The Cross

A tradition of Christendom which its leader have inherited, was the adoption of the words "cross" and "crucify".

These words are nowhere to be found in the Greek of the New Testament. These words are mistranslations, a "later rendering", of the Greek words stauros and stauroo. Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words says, "STAUROS denotes, primarily, an upright pole or stake ... Both the noun and the verb stauroo, to fasten to a stake or pole, are originally to be distinguished from the ecclesiastical form of a two-beamed cross.

The shape of the latter had its origin in ancient Chaldea (Babylon), and was used as the symbol of the god Tammuz (being in the shape of the mystic Tau, the initial of his name) ... By the middle of the 3rd century C.E. the church leaders had either departed from, or had travestied, certain doctrines of the Christian faith.

In order to increase the prestige of the apostate ecclesiastical system pagans were received into the churches apart from regeneration by faith, and were permitted largely to retain their pagan signs and symbols. Hence the Tau or T, in its most frequent form, with the cross piece lowered, was adopted .

Dr. Bullinger, in the Companion Bible, appx. 162, states, "crosses were used as symbols of the Babylonian Sun-god ... It should be stated that "Constantine was a Sun-god worshipper" ... The evidence is thus complete, that the Lord was put to death upon an upright stake, and not on two pieces of timber placed at any angle."

Rev. Alexander Hislop, The Two Babylons, pp. 197-205, frankly calls the cross "this Pagan symbol ... the Tau, the sign of the cross, the indisputable sign of Tammuz, "the false Messiah" ... the mystic Tau of the Cladeans (Babylonians) and Egyptians - the true original form of the letter T the initial of the name of Tammuz ... the Babylonian cross was the recognised emblem of Tammuz."

In the Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th edition, vol. 14, p. 273, we read, "In the Egyption churches the cross was a pagan symbol of life borrowed by the Christians and interpreted in the pagan manner." Jacob Grimm, in his Deutsche Mythologie, says that the Teutonic (Germanic) tribes had their idol Thor, symbolised by a hammer, while the Roman Christians had their crux (cross). It was thus somewhat easier for the Teutons to accept the Roman Cross.

Greek dictionaries, lexicons and other study books also declare the primary meaning of stauros to be an upright pale, pole or stake. The secondary meaning of "cross" is admitted by them to be a "later" rendering. At least two of them do not even mention "cross", and only render the meaning as "pole or stake".

In spite of this strong evidence and proof that the word stauros should have been translated "stake", and the verb stauroo to have been translated "impale", almost all the common versions of the Scriptures persist with the Latin Vulgate's crux (cross), a fallacious "later" rendering of the Greek stauros. Why then was the "cross" (crux) brought into the Faith?

Again, historical evidence points to Constantine as the one who had the major share in uniting Sun-worship and the Messianic Faith. Constantine's famous vision of "the cross superimposed on the sun", in the year 312, is usually cited. Writers, ignorant of the fact that the cross was not to be found in the New Testament Scriptures, put much emphasis on this vision as the onset of the so-called "conversion" of Constantine. But, this vision of the cross superimposed on the sun could only be the same old cosmic religion, the astrological religion of Babylon. The fact remains: that which Constantine saw, is nowhere to be found in Scripture.

We read in the book of Johannes Geffcken, The Last Days of Greco-Roman Paganism, p.319, "that even after 314 C.E. the coins of Constantine show an even-armed cross as a symbol for the Sun-god." Many scholars have doubted the "conversion" of Constantine because of the wicked deeds that he did afterwards, and because of the fact that he only requested to be baptized on his death-bed many years later, in the year 337. So, if the vision of the cross impressed him, and was used as a rallying symbol, it could not have been in honour of Jesus, because Constantine continued paying homage to the Sun-deity and to one of the Sun-deity's symbols, the cross.

This continuation of Sun-worship by Constantine is of by his persistent use of images of the Sun-deity on his coins that were issued by him up to the year 323. Secondly, the fact of his motivation to issue his Sunday-keeping edict in the year 321, which was not done in honour of Jesus, but was done because of the "venerable day of the Sun", as the edict read, is proof of this continued allegiance to Sol Invictus. We shall expand on this later.

Where did the cross come from, then? J.C. Cooper, An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Traditional Symbols, p. 45, aptly summarises it, "Cross - A universal symbol from the most remote times; it is the cosmic symbol par excellence." Other authorities also call it a sun-symbol, a Babylonian sun-symbol, an astrological Babylonian-Assyrian and heathen run-symbol, also in the form of an encircled cross referred to as a "solar wheel", and many other varieties of crosses. Also, "the cross represents the Tree of Life", the age-old fertility symbol, combining the vertical male and horizontal female principles, especially in Egypt, either as an ordinary cross, or better known in the form of the crux ansata, the Egyptian ankh (sometimes called the Tau cross), which had been carried over into our modern-day symbol of the female, well known in biology.

As stated above, the indisputable sign of Tammuz, the mystic Tau of the Babylonians and Egyptians, was brought into the Church chiefly because of Constantine, and has since been adored with all the homage due only to the Most High.

The Protestants have for many years refrained from undue adoration of, or homage to the cross, especially in England at the time of the Puritans in the 16th - 17th centuries. But lately this un-Scriptural symbol has been increasingly accepted in Protestantism.

We have previously discussed "the weeping for Tammuz", and the similarity between the Easter resurrection and the return or rising of Tammuz. Tammuz was the young incarnate Sun, the Sun-divinity incarnate. This same Sun-deity, known amongst the Babylonians as Tammuz, was identified with the Greek Adonis and with the Phoenician Adoni,96 all of them Sun-deities, being slain in winter, then being "wept for", and their return being celebrated by a festivity in spring, while some had it in summer - according to the myths of pagan idolatry.

The evidence for its pagan origin is so convincing that The Catholic Encyclopedia admits that "the sign of the cross, represented in its simplest form by a crossing of two lines at right angles, greatly antedates, in both East and the West, the introduction of Christianity. It goes back to a very remote period of human civilization." It then continues and revers to the Tau cross of the pagan Egyptians, "In later times the Egyptian Christians (Copts), attracted by its form, and perhaps by its symbolism, adopted it as the emblem of the cross." Further proof of its pagan origin is the recorded evidence of the Vestal Virgins of pagan Rome having the cross hanging on a necklace, and the Egyptians doing it too, as early as the 15th century B.C.E. The Buddhists, and Ancient Egyptian Rot-n-no priests. Note the crosses on the robe, and hanging from their necks.

Numerous other sects of India, also used the sign of the cross as a mark on their followers' heads. "The cross thus widely worshipped, or regarded as a 'sacred emblem', was the unequivocal symbol of Bacchus, the Babylonian Messiah, for he was represented with a head-band covered with crosses." It was also the symbol of Jupiter Foederis in Rome. Furthermore, we read of the cross on top of the temple of Serapis, the Sun-deity of Alexandria. This is Tammuz, whom the Greeks called Bacchus, with the crosses on his head-band.

After Constantine had the "vision of the cross", he and his army promoted another variety of the cross, the Chi-Rho or Labarum or sometimes . This has subsequently been explained as representing the first letters of the name Christos, the being the Greek for "Ch" and the being the Greek for "r". but again, this emblem had a pagan origin. The identical symbols were found as inscriptions on a rock, dating from the year ca. 2 500 B.C.E, being interpreted as "a combination of two Sun-symbols", as the Ax or Hammer-symbol of the Sun- or Sky-deity, and the or as the ancient symbol of the Sun, both of these signs having a sensual or fertility meaning as well.

Another proof of its pagan origin is the identical found on a coin of Ptolemeus III from the year 247 - 222 B.C. A well-known encyclopaedia describes the Labarum (Chi-Rho) as, "The labarum was also an emblem of the Chaldean (Babylonian) sky-god and in Christianity it was adopted..."Emperor Constantine adopted this Labarum as the imperial ensign and thereby succeeded in " uniting both divisions of his troops, pagans and Christians, in a common worship ... according to Suicer the word (labarum) came into use in the reign of Hadrian, and was probably adopted from one of the nations conquered by the Romans. "It must be remembered that Hadrian reigned in the years 76 - 138, that he was a pagan emperor, worshipped the Sun-deity Serapis when he visited Alexandria, and was vehemently anti-Judaistic, being responsible for the final near-destruction of Jerusalem in the year 130.

     

Another dictionary relates the following about the Chi-Rho, "However, the symbol was in use long before Christianity, and X (Chi) probably stood for Great Fire or Sun,and P (Rho) probably stood for Pater or Patah (Father). The word labarum (labarum) yields everlasting Father Sun."

What is the "mark of the beast" of which we read in Rev 13:16-17, Rev 14:9-11, Rev 15:2, Rev 16:2, Rev 19:20 and Rev 20:4 - a mark on people's foreheads and on their right hands? Rev 14:11 reveals the mark to be "the mark of his (the beast's) name." Have we not read about the mystic Tau, the T, the initial of Tammuz's name, his mark? This same letter T (Tau) was written in Egyptian hieroglyphics and in the old Wemitic languages as, representing the CROSS. Different interpretations have been given to the "mark of the beast", and also the cross has been suggested. There has been some research done on the strange crosses found on quite a few statues of pagan priests, on their foreheads. However, these scholars have been unable to come to an agreement. Conclusive evidence may still come (see among others: Dr. F.J. Dolger, Antike und Christentum, vol. 2, pp. 281-293).

Let us rather use the true rendering of the Scriptural words stauros and stauro, namely "stake" and "impale" and eliminate the un-Scriptural "cross" and "crucify".

The Origin of the Cross

By Sophia Moon

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The cross is used within Christendom and among its many sects. It is the most common symbol seen in, on, and around Its churches all over the world. Since it pre-dates Christianity and has pagan beginnings, at least one church father of the 3rd century CE condemned its use.

The first appearance of a cross in Christendom artwork was on a Vatican sarcophagus from the mid-5th century. It was a Greek cross with arms of equal length and Jesus' body had no place on it. The first portrayals of crucifixion on a cross did not appear until the 7th century CE. This particular cross took the shape of a letter "T". "T", the initial of the name Tammuz. This shape is from the form of the Tau Cross.

 

The church leaders may have copied this symbol from the Pagan Druids who made crosses like this to represent the Thau, or god. St. Philip was allegedly crucified on a cross like this. Later on in history, the Tau Cross became the Roman Cross that most everyone is familiar with today. The Romans sometimes executed people on a Tau Cross and sometimes a Roman cross. There were times they used a simple stake and would forego the cross all together.

It is not likely that Jesus actually hung on a cross at all but instead hung on a tree, stake, or pole. The original gospels written in Greek used the word "stauros" to refer to the structure used for execution. This word means a vertical pole with no crossbar. Jesus may have been hung on a tree (Acts 5:30) (1 Peter 2:24)

What has caused some conflict is Deuteronomy 21:23 which states that a person hung on a tree was cursed by God. This verse here prevented many of the Jewish faith from accepting Jesus as Messiah. Until Constantine made his entrance, the cross as an artistic reference to Jesus' crucifixion cannot even be found. Since crosses were used as symbols of the Babylonian Sun-god, it could be said that Constantine was a Sun-god worshiper!

There are several pre-Christian beginnings of the cross symbol that can be found. These crosses range in design but are a cross nonetheless. In Babylon the cross took its place with a crescent moon and was the symbol of their moon deity. In Egypt the ankh cross (a Tau cross topped by an inverted tear shape) reflects their Goddess of Truth. It also represents Isis and Osiris and their sexual union. In India, in Hinduism, the upright shaft stands for the higher states of being while the horizontal bar stands for the lower states of being.

 

In Assyria the corners of the cross represent the four directions in which the sun shines. In Scandinavia the Tau cross symbolized the hammer of the God Thor. In Europe the use of a human effigy on the cross in a scarecrow form has been used since ancient times. Long ago, and this is pretty gross, a human would be sacrificed and hung on said cross. Later on that sacrifice would be chopped into pieces so his blood and flesh could be widely spread and buried to encourage crop fertility. I don't know about you but I've lost my appetite.

As you can see, the symbol of the cross dates back to pre-Christian times. The words "cross" and "crucify" are nowhere to be found in the Greek of the New Testament. They are mistranslations. Constantine was a big instigator in uniting Sun worship and Messianic Faith. In order to increase the prestige of the church, he allowed pagans into the churches along with their signs and symbols. The "T", or cross, was one of these symbols. It seems Jesus and "cross" are not really linked at all.

The Cross in Worship - Is It Really Proper?

The New Catholic Encyclopedia admits: "The cross is found in both pre-Christian and non-Christian cultures, where it has largely a cosmic or natural signification." Various other authorities have linked the "cross" with nature worship and pagan sex rites.

 

By: Simeon James 

 

I firmly believe in the death of Jesus Christ, that it provided the ransom that opens the door to everlasting life for those who truly demonstrate faith in him. (Matthew 20:28; John 3:16) However, I do not believe that Jesus died on a cross, I do believe that Jesus died on an upright stake with no crossbeam. Why do I say this?

The New Catholic Encyclopedia admits: "The cross is found in both pre-Christian and non-Christian cultures, where it has largely a cosmic or natural signification." Various other authorities have linked the "cross" with nature worship and pagan sex rites.

W. E. Vine, respected British Bible scholar, offers these hard facts: "By the middle of the 3rd century A.D. pagans were received into the churches and were permitted largely to retain their pagan signs and symbols. Hence the Tau or T, with the cross-piece lowered, was adopted."-Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words.

Oxford University's Companion Bible says: "The evidence is that the Lord was put to death upon an upright stake, and NOT on two pieces of timber placed at any angle." More important, no matter what device was used for the torture and execution of Jesus, no image or symbol of it should become an object of devotion or worship for Christians. "Flee from idolatry," commands the Bible. (1 Corinthians 10:14; 1 John 5:21)

Why, then, was this pagan symbol of the cross promoted? Apparently, to make it easier for pagans to accept "Christianity." In the fourth century, pagan Emperor Constantine became a convert to apostate Christianity and promoted the cross as its symbol.

The Greek word used in the Scriptures that is generally translated "cross" is stauros'. But stauros' basically means "an upright pale or stake." The Companion Bible points out: "stauros never means two pieces of timber placed across one another at any angle. There is nothing in the Greek of the New Testament even to imply two pieces of timber."

 The book, "The Non-Christian Cross" by J.D. Parsons (London, 1896) states: "There is not a single sentence in any of the numerous writings forming the New Testament, which, in the original Greek, bears even indirect evidence to the effect that the stauros used in the case of Jesus was other than an ordinary stauros [upright stake]; much less to the effect that it consisted, not of one piece of timber, but of two pieces nailed together in the form of a cross. " The writer also states: "It is not a little misleading upon the part of our teachers to translate stauros' as cross when rendering Greek documents of the Church into our native tongue."

In several texts, Bible writers use another word for the instrument of Jesus' death. It is the Greek word "xylon". (Acts 5:30; 10:39; 13:29; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:24) A Greek-English Lexicon, by Liddell and Scott, defines "xylon" as meaning: "Wood cut and ready for use, firewood, timber, etc, piece of wood, log, beam, post, cudgel, club, STAKE on which criminals were impaled, of live wood, tree."

Explaining why a simple stake was often used for executions, the book Das Kreuz und die Kreuzigung ( i.e. The Cross and the Crucifixion), by Hermann Fulda, states: "Trees were not everywhere available at the places chosen for public execution. So a simple beam was sunk into the ground. On this the outlaws, with hands raised upward and often also with their feet, were bound or nailed."

From the foregoing, we clearly see that it is WRONG to use the Cross in worship. I once again emphasize that I believe in the death of Jesus Christ, that he died for us, with benefits to us if we show true faith in him. However, Christ died, NOT on a cross, but on an upright stake.

The Trinity

The Great Mystery Examined “To Us There is but One God, the Father...” 1 Corinthians 8:6 In the end times in which we are living, light is being shed on the many mysteries of doctrine conceived in the dark ages of Christian history. One of these mysteries is the doctrine of the trinity. Now, in this age of enlightenment, thousands of faithful believers in Christ are beginning to doubt this doctrine that claims that Jesus is his own heavenly Father–Jehovah. Often, they secretly question this doctrine, but maintain their silence for fear of being labeled a heretic. Indeed, most Christian churches claim that belief in the trinity is essential to being a Christian, and leave no room for dialog and certainly no opportunity for impartial investigation on this topic. But, God Himself invites us to reason when He says, “Come now, and let us reason together.” (Isaiah 1:18) The Apostle Paul commended the Jews of Berea for their diligent search of the Scriptures to be sure that what they were being taught was indeed truth. Thus, their faith was well established and they quickly accepted Christ. (Acts 17:11) Paul urged Timothy: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 It is with this scriptural principle that all Christians should be encouraged to examine their  creeds to be certain that they are honoring God by what they believe. If there is doubt on any subject, there is need for study. Then, after thorough examination, “let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind” without fear of persecution. Romans 14:5 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD Our God is One LORD.” Deuteronomy 6:4 To both the Prophets and the Apostles, God revealed Himself in the Bible as having no equal, and always existing. “Before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the LORD.” (Isaiah 43:10, 11) His name in Hebrew is YHVH (Jehovah or Yaweh), and He is addressed throughout the Scriptures as Heavenly Father, God, or LORD. For 4,000 years those who were His people had no indication that He was anything other than the single, unitary, supreme God that He declared Himself to be. In His wisdom, the one true God promised the prophets of old that, in due time, He would send forth a savior to redeem the lost world of mankind. God would anoint this servant as His representative with power and authority. The Jews lived in constant anticipation of this Messiah (Hebrew) or Christ (Greek) -- both meaning anointed. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son...” (Heb.1:1-2) God anointed Jesus as His prophet–His servant. Moses told Israel “The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.” (Deuteronomy 18:15) Prophetically, Isaiah said “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him.” Isaiah 42:1 “My Beloved Son, in Whom I am Well Pleased.” Matthew 3:17 This anointed prophet and servant was God’s “only begotten Son,” Jesus Christ the righteous. “When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman...” (Galatians 4:4) The Scriptures declare that the Father had no beginning. Jesus Christ is repeatedly spoken of as being brought into existence. Tertullian, writing in the second century, said,“There was a time when the Son did not exist.” (Early Church Fathers, page 21) How else could the Bible declare that Jesus was “...the firstborn of every creature...” and “the beginning of the creation of God.” Colossians 1:15; Revelation 3:14 Jesus desired that his disciples should understand who he was and why he came. He asked them, “whom say ye that I am?” The Apostle Peter answered Jesus’ question “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus then declared that ( upon this rock–-this foundational truth that he was the promised Messiah and Son of God )–he would build his congregation. Matthew 16:15-18 Jesus had a mission to accomplish as God’s anointed one, and the entire theme of the Bible states that mission: “For I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him that sent me... And this is the will of Him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on hi­m, may have everlasting life...” (John 6:38, 40) Here we see that God is the author, and Jesus is the honored executor of the Father’s plans. Although, as a Son, Jesus was subordinate to God Almighty, it makes him no less worthy of honor. “The Son of man came ...and there was given him [by his Father] dominion, and glory, and a kingdom...” (Daniel 7:13,14) Jesus did not assume this honor, glory or service on his own, but he received it at the hand of his Father and superior, God Himself. Jesus said, “If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me...” (John 8:54) Paul explained: “Christ glorified not himself to be made a high priest; but He [God] that said unto him [Jesus], Thou art my Son...” (Hebrews 5:4, 5) Jesus recognized his honored position, and yet always remained humble. He said, “the Father is greater than I,” and “I can of mine own self do nothing...” (John 14:28; John 5:30) The Apostle Paul declared, “The Head of Christ is God” and “ye are Christ’s and Christ is God’s.” (1 Corinthians 11:3; 3:23) He also referred to the Father as “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1:17 Origin of the Trinity Concept That which the Jews believed for thousands of years about the singularity of God should be harmonious and compatible with Christian doctrine. Christianity is not a new religion with a new god, but is of the same God that Israel worshiped. Why, then, has this original understanding of God the Father given way to the concept termed the trinity, now considered by many to be the touchstone of Christian faith? Both Catholic and Protestant scholars recognize that the concept termed trinity took centuries to evolve. Indeed, it was not introduced until the fourth century, leading to the Nicene Creed (AD325), and The Nicaeno-Constantinopolitan Creed (AD381). After the Apostles died, a gradual falling away from the original faith occurred. Great numbers of pagans entered the church bringing with them their pagan ideas. Various triune-god concepts, originating in Babylon, had spread throughout the ancient world and had become a prominent feature of the Egyptian, Persian, Grecian, Roman, Japanese and Indian mythologies. Trinitarian historians concede that pagan Greek philosophy played a significant role in the development of the Christian trinity. In this dark period of church history, many political pressures were mixed into Christian doctrine and practices. Fearing that religious dissension might disrupt the political unity of his empire, the Emperor Constantine summoned a general council of bishops to deal with the controversy as to whether Jesus the Son was also his own Father. The proponents for and against the trinitarian concept debated the issue, with the Emperor finally calling for a vote of the bishops to settle the matter. The Trinitarian Creed, as finally adopted, fixed the doctrine of the person of Christ as “God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, ... of one substance with the Father...” With the Emperor’s threat of banishment, according to Socrates, all but five signed the Creed. (Socrates, Eccl. Hist. 1, 8; and article CREED, NICENE, McClintock & Strong Cyclopedia). The basic substance of the Nicene Creed came to be adopted by many as the true identity of God and the defining doctrinal test as to whether one was really a Christian. This creed explicitly defined God as actually composed of three persons: “God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit”–all co-equal and co-eternal–yet, in the Bible, only one of these appears: “...there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things... and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things.” (1 Corinthians 8:6) The other terms “God the Son” and “God the Holy Spirit” never appear in Scripture. In fact, the term trinity is not found in the Bible. Admittedly, the concept of the trinity is mysterious, incomprehensible and impossible to square with the one God testimony of the forefathers. Real Sacrifice, Real Death To truly understand the relationship of the heavenly Father and His beloved Son is to understand the depth of compassion the Father had for the world of mankind. Jesus’ suffering and death were real, and so too was the sacrifice of His Father in sending His Son to suffer. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:16-17 It is a great mistake that many Christians make in thinking that only the all-powerful Jehovah could take on the weight of the sins of billions of people. This mistaken concept then demands that the one who died for our sins, Christ Jesus, must be God Himself. But the Scriptural doctrine of the ransom declares that the life of a perfect man can be an acceptable sacrifice to offset the sin of Adam, and consequently the inherited sins of all mankind. “As by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.” 1 Corinthians 15:21 Only the life of a perfect man without sin could accomplish the equal payment for the perfect life of Adam which was lost. “There is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”         (1 Timothy 2:5,6) The ransom price was a perfect human life for a perfect human life–a corresponding price. The Greek word used by our Lord for ransom (Mark 10:45) is lutron-anti, which signifies, “a price in offset, or a price to correspond.” Thus Jesus said, “The Son of Man came...to give his life a ransom [lutron-anti–a price to correspond] for many.” Matthew 20:28 As Adam, through disobedience, forfeited his being, his soul, all his rights to life and to earth, so Christ Jesus our Lord, by his death, as a corresponding price, paid a full and exact offset for Adam’s soul or being. In consequence, all who were yet to be born from Adam–every human soul sharing by inheritance in his sin–receive the opportunity for life through Christ’s sacrifice. If Jesus is God the Father, then Jesus’ death was not real– it was just an illusion, because God cannot die. When Jesus prayed with “strong crying and tears” unto his Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, his agony was real. The cry of Jesus, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” would merely have been without real agony if he were his own Father and already immortal. No, when Jesus breathed his last upon the torture stake, he really died. This fact is especially important to comprehend and appreciate the magnitude of the sacrifice that Jesus was willing to offer! He did not merely appear to humble himself, while really retaining his glory and power; it was not that he seemed to become poor for our sakes. No, he actually became a man–“the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all.” 1 Tim. 2:5, 6 The True Oneness of God and Jesus The relationship of the Father to the Son is truly beautiful. They are two completely separate beings, with oneness applying only to their purpose and will. And the followers of Christ are invited to share in this intimate oneness of purpose and will: “...the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one...” (John 17:22) With this understanding we can clearly appreciate that Jesus, God’s chief agent from all creation, was “daily his delight” (Prov.8:30), and volunteered to be the redeemer of men in accordance with his Father’s plan: “ I heard the voice of the Lord [Jehovah], saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I [the Logos], Here am I; send me.” (Isaiah 6:8) Jesus told his disciples, “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life...” (John 10:17) This was a sincere and deep love between a Father and a Son. The night before he was hanged, Jesus prayed to the Father that, when resurrected, he might have “the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” (John 17:5) Jesus also explained, “I came down from heaven,” and “Before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58; 6:38) What did he mean? Jesus, as the firstborn of every creature had a heavenly nature before he came into the world as a babe. He gave up his spiritual nature for an earthly one, in order that he might give his human life a ransom price for the sins of the whole world. Colossians 1:15, 17 Yes, Jesus “was made flesh, and dwelt among us,” and then he gave up his life so that Adams descendants  could be ransomed from the grave. (John 1:14) Because of Jesus’ faithfulness and obedience, his Father was pleased to raise His anointed Son to life anew – this time with the Divine nature, to sit at his Father’s right hand on the throne of glory. “God....hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things... when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels...” (Hebrews 1:2, 4) Jesus said that after the successful accomplishment of his mission, “I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” John 20:17 The result of Jesus’ sacrifice will be “testified in due time,” when he will raise the dead and set up his righteous Kingdom among men, destroy all enemies (including death), and “when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:28) In Jesus’ own words, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” John 17:3-4

“Cómo el amor a Dios vence el temor al hombre”

By L.Lenin G.Zapata 

 “Al igual que el valor pone en peligro la vida, el miedo la protege”, Si nos acercamos a un precipicio, la mayoría de nosotros retrocedemos al instinto, por miedo de caernos. Los niños pequeños ignoran los daños que pueden ocasionar la electricidad o el tránsito urbano. Pero los padres prudentes les advierten de los riesgos que corren a fin de inculcarles un miedo sano, ya que, estos padre amoroso saben que este sentimiento ( el temor a ciertos peligros ) muy bien pudiera salvarles la vida. vida.                                                                                                    

.De igual modo, el temor sano no solo propicia la buena relación con Dios, sino que nos protege de sufrir daño. Como Padre amoroso, Jehová se preocupa por nuestro bienestar, mediante su Palabra nos enseña para nuestro beneficio. por favor lea (Isaías 48:17). 

La educación divina nos advierte “vez tras vez” de los peligros que afronta nuestra espiritualidad. En el transcurso de la historia, ¡cuántas catastrophes y sufrimientos se habrían evitado ‘si tan solo las personas hubieran desarrollado su corazón para temer a Dios y no a los hombres y al mismo tiempo guardar sus mandamientos’!

¿Cómo desarrollamos el corazón para temer a Jehová y huir de las amenazas a nuestra espiritualidad? Cultivar el amor que le pertenece al Dios verdadero, ¡como! Aplicando el sabio consejo de Pablo en lea 2Timoteo 3:5, ¿Qué significa esto? Porfavor lea Proverbio 8:13


¿Cuáles son algunos de los beneficios que recibimos de temer a Jehová ?

El Salmo 111:10 dice: “El temor de Jehová es el principio de la sabiduría”. ¿Qué significa esto? Sabiduría es la capacidad de usar el conocimiento debidamente para resolver problemas, prevenir el peligro y alcanzar ciertas metas. Implica tener buen juicio. "El principio de la sabiduría, es decir, su fundamento, es el temor de Jehová."

El respetuoso temor a Dios deberia ejercer presión en nosotros para que nos apeguemos a lo que es recto ante Jehova. El amor a Dios nos impulsara a regocijar Su corazón.

Por ejemplo, muchos se sienten presionados a hacer lo malo por temor de lo que piensen los demas. En tal casos un sano temor a Dios y el respeto a sus mandamientos impedirían que el temor al hombre paralizara al cristiano. Y el amor a Dios nos impediría participar en actos que Dios ha prohibido. lea (Proverbios 8:13.)


El temor a Jehová es verdadera fuente de Fortaleza, sin importar lo que hace el mundo que nos rodea, los verdaderos cristianos deben mostrar la misma resolución del apóstol Pablo cuando escribió en Hebreos 10:39: “Nosotros no somos de la clase que se retrae para destrucción, sino de la clase que tiene fe que resulta en conservar viva el alma”.


Al ir desarrollando ese Amor que le Pertenese a Jehova, ‘tengamos ánimo y digamos en todo momento: “Jehová es mi ayudante; no tendré miedo. ¿Qué puede hacerme el hombre?”’. (Hebreos 13:6.)

Cual es la pena por el Pecado?

By L.Lenin G. Zapata  

La Biblia nos deja claro hermanos que, el motivo por la cual pecamos y morimos tiene que ver mucho con la herencia que hemos recibido. Pero ¿Por que? ¿Por que, tiene que pecar y morir el ser humano? por favor lea (Romanos 5:12.)                                                            

En relacion con este texto Biblico, 1Reyes 8:46 Nos dice - “No hay hombre que no peque”. Jehova mismo declaró en Gén. 8:21- “La inclinación del corazón del hombre es mala desde su juventud”. Estos textos, nos dan a entender que son muchas las cosas que nos inducen a pecar.

Y la regla, que se declara en la Biblia pende como una nube siniestra sobre nuestra cabeza. En otras palabras, es una deuda que no podemos evitar. Fijece en la explicacion de Pablo lea (Romanos 6:23-A)

Pablo tambien confesó que aun si tenemos el mejor motivo del mundo, no podemos evitar el pecado- lea (Romanos 7:19). Asi que las mejores intenciones del hombre han quedado frustradas a causa de la imperfeccion heredada. Hoy vivimos las consecuencias del mal proseder que tomaron nuestros primeros padres. El resultado ha sido desastroso para la humanidad.

Tenemos que tener bien claro hermanos que no hay nada que podamos hacer por nuestra cuenta para evitar sufrir la pena de muerte por nuestros pecados, al igual que no podemos evitar por completo el pecar. En vista de esto ¿es posible todavía que la persona reciba castigo adicional por sus pecados despues de morir? por favor lea (Romanos 6:7)

Y¿que hay del tormento eterno de los inicuos? ¿Es compatible con la personalidad de Dios? En Jer. 7:31 leemos : “[Los habitantes apóstatas de Judea] habian edificado los lugares altos de Tofet, en el valle de Hinón,( ¿ con que fin? ) con el fin de quemar a sus hijos y sus hijas en el fuego; cosa que yo no había mandado y que no había subido a mi Corazon les dijo: Jehova.” (Si nunca subió al corazón de Dios cosa alguna, seguramente él no tiene, ni usa, nada de esa índole en gran escala.) Como sabemos eso, buen 1Juan 4:8 nos dice: “Dios es amor” .

Ahora, para sufrir del dolor en un infierno ardiente, sabemos que uno tendría que estar vivo y consciente. Y contrario a la ense~ansa popular que tienen muchas personas, note lo que si ense~a la Biblia sobre los muertos y su condicion………………por favor lea  (Eclesiastes 9:5)  

¿Termina de ese modo este asunto? No! En Romanos 6:23-B dice: “pero el don que Dios da es vida eterna por Cristo Jesús nuestro Señor“. Y, solo después de haber confesado que él mismo no podía evitar caer en el pecado, Pablo dijo :“¡Hombre desdichado que soy! ¿Quién me librará del cuerpo que está padeciendo esta muerte?” ¿la respuesta? “¡Gracias a Dios por medio de Jesucristo nuestro Señor!”. (Romanos 7:24, 25) 

Si hermanos, hay Uno que puede y Quiere ayudarnos .

Pero, solo el darnos cuenta del dominio que tiene el pecado sobre nosotros y el reconocer que no se nos hace posible rescatarnos por nuestros propios esfuerzos, entonces, seremos capases de apreciar el gran amor y la consideración de Jehova para con nosotros de suministrar un Rescate mediante su Hijo.

¿Debemos venerar a los "santos" como intercesores ante Dios?

By L. Lenin G. Zapata
 
La Biblia nos enseña con toda claridad que, la adoración pura y verdaders, debe dirigirse únicamente a Jehova. Y como Cristianos es sumamente importante, no solo saber este hecho, sino conocerlo y entenderlo . por favor lea ( Deu 4: p-a 15,16 - p-b 19 )

Aqui en 'Deuteronomio 4' podemos observear dos aspectos de un Mandato Divina.( El primero en el v.16 ), apsolutamente no debería hacerse imágenes religiosas de ningun tipo; ( el Segundo en el v. 19 ),no debemo “inclinar[nos] ante ellas ni servirlas”.

Jesus expreso este mandato cuando dijo : Es a Jehova tu Dios a quien tienes que adorar, y es a El, a quien tienes que rendir servicio sagrado.  lea (Mateo 4:10)

 

El no hacer imágenes de “cosa alguna” se debe a que Dios exige “devoción exclusiva”. Notemos lo que Jehova mismo afirma en Isaias.  por faver lea ( Isaías 42: 8 ).

 

En la Biblia, Dios nos recuerda en varios pasajes que a El ningun hombre lo a visto jamas, El es un Espiritu y hay que adorarlo de tal manera.  por favor lea( Juan 4: 24. )

 

Es interesante, hermanos que, cuando Jesús estuvo en la Tierra, 'Jehova' introdujo nuevas relaciones que afectarian las normas de conducta para con todos sus siervos, en el cielo y en la tierra.

 

Es por eso que Jesus dijo:“Toda autoridad me ha sido dada” ( Mat. 28:18 ). Dando a entender asi , que el ha sido elevado a un nivel tan alto, que solo es superado por el de su Padre, Jehova. por favor lea ( Fili. 2:9-11 ) ¿que significa esto para nosotros?

 

Jesus enseñó a sus discípulos “uno es su maestro, mientras que todos ustedes, son hermanos. Su Caudillo es uno, el Cristo.” Y tambien dijo: “Yo soy el camino, la verdad y la vida Nadie va al Padre sino por mí.” ; Y luego agrego; “Si algo piden en mi nombre, yo lo haré”.

 

Estas palabras de Jesus muestran claramente, que no se admite el que otro sirva de mediador a favor de la congregacion Cristiana .

 

Es por eso, que Pedro correcta-mente rehusó que Cornelio le diera demasiada importancia. La razón era que, el postrarse ante los apostoles era un gesto de adoración, como si el poder del espíritu santo, provenia de ellos mismos.

 
Los apóstoles sabían que el crédito debía dársele a Jehová y que toda la adoración debía dirigirse a través de Jesucristo.

De manera similar, en Revelacion, el ángel de la visión de Juan en dos occaciones lo interrumpió y no dejó que este le rindiera homenaje, si no que, le aconsejo : “¡Ten cuidado! ¡No hagas eso! ; Adora a Dios”

Ahora bien, si ni Pedro y el Angel de Revelacion, que se les conose a ambos como Santos, no aceptaron adoracion. ¿Cree usted que, ellos apoyarian el que uno, llamandose ser Cristianos, se inclinara y adorara, un Idolo en representacion de ellos? Claro que no! Sino que ellos mismo por medio de las pajinas de le Biblia nos exsortan : “Adoren a Dios ”