TUNAY NA LINGKOD

Saturday, July 19, 2014

"JEHOVA" Tama ba bilang pangalan ng Diyos?



Hindi lingid sa atin na may samahang pang relihiyon na gumagamit ng pangalang Jehovah para tukuyin ang di-umano’y tunay na Dios ng biblia.
Suriin po natin kung ang kanilang mga pagmamatuwid ay talaga nga pong naayon sa mga nakasulat sa biblia. Magpasimula po tayo, ating suriin, kung atin pong susuriin ang mga kasulatan ay ating masusumpungan na inihayag ng Dios ang Kanyang sarili sa Kaniyang bayan sa pamamagitan nga iba’t-ibang pangalan.

Sa Exodus 3:13-14 ay ating mababasa na nagpakilala Siyang “AKO NGA”

“ At sinabi ni Moises sa Dios, Narito, pagdating ko sa mga anak ni Israel, at sasabihin ko sa kanila, Sinugo ako sa inyo ng Dios ng inyong mga magulang; at sasabihin nila sa akin: Ano ang kaniyang pangalan? anong sasabihin ko sa kanila?
At sinabi ng Dios kay Moises, AKO YAONG AKO NGA; at kaniyang sinabi, Ganito ang sasabihin mo sa mga anak ni Israel, Sinugo ako sa inyo ni AKO NGA”

Sa Isaias 57:15 ay atin naming mababasa na ang pangalan Niya ay “BANAL”

“ Sapagka't ganito ang sabi ng Mataas at Matayog na tumatahan sa walang hanggan, na ang pangalan ay Banal; Ako'y tumatahan sa mataas at banal na dako na kasama rin niya na may pagsisisi at pagpapakumbabang-loob, upang bumuhay ng loob ng nagpapakumbaba, at upang bumuhay ng puso ng nagsisisi.”

Dito naman po sa
Exodo 34:14 ay sinasabi na ang pangalan ng Dios ay  “ MAPANIBUGHUIN”

“ Sapagka't hindi ka sasamba sa ibang dios: sapagka't ang Panginoon na ang pangalan ay Mapanibughuin; ay mapanibughuin ngang Dios:”

Sa
Isaias 63:16 ay sinasabi na ang pangalan ng Dios ay “ AMA”

“Sapagka't ikaw ay aming Ama, bagaman hindi kami kinilala ni Abraham, at hindi kami kilala ng Israel: ikaw, Oh Panginoon, ay aming Ama, aming Manunubos na mula sa walang pasimula ay siya mong pangalan.”

Dito naman sa
Awit 68:4 ay sinasabi ng biblia na ang pangalan ng Dios ay “ Jah”

“Kayo'y magsiawit sa Dios, kayo'y magsiawit ng kapurihan sa kaniyang pangalan: ipaghanda ninyo ng maluwang na lansangan siya na nangangabayo sa mga ilang; ang kaniyang pangalan ay JAH; at mangagalak kayo sa harap niya.

Maging sa
Oseas 2:16 ay sinasabi din na ang Dios ay tatawaging “ ISHI”

“At mangyayari sa araw na yaon, sabi ng Panginoon, na tatawagin mo akong Ishi, at hindi mo na ako tatawaging Baali.”

Ang mga ito at ang iba’t-ibang pangalan ng Dios na nakasulat sa biblia. Sa mga pangalang ito inihayag ng Dios ang Kaniyang sarili sa Kaniyang bayan. Siya ang Dios na nangangahulugang lakas o kapangyarihan. Sinasabi ng biblia na ang lupa ay natatag sa pamamagitan ng Kaniyang kapangyarihan (Jer.10:12). Siya ay tinatawag na Ama sapagkat sa Kaniya nagmula ang lahat ng bagay (1Cor.8:6) Siya’s tinatawag na Mapanibughuin, sapagkat hindi Siya pumapayag na maglingkod ang Kaniyang bayan sa ibang Dios(Exo.34:14-17).
Siya ay tatawaging ISHI na ang kahulugan ay “ aking asawa” upang ipakita ang kaugnayan Niya sa Kaniyang bayan. Ang Dios ay banal kaya marapat na Siya’y tawaging Banal (Lev.11:44).

Bukod sa iba’t-ibang pangalan ng Dios  na atin nang nabanggit sa unahan nito, mayron pang pangalan ang Dios na hindi mabigkas, na masusumpungan sa mga kasulatang Hebreo. Ang mga dalubhasa sa biblia ay nagpapatotoo:

“…….Kung gayon ang lalong karaniwang pangalan para sa pagka-Dios, ay Dios, ang pagkakasalin ng orihinal na Elohim. Ang karaniwang salita para sa Maestro ay Panginoon, kumakatawan sa Adonai. Mayroon pang ibang pangalan na tanging ukol lamang sa Dios, bilang tangi at angkop na pangalan, yaon ay ang apat na letrang YHWH. Tingnan ang Exodo 3 at Isaias 42:8. Ang pangalang ito ay hindi mabigkas ng mga hudyo dahil sa paggalang sa pagkasagrado ng banal na pangalan". (New American Standard Bible, U.S.A. Collins World, p.ix).

Ayon sa mga dalubhasa sa biblia ang pangalan ng Dios na hindi mabigkas ng mga hudyo dahil sa labis na paggalang ay ang pangalan na nakasulat sa apat na letra –
YHWH.
Sinasabi ng iba na ang bigkas sa apat na letrang ito ay
 Jehovah, kaya mayroong tagapagturo na nagsasabing Jehovah ang opisyal na pangalan ng Dios. Totoo po kaya naman ang kanilang pagtuturo na ito? Totoo kaya ang sinasabi ng ibang tagapagturo na ang personal na pangalan ng Dios ay Jehovah?
Mahalagang atin po’ng suriin, atin pong alamin kung sino ang unang gumamit ng at kung kalian unang ginamit ang salitang Jehovah.

Ang relihiyong ang tawag sa kanilang samahan ay  “Saksi ni Jehovah” o “Jehovah’s Witness”  na siyang malimit gumamit ng panglang
 “Jehovah” ang tanungin natin, kung sino at kung kalian unang ginamit ang pangalang Jehovah.
Sa kanilang opisyal na magasin
“ Ang Bantayan”  inilathala noong agosto 1, 1980, ay ganito ang sinasabi sa pahina 10, ating tunghayan:

“ Kapuna-puna nga, si Raymundus Martini, isang mongheng kastila ng Ordeng Dominicano ang unang nagsalin ng “Jehovah” sa banal na pangalan. Ang anyong ito ay lumitaw sa kanyang aklat na Pugeo Fidei, na nalathala noong 1270 C.E. Mahigit na 700 taon na ngayon”

Pansinin po natin na kinikilala ng mga “ Saksi ni Jehovah” na ang pagkakasalin ng pangalang
 “Jehovah” ay nagmula lamang sa isang mongheng kastila na siRaymundus Martini. Siya ang unang gumamit ng salitang “Jehovah” sa kaniyang aklat na Pugeo Fidei noong 1270 CE. Maging ang mga dalubhasa sa biblia ay nagpapatunay na ang pangalang Jehovah ay nagsimula lamang noong edad medya:

 “ The form ‘Jehovah’ is of late medieval origin” (The Bible Revised Standard Version, New York, Thomas Nelson and Sons, 1952, p.v)

Maging ang bantog na mananalaysay na si Webster sa kaniyang Ancient History ay nagpapahayag: “ This name Jehovah was never known to the Ancient Hebrew”

Pinatutunayan maging ng kasaysayan na sa matandang Hebreo (o Israel) ay hindi kilala ang pangalang “Jehovah”. Natural lamang na hindi kilala ng matandang Israel ang pangalang Jehovah sapagkat ito’y unang lumitaw noong edad medya.

Bakit sa ibang salin ng biblia ay nakasulat ang pangalang “Jehovah”?
Ang 
The Living Bible Encyclopedia in Story and Pictures vol.7,pp. 905-906 ay nagbigay liwanag sa ating katanungan:
“ Jehovah (je-ho’va), ang salitang English ng Hebreong tetragram na YHWH isa sa pangalan ng Dios. (Exodo 17:15) Ang original na bigkas nito ay hindi nababatid”

Samakatuwid, ang pangalang “Jehovah” ay hindi siyang original at hindi masusumpungan sa mga kasulatang Hebreo, kundi isang salin lamang ng tetragram.  Ang salitang tetragrammaton ay nagmula sa wikang griego na tetra na ang kahulugan ay apat at gramma na nangangahulugang letra. Kaya ang kahulugan ng tetragrammaton ay ang apat na letra ng alpabetong Hebreo na
Yod-He-Vau-He  katumbas ng YHWH o JHVH.


Pansinin natin na ang isa sa mga pangalan ng Dios na masusumpungan sa mga kasulatang Hebreo ay binubuo ng mga katining lamang at walang mga patinig kaya hindi matiyak ang tamang bigkas sa pangalang ito. Pansinin din na ang mga nagsalin lamang ang naglagay ng mga patinig at dahil sa di pagkakaisa ay lumabas ang iba’t-ibang anyo ng pangalan ng Dios.
Tunghayan natin
sa Ellicott’s Commentary on the Bible, vol. I. . 177, sa pagkakaliwat sa wikang Pilipino, ganito an gating matutunghayan:

“ Ang baybay ng salitang Jehovah ay mapagtatalunan dahil sa ang mga katinig lamang(J,H,V,H) ang tiyak, ang mga patinig naman ay yaong nasa Adonai(Panginoon) na siyang ipinapalit ng mga Hudyo kapag ito ay binabasa sa mga sinagoga, na ang unang patinig ay isa lamang mahinang pamalit sa isang tunog, at binibigkas ang A O Ealinsunod sa uri ng katinig na pinagkakapitan nito. Ito’y karaniwang kinakatawan ngayon sa pamamagitan ng isang mahinang paghinga kaya – Y’hovah, ‘donai. Tungkol naman sa baybay ang iginigiit nina Ewald; Gasenius, at iba pa ay Yaveh;SiFursh ay Yehveh, o Yeheveh; at sina Steir, Meyer at kanilang kasamahan ayYehovah.”

Sa opisyal na magasin ng mga “Saksi ni Jehovah”,
 Ang Bantayan na inilathala noong Agosto 1, 1980, sa pahina 4-5 ganito naman ang kanilang patotoo:

“……. Ang pangalan ng Diyos sa mas matatandang manuskritong Hebreo ay nakasulat na YHWH o JHVH, at malimit na ang tawag sa mga titik na iyan ng mga komentarista sa Biblia ay ang “Tetragrammaton” , na ang ibig sabihin “apat na letra”. Sa paglipas ng daan-daang taon, nawala ang tamang bigkas sa pangalan ng Diyos sa Hebreo. Kung gayon, hindi matiyak kung anong patinig ng dalawang salitang Hebreo naA.do.nay (Panginoon) at El.o.him (Diyos) ay isinama sa Tetragrammaton at ang lumabas na bigkas ay Ye.ho.wah. Sa wakas sa anyong Latin, ito’y nagging “Jehovah”. Subalit, maraming iskolar na Hebreo ang nagsasabi na mas tama raw ang “Yahweh”. Ngunit para kay Rudolf Kittel, editor ng Biblia Hebraica, ang pagkakapuwesto niya ng mga patinig sa Tetragram na Hebreo ay “Yehwah” sa lahat ng kaniyang edisyon”

Pansinin po natin na nagbunga ng kaguluhan ng singitan ng mga patinig ang 
YHWH oJHVH. Lumitaw ang sari-saring pangalan, gaya ng “Jehovah” “Yehovah” “Yeheveh” “Yahweh” “Yahveh”  “Yehveh” at “Yehwah”

Alin man sa mga ito ay hindi mapapanghawakan sapagkat nakasalig lamang sa mga pala-palagay.

“ Ngunit anong salita ang “wastong kumakatawan” sa banal na pangalan na Hebreo? Mas gusto ng iba ay “Yehwah” at ang iba ay Jeve at marami pang iba. Ang problema ay nasa pagsulat ng sinaunang Hebreo mga katinig lamang ang ginagamit at inaamin ng kahit na mga eksperto na mga pala-palagay lamang ang pinagbabatayan sa kung aling mga patinig ang bumubuo ng kumpletong banal na pangalan.” (Ibid., p.11)

Inaamin din ng mga “Saksi ni Jehovah” na alin man sa mga pangalang nabanggit ay hindi siyang binigkas ng Dios kay Moises.
Sa kanilang aklat na
 Hayaang Maging Tapat  ang Dios, sa pahina 24 ay ganito po ang kanilang pahayag:

“ ………bagaman ang alin man sa mga ito ay hindi kaypala siyang pagbigkas ng Dios sa Kaniyang pangalan kay Moises”

Maging ang  mga dalubhasa sa Biblia ay nagpapatotoo na ang pangalang “Jehovah” ay hindi tamang kumakatawan sa pangalan ng Dios sa Hebreo:

“…….. ang salitang “Jehovah” ay di wastong kumakatawan sa ano mang anyo ng Pangalan di ginamit sa Hebreo. (The Bible Revised Standard Version, p. v)

Ayon sa mga dalubhasa sa Biblia ang pangalang “Jehovah” “Yahweh” “Yehweh” at “Yehwah” ay nasasalig lamang ito sa mga pala-palagay at hindi mapapanghawakan. Kaya nga kung binabanggit o inilalathala  sa Pasugo  ang “ Mga Saksi ni Jehovah” ay nilalagyan ng panipi upang di maipagkamali kami ay sumasang-ayon sa kanilang pagiging “ saksi” at sa pangalang “Jehovah” na ito’y maliwanag na di sinasang-ayunan ng mga dalubhasa sa Biblia at lalo nan g Biblia mismo.

Friday, July 11, 2014

SAFEST INVESTMENT



WE LIVE IN a world where many people are so preoccupied with the acquisition of wealth and making it grow. Their minds are fixated on earthly treasures: money, nice house, fast cars, and exotic vacations which give an impression that life consists of possessions. The ordinary individual seems to have become so fogged up by all the hullabaloo about wealth that he loses the perspective on what’s really important anymore.
Some of the biggest selling books, countless seminars, and TV programs are predicated on how to be rich through “investments” in stocks, gold, paintings, bonds, cash equivalents, financial derivatives (i.e futures or options), foreign asset denominated in foreign currency, and many more.
Indeed, to say that today’s world is caught up with materialism is an understatement. It seems man cannot get enough of cars, boats, expensive toys, wardrobes, jewelries, etc. – that it now comes to the point that he must have them to be happy. Others who don’t have riches just borrow to the max and spend anyway to have those fancy things now.
Is God against wealth and possessions? No. The Holy Scriptures are replete with examples of God’s people blessed with ample possessions in life: Abraham, Isaac, David, Solomon, Job, to name a few. But no man must think that these are the aim of and what give meaning to life. No less than the Lord Jesus Christ taught about “investment options” to men as well as the entailing “risk” which is the biggest thing to consider when making any investment at all, thus:

 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth where they can erode away or may be stolen. Store them in heaven where they will never lose their value, and are safe from thieves … You cannot serve two masters: God and money. For you will hate one and love the other, or else the other way around” (Matt. 6:19-20, 24, Living Bible).

The Lord Jesus presented two types of “treasure” or investment: earthly and heavenly. The sad thing is, many people today are engrossed with no other purpose than that of accumulating earthly treasures. How risky is that? In the field of finance and economics they usually ask: Is it investment grade? Or is it junk?
The Savior made it clear that as far as “heaven” or eternity is concerned, all worldly investments are poor choices. Hence, His unambiguous admonition: is that we should store up treasures not here on earth but in heaven. There is no truly rock-solid safe investment in this wicked and materialistic world. Thieves, both white collar or blue collar, are so plenty here on earth. Truly very frustrating for anyone to spend all his life working to make money and buy valuable things out of them only to have some crooks steal them all away from him.
Conversely, the amazing thing about storing up treasure in heaven is that they are totally free from all manner of corruption and theft – this makes them the best investment. Treasures in heaven are the only safe investment for eternity. Spending time, energy and effort for them will never be in vain.
Jesus emphasized that you cannot serve two masters: God and money. Man must learn then how to use money and earthly possessions righteously and make certain they are not his master and they have no rule over him.
To devote all time and efforts to the things that concern this life only is very risky and futile for: “How frail is humanity! How short is life, and how full of trouble! Like a flower, we blossom for a moment and then wither. Like the shadow of a passing cloud, we quickly disappear. … You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer” (Job 14:1-2, 5, New Living Translation).

The quality of man’s life in the world is “short” and “full of trouble”. The frailty and shortness of his existence are compared to how a flower blossoms for a moment but soon withers or to how a passing cloud quickly disappears – not perpetual nor everlasting.
The frustrations, worries, and heartaches that people commonly experience in this world are articulated by a servant of God, thus:

 “You work and worry your way through life, and what do you have to show for it? As long as you live, everything you do brings nothing but worry and heartache. Even at night your mind can’t rest. It is useless. You work for something with all your wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and then you have to leave it all to someone who hasn’t had to work for it. It is useless, and it isn’t right!” (Eccles. 2:22-23, 21, Today’s English Version).

How often does man’s search for satisfaction turn into emptiness and despair? He spends all his life searching for wisdom, knowledge, wealth, and skill, only to leave all of it to someone who hasn’t done a day’s work in his life – to inherit all his efforts, free of charge. Foolish and unfair? Likely so. That’s why the Bible illustrates the sad condition of man’s life here on earth as being under a cloud – gloomy, much sorrow, sickness, and filled with frustration (Eccles. 5:17).
Despite this reality, many people still strive and devote most of their time and effort to amassing earthly treasures, not realizing that they will leave this world just as they entered it – with nothing. There is nothing everyone can take with him in the grave (Eccles. 5:15).
Moreover, reality vividly displays all the oppressions and sadness throughout the earth – the tears of the oppressed, and no one helping them, while on the side of the oppressors are powerful allies (Eccles. 4:1).
For these reasons, God commanded that the present heavens and earth be reserved for fire on Judgment Day when all ungodly men will perish, the earth and everything on it will be burned up (II Pet. 3:7, 10, Living Bible). All the earthly treasures that man has labored for all his life will be of no value, nor will it save him or his loved ones, on Judgment Day (Zep. 1:14-16, 18).
Hence, man must be delivered from the power of darkness in this world and be transferred into the kingdom of the Son, if he is to have any hope of salvation, thus:

 “Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:12-14, New King James Version).

What a great blessing to be rescued from the darkness and gloom of Satan’s kingdom and be brought into the Kingdom of the Son or the Lord Jesus Christ, Who bought man’s freedom with His blood so as to gain the forgiveness of all his sins.
It must be pointed out, though, that the sole beneficiaries of the Savior’s redemptive blood are those who are in the “flock” or the members of the Church of Christ (Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation).
Within the Church of Christ, man can dutifully begin to “store up for themselves a treasure” as Apostle Paul testifies:
 “Command them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share with others. In this way they will store up for themselves a treasure which will be a solid foundation for the future. And then they will be able to win the life which is true life” (I Tim. 6:18-19, TEV).

True Christians understand that they cannot pay with earthly treasurestheir way into heaven. But they must ready to share with others their faith that more people may serve and glorify God. They also must be rich in good works, to be generous in giving offerings for all these are spiritual investments or ways of storing up for themselves a solid foundation for attaining eternal life. The same is true for those who do not neglect or forsake the assembling together or congregational worship services (Heb. 10:25-27).

They may still be living in a world consumed by wickedness and earthly concerns, but they will not allow sin to entangle them or hold them back in their sincere desire to reach God’s kingdom (Heb. 12:1). So, they put away the “earthly desires” such as “sexual immorality, indecency, lust, evil passions, and greed.” Likewise, they “get rid of all these things: anger, passion, and hateful feelings. No insults, or obscene talk” so as not to incur God’s anger and punishment (Col. 3:5-6, 8-9, TEV).

Truly, they “continue to endure and believe through all the persecutions and sufferings [they] are experiencing. All of this proves that God’s judgment is just and as a result [they] will become worthy of his Kingdom, for which[they] are suffering” (II Thess. 1:4-5, Ibid., emphasis ours).

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

" Born Again"


"ARE YOU A Born-again Christian?” This is common question asked by many religious groups today professing to be Christian. It may appear, at face value, to be but a simple, innocent question rooted only in curiosity. However, the question itself bears significant implications. Why? There are preachers today whose teaching leads others to conclude that one must wear the title “Born Again” upon himself so as to be considered a Christian, and thus be worthy to attain the coveted salvation offered by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This has led some to merely search out groups that use the phrase “Born Again,” believing that if affiliated with such a group their salvation is secured. But, is that so? Is joining any group whose members simply call themselves “Born Again” a guarantee of salvation? Is being born again just a change in a person’s way of life, or is there more involved? These are some very important questions that one must ask before embracing a group declaring itself to be “Born Again.”

BEING ‘BORN AGAIN’

First, does the expression itself have any biblical basis? It was no less than our Lord Jesus Christ who spoke of it in a conversation he had with Nicodemus:

“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.’ In reply Jesus declared, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again’.” (John 3:1-3, New International Version)

It can be easily gleaned from this conversation that our Lord Jesus Christ gave much importance to being born again and that it has direct relevance to one’s attaining eternal life. However, just as so many still do today, Nicodemus misunderstood the declaration of the Savior. He asked Jesus:
“’How can a man be born when he is old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit’.” (John 3:4-5, Ibid)
Clearly, Nicodemus misunderstood and was corrected by our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus went on to explain that being born again meant being born of water and spirit. The question that people must then ask themselves is not whether they have affiliated themselves with a religious group that has for themselves a title of being “Born Again” or not, but rather if they have been born of water and spirit or not. How can a person determine if he has yet undergone such a rebirth via water and spirit?
THE WATER AND THE SPIRIT

Which are the water and the spirit one is to be born of? Jesus spoke of the water, not as that which would only quench a literal thirst:
“Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14, Ibid.)

If it is not a literal water that will quench one’s thirst being referred to, but rather a water that will bring one eternal life, what then is being referred to as the eternal life-giving water that leads one to become born again?
“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” (I Pet. 1:23, Ibid.)
It is the word of God that will lead a person to become truly born again, not merely a self-proclamation. There is a process one must undergo, which begins with the cleansing power of the words of God. If that is what is meant by being born of water, what about the expression of Jesus when He mentioned that one must also be born of the spirit so as to be born again? Who is the spirit of which one must be born? Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches:
“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24, Ibid.)

The Bible teaches us that God is spirit. Thus, to be born again, one must be born of God and of His words. If not, one would only be laying claim to a position of being born again but without a sound biblical basis for such claim.
UNDERGOING REBIRTH

The Bible teaches us how the process of becoming born anew takes place. Apostle Paul taught:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (II Cor. 5:17, New King James Version)

What takes place is a complete rebirth, or the making of a new creation, according to Apostle Paul. If a person has not undergone this process of renewal, he could not be truly born again.
So who have become a new creation? Are they those who have merely made such a claim for themselves? No. According to Apostle Paul, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” The apostle identified those who are “in Christ”, thus:
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace.” (Eph. 2:14-15, Ibid.)

The new creation or those who are truly born again, therefore, are those who became part of the “one new man” which is composed of two parts. Anyone who wishes to be reborn or born again must be brought into the new man by God through His words. It cannot be done by self-declaration, or only by affiliating oneself with a group that merely calls itself “Born Again”.
What are the two parts of the one new man which we are to become part of?
“And He is the Head of the body, the church.” (Col. 1:18, Ibid.)

The two parts of the one new man are Christ as head and the Church His body. Which Church is Christ the head of? It is the Church that carries His name – the Church of Christ:
“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” (Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation)

All truly born-again Christians, therefore, are those who have undergone the process of becoming a member of the true Church of Christ. They have been born of the spirit, born of God, or born of His word; therefore, they have been added as parts of the one new man composed of a head and a body. They are in the body of Christ or Church of Christ.
Membership in the true Church of Christ is therefore necessary for one to become a true born-again Christian. One question people should ask themselves is whether they are in the true Church headed by Christ.
COMPLETE RENEWAL IS NEEDED

But is entering the Church of Christ the only thing needed so as to be truly born again? No. The renewal of one’s life is an important requirement in the process as well. As mentioned by Apostle Paul in the verse quoted earlier, “the old things have passed away” (II Cor. 5:17, NKJV).
The ways of life that must be left behind by anyone becoming part of the Lord’s body or Church were described also by Apostle Paul, thus:
“Throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes.” (Eph. 4:22-23, New Living Translation)

The apostle also taught the Church about what happens to the former self of a person once he becomes part of the new creation or is truly born again. It dies and is buried:
“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Rom. 6:3-4,NKJV)

Jesus taught that we need to be born again to receive eternal life. We must therefore not resist the correct process of becoming truly “born again”. The Bible does not show any shortcuts. One becomes a born-again Christian by becoming a member of the true Church of Christ and by living a life in accordance with the will of God.

Source: IGLESIA NI CRISTO, Pasugo, God’s Message, August 2008 Edition, Volume 60, Number 8, ISSN 0116-1636, p. 29-31, by ROBERT F. PELLIEN

Saturday, June 14, 2014

NA SI PEDRO AY HINDI NAGING PAPA KAILANMAN SA IGLESIA KATOLIKA AT LALONG HINDI NAGING PAPA SA IGLESIANG ITINAYO NI CRISTO SA JERUSALEM?



KAYA MALAKAS ang loob ng mga pare na sabihing ang Iglesia Katolika ang tunay na iglesiang itinayo ni Cristo sa Jerusalem noong unang siglo, ay sa dahilang paniwalang-paniwala sila at pinapaniwala rin nila ang marami na si Pedrong apostol ni Cristo ang kanilang unang papa. Kung mapapatunayan nga naman nila na si Pedro nga ang unang papa, lalabas na sila’y may kaugnayan kay Cristo at sa mga Apostol. Ito nga ba ang kanilang itinuturo? Sa Commentary on the Official Catechism of the Philippines pahina 134, ay ganito ang nasusulat:

“Where Peter is, there is the Church. Jesus appointed St. Peter as head of His Church… The successor of St. Peter is the bishop of Rome, and is usually called the Pope.”

Sa Pilipino:
“Kung saan naroon si Pedro, naroon ang Iglesia. Hinirang ni Jesus si Pedro na ulo ng Kaniyang Iglesia… Ang kahalili ni San Pedro ay ang Obispo ng Roma, at karaniwang tinatawag na Papa.”

Ginawa ba ni Jesus na Papa si Apostol Pedro? Sa aklat ng mga “Caballeros de Colon,” (aklat Katoliko) na pinamagatang
Why Millions Call Him Holy Father, pahina 1, ay sinasabi ang ganito:

“Christ Never Called Peter Pope.”

Sa Pilipino:
“Hindi Kailanman Tinawag Ni Cristo Si Pedro Na Papa.”

Bakit kailanma’y hindi maaring tawagin at lalong hindi maaring gawin ni Cristo na Papa si Pedro? Ano ba ang kahulugan ng salitang Papa? Sa aklat ng pareng si
Juan Trinidad na pinamagatang Ang Iglesia ni Kristo at iba’t ibang Sektang Protestante, pahina 26, ay ganito ang nasusulat:

“At ang Santo Papa (Ama) ay ang pinakamataas na ama ng ating kaluluwa dito sa lupa, dahil sa siya ang kahalili n gating Panginoon.” 

Ama ang kahulugan ng salitang Papa. Ito raw ang pinakamataas na ama ng kaluluwa dito sa lupa. Sang-ayon ba ito sa aral ni Cristo?
Sa Mat. 23:9, ay sinabi ni Cristo:

“At huwag ninyong tawaging inyong ama ang sinomang tao sa lupa: sapagka't iisa ang inyong ama, sa makatuwid baga'y siya na nasa langit.”

Nasasaklaw kaya ng pagbabawal na ito ang ating ama na asawa ng ating ina o ang ating ama sa laman? Hindi, sapagka’t sinabi rin Niya:

“Sapagka't sinabi ng Dios, Igalang mo ang iyong ama at ang iyong ina:…” (Mat. 15:4)

Kung gayo’y anong uring ama ang ipinagbabawal ni Cristo na itawag sa kaninomang tao sa lupa? Ang katulad ng pagiging Ama ng ating Ama sa langit, na ito ang Diyos. Anong uring Ama ang Diyos? Ang Diyos ay Ama ng kaluluwa (Ezek. 18:4). Sa makatuwid, nagkakasala ang mga papa sa pagpapatawag nila ng “Banal na Ama”, sa kanilang sarili sapagka’t iisa lamang ang Ama ng kaluluwa, ang Diyos. Kaya ito ang dahilan kung bakit hindi maaaring gawin ni Cristo na Papa si Pedro, sapagka’t ito’y labag sa aral na Kaniyang itinuro.

Bakit naman sa talaan ng mga papa ng Iglesia Katolika ay nangunguna si Pedro? Inilagay nga nilang una si Pedro sa talaan ng mga naging papa sa Iglesia Katolika, subali’t ang mga nagtala ay may alinlangan, kaya sa dulo ng pangalan ni Pedro ay naglagay sila ng tandang pananong (?-question mark). (Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 12, p. 272). Ang sagot nila ukol dito ay hindi raw ang pagiging papa ni Pedro ang pinag-aalinlanganan kundi ang petsa. Ito’y pangangatwiran lamang! Ang totoo’y hindi hindi lamang ang pagiging papa ni Pedro ang pinag-aalinlanganan kundi ang sa marami pa, gaya ng mababasa
sa Catholic Dictionary, pahina 389:

“The number of popes since St. Peter is not certain; there are 262 commonly enumerated…Some of these are uncertain, and dozen are definitely unknown.” 

Sa Pilipino:
“Ang bilang ng mga papa mula kay San Pedro ay hindi tiyak; may 262 na karaniwang binabanggit…Ang ilan sa mga ito ay hindi tiyak, at may isang dosena ang tiyak na hindi kilala.”

Bakit nag-alinlangan ang mga nagsisulat ng Catholic Encyclopedia sa pagiging papa ni Pedro? Kailan ba nagsimula ang tungkuling papa? Sa “Catholic Encyclopedia,” vol. 12, pahina 270, sinasabing noong ikaapat na siglo o ikaapat na raang taon, ito ay pinasimulang maging katangi-tanging katawagan ng Pontipise Romano. Kailan naman namatay si Apostol Pedro? Ayon din sa “Catholic Encyclopedia,” vol. 11, pahina 750, si Pedro ay namatay noong taong 67-68, unang siglo. Paano magiging papa si Pedro na namatay noong 67, unang isang daang taon, samantalang ang tungkuling papa ay nagsimula noong ikaapat na raang taon? Mahigit nang tatlong daang taong patay si Pedro nang magkaroon ng tungkuling papa, kaya may katuwiran ang mga nagsisulat ng “Catholic Encyclopedia” na magalinlangan sa pagiging papa ni Pedro.

Maging ang kasaysayan ay nagsasabing napakalabo at walang katiyakan ang umano’y pagiging papa ni Pedro. Ganito ang sinasabi
ng “World’s Great Events,” vol. 2, pahina 163:

“Our knowledge of the Papacy in its earliest days is very dim and uncertain. Peter, the fishermen of Galilee, who as tradition relates, was crucified with his head downward about 66, is claimed by the advocates of the Papal system, but without a shadow of historical proof, as first Bishop of Rome.”

Sa Pilipino:
“Ang ating kaalaman tungkol sa kapapahan sa mga unang araw nito ay napakalabo at walang katiyakan. Si Pedro, ang mangingisda ng Galilea, na ayon sa isinasaysay ng sali’t-saling sabi na ipinako sa krus nang patiwarik humigit-kumulang noong ika-66, ay ipinahahayag ng mga tagapagtanggol ng pamahalaan ng Kapapahan, ngunit walang anino ng patunay ng kasaysayan, bilang unang Obispo ng Roma.”

Maging sa Biblia at maging sa kasaysayan ay napatunayan natin na si Pedro kailanman ay hindi naging papa sa Iglesia Katolika at lalong hindi naging papa sa Iglesiang itinayo ni Cristo sa Jerusalem. Kaya walang kaugnayan sa karapatan kay Cristo at sa mga apostol ang mga papa at mga pare ng Iglesia Katolika.

Pasugo God’s Message, Mayo 1978, pahina 28, 33.e