Paul was in prison frequently, was flogged severely, was stoned, was in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger in the country, in danger at sea and in danger from false brothers. He knew hunger and thirst, often went without sleep and food, and was cold and naked (2 Co 11:23-27).
Besides everything else, Paul was concerned for all the churches [saints] that he had to take care of (2 Co 11:28-29).
He once took the lead in persecuting the Christians, but afterwards he became a Christian and preached to the Gentiles as an apostle.
1. Birthplace
Paul was born in Tarsus of Cilicia in Asia Minor (Ac 21:39; 22:3). He was called Saul before he was converted to Christianity (Ac 7:55-58).
2. Education
He was trained in the law under Gamaliel who was a famous teacher of the law at that time (Ac 22:3).
3. Persecution and conversion
When the Jews stoned Deacon Stephen to death, Paul gave approval to his death. He opposed the Early Church, dragging off the Christians in prison (Ac 1-3).
Once He was on the way to Damascus to seize the Christians. When Saul [Paul] neared Damascus on his journey, he lost his sight by a light from heaven which flashed around him. He heard a voice, "Now get up and go into the city [Damascus]." He was baptized there and began to preach the gospel (Ac 9:1-18).
4. Paul as a Christian
Paul persecuted the Christians so severly when he was in Judaism that the Christians doubted him even after his baptism. However he testified that Jesus is the Christ even harder and met the Apostles in Jerusalem, avoiding the Jews who tried to kill him (Ac 9:19-30). Afterwards he preached the gospel in many pagan regions.
5. The preaching of Paul
Paul lived for preaching. He didn't stop proclaiming that "Jesus is the Christ," and His resurrection. His life of preaching is a great example for us.
Paul wrote in his letter, "Yet when I preach the gospel … Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" (1 Co 9:16). This shows the absolute necessity of the gospel and his firm belief in the gospel.
After his conversion, his whole life was for the gospel. Wherever he went, many people returned to God and many churches were established. It was not by his own ability, but by the power of God whom he depended on absolutely.
Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Amphipolis, Apollonia, Thessalonica, Athens, Corinth, Berea, Rome, Ephesus, Troas, Philippi …
The regions Paul went to preach were countlessly many and the pains, persecution and distress he experienced during the preaching journey were countless as well.
Paul was in prison frequently, was flogged severely, was stoned, was in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger in the country, in danger at sea, and in danger from false brothers; he knew hunger and thirst, often went without sleep and food and was cold and naked (2 Co 11:23-27).
Besides everything else, Paul was concerned for all the churches [saints] that he had to take care of (2 Co 11:28-29).
He saw many visions and revelations and was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell as well. But the Christ gave him a thorn [probably a disease] of Satan in his flesh and made him not be proud.
Three times he pleaded with God to take it away from him. But when he heard God saying, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness," (2 Co 12:9) he was more glad.
6. Our resolution
When we preach the gospel of God, we don't preach it with our ability. When we preach the gospel with the absolute faith that Christ will give us ability, we will surely bear abundant fruit like Paul.
Some might hesitate to preach, thinking, "I don't have ability," "I have no knowledge," but such thoughts are of those who try to preach the gospel with his own ability.
The word of Christ given to Paul, a great preacher, "My power is made perfect in weakness," was not only for Paul, but also for all the brothers and sisters of Zion in the new covenant of Christ.
Now let us blow the trumpet of the gospel, believing in the power and help of the Holy Spirit and the Bride, our Savior.
2009년 10월 20일 화요일
2009년 8월 31일 월요일
Elohim God
The word "Elohim" directly translates to "Gods." The Bible testifies that God exists in the female image, God the Mother, as well as the male image, God the Father.
World Mission Society Church of God has received Second Coming Christ Ahnsahnghong, God the Father, and the heavenly Jerusalem, God the Mother.
When people hear the word "God," most immediately think of "God the Father," holding to the fixed idea that only God the Father exists; however, the Bible clearly testifies that there is a God the Mother in addition to a God the Father. We sincerely hope that you can break your fixed, man-made ideas so that you can receive the true Saviors: Christ Ahnsahnghong and Jerusalem Mother.
Then, let us discover why the members of the Church of God accept Christ Ahnsahnghong and Jerusalem Mother as their Elohim God.
Elohim God revealed in the book of Genesis
Let us confirm that there is both a male and a female image of God, through the book of Genesis.
Gen. 1:26-27 『Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness,"…So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.』
Both males and females were created in the image of God, and thus it is clear that God has two images: a male image and a female image. When God said, "Let us make man in our image," God used the word "us"?a plural term?instead of using "me." We come to understand that not one God, but two Gods?a Father and a Mother?worked together during the Creation. Such plural terms are used to describe God in Genesis chapter 11, also.
Gen. 11:1-7 『…The LORD said…"Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other."』
This verse, too, makes reference to Elohim God, the same God who created male and female (in Genesis chapter 1), saying, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness." In Genesis chapter 11, God was responding to the arrogance of the people, who had collectively built the tower of Babel. Through this situation, God testifies that there exists a God the Mother as well as a God the Father by saying, "Let us go down…"
Elohim God revealed in the book of Isaiah
We can confirm the existence of Elohim God through the book of Isaiah as well.
Isa. 6:8 『Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"』
When God was searching for a man to preach His words, God said, "Who will go for us?" instead of saying, "Who will go for me?" This reveals that not only the Father was working, but that there was a Mother who was working as well.
Elohim God revealed in the book of Jeremiah
In the book of Jeremiah we can also find references to Elohim God.
Jer. 31:22 『…The LORD will create a new thing on earth?a woman will surround a man.』
God said that He would create a new thing: a woman would surround a man. Spiritually, this verse has a very profound meaning. The woman, Eve, had once been inside the man. If God had not made the woman with the ribs He had taken out of the man, how could the woman have been able to surround the man? The new thing, that God said He would bring to the earth, would be the revealing of Mother, who has been within God the Father since the beginning. The new thing would be created at the time God established the new covenant.
Jer. 31:31-34 『"The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah…"I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest."』
In the Hebrew Bible, the word "God" is actually written as "Elohim"?"I will be their God [Elohim]." "Elohim" is the plural form of the word "Eloha," meaning a singular God. Therefore, "Elohim" means "Gods," plural. Once we can understand the concept of Elohim God through the new covenant, we no longer need men to teach us to know God, because we will all know God, from the least of us to the greatest. In the truth of the new covenant, we can only become the children of God when we have God the Father and God the Mother, our Elohim God.
When Elohim God created male and female, They said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness." When Elohim God punished the evil acts of God's people, They said, "Let us go down." When the Gods called to Isaiah, They said, "Who will go for us?" Throughout the Bible, God has existed as the male God and the female God: Elohim.
Elohim will appear in Their own time
God promised that He would appear according to His own timing (1 Tim. 6:15). Let us confirm what form He will appear in.
Rev. 22:17 『The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.』
For our salvation, God always referred to Himself as "us," and then Elohim God appeared?as the Holy Spirit and the Bride?to give us the water of life. In the first book of Timothy, it is written that God alone is immortal and lives in unapproachable light (1 Tim. 6:16). Thus, only the Spirit and the Bride?the Second Coming Christ, Ahnsahnghong, and the New Jerusalem Mother?are immortal and only They have life. Nevertheless, some people boast that they, also, have the power to give life. The people who make such assumptions are greatly mistaken. The Bible says that no one can have life until he or she eats the flesh of the Son of Man and drinks His blood (John 6:53), and Jesus said, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead" (Matt. 8:22). Mere human beings, such as ourselves, cannot say that we are alive.
There is no life in us, so we must go to God?Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother?if we want to receive eternal life and salvation, because They are the only ones who have life. In order to give the everlasting water of life to mortal beings, God came down to this earth in this last age as the Holy Spirit, Ahnsahnghong, and the Bride, the New Jerusalem Mother. People who pervert or deny this Biblical teaching will never be able to enter the kingdom of heaven.
World Mission Society Church of God has received Second Coming Christ Ahnsahnghong, God the Father, and the heavenly Jerusalem, God the Mother.
When people hear the word "God," most immediately think of "God the Father," holding to the fixed idea that only God the Father exists; however, the Bible clearly testifies that there is a God the Mother in addition to a God the Father. We sincerely hope that you can break your fixed, man-made ideas so that you can receive the true Saviors: Christ Ahnsahnghong and Jerusalem Mother.
Then, let us discover why the members of the Church of God accept Christ Ahnsahnghong and Jerusalem Mother as their Elohim God.
Elohim God revealed in the book of Genesis
Let us confirm that there is both a male and a female image of God, through the book of Genesis.
Gen. 1:26-27 『Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness,"…So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.』
Both males and females were created in the image of God, and thus it is clear that God has two images: a male image and a female image. When God said, "Let us make man in our image," God used the word "us"?a plural term?instead of using "me." We come to understand that not one God, but two Gods?a Father and a Mother?worked together during the Creation. Such plural terms are used to describe God in Genesis chapter 11, also.
Gen. 11:1-7 『…The LORD said…"Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other."』
This verse, too, makes reference to Elohim God, the same God who created male and female (in Genesis chapter 1), saying, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness." In Genesis chapter 11, God was responding to the arrogance of the people, who had collectively built the tower of Babel. Through this situation, God testifies that there exists a God the Mother as well as a God the Father by saying, "Let us go down…"
Elohim God revealed in the book of Isaiah
We can confirm the existence of Elohim God through the book of Isaiah as well.
Isa. 6:8 『Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"』
When God was searching for a man to preach His words, God said, "Who will go for us?" instead of saying, "Who will go for me?" This reveals that not only the Father was working, but that there was a Mother who was working as well.
Elohim God revealed in the book of Jeremiah
In the book of Jeremiah we can also find references to Elohim God.
Jer. 31:22 『…The LORD will create a new thing on earth?a woman will surround a man.』
God said that He would create a new thing: a woman would surround a man. Spiritually, this verse has a very profound meaning. The woman, Eve, had once been inside the man. If God had not made the woman with the ribs He had taken out of the man, how could the woman have been able to surround the man? The new thing, that God said He would bring to the earth, would be the revealing of Mother, who has been within God the Father since the beginning. The new thing would be created at the time God established the new covenant.
Jer. 31:31-34 『"The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah…"I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest."』
In the Hebrew Bible, the word "God" is actually written as "Elohim"?"I will be their God [Elohim]." "Elohim" is the plural form of the word "Eloha," meaning a singular God. Therefore, "Elohim" means "Gods," plural. Once we can understand the concept of Elohim God through the new covenant, we no longer need men to teach us to know God, because we will all know God, from the least of us to the greatest. In the truth of the new covenant, we can only become the children of God when we have God the Father and God the Mother, our Elohim God.
When Elohim God created male and female, They said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness." When Elohim God punished the evil acts of God's people, They said, "Let us go down." When the Gods called to Isaiah, They said, "Who will go for us?" Throughout the Bible, God has existed as the male God and the female God: Elohim.
Elohim will appear in Their own time
God promised that He would appear according to His own timing (1 Tim. 6:15). Let us confirm what form He will appear in.
Rev. 22:17 『The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.』
For our salvation, God always referred to Himself as "us," and then Elohim God appeared?as the Holy Spirit and the Bride?to give us the water of life. In the first book of Timothy, it is written that God alone is immortal and lives in unapproachable light (1 Tim. 6:16). Thus, only the Spirit and the Bride?the Second Coming Christ, Ahnsahnghong, and the New Jerusalem Mother?are immortal and only They have life. Nevertheless, some people boast that they, also, have the power to give life. The people who make such assumptions are greatly mistaken. The Bible says that no one can have life until he or she eats the flesh of the Son of Man and drinks His blood (John 6:53), and Jesus said, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead" (Matt. 8:22). Mere human beings, such as ourselves, cannot say that we are alive.
There is no life in us, so we must go to God?Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother?if we want to receive eternal life and salvation, because They are the only ones who have life. In order to give the everlasting water of life to mortal beings, God came down to this earth in this last age as the Holy Spirit, Ahnsahnghong, and the Bride, the New Jerusalem Mother. People who pervert or deny this Biblical teaching will never be able to enter the kingdom of heaven.
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