, New King James Version)

“Yet for us there is only one God, the Father, of whom are all thing, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.” (I Cor. 8:6, Ibid.).

The Trinitarian doctrine really originated not “in the necessity Christians faced to distinguish Jesus from God,” for the true Christians already had distinguished well Jesus from God (cf. I Tim. 2:5; Acts 2:22-24), but in the apostasy into which they fell, as had been forewarned by Christ and the Apostles (cf. Mt. 24:24-26; II Cor. 11:3-4).

An offshoot of the dogma on “divine motherhood” is the Catholic Church’s invention of yet another mind-boggling teaching about Mary.

In her bid to galvanize her “Theotokos” (“Mother of God”) doctrine, which she admits is nowhere to be found in Scripture (cf. Fundamentals of Mariology, p. 37), the Catholic Church teaches that Mary has entered into a “special relationship with the Trinity,” making the already mysterious doctrine of the Trinity all the more mysterious. She avers that Mary is “daughter of God the Father, Mother of God the Son and spouse of God the Holy Spirit” (Compendio Historico dela Religion, p. 501) – clarifying not if this teaching has turned God the Father into “God the Son’s” grandfather, considering that Mary,”God the Son’s” mother, is God the Father’s daughter, or that “God the Holy Spirit” is now God the Father’s son-in-law since “God the Holy Spirit” is Mary’s husband. This must be mystery at its most intricate, most perplexing and most unfathomable level. Remember: the true mystery of God is knowable:

“And He said to them, ‘To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, so that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And their sins be forgiven them’.” (Mk. 4:11-12, NKJV)

Ludicrous though the reason behind the creation of this brain-wracking Mary-Trinity mystery may be, the creation itself nevertheless came as no surprise, considering who its creator is. For who else could create such mystery but the Mother of all Mysteries – Babylon Mystery Church (cf. Rev. 17:5) otherwise known as the Holy Catholic Apostolic Roman Church.

Well aware of the fact that the true Christians Church bases all her doctrines on the Bible, it behooves us to ask: Why does the Catholic Church, which persistently claims to be the true church adhere to unscriptural doctrines, and even want to protect them with equally unbiblical ones? What makes her prefer to right her biblically unrightable wrongs with the inventions and fabrications of every kind rather than abandon them?

Obviously the reason is her fearlessness in doing violence to scriptural injunctions against adding to the word of God:

“Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.” (Deut. 12:32, Ibid.)

“For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

“Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does not teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt. 5:18-19, Ibid.)

“Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.” (I Cor. 4:6, Ibid.)

“For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophesy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;

“And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Rev. 22:18-19, Ibid.).

A statement from Ratzinger on the doctrine of purgatory graphically manifests this:

“…’Purgatory did not exist, we should have to invent it’.” (The Ratzinger Report, p. 146)

Now, why isn’t the Catholic Church afraid to add to the Bible as evidence by her inventions? Because she maintains that the Bible is not the only rule of faith. She argues that aside from what are written in the Bible, there are other “revealed truths” allegedly taught by Christ and the Apostles which were passed down by word of mouth. These truths, she says, constitute what is know as Tradition (cf. My Catholic Faith, p. 120).

According to M. Catherine Frederick, the Catholic Church “does not teach that the Bible is the only rule of faith… Many of her doctrines are based on…Tradition.” (cf. The Handbook of Catholic Practices, p. 112)

But the argument on Tradition allegedly having equal authority with the Bible is diametrically opposed to the apostolic admonition that Christians should not go beyond what is written (cf. I Cor. 4:6). Christ’s pronouncement that what are written were written “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (cf. Jn. 20:30-31). Truth is, this Tradition thing was itself invented only by the Council of Trent in 1545 (cf.Roman Catholicism, pp. 7-9).

Furthermore, one realizes after close scrutiny that the Catholic argument on Tradition is really pure trickery. For what the Catholic Church calls Tradition is actually the collection name Tradition (or ascribe them to it), and now argues that the Bible is not the only repository of divine truths but Tradition also. Very much like when she invented the doctrine of Christ’s deity I A.D. 325. After having invented it, she now argues that the Father is not the only true God but Christ also. In other words, the Catholic Church invents something to add to another thing, and then says that the latter is not the only real thing.

Some of the Catholic Church’s dogmas, practices, terms, which she invented and now attributes to Tradition are:

Easter, by the Council of Nicea, A.D. 325 (The Story of the Church, p. 50); Christmas, by Artenon, A.D. 373 (cf. The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia, p. 47). The term Trinity, by Tertullian A.D. 220 (Systematic Theology, p. 304);

Purgatory, invented by Gregory I in A.D 593; The Rosary, by Peter the Hermit, A.D. 1090; Transubstantiation, by Pope Innocent III, A.D. 1215; The Auricular Confession of sins to a priest instead of to God, by the Lateran Council, A.D 1215; The Scapular, by Simon Stock, an English monk, A.D. 1251;

Papal Infallibility, by the Vatican Council, A.D. 1870; Immaculate Conception, by Pope Pius IX, A.D. 1854; Assumption of Mary, Pope Pius XII, A.D. 1950; Canonization of dead saints, by Pope John XV, A.D. 995; and a host of others. (cf. Roman Catholicism, pp. 8-9)

Indeed, from everyone and everywhere but the Bible did the Catholic Church derive her teachings, and so pronounced is this to her teachers that they even seem to take pride in admitting that their faith in Christ whom they recognize as God is not derived from the Bible. Karl Adam, in a book carrying the imprimatur of Patrick Cardinal Hayes, not only admits but asserts:

“…the Catholic does not derive his faith in Jesus from the Scriptures … I learn the complete Christ, not from the Bible…” (The Spirit of Catholicism, p. 50, 57)

Catholics, in truth and in fact, learned their “Christ” from extra biblical source, a book on which are written all the basic teachings of the Catholic Church: Catechism. According to the Catholic priest, Enrique Demond, the Catechism instructs things which all Catholics “ought to believe, obey, accept, and pray for.” (cf. Siya ang Inyong Pakinggan: “Ang Aral Na Katoliko,” p. 5)

It is the Catholic Catechism, not the Bible that teaches that Christ is God. Needless to say, if only Catholics learned their Christ from the Bible, they would have believed Him as man, not as God:

“But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this.” (cf. Jn. 8:40, NKJV)

“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” (I Tim. 2:5, Ibid.)

Interesting to note is a recent newspaper report that the Catholic Church’s universal catechism was undergoing revision. Reports had it that “Pope John Paul II, on Thursday (June25, 1992), approved the first major overhaul of the Roman Catholic Church’s universal catechism in more than 400 years” (cf. Daily Globe, p. 7, June 27, 1992). Another attempt at righting her wrongs?

This is certain: Whatever changes the Vatican intends to make in the Catholic Church’s catechism will bear no religious significance – unless it rids it of all her inventions and replaces them with the biblical truth.

This she will never do. Centuries of Catholic experience have proven beyond doubt that it is not in her nature to abandon her errors. She prefers to cling to them tenaciously.


Bibliography

Adam, Karl. The Spirit of Catholicism. USA: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1954.

Boettner, Loraine. Roman Catholicism. New Jersey: The Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., 1962.

Carol, Juniper B. Fundamentals of Mariology. USA: Benziger Brothers Inc., 1956

Crock, Clement H. Discourses On The Apostle’s Creed..New York: Joseph F. Wagner, Inc., 1938.

Demond, Enrique. Siya Ang Inyong Pakinggan: “Ang Aral Na Katoliko.” Manila: Catholic Trade School, 1916.

Frederick, Catherine. The Handbook of Catholic Practices:. New York: Hawthorn Books Inc., 1964

Jackson, George, Jerome Hannan, and Sister Dominica. The Story of the Church. New York: Benziger Brothers, 1935.

Morrow, Louis L. R. My Catholic Faith. Manila: The Catholic Truth Society, 1936.

New Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. XIV. Washington D.C.: The Catholic University of America, 1967.

Ott, Ludwig. Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma. Illinois: Tan Books Publishers, Inc., 1974.

Pinton, Josef. Compendio Historico De La Religion. Manila: University of Sto. Tomas, 1932.

Ratzinger, Joseph Cardinal. The Ratzinger Report. USA: Ignatius Press, 1985.

Strong, Augustus Hopkins. Systematic Theology. USA: The Judson Press, 1907.

The New International Dictionary of the Christian Church, rev. ed. Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1974.

“Vatican Approves Changes in Cathecism.” Daily Globe. June 27, 1992.

Source:  Pasugo, Jul-Aug 1992