The Grace Of Growing Days

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” (Luke 2:52)

Luke’s closing line on Jesus’ youth is quiet, yet it carries a depth that invites slow reading. It gathers years of hidden life into a single sentence, portraying growth that is steady, harmonious, and whole. Nothing here is hurried. Nothing is dramatic. Yet everything is essential. The verse suggests a life unfolding with a grace that is both deeply human and quietly radiant.

Jesus increases in wisdom, and this growth reflects more than the sharpening of thought. It is the deepening of understanding that comes from living faithfully within the world He Himself sustains. His wisdom unfolds within the quiet fabric of His earthly life, shaped by the steady rhythms of learning, observing, and inhabiting the world He once spoke into being. The mind that will one day speak with unmatched clarity grows here in silence, shaped not by urgency but by the gentle patience of a life fully aligned with the Father.

He increases in stature, and this simple phrase reminds the reader that the incarnation is not symbolic. Jesus grows as every child grows. His body strengthens, His frame expands, His hands learn the weight of tools and the texture of wood. The physical life He assumes is not a disguise but a genuine participation in human experience. The one who upholds all things by His power allows Himself to be upheld by nourishment, rest, and care. His humanity is not diminished by His divinity, nor does His divinity eclipse His humanity. Both move together in quiet harmony.

He increases in favor with God and man. This favor is not the result of public miracles or dramatic displays. It is the natural fruit of a life lived in perfect alignment with the Father’s will and expressed with gentleness among others. Jesus becomes someone whose presence draws trust, affection, and respect. His relationship with God deepens in the way a human life can deepen, through prayer, obedience, and love, and His life within the community reflects that deepening. The favor He receives from others is not accidental; it is the earthly echo of the delight the Father has always had in Him.

Luke’s summary suggests that the most profound preparation for Jesus’ ministry occurs far from public attention. Nazareth becomes the quiet workshop where wisdom, strength, and favor gather in perfect balance. The verse reminds the reader that spiritual formation often happens in seasons that appear uneventful, through the steady faithfulness of ordinary days. In Jesus’ hidden years, divinity does not bypass humanity; it fills it, dignifies it, and reveals its capacity to bear the weight of glory.

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It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on the current understanding of each author. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom. ; )

Acts 17:11

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Moses Died On Mt. Nebo

The primary, most central, most mission-critical tenet of Armstrongism is the requirement of observance of the Old Covenant law. Not all of it, just about 2%. The law must be kept because it cannot be changed, they say. Oft repeated is, "not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished" (MAT. 5: 18b)[NIV]. The law does not save you, they teach, but without observing the law you cannot be saved. Among the laws that Armstrongism claims must be observed are the Old Covenant holy days, including Passover.

The Armstrongist calendar year practically begins at Passover. They read about the Exodus, and clean almost every nook and cranny of leavening. But Passover is a Jewish holiday, you say? If you are talking about the Old Covenant Passover, then yes, yes it is, God bless them. And it should stay theirs. Passover is generally considered to be by far there most important calendar event. But Armstrongism says no, Gentiles are required to observe it too. Something doesn't add up about that, you wonder? Correct. It doesn't add up.

Jesus and the Apostles were Jews, who lived in the end times of the Old Covenant, of course they observed the things of the Old Covenant. But the Old Covenant ended. <- The biggest part of the equation is left out. After that point, the Apostles were abundantly clear that believing Jews could retain their national traditions but the Gentiles were not to become Jews in order to be Christians (see Acts 10, Acts 15: 18-26 and GAL. 2: 11-16). To demand we all must do what Jews did to fulfill the contract of the Old Covenant during the Old Covenant period doesn't make any sense - even if it is Jesus and the Apostles. The Gentiles weren't party to it in the first place and Old Covenant ended when Jesus died. Not to worry! To oversimplify it, Armstrong teaches that they keep the New Covenant .. just there is little difference between the Old and New Covenants. Passover was a law then and it's a law now. No changes! Not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen...! The only parts of the law that have changed are the national parts that governed Israel, and the ceremonial parts. Basically all Jesus did was take away sacrifices. So the law HAS changed - IF we accept this Armstrong doctrine. The parts they require haven't changed, they assure us. Passover is one of those required parts. For example:

(EXO. 12: 43) And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the ordinance of the Passover: No foreigner [Gentile; non-Israelite] shall eat it."

Oh. Well, maybe Exodus 12: 43-49 isn't such a good example. That says Gentiles are forbidden by law from participating in Passover, and this is repeated in Numbers 9: 14. Requiring everyone to participate would be a huge change in the unchanging law.

Let's just forget about that. Forget you saw that. Let's stick to the core, the spirit, the heart, which is that the law doesn't save you but you can't be saved without the law.

ABD agrees that the law doesn't save you, we just disagree about the continuing requirement of Old Covenant law.

THE MEANING OF MOSES MATTERS

There once was a man from Egypt named Moses. Moses was a particularly unique example among mankind. Author of the Pentateuch. Hero of the Jews. Specially chosen to act out a picture of the salvation process. Giver of the law. In fact, Moses represented the Old Covenant law. As Elijah represented all Old Covenant prophecy, Moses represented all Old Covenant law.

One day, as he led the Israelites through the desert, they came to Kadesh. It was hot, there was no water, and what should happen but Moses' sister dies. It was not the best of times. To add insult to injury, the people come to Moses and Aaron and their complaining was so bad that Moses' patience gave out. God tells Moses to speak to a rock and water will gush out for all to drink. Moses didn't listen so well. In his anger, he yelled at the people and struck the rock - twice - rather than just speak to it. God had something specific He wanted Moses to do, but that just wan't in Moses' nature. For this, God would not let Moses lead the people into the Promised Land. Note that God points out Moses' lack of faith as the real reason. You can read this in Numbers 20: 1-13.

Since we know that all of these things happened as examples for us, what does it all mean?

Moses, as the law, was fiery hot with anger. When violated, there is judgment and punishment. The rock was Jesus. The water was the Holy Spirit. From this Rock waters could flow, but who was able to make them flow? The law, in his anger, strikes out. It isn't in the nature of the law to be gentle towards the weak human condition. As Paul said, the people died under the law without mercy (HEB. 10: 28). Water does flow because God is merciful, just as water flowed from Jesus side when He was struck (pierced). But it wasn't as God wished it to be. God didn't desire punishment and sacrifices and things of the law (for example, ISA. 1: 12-15). God wanted love and faith and things of the spirit and the heart (ISA 1: 16-17; MIC. 6: 8). God specifies in Numbers 20 verse 12 that it was because of a lack of faith that the law could not lead Israel into the Promised Land.

Faith is commended in the Old Testament but doesn't come from the law. So the law did its best to the people until they made it close to the Promised Land, but it could go no farther. Moses died on Mount Nebo, overlooking the Promised Land. He never stepped foot in it. The law was made for a certain people in a certain place at a certain time. The law kept the people up and until a certain point, then its purpose ended.

Because faith has little part in the law, the law can not take God's people to their Promised Land. No, the law does not save you.

Galatians 3, the whole thing (but especially 19 and 24-25), is perfect right here. I'll wait while you read it. Please, be my guest.

Welcome back!

JOSHUA TAKES OVER

Deuteronomy 34 tells us that Moses was allowed to see all the Promised Land, that he died, and that before he died he passed a special blessing onto Joshua who would lead the people into the Promised Land. That last part is incredibly important. Joshua would lead the people into the Promised Land, not Moses. What does this mean?

Joshua had the very same name as our Lord and Savior Jesus. Both were named, roughly, Yeshua. Joshua is an Anglicized version of Yeshua and Jesus was Latinized to Iesous before being Anglicized into Jesus.

Clearly and unmistakably the foreshadowing indicates that the law cannot bring God's People into the Promised Land, but Jesus Christ can ...and has. The Old Covenant with its law, having accomplished all that it could do, was no longer useful. Jesus has taken the place of the law to accomplish what it never could. The law never could because we are so weak. The law is all about us and what we can do while faith is all about God and what He can do.

One of the first instructions that God gives Joshua in Joshua 1: 7-8 is to keep the law perfectly. Jesus did this, too. It is important to specify this!

You see, the Armstrongists quote Matthew 5: 18, but they use it incorrectly. They try to say the law has not changed at all, even though it is easy to demonstrate that it most certainly has changed in order to fit Armstrongist teachings. Not just some judicial part, or some ceremonial part, but even the moral part - which we saw earlier in the law of Passover. In order to push Passover on all Gentile Christians, Armstrongism must change the law. Yet Jesus said it was not His intention that the law should change. Jesus did as Joshua was instructed - He kept the law perfectly. Even the smallest letter and stroke of the pen were all satisfied in Jesus. Nothing was altered to make it easier on Him. The spirit of the law was completely satisfied in every way throughout Jesus' life and in His death as an offering for sin. In this way, the law was completely satisfied. Justice was satisfied. Love was satisfied. Everything Jesus did brought the Old Covenant to perfect completion. You see, the point I'm driving at is that the law was not simply changed, ever, it was fulfilled. All of it. Teleo!! And then the entire Old Covenant with all of its laws and requirements was abrogated.

The law cannot save you. The Old Covenant law isn't even asked of you. It was asked of Jesus, and He accomplished all that was asked.

When Jesus had fulfilled it all, He died on the cross and on the third day rose again as our Savior. He crossed over from death into life eternal, just as Joshua led Israel across the Jordan River into the Promised Land.

The law is not changed now or removed arbitrarily now, it is completely satisfied and completely replaced. It was an all or nothing deal. Nor either is this an after thought. It was planned this way from the beginning. I hear people say, "God wouldn't change His mind, so the law remains." Ahh, but God didn't change His mind, which is precisely why the law is removed. Then when it was accomplished He sat down at the right hand of the Father. This is metaphoric language. It means His work of salvation, so many thousands of years long, was completely accomplished and now He rests from it. He does a new work now.

All analogies break down at some point. Just as Jesus is our Passover lamb, but He was not taken into a home for 4 days and physically inspected before being sacrificed, roasted, and eaten with horseradish, so Jesus did not do  absolutely everything that Joshua did. Jesus did no cross the Jordan, He did not bring a people into a physical land, He did not war with anyone, He did not grow old and die, and etc. But this was all done and recorded for our good, so that we could know that Jesus is who He says He is and did what He said He would do.

He leads us to enter into that Promised Land. The way we enter with Him is by participating in Him. The way we join in the promise to Him alone is by participating in Him. We become one with Him, in spirit. Where He is so we will be because we are part of Him. The church, what remains here on earth as a witness through the ages, is His spiritual body. Each of us individually, and all of us collectively. We take in that bread and wine and in this we are always reminded that we take Him in. He in us and we in Him. And so we will always be with Him.

The law doesn't save you, Jesus does. You cannot keep the law, Jesus did. The law is not asked of you. It was never asked of the Gentiles anyway. The Old Testament isn't there to tell you what laws to keep now, it is there to tell you who Jesus is. The Old Covenant is gone, the New Covenant remains.

For a fabulous bit of expansion on the fact that our own efforts at law-keeping are wholly insufficient, I recommend to you Martha's post "You Will Never Be Worthy".

CONCLUSION

In conclusion of this whole topic, Moses, who represented the Old Covenant law just as Elisha represented the prophets, was not allowed to bring Israel into the Promised Land. Moses died on Mount Nebo. The meaning for us is that the OC law cannot bring us into our rest, our Promised Land. Paul is absolutely crystal clear about this in Hebrews, Galatians, and Romans. The law was only intended to keep Israel up until Jesus' death. Whether the letter of the law was nailed to the cross or our long list of offenses was nailed to the cross, it doesn't matter. Either way the outcome is the same. The Old Covenant law has no more accusation against the Jews, and it excluded the Gentiles so it never had any hold over the Gentiles anyway. The purpose of the Old Covenant and its requirements is over. It was never meant to go any farther.

Jesus fulfilled it completely and set it aside. Jesus alone can bring us into our Promised Land. We can't do this. Moses can't do this. The way this is done is by participating with Him - just as we take the bread and the wine into us. The church on earth is His body, spiritually. We are one with Him. And so we enter into the promise and the rest in Him. He is our Promise. He is our rest. He paid for our sin and gifts us His righteousness. Our righteousness does not come from the law! It comes from grace through faith. The way we participate in Him is through grace of the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit that comes by faith. Follow the Holy Spirit. From now on it is no longer us who lives, but He who lives in us. Just as Paul said.

Armstrongism has conditioned its adherents that if there is no law then there is no standard, anything goes. Not so! Notice that no one here has ever said we have no standard of conduct to live up to. We most certainly do. If we are led by the Holy Spirit, what conduct will we have? We have righteousness, but righteousness is not of the law anyway (GAL. 2: 21). Once again, if we are led by the Spirit then we are not under the law (GAL. 5: 18). So, it isn't that there is no standard, it's that the standard is not the OC law. The New Covenant standard is faith and love. Step into it!

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It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on the current understanding of each author. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom. ; )
Acts 17:11
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Honor Thy Father

Within the mindset of Armstrongism, from its heritage in Adventism and even to the COG splinter groups of this day, there is a pervasive belief that in order to honor Jesus one must withhold honor from the Father. This is a clumsy way to put it, but the spirit of what I am trying to convey is true. Armstrongism sees honor as zero sum. In other words, there is only so much of it to go around. It is the overall view that all honor should rightfully go to the Father, and since all honor should rightfully go to the Father in order to honor something other than the Father – like Jesus - one almost borrows against the Father to give to the Son. It is a “Rob Peter to pay Paul” situation. I am not going to dive into the background on what builds up to this conclusion, suffice it for now to simply say that it is. This is one idea shown in Martha's post "COGWA On The Resurrection: That's Nice, Now What?".

As a result, we often hear from Armstrongists that mainstream Christians pay far too much attention to Jesus and not nearly enough attention to the Father. Mainstream Christians might say that the COGs take Jesus out of His box once a year at Passover. If there is almost a guilty sensation in honoring the Son because it somehow diminishes the Father, how much less then could an Armstrongist agree that honoring a person can honor bring honor to the Son? Sadly, the view that mainstream Christianity has of Jesus and even our calling as Christians cannot be fully understood while laboring under the COG view of honoring God.

Is this “rob the Father to pay the Son” view Biblical? Can you honor the Father without directly honoring the Father? Can we honor the Son by honoring pitiful, lowly humans? Let’s look and see.

(I JON. 2: 23) Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

Whatever you do to one, you do to the other. This is how God views things. Thus is the relationship between Father and Son. There is no such thing as having more of the Father or of the Son. It’s a package deal. There are many other verses to demonstrate this. The main thing to glean from this is that to honor the Father it is required of us to honor the Son. This is how we honor the Father. This is the method.

(JON. 5: 18-23) 18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. 19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

The Son should be honored just as the Father is honored. It is commanded it is right and it is just. Perhaps the COGWA could remember this in their next talk about being "Father-Centered."

There is no such thing as having too much emphasis on the Son. To emphasize the Son is to emphasize the Father. To honor the Son is to honor the Father. This is how the Father is honored. Why do we honor the Son? Because of the Father. It is in order to glorify the Father that the Son came. It is in order to glorify the Father that we glorify the Son. No one goes to the Father except through the Son (JON. 14: 6). The Son does not steal from the Father. There is no taking from the Father to give to the Son. All that is, be it tangible or intangible, is the Fathers – and the Father has given all to the Son. That includes glory and honor. Why? Why does this not take away from the Father? Because the Son then turns right around and returns all to the Father, so that the Father may be all in all.

So, the common saying that mainstream Christianity honors the Son too much is not correct. It is untrue. It is a misunderstanding of the Father and the Son, it is a misunderstanding of honoring the Father and the Son, and it is a misunderstanding of what we are called to do as the spiritual Body of Christ.

So, if we honor the Father by honoring the Son, we must ask how do we best honor the Son?

We honor the Son by following the Holy Spirit whom the Son sends. We honor the Son in spirit and in truth, with sincere hearts. We honor the Son with our intentions and thoughts and words which flow into our deeds. What deeds? The Old Covenant law? No. With acts of charity towards those whom He has created. We honor the Son by loving those whom the Son loves.

This is what James speaks of, that faith alone is dead faith. We need to do for those whom Jesus loves. We need to actively love those whom Jesus loves. We need acts of charity. Armstrongism teaches that James is merely speaking of an attempt to observe the Old Covenant law, but that is not what James speaks of. James comes right out and tells us what he is speaking of:

(JAS. 1: 27) Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

James speaks of our true religion; our service to Jesus. What is that service to Jesus? Serving others.

When Jesus restored Peter, what did Jesus say? If you love Me, tend My flock (JON. 21: 15-17). He didn't say "If you love Me, ignore Me and concentrate on the Father." Nor did He say, "If you love Me, tithe and we'll call it even." No. If we love Jesus, we should do well for those whom He loves. The prescribed method of returning love to Jesus is acts of love to other humans. We honor our Lord by honoring others.

For years, as I attended the WCG and later my COG splinter group, I heard about how James talks of the law, and how everything else had to be seen in the light of this interpretation of James. But James isn’t speaking of the Old Covenant law. James is speaking of letting faith and the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit have its expression in our lives. James is speaking of charitable actions to others. James is speaking of our reasonable acts of worship. James is talking about how to love Jesus by loving those around us. James is talking about our religion.

Several times in this article I have compared and contrasted Armstrongism to mainstream Christianity. Does that mean mainstream Christianity always get this right? HA! No!! Anyone misleads you who says to you that all we need is faith in Jesus Christ. There is more to it than that simple phrase. This is precisely what James speaks about. Faith must have its expression in our lives. Good thing that most people who say this know there is a lot more to it, and both their lives and their fruit bear this out.

I am not speaking of law but of love. Old Covenant law does not equal love. To love is to fulfill the law. In fact to love is to fulfill the spirit of the entire law. All of it. It’s the only way to do this. The only way to exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees is to love. But to keep the law is not to love. The Pharisees had the law, but they did not have this kind of love. They honored God with their mouths and their law-keeping, but not with their hearts. Love fulfills the law, but the law does not fulfill love.

The point is that in order to express your love to Jesus you must pass on to others this love that He has given you. His gifts to us – none of us merit them in the slightest, and none of us are able to repay them. So how do you respond to the love of God? Simple. You believe in Jesus and love one another.

When I search the New Testament in the NKJV for “love one another” I get quite a few great hits from all over. I’ll give you one:

(I JON. 4: 11) Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

If God so loved us, we ought to love one another. Sums it up.

This is what it means to live as a Christian. Bear in mind that the church is the Body of Christ. What we do to one another that we also do to Him.

(MAT. 20: 37-40) 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

(Mat. 20: 44-45) 44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

Here is the summary of all that I am saying - you honor the Father by honoring Jesus, and honor Jesus by honoring those whom Jesus loves.

To honor the Son is not to diminish from the Father, and to honor a human is not necessarily to diminish from the Son. I affirm that it is not possible for an Armstrongist to fully understand mainstream Christianity without accepting this Biblical truth.

Is this charity and love to go to the people in your COG splinter only? We were taught as much within Armstrongism many, many times in the past. I know it is still taught today. I personally sat through more than just one sermon instructing us to actively withhold charity from “the world” for one reason or the other. We were instructed that to be charitable to “the world” is to defy God. (Do all COG groups teach this? No. But most do. Kudos to those who do not.)

Are those big-named and many-titled men that lead large splinter groups really correct when they say to shun everyone that doesn’t go to their group? Are they right that they are Philidelphia and everyone else is Laodicea? Are they justified in splitting up families and indirectly causing suicides? Does that teaching really mesh with what you read in the Bible?

No.

(MAT. 5: 43-47) 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?

No, not just to those in your splinter group. Not just to other Armstrongists. Everyone! Everywhere. Every human being bears the image of God, and we are called to love them all.

How can you love the people with whom you disagree if you can’t even love those with whom you do agree? Oh, how the COG groups fight! How they strive against one another! What do you really disagree on? I mean really. Your current glorious leader? The importance of Herbert Armstrong? The timing of the Wave Sheaf offering? The date on which Jesus will return? Seriously. If we had to quantify what the COG groups truly disagree on, it wouldn’t be more than 2% of the overall body of doctrine. Yet you can’t seem to love one another. Not just failing to love, but actively tearing down.

Since your COG splinter teaches you to observe the law (some of it anyway) I want to challenge you. I want to challenge you to implement this honor of the Father into your life. While you go about intending to observe the law, be mindful of the law in its New Covenant, spiritual, royal fulfillment – by that I mean faith and love. Don’t just go to church services on Saturday. Go out of your way to be kind to someone each and every time. Not the same person and not in the same way each time. Go out of your way. At the same time, accept the help and generosity of others. At the time I write this, Pentecost is coming up. More people means more opportunity to love and serve.

Then go out and do the same for people who aren't in your church.

Pray to God that He grant you His love. Then pray to God that He grant you the will and opportunity to give it all away. You cannot just take this up on your own. It has to be granted. Then be a living sacrifice. Do as James exhorted us to do. Live pure and undefiled religion. Be a Christian. Love one another.

In honoring others you honor the Son and through the Son you honor the Father.

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It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on the current understanding of each author. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom. ; )
Acts 17:11
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COGWA on the Resurrection: That's Nice, Now What?

It's almost Easter, which means it's time for the Churches of God to wax eloquent on the sign of Jonah and chocolate rabbits; while making only passing mention of the greatest miracle in the history of the world.

I'm used to it. I cheered it on for years from the sidelines. Now I cringe, but still, I expect it. It takes a lot to shock me. But something I read in COGWA's latest issue of Discern stopped me dead in my tracks:

“Drive down a church-filled road on Easter Sunday, and you'll encounter the literary equivalent of a broken record: He is risen! He is risen! He is risen! He is risen! He is risen!” COGWA writer Jeremy Lallier laments on page 14 of Discern magazine's March/April edition. 

“It's meant to be encouraging, but seeing sign after sign bearing the same emphatic declaration instead leaves me with a single nagging question: Now what? Yes, He is risen, but now what?”

Lallier continues, in his article titled “He is Risen, NOW WHAT?”: 

“Christ died to pay the penalty for our sins, but now what? Where do we go from here? What do we need to be doing?”

Let me digress from my shock over the seemingly flip words COGWA saw fit for its flagship publication to bring you the following message: Guys, when are you guys going to stop pretending that no one besides you knows that Romans 6 is in the Bible?

I could spend the rest of this post citing the same passages as Mr. Lallier to prove I know they exist, but what would be the point? Either you believe me when I say many churches outside the COGs teach about sin, repentance and obedience; or you don't. Yes, some mainstream Christian churches are soft on sin. There are some where “repentance” is a dirty word. But that isn't all of them, it isn't even most of them, and it isn't mine. The standard COG claim that all “so-called Christian” pastors are spineless about sin is just plain silly.  Even total skeptics must admit that the stereotype of the“hellfire and brimstone preacher” had to come from somewhere.

But really, complaints like “now what?” and “Easter doesn't tell the whole story” are just distractions from the real issue. I could just as easily point to an individual Holy Day in a vacuum and complain that it doesn't give a full picture of salvation. We've dealt with the problematic Easter narrative handed to us by Herbert Armstrong and Alexander Hislop many times. Today, let's set aside the hot-button "E-word" and instead talk about something more relevant, like the resurrection.

The deeper issue is this: discussing Jesus Christ and His resurrection really aren't a high priority for COGWA. Or for the other, competing WCG splinters that share its theology. Anyone who professes faith in Christ; yet can respond to the resurrection with "now what" in any manner other than Acts 2:37 brokenness and humility, fails to fully grasp the significance of Christ's sacrifice and what it accomplished. We're talking about the biggest miracle ever, the proof that Christ WAS the Savior and not a madman, the reason for us to have any hope in this life. It's not exactly an occasion to be snarky.

Sure, COGWA and its sister splinters pay lip service. They say the right words when people like me press them on the issue. But, really, Jesus Christ is a footnote; His resurrection is simply one checkpoint along “God's plan of salvation.” And not a very big one, either. After all, if God had wanted us to celebrate Christ's resurrection, He would have made it happen on a Holy Day! I mean, He even had two feast days to choose from that very week! 

As COGWA states in the very same magazine issue, on page 29, “It's all about the Father.” That's pretty obvious. We've seen COGWA's Encourage, Equip and Inspire parenting manual. Jesus didn't even make the short list of biblical characters whose life lessons are lifted up as examples in its "People of the Bible" section. Christ got an honorable mention in the lesson that discussed Simeon in the temple, but apparently didn't merit His own section when compared to people like Abraham, Abigail and Timothy.

According to the COGs, Jesus Christ was the second being - both in number and importance – in the God family; which will become a divine polytheistic oligarchy at His return.

Furthermore, Jesus had to qualify during his time on earth for reinstatement to this soon-to-be Pantheon. Your own founder, the one who created your theology and shaped your religious environment, stated that church members would essentially become co-Saviors with Christ in the Kingdom. COGWA, you claim that “the entire Bible leads us to the Father.” Is it any wonder that the resurrection is a blip on your radar screen?

Dear reader, the entire Bible doesn't point only to the Father, as the latest issue of Discern states on page 29. Don't swallow this dangerous lie. The Bible primarily points to the Savior and man's need for Him. It is intended to convict you of your sin and point you to the only possible solution. Over and over, we see themes of sin, desperation, sacrifice and deliverance. Noah and the Ark. Abraham and Isaac. The blood of the Passover lamb on the doorposts. The Sabbath. The Holy Days. The Serpent on the post stopping the plague. Blood sacrifices in the temple. The Holy of Holies. Ruth and Boaz. The Suffering Servant of Isaiah. Paul, Stephen, Peter and even Jesus Himself showed how the Old Testament pointed to Him:

(Luke 24:25-27) Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”

That's the whole point of the As Bereans Did blog. To help people who have been trapped in Herbert Armstrong's web of false doctrines to untangle the scriptures and learn the truth:

(Acts 17:11) These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”

So, like the believers at Berea, let's reason from the scriptures to see what they reveal  about the Christ (Acts 17:2-3):

(Genesis 1:1) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

(John 1:1-3) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” The whole world was made through the preincarnate Christ.

(Colossians 1:16) For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on the earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”

(Genesis 3:15) And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” This is considered the first Messianic prophecy in the Bible.

(John 1:45) Philip found Nathaniel and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” The law and prophets pointed to Christ.

(Luke 4:16-21) So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Then He closed the book and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Christ explained that these scriptures were fulfilled in Him.

(Luke 24:44) Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. The Law and Prophets pointed to and were fulfilled by the Christ.

(Romans 10:17, ESV) So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. The NKJV renders the last word of this verse God, but in the Greek it is clearly "Christou." Faith - which is what saves us - comes through hearing the words, the teachings, of Jesus. 

(Revelation 17:14) They will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kinds; and those who are with Him are called chosen and faithful. Jesus Christ is King of King and Lord of Lords.

(1 Timothy 6:13-15) I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will display at the proper time - He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords..." This same King of Kings and Lord of Lords is the ONLY SOVEREIGN.

(Revelation 22:12-13) And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

This is clearly Jesus speaking in Revelation 22. He is the Alpha and Omega. The same Jesus being worshiped in the center of heaven before His return in the following verse:

(Revelation 5:11-14) Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” And every creature which is in heaven and on earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Jesus is the Lamb and He is to be worshiped, praised and glorified. 

I suppose, in a roundabout way, God's plan for salvation is the story. But only because Jesus is – and always was – God's plan for salvation. The risen Christ is not half the story, as COGWA suggests. No, Mr. Lallier, we are not the other half of the story. Not by a longshot. No, returning to Sinai Covenant law is not the other half of the story. Jesus didn't suffer and die to initiate the better New Covenant in His blood so that we could cling to practices from the inferior covenant (and hopefully perform them well enough that God will let us into the Kingdom). We dishonor God and cheapen Christ's sacrifice when we claim that we can use the filthy rags of our deeds to cleanse the sinful stains from our hearts.

The story is all about Him. We are blessed to even be the clay in the potter's hand; to be instruments He can use for His glory. We have been set free from sin, and now live our lives as servants of righteousness (Romans 6:18). We do good works, but only because we are His workmanship, created and equipped by Him to do them (Ephesians 2:8-10).

So, He is risen. Now what?

• Now we can be reconciled to God through Christ rather than our deeds (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).

• Now God can call hard-hearted sinners like us (Romans 5:10) to Himself (John 6:44).

• Now God can grant us salvation when we place our faith in His promise to save us through the sacrifice of His Son (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10)

• Now God can regenerate our hard, darkened hearts (Colossians 2:13) and give us new life (2 Corinthians 5:17) through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27). 

• Now we can have Christ's righteousness imputed to us, so that we are found blameless in God's sight (Philippians 3:9, Galatians 2:16, Romans 4:5)

• Now God can lead us through the Holy Spirit, so that we can cooperate with Him and become more and more like Christ (Romans 8:29, Ephesians 4:22-24, Romans 12:2).

• Now we need not fear death, since we know that when we leave our earthly body, will will be present with the Lord  (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). 

• Now we can have faith that God will transform our earthly bodies into glorified bodies like the resurrected Christ's at His return, reuniting them with our souls (1 Corinthians 15:35-58). 

Now what? Now we can place our full faith in God for salvation, rather than toiling and worrying whether He will decide we are "good enough". Now we can strive to follow Him, to obey His commands; secure in the understanding that we will not be condemned when we fail; secure in the knowledge that God will finish what He begins in us (Philippians 1:6).

Now we can have hope, because of the resurrection.

Now that's something to celebrate.

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It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on the current understanding of each author. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom. ; )
Acts 17:11
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Crazy About Christmas

My heart is racing. My palms are sweating. This is way more intimidating than any public speaking assignment I've ever had. I don't think I've been this nervous since childbirth.

What am I doing? Making plans to attend my first Christmas Eve service since leaving the Churches of God. 

Whether you've been out of the COGs for a while and wonder what's the big deal, or are in the COGs and are disgusted by the previous sentence, I am pretty sure almost every reader out there is silently wondering, "Are you crazy?". 

Yes. Absolutely. Making peace with decades of COG programming and learning to see Christianity through a new lens is driving me totally mad, especially this time of year. Ironically, several friends and family members who ridiculed my decision to leave the COGs hinted that a desire to fit in during Christmas factored into my thinking. 

Nothing could be further from the truth. I don't fit in, and, frankly, I just wish December were over. This first Christmas season out of the COGs has caused me more anxiety than my family and friends will ever know. They would say it is because, deep down, I know Christmas is wrong. I would counter that it's the stress of coming face-to-face with decades of programming and cognitive dissonance about Jesus Christ in the COGs.

I've heard the first Christmas sermons and sang the first carols of my life in the last few weeks. You know what's been unbiblical about them? 

Nothing. 

The worst I can say about my church experience so far is that I'm not a fan of all the Christmas trees, although many claim that the symbolism has its roots in Christianity, not paganism. And, to be totally Biblically accurate, they need to remove the wise men from nativity depictions and songs, since they didn't arrive on scene until much later. But I don't expect evangelicals will scrub their cherished music any more than the COGs will eliminate their teachings on the modern identity of the tribes of Israel, even though genetic research has totally debunked the theory. To each his own spurious tradition, I guess.

A funny little story about altering songs. We were singing a Christmas hymn at church the other week about the angels who sang over Bethlehem, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I already knew the melody. Turns out that UCG borrowed the tune and completely rewrote the lyrics. If you're curious and have a UCG hymnal, turn to hymn 161, "From the Realms of Unseen Glory,", then look up "Angels from the Realms of Glory" on YouTube. It's the same, note for note. I've known the COGs to change a few words from time to time, but never an entire song. I thought it was wrong to Christianize anything with potentially pagan roots! Especially anything to do with Christmas. But I digress.

Every COG article criticizing Christmas focuses heavily on the holiday's materialism and on parents who lie to their children about Santa. Well, there has been no mention of Santa at my church. I'm not saying there aren't parents there who perpetuate the myth, but the church certainly isn't propping it up. Materialism has been discouraged from the pulpit, unlike at the Feast of Tabernacles. And increased discussion of the Biblically factual account of Jesus Christ's birth has not distracted from His death. Every message leads back to the sacrifice He made for each and every one of us.

But the Bible doesn't tell us to celebrate Christ's birth, you say. Well, no one would need to tell you to celebrate if you won the lottery. Receiving the gift of eternal life by grace through faith in Jesus is much, much better than winning the lottery, and the Bible does tell us to give thanks for that (1 Corinthians 15:57). There cannot be a death of our Savior without His corresponding birth. 

And it's not like the COGs don't have extra-biblical traditions. I'll bypass discussion of the man-made practice of taking up an offering on all seven holy days (instead of three times a year as the Bible states) in favor of something a little more touchy-feely. Where is the Blessing of Little Children mentioned in the Bible? It's loosely based on the scriptural account where parents brought their children to Jesus, but Mark 10 doesn't mention a date or occasion on which children should be blessed. The COGs have established this tradition on the second Sabbath after the end of the Feast of Tabernacles (except for the those COG groups that hold their blessing during the Feast so rogue grandparents can't bring non-member grandkids). Church leaders have done nothing wrong in creating this man-made tradition. Besides, of course, the COG leaders who have used it to further divide families, an increasing by-product of life in this religious community. Their actions are shameful.

But blessing children is not a man-made worship tradition, you say. Ok, what about holding opening night church services at the Feast of Tabernacles? That's a worship tradition. As are the multiple services some COG groups hold on other annual holy days. Where is that mentioned in the Bible? Only one holy convocation is prescribed per sunset-to-sunset time period. No extra worshiping God beyond what Sinai commands, or you are in big trouble! 

I've always wondered how the Jews got a pass for creating worship traditions at Hanukkah since it's nowhere to be found in the law. COG pastors have told me Hanukkah is kosher for Christians (pun intended), yet it's not commanded anywhere in the Bible. Still, we know Jesus was at the temple during the Feast of the Dedication, another name for Hanukkah (John 10:22-23). If extra-biblical traditions are wrong, then Jesus should have been nowhere near the temple at that time. Well duh, you say. The Jews created the celebration to commemorate a miracle God performed for His people centuries earlier. 

Ahem. Was Jesus' conception and birth a miracle that would bring great joy to all people (Luke 2:10-11)? Has there been any greater miracle in the history of, well, history? And Who do you think put Him there? If that wasn't God's intervention in human affairs, then I don't know what is. 

I suspect the main reason we in the COGs rarely discuss Jesus Christ's birth, besides anti-Christmas programming, is that He does not play a very prominent role in our theology. Yes, His sacrifice made our forgiveness and salvation possible. But in COG theology, our actions going forward from that initial point of forgiveness are the means by which we maintain our salvation.  As a result, we focus on our works, and Jesus Christ becomes like a spiritual debit card we swipe when we slip up and sin. He becomes the gate code we enter to have our prayers accepted by the Father. We take him off the shelf at Passover, then more or less put Him back and leave Him there until the Feast of Trumpets. This marginalization of Jesus is alarming when you consider He Himself said He was the way, the truth, the life, and the only way to the Father (John 14:6). That He is the door to salvation (John 10:9). The Vine to which we must be actively connected to grow (John 15:5-6). 

In contrast, evangelical Christians believe the Bible teaches salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). That they are saved by the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross (John 19:30, Hebrews 10:10). That the debt of their sin - past, present and future - is cancelled at the moment God justifies them, declaring them righteous in His sight (Colossians 2:13-15). That the righteousness of Jesus Christ is credited to them when they renounce any faith their own goodness and place their full faith for salvation in Jesus (Romans 4:4-5, 2 Corinthians 5:21). Good works and a transformation of the heart should increase as evidence of justification, but this is not linked to our justification, that we might boast (Ephesians 2:9). Understanding the magnitude of our debt that has been forgiven through Jesus Christ's sacrifice naturally results in placing a higher value on the praise and worship of our Savior (Luke 7:47), something the COGs neglect, I fear, to their peril. 

I'm not trying to convince you to keep Christmas. I am only trying to show you that rehearsing a Biblically accurate account of the birth of our Savior is appropriate for Christians. Angels rejoiced on that night, and they had no skin in the game. How much more should we, the redeemed, join the angels and shepherds in praising God and giving thanks that He entered the world?

Uncomfortable with focusing on Jesus' birth in December? I totally understand. I'm not super warm and fuzzy on that point either. Still, people who are a lot smarter than me believe the date has merit. I know it's pretty close to the winter solstice, although it's not on the solstice itself. The COGs have emotionally linked solstice worship to anything that goes on in December and early in January, even though there's only one actual solstice day. If proximity to the solstice taints any gathering where family and friends share meals, fellowship and offer extra praises to God, then the COG splinters have some explaining to do about their various Winter Family Weekends. On the other hand, maybe they've read Romans 14:14 and know that nothing is inherently unclean. Yes, the verses that immediately follow it discuss food, but the ones that precede it specifically mention esteeming specific days.  

If December freaks you out, pick another time to to read about Jesus' birth and give thanks for that miracle. Or don't pick a day at all - instead, do it every day (Romans 14:5-12). Thankfully, our salvation doesn't depend on determining proper dates for Jesus' birth. It doesn't even hinge on whether Pentecost was on Sunday or Monday, or Passover is on the 14th or 15th of Nisan. Good thing, since the Jews have changed their calendar a bit since Sinai. We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8), not through keeping holy days on the right day, or keeping them at all.

There is no day of the year on which it is inappropriate to read the Bible, praise Jesus Christ, or give thanks for the birth that made His sacrifice possible. It is programming and false guilt, not logic, that make contemplating Christmas so nerve-wracking for me. If God has declared me to be righteous in His sight (Romans 3:21-22), whom shall I fear?  I am grateful beyond words for what Jesus did for me every day of the year, whether that day is February 21, July 18 or December 25, and there is no wrong day to express that. 

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It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on the current understanding of each author. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom. ; ) Acts 17:11
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What Is The Gospel?

Herbert Armstrong often said something to the effect of,

"This world's so-called Christianity has taken the name of Christ -- has proclaimed to the world that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ -- has preached the name of Christ with a Message about His Person -- but they have rejected His Gospel -- the Gospel God sent for all mankind by Him -- the Gospel He taught."

-Herbert Armstrong, "The Wonderful World Tomorrow - What Will It Be Like", 1979 edition.

Over this past year, I have come to understand and know without a doubt that Herbert Armstrong was in error on his doctrine and teachings in a great many places and ways. So I asked, "What does the Bible actually say about the gospel?"

The gospel is not only the "gospel of the kingdom of God" (that is to say, as HWA defined it, "gospel of the second coming"). Certainly if you look up the word "gospel", you will see that very phrase "gospel of the kingdom" several times. Even so, for as many times as Matthew says "gospel of the kingdom", Paul says "gospel of Christ". What do we make of this? I think at least two things are going on here. 

First, the second coming is only a part of "the gospel". Important, yes, but not the whole thing. When HWA said he taught the real gospel message and everyone else is a liar, it is my belief that HWA took a part of the gospel and misrepresented it as the entire thing. What does that mean about him? (I leave it to the reader to decide.)

Second, HWA misunderstands what "the kingdom" is. I won't get into that here, but I would like to investigate the first point more closely. Let's start with the gospel as Paul described it.

(I COR. 15: 1-5) 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.

The debate should end right there and then, with that verse. Paul says plainly what gospel he preached. The rest of this chapter goes on about Christ's death and resurrection, and ultimately the eternal life that results.

Again, let's see what Paul taught.

(ROM. 1: 1-4) 1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

Did you catch that? "...The gospel of God ... concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord..." It is a gospel that includes elements about Christ! This is directly contradictory to what HWA taught.

But it also mentions the prophets. What did they teach?

I Chronicles 16: 23 and Psalms 96: 2 both say, "Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day." Isaiah 61: 1 speaks about good news of liberty to the captives. Christ did that for us -- paid our ransom in His blood to set us free. The "glad tidings of great joy" brought by the angels to the shepherds in the field was that Jesus Christ was born (Luke 2: 8-14).

Even Abraham heard the gospel. Did he hear of the Tribulation and second coming, or of justification by faith through Christ?

(GAL. 3: 8-9) 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

The gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ was preached to Abraham. He believed and it was counted to him as righteousness. Do you believe? Paul believed.

(ROM. 1: 16-17) 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

Faith is involved. Faith to salvation. Where is our faith to be placed, and who is our salvation? Jesus Christ. So.. the gospel isn't about Jesus? Really? Paul's apostleship was to preach the gospel. What did he preach?

(I COR. 2: 1-2) 1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Nothing but that? No focus on the second coming? No fire and brimstone sermons about two thirds of the earth perishing in the Great Tribulation? No intricate word games, clever explanations, or reinterpretations for proof-texting? Did we read that right? No telling of how enemies will recognize us as glorified God-beings and kneel before us?

What, again did the Apostles preach?

(ACTS 5: 42) And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. [the NIV translates this as "the good news that Jesus is the Christ."]

(ACTS 8: 35) Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture [ISA. 53: 7-8], preached Jesus to him

(ACTS 10: 36) 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all

(ACTS 10: 42-43) 42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.

(ACTS 13:32-33) 32 And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. 33 God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. [Continue to read through verse 41.]

(I COR.1: 22) For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness 

We are told time and time and time again that the Apostles preached our Lord Jesus the Christ. Paul also preached the same gospel...

(ACTS 20: 24) ...the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

...which was the grace of God through Christ crucified. That's not what Herbert Armstrong said! It would appear it was foolishness and a stumbling block to the COGs as well. 

And again, Christ and faith in christ are inexorably intertwined with the gospel. He is central to it.

(ROM. 10: 9) 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

(ROM. 10: 14-17) 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “LORD, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

It's a gospel of peace, not terror about the coming Tribulation. Ephesians 6: 15 also calls it the "gospel of peace". But we must ask, "what peace"? It is the peace of reconciliation between us and God through Jesus Christ by faith. The peace was shown to be achieved when the veil that symbolically separated us from God was torn in two. And once again, the gospel is plainly and clearly shown to be one of our salvation through Christ's death and resurrection.

The second coming was not left out, mind you, we do have a great hope and a looking-forward to that time, but the important part, the part that brought the Holy Spirit, was the gospel of salvation through Christ by faith. It is called "gospel of your salvation".

(EPH. 1: 13-14) 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

And what is the only name by which we are saved? Jesus Christ. It is, at least in good part, a gospel about Christ after all! Just as the prophets told us it is!

You've read what Romans 10: 9 teaches about the gospel, but that's not what HWA taught! He taught something quite different and opposed. He says,

 "The principal purpose for which Christ is returning to earth is to spiritually develop in humanity Godly character, and to save the world." [emphasis mine]

-Herbert Armstrong, "The Wonderful World Tomorrow - What Will It Be Like", 1979 edition.

HWA says this is so, but is this really so? First, let's start by reminding ourselves what HWA is really saying. He means that Christ only came to set a scant few under grace, but the second coming is when salvation will happen. Read it for yourselves!

"Most religious people, ministers, and evangelists (fundamentalist), have supposed that this time, now, is the only day of salvation. The verse of Scripture they rely on is a mistranslation (II Corinthians 6:2). It should read 'a day of salvation,' not 'the' (quoted from Isaiah 49:8, where it is 'a' not 'the')."

-Herbert Armstrong, "The Wonderful World Tomorrow - What Will It Be Like", 1979 edition.

He said we have mistranslated Isaiah. OK. Let's read that too and see.

(ISA. 49: 8-9) 8 Thus says the LORD: “In an acceptable time I have heard You, and in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You as a covenant to the people, to restore the earth, to cause them to inherit the desolate heritages; 9 That You may say to the prisoners, ‘Go forth,’ to those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’...

Nope, it says "the" in my NKJV, so HWA is nit-picking at best. Depending on what version you use, it will say either "a" or "the". But is that change even important? Let's ask a few other things to nail it down.

Who is the "You" here? None other than Jesus Christ. Who are the prisoners set free? That would be us. What is "the day" here? None other than His FIRST coming! So, the a/the controversy is moot. Let's prove that out, though. Let's start by seeing exactly what the "acceptable time" of Isaiah 49: 8 is talking about. To do that, we have to go to chapter 61.

(ISA. 61: 1-2) 1 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings [gospel] to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn...

Who heals the broken hearted and freed the slaves and preached the gospel? Jesus Christ! Paul agrees:

(GAL. 4: 4-5) 4 But when the fullness of the time had come [the acceptable year...], God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

So Isaiah 49 and 61 are talking about Christ. Those who are familiar with Armstrong's views on prophecy will read "day of vengeance" and immediately conclude "pre-millennial fulfillment", but that's just more of Armstrong's doctrine and personal speculation talking rather than the Bible. In Luke 4: 16-20, Jesus reads these very verses from Isaiah 61 to the crowd, then sits down. Now, read verse 21:

(Luke 4: 21) And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

Regardless of what HWA said, Christ said in His own day those verses were fulfilled. This is a matter of HWA's word vs. Jesus Christ's word. My faith is in Christ. The a/the controversy is undone. HWA bases his conclusions on a faulty premise and his conclusion is also wrong.

Any elementary understanding of the gospel will tell you that and end-time salvation is not Biblical. How can I be so bold? Let's read one more selection!

(JOHN 19: 28-29) 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

"It is finished," He said. FINISHED! As in no more work is needed to be done to complete salvation. That is the gospel!! There is nothing at all more basic or central to defining the gospel than that very idea! Christ did it! We are saved if only we have faith in Jesus Christ!

Now that we've seen what the Bible has to say, let's take that look at II Corinthians 6: 2 which HWA says we have all wrong:

(II COR. 6: 1-2) 1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Paul quotes Isaiah, the very verses we just went over. Not only does the New Testament say "the", but Paul himself says "the". So "a", "the", it doesn't matter! What can be more plain than "now is the day of salvation"?

In trying to set up a picture of a wildly confused Christianity, HWA said,

"Some designate their gospel as 'The Gospel of Jesus Christ.' Others call their gospel 'The Gospel of Salvation.' Still others profess 'The Gospel of Grace,' some 'The Gospel of the Kingdom.'"

-Herbert Armstrong, "What is the True Gospel", Good News magazine, 1982, p.2

But, as we have seen, each and every one of those terms come directly from the Bible! Those are the things the Bible says about the gospel. Is HWA trying to say the very Bible itself is confusion?? We have proven that the gospel most assuredly is about Christ. HWA said only Satan's deceived "so-called Christianity" taught such. Are we to believe the Bible is Satan's? God is not the author of confusion, but I can show you a truly confused author indeed:

"And yet there are some in this modern day of religious confusion who believe the Gospel of the KINGDOM OF GOD is not for this age - this New Testament time of grace. They reject and therefore do not BELIEVE the true Gospel as Jesus commanded and thereby reject the very conditions to SALVATION, saying the Gospel of the KINGDOM is a gospel for some future age yet to come."

-Herbert Armstrong, "What is the True Gospel", Good News magazine, 1982, p.2

This statement directly and completely contradicts his own words with which we started this study! It's as if he is speaking of himself!!

I have tried to demonstrate, beginning with my former blog, that in so many ways and in so many doctrines Herbert W. Armstrong taught the exact opposite of what the Holy Scriptures plainly say!! Is this a small thing to God?

(II COR. 4: 3-5) 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.

(II COR. 11: 3-4) 3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!

(GAL. 1: 6-9) 6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

Certainly it is not a small thing. Certainly what gospel we follow and what name we call upon for salvation is of utmost import - today -- in THIS age. Certainly there should be a sign on the door of each Armstrongist congregation that reads "GET OUT NOW, WHILE YOU STILL CAN!"

So, HWA was wrong about the gospel. I have heard that HWA changed the law out of necessity. Please DO NOT accept that he changed the gospel, too. Deeply loved and cherished by Christ, please do not exchang the joy of eternal salvation for the errors of a misguided salesman who strokes the ego. Please take a step back and re-evaluate what you think you know about the gospel of salvation. Christ died to bring this good news to you. It's the very least you can do.

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It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on the current understanding of each author. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom.

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Response to SJS (Jack) [How Do We Know What Covenant We Are Keeping?]

Smilin’JackSprat,

My apologies; sometimes life just gets hectic and you can’t get things done as soon as you would like.

You said I answered incompletely with a partial quote from Hebrews 8:7 by not including V8. As I see it Verse eight says the same thing.

If there had been nothing wrong with the first, no place would have been sought for another
By saying ‘fault was found with the people’, it is saying there is fault with the OC. What I mean is, it shows what’s wrong with the OC, that it could not be kept perfectly, therefore condemning man; Gal 3:10 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."
It is not mans fault that we are sinful. No man is without sin. We were sold as slaves to sin; Rom 7:14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.
Only by keeping the OC perfectly can one be found righteous, but since no man is without sin – it shows that no man can keep it flawlessly. If there was nothing wrong with the OC and the fault was solely that of the people, it would mean people are capable of being without sin, that is; perfect, and therefore, could be found righteous by flawless observance of the OC, but that simply is not possible.
With the OC one is responsible for his own salvation, and condemned for his sins, because under the OC there is no remission of sins, Christ does not pay our debt. If one gathered wood on the Sabbath, he was to be stoned to death, no mercy, no forgiveness, and now that he has sinned he is condemned [Nu. 15:32-36]. He will not inherit the kingdom.
Since it’s not possible to be without sin, if God is to have a family, there must be another way for the debt to be paid, which the perfect Christ Jesus paid in our stead.
With the NC there is mercy and forgiveness, remission of sins. If we confess our sins, he will forgive us from all unrighteousness. [1 Jn. 1:19].
The OC did its job, it revealed sin, and it led us to Christ, through whom salvation could be gained.
Rom 6:6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—
Rom 6:16 Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Rom 6:17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted.
Rom 6:18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
Rom 6:20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.
Rom 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Gal 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.


430 years after Abraham
Abraham was pre-Moses, what law did he obey? The Ten Commandments, the Law of Moses, had not been given yet. What law did the fallen angels break? Any word from God’s mouth is law, but it is only law for the one(s) it is given. If he tells Moses & Aaron to deal with Pharaoh, then it is their law, no one else’s. If he tells the Israelites to do something(s), it is their law, no one else’s, unless God says so. If He tells Ezekiel to do some specific things with hair and cooking food with human excrement in the site of others, it is Ezekiel’s law and no one else’s.
Abraham’s law was whatever God told him to do, and God credited Abraham with righteousness by his faith. God had not given a contract of works; this did not come about until 430 years after Abraham. It went from Faith in Abraham’s day (earlier and later), to a law of Works at Sinai, and returned to Faith upon Christ’s sacrifice of his life on the cross, for the payment of the debt we incurred by our sins.
Again; Abraham was credited righteousness by faith. Then, with the out-of-control Israelites, he gave them rules to follow. It didn’t matter if their attitudes were undesirable - they just needed to do what they were told to do. After Christ came, it returned to faith.
The NC is heart and mind – inner law. The OC is hands – outer law, about doing, regardless of attitude.
Paul tells us that with God’s contract, as with a man’s contract, you cannot add to or take away. This tells us that the NC is NEW and not an altered OC or the same OC. If there is no NEW Covenant what was Jesus doing in Mt. 5?
He said, “You have heard [this thing] but I tell you [this other thing]. Was he undermining the OC or was he preparing them for the difference in the NC from that of the OC?
He was telling them that actions were not enough – that it was ONLY washing the outside and leaving the inside filthy. The OC did not require purity of heart and mind – only obedient actions. Of course the actions could not be done flawlessly – thus cursing those, who were subject to it, to eternal condemnation.

Jesus was showing the difference
He was showing that purity of heart and mind were of utmost importance – clean on the inside, also clean on the outside, unlike OC; clean on the outside only – filthy on the inside. Under the OC one is cut off from Christ and therefore there is no remission of sins. Only through the NC, through Christ, is there remission of sins; grace, mercy, forgiveness, cleansing.
So again, because the OC cursed man to eternal condemnation, the debt would have to be paid in a different way if God is to have a family. That is where Jesus came in. He would keep the OC law perfectly (impossible for anyone else – since no man is without sin) and thus be found pure, and therefore, worthy to pay man’s debt in full.
The OC proves we cannot save ourselves. All of this teaches us that we need God, that without him we are nothing, and can do nothing. We are saved ONLY by him; by his grace, mercy and forgiveness in the payment of our debt, by Christ Jesus.
The OC and NC are not the same covenant. God said it was a NEW covenant and he said the NC would not be like the old one. How can it be a NEW Covenant if the only thing that’s changed is that it is now written in the hearts and minds of the people? It can’t, not if it won’t be like the old one.
Our actions do not, and cannot, save us
But our belief, our faith produces actions. It is the belief, our faith that saves us.
Keeping Sabbath or a Saturday Sabbath, observing holy days – those don’t save us. Keeping TEN COMMANDMENTS don’t save us. There is NO action that can save us. Only by our belief and faith in Christ Jesus are we saved – because that means we acknowledge that our value is in his love for us, that without him we are nothing and can do nothing and that we accept HIS payment of OUR debt. No action can save us, because no man is without sin. The penalty for sin is death. There is NO way around it. The debt must be paid, so, either we pay it (eternal death), or Christ does (eternal life).
We all sin. If we fail in one single way, we are guilty. We are no less sinful than a murderer, or an adulterer or idolater. It doesn’t matter the sin – it all results in eternal death --- unless we believe in Christ Jesus, in which case, our debt is paid in full.
There are two different contracts
Jesus showed the difference in Mt.5, and we see that the Law of Moses has long been a stumbling block in; 2 Co. 3:1-18
V15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.
16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
Were the Pharisees or teacher of the law on the path to the kingdom of God? No, MT. 5:20, 23:13.
Mt. 5:20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
The OC would have to be kept flawlessly –or- turn to Christ and the NC.
Mt. 23:13 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

Jesus is the Creator

Following is what I understand the verses to say;

Isaiah 48:

 

12 "Listen to me, O Jacob,
       Israel, whom I have called:
       I am he;
       I am the first and I am the last.

[The speaker identifies himself as the First and the Last, and then goes on to say;]

 13 My own hand laid the foundations of the earth,
       and my right hand spread out the heavens;
       when I summon them,
       they all stand up together.

[Here, this speaker says he laid the foundations of the earth and spread out the heavens. Who is this speaker, aside from the creator and the First and the Last? He identifies himself further in the following verse;]

 

 

 16 "Come near me and listen to this:
       "From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret;
       at the time it happens, I am there."
       And now the Sovereign LORD [In this case, the Father] has sent me,
       with his Spirit.  

[The speaker says the Sovereign Yahweh sent him, meaning; the Sovereign Yahweh sent the individual who laid the foundations of the earth,, and spread out the heavens, the One who identified himself as the First and the Last.]

[We see that he also calls himself the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last in Re. 22:
 

12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.  
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

 14 "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.  

15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

 16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." 

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It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on my current understanding. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom.