Statement of Beliefs

 

of the

 

Christian Faith

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This booklet is not to be sold.

It is a free educational service in the public interest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ISBN 0 646 20506 4

 

 

 

Copyright © 1994,1995,1996,1997, 2001, 2007

 

Christian Churches of God

PO Box 369, WODEN ACT 2606,  AUSTRALIA

 

 

First Edition                      August 1994

Second Edition                 February 1995

Third Edition                     June 1996

Fourth Edition                  March 1997

                                           

 

 

 

Printed in Australia by Union Offset Co. Pty Ltd, Canberra

 

Contents

 

 

Introduction                                                                                                                       

 

Chapter 1.  The Godhead

1.1           God The Father                                                                                                 

1.2           Jesus the Son of God                                                                                       

1.3           The Holy Spirit                                                                                                  

1.4           The Relationship of the Holy Spirit to Christ and Humanity                     

1.5           The Relationship of Christ, Satan and the Host to God                             

1.5.1                Christ as the Son of God                                                                          

1.5.2                The Doctrine of Antichrist                                                                      

1.5.3                The Name and Sovereignty of God                                                        

 

Chapter 2.  The Plan of Salvation

2.1           The Fall of Mankind                                                                                         

2.2           The Salvation of Humanity                                                                             

2.3           The Bible as Inspired Truth                                                                            

2.4           Repentance and Conversion                                                                           

2.5           Baptism                                                                                                               

 

Chapter 3.  Doctrines Concerning Human Responsibility

3.1           Prayer and Worship                                                                                         

3.1.1                God as the Object of Prayer and Worship                                            

3.1.1.1                     The Object of Worship                                                                    

3.1.1.2                     The Object of Prayer                                                                        

3.1.1.3                     Individual and Collective Prayer on Behalf of Others                 

3.2           The Relationship Between Salvation and the Law                                      

3.2.1                God is Our Rock                                                                                        

3.2.2                Salvation by Grace                                                                                    

3.2.3                Obligation under the Law                                                                        

3.2.3.1                     Why Christians Keep the Law                                                        

3.2.3.2                     Christians as the Temple of God                                                    

3.2.4                The Ten Commandments                                                                         

3.2.5                Other Laws Governing Human Conduct                                               

3.2.5.1                     The Food Laws                                                                                 

3.2.5.2                     The Sabbath                                                                                      

3.2.5.3                     The New Moons                                                                               

3.2.5.4                     The Annual Holy Days                                                                    

3.2.5.5                     Marriage                                                                                             

 

 

3.2.6                Financial Stewardship                                                                              

3.2.6.1                     Towards God                                                                                     

3.2.6.2                     Towards Others

3.2.7                Warfare and Voting                                                                                  

3.2.7.1                     Warfare                                                                                               

3.2.7.2                     Voting                                                                                                 

 

Chapter 4.  Doctrine Concerning the Messiah

4.1           The Pre-existence of Christ                                                                             

4.2           The Crucifixion and Resurrection                                                                   

4.3           The Second Coming of Christ                                                                         

4.4           The Millennial Reign of Christ                                                                        

 

Chapter 5.  The Problem of Evil

5.1           The Existence of Evil Through the Rebellion of the Host                          

5.2           The Doctrines Concerning Predestination                                                   

5.3           The State of the Dead                                                                                      

5.4           The Resurrection of the Dead                                                                         

5.5           The Punishment of the Wicked                                                                      

 

Chapter 6.  The Church

6.1           Who or What is the Church?                                                                          

6.2           Church Organisation                                                                                        

6.3           Aims and Objectives of the Church                                                               

6.4           Sanctification                                                                                                     

 

Chapter 7.  The Kingdom of God

7.1           The Establishment of the Kingdom of God

7.1.1                The Spiritual Kingdom

7.1.2                The Millennial Reign of Christ                                                                

7.1.2.1                     The Return of the Messiah                                                             

7.1.2.2                     The Gathering of Israel                                                                    

7.1.2.3                     The Day of the Lord                                                                         

7.1.3                The Eternal Kingdom of God                                                                  

7.1.3.1                     The Coming of God                                                                          

7.1.3.2                     The New Earth and the New Jerusalem                                         

7.1.3.3                     The Destiny of Mankind                                                                 

 

Appendix                                                                                                                            

 

 

Introduction

 

 

For seventeen hundred years Christianity has been tied to a theological system, which has been based on Greek Philosophy and a system related to neo-Platonism. The Unitarian simplicity of the biblical message and the cohesiveness of God’s revelation to man over both Testaments has been altered and obscured for the sake of power and domination of the then known world.

 

The end result was what was understood to be the structure as laid down in the councils of Nicaea (325AD), Laodicea (c. 366AD), Constantinople (381AD) and Chalcedon (451AD). The structure altered the understanding of God along metaphysical lines ultimately producing the Trinity. The Council of Laodicea (canon 29) also outlawed the Sabbath, under penalty, introducing accepted pagan festivals from Sunday worship to the December Sun festivals and the Easter system in place of the Passover. What was also altered was the way the understanding of the biblical system and law was to be interpreted. The law given to Moses was held to be no longer relevant and the New Testament passages were re-interpreted to justify existing pagan practices.

 

For example, the food laws were held to be eliminated by misapplying Acts 10 and other texts. The effect on human health was immediate. However, the end result for the environment could only really be seen after some two thousand years. The breakdown in the food chain is contributed to, in a large degree, by the consumption of foods prohibited under biblical law.

 

The degradation of the land systems can only be seen fully after the lands have been exhausted by failure to observe the jubilee systems and the land Sabbaths because they are inextricably interlinked with the calendar based on the nineteen year moon cycles. The introduction of the solar calendar was itself a major step in destroying the understanding of the patterns and cycles God had established for natural harmony.

 

Modern Christianity by and large has very little if anything in common with original Christianity. The rise of Islam and the later wars with Islam were arguably the direct result of the false Christian system set up in Europe and West Asia by the Greek theological systems using the Cappadocian theology based on the Triune God and attempted mystical union with God and as God.

 

The Triune system simply does not work. The end result of seventeen hundred years of this erroneous doctrine has been the near destruction of the planet and the persecution of people genuinely trying to obey biblical laws.

 

The purpose of this work is to isolate in the clearest and simplest possible way the original message of the Bible and the New Testament Church under Jesus Christ and the apostles. No doubt some cherished fables will be challenged and demolished by what is stated herein. The work has been written so that it is as near as possible a series of biblical statements or paraphrases, which have the supporting text quoted. In that way it is considered that the work is ultimately less ambiguous and the intent is clear. Where possible the complete range of texts on a subject are listed so as to avoid the all too prevalent practice of quoting in isolation or quoting misconstructed texts. Some biblical texts are plain forgeries (e.g. 1Jn. 5:7 KJV; 1Tim. 3:16 KJV from Codex A), or mistranslations (1Cor. 15:28 RSV etc; Rev. 3:14 NIV among numerous others), designed to negate contrary texts or misconstrue texts so as to appear to support the Triune or Cappadocian system when viewed in isolation.

 

When Messiah comes again he is going to introduce in total the system of law that he gave to Moses at Sinai. Every Christian has an obligation to identify and to implement the system of living and worship that is laid down in the Bible. The Christian is obligated to emulate the way of life of Jesus Christ and to live by the systems that Christ introduced and lived by as a man and pre-incarnate. This work is dedicated to producing the whole system in a coherent and identifiable manner so that the false systems of seventeen hundred years can be swept aside and the original and true way can be identified and implemented in the lives of all people no matter what they have done in the past. Our task is to call people to repentance and newness of life.

 

Chapter 1

 

The Godhead

 

1.1  God the Father

 

The Supreme Deity of the universe is God. He is the Almighty, the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens, the earth and all things therein (Gen. 1.1; Neh. 9:6; Ps. 124:8; Isa. 40:26,28; 44:24; Acts 14:15; 17:24-25; Rev. 14:7). He alone is immortal (1Tim. 6:16). He is our God and Father and the God and Father of Jesus Christ (Jn. 20:17). He is the Most High God (Gen. 14:18; Num. 24:16; Deut. 32:8; Mk. 5:7) and the One True God (Jn. 17:3; 1Jn. 5:20).

 

1.2  Jesus the Son of God

 

Jesus is the first begotten (prototokos) of the creation (Col. 1:15) hence the beginning (arche) of the creation of God (Rev. 3:14). He is the onlyborn (monogene) Son of God (Mat. 3:17; Jn. 1:18; 1Jn. 4:9), conceived of the Holy Spirit and born to the virgin, Mariam  (Lk. 1:26-35). He is the Christ or Messiah (Mat. 16:16; Jn. 1:41), sent from God to be our Saviour and Redeemer (Mat. 14:33; Jn. 8:42; Eph. 1:7; Tit. 2:14).  He is called the Son of the Most High God (Mk. 5:7). He was designated Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead (Rom. 1:4). He is given the throne of David to rule over the House of Jacob forever and of his Kingdom there shall be no end (Lk. 1:32).

 

1.3  The Holy Spirit

 

The Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4) is that essence or power of God which Christ promised to send to the elect (Jn. 16:7). It is not a person but the extension of the living power of God. It is the means whereby we become partakers of the Divine Nature (2Pet. 1:4), being filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17; Eph. 5:18) and hence all Sons of God (Job 38:7; Rom. 8:14; 1Jn. 3:1-2) and co-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17; Gal. 3:29; Tit. 3:7; Heb. 1:14, 6:17, 11:9; Jas. 2:5; 1Pet. 3:7). It is given by God to those who ask (Lk. 11:9-13) and obey him, dwelling in those who keep God's commandments (1Jn. 3:24; Acts 5:32). The Holy Spirit is the comforter that leads God's servants into all truth (Jn. 14:16,17,26). The Holy Spirit confers the power to witness (Acts 1:8). It administers gifts as recorded in 1Corinthians 12:7-11 and has fruits as described in Galatians 5:22-23 not being given by measure (Jn. 3:34 RSV; Rom. 12:6). It is the means by which God can finally become all, in all (1Cor. 15:28; Eph. 4:6).

1.4  The Relationship of the Holy Spirit to Christ and Humanity

 

The Holy Spirit operates from before baptism. The Spirit draws the individual to God through Christ (Heb. 7:25).

 

The firstfruits of the Spirit are given to the individual at baptism, from Romans 8:23, which clearly states that the adoption does not occur until the redemption of the body.

 

Thus we are born again but continue to grow in the Spirit daily in Christ Jesus until we come into the glory of God. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth (1Jn. 4:6, 5:6) and by speaking the Truth in all things we grow into Christ our head in all respects (Eph. 4:15). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God (Rom. 8:14) and the Spirit of faith (2Cor. 4:13) which searches all things and knows all things (1Cor. 2:10-11, 12:3 ff).

 

Thus the Holy Spirit is not an independent aspect of a triune God but is the means by which we become elohim (Zech. 12:8). The Spirit conveys to God an understanding of our thoughts and very being. Being routed through Jesus Christ as our mediator and intermediary elohim or theos (Ps. 45:6-7; Zech. 12:8; Heb. 1:8-9) it enables Christ to help, teach and comfort us and to enable us to exercise the power of God. The Spirit gives to each person the attributes God desires in order to benefit the body as outlined in 1Corinthians 12:7-11.

 

The Spirit can be quenched (1Thes. 5:19) by being neglected or grieved (Eph. 4:30) and thus admits of gains and losses in the individual.

 

The fruit of the Holy Spirit is love from Galatians 5:22. Therefore, if we do not love each other the Holy Spirit is not evident.

 

The Spirit is the means by which we worship God as stated in Philippians 3:3. Thus, it cannot be God as an object of worship and, hence, equal to God the Father. It is a force which empowers Christ. Christ is thus an Everlasting Father (Isa. 9:6) of which there are many fatherhoods in heaven and on earth (Eph. 3:15). Christ becomes Everlasting Father by delegation.

 

All of these fatherhoods or families are named for God the Father which is the reason we bow before God the Father, worshipping Him (Eph. 3:14-15).

 

Christ was the firstborn or firstbegotten of the creation. For him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities, all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things and in him all things hold together (Col. 1:16-17). But it was God who generated him and who willed that the creation exist and subsist in Christ. Therefore, Christ is not God in any sense that God the Father is God and who alone is immortal (1Tim. 6:16) existing in abiding perpetuity.

 

Christians are called out of this world to a life of service and dedication.  Many are called but few are chosen (Mat. 20:16, 22:14). Christians are the chosen, as Christ was the chosen of God (Lk. 23:35). The elect were chosen by Christ (Jn. 6:70, 15:16,19), under direction of God (1Pet. 2:4). 

 

To assist the Church, the elect who are the Church, or ecclesia, are given understanding of the mysteries of God. The Holy Spirit was the mechanism by which they were given to understand the mysteries of God and the Kingdom of God (Mk. 4:11). For the wisdom of God is spoken in a mystery (1Cor. 2:7), which is explained by the servants of God (1Cor. 2:7, 15:51). For God's will is explained as a mystery (Eph. 1:9) which God gave to His servants by revelation. Further the mystery is in the stewardship of Christ through the elect. Paul wrote

...assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that is, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel (Eph. 3:2-6).

 

1.5  The Relationship of Christ, Satan and the Host to God

 

There are multiple entities referred to in the Bible as Elohim or Theoi, meaning gods. Christ was one of those subordinate entities referred to in the Old Testament as Elohim (see Zech. 12:8). Christ is referred to in the New Testament as being the new Morning Star at his return to earth. He will share this rank with his elect (Rev. 2:28, 22:16).

 

God is held by the Bible to be the God and Father of Christ (from Rom. 15:6; 2Cor. 1:3, 11:31; Eph. 1:3,17; Col. 1:3; Heb. 1:1 ff; 1Pet. 1:3; 2Jn. 3; Rev. 1:1,6, 15:3). Christ derives his life, power and authority by command of God the Father (Jn. 10:17-18).

 

Christ subordinates his will to that of God, who is the Father (Mat. 21:31, 26:39; Mk. 14:36; Jn. 3:16, 4:34). God gave the elect to Christ and God is greater than Christ (Jn. 14:28) and greater than all (Jn. 10:29). Thus God sent his only born (monogene) Son into the world that we might live through him (1Jn. 4:9). It is God who honours or glorifies Christ (Jn. 8:54), God being greater than Christ (Jn. 14:28).

 

God is the Rock (sur) as a Quarry or Mountain from which all others are quarried, the flint of Joshua 5:2 which circumcises Israel, the principal and effective cause (Deut. 32:4). God is the Rock of Israel, the Rock of their salvation (Deut. 32:15), the Rock that bore them (Deut. 32:18,28-31). 1Samuel 2:2 shows that Our God is our Rock, an everlasting Rock (Isa. 26:4). It is from this Rock that all others are hewn, as are all the descendants of Abraham in the faith (Isa. 51:1-2). The Messiah is hewn from this Rock (Dan. 2:34,45) to subjugate the world empires. God is the Rock or base upon which the foundation is laid and upon which Christ will build his Church (Mat. 16:18) and upon which he himself rests. Messiah is the Chief Cornerstone of the Temple of God, of which the elect are the Naos or the Holy of Holies, the repository of the Holy Spirit. The Temple stones are all cut from the Rock that is God, as was Christ, and given to Christ, the spiritual rock (1Cor. 10:4), the rock of offence and stone of stumbling (Rom. 9:33) to form the Temple.

 

Christ is constructing the Temple so that God may be all, in all (Eph. 4:6). God has given Christ to be all and in all (panta kai en pasin Col. 3:11) putting all things under his feet (1Cor. 15:27) giving him to be the head over all things to the Church which is his Body, the fullness of him that fills all in all (Eph. 1:22-23). When God put all things under Christ, it is manifest that God is excepted, being the One who put things under the feet of Christ (1Cor. 15:27).

 

When Christ subdues all things then shall Christ himself be subject to God who put all things under Christ that God may be all in all (panta en pasin 1Cor. 15:28 not as per RSV). Thus the Platonist doctrines that seek to merge God and Christ in the Trinity contradict Scripture. Christ will sit on the right hand of God, by direction of God (Heb 1:3,13, 8:1, 10:12, 12:2; 1Pet. 3:22) and share God's throne as the elect will share the throne given to Christ (Rev. 3:21) which is a throne of God (Ps. 45:6-7; Heb. 1:8) or God is thy Throne translated Your throne O God (see footnote to annotated RSV).

 

God, who sends, is greater than he who is sent (Jn. 13:16), the servant not being greater than his Lord (Jn. 15:20).

 

Christ was challenged in the desert by Satan, and in effect the trial of Satan commenced. Satan, who was the Morning Star, The Lucifer or Light Bringer of this planet (Isa. 14:12) as its guardian and teacher, was in effect one of the Elohim who was subordinate to God the Father.

 

Christ was to be the Star that should come out of Jacob (in Num. 24:17). Thus it was signified in the Books of Moses that one of the Morning Stars which are mentioned as being present at the completion of this planet (in Job 38:7), one of the elohim, was to become a human being of Jacob and from David (Rev. 22:16).

 

This elohim we know as Jesus Christ was not yet the Morning Star of this planet. That rank was held by Satan (from Isa. 14:12 and Ezek. 28:2-10).

 

Christ had been anointed as the elohim of Israel from Psalm 45:7 and anointed above his companions or partners.  However, Christ was not in fact in the position of Morning Star and will not assume those duties until his second coming. The rank and duties are to be shared with Christ by the elect, who share his nature as Morning Star in their hearts (translated Day Star in 2Pet. 1:19). The elect are promised to share in this power from Revelation 2:28.

 

Satan, as Morning Star, had challenged God Most High or God the Father as we are told in Isaiah 14:12. He tried to ascend or exalt his throne, a throne of God, above the Stars of God or the Council of Elohim. This Council is the Congregation of the Elohim or Gods referred to in Psalm 82:1. It is of interest to note that Irenæus, the disciple of Polycarp, disciple of John, held that Psalm 82:1 referred to the Theoi or gods which included also the elect, namely those of the adoption (Against Heresies, Bk. 3, Ch. 6, ANF, Vol. 1, p. 419).

 

There are multiple Sons of God (from Job 1:6, 2:1, 38:7; Ps. 86:8-10, 95:3, 96:4, 135:5) who are identified as the Bene Elyon or Sons of the Most High. The human elect are also included with the heavenly Host as Sons of God (from Rom. 8:14). Thus, Christ and the elect as Sons of God are one with God through the Holy Spirit, predestined from the foundation of the world. Christ laid down his power to become a man. He and all the elect receive the Sonship in power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead (Rom. 1:4).

 

From Acts 7:35-39 it was an angel which spoke to Moses on Sinai and this angel was Christ. In Galatians 4:14 Paul likens himself to an angel of God even Christ Jesus.

 

Also we will become like angels (Mat. 22:30) as an order or isaggelos (from Lk. 20:36), being co-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17; Gal. 3:29; Tit. 3:7; Heb. 1:14, 6:17, 11:9; Jas. 2:5; 1Pet. 3:7). The Old Testament identifies the Angel of YHWH as both Jehovah and Elohim (Ex. 3:2,4-6 where the God or elohim here was an angel; cf. Zech. 12:8). 

 

Psalm 89:6-8 shows that there is a Council of Holy Ones (qedosim or qadoshim, also used of humans) comprised of both an inner and outer council. This is understood to be a celestial Council of the Elohim of Justice.

 

1.5.1  Christ as the Son of God

 

Satan attempted to tempt Christ in a number of ways. Firstly Satan referred to Christ as the Son of God (in Mat. 4:3, 4:6; Lk. 4:3). The demons also referred to Christ as the Son of God (in Mat. 8:29; Lk. 4:41; Mk. 3:11). Satan tried to have Christ prove his position as Son of God by a display of power, in that God had promised that He would give His angels charge of him (in Ps. 91:11-12). Satan omitted to keep thee in all thy ways and added at any time. Thus, by garbling Scripture, Satan attempted to take Christ's life.

 

Christ did not at any time correct Satan or the demons by asserting that he was God instead of the Son of God. Indeed, no demon attempted to assert the deception that Christ was Supreme God until after his death in order to establish a doctrine that said that Christ was God in the same way that God the Father was God and thus achieve, after his death, a deception that Christ would have refuted in life. In each of the temptations the aim was to undermine the obedience of Christ to God and to, in effect, break Scripture. Satan attempted to have Christ worship him. He promised Christ the rulership of the planet then if Christ would worship him.

 

Christ did not challenge his right to transfer his rulership of the planet or indeed that he was ruler. Christ instead replied

...it is written: You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.

Christ did not tell Satan that Satan should worship Christ but rather referred him to the law. Christ never at any stage of his ministry claimed to be God. He said he was the Son of God. It was for this reason that he was placed on trial.

 

As stated in Matthew 27:43

He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if He wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God'.

It was here that Christ cried out to fulfil the Scripture at Psalm 22:1

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Christ clearly did not consider himself God. To suggest that he was part of the entity to which he appealed, in an equal form, part of which was impassible, is absurd.

 

1.5.2  The Doctrine of Antichrist

 

The doctrine of Antichrist is stated in 1John 4:1-2. The correct ancient text for 1John 4:1-2 is reconstructed from Irenæus, Chapter 16:8 (ANF, Vol. 1, fn. p. 443).

Hereby know ye the spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth Jesus Christ came in the flesh is of God; and every spirit which separates Jesus Christ is not of God but is of Antichrist.

 

Socrates the historian says (VII, 32, p. 381) that the passage had been corrupted by those who wished to separate the humanity of Jesus Christ from his divinity.

 

Christ as Son is not the One True God (Jn. 17:3).

Also in Luke 22:70 they all said Are you then the Son of God?

He replied You are right in saying I am.

 

He was recognised as the Son of God in

*      Matthew 27:54 where they said, Truly this was the Son of God.

*      Mark 1:1 holds the Gospel to be that of Jesus Christ, The Son of God.

*      Luke 1:35 states that the Holy one to be born was to be called the Son of God.

 

To understand that Christ is the Son of God is a revelation from God.

Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but MY FATHER who is in Heaven.  (Mat. 16:16-17)

 

Also Matthew 11:27 states

All things have been delivered to me by MY FATHER and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal him.

Thus the Father reveals things to individuals and gives them to Christ who then reveals the Father to them.

 

1.5.3  The Name and Sovereignty of God

 

There is no doubt that God is singular and sovereign. Proverbs 30:4-5 shows the name of God and that He has a son.

Who hath gone up to heaven, and come down?

Who hath gathered up the wind in the hollow of His hands?

Who hath wrapped up the waters in His cloak?

Who hath established all the ends of the earth?

What is His name and the name of His son? Tell me if you know.

Every word of God [ELOAH] is flawless: He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

Do not add to His words, or He will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

The Bible interprets itself and the name of God is directly supplied following the question and it is clear that this entity is not a composite of Father and Son but, rather, He has a son.

 

Further, the New Testament states clearly that it is the Father who is the object of worship. Christ warned the Samaritan woman in John 4:21 that there was a time coming when they could not worship the Father either on her mountain (Samaria) or in Jerusalem. But he distinctly says in John 4:23

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks.

 

Christ here identifies the object of worship as the Father and not himself. It is thus quite blasphemous to assert that one should worship the uplifted Christ from a perversion of John 3:14 where the Son of man was to be lifted up as Moses had lifted up the serpent in the wilderness. The purpose of the crucifixion was so that man would have eternal life, not that Christ could become an object of worship as is falsely asserted. From this false premise, it is also falsely asserted that Christians worship Christ's body and blood in the Eucharist.

 

Eloah is the God of the Old Testament and the Temple and the God of Jesus Christ of the New Testament. The Temple at Jerusalem was the House of Eloah (Ezra 4:24; 5:2,13,15,16,17; 6:3,5,7,8,16,17; 7:23). He was the Eloah of Israel (Ezra 5:1; 7:15), the Great Eloah of Heaven (Ezra 5:8,12). He was the object of sacrifice at the Temple (Ezra 6:10) where He had caused His name to dwell (Ezra 6:12). He ordered the Temple’s construction (Ezra 6:14) and the priesthood stand in His service (Ezra 6:18; 7:24) and do His will (Ezra 7:18). The law is the law of the Eloah of Heaven (Ezra 7:12,14). Those that know the laws of Eloah are to teach those that know them not (Ezra 7:25) and judgment is to be by the laws of Eloah (Ezra 7:26). This being is the Father who is the singular Eloah and God Most High, the Father of Messiah and all the sons of God.

Chapter 2

 

The Plan of Salvation

 

2.1  The Fall of Mankind

 

Mankind was created in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:26-27). Adam and Eve were cursed because of disobedience (Gen. 3:16-19). As a result of this rebellion, sin and consequently death came upon all humanity (1Cor. 15:22; Rom. 5:12).

 

2.2  The Salvation of Humanity

 

God does not want any flesh to perish (2Pet. 3:9). In order that humanity might escape the penalty for sin, which is death, God instituted a plan of salvation involving a sacrifice in the death and resurrection of His son Jesus Christ (Jn. 3:16). The plan is of a sequential harvest of which Christ is the firstfruits of those who have died (1Cor. 15:20). The plan of salvation is mirrored in the annual Holy Days of the Bible (Lev. 23).

 

2.3  The Bible as Inspired Truth

 

Christ said: It is written Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. (Mat. 4:4; Lk. 4:4). The Bible is known as Scripture (Dan. 10:21), and is directed towards the salvation of mankind and the manifestation of the power of God (Ex. 9:16; Rom. 9:17). The means of salvation is Jesus Christ (Rom. 10:11) who was foretold by Scripture from Moses and the prophets (Lk. 24:27), prophecy being Scripture (Mat. 26:56; Rom. 1:2). All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2Tim. 3:16).

 

The Scriptures, at the time of Christ and the apostles were the Old Testament (Mat. 21:42; Mk. 12:10; Acts 17:2). The Old Testament is the Scripture referred to as God breathed or inspired in 2Timothy 3:16. The New Testament is additional to the Old Testament. It does not replace the Old Testament.

 

The Old Testament was written in earlier days for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope (Rom. 15:4). Error proceeds from a poor knowledge of those Scriptures (Mat. 22:29; Mk. 12:24). The Beroeans (or Bereans KJV) examined the Scriptures daily, proving whether what was said was in fact correct. This was measured as being noble (Acts 17:11). The whole picture of the Bible is taken from all parts of the Scripture, precept upon precept, line upon line (Isa. 28:10). The Scriptures show that Jesus was the Messiah or Christ (Acts 18:28). It is Christ, by means of the Holy Spirit, who opens the mind of all the elect beginning with the apostles, so that the Scriptures can be understood (Lk. 24:45).

 

The Scriptures of the Old Testament must be fulfilled (Mat. 26:54,56; Mk. 12:10, 14:49) and cannot be broken (Jn. 10:35). Much Scripture was directed towards and was fulfilled in Christ, or will be fulfilled in Christ at his second coming (Rev. 1:7, 12:10, 17:14, 19:11-21), which will be in power and glory (Mat. 24:30).

 

2.4  Repentance and Conversion

 

For humanity to live, or have eternal life, God requires that it repents. Unless it repents it will perish (Lk. 13:3,5).

 

Christ was sent to call mankind to repentance (Lk. 11:32). Christ began his ministry after the imprisonment of John the Baptist (Mat. 4:12-17). John's imprisonment took place some time after the Passover of 28 AD (Jn. 3:22-24; Mat. 4:12) being the Passover after the commencement of John's ministry in the fifteenth year of Tiberius (Lk. 3:1). From that time, Jesus began to preach saying Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Mat. 4:17). Christ charged his disciples to preach the gospel of repentance, giving them authority over the demons or unclean spirits (Mk. 6:7,12; Lk. 10:1,17-20).

 

Repentance was taught as the prelude to the blotting out of sin (or wickedness) (Acts 8:22) so that the time of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, so that He might send the Christ who was appointed for us (Acts 3:19-20).

 

The times of ignorance, as it is called, God overlooked but, after Christ, He commands all people to repent, having fixed a day of judgment for them (Acts 17:30). Thus repentance is extended to the Gentiles (see also Acts 15:3).

 

From repentance and turning to God, the repentant sinner must then perform deeds worthy of repentance (Acts 26:20).

 

The Church in Ephesus was called on to repent and remember what it was from which they had fallen, and to do again the works they did at first (Rev. 2:5). Likewise the Church in Pergamum was called upon to repent (Rev. 2:16). So also was the Church in Thyatira (Rev. 2:21-22) which had apostates thrown onto a bed with the false religious teachers. The Church in Sardis was also called on to repent or Christ would come on them like a thief in the night and they would not know what hour he was coming (Rev. 3:3). Those who Christ loves he reproves and chastens. He demands that they (in this case the Laodiceans), are zealous and that they repent (Rev. 3:19). Repentance is thus ongoing for all the Churches of God, being the responsibility of all (Jas. 5:19-20).

 

2.5  Baptism