THE ONLY AUTORIZED PREACHERS OF GOD’S WORDS (Last of Two Parts)

THE ONLY AUTORIZED PREACHERS OF GOD’S WORDS 

(Last of Two Parts)

“Comparing spiritual things with spiritual"

By BENILDO C. SANTIAGO

MANY MODERN-DAY PREACHERS who profess to be evangelicals confidently cite Apostle John’s warning to “not believe all who claim to have the Spirit, but test them to find out if the spirit they have comes from God” (I John 4:1, Today’s English Version), and so they immediately seem to their listeners to be the ones who truly have the Holy Spirit.  However, one’s mere pointing out of this apostolic warning DOESN’T NECESSARILY MAKE HIM DIVINELY COMMISSIONED AND SPIRIT-INSPIRED.  Why, even Satan himself cited the Scriptures, as when he tried to tempt the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 4:6).

     Non-divinely commissioned preachers—presumptuous for assuming the role of God’s messenger (to preach) albeit not having the divine gift (“to know the mystery”)—certainly will not speak as if they are uninspired.  Ever claiming to have the true Spirit of God, self-styled preachers, in fact, often succeed in appearing to speak with authority. Their being unapproved of God inconspicuous in their countenances and not easily detectable in their utterances, THEY LOOK and SOUND LEGITIMATE and CONVINCING most of the time.

     In the first place, using the same Bible, HOW COULD THEY BE FALSE?  In the second place, by quoting Christ’s teachings to believe in Him, be born again, and love your enemies, among others, HOW COULD THEY BE WRONG?  To the unsuspecting, they must have some authority from above.  To them, they must have the true Spirit of God.  Besides, who would dare question their purpose and sincerity in preaching about the Savior?

     Therein lies the danger—people do not usually question Bible-wielding preachers by whose authority they preach.  They hardly investigate whether these preachers are truly sent by God.  It does not even occur to them to demand proofs of their supposedly having a divine commission and the Spirit of God.  And even if they are told, HOW COULD THEY BE SURE?

‘COMPARING SPIRITUAL THINGS

WITH SPIRITUAL’

Well aware of this problem, Apostle Paul cited as the unmistakable characteristic of the Holy Spirit-inspired preachers their unique method of teaching:

     “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; COMPARING SPIRITUAL THINGS WITH SPIRITUAL.”  (I Cor. 2:13, King James Version)

      The preachers who are sent by God and inspired by the Holy Spirit speak in words which the holy Spirit teaches, “comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

     It is interesting to note that Bible Scholars and students consider some parts of the bible historical, other parts prophetical, poetical, and practical, and still others doctrinal.  However, inasmuch as the Bible in its entirely is God’s Word, and Apostle Paul categorically states that “GOD IN HIS WISDOM MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW HIM BY MEANS OF THEIR OWN WISDOM” (I Cor. 1:21, TEV), and that “GOD HAS, THROUGH THE SPIRIT, LET US SHARE HIS SECRET” (I Cor. 2:10, Phillips Modern English Bible), therefore, all parts of the Bible are most aptly described as “SPIRITUAL TRUTHS” (I Cor. 2:13, TEV, New International Version, Revised Standard Version).

     Spiritual truths when compared with other spiritual truths manifest NOT EVEN AN IOTA OF CONTRADICTION.  In no way do they show any inconsistency, any disagreement, any contrariety—ONLY HARMONY, CONSONANCE, and UNITY.  They go together perfectly at all times.  With this apostolic method of teaching, NOTHING IS ADDED TO or TAKEN AWAY from the Word of God.  The Word is its own best commentary—it interprets itself.

     Corollarily, when a verse seems to clash in meaning with another verse in the Bible (please remember that all correctly translated Bible verses contain “spiritual truths), either the former or the latter is mistranslated, or misinterpreted, or as Apostle Paul says, “distorted.”  And the MESSENGERS OF GOD, having the Holy Spirit, are sure to be able to “SPIRITUALLY DISCERN” (I Cor. 2:14, RSV) or DETECT THE DISTORTION.

     As it is, “comparing spiritual things with spiritual” is, like it or not, the only acceptable and right method of teaching the gospel, being guaranteed not to result in error.  And IF the things taught through this method seem to be “NONSENSE” (I Cor. 2:14, TEV) TO HIM who DOES NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT, IF HE “CAN’T UNDERSTAND AND CAN’T ACCEPT them, if they “SOUND FOOLISH TO HIM,” it is precisely “BECAUSE ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN THEM CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT MEANS.  Others just can’t take it in” (I Cor. 2:14, Living Bible).

     Thus, rather than posing any exegetical problem, the fact that the things taught through this method are perceived to be “foolish” by “him who does not have the Spirit” all the more substantiates the so unpopular, so unwelcome—yet so Christian—concept of exclusivism as far as the divine gift of knowing the gospel mystery is concerned (Mark 4:11-12, New King James Version).

     To determine, them, if a preacher is truly sent by God and Christ, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and does not pervert or distort the gospel, WE NEED ONLY TO CHECK OUT IF HIS TEACHINGS ARE IN PERFECT HARMONY WITH THE SCRIPTURES.  This means that no single doctrine being taught by him runs counter to any “spiritual truths” because, according to Apostle Paul, all his teachings are spiritually comparable and compatible with the entire gospel (I Cor. 2:13).

‘EVANGELICAL AND ROMAN

CATHOLIC BELIEFS COMPARED’

—WITH THE BIBLE

It behooves us to examine whether no contradiction exists between the doctrines of the numerous churches, which profess to be Christians, and the spiritual truths of God written in the Bible.

     Can the Roman Catholic Church, the chief claimant to being the Church built by Jesus, for example, prove that all of her doctrines are in total agreement with the teachings of the Bible?  Can any of the Protestant or so-called “evangelical” churches or any religions or religious movements that supposedly base their doctrines on the Bible prove that as well?

     Most theologians, Church historians, Bible commentators, scholars, priests, pastors, and even ordinary Bible students acknowledge the fact that many of the doctrines of the Catholic and Protestant churches will fail when placed side by side with the doctrines of the Bible.  The reference materials written by authorities of these churches themselves are too many for anyone to refute this fact.

     One such book is Evangelical and Roman Catholic Beliefs Compared, written by Protestant Albert J. Sanders.  Its foregone conclusion is sweeping as it is candid:

     “THERE ARE MANY DOCTRINES CONTRARY TO GOD’S REVEALED TRUTH that through the centuries have crept into the teachings of the Catholic Church and into Evangelical Churches.” (p. 16)

     Declaring that “many doctrines contrary to God’s revealed truth … have crept into the teachings of the Catholic church and into ‘Evangelical’ or Protestant Churches” is just another way of saying that many of the doctrines of the Catholic and Protestant churches ARE NOT “spiritually comparable” with the Scriptures.

     It is a virtual admission, too, that preachers of these religions are DEVOID of the Spirit of God.  For even just one anti-gospel doctrine they preach already establishes, without a doubt, that THEY ARE NOT SENT BY GOD.

TRINITY:  NOT “SPIRITUALLY

COMPARABLE” WITH THE GOSPEL

One of the Catholic and Protestant churches’ “many doctrines contrary to God’s revealed truth” is the so called Trinity.

     The Trinity, the belief that there are three persons in one god, is described by the Catholic Encyclopedia as “the central doctrine” of the Catholic and Protestant churches.  The book states:

     “I.  THE DOGMA OF THE TRINITY.—The Trinity is the term employed to signify the central doctrine of the Christian religion.” (p. 47)

     Yet, no less than the New Catholic Encyclopedia itself, among so many tomes, acknowledges that “THE DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY TRINITY IS NOT TAUGHT IN THE O[LD] T[ESTAMENT]” (P. 306).

     Nor is the Trinity taught in the New Testament, for even the entire Bible was written, there still was no belief in this doctrine:

     “AND SO BY THE END OF THE PERIOD OF THE APOSTOLIC FATHERS THERE WAS NO BELIEF IN A PREEXISTENT TRINITY.” (The Philosophy of the Church Fathers, p. 191)

     Catholic authorities are quick to admit that the Roman Catholic Church was behind the formulation of this doctrine:

     “The Church began to formulate its doctrine of the Trinity IN THE FOURTH CENTURY.” (Systematic Theology, p. 82)

     Another fatal blow to this “central doctrine” of the Catholic and Protestant Churches is dealt in this straightforward acknowledgment by Protestant Albert J. Sanders:

     “The Doctrine of the Trinity IS NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE.” (Christian Beliefs, p. 32)

     One of the nails to seal the doctrinal coffin of the so-called Trinity is hammered in by Catholic authorities, as recorded in the Dictionary of the Bible:

     “Trinity.  The trinity of God is defined by the Church as the belief that in God are three persons who subsists in one nature.  The belief as so defined WAS REACHED ONLY IN THE 4^TH AND 5^TH CENTURIES AD AND HENCE IS NOT EXPLICITLY AND FORMALLY A BIBLICAL BELIEF.” (p. 899)

     What is noteworthy in all these straightforward confession by its very adherents is that it is the Trinity doctrine itself, not just the term, that is not found in the Bible.  Rightly so for this doctrine is entirely is conflict with God’s revealed truth in both the Old and New Testaments on His absolute oneness (Deut. 4:35, 39; 6:4; Isa. 43:10; 44:8; John 17:1, 3; I Cor. 8:4-6).

     No question that the so called Trinity is UNBIBLICAL—as proclaimed from the rooftops by the very teachers and preachers of this doctrine—is an indisputable proof that it is not “spiritual comparable” with the Lord God’s revealed truth.

     No doubt, they who teach and preach it DO NOT HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT.  THEY ARE NOT SENT BY GOD.   And it comes as no surprise that their doctrine about God CONTRADICTS the gospel.  For ONLY the messengers of God can teach the true knowledge of God:

     “IT IS THE DUTY OF THE PRIESTS TO TEACH THE TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.  People SHOULD GO THO THEM to learn my will, because they are the messengers of the Lord Almighty.” (Mal. 2:7, TEV)

     “Have we not all ONE FATHER?  Has not ONE GOD created us? …?  (Mal. 2:10, NKJV)

     It is interesting to note that the Trinity doctrine is described by its adherents as a mystery.  However, unlike the mystery of God, which is KNOWABLE to God’s messengers through the Holy Spirit, the purported mystery of the so-called Trinity is BEYOND THE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING of EVEN its MOST advocates, prominent among whom are “the most learned theologian, the holiest Pope, [and] the greatest saint.”

     This is the frank confession of Catholic priest Martin J. Scott, which is concurred in and given imprimatur by higher Catholic authorities:

     “The Trinity is a wonderful mystery.  NO ONE UNDERSTAND IT.  The most learned theologian, the holiest Pope, the greatest saint, all are as mystified by it as the child of seven. It is one of the things which we shall know only when we see God face to face.” (God and Myself:  An Inquiry Into the True Religion, p. 118)

THE ONLY AUTHORIZED

PREACHERS OF GOD’S WORD

The proliferation today of preachers—equipped with human wisdom yet wanting in inspiration of the Holy Spirit, licensed by schools of theology but unapproved of God—and their flagrant, unabated preaching of “ANOTHER GOSPEL” are RIGHTLY TO BLAME for the CONTINUED MUSROOMING of various religions and religious movements professing to believe in the Bible but espousing beliefs and doctrines that contradict one another and the Bible.

     Their incessant, wanton distorting of the gospel on radio, television, and the Internet as well as in the books, magazines, leaflets, etc., which inevitably results in the emergence of diverse interpretations of biblical tenets, likewise accounts for many people’s incredulity of the inerrancy of this divinely inspired Book.

     In spite of all this, however, the fact remains absolute and indisputable:  THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD AND ONLY THE DIVINELY COMMISSIONED MESSENGERS ARE AUTHORIZED TO PREACH IT.  A plethora of Bible verses, some of which are cited in this article, well establish this fact, that only the unblushing opponents of divine truth will dare gainsay it.  To quote the Apostle Paul again, “AND HOW SHALL THEY PREACH, EXCEPT THEY BE SENT? …” (Rom. 10:15, KJV)

     The messengers of God are not just the “BEST” authorized preachers of God’s Word—they are the “ONLY” authorized preachers of God’s Word.

     In all honesty, BROTHER FELIX Y. MANALO, whom we, members of the CHURCH OF CHRIST, firmly believe is the messenger of God IN THESE LAST DAYS, and who is the FULFILLMENT of the many prophecies in the Bible, did possess the attributes of a true messenger of God. One of which is the method of teaching.  He did not even once preach any single doctrine that is contrary to spiritual truths.  All the doctrines he preached are unadulterated spiritual truths.  Every member of this Church bears witness to the fact that his teaching method was perfectly akin to that of the apostles—the divinely legitimate teaching method, which only the Holy Spirit-inspired are able to do, namely, “COMPARING SPIRITUAL THINGS WITH SPIRITUAL.”

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PASUGO GOD’S MESSAGE | DECEMBER 2005 | VOLUME 57 | NUMBER 12 | PAGES 24-27

E-mail:  pasugo@iglesianicristo.org.ph or

pasugo@inc.org.ph

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